Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:27:49 -0500
From: chris james <drmeta4@gmail.com>
Subject: Granny's Pride and Joy, Chapter 2

Dear Reader: this is a story of of adult fiction, persons under 18 are not
permitted to view this material.

	I have been asked if this story is based upon a truth, and to this
I must say: yes. The New River in North Carolina and the Virginias offers a
variety of nature experiences, just not boys dropping into your
canoe. (Imagine the boon to tourism if they did!) White water rafting is
one of the best 'at risk' experiences you can safely have if you seek
thrills.(And you certainly do or otherwise why are you here?)

	This story is meant as an immersion into the lifestyle of simple
country folk as you will discover in following chapters. The next time you
eat something bless the small farmers who gave you such a bounty throught
their sweat and toil. There is no other life quite like living on a working
farm. Enjoy the ride and keep an eye out for the rapids ahead.

As always, your comments welcome. Chris James

drmeta4@gmail.com



				  Granny's Pride and Joy (M/B)


Chapter Two


	We swam and washed away the remnants of our lovemaking. I saw Tally
differently now, he was a boy I very much desired. His laughter filled my
ears as he and Jerry played while my eyes beheld a thing of such
beauty. The angle of the setting sun sent shimmers of light off the water,
Tally seemed to stand in a pool of glittering diamonds and I was stunned by
the vision.

	The whole thing was totally impossible; I couldn't love a fourteen
year old boy. He was approaching fifteen but I was three years older, our
love was forbidden. Tally had parents, siblings, Granny...none of them
would approve of this love.

	I knew my rejection would crush the boy, this was my fault. In
sixty days I would be off to school a thousand miles away, Tally was just
beginning ninth grade...impossible. There were a world of reasons this
shouldn't go any further, it had already gone too far.

	But I loved him. My thoughts didn't deter the feelings, I wanted to
love him. Didn't we deserve to love one another? Impossible...I was
beginning to hate the word.

	Tally sensed my changing attitude, he didn't attack me like before,
focusing his play on Jerry. But I caught his glances; he knew I was
watching and thinking. He had been the first to declare love and in a rare
moment of maturity he was awaiting my answer. I had to tell him something.

	I climbed the bank and brought back a bottle of shampoo and a bar
of soap. Tally never said a word as I tossed him the soap. The uncertainty
of our relationship kept him silent so I turned to Jerry. I poured shampoo
on his head and worked it into lather. The boy almost cooed at my
attentions. I was still in a totally mind numbing state, calm yet pensive,
and I was well aware of Tally's eyes watching me.

	I had come out here to find myself and instead found the greatest
quandary of my life. I had to go to college; my parents expected that of
me. They didn't expect me to fall in love with a nearly fifteen year old
boy. My own expectations of my self were at issue here, was I willing to
compromise everything to love Tally?

	Yesterday I would have denied any reasonable suggestion that I
could love a boy. Hell, I'd only know Tally for six hours tops. I wasn't
gay...was I? Did I have to be gay to have these feelings? What would people
think about me now, what would Stan say?

	I understood the feelings, Charlie and I had shared them if only
for a short while. Tally had committed himself, he now understood himself
to be gay and he was only fucking fourteen. If I really loved him I had to
be gay.

	Look at him Evan. Have you ever seen anyone that makes your chest
feel tight like it does now? Has anyone ever overwhelmed you with feelings
of warmth like this boy? I knew the answer and yet I was afraid of it.

	Yes...yes I was in love with Tally; there was no longer any
doubt. I just didn't see how this would work beyond tomorrow; I just knew
there had to be a solution. I had found someone who needed me almost as
much as I needed him. I had to make this work.

	We got out of the river and I set about lighting the small fire. I
had Jerry fill the collapsible bucket with river water and told him he was
on fire watch. Then I set a gallon of water on the fire to boil and took
stock of our supplies.

	Dorothy had provided a huge amount of canned vegetables, I took one
jar of each kind and opened two cans of jerked beef, we were having
Mulligan stew, and it was simple as that. Jerry watched my preparations
while Tally went down to sit on the river bank and watch the sun set.

	I knew Tally was pondering what my feelings were, it was all so new
to me I couldn't put it in words. Making dinner was a distraction, Tally
needed to be alone and think about what this all meant as well. Fortunately
Jerry could provide some of the answers I needed.

