Date: Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:45:23 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Jason Adonis 10

Jason Adonis
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


10: Canadian Ah!

We approached Calgary (YYC) from the north, in the early evening with the
sun low in the west, putting the eastern slopes of the mountains into
shadow, with the boreal forest and grain fields of the flat land still
bathed in the reddish hues of a mid summer day.  Calgary is one of those
western Canadian cities that rise up from the landscape, a semi arid, high
plateau, almost as if dropped in place by the hand of Zeus.  ATC directed
us to fly over and approach from the south. (Runway 1: Heading 16/34,
3,863m (12,673 ft), 111/F/D/W/T, Aircraft size max: B747-400, No ILS,
Lighting: CAT I ) Giving both sides of the aircraft a good look at the
Rockies, just west of the city.

I figured the boys would like Calgary and Alberta.  I wanted to settle here
for the next few years.  The boys would probably want to see more locations
from Denver west to the pacific, before they made a final decision.
Growing up in Switzerland, I was sure, they would want a location close to
good skiing and mountain wilderness.  Calgary offers that but so do many
other places.  I would get them to do a location analysis and some personal
visits, before we vote.

Dane van Witt, one of our Canadian managers and Helga's youngest son, met
us at the air service terminal.  That was of course after a brief stop at
Canada Customs and Immigration.  He is a tall, very Dutch looking fellow,
about 40.  He was dressed in cowboy clothing, which drew the immediate
attention of the brothers.  I was only a small boy when he and Frans left
for Canada.  It was only in the last few years that I had gotten to know
him and his family.  He and Georgia have two girls, one about 14 and one
about 11.  Not that they don't travel to Amsterdam often, they do but our
paths just never seamed to cross that much while I was growing up.

"Onthaal aan Calgary."  (Welcome to Calgary) Dane's Dutch was still
perfect.  "Oh Jason, it is so good to see you again," He gushed pressing
our bodies tightly together.  We exchanged the usual kind of pleasantries
and he shook the hand of each brother in turn.  Dane was one of the few
people I had confided in and sought advice from, when planning the adoption
caper.  In fact, if I could have convinced him and Frans to take on greater
responsibilities, my plans would have been quite different but neither one
liked to travel all that much.

"This must be Ziggy," he boomed shaking his hand and engulfing the lad with
his long right arm.  "My mother talks about you constantly, just like she
did about Jason when he was your age.  I think you did well here Jason,
they are a fine looking group and both mother and Klass do little else than
praise them.  They were both in such a funk since Jason Senior and Nancy
were killed, which now seams to have evaporated.  Thank you all for giving
them renewed life.  I suspect you boys are the only reason mother is
willing to visit Canada."  I was blown away.  I realized the boys had
reinvigorated Klass and Helga but I had no idea the depth or duration of
their grieving until now.

Dane took us to a large downtown apartment hotel, assuring us he would be
around in the morning.  It was now the first week in July and on the first
Friday in July, Calgary holds the strangest event called a "Stampede".  It
is billed as the "World's Largest Outdoor Show" and after experiencing it,
I suspect it is.  It turned out to be a rodeo, chuck wagon races, stage
entertainment, midway, exhibition and country fair, plus much more, all
rolled into one.  Nothing like it in Europe, eastern Canada or the United
States, that is for sure.

The whole city goes kind of nuts, in a good way.  Not that Calgary is
anything but a reasonably friendly city under normal conditions but for
"Stampede Week"; which is 10 day long, go figure that, it becomes even
friendlier.  The first strange thing that greets the visitor is the general
casualness of everyone during this period.  When I say casualness, I mean
mostly in dress.  Sure it is one big party but beyond that almost everyone,
"dresses western", which translates to cowboy clothing and boots.  The only
people that don't costume up are formally uniformed, like the police.  What
is very funny are the oil and banking executives, like Dane, with cowboy
shirts, jeans and sometimes a "tie", needed to get into the Petroleum Club,
instead of a three piece suit.  Stuffy and formal places like banks are all
decorated to look like barns and corals.  Western North American cities are
not like European cities, they are much more spread out and open.  Calgary
at about a million takes up more physical space then most cities of three
million in Europe.

Strange events called Stampede Breakfasts are held all over the city.
People just line up for "flap Jacks" (pannekooken in Dutch), sausages,
baked beans and drinks.  It is like a big block party with kids running
around and complete strangers laughing and interacting with each other.  As
soon as the residents find out your are new to the city or a visitor, they
become instant welcoming committees.  I know I was surprised but the boys
were just overwhelmed.  One morning, on our way to the office, a four block
walk, we encountered one in front of a bank, right on the sidewalk.  I was
not hungry, having only just finished eating but the boys all indulged as
if they had not eaten for days.  This was something that the Foundation
could not have prepared them for.  We were about to just walk by when
several young and I might add good looking "cowgirls", pulled the brother
literally into the line up.  I think they would have been offended had we
not taken up their offer of hospitality.  Not being prepared made it all
the more interesting and well, just welcoming.

I digress, Stampede would start in several days, the first Friday in July
to be exact so Dane took all of us to a store that specialized in Western
Ware.  The boots were comfortable and the jeans skin tight, the shirts
plad.  Our compact, youthful asses, just looked great in them too.

"Jason, got a call from Klass last night."

"Is my uncle checking up on me?"

"He and mother were checking up on the boys of course and you are one of
them, remember."

"I suppose they are trying to back out on the trip to Canada, now that the
DNP have made their arrests."

"No, in fact they are both looking forward to it.  Mother will be stopping
in Toronto for a few weeks with Frans and family and Klass will go on to
Vancouver to visit the Henderson children for a week.  I did not know he
had family in B. C.?"  I told him about Captain Henderson and Klass'
boyhood adventures.  It all seamed to make sense to Dane, you could see it
in his eyes.  I wondered which one had been Klass' and which one my dad's
boy.

"Dane, can you and some of your senior staff give us a few hours this
afternoon?"

"Of course, what is the subject?"

"Not business, I would not change your scheduled meetings but I think my
brothers could use some sound advice to help them plan their near term
futures..."

"That is a very good idea, I think you should hold your planning meetings
in our boardroom.  We won't need it during Stampede week anyway.  I'll have
our IT's organize a LAN for your laptops.  Let me see, yes our senior
geologist is from Colorado and our senior engineer worked in the Pacific
Northwest, I'll find a few more."

"That is more than kind but I don't want to tie up all your people during
the drilling season."

"It is not a problem, most projects are underway, production is on going
and not all that much real business gets done during the summer anyway."  I
think he picked up on my unease. "I will introduce you as younger cousins,
thinking about moving to the west.  Close enough to the truth but vague
enough, don't you think?"  Well that would work I agreed, and it did too.
The ACan office is in Toronto, I will need to establish some kind of office
here, perhaps with some staff.  ........................

"Jason are you sure you don't mind me playing around with Herman?"

"Ziggy why should I mind, Herman is my body guard and my friend, you are my
brother.  Sex between any of us is voluntary and without obligation or
additional reward.  I treasure sex shared between myself and all of you.  I
hope you all treasure sex with me and between yourselves."

"Harr matey, this pirate wants to share some of that treasure."  He said
imitating Robert Newton's, old movie version of Treasure Island's, Long
John Silver character.  And so we did.  Getting off the cowboy boots and
tight jeans proved to be both frustrating and humorous.  The frustrating
part results from their not being enough room in our pants for each others
hands.

"Jason are you still awake?"  I was laying on my back and Ziggy was on his
side with is head on my left shoulder and his right leg draped over my left
between my legs and contacting my limp cock with his smooth boyish skin.
His limp penis pressing into my side and his cheek pressed against my
chest.  I could feel the heat from his body and it felt so good to be holed
his warm body.  It felt so good to hear his breathing, feel his hear beat
and just be in his presence.

"Yes, little brother I am awake."

"Jason, did I ever thank you for liberating me from the Foundation and
taking me into your heart?"

"Only every time I look at your sweet face, Ziggy."

"You know, well maybe you don't but I'll tell you; I have never been so
happy and so ... so secure in my life as I am when we sleep together."

"I'm glad Ziggy, I'm glad you feel secure and glad you are happy."

"Jason, are you going to give me a special job in our brotherhood?'

"No little man, you are going to define and create your own special job."

"How can I do that, what will it be?"

"We all have special talents and interests that everyone looks to us for.
You will make your own place in the family just as you have made a special
place in all of our hearts."  Ziggy began kissing my neck and cheeks.
"Your special talent has just not expressed itself yet but it will, give it
time, who knows maybe your special talent is like mine, being a generalist
and not a specialist."  Ziggy pressed his face back against my chest and
was fast asleep.  This brother, this brother's lover, was almost asleep
himself.  How on earth did I ever live without my little man?  How did I
even survive without all my brothers?  What would I do without them,
without him?"

After a few days we were getting to know Calgary.  The boys discovered the
`Mountain Equipment Coop" for out door stuff, a cycle shop and so on.  We
were enjoying the long summer days at this latitude.  Cycling along the Bow
River, meeting young people and just enjoying the city and Stampede.

Klass showed up just as the Stampede was ending and being our world wide
facilities manager, began working with the brothers on finding a location
and city to live in.  The brothers had made plans to visit several
locations: Denver, Vancouver, Portland and several California locations.  I
wanted to stay in Canada but it was not up to me, it was up to them.  They
would hold an analysis and we would all vote.  Ziggy wanted to stay with me
so Klass and the others traveled and did their on site fact finding.  When
I asked him why he just said, "I don't care where I live as long as it is
close to you Jason."

Stan and Eric had worked together to develop a rating system, which awarded
points to each place based on hard facts and more subjective criteria.  The
subjective parts were rated by each of us from one to ten and normalized
and averaged.  The factual parts were also given points as being either
yes/no or falling into some range or another.  For example cities like
Portland, while being very nice places, would not get many points for
transportation and access but lots of points for ideal size, schools
available and being a sea port.  Klass was more interested in local
transportation, housing and so on.  Herman went with them to evaluate the
security situation, making sure PPI assigned a local person to Ziggy and I.

I had a large amount of work to do, much of it on the international side
and the diamond certification system was causing some problems.  I also had
a number of major family trust decisions to make.  Ziggy worked very hard
to assist me but I could see he was just a bit lonely.  He had never lived
in an environment with so few people in it before.  Dane's girls were
always happy to do things with him and of course show him off to their
friends.  I was finding this apartment hotel just a bit tiresome, since it
was not organized for families.  Dane suggested Ziggy take one or two of
the summer learning camp programs, for high school students, at the
University of Calgary, which he did.  Fortunately the light rail transit
line runs from the downtown up to the university.  Ziggy quickly made a
number of acquaintances in his own age group, another good thing.  One of
those friends was a thirteen year old that he would often see in the
evening.  Several times we all rode together.  The boy was very shy and
quiet.  His name is Drew, average height for 13, blondish hair, blue-green
eyes, a pleasant but not outstanding face.  Name and a smile was about all
I could get from him.  On the evening before the tribe was to return, Klass
had come back two days earlier; I could see Drew was in some kind of
distress but be was totally unwilling to talk about it.  Although he tried
to keep his body covered, several times his shirt rode up and I could see
what looked like bruises on his back and side.  He looked like he had been
in a fight I thought.  I told Ziggy in German, look at his back and find
out what had happened.

Ziggy and Klass were amazing.  Zig not only got Drew to tell him but he
managed to get him up to our apartment to meet uncle Klass and tell us his
story.  Alcoholic mother and sometimes abusive boyfriend, been in foster
homes a couple of times.  Had been threatened not to cause any more
trouble.  Klass got him to take off his shirt.  He told Drew that his
bruises, of all those years ago, had been about the same.  He touched the
boy's shoulder and their eyes met, Drew realized that Klass understood his
physical pain and intellectual confusion.  That someone else understood,
that he was not alone.  In his thick Dutch accent he told the boy, "you
don't know me or us well enough to trust us but I have a duty to the memory
of Captain Jack Henderson, the man who saved my life; I can do nothing less
for you, you must give me the chance to prove it."  Klass made sure Drew
had Ziggy's cell phone when he left.  We were not sure the kid would call
for help, even if he needed it but at least we had tried.

I did not find out until much later that Klass used a large fraction of his
personal income to support children's charities, like foster parents
programs and UNICEF.

Ziggy didn't understand how anyone could hurt a child.  "At the Foundation
no one would ever think of hurting anyone else and never one of the younger
ones." He described how as six to eleven year olds, the older boys would
take them in small groups or one at a time to play boy games.  "They would
hold and tickle, wrestle and kiss them, showing gentle physical affection.
"They would fondled, kiss and suck on us too.  They would get us to fondle
and suck them.  Sometimes they would play with our butts, reaming them and
giving prostrate massages.  No one would fuck us until we were 11 and none
of us were ever forced.  They always made sex fun and enjoyable.  Sometimes
us little boys would play these games with each other, when the older ones
were not around.  When we were older we played with the younger ones the
same way.  We may not have had parents or real families but we were never
in fear."

