Date: Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:11:24 -0700 (PDT)
From: jimmy <ja1331@yahoo.com>
Subject: Someone New in My Life

This is my second story here. I will not tell you where the first one is
because it was to sad and there was to much personal stuff in it. If you
find it, then, oh well. Anyway if you should not be here then leave. If you
don't like this type of story then leave. If you are looking to get off
fast then you might want to leave. This is not going to be a sex story, but
more a love story. This story is pure fiction and contains nothing about me
or anything in my past life. I hope you like it. If you want you can email
me at ja@yahoo.com. I will try and answer all emails except flamers which I
think should be shot on sight. Live and let live. Anyway on with the story.

I had always wanted to do something to help other people that could use
some help. I expecially liked boys. Not because I wanted them sexually,
well maybe a little, but because I wanted to help someone like someone had
helped me a few years ago. I figured since I was doing good enough in my
business I could now afford to give a little back to someone. I called one
of my friends and asked him what he would recommend. I explained what I
would like to do and tried to get his feedback on it. He thought I should
posible take in a teen that was homesless or abused or something like
that. He knew someone I could talk to and told me he would get in touch. I
went back to my business and waited.

I passed a mirror on the way and stopped to look for a second. Not bad, I
thought. Now that I was going on 30 something I had gained a few pounds,
but nothing serious. I still had alot of muscle tone. My name is Jimmy
Allan, 6'1, 220 pounds. Lifting furniture all the time kept me toned. I own
a used furniture store slash flea market type business. Since my parents
decided to retire I was left to run the store. It keeps me pretty busy. I
am open 6 days a week. I don't make a fortune, but it pays the bills. If I
were in a better part of town I could do better. But I knew most of my
customers by name and I was always there to help them. The down side is
sometimes some one will steal something. That is something I never could
stand and if you got caught there was hell to pay. You would definatly be
going on a trip to the big house. People knew that and ususally I didn't
have any problems.

Finished for the day I was just ralaxing when the phone rang. It was my
friend calling me to tell me that he had gotten in touch with someone from
the foster care program and explained what I wanted to know and that they
said someone from their office would get in touch with me tomorrow. It pays
to have friends in high places. I went to bed that night with alot of hope
and wonderment about the future.

The next day things went along as normal. Being the middle of the week it
is always a little slower than the weekend. About lunch time someone pulled
up and after getting out came over to talk to me. He said his name was
Mr. Jones and was from the foster care program and heard I wanted to
help. We must have talked for over an hour. He told me what all I would
have to do and need. Then out of the blue he asked me if I was gay. I about
froze for a second until he spoke up and said not to worry, but he had to
ask that question. I figured it would do no good to lie and told that yes I
have done some gay things in my day, but at them moment I live alone. He
then asked why I wanted to be a foster parent? I knew what he was getting
at and told him that no I did not want a boy so I could have sex with him.
I just wanted to help. I explained that I would never be interested in a
minor in that way. He seemed to study me for a minute before he continued.
He then asked what I would do if one came on to me as he put it.  I simply
told him I would have to be firm (no pun intended)and explain that I would
not be interested. He goes on to say that sometimes they do get boys that
are gay and because they are, thats why they are in the system. Their
parents simply didn't want them around anymore after coming out. I told him
that would be alright with me. That maybe I could help some teen to
understand things since I had been there.

Mr. Jones then said he would like to see the house and see whats available.
Since I had a spare bedroom that could be used that was no problem. He told
me what furniture I would need and anything else that would have to be done
first. Then he said I would have to fill out alot of forms, have a
background check and answers thousands of questions. He told me it would
take a few months to get everything done. He also said I would have to go
to some meetings that would cover things that might come up and how to deal
with certain things. It was for a whole week and would take about 2 hours a
night. It sounded to me like a lot of work just to help out. But, in the
end I told him I was definatly interested and when could we start. I was
handed a bunch a papers and told to fill everything out and let him know
when I had it done. I told him I would have them done by the night time and
he could pick them up tomorrow. With that he left.

