Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2002 19:04:48 -0600
From: Fredric L. Brothers <flbrothers@hotmail.com>
Subject: "SUMMER WITH VAL"  Chapter 12 (Part 1)

Disclaimer: The following story is a homoerotic work of fiction.  It
involves sex between adult men and minor boys and between minor boys.
    If you find this disturbing, please leave.  Your mission is now
                              completed.
     I would appreciate any and all comments you may have.  Email:
                        FLBROTHERS@hotmail.com

		    ----------------------------------
			     SUMMER  WITH  VAL
		    ----------------------------------
			     By Fred Brothers
     Copyright (c) 2002 by Fredric Law Brothers (All Rights Reserved)

  NOTE CAREFULLY: The following work is intended solely for private,
  individual use.  It may not be reproduced, distributed or posted on
   additional web sites without the expressed written consent of the
         author.  To do so is in violation of copyright laws.

			 Chapter 12 (Part 1) - Val
		    -----------------------------------

      Shit!  Was that ever the ride down from Seattle!  I still call it
the  trip  from hell!  Like, we do the whole thing in way less  `n  two
days but it seems t' take forever.  Zack's idea is t' do it all in  one
day  but he gets too tired driving so we stop for one night at a  motel
near Medford.  That's in Oregon.

      Me  and Zack don't talk.  Like if we say ten words t' each  other
during  the  whole  trip it's a lot.  Dinnertime's  the  worst!   Total
silence!   All  ya  can  hear's the clinking of forks  and  knives  and
plates.  Had t' be two a the worst days of my life.

      Me  and  Gabe do a lotta talkin'.  I don't think Zack hears  much
`cause  he's  always  on  the  phone  or  listening  t'  music  through
headphones.  I tell Gabe how happy I am livin' with Zack `til he starts
findin' fault wit' everythin' I'm doin' and I can't seem t' do anythin'
right.   I  start cryin' a few times `cause I really want t' stay  wit'
Gabe and Zack but I know it won't be good.  Gabe agrees.

     Me and Gabe sleep together and I cry some more.  I just can't help
myself.   I  worry `bout livin' wit' my auntie and uncle, and  my  girl
cousins  -  they're all older `n me - and gettin' used t' a  whole  new
bunch  a  kids in school, `bout having no hands and `bout bein'  liked.
He puts his hands on my stumps.  I tell him I like that so he begins t'
rub  `em.  When he rubs `em I settle down.  It's nice and soon we  fall
asleep.

     But durin' the night I wake up `cause I can't sleep and I'm havin'
some  real bad dreams.  Gabe wakes up and sees me sittin' in  a  chair.
He  knows I'm cryin' `gain and gets outta bed and comes over t' me.   I
throw  my  arms `round him and hug him tight.  I'm tremblin' and  can't
stop.  We both go to the bathroom t' piss and Gabe helps me, holdin' my
dick  so  I can pee straight.  He puts cold water on my face and  dries
it.   We  go back t' bed.  I have my head on his chest and he's holdin'
me  with one arm.  I'm still cryin' and he rubs my back all gentle like
and  I  like it a lot.  He also rocks me a little and I get okay  -  no
more cryin' and no more shakin'.

       "Thanks   Gabe.    I'm   feelin'  so  lonely.    I   feel   like
everybody's...everyone's wantin' nothin' t' do with  Val.  I know  deep
down  nobody  loves  me."  I give out a big shudder.   "Thanks  so,  so
much."

      "No need t' thank me Val.  Ya my best friend and I hate t' see ya
upset and all.  But what ya mean nobody loves ya?"

      "Ya know what I mean, don't ya?  I mean my daddy walks out on me.
My  mom  ups  and goes t' stupid school and I don't hardly see  her  no
more.  And now.and now Zack don't want me neither.  I can't get no  one
t' take me...t' love me...and want me...want me for real."

      I  start  cryin' hard `gain and Gabe's `fraid that I'm  gonna  be
wakin' up Zack in the nex' room.  I get quiet.  Gabe's still holdin' me
and  I  like  the  feel of his bod `gainst me.  I'm  startin'  t'  feel
good...like  I  useta when Zack holds me.  I look close at  Gabe and he
seems  t' smile a little.  I know I wanna be with him and for us t'  do
things...ya know, nice things together. "Ya wanna play together?" I ask
in a very low voice.

     "Play?" he says.

      "Yeah.  Ya know, play. Play with each other...like, play with each
other's bods...and other things too."

      He's surprised when I say this. He looks sorta `barrassed.  "I...I
never done nothin' wi-with no one," he says.  "I don't know, Val."  But
then he thinks about what I say and he smiles and nods.  "Like I say, I
never  done  nothin', but I know I wanna do it with ya  the  most.   So
sure,  if  ya'd like t' do it with me.  I think it'll be  great  and  I
think I'll like it...like it very much."

      I  give Gabe a big smile `cause I'm so happy that he wants t'  be
with  me.  I start rubbin' my arm stumps slowly over his chest and over
his  tiny,  cute titties and then ont' his belly.  I do it real  gentle
and  I know it feels good t' him `cause he closes his eyes and puts his
head back and I can hear him moanin' softly.  It feels good t' me too.

      Now I rub his titties harder with one stump and wit' the other  I
rub his arm and then his belly and then the top a his smooth thigh.   I
move  one of `em to his smooth and damp underarm pits and he can't help
but  moan even louder.  It feels incredible t' me too.  My whole  bod's
tinglin' and I'm startin' t' breathe hard and fast.

     I  open  my  eyes and look at Gabe.  He looks back.  I don't  know
what  my  eyes look like but his eyes are filled with tears - and  also
filled with deep feelin'.  I know Gabe likes me and I also know that  I
like him a lot.

      As  we look at each other we don't say one word but our lips  get
closer  and  soon we kiss.  At first, it's light.  I like the  feel  of
Gabe's lips on mine.  They're warm and soft and smooth.  I move the end
of my arm t' the back of his head, rub him a little, and pull him close
t' me.  The light kiss soon becomes a harder one as I feel his lips and
mouth pressin' down on me.  And then I feel his mouth open a little and
his  tongue comes out and he's lickin' my lips and I'd scream from  all
the excitement only I can't, of course.

      Gabe's  tongue's strong and soon I open my mouth and he slips  it
in.   He's  feelin' up my whole mouth with his tongue  and  I  know  my
body's  bouncin' on the bed somethin' terrific.  I'm feelin' dizzy  but
it's a good kinda dizzy.

     I start suckin' on Gabe's tongue and he likes it `cause I can hear
him moanin' int' my mouth and wigglin' his butt all `round.  I move one
a  my  stumps to his hard dick and touch it light.and also  his  little
danglin' balls.  I rub `em very light as we go on t' kiss deep.

     Gabe seems t' get his courage `cause I can feel his hand movin' on
my  belly  and then movin' down `til he's pettin' my hard dick  and  my
balls.   The feelin' `tween my legs is just incredible!  And  so's  the
feelin'  in my whole body!  Gabe's so gentle and knowin' that it's  him
doin' it t' me is drivin' me crazy.

      Meanwhile, I feel him up using my stumps and legs.  I rub my legs
`gainst  his sides and I use my arms t' rub his face and his  shoulders
and chest and underarms and belly and dink and balls.  Gabe's skin's so
smooth  and it feels great `gainst my stumps.  I like it that I'm  able
t' make him feel this good.

     We're both gettin' hotter and hotter.  It's just awesome!  We both
explode  almos' at the same time!  I'm breathin' heavy  and  I  totally
love  the feelin' in my whole body.  When I open my eyes, Gabe's  right
next to me and he's smilin'.

     I smile back.  "That's some come ya had," I whisper in his ear.

     "Come?" he says.

     "Yeah, come.  Ya reach a big high - ya know, a big sex high.  It's
what happens when men get real sexy."

     He really don't understand what I'm talkin' about.  I ask him some
questions and he starts tellin' me everythin' he knows.  It ain't much.
I tell him about how a man's dick gets hard when he thinks about makin'
love  and  how  grown-up men spurt white stuff from outta their  dicks.
This  stuff makes babies when men and women fuck.  Then I gotta `splain
what fuckin' is.

     After  this he says he wants t' rub my stumps more.  I nod, givin'
him a shy smile.  Our dinks are both still very hard.  I lift my stumps
and he puts one hand on the end a each of `em.  He rubs `em real gentle-
like  and  I say t' rub `em harder.  So he does.  I close my  eyes  and
make little sounds `cause I'm so happy and he's makin' sounds too.

      "Could ya lick on `em, Gabe?  Pleeeeease?  And suck `em  too?   I
love that."

      "Sure, Val.  I'll do whatever ya want."  So, he does, kissin' and
lickin' my stumps, and he seems t' like it very much - and so do  I...a
lot!   I  feel  my  body gettin' all tingly `gain as he's  rubbin'  and
kissin'  and  lickin'.  I lean over and kiss him - a great  big  loving
kiss.

     "What's that?" he asks lookin' at my hard dink.

     "It's  my  dick, stupid!"  I'm havin' trouble talkin' `cause  I'm
breathin' so hard and now he's laughin'.

     "I  know it's your dick, dumbo.  I'm talkin' about that thing  on
the end.  That thing hangin' over the end of ya dick."

     "Oh, that?  That's my foreskin."

     "Foreskin?  What's that?"

      "It's  a  coverin' men got on their dicks from  the  time  they's
born."

      "If  that's true, buzzhead, how come I ain't got one?   Huh?"   I
start  punchin' him light on the chest with my right arm.  By now we're
both gigglin' and rollin' `round the bed.

     "'Cause it's cut off when ya born"

      "Cut  off?   It  was c-c-cut off?"  He seems very mixed  up  now.
"Something a part a me was cut off when I'm a tiny baby?"

      "Yeah!  Right after ya born the docs cut off ya foreskin.  That's
why the head of ya dick shows. They call it circum...uh...circumcise...I
think.  Yeah, that's right!  Circumcise.  Ya got a circumcise dick  and
I  got a uncircumcise dick.  See?  Someone tells me that mos' men  here
got circumcise dicks.  They's cut and I'm uncut.  Understand?  In mosta
the world they don't cut a boy's dick when they's born."

      He nods slow but still looks real confused.  "Was this `cause  ya
black and I'm white?"

      "No, it ain't got nothin' t' do wit' being black or white.   It's
just the way it is."

     "Oh," he says quiet.

      We're  lookin' at each other and smilin'.  "Ya wanna play  `round
more and maybe...well, ya know...maybe I can suck...on ya dink?"

      Gabe seems shocked and don't know what t' do or say.  "Suck on my
dink?  Ya wanna suck on my dink?"

      "Yeah.  It's a lotta fun.  Really!  Ya put it in my mouth  and  I
suck on it real hard and then ya body starts jumpin' `round the bed and
ya feel real, real great.  Wanna try it?"

     He thinks `bout it.  "Okay.  Yeah.  Sounds good."  I know he ain't
quite  sure but finally he smiles and says, "Yeah, lets do it.   Sounds
great!  Maybe I can do it t' ya too?"

      "Right!  If ya wanna.  It's real, real great!  You'll love  it  a
lot.   I  love doin' it and also havin' someone doin' it t'  me.   It's
awesome!"

      Gabe  stretches  out  on his back and I kiss  him.   It's  a  big
slobbery,  sloppy smoochy kiss and we giggle a lot when it's  over.   I
kiss  his  neck  and down his chest and I kiss and lick his  cute  pink
titties.  I love the feelin' a his pointy little nubs on my tongue  and
I'm gettin' so `cited I bite `em a little.  Gabe starts moanin' and  he
moves  his arms to my butt and is rubbin' me real hard.  He even  moves
his hands down t' the toppa my butt crack.

      Soon I see the creases of his underarms so I move over t' one  `a
`em  and  lick the skin.  Gabe gets very hot up and lifts his  arms  up
int'  the  air.   Now  I  get  t' see his  whole  armpits  and  they're
beautiful.   So  I rub my lips on one and give it a good slobbery  wash
wit' my tongue.  It taste strange and a little funky but I like it  and
Gabe must love it too `cause he's squealin' and wavin' his arms a bunch
and bouncin' his butt.

      I  move so I can do his other pit and he starts makin' even  more
noise.  Now I'm real scared that Zack's gonna hear us so I tell Gabe t'
try  t' be quiet.  He just smiles at me then makes a face and rubs  the
sides of my face and then rubs up and down my arms - all over.

      Zack  bangs  on the door connectin' the two rooms.   Luckily,  he
don't  come in, just tells us t' be quiet and that he needs  his  sleep
`cause  of all the drivin' he's doin' tomorrow.  We say we'll be  quiet
and we'll go t' sleep now.

      But  we  don't go t' sleep.  We hold each other and then I  start
workin' on Gabe's great bod again.  Bein' with him and holdin' him  and
makin' out with him's so great.

      Both our dinks're hard and rubbin' together.  I bend my head down
t'  his  crotch and put my face int' his dick and balls.   Gabe  has  a
wonderful  smell here.  He smells so much like Gabe, the smell  I  know
for so many years, only more strong.  I know he's lovin' it `cause he's
makin'  all those little yips and squeaks.  I don't really know if  I'm
doin'  everythin' right, but I'm doin' what I'm doin' `cause Gabe seems
t' like it a lot and that's the best sign there is.

      I  nex'  rub my lips over his thighs and he gives out a moan.   I
tell  him less noise and he says he's tryin' but it ain't easy.  I kiss
all  the skin near his crotch area, specially the smooth skin over  his
dink.  I can feel my hard dick rubbin' on Gabe and also the sheet.

      Then  I  move and take a quick lick at Gabe's stalk.  His  dink's
real  pretty  and thin.  It taste good and's so smooth.  It's  standin'
straight up and it's a little darker `n his skin.  I can also  see  his
brownish  ball bag and his two small nuts.  I start rubbin'  one  a  my
stumps up and down his stalk and gently pushin' and rubbin' it int' his
balls.   I can't help kissin' `em and start lickin' `em wit' everythin'
I  got.  Gabe starts pushin' his hips up and tryin' t' make his dick go
deep int' my mouth.  So I let it.

     And it feels so awesome on my tongue.  It's like havin' a piece of
really  creamy  candy  meltin' in my mouth.  I slowly  close  my  mouth
`round Gabe's hard dick.  I can feel it movin' on my tongue.  And  then
I  begin t' suck on him.  I suck like I'm tryin' t' get something thick
up through a straw like a MacDonald's shake.

      "Oh, Christ!  This.this is suh-super great!" Gabe says.  He moves
his  arms t' my head and starts strokin' my cheeks and neck and rubbin'
his  hands on toppa my head.  God!  I love when he touches me!  It gets
me  so  excited that I start suckin' on his dink even harder and harder
and faster and faster and soon his bod starts movin' all kindsa strange
ways and he' moanin' a lot and makin' all sortsa queer noises.  Then  I
feel that he's pushin' my head away with his hands.

      "Sorry, Val, no more...please...no more!." He pantin' hard and has
trouble speakin'.  "It's gettin' to...much to tingly  down there and...
it's...it's beginnin' t' hurt."

     I pull my head `way and move up besides Gabe and he kisses me hard
and  I  kiss him back and I hold him close t' my body and he  holds  me
close too.

     "Did ya come?"

     "Yeah, I think so.  It feels awfully good!"

      We kiss `gain and hold each other close and the next thing I know
the phone's ringin' wit' our wake up call.

      We  drive  t' Berkeley the nex' mornin' and don't even stop  once
after we eat breakfast.  I don't wear my hooks and Gabe holds my stumps
and rubs `em light as we ride along.  We both sleep `cause we don't get
much  last night.  I put my head on his lap and it feels so great bein'
together.  Gabe now says he wants t' talk t' Zack `bout lettin' me stay
but I say no.  I'm `fraid Zack'll just get angry all over `gain.

                  -----------------------------------

      Elise  and auntie and uncle came to pick me and all my stuff  up.
Nobody  speaks.  Me and Gabe hug tight and I kiss him.  We  drive  off.
We  promise to call each other every week.  Zack ain't there;  I  think
he's hidin' in the house somewhere.

      That family working for Zack causes a lotta problems - Eric  (the
kid with the club foot) and Alicia and the old people seem okay but the
mother's real screwed up.  I think she's a nut job, maybe she even  got
a drinkin' problem.  She's real ready for the loony farm and for havin'
wires  put  int' her head.  Zack throws `em out.  He hires  Kitty,  the
waitress,  and her husband Ralph t' work.  They bring their son  Sammy,
the kid who also's got no arms.

                  -----------------------------------

      It's  only a few days after I get t' Santa Barbara and I'm  still
not  set yet and Gabe calls from Hollywood.  He says the place's  great
and  that he's havin' a super time and that I should come down and  get
in on some fun.

     So, the whole family goes down there.  Zack's studio's payin'.  We
thank  him  a  lot.  They do everythin' includin' limo rides.   Auntie,
uncle  and my cousins all love it.  We go t' Universal Studios and  get
treated extra special like seein' the backstage areas and how the rides
work  and  meetin'  a lotta important people.  We eat  in  those  extra
special  Beverly Hills places and we get terrific service.  Everybody's
happy!  The bosses really know how t' treat people right.

      One night, before I go t' my room, I visit Gabe and Zack in their
bungalow.   The  place's real big and comfy.  There's two  bedrooms,  a
small kitchen, and a great big livin' room with all kindsa gadgets  and
TVs  and  movies and all.  Gabe shows me everythin'.  Zack's there  too
but he don't even look at me so I don't say nothin' t' him.  He goes t'
his room and closes the door.

      I  sit on one a the couches.  I'm feelin' lonely and I know  that
Gabe knows.  He sits down next t' me and puts a arm `round my shoulder,
like he's tryin' t' make me feel better.