The Dr. Director was very innovative in his use of behavioural anthropology
and primate behavioural studies, incorporating much of it.  His initial
goal was to socialize his charges in the best way he knew how.  The
children of the Foundation were, if noting else, highly educated, well
adjusted, caring people.  Only a small percentage of the
adopters/benefactors turned out to be pedophiles, in the common, unsavoury
sense of the word.

As soon as the tribe returned from their fact finding we all went camping
in Banff and Jasper parks.  All but Klass, that is, who stayed behind to
welcome Helga and get her settled in with Dane's family.  Oma was very
popular with her granddaughters so our absence would not be a difficulty.
"I think Klass and Helga missed each other's company too.  I get the
feeling Klass thought of her as the sister he had lost, all those years
ago."

Camping in Banff National Park is wondrous.  Their are mountains and parks
in Europe but little like this.  Since any description of our adventures
will take many pages, I shall leave it to your imaginations.  (see
parkscanada.ca)

We returned to the city, depositing our camping gear in a self store unit,
Dane had arranged for us.  We, the excited wilderness travellers and
adventurers, bubbling with mirth, entered our apartment.  We were intent on
relating all the wonders beheld and natural experiences to Klass and
Herman.  Not to mention our universal need for hot showers and gourmet
food.  Everyone was talking and laughing, as we tumbled into the living
room to find one hell of a surprise.  A surprise so stunning that for a few
moments we, yes all seven of us, and even Ziggy, were speechless.  It was
not exactly what we saw, or the context but the image that was shocking.

Sitting in two overstuffed arm chairs were Klass and a friend playing
chess.  Beethoven's 5th was playing, and the two chess players were
intensely studying the board.  This is not in and of itself any kind of
shock.  The context was very normal.  Klass playing chess was not in any
way out of the ordinary and since chess is played by two, having a guest
was not out of the ordinary.  The guest was Drew.  Drew as a guest in our
home was not in any way unusual either.  At this point the reader is
thinking I have digressed again and perhaps this time too far a field.

What is unusual?  Drew's arm was wrapped in a sling.  He was attached to an
IV line, that was attached to a bag, on one of those tall poles with wheels
on the base, like you see in the movies.  His and Klass' attention was
being artificially fixed on the chess board.  The expression on their faces
was half serious and half smirk.  I'm sure the expression on my face was
questioning shock and the expressions displayed by the bothers was total
wonderment.  Except for Ziggy, Drew was a total stranger.  Herman was not
to be seen.

Ziggy broke first, rushing to his friend.  It was a very emotional and
animated few minutes.  Everyone was talking at once and wanting their
questions answered, even me.  "I'll be all right in a week or so, Uncle
Klass and Herman saved my life."  At that point Drew began to cry and
everyone settled down.  "Now can we finish our game," Klass, with his
understated dry sense of humor, politely asked.

I looked at the board.  Drew was white and it was his turn, he was about to
win if he realized it, but I guessed he did not.  I picked up his Queen's
Knight and moved it to blacks King's Knight three.  Since the King's
Bishop's pawn was at King's Bishops three and the King's Rook's pawn was at
Rook 3, I had him.  OK Drew had him or perhaps he had himself, Klass was
too good a player to set himself up like that, unless he was "throwing the
game".

"Check Mate, now we can talk."  Klass tipped his king over.  Drew looked up
at me and smiled, I was sure he had not yet seen that move.

Herman came in the room at about that point and all the talking started
again.  Klass, Herman and Drew all gave their version of events, after
everyone settled down.

"My mother and her boyfriend were both heavy into the booze when they
started to fight.  It was late and I just headed for my room, knowing this
would lead to unpleasantness of the first order.  They were really going at
it and then I think he passed out, as she was yelling at him but he was not
answering.  She stopped and I figured it was all over and started to drift
off to sleep.  For some reason I didn't undress but had just flopped on the
bed.  I guess maybe I figured it was best to keep my cloths on.  Anyway, I
woke up again when the yelling stated.  She burst into my room and before I
could even move, she stabbed me.  He pointed to his left side.  It was not
to long a blade and the Doc. said my leather skating vest helped.  Her
boyfriend tried to get the knife away from her but she stabbed him in the
gut and he fell on me she stabbed him several more times and ran out of the
room.  I managed to push him off enough to reach the cell phone and call
Klass.  Then I passed out.  The next thing I remember was Klass and Herman
taking me to the ambulance.  I passed out again and woke up in the hospital
with Klass sitting by my bed.  That was the day before yesterday."

Klass and Herman told us about Drew's call and their actions.  "I woke up
with my cell phone ringing.  Drew said he had been stabbed and where he
was.  Then he must have passed out.  I called 911 told them and woke Herman
up.  We drove to Drew's, the cops and paramedics had already arrived but
were evaluating the situation, since the house appeared to be quiet but no
one answered the door.  Herman just ran up to the front door and through
himself against it, with me right after him and the cops right after me.  I
guess they wanted some assurance a crime was in progress before busting in
with no warrant and since the 911 call came from me, not Drew."

"I just told them, being a privet citizen I didn't need a warrant and if
busting in was a crime in progress they were in luck," Herman offered.

"Herman knocked the door down and I rushed in right past the woman.  Drew's
mother was in the living room and went for one of Calgary's finest with her
knife, which he was able to dodge and subdue her.  While that was going on
we looked in rooms until I found Drew.  The man was dead and blood was
everywhere.  Drew had just passed out due to the shock and loss of blood, I
prayed."

"He kind of prayed out loud shouting, "mijn god in hemel" (my god in
heaven) sever times and with much more conviction than I have ever noticed
in him before," Herman added.

"Herman moved the dead man and I picked Drew up, just about knocking down
the paramedics, who were coming into the house and carried him to the
Ambulance ...  Ja, the police were not to happy that Herman and I just
pushed past them and into the house."

"Klass told them during the interview, at the hospital, that he and I had
knowledge they did not, since Drew had called us for help.  I told them
they had to follow procedures, we knew that but we had to follow procedures
too.  Klass said, if a Canadian solder had followed normal procedures in
1945 I would not be here today."

"I did what I had to do that's all, you are all making to much of this,"
Klass protested.

"Klass Henderson you did what you have taught me all my life, the right
thing, can we make to much of it perhaps but for Drew, it can never be made
enough of.

"See, uncle Klass, I told you that, I said you saved me life, sure the
Doctors and paramedics helped but even the doctor said a few more minutes
and I would have been a goner."

This was one time neither Ziggy or I would be getting the last word.  I
don't know about Ziggy but for once I sure didn't mind.  All the brothers
introduced themselves and took over making Drew as welcome and as
comfortable as they could.  .............  "You need not concern yourself
Jason, I have everything under control.  Dane arranged for legal council
for Drew, Herman and I.  He is in my care for the time being.  He wants
nothing to do with his mother's family and has no idea who his father was."
I knew better than to question Klass on anything but the facts.  He would
do what he wanted and what his heart told him he must.

........  "I never doubted for one moment Klass and don't ever think
that. Besides seven or eight what's the difference?"

"I don't know, he may not, and I have not, and it may not be possible."

"Klass, why did Jack Henderson leave you with Oma and Opa?"

"For my safety he was moving to the front, to the fighting."

"When the war ended why didn't he bring you to Canada?"

"He told me he wanted to but he knew it would be another great disruption
in my life and since I was happy and secure, he though it was best for me."

"You accepted Jack's ideas, why?"

"I guess, well the truth be told, I wanted to go with him more then
anything and I know he wanted me to come to Canada.  When he saw how well I
was getting along and how happy I was with the family he could not ask, he
knew my loyalty to him was so strong I would have done anything, gone any
place, without question."

"Do you think Drew's loyalty will be any less than Klass'?"

"No"

"Do you think he will be any better cared for, loved, neutered, happy or
anything else, outside your protection."

"I guess it is possible but being honest, no."

"I know you have the means, the will or desire and perhaps even the need
... it is only a question of how long it will take.  As I said, seven or
eight, it makes little difference."

So that is how we acquired a younger cousin, in fact a younger brother.  It
will take the lawyers years to get all this sorted out but we had years to
do it.  I don't want you to think that just saying it is so, necessarily
makes it that way.