Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 13:54:27 +1300
From: arthur <rochopa@xtra.co.nz>
Subject: the vision part 18       adult /youth

					THE VISION

					Part Eighteen

					By Arthur



Authors note:
     	I must appologies for the long delay in this episode but due to
	a breakin of my home and the theft of my computer system I have
	just now been able to replace it and have a lot of catching up
	with both stories and emails so I ask you for your patience and
	hope that soon everything will be back to normal.

	Secondly 'NIFTY' has made available many different modes of assistance
	for us authors without which we would be wasting away with stories
	untold, they have now in concert with 'JUSTIN CASE' set up a new chat
	room for authors and for those of you that would like to have a chance
	to chat to your favourites then try the 'WRITERS CHAT ROOM' here on
	'NIFTY' everyone has put a lot into it for your enjoyment so please
	make use of this excellent oppotunity.


As we sat and whiled away the late afternoon sun the two boys found it
harder and harder to stay apart and the fishing seemed to have taken a back
seat for the moment, I kept an eye on their rods and lines as the sun sank
further as the closer to dark it became the better the chances of a big
snapper striking, I had decided in concert with Max that at the first sign
of a decent and likely strike we would give the rod to Benny reguardless of
whos it was.

I leaned back in the chair beside Max with one eye on the rods and the
other on the two of them, they made a very beautiful couple and I hoped
that they would find a deep love to have together, a small zzzzzz sound
came from the rod holder beside me, I glanced at the tip of the rod and
watched as it slowly began to bend, the line easing out imperceptively, not
a mad rushing scream this was going to be a good fish, he was tasting and
trying to find any resistance as he carried the large bait along then
dropped it again, after 30 seconds he picked it up again and I reached for
the rod to take it out of the holder placing my thumb on the auto drag
ready to slam it forward and bury the hook.

"Benny, come here son, get your belt on and be ready to take this one."

"Ok dad, is it a good one?"

"Looks like it son, ready?"

I glanced over at him to make sure he had his gimbol belt fitted tightly
and then as the fish pulled out line again I struck the drag lever and
snapped the rod tip upward burying the hook deep, the weight came on and
the reel began to scream as the fish felt the hook pulled into his jaw, he
was a good one alright this would give Benny something to play with now,
looking down I eased the drag to 5 kg and handed the rod to Benny to put
into his belt and start the fight.

I'd had Benny practice before this on a "giggle stick" (light bait rod)
with kahawai and sprats to get used to the action of using the rod to fight
the fish and not just winch them in like so many had the habit of doing, a
good snapper like this one was tricky and knew ways of getting off your
line that you would never think of, if he was up near the 20lb mark then he
could be as much as thirty years old and to make that age they're not
stupid, they'll use every rock, reef or piece of kelp to get free.

Bennies face began to flush as he settled into his work, the rod was loaded
with only 15lb line so he had to work well to land this one, he braced his
knees against the gunnel of the boat as he gave and then took back line,
sweat broke out on his forehead as his little arms pumped the rod up and
down, then with one big tug the fish powered downward pulling Benny close
to the edge, before I could react there was a pair of slim arms around his
waist and a voice saying.

"I've got you love, give it to him, he's going to be yours."

It was so spontaineous that I looked over at Max and he just nodded his
head as though to say, 'leave them to it' I nodded back to him and sat
watching the struggle, after a good ten minute battle Benny called out.

"Dad, dad, I've got colour."

I jumped to my feet as Benny told me the news, (having colour means he can
see the fish near the surface and wants a gaff or net to land it) so for
the best result for him I took up the landing net and went to the side of
the boat to wait till he was ready for me, the fish looked good and heavy,
the large head with its distinctive bulging forehead and the large eyes
with the bright red and orange colour with an very broad tail lashing water
back and forth told me it was going to be close to the 20lb I wanted for
him, if it made the grade I would have it mounted on the wall for Benny and
for all his friends to look at.