	"Jerry, what kind of farm does Tally's family run...is it just
dairy?" I asked.

	"Oh hell no, they have acres of corn and stuff, mostly feed
grains. Come harvest Uncle Terry has to hire folks to bring in all the hay
and alfalfa. He was planting tobacco until some years back, said he didn't
feel right growing a crop that just killed people."

	"So lots of work come fall, huh? What about the rest of the year?"

	"Uh, granny does all her canning, that takes weeks. Come spring
there are all the livestock things, new calves and piglets. I was pullin
feathers off the chickens before they were sent to market up until last
year, now I got my own chores at home to do."

	"Your family works close with Tally's?"

	"Oh yeah, we share the work and the profits my daddy says. It's too
much for just Tally's family, that's why they hire on. You wanna come work
with us?"

	"I don't know anything about farming," I said.

	Jerry laughed. "You think I did? Plucking feathers, shoveling shit
and driving a tractor doesn't take too much brain power, you could learn."
And then he looked down towards the river where Tally sat. "You could be
close to Tally."

	I looked over at him and he smiled. "I think Tally is a very
special boy," I said.

	"He's been lookin for a guy like you almost forever. We was foolin
around years ago and he always said he was gonna find someone to love...I
think he means you. It don't matter if it's gay, I just want Tally to be
happy."

	"I just don't know how to make it work, Jerry. How are his folks
gonna feel if they ever find out about us?"

	"I don't think Tally cares if they do find out. I never heard Uncle
Terry say a mean word about anyone, he's not like that. Tally's got a spare
bed in his room, I get that during the summer, but you could sleep there if
you hired on. On cold nights we used to pile in one bed, that's how Tally
and I got started."

	I smiled. "You're a lucky boy then...you really love Tally don't
you?"

	Jerry blushed or maybe it was the dying rays of the sun that lit
his face. He had real feelings for Tally but somehow that would all change
as Jerry grew older. The love of family was important to Jerry; he would do
anything for Tally now, in a few years the sex would end as he moved on. In
his own way he was trying to keep me involved with Tally, it was a sweet
gesture.

	"Yeah, I do love Tally sorta, but it's a lot different than what he
wants. Do you think he's really gay?"

	"You'd have to ask him that, Jerry. I know if he was I would
probably never leave him...I don't know how it would work, I still have a
lot of thinking to do about that."

	"Ask Tally, he knows how to make all kinds of things work," Jerry
said.

	The water was boiling by now and I added the veggies and the
meat. The adventure company had provided soups so I dumped in a packet of
onion soup mix and moved the pot to slow down the boil. Tally came back to
the fire and sat down opposite me. It was already twilight and the features
of his face were lit by the fire, this was all so familiar.

	"I used to go camping when I was in the Scouts; we even took a
canoe trip a lot like this one. But that was up in Virginia closer to
Tennessee. The mountains were all around us that first night and it was
hard to sleep because of the noises.

	"The troop leader said there were all kinds of animals in the woods
around us. You could see the paw prints of raccoons by the river bank and
deer tracks in the grass, it was really cool. Occasionally we would see a
snake but most of the wildlife was scared off by our noise. Well...all
except one.

	"The second night I was just goin to sleep when I heard a noise
outside the tent, like some big dog sniffin around. A few cans rattled in
our trash pile and then there were some snorting sounds. I sat up and
looked around but my two buddies were both sound asleep. I really wanted to
see what it was out there so I reached for my flashlight and crawled
towards the flap of the tent."

	Tally was on to me, I could see the beginnings of a smile. Jerry on
the other hand was gullible and I saw the look of suspense on his face. I
reached a hand back behind me and grasped a short bit of firewood, and then
I continued.

	"I opened the flap and looked out across the campsite but I
couldn't see anything, everything was quiet. I switched on the light and
shone it out across the picnic table and the cooler we had left
outside...nothing.

	"There was a noise to my right and I turned my head to look and
there was a shape by the next tent. It was about as far away as the corner
of our shelter is here...how far do you think that is Jerry?"

	Of course Jerry turned to look and I heaved the log into the
trees. The log tore through the leaves and made a thump when it hit the
ground, Jerry whipped around to look.

	"What was that?" he asked.

	I glanced casually towards the point of the sound and squinted in
the dark. "Nothing...I hope."

	"Anyways, the other tent was about eight feet away and I swung my
light over there and right into the face of a bear..."

	Tally stood up and pointed behind Jerry. "Oh My God..."he yelled.

	Of course Jerry freaked and then I yelled, "Bear."

	Jerry screamed and ran behind me as Tally dropped to his knees with
peals of laughter. I raised my hands, turned around to face Jerry and
growled. He punched me in the stomach and I went down. End of joke.

	"Not funny...not funny at all," Jerry yelled. "You scared me..."
And then he realized what he'd done.

	I was on the ground with a belly ache, the kid had hit real
hard. Tally was in tears from laughing so hard and Jerry was down on the
ground beside me.

	"Sorry Evan...I'm so sorry."

	"It's OK," I gasped.

	"Jerry punched the bear," Tally said, and then he went off laughing
hysterically once again.
	"You scared me...I didn't mean to hit you," Jerry said.

	I sat up and smiled, pulling the boy down into my lap. "Yes you
did, you punched the bear...what a brave little man."

	Jerry laughed and I tickled him. "You go punch Tally, I think
dinner is ready."

	The boys traded slaps until I called them off and handed out
bowls. The stew was delicious if I say so myself, the boys seemed to agree.

	Jerry seemed to continue the earlier conversation now that we had
Tally to respond.

	"Tally, how many acres of corn does your daddy have planted this
year?"

	"Four hundred, plus the south end...twelve hundred or so acres just
in corn, another eighty in alfalfa and soy, then there's the grains...just
plain lots, Jerry. All that work comin up, I'll be glad when school
starts."

	"You don't have to work when school starts?" I asked.

	"Hell yes, I just miss most of the day. I got chores start at four,
get the bus at seven-thirty and get home at three. I can bale hay until it
gets dark and we have supper, then I have homework and get in bed by
ten. Its hell for a while and then it snows. Nothin stops when it snows,
the work just gets more difficult."

	"But you have the crops in by then, what happens in winter?" I
asked. I really knew nothing about farming.

	"I shovel shit for Christmas right on until spring. Livestock has
to be fed, and cows are just so dumb you wouldn't believe the things they
get into. Sometimes it takes hours to round them up and get them back in
the barn when it snows. Thank God we got only a few hundred this year."

	"Oh, where did they go?" I asked.

	Tally laughed. "We're eatin one of them."

	"Oh, you butcher the cows too?"

	"Naw, daddy has a place does that, it's too tiresome and makes a
hell of a mess, I seen it done. Why you want to know all about the farm?"

	Jerry couldn't contain himself one second longer. "He's thinkin
about hiring on to be close to you, dummy."

	Tally's jaw dropped open and he stared at me. I smiled back and
nodded. "I would you know...I love you, Tally."

	He was all over me in a flash, bowls flying in every direction as
the boy leapt into my arms knocking me to the ground. The time for tears
was past, Tally was too happy to worry about the consequences of that
declaration. Jerry cleaned up the mess and sat back down to finish his
dinner, but he was happy too.

	It took ten minutes of hugs and kisses before Tally settled down
enough to think about what this all meant to me.

	"What about your school? You were going to chef school, this ain't
right."

	"So I take a year or two off. I'll tell my parents I need to study
the food chain; I can always go back to school. Maybe I should to switch
into agriculture; I ought to learn something about that from your daddy."

	"Evan...you know how hard this is? You work for my daddy from dawn
to dusk and sometimes beyond. He don't let up on anyone and we respect him
because he works hardest of all of us. You better think about this some
more."

	"I have to be near you, Tally...I don't care what it takes. It's
gonna be three years before we can do any of this legally, your parents may
never understand us, I don't know what to do if they find out."

	"Daddy won't kill you; he'll just ask you to leave. But we have
Granny to help us, she already knows about me I think. She liked you from
the first or we wouldn't be here."

	"OK, but I think signing on will get us started. You do want me
there don't you?"

	Tally reached a hand to my face; his eyes seemed to glow in the
firelight. Fingers caressed my cheek; slowly he leaned forward and kissed
me. It was a movie kiss, so tender, so sweet...I had my answer.

	"I know I ain't much, bein so young and all...but you're like a
dream come true. I've been comin down to the river every day because I knew
that if I was to meet someone it would be here. I've been thinking about
that for years, Jerry will tell you. I need you more than anything,
Evan. Just tell me what you want and it's yours."

	It only took me a moment and then I remembered a similar
conversation with Charlie, only this boy wouldn't leave me like he had.

	"I don't just want a boyfriend, Tally. I want someone I can share
love with for life. I have plans, things to accomplish for myself...and
hopefully for you. I never considered a partner so young, but in three
years it won't matter anymore, in twenty we won't even remember this
conversation.

	"But to be with me you have to work hard at school, harder than you
ever have before. Only this time I will be there to help you. We have to be
the smartest guys around so no one will ever laugh at us...never. It won't
be easy for either of us, Tally.

	"You don't know me very well...well maybe better than most right
now after what we did. God, we just met and here we are makin plans for
life...but I love you, I really mean that. Am I crazy or what?"

	"Crazy...no, I don't think so," Tally said. "I think we're lucky,
we found each other. I know I've been lookin a long time, I imagine you
have too."

	"I got very hurt last time I tried to love someone," I said.

	Tally smiled. "You didn't hurt me when we had sex, I thought that
was gonna be a world of hurt but it wasn't. You were gentle, you kept your
promise and didn't hurt me...I promise to never hurt you, Evan...never
ever."

	Jerry had heard enough, he started humming the wedding march,
"Dum-dum-de-dum..."

	I laughed and looked over at Tally, "Is he a good fuck?"

	"Oh yeah, he squeals like a piggy," Tally laughed.

	"Oh no...no way," Jerry said.

	"You giving up sex then?" Tally asked.

	"With you no, I could never do it with Evan...wouldn't you hate me
if I did?"

	"He doesn't want to make you jealous, Tally," I said.

	"Yeah, he just wants me until he can get into Jenny Burkes' pants,"
Tally said. "Now there's an impossible wet dream."

	"Oh, you like this Jenny?" I asked.

	"Yeah, but she thinks I'm nobody," Jerry replied.

	"Then she's a loser, she's missing out on the nicest guy around."

	Jerry smiled at me. "Thanks."

	"So let's clean up," I said. "Don't want any bears comin round in
the middle of the night."

	"Jerry will just punch them," Tally laughed.

	We rinsed out the dishes in the river and tossed the little bit of
stew left over in the fire. I told Jerry to give it fifteen minutes and we
would douse the whole thing. All that rolling around on the ground had made
us dirty so we washed off in the river. It was dark but there were a
million stars over head and their dim light was enough for us to see what
we were doing.

	This naked thing was pretty cool; none of us had been erect since
we had sex earlier. But as we settled into the shelter for the night I
could see both boys starting to bone up. I wondered what Jerry wanted to
do, would Tally still feel like going anal with the boy?

	I lay in the middle with two boys clinging to my chest. The dim
light of our lantern cast shadows on the walls and roof of the shelter, it
almost seemed cozy.

	"So...I have not one but two sex starved maniacs on my hands
tonight...hmm, wonder what to do?"

	"You can't fuck me, but Tally can," Jerry said.

	"Do you want me to fuck you?" Tally asked.

	"Is Evan gonna watch?" Jerry asked.

	"Oh yeah, maybe I can give Tally some advice." I said.

	"OK, he makes me cum without even touchin myself," Jerry said.

	I almost laughed, so Jerry was a prostate junkie, no wonder he
liked being fucked. And if he held true to type, once Jerry got off he
would quickly fall asleep. Then Tally and I could have a quiet talk.

	Jerry lay down on his stomach and I handed Tally the bottle of
lotion. He applied it to Jerry's bottom and managed a couple of fingers
inside just to show that the boy was ready. I had no idea how many times
this ritual had taken place between them. But for all I knew I might be
witnessing the final act, Tally would be mine.

	And I think Tally had the same thought, he seemed to do everything
he could to please Jerry and right on cue the little man squealed like a
piggy and shot cum on his sleeping bag. Tally laughed so hard he slid out.

	"Oh man, that was awesome," Jerry said. He looked down at Tally's
stiff cock. "You didn't..." And then he looked over at me. "Oh..."

	He knew, Tally was saving it for me and Jerry's face went from
happy to sad.

	"OK, dirty boys in the house, time to clean up," I said.

	I handed Tally the bar of soap and we went back to the river. They
washed up and then we were back to the shelter. Jerry yawned right on cue
and Tally gave him a big hug. Jerry had it all figured out by now and I
suppose in time he would be happy for Tally, he just wasn't there yet. Once
again I rubbed his back and Jerry fell asleep purring.

	"I wish it didn't have to be like this," Tally said. "He's always
been there for me and now...I just can't, you know that."

	"Jerry understands, maybe it will push him towards talking to that
girl. I can see he's more than your cousin; you guys have been the best of
friends. He won't be sad for long and we can still include him in some of
the things we do."

	"I only wanna be with you, Evan, like you said...partners."

	"Yeah, partners, now all I have to do is figure out what that
means. I don't imagine I'll get a whole hell of a lot of sleep tonight." I
reached over and turned off the lantern, allowing night to creep into the
shelter.

	The sounds of the river, crickets and night birds all seemed to
provide a great sense of peace, but not in my head. Tally lay quietly
beside me, respecting my need to think. I knew he was wide awake, the
moment seemed too important.

	"Tally?"

	"Yeah?"

	"You don't know me very well."

	"Same goes for me. What'cha wanna know?"

	"You said you came down to the river looking for someone like
me. What do you mean by that?" I asked.

	Silence. "I met some guys here and there, nobody special. Some guy
sucked me off when I was ten, I didn't even know what that meant when he
asked me for it. Stuff like that happened a few times, I just let them do
it."

	"When did you think you were gay...after that?"

	"No, getting sucked was just for fun and because I was bored. I've
seen my brothers jerk off before; they didn't know I was watching. I mean
they're family and I shouldn't have felt anything strange about that but I
did. Somehow I knew I liked guys, and at my school that's a dangerous thing
to be thinkin."

	"Do you know any other gay boys at school?"

	"A few...not that they know anything about me. They get treated
like shit, everyone picks on them and I don't even know if all of them are
gay. I couldn't suffer through that crap, I would have to hurt someone or
die tryin."

	"I have a friend named Stan; I think you'd really like him. He came
out when he was sixteen and some jerks picked on him, I stopped that cold."

	"Aw, that was cool. Does Stan know about you?"

	I laughed and stared up at the ceiling. "Tally, I didn't know about
me until this morning when I met you. I would have sworn I wasn't gay even
though I had gay sex before with another boy."

	"Is he cute?"

	"Charlie was...he's gone from my life now; it hurt a lot when he
left. I've been in fights so physical pain is something I understand, but
losing someone you love is a pain that I never want to feel again."

	"Evan...is that why you want to hire on with my dad, are you afraid
of losing me?"

	I nodded in the dark and rolled towards him. His hands reached out
for me and we embraced, releasing the flood of emotion that I had been
holding inside. The tears felt hot on my cheeks, I had to let go of the
painful past, now there was only Tally.

	I grasped his head and kissed him, feeling his body melt into
mine. I wanted him so badly, I had to love him and there was no way around
it. Tally seemed to sense my need and he slid his body on top of mine when
our lips parted. I knew he was staring down at me, trying to sense my
emotions.

	His fingers caressed my cheeks and encountered the wetness. "Oh
Evan, please don't cry." How could I explain, I was crying because of him,
because of what he meant to me. I sobbed and the tears kept flowing.

	His hands caressed and his lips kissed all over my face, and then
he put his cheek against mine and began to hum. It was a lullaby, a soft
and soothing sound that he had probably heard from his mother as a little
boy. It was the sweetest thing he could have done and I focused on the
sound.

	Nowhere in my wildest dreams could I have chosen a better match
than Tally. He was sensitive to my weakness, aware of my pain and so full
of life it astonished me. I had come out here to discover myself...and I
had because of this boy. God, how did a boy so young capture my heart so
fast?

	I would have to remember this moment in the days and weeks ahead,
it would bring me comfort. Now I had to face not one, but two sets of
parents if any of my plans were to succeed. My dad would be shocked, but I
knew his mind only too well. He would try to see it from my point of view;
it's what always made him a successful judge of my actions.

	Tally's father would look me over and evaluate my value to his
work. Farm life would probably seem brutal at first, but my goal was
clear. By the time harvest was over either I would be a wreck or become the
strongest man I had ever been. I would probably kill myself because of
Tally and still beg for more.

	I ran my fingers through his hair and he stopped humming and raised
his head.

	"You are so good to me," I said. "That was sweet."

	I knew he was smiling. "Granny used to sing that when I was a
baby."

	"I figured something like that. Where did you learn to be such a
wonderful boy?"

	Tally giggled. "It just comes naturally...you OK now?"

	I slid my hands down his back and grasped his butt. "More than OK,
I want to eat you," I growled.

	Tally's erection was instantaneous, and he pressed it down into my
stomach. I had watched him gobble Jerry's cum earlier so I knew he wasn't
shy of doing that. It had been so long since I tried that, but I knew it
would be as sweet as the rest of him. I owed him one for that lullaby and
now would be a good time to return the favor.

	We rolled over onto his sleeping bag and I began to lick and kiss
him behind his ear. I felt him stretch his head upwards; exposing his
slender neck and I trailed my tongue down below his chin. Tally moaned and
placed his hands on my head as I traveled down his body.

	There was only the barest hint of a glow inside the shelter, a
reflection of the starlight outside. But it was enough for me to nearly see
his nipples as I attacked them with teeth and tongue, Tally groaned as I
nibbled his soft flesh.

	My hands slid down his thighs and then between them. He had such
strong legs which quickly parted as my fingers slid up and cupped his
balls. I tongued his belly button, sinking the tip into the indentation and
causing him to giggle.

	"Sorry...tickles," He said.

	His cock pressed against my cheek so I turned my face towards it
and lapped at the head with my tongue.

	"Oh...shit...hmm," Tally moaned.

	I couldn't stand it, I had to taste him and I closed my lips around
his cock. He tasted wonderful as I ran circles around his cock with my
tongue. OK here goes, and I lowered my head allowing his cock to slide down
my throat.

	"Oh...Evan...yes," Tally whispered.

	It had been a while and I gagged a bit and withdrew as his cock
touched the back of my throat. No way, I wanted it all and I slid back
down, not stopping until my nose was in his pubes. Jeez, he felt so big,
not like a boy at all.

	I closed my lips around the base of his cock and applied suction as
I slid back to the tip. Yeah, now I remembered how to do it, and I went
after him with all the skill I could muster. My hands squeezed and caressed
his balls while my thumb rubbed the flesh beneath the sac.

	From the moans and groans I knew Tally was having a great time. I
took great pride in giving him this pleasure and redoubled my efforts. I
slid a hand up his stomach searching for his nipples. Capturing one I began
to squeeze and pinch it lightly.

	"Oh fuck...yeah, don't be gentle, pinch me harder," Tally said. His
breath was coming faster, almost a pant. I could feel his body shudder as I
pinched...and then suddenly he was there.

	"Oh God...fuck...I'm gonna cum..."

	Well at least he got that much out as his body suddenly jerked
upwards, shoving his cock down my throat as it swelled with the impending
orgasm, I abandoned his balls and grasped the base of his cock, pulling my
head back just in time to catch the full blast of his eruption.

	My mouth quickly filled and I had to swallow, something I had to
learn to accept. I did it quickly only to have my mouth receive another
couple of spurts, the kid was full of cum tonight and I was greedy for the
taste of him. The smell filled my sinus cavity and the cloying stickiness
coated my tongue.

	That was the point where I had barfed up Stan's jizz my first
time. I had wanted to please him, make him feel so good and I felt like a
failure. Jerking off had not been enough for either of us, we had to try
oral. We stroked and sucked a lot those first few years, but I never went
anal with him. He seemed to understand my reservations on that score, he
was the only gay boy in our games.

	Charlie had been completely different and I had felt glorious in
our sexual encounters, we did everything. And now I had Tally, and I knew
he was of the same mind as Charlie, nothing was off the table.

	Tally grabbed my head and pulled me up onto his chest, his lips
searching my face and centering on my mouth. Our tongues dueled and I
shared the taste of him. God he was so fucking sexy, I felt positively
light headed.

	Our hearts were pounding from the excitement, but I was careful not
to place my entire weight on his chest. Tally's hands roamed my back,
fingers clutching as we ground our lips together and then I pulled away to
let him breathe.

	"God Evan, I never...," Tally said.

	I smiled even though he couldn't see me very well.

	"So I was pretty good, huh?"