     "What's wrong Val?  Ya can tell me.  I'm ya friend.  Remember?"

      "That ain't true.  I got no friends."  I get up quick and walk t'
the door.  "I gotta go.  G'night Gabe."

      "Please don't go Val.  Please?  Lemme get some snacks and then we
can  talk  or watch a movie.  Okay?  C'mon.  Maybe ya like t' do  other
things to...like we do...you know, like we  do  in  that motel...up  in
Medford...on the trip back?  What d' ya say?"

     I smile a little and nod and follow Gabe int' the kitchen and plop
down in a chair.  Gabe gets out some Cokes and taco chips and salsa and
cheese puffs and we eat and drink.

     I suddenly bang my hooks on the table.  I don't know what makes me
t'  do  it but it really scares Gabe.  He jumps and knocks his Coke  on
the floor.

     "It's these fuckin' hooks!" I say loudly.

     "What?"

      "It's  these fuckin' hooks.  That's why I ain't got no  friends!"
Gabe  just  stares  at me not knowin' what t' say.  "Well,  it's  true,
Gabe.   It's goddamned true!  It's these fuckin' things I got f'  hands
that keeps people away from me...and why nobody wants me...or loves me."

      "Shit Val!  You know that ain't true?  Right?  Lotsa people  love
ya and want ya.  I mean I can see that.  I can see how much your auntie
and  uncle and all the cousins love ya."  He stands behind me and  rubs
his hands on my shoulders and I'm feelin' a little better.

     "I suppose," I say very quiet.

     We  start  eatin' `gain.  "Ya really think the reason  ya  got  no
friends - say ya ain't got no friends - is `cause of ya hooks?"

     "Yeah!" I say quiet.

      "But Zack useta be very friendly and he don't hate ya hooks.   Ya
say he likes `em."

     "Yeah!  And look what happens wit' me and Zack!  He starts pickin'
on everything I do and we fight and I say I don't want t' stay wit' him
no more.  Now I'm in Santa Barbara."

     "I thought ya say ya like Santa Barbara?"

     "Yeah.  Well...I...uh...yeah...I like it."

     "So what's wrong?"

      I'm  all  quiet  for a while.  I start cryin' again.   My  nose's
runnin'.  "I miss Zack," I say in a low voice. "I miss him a lot, Gabe.
I wanna be wit' him."

     "Christ, Val, I really didn't know that's how ya really feel."  He
shakes his head.  "Ya know, it's hard for most people t' live with Zack
and  we  miss  him when he's away from us but most people seem  t'  get
enough  of  him  very  quick."  He laughs a  little.   "Ya  wanna  know
somethin'?  Sometimes I start wondering how long I'll be able  to  live
with him this time.

     I'm  hearin' what Gabe's sayin' and I know he's sayin'  the  truth
and he's tryin' t' make me feel better and make me forget `bout Zack.

      "Ya  know when Zack and me are drivin' down here, he has t'  pull
the  car off the road once cause he's cryin' so hard that he can't  see
t'  drive.   Maybe he misses ya, too?  He tells me he's  cryin'  `cause
he's  tired what with the trip t' Seattle and now t' Hollywood and it's
just  a lotta stress and he's all wrung out.  But I'm thinkin' now that
it's `cause he misses ya!"

      "I really miss him, Gabe."  He  gets up and  comes over t' me.  I
know  my  face's a mess.  He gives me a tissue and I dry my  tears  and
blow my nose.  He puts his arms out, then `round me, and hugs me tight.
I  do  the  same t' him and I love the feel of him holdin'  me  and  me
holdin' him.

     We walk slowly int' Gabe's bedroom.  He closes the door and starts
getting' undressed.  I do the same and soon we're t'gether in  bed  and
we're naked.  I'm holdin' Gabe and he's holdin' me.  He moves his hands
t'  feel the ends of my stumps and the scars and the skin.  We kiss and
I love the feel of his soft lips on mine.

     "Ya a great friend, Gabe."  He smiles and slowly moves his hand up
my  arm  until his fingers are on my face.  He slowly moves one  finger
around  my eyes, over my eye brows, down my nose and over my  lips.   I
kiss  his wonderful finger, takin' it slowly int' my mouth and  suckin'
on it light.

     "Ya wanna?" he asks.

     I nod and give him a big smile.  He smiles back.

                  -----------------------------------

      Next  week Gabe calls from Berkeley.  Zack was tossed out by  the
studio  and they're back home.  Zack never tells him why but one studio
guy  tells Gabe it was `cause Zack was makin' lotsa trouble on the  set
and  the actors and the director and even the filmin' crew can't  stand
him.   They  almos' walk out.  So the big Hollywood trip was a  fuckin'
disaster.

      Gabe  also says that Zack asks him all kindsa questions `bout  me
but that he don't tell him nothing.  He says that Zack deserves what he
gets `cause he treats me so terrible and is such a shit!

                  -----------------------------------

      It takes me a coupla months t' get useta livin' here but I really
got  t'  like it here with my auntie, uncle and cousins.  I got my  own
room.   Actually, it's the glass back porch.  They change `round things
a  little  and move some bedroom furniture in.  I like  it.   I  got  a
computer  wit' games and twin beds and a CD player.  I go  to  a  great
school.  I've "adjusted well;" those're the words my shrink says  `bout
me.

      Uncle's  a  postal worker and he's never gone "postal"  or  knows
anybody who did.  Auntie's a social worker and they both like what they
do very much.

     There're a coupla reasons I think I like it so much.  The first is
that  I  love auntie and uncle very much and they seem to love me  too.
The  second  is that three girls are all very cool.  We get along  just
great.   I mean when I first get here it's a little hard gettin'  useta
all  the people in the house.  I never live wit' so many people in  one
place  before.  It's noisy and it's crowded and we bump into each other
a lot but after a few weeks everything starts t' run smooth.

      The third reason is I find nice friends.  I first meet `em in the
neighborhood  when  I'm by myself playin' in the  streets  and  they're
ridin' their bikes.  One comes up t' me when he sees I'm watchin'  `em.
He seems t' be the leader of the group.

     "Hey, man," he says.

     "Hey, yaself," I say back.

     "Ya live here?"

      "Yeah.   I  just move in wit' my auntie and uncle  in  this  here
house."  I point t' it wit' one a my hooks.

      "Cool."  He's starin' at my hooks and then gives me a big  smile.
I  think he's cute, wit' red hair and lotsa freckles and all.  "I'm Big
Eddie and this is the gang.  Ya gotta a bike?"

      "Yeah, I got a new one in the garage.  I'm Val."  Big Eddie  puts
out  his  hand and I put out my hook and we shake.  I'm so surprise  he
does this-he really touches my hook. I shake hands wit' the others too.

     "Well get it man and come ride wit' us."

      So, I get out my bike and I go wit' `em.  They seem nice.  It's a
real  mixed  group - boys and girls, whites, blacks and  Latinos.   Big
Eddie's  the shortest kid in the bunch so I reckon his name's  sorta  a
joke but someone says t' me that he's the toughest one.

     "Why ya wear them hooks, man?" Big Eddie asks me.

      I  stare at him.  I'm surprised it took this long for him t' ask.
"They  hadda  cut my hands off a few years ago `cause  they  was  burnt
bad."

      "Hey, too bad.  Sorry.  How'd ya burn `em so bad they had t'  cut
`em off?"

      I'm a little ashamed and I really don't wanna tell `em everythin'
so  I  just  say it was a real bad accident and when I wake up  in  the
hospital  afterwards my hands are gone and my arms are just wrapped  in
heavy bandages.

     I see that Big Eddie's almos' always lookin' at my hooks and how I
move  my arms and all.  Does he like `em?  Or is he turned off  by  the
sight of `em?

     "Can I touch `em?" another kid asks.

      "Sure!"  I  say,  and then they all take turns touchin'  `em  and
smilin' at me.

      "Lets  ride!" Big Eddie says and we're soon off pedalin' down  t'
the water.  We all become great friends and hang together at school and
after.   Big Eddie ain't much taller `n me though he's supposed  t'  be
three years older.  He looks more like a young kid.

     "Are ya black?" one a the kids asks.

     "Yeah, I am."

     "Ya don't look so black."

      "My  dad's white," I say and one a the other kids says his  mom's
white and dad's black.

                  -----------------------------------

     Gabe and his buddy Sammy come down t' stay wit' us a coupla times.
We have lotsa fun together.  We all sleep in my room and it's great.

     Sammy's handsome, I suppose, and his skin's rather darkish and his
eyes  a  little slanty.  He's tall and not skinny.  And of course  he's
missin'  his hands just like me.  Gabe tells me his arms end `bout  two
inches after his elbows so his stumps're a lot shorter `n mine.

     But  the strangest thing `bout Sammy is that when I look at him  I
don't  know  what he is.  I mean sometimes he looks white, sometime  he
looks  black  and sometimes he even looks Chinese.  So,  one  night  at
dinner, I ask him, cause he makes a comment about the American Indians,
`cept he calls `em "Native Peoples."

      "It's  funny that you should ask me that Val.  I've never figured
out  the  exact  percentage,  but I know I'm  part  while,  part  black
African,  by  way of the Caribbean, part Polynesian, part  Chinese  and
part Native American.  I'm quite a mutt, ain't I?"

      Uncle  laughs a bit.  "We're all mutts," he says.   "That's  what
makes America so great.  People from all over the world come here for a
better life for themselves and their families, they become part of  the
mainstream,  they  intermarry and presto!  The real  American  emerges.
The  best  part of each person's heritage emerges."  He  laughs.   "And
besides, everyone knows that mutts are the smartest dogs."

      On the second day I know Sammy, I ask how he loses his arms.   We
go  t' my room and I lock the door so we can be alone and we both  take
off  our  hooks.  We look at each other's stumpy arms and  I  touch  my
stumps  t' his stumps.  It feels so good t' me and Sammy seems t'  like
it  a  lot too.  His stumps have more scars `n mine but mine have  burn
scars.

     "What happened?" I ask him.

     He don't answer, just looks at me.  Then he says "Fireworks," in a
very low voice.

     "Fireworks?"  He nods.  "How?"

     He shakes his head.  You first."

      So  I  tell  him the whole story `bout me and why  they  have  t'
amputate  my arms.  For Sammy I add in parts I don't tell other  people
`cause  he  goes through the same thing I do - like the  pain  and  the
feelin'  that ya arms're still there, reaching for things, the wrappin'
a  the stumps, the weeks in rehab wit' all the problems, and the really
worst  problem - goin' t' the toilet.  We laugh at some things  but  we
know it's real serious.  "Okay," I finally say, "ya turn."

      "Yeah,  I don't mind telling ya Val `cause ya the same.  We  been
through  all  kindsa hell the same way, ain't we?"   He  takes  a  deep
breath and begins.  "Well, it's simple.  I'm holdin' a Roman candle  on
July  4th watchin' all the sparks and colors comin' out the end and  it
suddenly explodes - explodes right in my hands.  The noise was terrible
and  I couldn't hear what's goin' on all `round me.  The explosion also
scarred  and burned by face here, here and here."  He points  out  some
scars  on  his face and chin.  "I have some plastic surgery t'  fix  my
face."   He  looks down at his stumps then raises `em a  little.   "The
police tell me later  that it was defective...or that  somebody rigged
it-ya know, monkeyed with it.  Anyways, it  blew  away  my  hands  and
wrists."

     "Yeah, okay, but ya missin' more `n ya hands and wrists."

      "I  know."   I  see  tears gettin' int' his  eyes.   "I  get  bad
infections  in  the stumps and the docs gotta take off more  from  both
arms.  They fly me by helicopter t' a different hospital."

     "Really?  Ya been in a helicopter?" I say all excited.

      "Yeah,"  he says in a whisper.  "I been in one.  But it ain't  no
fun. Besides, I can't hardly remember it.  Just a lotta noise."  We hug
each  other since we know all the problems facin' young guys  like  us.
Over the next few days me and Sammy trade lotsa stories `bout havin' no
arms and how we do different things.  I like talkin' t' him a lot.

      Everybody  gets along great.  Gabe and Sammy feel  very  welcome.
They're real sad t' go back to Berkeley and after what Gabe tells me  I
can  understand why.  He thinks Zack's goin' bonkers...I mean, losin'
his mind.

      The  first  thing he tells me when he gets here, and the  two  of
us're alone, is about Zack and how he's behavin' now and how he's doin'
strange things.  Sometimes Gabe has so much t' say that he just goes on
and  on  and  I haveta stop him `cause I'm not understandin' everythin'
he's sayin'.

     "It's  no fun living with the old man," he says, "and that's  what
he  is  now - a real old man.  He don't do nothin' but write.   Oh,  we
sometimes take a vacation or go t' a ball game but he's totally not fun
to  be  wit'.  And he writes all hours of the day and night so I  never
know if I even see him.

      "Anyways, Zack's cranking out two books a year and sometimes even
more.   But his publisher only puts out one a year; so the old  man  is
building  up a pile of unprinted books.  He likes that `cause  he  says
this  way he won't have t' work so hard in the future.  Bullshit!"   He
sighs  and shakes his head.  "But still he works and works and I  gotta
tell  ya he looks like shit.  And he's losing a lotta weight, he  don't
go  out  into the sun and ain't interested in anyone.  He goes  out  at
night  and I don't have no idea where he goes.  Sometimes he don't  get
back  `til mornin'."  He looks at me very serious, with big, sad  eyes.
"One  thing  I'm  sure of Val is that he misses ya  a  lot.   He  never
mentions ya name; but once, when I let ya name slip, he just gives me a
hard stare and then leaves the room quick."

      I  look  at  Gabe  and  shake  my head.   "I  think  he's  really
hurtin'...over a lotta things."

      "And you're number one on that list."  I look at him and he  nods
at  me.  "He starts carin' for nothin' `round the house `cept Louis and
Billie.  He fusses over `em somethin' fierce and gives orders that only
he  can  feed `em.  He makes up about ten rules, which means, as  Sammy
says,  `We  gotta stay the hell away from them dogs.'   Even  the  dogs
don't  like  it much and they run away every time they see him.   Sammy
and me just crack up when it happens."

                  -----------------------------------

      The  nicest friend I make's an older guy.  His name's  Colin  and
he's  Janice's  boyfriend.  Janice's my cousin and she's  nineteen  and
Colin's nineteen too.  They go to college together at UCSB.  He's  real
tall and thin but got a real nice body and plays on the basketball team
and the man's track team and he's sorta a dweeb and smart but real nice
t'  me  and teaches me t' play basketball and even takes me surfin'  in
the  ocean.   He's  totally  great.  Colin's from  Jamaica  and  speaks
English in that wonderful singa-songy Jamaica way.  I love hearin'  him
talk.

      After  I  move down here I don't do sex anymore with no one  like
what I did with Zack so I'm back to taking care a myself.  It's okay  I
suppose  but  I  love  how  Zack and me useta  play  together  and  how
wonderful  I feel when he touches my body and sucks my dink  and  balls
and  how much he loves my arm stumps and lets me know how much he cares
for me.

     The beaches here in southern California are great and we go a lot.
Most  everyone's got a surfboard.  Even my girl cousins got `em.  Colin
takes  me  out a coupla times when the waves ain't too high  and  after
being scared the first few time I begin t' love it.

      We  paddle  out  t' catch a wave, we lay down on  the  board  and
Colin's  in  fronta  me.  He paddles hard and I love  ridin'  over  the
waves.  I get on the board behind him.  He spreads his legs and  I  lay
my head on his butt and put my stumps on his back.  He squeezes me with
his legs t' hold me on the board.  Then he paddles us both out.

     When he spots a nice one, not too big, he stands up and then helps
me  up.  I get my balance and stand in fronta him and he puts his  arms
under  my  arms  so that the length of his arm from the  elbow  to  the
fingers  is right under my elbows and stumps.  He hold my stumps  tight
and  we ride the wave.  It's fabulous.  I love every second of it.   If
we  flop off Colin first gets me and then gets his board.  We surf with
lotsa  other people and sometimes they help get the board if  he  can't
reach it while he's holdin' on t' me.

      I don't wear my hooks at the beach `cause sand and salt screws up
how  they  work and fit.  I get used t' people starin' at  me.   Auntie
always makes sure that I have coverins on my stumps and my shoulders so
that I don't get any kinda sunburn.  If I get a sunburn it wouldn't  be
good  `cause I wouldn't be able to wear `em.  Black people get  sunburn
too.

      A  coupla times when me and Colin's at the beach Big Eddie  shows
up.   He hangs `round a little ways from us but's always lookin' in our
direction, like he wants t' be with us but he never comes over.  I  get
a  little  pissed  off.   I mean, he's nice enough  and  all  but  he's
interruptin'  my time together wit' Colin and we ain't got  that  much.
And he's always alone - none a the gang's wit' him.

      When  the  weather gets colder and rainy and we don't go  t'  the
beach  or play outside, Colin and the some other guys teach me t'  play
basketball.  I like it and get pretty good.  He shows me a guy  wit'out
arms playing basketball for his high school team.

      I ask Colin where he gets the picture and he says he gets it from
the  Internet.  He asks if I wanna see more pics like this  and  I  say
yeah.   So he brings a disk and he puts it in the computer and he shows
me  about fifty pics of these guys - you know, guys wit' arms and  legs
cut  off.  And they're all playing sports like swimmin' and runnin' and
even basketball and baseball and wrestlin' and soccer.  I think they're
great  and it reminds me a the time when I'm scared t' go swimming  and
Zack shows me the pics of swimmers who lost arms.

     Colin's real cool.  I sit on his lap as we look at the pics and he
puts  his arms `round me.  And then he kisses me on my ear and I giggle
and  he  rubs my stumps so gentle like.  I pick up my arms  just  as  I
useta do with Zack and he rubs `em more and then he begins to kiss  `em
very light.  I smile at Colin and he smiles back at me and he kisses me
on  the forehead.  He moves one of his hands over my chest and rubs  me
through my tee shirt.  Then we hear a car drive up and he pops the disk
and we go out.

                  -----------------------------------

      I  really,  really like school - it's awesome.   The  teachers're
great  and I'm in some special classes and learnin' Spanish and special
math  and  lotsa  readin' and even writin'.  Auntie says  it's  a  real
special  entrich program and I should be proud t' be in it.  I  know  I
love it and there's lotsa homework and I don't watch too much TV `cause
I'm  doin'  homework.   Auntie and uncle both go  t'  meetin's  at  the
school.  They do lotsa things there.  I can't wait `til I get t' school
every mornin'.  I know it's not normal but it's normal for me.

      Big  Eddie  starts comin' over t' my table in the  cafeteria  and
eatin' lunch wit' me almos' every day.  I know he likes the food auntie
makes - and his lunches look and smell like shit.  So I let him and  we
talk  `bout lotsa things.  I notice that none of the other kids in  our
group come `round during lunch - only Big Eddie.  After school  we  all
get  together and have fun or play or whatever, but during school  only
Big Eddie is wit' me.

     Me and Colin stay very friendly but he goes out with Janice a lot.
Sometimes they go away for a few days and auntie and uncle argue  `bout
what  they're  doin'.   But  when they  come  back  nothin's  done  and
everybody seems okay.

     My two other girl cousins are real nice too - Rita, who's sixteen,
and  Carrie who's thirteen.  I also got lotsa other cousins  `cause  my
mom's  got two more sisters and a brother.  All of `em live in  the  LA
area  and  sometimes we all get together and it's a real mob of  people
and  kids.   I  like that a lot, too.  But best I like is when  me  and
Colin're together alone.  We watch movies or play computer games.

                  -----------------------------------

      Sometimes a bully tries t' pick a fight wit' me but I always  got
some  a  my friends `round and they stop these morons.  Once Big  Eddie
stops a fight before it starts and he calls the bully over and he calls
me over.

     "Ya new here, ain't ya man?" he asks the bullyboy.

     "Yea!  What of it?"

      "Well, man, ya gotta be careful of this here kid," he says  in  a
kinda whisper as he points t' me.

      "What ya mean?  He ain't got no arms!  Why should I be careful of
him?"  He laughs.

      "Well,  see that guy over there?"  He points to Larry.  "See  the
eye patch he's wearin'?  Now guess how he lose his fuckin' eye."

      The  bully  just stares at Big Eddie.  "Yup!  Them hooks  can  do
lotsa damage.  Lotsa damage!"  Big Eddie nods his head.  "And this  kid
knows  how to use `em."  The bully starts backin' away real slow  like.
"And  I'll tell ya one more thing.  Put ya nuts and ya dick in a  steel
cup  if  ya  know what's good for ya if ya mess wit' him `gain.   He'll
fuckin' yank `em  motherfuckers right outta ya shit eatin' body!"

      "Fuckin' bullshit!" the bully yells, but I can see he's a  little
scared.

      "Oh,  yeah!   Sal, come over here now!"  One of the biggest  kids
walks  up and stands nex' t' Big Eddie.  Sal's got dark black  hair,  a
nice  tan  and is big, with broad shoulders, a thick neck, a big  chest
and huge musculy legs - a great soccer player.  "Drop `em shorts, Sal,"
Big Eddie orders.  Sal pulls the baggy shorts down and Big Eddie points
to  the crotch of the Jockeys Sal's wearin'.  "Ya wanna feel?" he  says
all  quiet-like to the bully.  Sal's crotch is all smooth - not a  bump
or anything in the pouch.

     The  kid can't believe his eyes.  They's open wide and starin'  at
Sal's  crotch.  Big Eddie give him a smirk and I can see real  fear  in
this  fuckin'  bully's eyes and on his face.  "Now get the  fuck  outta
here!"  he yells.  "And don't let me fuckin' see ya `round here `gain!"
Big Eddie raises his arm sudden like and the kid runs away so fast.

      "Big  Eddie," I say to him later, "Larry's wearin'  a  eye  patch
`cause a his operation."

      "Yeah,  but  that fuckin' asshole don't know, do  he?"   Everyone
laughs.

      "And  course Sal's crotch's all smooth.  Sal's a girl!"  Everyone
laughs `gain.

                  -----------------------------------

      A coupla day after I celebrate my thirteenth birthday, auntie and
uncle take me to LA and I get new hands.  It's a big surprise.  Me  and
auntie  stay  five days and they fit me and I learn t' use  `em.   They
look  like  real  hands  and have fingers that move  and  all  and  the
coverin' on `em matches the color a my skin.

     The guy who fits me wit' `em is nice and tells me how good I look.
They're  called  myoelectric arms and they  work  on  `lectricity  from
batteries  in  the arm and from muscles remainin' in my cut  off  arms.
The batteries have to be recharge every night.  They're plastic and fit
right over my stumps and go almos' t' my elbows.  There's no harness or
straps  or anything.  And they feel light.  When I move the muscles  in
what's  left  a  my arms, the fingers move - well, they open  and  they
close and they all don't move, just a couple.

      I can't feel nothin' with `em just like I can't feel nothin' with
my  hooks but they look so much better and I hope people don't stare at
me  as  much  although that don't bother me as much as it used  to.   I
still  keep  my hooks for times when I can't wear these new  ones  like
when I play certain sports or when I forget t' recharge `em.

      When  we get home, everyone's very `cited `bout the new arms  and
wanna see how they work.  So I show `em.  Jan says that she reads where
these  arms are very, very expensive and they have to be changed  every
few  years  as I grow and my stumps get bigger and she don't  know  how
auntie and uncle can afford t' do that for me.  I'm thinkin' `bout this
a lot and the next mornin' I ask auntie `bout it.

      "Yes, dear, they are very expensive," she says.  "And, yes,  they
have to be changed every few years."

      "So where'd ya get the money for `em, then?  And how ya gonna pay
for new ones?"

      "Your  momma sends the money, sweetie, and makes the arrangements
at rehab and all."

      "Oh," I say and then I think `bout what she says.  "But she ain't
got no money neither.  Where'd she get it from?"

     "All I know, Val, is that she sends the money, tells me what to do
and  where  to  go.   Maybe you should ask her.  She  does  everythin'.
But.but  if I was you, I wouldn't bother her.  You know she don't  like
t' be bothered with questions like this."

     "Yeah, I know," I say and walk away.

     The next time I speak with mom I tell her all `bout the trip to LA
and  gettin' the new arms and how wonderful they are and how great they
work and how good they look.  She says she's very happy I like `em  and
they work so good.  Colin takes a coupla pictures a me wearin' `em  and
I send `em t' her.  I work up my courage and ask her about how Jan says
they're very expensive and how she gets the money for `em.

     "I don't want you worrying `bout money, baby," she says.

     "Yeah, I know.  But...but...well, I was just wonderin'."

     "Don't wonder. Let's just say I'm able t' get the money...and leave
it.  Okay, babe?"

     "Sure.  Sure, mom."

     But it's still botherin' me a lot and the next mornin' when I wake
up  there's only one thin' I'm thinkin' `bout - Zack!  I suddenly know,
with a bang, it has t' be Zack who gives Elise the money.  Who else  we
know got that kinda money?

      Anyways,  I  go  back  t' school it's very  excitin'.   Everyone,
includin'  the  teachers, want t' see my new arms and hands.   Everyone
says  they look great and one guy says he'd love t' try `em on  but  he
still has his hands.  We all laugh.

     When I get home that day I do something that I decide t' do durin'
lunchtime.   I'm  gonna call Zack.  I remember his private  number  and
call.  He answers the phone on the first ring.

     "Hello?  Hello?  Hello?" he says very loud.

     "Hi Zack, it's me, Val."

     "Val?  Val?"  Then he says nothin'.  "Oh, my God!  Val?  Val!"

     "Yeah, it's me Zack.  How are ya?"

      "How  am  I?  How am I?  Uhhhhh...I'm okay Val. Yes, okay.  Doin'
okay Val.  How are you?"

     "I'm doin' just great Zack."

     "Good!  Good!  That's very good Val.  Good!  Good!"

      I don't know what to say `cause Zack sounds so different.  I know
it's been almos' three years since I speak wit' him.  I can hear Billie
and Louie yappin' and I ask him `bout the dogs.  He loves t' talk `bout
the dogs and goes on and on.

     Finally I get a word in.  "My auntie and uncle and cousins read ya
last book and they love it.  Love it a lot!"

     "Love it?  They love it?  Great! That's great! My last book...they
love it.  Great!"

     "Ya been doin' more writin'?"

      "More?   More writin'?  Yes, yes I've been doin' a lotta writin'.
Never stop writin'.  Write, write, and write some more."  He laughs and
seems t' me t' be a real strange kinda laugh.

      This  guy's starts soundin' totally weird, so I get to the reason
for my call.  "I wanna thank you Zack."

      "Thank  me?  Thank me?  You wanna thank me.  Thank me.  Thank  me
for what?"

     "My new hands...my new myoelectric hands. They're just great.  They
work so great and look so wonderful and all.  Thanks so much."

      "Hands?  New hands?  You got new hands?  How'd ya get new hands?"
I  can hear him gettin' angry.  "Who told ya?  Tell me!  Who told?  Who
said it was me?  Who?  Who?"

     "Nobody, Zack.  Honest!  Nobody tells me."

      "Ya  say nobody?  Nobody told ya?  Nobody?  Well, how'd  ya  know
then?"

      "I  just  figure it out myself, Zack.  I know they cost  a  lotta
money and ya the only guy I know who gotta lotsa money.  That's all."

      "That's  all?   That's all?  So!  Ya figured it out  for  yaself?
Huh?  Bright boy.bright boy.  Okay!  Okay!"

      I  knew I didn't want to talk to him no more.  It was weirdin' me
out.  "Is Gabe there?  Can I speak t' him?"

     "Gabe?  Gabe?  No!  No, no, no.  Gabe isn't here.  He's in Seattle
with Mary Anne and...and...and whatshisname."

     "Christian."

      "Christian?   Christian?  Yeah, with Christian...and his new baby
sisters."

     "Gabe's got new baby sisters?"

     "Yeah.  Yeah!  Sisters!  Sisters!  Two of `em.  Twins.  Gabe's got
new  baby sisters.  Name's Karen...or Laura...and Melissa...or something
like that."

      "Okay  then.  Thanks again for everythin'.  Good-bye  Zack.   See
ya!"

      "Yeah!  Okay, yeah...yeah.  Good-bye...uh...good-bye...uh...Val.
Good-bye!  See ya!"

                  -----------------------------------

      It's Sunday afternoon and me and Colin're sittin' in the TV  room
watchin'  a basketball game.  Everybody's out except Jan and  she's  in
her room upstairs studyin' hard for a exam.  The first half of the game
is  not too excitin'.  I like only the last two minutes of these  games
anyways - specially when the score's close.

      During halftime, Colin goes t' get some snacks.  I can't help him
`cause  I  ain't wearing my arms.  We been playin' in the  yard  and  I
don't  wear  my arms `cause I can hurt myself and others.   We're  both
sweaty  and stinky.  Colin comes back with Cokes and Doritos.   I  hold
the Coke okay but have trouble with the chips so he feeds `em t' me.

      Colin puts the chips in my mouth and I love it when he feeds  me.
He  rubs  my cheek with the back a his hand as he puts the chip  in  my
mouth, teasin' me a little.  I giggle.  His hand feels so smooth and  I
like the feel a the little bit a his hair.  His eyes're half closed and
he  looks real handsome and very sexy.  I look down at his lap and  see
his  crotch is all swole-up.  It's so swole that I can see the very tip
a his very big dick stickin' outta the bottom a his shorts.

     I move one a my stumps and put it on his leg and move it slow over
the  smooth skin on the top of his leg.  I touch the tip of  his  cock.
He  takes in a sudden big breath a air and he moans.  I smile  at  him.
"Ya like it when I touch ya with my stump, don't ya Colin?"

     Colin don't say nothin' for a while then he smiles at me.  "I love
it Val.  I adore da feel a ya stumps rubbin' on ma skin.  I love.let me
juss  say  dat I love everyting about yoo.  Ya a real great kid  and  a
very beauteeful boy."

      We go int' my room.  He tells me that he loves my body and my arm
stumps  and that he dreams `bout `em all the time and `bout me  rubbin'
`em  all  over  his body.  His cock's very hard `cause there's  such  a
great big bulge down there.  He turns some music on.

     He  starts  kissin' me all over my face.  We kiss and hug.   Colin
rubs his hands all over my bod and I'm tryin' t' reach his bod so I can
rub it with my stumps. It's the best thing ever...ever since...since me
and Zack have such great times together.  I know we're both smellin'  a
bit  funky but I like it.  I love Colin's smell.  And he must like mine
too `cause he starts lickin' my neck and ears after he finishes kissin'
me.   Then he goes and takes off my tee shirt and throws it across  the
room  and lays me down on the bed.  He crawls up `long side and  stares
at me.

     I  know  I want t' see all of Colin's bod.  I seen mosta it  `cept
the  place  below  his waist, and I know he's got real large  `quipment
`cause I can feel it and see it bulgin' out.

     "Wassa matter?" I ask.

      Colin just smiles at me and kisses me again.  "Nuttin'!" he says.
"Ya jess so incredibly beauteeful.  Thas all!"

      "Thanks," I say but I'm `barrassed `cause he thinks I'm beautiful
which I'm not, of course.  But I love when he says it.

      Now  he starts t' touch me all over my chest and arms but he does
this  very slow and very light.  It feels so wonderful and I  close  my
eyes and I'm so `cited.  He kisses my body all over and licks it.  It's
like I'm being sweeped up by a big wave like what happens when we surf.
He  plays  so  nice wit' all a me - lickin' and suckin' on my  armpits,
bitin'  light  on  my tits, movin' his tongue `round my  belly  button,
kissin'  and  lickin'  the skin I got `bove my dink.   His  lips're  so
smooth and the feel a him's just awesome!

      When  he moves up t' give me a great, big loving kiss, I move  my
arms  and  try t' get his shorts offa him.  He picks his  head  up  and
smiles at me then moves his hands down and takes `em off.  When  I  see
his  dick I give out a small shriek.  I mean I never, ever seen a  dick
like that in my life!  Colin's got everythin' - a big, thick, long cock
`long wit' real large, low-hangin' balls.  He's fantastic!  I love  how
the  rod  of  his cock's darker `n his regular skin.  It's  real  dark,
almos'  purple.  The knob's also real dark and huge and's  a  purplish-
red.   And he's got these real big balls.  They hang down in his bag  a
long  ways.  His cock bends down some and looks so great!  I don't  see
no hair nowhere - nowhere at all!

     "Oh wow!" I say.

     "Ya like it, Val?"

      "It's  beautiful.  It's so, so beautiful - and big.and  thick.and
dark.and uncut, right?"

     He laughs.  "Right."

     "How big is it? I mean, I know it's big and all...and I don't wanna
seem...ya know, but jus' how."

      He  laughs.  "I know what ya mean.  Well, da lass time I  measure
it,  it's  twenty-four  centimeters, which's  `bout  nine  and  a  half
inches."

     "OH wow!" I say in a whisper.  "That's big!"

      Colin puts his head down, looks at my bod `gain and begins t' rub
my little titties.  "Tanks, Val.  I'm glad ya like  it...and  me."   He
gives me a wonderful big smile.

      He  notices that my face gets a very serious look on it.  "I like
ya a lot, Colin."

      "What's  da matter, my beauteeful one?"  I look at him but  don't
give  him no answer.  "C'mon, Val.  I kin see dat somethin's da matter.
Please tell me."

      "Yeah, okay."  I swallow hard and look right int' his eyes.   "Ya
ain't gonna...well, ya know...gonna put it in...put ya big cock in..."

      Suddenly  he realizes what I'm talkin' `bout.  "No,  no,  no!   I
nevah do dat.  I promise nevah, Val!"

      I  smile at him and he smiles back and we kiss a great big sloppy
kiss.   He kisses me all over my face and neck and ears and I love  the
feelin'  of his lips and tongue.  As he's kissin' me I feel `round  his
chest  and  other parts a his body wit' my stumps.  It's  strange,  but
Colin  ain't got no hair on his bod - not in his armpits,  not  on  his
chest, not in  his crotch.  "But...but...where's all ya hair?  Ya know,
the hair `round ya dick and all like men got?"

     Colin laughs `gain.  "I shave it off."

     "Ya shave it off?  Why?"

      "Bee-cause Jan likes it dis way.  And I tink it looks  real  cool
too.  Don't you, mon?"

      "Yeah!"  I move one a my stumps and touch the smooth skin  `round
his dick.  "I think it's awesome!"

      As  I start rubbin' his skin, Colin makes all kinds a noises. His
body's so muscly and ripply and totally beautiful.  I rub all the  skin
and,  with my other stump, I rub `long the shaft of his dick  and  play
wit'  the big purple knob.  There's lotsa clear stuff comin' outta  his
dick  head.  I rub my stump over that too.  I look up at Colin and  his
eyes  are closed and he's moanin' and his body's movin' back and  fore.
I guess he likes what I'm doin'.

     "Oh God!  Val!  Dis is so wonderful!  Ah!  Ah!  Yes!"

      So I do it more - rubbin' his dick shaft and his smooth ball bag.
Colin's  balls hang way down and they're very large and I like  playin'
wit'  `em.  His ball bag feels so soft and smooth.  It's just  awesome!
I start breathin' heavy and I moan a lot too.

     "Ya like doin' dis Val?"

      I  hear  Colin  talkin' and it takes me a few seconds  t'  answer
`cause I'm so `cited.  "Yeah," I say, "I like it a lot.  I love it!  Ya
skin fells go great on my stumps.  I love feelin' ya great big dick and
humungous balls too  - I love rubbin' `em and touchin' `em."

     "Tanks, mon.  I'm happy ya like `em `cause I love wha' ya doin' t'
me  -  wha'  ya doin' to  me wit' ya wonderful arms.  I love  dose  arm
stumps, Val.  I tink dey's real treasures."

      I  can't believe he calls my ugly stumps "treasures."  Treasures?
Maybe  he's jus' a little too `cited.  "And I love everythin' `bout  ya
body  too, Colin.  And I love how smooth ya dick and balls feel  on  my
arms...uh...my stumps."

      I  move both my arms t' his dick and balls and ball bag and start
squeezin' `em `tween both my stumpy ends.  He starts moanin' very  loud
and  we're both getting' very hot and `cited.  I just love the  feelin'
of his great big, big throbbin' dick on my stumps.  It's so hot.

     "Can ya spread ya legs Val?" he asks real quiet.

     I spread my legs and Colin goes t' kneel `tween `em.  I think he's
gunna  suck on my dink but he don't.  He lowers his body slow  and  his
big  muscly arms keep up his bod over me.  He drops down `til his  huge
cock and balls are restin' on my little dink and balls.

      His whole body's now coverin' mine.  He comes down more and I can
feel his cock and balls pressin' on me.  They're so hot.  I ain't never
know  nothin'  so  awesome feelin'.  Then he starts  t'  move  his  bod
backwards and forwards, all the time rubbin' his great big cock  on  me
and my little pecker and also on my belly.

     When I look up alls I can see is Colin's chest that's coverin' all
a  me.   I  reach up slow and wit' the end a my stumps I start  playin'
wit'  his hard tits.  He starts moanin' loud `gain and movin'  his  bod
faster and faster.  He must like what I'm doin' `cause he seems  t'  go
int'  high,  movin' and rubbin' and moanin' like I never  know  before.
He's rubbin' his stuff all over my crotch and my tummy and belly button
area.   I'm rubbin' his titties hard wit' my stumps and move  one  int'
one  a his armpits.  The feeling on my stumps ends is fantastic.   This
rubbin' seems t' get him goin' stronger all over `gain and he's  movin'
like crazy.

      I  can feel everythin' buildin' in me when Colin stops the  whole
thing  - the yellin', the movin', the rubbin' - everythin'!  I open  my
eyes  and  see  that  Colin still has his eyes closed  tight  and  he's
breathin' real hard and he's sweatin' a lot.

      And  then  suddenly I feel it.  It's more like a earthquake  than
anythin'  else I know!  Colin's whole bod starts vibratin' and  shakin'
and  movin' and he lets out a big growlin' sound that almos' scares me.
Then I hear "Ugh!...Ugh!...Ugh!" and I feel Colin's hot stuff shootin'
ont' my  body  - and he's shootin' all over my chest and my crotch and
even all the way t' my neck.  He's coverin' me in his stuff and I love
the feelin' and how hot it is and how slippery.

      I  can't  believe how much he pumps out and how  he  grunts  too.
Finally he sinks down on toppa me, coverin' me up complete.  I wrap  my
arms `round him and he kisses me and sucks me on my neck.  He picks  up
his head and we kiss `gain.  I want nothin' more in this world than  t'
make love a lot with this great, big, handsome stud.

      "Tank ya, little dood.  Tank ya a lot!" he whispers int' my  ear.
"Dis is da bess cum I have in years and years."  I squeeze him harder.

      After  we're layin' this way for a few minutes I start to  squirm
and start pushin' my crotch up int' Colin's body.  "I know, I know, big
guy.  Ya need some help...some relief.  Well, let me tell ya, ole Colin's
here t' help."

      We  smile  at  each other, we kiss again, and then  Colin  starts
kissin' and lickin' down my chest and int' my armpits and down my  arms
and  suckin' and kissin' and bitin' on my stumps and then down my sides
and  ont' my belly and `round my belly button and over my mound,  until
he comes t' my dink and balls.  He licks up his stuff as he moves down.

      He gently kisses my dink and my balls.  He blows air all over `em
and  I  giggle  and he giggles too.  He nuzzles `em and makes  soothing
love  t'  `em before takin' `em int' his mouth and makin' me feel  like
the luckiest...the most loved...the happiest boy...in the world.

                  -----------------------------------

      About a week after I talk with Zack, Gabe calls me.  He tells  me
all about his new sisters and being in Seattle.  Their names are Lauren
and Ava and they're beautiful and he loves `em a lot.  He knows how  to
take  care  of  `em, change diapers and give `em their  bottles.   He's
happy to be back in Seattle.  His mom and Christian bought a great  big
house  on  one a the islands off shore and it's just super.   He  loves
bein' up there.

      I  tell him what I'm doin' and about my new hands and how I speak
t' Zack a few days ago.

     "He's nuts, Val," he whispers.  "I think he's gone totally off his
rocker.  I think he really belongs in the loony bin."

      I  don't say nothin' for a few seconds.  Then, "I know, Gabe.   I
know.   He  seems really out of it when I speak with him.  I thank  him
for the money he gives Elise for my new hands and he acts like he knows
nothin' `bout `em.  It's so strange."

     Gabe's quiet.  Then says, "He's right, Val.  He don't know nothin'
`bout ya new hands."

     "What?"  I'm stunned!  I can't believe what he says.

      "Yeah.   He  don't  know  nothin'  `bout  ya  myoelectric  hands.
It's.it's.ya  know I'm not suppose t' tell ya this.but it's  Chris  who
sends Elise the money.not Zack."

     This really sounds crazy!  Chris?  "I don't believe it!"

      "It's the truth! God's honest truth!  I hear mom and Chris talkin'
just  after she comes home from the hospital and she says she wants  to
do  somethin' nice for ya `cause she's treats ya so lousy  for  such  a
long  time.  She's so happy `cause a new babies.  And she wants  t'  do
things  for other people.  So they decide one a things they  do  is  t'
give  Elise the money for ya new hands and for ya rehab but Elise can't
say nothin' `bout where the money's from."

     "Holy shit!"  I can't believe Mary Anne `n Chris give me money.  I
have trouble understandin' it all.  "Thanks Gabe...thanks  for  tellin'
me."

     "Yeah but ya can't say nothin' t' nobody.  Okay?"

     "Yeah, okay."

      We're quiet for a few second then Gabe blurts out, "I don't wanna
go  back down t' Berkeley, Val. I can't go back there...I can't go back
t'  that house.  I wanna stay up here in Seattle with mom and Chris and
Lauren and Ava.  I don't think I can spend any more time in that  crazy
house.  It's real scary.  I mean it's been three goddamned years of  me
livin' there wit' him and it seems like twenty."

     "I'm sorry, Gabe.  Sorry that ya ain't havin' any fun."

     He pauses before he speaks `gain.  "Who says I'm not havin' fun?"

     "Huh?  Wadya mean?"

      "Well,  it's true that it's no fun living with the old shithead."
Gabe  pauses  `gain, and then he giggles.  "But I do get t'  have  some
fun."

     "Yeah?  How?"

     "Wit' Sammy."

     "Sammy?"

      "Yeah, wit' Sammy.  We spend lotsa time...ya know, together...in
the pool house...by ourselves...and we do things. And it awesome!"

      "Hey!   That's  real great!  Do ya like Sammy's  missin'  arms...
ya know, his stumps?"

      Gabe  giggles some more.  "Yeah.  I think they're  super."   It's
good to hear him laugh.

     I know I wanna Gabe t' tell me more `bout Zack `cause I still miss
him  a lot.  So I ask, "Tell me, is Zack still usin' that old computer?
The one that don't even have a color screen?"

     Gabe  gives  out  a  big laugh.  "Yeah.  He says  it's  his  lucky
computer.  It's upgraded.  But I gotta tell ya Val, he's really lookin'
like  shit.  He's losing weight, doesn't go out into the sun and  isn't
interested  in anyone.  He goes out at all hours and I don't  have  any
idea where he goes."

     "And ya all by yaself in that big house?"

      "Well,  Kitty and Ralph are here.they sleep in the big house  not
out  over the garages.  And sometimes.well, sometimes Sammy sleeps with
me.and  then  I  sleep  great!"  Gabe's silent for  a  coupla  seconds.
"Anyways,  his  books  continue to sell a lot and  the  money's  really
rollin'  in.  One critic says the books are gettin' better  and  better
and  he  wins  a  Pulitzer Prize last year so the stuff must  be  good.
Right?"

     "Right."  I don't know what else t' say.

      I  hear  him  blow  his  nose.   "I  don't  know  what's  fuckin'
happenin'."   Gabe sounds angry.  "He's supposed to go to the  doctor's
two  times  a  week but he don't.  A shrink.  He always tells  me  some
bullshit story why he can't go and then he just sits in his office  and
writes."  I hear him blow his nose again.