I went back to work and took the papers with me. I figured I could work on
them in the meantime. They started off simple enough. Name, address, etc.
but the futher I got the harder they seemed to get. Now don't get me wrong,
I'm not stupid, but some where like do you hunt and why? I mean what is
that about. Then if you get into an accident with a foster child, who do
you call first? I mean, who thinks up this stuff. Well it took quite awhile
to get through them all, but in the end I made it. I just tried to answer
the best I could and wrote what I thought from the heart. I knew this was
serious and I wanted to treat it that way. I figured some one must know
what they are doing.

I waited anxiously the next day for him to arrive. At about noon time he
again shows up. After looking over all the papers I gave him he says things
seem to be in order. He will read over everything when he gets back to the
office and call me if he has any questions. I thank him and he gets ready
to leave when he stops and says to me, "oh, by the way, your background
check seems good. We have some more to do, but so far so good".  I went oh
wow, already? He kind of chuckles and says, yes, with computers now things
go faster than ever. After that he leaves.

My mind is awhirl. I can't believe things are moving forward. After all
this time I might be able to make a difference in someones life. Then I get
to thinking, well, what if they send me some kid that is on drugs or
dangerous or who knows what? Then what would I do? All this for nothing? I
am not sure I want to think about that. But, it could happen. After
thinking for a long time I decided to just wait and see what happens next.

I didn't hear anything for several days, In fact it was over a week before
I heard anything. Mr. Jones called and told me things were going smoothly
and they didn't seem to have any problems. He wanted to know how things
were going on my end. I told him I had the room about the way he told me
to, just needing a couple minor things. He said that was good and then gave
me the times for the meeting I needed to attend. He said the meeting were
always at night so people had no excuses to not attend. I wrote down the
dates and times and told him I would be there.

The meetings went off with no problems. They discussed alot of different
things. Some of which I never thought of. I was given all the dos and don't
about being a forster parent. Most of the ideas were common sense, but some
were off the wall. All in all I came away with a good feeling about the
whole thing.

The next day I was on a high. I was feeling really good about this whole
parenting thing. I never was a parent so wasn't sure what I was getting
into, but loved the idea anyway. Nothing was going to ruin my day, well,
thats what I thought. About mid morning some teen comes in the store. He
has been there a couple times, so I wasn't worried about it. He only has
his dad and they don't have alot of money, but I never had a problem with
him. I was busy doing some work and just happened to look up and see him
stick something in his pocket. I was not sure what it was because most of
the stuff where he was was big. I knew he could not have gotten something
that big in his pocket. Anyway I just kind of watched him for a few minutes
and then he started to leave. I stopped him at the door to talk to him. I
never usually just come out and tell people I know they stole, I kind of
let them say it. I asked him how he was and how his dad was. He talked to
me but you could tell he was not comfortable. Looking down at his pocket I
could not really tell what, if anything, he could have put there. I decided
to take a gamble and asked him point blank if he just now stole something
from me. Of course I got the no and how dare I type of answer. I then asked
him if he didn't, then he wouldn't mind emptying his pockets for me. With
that he takes off. I mean zoom and its off. Well little do people know, but
I can run pretty fast myself and before he got half way out the parking lot
I had him. I grabbed him by the arm. He went to swing at me and I grabbed
his other arm. Now pulling both his arms back so it kind of hurt a little I
escorted him back to the store. After getting him back, I handcuff him with
my set and had him sit on a chair nearby. I begin the process of asking him
why. He doesn't say anything. No matter what I say or ask he doesn't say
anything. I decided I had to know what it was he had. I reach in his pocket
and pull out a lighter. Its one of those cheap ones I have on the counter.
I showed it to him and said thats what you took? A lighter? He still said
nothing. I told him that was fine, but now it was time to deal with him. I
would do what I always do and call the police. Stealing from me was the
worse you could do and I had no sympathy for thieves. I reached for my cell
phone to dial the number. Thats when he spoke.

"Please mister don't call the police. I'm sorry".