	"The best, I never exploded like that before. It's like you knew
every spot to touch. How did you do that? I felt like I was flying," Tally
said.

	My arms were tired of supporting my weight so I rolled over,
pulling him on top.

	"Can I do you now?" Tally asked.

	"Nope...not ready yet. The first time I did that I got sick, but it
got easier when Stan showed me how," I said.

	"Your gay friend, I'm glad he did...should I thank him?" Tally
laughed.

	"I hope Stan will understand us, I want him to because I'm sure no
one else will."

	"You worry what he thinks of you, why is that so important?" Tally
asked.

	I sighed. "Because for so long I didn't understand myself, I denied
being gay even when Charlie was in my life. Stan said I was ignoring the
facts. I was screwing a guy and in love with him, what more proof did I
need?"

	"If Charlie didn't make you feel gay how come it works with me?"

	"I don't know...well maybe I do. I'm older and more experienced
now, I'm not afraid of understanding my feelings, I just let them
happen. Emotionally I feel like a kid again only this time I'm ready to be
gay, to admit to myself that it's been there all along."

	"I am so lucky to have found you, Evan. Being gay and alone is no
fun, no fun at all."

	"It's just...you were so honest with me about your feelings,
Tally. I respect that more than you'll ever know, it's what made me love
you. I knew when you first said hello that you were something special, and
now I know what it is. I feel like you've done something that I always
feared doing, you discovered you were gay and accepted it."

	"I saw something in your eyes when you first looked at me, maybe
that's what it was...you recognized me inside of you," Tally said.

	"God, you are dead on. But how...how can you be so smart at only
fourteen? I've been trying to work this out for years and bam, you get it
right off. I have to love you, Tally or I don't love myself."

	"You don't have to love me, but you will...I'll make sure of that."
Now I knew Tally was staring down at me with this big old grin on his
face. He had me and he knew it, so I changed the subject.

	"So what do I say to your daddy? Does he hire just anyone who asks
to work?"

	"Nope, but he'll know you're smart and strong because if he doesn't
I'll kick him in the shins."

	"So you're the real boss of the farm, huh?"

	"Yup, weekend foreman, my daddy says...and he means it. I've been
watching the crews since I was little and always told him if they were doin
something wrong. He listens to me now, you'll see come Saturday."

	"What's Saturday," I asked.

	"Supper, you'll be there, my granny already invited you."

	"She did?"

	"Yup, said be back Saturday. My folks will be back then and Granny
will do us up a real fine supper, always does. Anyone that's around on
Saturday always stays for supper, it's a tradition and that means you. You
don't ever want to mess with Granny's traditions, oh no. Traditions are
what make a family proud."

	"So you think she knows about you...guess that means she'll know
about us pretty soon, I don't know what will happen then," I said.

	"Granny will study the situation cause she's a great thinker, and
then she'll ask me what's goin on," Tally said.

	"Jeez...what are you gonna say?"

	"The truth, we love one another. Oh, Granny is a big believer in
love, she says it's God's gift for all the misery we have to endure. Look
at all I had to go through to find you, she's right you know."

	"Tally, I don't think any adults will understand me and you
together. Just the sex part alone will get me in a world of trouble if
anyone finds out," I said.

	"What sex? We ain't havin no sex, I just love you that's all,"
Tally said.

	"Come on, you really think that will work?"

	"They have to believe me or call me a liar and they never did that
before. I'll be sure and tell Granny we're going to wait until I'm old
enough, she'll probably guess different but she won't say anything."

	"So it's back to what your granny thinks; now I know who the real
boss is around there."

	"You got that right, the farm is in her name, she owns it."

	"Oh? That explains a lot," I said.

	"Can I suck you now, it's gettin late," Tally said.

	"You're tired, let's wait until morning...OK?"

	"Aw...all right." Tally giggled. "Know how I'm gonna wake you up
now."

	"Sex maniac, let's go to sleep."

	Tally rolled off me and snuggled up close. I pulled the sleeping
bag over us both as I was sure it would cool down during the night. I
rolled to face him and he turned to face the other way so I could but my
arm over his chest. And the night got quiet.

	"I love you, Evan."

	"Love you too, Tally."

	He sighed with contentment and I nuzzled his hair and kissed his
neck. We were both fast asleep before the cricket's next chirp.