      "One  night  I wake up `bout three in the mornin'  and  I'm  very
hungry.  I make myself a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a glass a
milk.   On  my  way  back t' my room I hear noises comin'  from  Zack's
office.   It sounds like he's talkin' t' someone.  I creep  up  t'  the
door and I hear his voice.  Every now and then I swear I can understand
when he says `Val.'  It's so strange - really fuckin' eerie.  It sounds
like he talkin' t' ya and tellin' ya things t' do."

     "Oh, wow!"

     "Then he gets louder, like he's havin' a argument with someone.  I
hear  `Mary  Anne'  and my name and he's yellin' and  screamin'.   He's
havin'  a  terrible argument with mom and he's all  by  himself!   This
totally  creeps me out.  I mean, I'm sure now that he's  goin'  totally
mental.  He talks t' himself, he yells and screams at people who  ain't
even there.  I don't know how much longer I can live with him."

      "I'm so sorry Gabe.  I really am.  I'm sure it's real bad."   I'm
really feeling sorry for him but what can I do `cept listen t' him?

                  -----------------------------------

      Gabe  and  Zack invite me once t' stay with `em for a week  after
school ends one year.  But I know that Zack got nothin' t' do wit'  it.
I'm  sure  he don't want me there and I only see him two times  and  we
don't talk.

     I  take the Greyhound and Gabe, Sammy and Ralph meet me at the bus
station  in Oakland.  It's the first time I see Gabe or Sammy  since  I
have  my new arms.  They're both excited and I show `em how they  work.
Sammy  likes  `em a lot.  Gabe wants t' show `em t' Zack  but  he  just
waves him away and goes t' his study - and slams the door.

     We  go  t' some places but mostly we stay around the house and  we
swim,  eat,  relax and just plain have fun.  Billie and  Louie  are  so
happy  t' see me again and I'm very happy t' see `em.  The five  of  us
sleep in the pool house - in one big bed, includin' the dogs.

     We  have some sex almos' every night and sometimes even durin' the
day.   It's real cozy and lotsa fun!  Sammy's folks bring food  and  we
never havta go up t' the big house.  We swim and watch TV and work  out
durin'  the day and maybe go t' the movies at night.  And play at  sex.
I know Billie and Louie stayin' wit' us is drivin' Zack crazy.

     It's also the first time that I ever give anyone a blowjob where a
guy  really shoots stuff.  I do it with Sammy - I suck on his dink  and
lick  his  balls and he comes in my mouth and I swallow  everythin'  he
shoots.  I'm not grossed out or anythin' `bout it and the taste is okay
- not terrible, not great.  Sammy has some nice `quipment - not too big
but nice.  He says it's a real good blowjob and thanks me.

                  -----------------------------------

     The  gang soon notices Big Eddie's not hangin' `round wit' us  too
much  any more.  Sal comes t' us one day wit' the news that Big Eddie's
datin'  a girl who don't go t' our school.  He meets her at some  pizza
joint  near  the beach and she goes t' a Catholic school.   Her  name's
Carole,  but she wears too much makeup.  I see `em together and they're
holdin' hands.

     Eddie tells me he likes her.  He says how they kiss a lot and even
French  kiss.  I know `bout this type of kissin' but I pretend I  don't
so he tells me what it's like and everythin' they do.  He also says she
lets  him  touch her and she takes off her top once and he touches  her
bra but nothin' else.  And they go out on dates almos' every weekend.

     One Saturday night I'm home alone.  I'm watchin' TV in my room.  I
sorta hear a strange noise comin' from the front porch and I'm a little
scared.   I  peek through the blinds and am surprised t' see Big  Eddie
sittin' on the steps.  He just sits there with his head down and  don't
move.  I can't see that clear but I swear he's cryin'.

      I  go out t' the porch and stand behind Big Eddie lookin' down on
him.   He's really cryin'.  Also he's talkin' t' himself.  I can't hear
everythin'  he's sayin' but I hear things like "fuckin' bitch"  "loser"
"ass wipe" and "weenie."  He don't hear me.

     "Hi, Eddie," I say very quiet-like.

      He  looks up a little startled.  "Hey, Val."  He looks  away  and
he's quiet `gain `til he says, "Could ya just please go `way, Val,  and
leave me `lone?"

      I  shuffle my feet.  "How can I go `way Eddie - I live here."  We
both  laugh a little.  "I thought I could help ya - ya know,  we  could
talk  or somethin' or have a snack.  It looks like somethin's botherin'
ya."   He  don't say nothin' so I turn and start walkin' back int'  the
house.  "Okay then.  Take it easy.  See ya."

      I  hear  footsteps and turn and see Eddie walkin' up t'  me  real
slow. "Can I come in with ya, Val?"   nod.  "I real...really need t' be
wit' someone tonight.  I'm so sorry.  I'm such a fuckin' mess.  And I'm
so goddamn lonely...and so fuckin' alone."

     I  walk  up t' him puttin' my arm `round his waist.  "Sure, Eddie.
Let's go t' my room.  Okay?"  He sniffles hard and grasps my left  arm.
He's almos' actin' like a little kid.

      I get two Cokes; Eddie opens `em.  We go t' my room and close the
door.   Eddie's  pacin'  `round and `round  the  room.   He's  touchin'
everythin' and won't stay still a second.  He finally walks over t' the
bed and sits down nex' t' me.  "I'm sorry, Val."

      "There  ain't nothin' t' be sorry `bout, Eddie."  I just look  at
him and he looks back at me.  "I guess it was a rough night, huh?"

      He  laughs.  "That don't begin t' say it."  He takes a long drink
and  stands  up  and  starts pacin' `gain.  "She dumps  me,  Val.   She
fuckin' dumps me! And...and...she and her goddamn fuckin' fr-fr-friends
sha-sha-shames me!"

     "Whoa, baby.  Who dumps ya, big boy?  Who shames ya?"

      "Carole, you flea-brain.  Shit!  What a poor excuse I am!  I  got
no fuckin' balls to...to...oh shit!  I don't know...I just don't  know
what I'm gonna do!"

     He flops down on my bed.  He buries his face in a pillow and beats
it  with his fists.  I really don't know what t' do neither but I  move
near him and reach over and begin t' rub his back.  I don't say nothing
and  the only sound comin' from Eddie's a sniffle or two.  After a  few
minutes of cryin' and rubbin', he turns and looks at me.  He gives me a
real shy smile and I return a bigger one.

      "Thanks for bein' here for me, Val.  Ya a lifesaver.  And a  real
great friend."  He moves his hand and rubs the back of it lightly on my
cheek.   I close my eyes and let the wonderful feelin' gush through  my
body.  "I know I've...I've been...ya know, a little unfriendly t' ya at
times when I wanna do my own thing.  I know I'm sometimes bitchy.   And
a  miserable little shit.  I just wanna let ya know now  that...well, I
think ya great...and a great friend...and that I like ya very much. I been
afraid t' let ya know what I...ya know, what I really think about ya and
how  much I really like bein' wit' ya.  I wanna be ya good friend  from
here on out and..."

      I  kiss him.  I stop all his stupid babble wit' a kiss.  It's the
only  thing  I can think t' do.  I just press my lips `gainst  his  and
push hard.  I don't know why I do it or how I work up the courage t' do
it.   But I do it!  Maybe it's just t' stop his babblin' or  `cause  I
think  he's so cute and his lips look so sweet or maybe...maybe...
maybe...I don't know.

      We break from the kiss and I stare at Eddie.  He just stares back
at  me.  I feel a little shamed.  He just stares and stares.  His  face
looks  blank; he looks stunned.  I start thinkin' that he's gonna punch
me and my face's gonna be a real sorry-ass mess.

     "Kiss me again, Val," he says quietly.

     "Huh?" I say totally shocked.

      "I'm  askin' ya t' please kiss me again.  I'd like it if ya  did.
Don't ya wanna?"

      "Yeah,  I do," I say, this time with a big old silly grin  on  my
face.  "I wanna do it a lot...more `n anything in the world right now."

     "So do I," he says in whisper.  "And I wanna do it a lot too."

     I see him close his eyes as my lips get near his lips.  I close my
eyes,  too, just before our lips met.  He puts his arms `round  me  and
his  hands are touchin' and rubbin' my back.  I have my arms around him
and I clasp him hard - as hard as I can.  I'm grinding my lips into him
and  soon he's grinding his belly into me.  I love the feeling  of  his
lips and his belly touching me.

     I know my dink's very hard and I think Eddie's hard too.

      I  love  his smell.  God!  It's so wonderful - the smell  of  his
sweat and his after-shave.  I love everythin' Eddie's doin' t' me;  I
love  everythin' I'm doin' t' him; I love everythin' `bout what me  and
Eddie are doin' together.

			     To Be Continued.
		    -----------------------------------

Chapter 12 (Part 2 - The Conclusion of the Story) Is Coming Very Soon