I watched as the fish gave its last mighty heave to escape but Benny had
learned his lessons well and gave him a little line then pulled back again
on the rod bringing the fish close enough for me to reach over the side and
slide the net over his head and into its safe keeping, we had him, I lifted
it into the boat as Steven and Benny cheered and hugged each other.

"You did it baby, you did it, I love you Benz."

There was sudden silence except for a small flapping from the snapper as
the words sank in around the cockpit, Max smiling, Benny blushing and
Steven standing with his mouth hanging open as he realised what he'd just
said with his declaration of love for Benny.

I looked at Max and raised an eyebrow in query, he nodded.

"Well son, if he's going to be your boyfriend you might as well kiss him."

"Daa..mph."

The last of his words was cut off by Stevens mouth as it covered his in a
kiss that seemed to me to be promising a lot more than friendship, as the
two pairs of hands began to snake downward I dropped the fish onto the deck
and coughed loudly, with a bit of a smacking sound the lips drew apart and
flushed faces appeared from the huddle.

"Well son we going to weight this one for you or you going to tongue
wrestle all day?"

"Oh dad you're gross."

"Oh really, I'm gross, I'm not the one being kissed in the middle of the
ocean by his boyfriend."

Max sat quietly chuckling to himself as the banter flew back and forth.

"Dad it's ok isn't it, I mean for Stevie and me to be boyfriends?"

"Hey buddy, Steven is a really nice guy and you two are made for each
other, I couldn't be happier for you both, if it's what you want, I told
you son, I want you to be happy and anyway I can help do that then I'm
happy as well, what about you Max, you happy with these two being
boyfriends?"

"It's what they want so I'm as happy as you James, besides it'll mean we
can go fishing more often while these two are tucked up with each other."

Steven piped up as he wrapped his arms around Benny's waist to hug him.

"Dad you're as bad as Mr James is."

"Well I think thats enough of that you two, if you're going to be
boyfriends then it better be just James and Max seem we're almost going to
be in the same family."

The two heads snuggled against each other as Benny reached his arms around
behind Stevens back to pull him closer.

"Right thats enough of that lets get this weighed and then settle down to
wait for another for 'Stevie'."

"DAD."

"Haha, come on Max grab the scales, lets see what this tiddler weighs."

We put the scale hook into the mouth and I lifted it up and read the
scale."

"Damn, sorry son it's just under, look, 8.99kg, thats about 19and three
quarter pounds, you want me to put a sinker down it's neck and weight it
again?"

"Dad stop it, you know I wont cheat, I'll beat you fair and square."

"Not while your arms are full of boy you won't"

"DAD, jeez Stevie old people can be a pain."

As an answer Steven snuggled into him again as he kissed Benny on the ear.

"Oiy, you two enough of that for now, save it for later, now we have to put
this on ice Benny, you caught it so you take care of it, us oldies are worn
out and need a cold drink."

I handed the fish to Benny as I made my way into the cabin to get another
beer for Max and a coke for myself and as I turned I saw the left hand rod
bend in a very serious way, I coughed and motioned to Max, he looked up and
saw the movement, this was a better one so I nodded toward Steven so Max
could give it to him when the time came but as he got to his feet the reel
screamed out its message of 'big fish' and as Benny came running back
outside I yelled to Steven.

"It's yours, Steven, you take him."

Benny jumped to be beside Steven as he took up the rod from the holder, the
line still screaming out, this looked like a kingfish not a snapper and it
was a big one, Steven was in for the fight of his life with this one, pound
for pound the kingfish was the hardest and dirtiest fighter in the sea and
by the look of the amount of line streaming out he had to be in the upper
50 or 60 lb mark, it was going to be down and dirty fighting with this one,
I reached down under the chair and got the full harness out for Steven,
signalling Max to take the rod while I strapped Steven into the rig and
tightened the straps then Max shoved the rod into the gimbol and I locked
the reel onto the clips and stood back to watch the fun and to steer the
chair as the fish went looking for South America or anywhere but here,
Stevens arm muscles bunched and twisted as he took the weight sweat
begining to break on his forehead, his knuckles showing white as he gripped
the rod handle, Benny hovered nearby muttering encouragement to his new
boyfriend.

