Date: Thu, 27 Apr 2000 17:15:18 -0700
From: Fredric L. Brothers <flbrothers@hotbot.com>
Subject: 'SUMMER WITH VAL" - Chapter 5  (Man/Boy)

Disclaimer: The following story is a work of fiction.  It contains scenes
of deep affection between an adult white male and a minor black boy.  If
you find this disturbing, then leave.  Please e-mail any thoughts or
comments you may have: FLBROTHERS@hotbot.com

		      -------------------------------
			     SUMMER  WITH  VAL
		      -------------------------------
			     By Fred Brothers
       Copyright 2000 by Fredric Law Brothers (All Rights Reserved)


			    Chapter 5 - Sunday

	I have to admit that I was very hesitant about seeing Val early
Sunday afternoon.  After my signoff comment to him in our conversation last
night, I expected a phone call canceling his visit.  It was a stupid slip
of the tongue; I did not want to frighten the kid, or make him less sure
around me, or to be wary of me in any way.  I knew that I had made a
terrible mistake with the kid.  I hope he hadn't told Elise.  Then again,
maybe it would be better if he had.  This would force certain things into
the open and let them air.  Still, better if he didn't say anything,
though.

	My fears proved groundless.  I heard nothing from either Elise or
Val, and almost precisely at twelve-thirty Elise drove up to front of the
house.  I opened the car door and Val got out after kissing Elise good-bye.
I told Elise that I would drive Val home.  She smiled at us, told us she
would be home about ten o'clock and drove off quickly.

	Val carried a small backpack in his left hook.  Like yesterday, I
could not take my eyes off of his prosthetic hands.  We walked into the
house and immediately the dogs were jumping on him.  He put down his pack,
squatted down and began petting them.  They adored the attention and I
loved watching him.

	"Have you decided what you want to do today?" I asked him.

	He shook his head.  "Nah.  I though about a ballgame but if don't
want t' go then..."

	"No.  A baseball game is a great idea.  Candlestick Park?"

	He nodded.  "Yeah, the Stick would be great!  I haven't been there
in a long time."  He paused to think for a second or two.  "I think the
last time I was there is when you took me and Gabe and we got free helmets
or somethin'..."

	"And old Candlestick will be gone in a few more years...a new
stadium is being built."

	"I know.  It'll be sad t' see the old park go."

	Here was a ten-year-old kid becoming nostalgic for the passing of a
ballpark.  Strange the pace of things today.  "Well, lets get going!"

	"Can we go in the Jeep?  I think I'd like ridin' in it a lot."

	"Sure, anything you want, Val.  Today is your day so don't be
afraid to ask.  Okay?"

	"Right, Dr. Greene."

	"And we can start with that.  Val, I'd like it very much if you'd
call me Zack...and not Dr. Greene any more.  Okay?"

	He thought for a while.  "Well, I don't know.  I mean, what'll my
mom say if I called ya Zack instead of Dr. Greene?"

	"Well, I think she'd know that we've become good friends.  Okay?"

	"Yeah, I think so.  That's okay."

	He gave me a big, satisfied grin.  I held my arms open and he
walked up to me and hugged me tightly.  I returned the hug with enthusiasm
and kissed the top of his head.  He looked up at me gave a big smile.  He
was very happy...and so was I.  I would be spending the whole day with him
and the prospect had me absolutely elated.

			******************************************************

	Val and I enjoyed the ballgame a great deal.  We had great seats -
never difficult getting good seats at the Stick.  The Giants played the New
York Mets and my allegiances were definitely torn.  As a resident of the
Bay Area, my loyalties should have been with the Giants, but as a native of
New York City, I had to root for the Mets, my favorite team when I lived in
the Big Apple.

	So we had a friendly rivalry.  We teased each other and played all
kinds of silly games of oneupsmanship.  Val had a wonderful time (I think)
although he did not ask for anything to eat.  No hot dogs, no popcorn, no
ice cream.  I had my usual one hot dog, one beer, ice cream and bag of
popcorn.  Val did let me feed him some of my food and I bought him
something to drink.  I was only too happy to do so.

	I wondered if this reluctance to eat was a reflection of his
unwillingness to expose his hooks to the crowd sitting around us.  He sat
quietly in his seat when there was nothing happening on the field, his
hooks on his lap and covered by the long sleeves of the sweatshirt.  When
he stood he kept his arms straight down, his hooks again covered by the
long sleeves.  It was cool at Candlestick (as it usually is), with a stiff
breeze blowing off the bay.  Val wore his Raiders sweatshirt again.  I did
buy him a new Giants sweatshirt and ball cap, however.  He was very pleased
when I let him make his own selections at the souvenir stand.

	During the game I noticed that Val was giving me sly glances; he
would look in my direction, at my face, and when I turned to look at him,
he would just give me a little smile.  I would smile back and then he'd
turn his attention back to the field.  What was he thinking?  What was he
doing?  Was he...was he flirting with me?  It certainly appeared that way.
If it was flirting, then I adored it; I adored everything he did.

	After the game (which, incidentally, the Mets won) I drove to one
of my favorite informal restaurants in the Bay Area, a great family type
place, specializing in fried chicken, steaks, ribs, burgers and chili.  Val
was chattering away about the game - it was as if he had videotaped the
game in his head and he was replaying it for me in bits and pieces.  He
loved riding in the Jeep and was excited about the feeling of the wind in
his face.  But as we drove into the parking lot of the restaurant, he
suddenly became very quiet.  I parked and got out of the car; Val did not
move.

	"What's up Val?" I asked very gently.  He shook his head and didn't
say anything.  "Is there something wrong?"  Again not a sound as he just
continued to look down at his lap.  "C'mon, buddy, you can speak to me.
We're friends, aren't we?"  Still no sound from him.  "You can tell me
anything...anything at all Val...anything you want.  Please know that I'm
here for you...and I'll do anything for you that I can possibly do.
Anything!"  These pleas were greeted with more silence.  I climbed back
into the driver's seat and closed the door.  "Val, please speak to me."

	He did not say anything, but slowly raised his hooks and looked at
me.  His eyes were very teary and his actions did not require any further
words.

	I looked straight ahead and tried to gather my thoughts.  Here was
my first big obstacle that needed to be overcome if my relationship with
Val was to continue and become cemented.  We needed to come to a mutual
understanding of how I would be treating him and how I expected him to
respond. "Val, I really need you to speak to me and tell me what's
bothering you.  I need to know...and I need you to tell me.  No secrets
buddy.  Okay?"

	He looked at me and tried to speak.  I could see his lips begin to
move but nothing came out.  Finally, after numerous attempts, he succeeded,
speaking in a very flat and very low voice.  "You said before...you said
t-t-that today was g-gonna be...m-m-my day...and if it's my day...then I
d-d-don't wanna go into this place."

	"Can you explain why."  He only looked at me.  "You know, you have
to eat sometime.  Why not here?"

	"We can eat at h-home, can't we?"

	"Yes, I suppose so.  But why?  Why eat at home when they have such
terrific food here?  And we're here already."

	"I always eat at home.  I don't l-like going to strange places t'
eat."

	"You ate at my house yesterday, didn't you?"

	"Yeah...I suppose.  But that w-wasn't really strange 'cause I'd
been there m-many, many times before."

	I directly engaged his eyes.  This verbal sparring had to cease.  I
knew what was bothering him and also knew that Val had to become much less
self-conscious of his disability.  "I agree.  You'd been there on many
occasions.  But not since not since your accident - not since the doctors
had to amputate your hands.  Yesterday was the first time.  Wasn't it?"

	His eyes began to really tear now.  He was crying.  What I'd said
quite possibly hurt him.  But that was really the intent - I need to shock
him into accepting the reality of the situation - of his situation, and not
trying to physically hide or to seek a safe refuge from every uncomfortable
circumstance.

	I moved my hand and put it on his hooks, which were resting on his
lap.  "Val, I thought we were going to be good friends.  That's what I
really want.  Isn't that what you want?"  He nodded.  I could feel his
teardrops hitting my hand.  I really felt for the kid, but knew that we
absolutely must have this talk.  "Please answer me, Val," I said gently but
insistently.

	"Yes," he said in a pathetically soft, halting and choked voice.

	"Good.  Then we both want the same thing."  I paused in order to
organize my thoughts better.  I knew this conversation was going to come up
sooner or later, but I didn't expect it this soon.  "Val, if we're to be
good friends, which we both have said is what we want, then we have to be
totally honest and up front with each other.  Right?"  He nodded to me.
"You lost your hands in a terribly tragic accident.  But this is not a
reason to put our new friendship in trouble.  And it's in trouble if you
have big problems doing what I want and when I want to do it.

	"I totally accept you for who you are and for what you are.  You
are a ten-year-old boy who lost his hands and now has metal hooks instead.
That is a fact and it must be accepted - accepted by both you and me...and
everyone.  I think that I've accepted that; I don't think you have, though.
I think you are still living in the past, hoping that this situation will,
by some magic happening, just go away."  I looked into his contorted face
and just wanted to smother him with love and affection.  However, I knew I
needed to finish what I had just started.

	"Val, lets be honest and forthright.  Your hands are gone and they
will always be gone.  I hate to be this harsh, but that is a fact.  It will
never change...and in order to get on with your life, and to live it with
verve, you must accept that..  What does not have to be accepted is the
need to hide or to be alone or to feel alone or to feel so different from
other people that you cannot face them - or to feel that people do not love
you."

	e looked at me.  "She...doesn't l-l-love...me...anymore, Zack," he
blubbered and began to weep copious tears.

	 thought for a second.  "I don't think that's really true, Val.  I
think she still loves you...love you a lot.  It's just, well, it's just
that she may love you...uh...differently now.  Lots of things have happened
in the last couple of years and...and lots of things have changed...and
people also change.  Your mom has changed...and so have you.  You must be
willing to accept these changes - not resent them.  You may not like them,
and although some of the changes can be eventually altered, a lot can't.
You know that, don't you?"  He nodded.  "So you basically have to learn to
live with them...and accept them...and become comfortable with them...and
get on with your life.

	"You are a great kid - you are a wonderful person, Val, a person
who I'd like to get to know much better.  Our getting to know each other
better cannot happen if you are going to be fearful of every new experience
or if you try to hide away in your own little world and be afraid of
everything."

	I paused and unblinkingly stared at him.  He only nodded and, to my
surprise, had the very slightest trace of a smile on his lips.  "Do you
really mean that?"

	"What?"  I was confused.

	"'bout wantin' t' know me better...and that I'm
wonderful...and...and that I'm..."  His voice tailed off into silence.

	"That you're what, Val?"

	He opened his eyes wide and opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
He started to cry hard again and I put my arm around him and pulled him
close to me - as close as the seats in the Jeep would allow.  Finally he
managed to finish what he had started.  "What ya said last night - that
I'm...I'm beautiful."

	He began crying very hard again.  I just held him and rubbed his
arms and his neck and part of his back.  "Yes, Val, I meant that; I meant
that very much.  You are very beautiful.  And your beauty is more than what
you look like, although, I have to admit, that your appearance is very,
very beautiful.  You are also a very beautiful person...a person I'd love
to know better...a person with a great gift...a gift for making other
people...very happy.  Being with you today has made me very happy."

	He threw his arms around me and hugged me tightly.  I hugged him
back and slowly rocked him.  He was crying very hard now and, frankly, so
was I.  We held each other closely, comforting the other.  I felt marvelous
holding this beautiful child in my arms - his warmth and loveliness
overwhelmed me.  I knew that I wanted to have Val with me as much as
possible - as often as possible.  I wanted him to be with me...to be with
me as much and as long as he wanted to be.

	I don't know how long we held each other, but when we broke, Val
gave me a big smile and looked down at his hooks.  "I think I'll have a
steak," he said with a big grin.

			******************************************************

	We were on the short drive to Oakland and Val's home.  My right
hand was resting on his thigh and occasionally I'd give it a little
squeeze; we'd turn and smile at each other.  It had been a wonderful day -
full of recently discovered friendship, new and deeper understandings and
lots of love.

	Dinner went surprisingly well, considering the scope of the scene
played out in the parking lot.  I had, frankly, anticipated a disaster, but
it certainly was not.  Val was very proficient with his prosthetic hands.
The only thing I had to do for him was to cut his steak, and I was
convinced he could have done that if he had wanted.  I'm sure he was
playing the slightly helpless individual to some extent; he asked me to do
it and I gladly obliged.

	We both had big meals and the leftovers were wrapped, bagged and
taken with us.  Val complained a bit that he was too full and feeling a
little uncomfortable.  But he enjoyed everything he ate - and he certainly
ate plenty, including a very large dessert.

	"What time does Elise get home on Sunday nights?" I asked as we
crossed the Oakland Bay Bridge.

	He shrugged.  "Sometimes eight, sometimes nine, sometimes later.
Sometimes I'm sleepin' when she gets home.  I think she said she'd be home
'bout ten tonight."

	"Uh-huh."  I thought for at least one minute before I asked the
next question.  "Would you like me to stay with you until she gets home?"

	"Could you?" he asked enthusiastically.  I nodded and smiled at
him.  "Yeah, that'd be great.  I'd like that."

	We drove the rest of the way in silence except for Val giving me
directions.  I sensed that something new was bothering him or that he
wanted to say something, but held back.  As we approached the apartment
building he turned to me.  "Zack, would it be...uh...ya know, would it be
okay...tonight...for me...for me to spend...uh...tonight...the night with
ya at your house?"

	I was stunned at the proposal and it took me a few seconds to
recover.  "What about going to school tomorrow?"

	He shrugged.  "I dunno.  Ya could drive me...or I could miss it.
Either."

	I was very intrigued at the thought of having Val sleeping over at
the house tonight.  We could watch TV together, and have a late snack, and,
best of all, I would have the additional time with him.

	"I like the idea, Val.  I like it very much!"  He gave me a
fabulously wide grin and I rubbed his head and stoked his cheek.  "We'll
need to get some stuff for you, you know, clothes, your books and other
school stuff."

	I parked in front of the building and we went upstairs to the
apartment.  The building was poorly maintained but Elise's apartment was
nice and neat and seemed comfortable.  Val led the way into his bedroom.
It was a boy's bedroom, with posters of athletes, pennants and photos of
rock groups on the walls, and sports gear and clothes strewn all about.  I
also noticed a framed photograph of Val and Kurt on the nightstand near the
bed.  I was surprised to see this - surprised that Elise permitted it.

	Val grabbed his backpack, pushed some clothes into it, shoved his
schoolbooks in, and turned to me with a big grin on his face.  "Ready!" he
announced.

	And we were on our way.

			******************************************************

	When we arrived home, I noticed a message on the answering machine.
It was from Gabe and he was concerned that he had been unable to reach
either Val or me.  I immediately called him.

	Val and Gabe spoke for about twenty minutes; I gave the kid his
privacy and went into the kitchen to feed Louis and Billie and let them run
around the yard for a time.  When Val gave me the phone, I noticed his eyes
were red and his face wet.  Must have been another gut wrenching
conversation.  He went off upstairs, taking his pack with him.

	"Hi Gabe.  How are things goin'?"

	"Pretty good, dad.  Things are pretty good right now.  Lotta
tension removed when you told her you'd take me at the enda June."

	"Good to hear that.  Did Val tell you about our day?"

	"He certainly did.  Sounds like it was great fun - along wit' some
major problems."

	"All in all, I think it was a very good day.  We got some things
cleared up and he seems rather content for now.  He's going to stay here
tonight and I'll drive him to school in the morning."

	"Sounds fine to me.  He told me everything that happened including
the scene in the car outside the restaurant and also the bit with the kid
inside.  I think you've begun to put a plan into action.  Right?"

	"You could say that.  But I wouldn't call it a plan.  There's
nothing thought out way ahead of time.  It's more like a day to day
operation; I'm trying to make the kid feel good about himself and I'll do
anything it takes to accomplish that."

	"Sounds like a swell idea...or plan...or whatever you wanna call
it.  He certainly sounded more upbeat tonight...though there was still a
lotta cryin' goin' on."

	"I gathered that when I saw him after you guys spoke.  But I think
my idea is working and he is more accepting of me because I think he knows
that I'm totally accepting of him.  In fact, Gabe, to tell you the truth, I
find his hooks to be rather attractive."

	"You do?  That's different, I must say.  Isn't it a little strange
to actually like 'em?"

	"I don't think so.  I think they're quite beautiful."

Gabe paused.  "Anyway, he says you asked him to call you Zack?"

	"Yeah, I made him call me Zack because the Dr. Greene thing really
sucked.  Much too formal - and it put an artificial barrier between us."

	"Good move.  I think that wenna long way to makin' him feel more
comfortable."

	Gabe and I talked for another five minutes or so, mostly about
nothing.  However I did give him the latest news from the movie front -
about the filming of my first novel - and he was very excited.  When I
finished I went into the kitchen for a snack and something to drink; Val
joined me.

	We sat at the table drinking root beer and eating grapes.  Val was
practically staring at me and I gave him small smiles in return.  I had the
feeling that something was on his mind.  I knew him well enough of the
course of two days to know this.  "Is something bothering you, Val?" I
asked in a very gentle, non-threatening way.

	He shook his head while continuing to stare at me.  "Not really,"
he said in a low voice.

	"Because, you know, you can tell me anything you want...or anything
you need to.  I want you to consider me your good friend and want you to be
able to confide in me whenever you want to or need to."

	"Thanks, Zack," he replied.  We continued munching on the grapes.
"Zack?"  I nodded.  "Zack, I'm, ya know, worried about mom startin' med
school and me bein' left 'lone all the time and summer vacation is startin'
soon."

	"I understand what you're saying, Val."  I thought for a minute and
shook my head.  "I don't know how to help you there, kiddo.  I really
don't."

	"Couldn't I stay, like, with you...here?"

	I shook my head.  "No, that won't be possible."

	He started getting teary eyed.  "Why?  Why not?"  There was a
decided whine in his voice.

	"Because I learned this morning that they will begin filming my
screenplay next month and..."

	"Hey, that's real neat!" he said with not too much enthusiasm.

	"Yes, it is.  Anyway, I'll be going down to LA in a few weeks and
I'll be staying there all summer and maybe even into part of the fall."

	"Oh," he said with a very disappointed tone.  He looked down at the
dogs, which were sitting near his chair.  "What about Gabe?"

	"Gabe?  Gabe will be coming with me.  We'll be spending the time
together."

	Now he began to cry.  "Ya mean I won't be seein' Gabe and playin'
with him this...all this summer?"

	"I'm afraid not, Val.  Gabe has to be with me, and we'll be in LA,
with a few weeks in Italy for the shooting of the film.  The studio emailed
the complete schedule.  I'm really sorry, Val...really, really sorry."

	He began to cry quite heavily and blubbered something about his
summer's going to be all screwed up and he'll have nothing to do and no one
to be with.

	"I'm sorry Val, but there's nothing I can do about it.  This is
what happened and I'm afraid it's not going to change."  I walked over to
where he was sitting.  He stood up, wrapped his arms around me and
continued to cry very hard.  I lifted him and carried him into the family
room.  I stretched out on a sofa with Val resting his beautiful body on me;
he was still crying quite heavily.

	I just adored the feel of his body resting on mine.  His head was
just below my chin and his wonderful boy fragrance filled my head with the
most luscious scent imaginable.  My shirt was getting quite wet from his
copious tears.

	My brain, on the other hand, was in a whirl knowing that this
wonderful person - this marvelous boy - was with me again and that he would
be spending the night, although in separate bedrooms.  I had him put his
stuff in Gabe's old room, where he would be sleeping tonight.  I also felt
very sorry that I (or should I say, we) would not be spending time with Val
during the summer.

	After he had quieted down somewhat, he lifted his head and looked
at me with those soulful eyes.  "Zack...Zack, ain't-t-there any way I
c-c-can be with you and Gabe?"

	I shook my head slightly.  "No, Val.  Since the studio is paying
for everything, it can only be Gabe and me.  That's what my contract says.
And besides, you're not family and I'd have difficulties having you with
us.  I'm not your parent or your guardian."

	"But you're my godfather."

	"That doesn't count as family.  I'm sorry, Val."

	Val lay his head down again and began crying softly.  My arms were
wrapped around his body and I could feel the tremors running through him.

	Val squirmed considerably and it had the same effect as the last
time.  He would occasionally look up at me and I always smiled back at him
when he did.  He was a tremendously inviting kid.  I must admit that I was
more than a little ashamed to reacting this way to a child.  I had been
around young people all of my life and Val was the first instance of being
sexually attracted to or aroused by a youngster

			******************************************************

	At nine o'clock Val turned to me, smiled and said, "Time to get
ready for bed."

	"What time do you have to get up?"

	"Lessee.  It'll take ya about twenty minutes to get t' the school,
so lets say ya wake me up at seven."

	"No problem.  Do you want to bathe or take a shower now?"

	He gave me a very sly smile and looked down at the floor.  "I think
a bath would be nice...if it's no trouble for you, Zack."

	"No problem, Val."

	I stood up and began walking towards the stairs.  I noticed that
Val was not following me or walking with me.  I turned and he was still
standing by the couch.  I looked at him.  He held out his right hook.
"Could ya take...my hand...er...my hook, Zack?"

	"Of course."  I walked back to him and took his right hook into my
left hand.  I wondered if this was some kind of test that he was giving
me...to see how'd I respond.  But I didn't care - I loved the fact that he
offered.

	The hook was cool to the touch but I got an incredible thrill
holding it and walking upstairs with this fabulous kid.  He smiled up at me
a few times, each time warming me and making me feel slightly generous and
caring.

	When we reached Gabe's bedroom, Val went scampering in.  "I need t'
get undressed now."  He opened his pack and took out clean pajamas and set
them out on the bed.  I moved toward the door and was preparing to go into
the bathroom to get it ready for Val.  "Would ya help me, Zack?"

	"W-W-What?" I stammered.

	"Help me get undressed and all.  Wanna help me?" he asked again.

	Did I want to help him?  God!  Did I want to help him!  I tried to
keep calm and put on a detached attitude, but my racing heartbeat and the
pounding of my blood was making ungodly sounds in my ears.  I was afraid
Val would hear it and be scared off.  "Sure, Val," I answered slowly and
thoughtfully.  "Just tell me what to do and I'll do my very best."

	Val smiled at me and sat on the bed.  "First, ya wanna take of my
sneakers and socks?"

	He lifted his legs one at a time and I removed his sneakers and
tube socks.  He had the most endearing little feet I had ever seen.  Of
course, I had never paid too much attention to little boy's feet before,
but I definitely knew that Val's were exceptionally cute.  I tickled the
bottom lightly and he began to giggle and squeal and begging me to stop.  I
played with his darling little toes and he seemed to like that very much.

	"Okay, okay, Zack.  Enough!" he giggled out.  "Now undress the rest
of me," he said in what I interpreted as a very sexy voice.

	"First, I want to run the water for your bath."  I stepped out of
the room and into the large main bath across the hall and began to fill the
tub.

	I could not believe what was happening to me and had to sit down on
a bench in the bathroom to collect my thoughts.  I was with a ten-year-old
boy and I was as excited as I had ever been in my life.  This beautiful
amputee child was turning me on in an incredible way.  My body was tingly
all over, my cock was straining in my shorts and my brain did not
completely comprehend exactly what was going on.

	"What am I going to do?  What the hell am I going to do with this
lovely, beautiful child who is getting me hotter than I can ever remember
being in recent years?  What the hell is happening to me?  Am I going
crazy?  Did all those years in Iowa really take a toll on my brain?  Since
when am I attracted to prepubescent boys?"  I said all of this partially
out loud and was very embarrassed.

	I slowly walked back to the bedroom.  Val was standing near the bed
and was taking his school clothes out of the backpack.  He was still
wearing all of his clothes.

	"Ready Zack?" he asked in a sprightly and charming voice.  I smiled
and walked up to him.  He raised his arms, wanting me to take off his
sweatshirt.  "No," he admonished me.  "Pull it off from the bottom not from
the sleeves.  Put your hands on the edge at the bottom and pull up slowly."

	I did exactly what he had asked and very slowly and very steadily
removed the sweatshirt.  After tossing it on the bed, I turned to face Val.
I slowly backed up and when I felt the bed hitting the back of my thighs, I
sat down, while continuing to stare straight ahead at Val - at my Val - at
my beautiful Val.

	He stood in front of me, his head down, his body slumped slightly
forward.  I was able to see his complete prostheses and the associated
equipment now - the hooks, the forearms, the stump coverings, the cables,
the harness and straps.  It looked like too much extraneous paraphernalia
for his small body to be carrying.

	He slowly raised his head and looked at me.  The look on his
gorgeous face absolutely broke my already aching heart.  It was a look that
combined longing, embarrassment, pain, fear - the whole panoply of human
emotions and feelings.  Val was a ten-year-old living, breathing member of
those people who American society just wants to sweep away and pretend do
not exist.

	To me, he presented himself as the most beautiful and desirable
human being I had ever encountered.

	I totally adored Val.

	I adored absolutely everything about him.

	I opened my arms and he slowly walked to me, raising his head
gradually the nearer he came.  He was sobbing.  I smiled at him.  He tried
to smile back.  I enfolded him in my warm, loving embrace and clasped him
strongly to my body.  He put his arms around me, and gradually began to hug
me tightly; he continued to weep.

	"This's been the best day of my whole life, Zack.  The real, real
best!  And...and now that ya see me with...with all this stuff...and ya
smile at me...and ya hold me in your arms...and ya make me feel so good
it's...it's even better."

	I squeezed him harder and lovingly placed kisses all over his
forehead and the top of his head.  I cherished this child and knew that by
some strange combination of fates or kismet or alignment of the stars or
position of the planets...or whatever, something meant us to be together.
Val and I were two apparently directionless souls who had miraculously
found each other.


						To Be Continued...