I told him that it was to bad. Thats what I always did and he was no better
then the next thief. At that he began to sob. It wasn't an all out bawl,
but it was there. I told him it would do no good to cry that I was going to
call anyway and that was it. Thats when he got to seriously crying. I mean
the flood gates opened. He kept at it and told me his dad was going to kill
him. I told him he should have thought of that before and now it was to
late. I told him I could not treat him any differently. Then I made the
call. Sure I could have been nice and not called, then let him go, but
thats not my style. You steal from me you pay the price. When the officer
arrived I filled him in. He told me they could only send him home to his
dad since he was a minor. I told him I know, but he will learn a lesson I
hope. So off they went.

The rest of the day I just made do. I get so down when something like this
happens. The world is not perfect, but I don't like problems. When
something like this happens I get depressed some. I know I did the right
thing, but I still fell bad. I closed a little early and went to relax.
After having a hot shower I felt alittle better. Most of the stress seemed
to fade away. I guess taking care of a little personal business in the
shower might have helped too.

Next couple days all was well. It was the weekend and business was good. It
keeps me busy and by the time night comes I am wore out.

Having not heard anything from Mr Jones I called him that night. He informs
me all is well and not to worry that they are almost done with everything.
They were going to send someone else to interview me in a couple days. He
said not to worry that it was only standard procedure. They needed to get
someone elses thoughts about me. It sounded to me like a shrink, but I
didn't say it. He said the man would be there in two days at about 11 am.

Right on time two days later he shows up. I could tell right off the bat
that he was definatly a shrink. The kind of questions he asked would only
be asked by someone like that. I took it all in stride and answered
everything as honestly as I could. It took about an hour and he was gone.
By early afternoon Mr Jones called and said he was sending someone else
over in the evening to inspect the bedroom and make sure all was well. I
told him that was fine.

When he arrived that night I showed him the room and after he looked it
over he said all seemed to be in order. There was a couple other things he
wanted to make sure were in the house and after checking them out said
everything was good. We talked for a few minutes and then he also left.

Almost a week went by and I still heard nothing. I was starting to get
worried. I hate the not knowing. But it had been a busy week in the store
so that kept my mind occupied. After closing the store and getting to the
house to relax the phone rang. It was Mr. Jones. He tells me that they have
this teen that was beat up and has been in the hospital for a week and they
are going to release him tomorrow. Since they can't send him back home and
most of my file has been completed would I be interested? He says the boy
is 14, his name is Tim and probably gay. His father had beat the hell out
of him and was arrested. He says he was in bad shape and will need alot of
help. He said the state will pay for all the medical and personal stuff for
him. He will be transported to the doctors when he needs to be. All I have
to do is provide a place for him to stay. He tells me it won't be easy,
because the teen is now very quiet and cries alot. He said all he needs is
some tender loving care. I don't even think. I tell him of course I will
take him in. Maybe I can help. Having been through some hard times growing
up myself I might be able to make a difference. He tells me he will see me
tomorrow to drop him off and see how things go for awhile. If things go
alright he will then leave him with me. I tell him thats fine and we hang
up.

My mind was going 100 miles an hour.  Who was this kid and why would
someone hurt him? I could never do that. It was a long restless night.

I woke in the morning just as tired as I went to bed. I just could not
sleep. Everytime I turned over I was thinking about the kid. What was he
like? Would he like me? Would I like him? Over and over it went. I crawled
out of bed and had my morning shower. After that and my morning coffee I
felt better. I still had a lot of questions, but I guess they would have to
be answered later. Making my way to the store I finally opened. Nothing
special happened and I was glad. I need to take it easy and try to relax a
bit. I was not going to overdo it. Some lady come in and I had to go help
her. I had to take a small table to her car.  After loading it, I go back
in the store and start moving something in the place the table was just in
when I hear another car coming in the parking lot. I finish what I am doing
and go to the front of the store. There is Mr Jones. He tells me he has
brought Tim and is outside in the car. He wanted to make sure I am ready
for this. I take a deep breath and tell him yes. He leaves to go get
Tim. When he comes back I take a look at the boy and go, "Oh, its you".

tbc