"Hold him, honey, watch him, yess now babes now, yesss, give him line love,
yes thats it, yess, work him honey, yes yes."

"Benny, quiet for a minute, let him concentrate."

"Ok dad, c'mon honey, sorry dad."

"Jeez Max, what did we do to deserve these two."

"Just lucky I guesse, James."

"That sort of luck I should buy a gun."

The battle rage on neither boy nor fish was giving up, Benny's insistent
chatter in Stevens ear sending him to greater effort, this kingfish was a
dirty fighter and had almost won his freedom twice by diving for the anchor
rope and then the rudder but I had started to winch in the anchor at the
first sign of a good run from it and the help with the rod by Max had kept
the rudder free, Steven fought on and then all was quiet, 45 minutes he had
fought tooth and nail for his fish and then the line was hanging slack in
the water, damn a bust off.

"Sorry Steven, looks like he wins this round."

"I don't mind James, it was just so, well, ahm thrilling, feeling all that
power and speed, I didn't know fish could be that strong?"

"That sort of fish is the best there is Steven, a good kingy will beat most
grown men, you did really great to keep him that long, well thats what
fishings about, it's the challenge not the number you land, it's being at
odds with something that's in it's own enviroment and you have to fight him
by his rules, thats why I like to put back most of the fish alive and only
take home enough for what we can eat while its fresh."

"Thank's heaps James, that's the best time I've ever had, it was so
awesome."

"Well you two want to get a drink or something while us oldies try to catch
dinnner?"

"Ok dad, can we switch on the TV for a while?"

"Sure son and ah, no more than cuddles ok?"

"Hehehe, yeah Dad, we promise."

We started to get some good bights as it got darker, the sound of the small
Tv in the cabin keeping us company and with either Max or I occassionally
looking in just to make sure we could see where our two love birds were we
landed a couple of nice dinner sized fish for later.

"You think we should go back to the bay for the nigh or stay here James?"

I looked up at the night sky and judged it good enough to stay where we
were for the night.

"No we'll be ok here Max, I think we should stay up and do a late fish
after dinner, let the boys have a little quality time together, but we'll
keep them in sight for now I think."

"Yes my thoughts exactly, they can have a cuddle and a kiss for a while and
we'll do some serious line work and a quiet drink as well I think."

"Sounds good to me Max, want something now?"

"Yeah, I think it's rum time."

"That it is my friend, BENNY."

"MMrph, yesh dad?"

"Can you get two rum and cokes for us, we'll stay here the night, thats if
you can get your breath back."

"DAD."

A muttering came from the cabin as they tried to work out our ancestery
from the trees down.

"We going to have to teach them manners one day Max."

"Suppose so, trouble with boys when they're in love, they forget to look
after the old folks."

Bennny arrived with the drinks, his shirt was haning outside his shorts and
his hair was all ruffled, his eyes were shining like stars and his face
flushed a deep shade of pink.

"What happened to you son?"

"Huh?"

"Been in a meat grinder?"

"Ahhhm, just cuddles dad."

"Some cuddles, go on back you go, he might send out a search party if you
hang around here."

"Hehehe, dad?"

"Yeah Benny,"

"I love you, and thanks to you and to Max for today and everything."

"S,ok kiddo thats what dads are for."

Bennny charged back into the cabin and we could hear the sound of tongue
wrestling going on behind us as we sat and enjoyed our first rum of the
day.

"We got to look after them James."

"Yes Max but they're sensible kids, they've had enough hard times, we can
now give them some good ones, I think that after today they'll know they
can come talk anytime to us, we'll keep them safe."

"Yeah you're right James, I think we better do the old S.E.X. talk tomorrow
for them, just to make sure they play safe."

"Yes I think it might be good to just have a quiet word tonight at bedtime
as well, just to clear the air as it were."

"yes I'm in for that, lay the ground rules as it were."

"Thats it, ok now when we having dinner?"

"Say about nine, then the boys can relax and we can have a port before the
serious fishing starts."

"Sounds like a plan to me."


To Be Continued: