Date: Tue, 2 Jul 2002 01:55:10 EDT
From: ErastesTouch@aol.com
Subject: Throw Away Kid - chapter 12

Legal Notice:
The following story may contain descriptions of graphic sexual acts.  These
acts may be between boys or between a man and a boy.  The story is a work
of fiction and has no basis in reality.

The author, or his designee, retains copyright to this story.  There may be
no reproducing or distribution of this story without expressed written
consent.

               *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Throw Away Kid - by Erastes                         Copyright 2000 by Erastes
Chapter 12 - Life, how fickle are thy ways.         April 2002

The next morning my alarm went off, so I turned it off, got out of bed, and
went in to shower.  I took longer than usual in there, trying to get myself
energized in the process, and when I finally came back into my room, there
was Bryce, lying naked on top of the covers.  He flashed me a grin and
pointed to something on his belly.  "Look what I did," he announced.

"What?" I asked, moving toward him to see if he had cut himself or done
something like that.  Instead, I noticed a few clear drops of liquid on his
skin, and I thought I knew what he meant.  "Was that your first time?"

He nodded energetically.  "And I was thinking about you when I did it," he
boasted, but I ignored that comment.

"Well, I guess you are definitely a little man now aren't you?"

"Does that mean I'm old enough to make my own decisions?" he asked,
optimistically.

"For some things, yes," I told him, trying to let him know what I meant,
without having to say it to him directly.  After that I got dressed and
went off to work, but not before giving Bryce I few more reminders about
things before I left.

The rest of the week was pretty uneventful, with me trying to make it home
between 5:00 and 6:00 every night, and then we'd go somewhere to eat.
After that we'd spend some time together, doing different things each
night, and then Bryce would go to bed with me.  I knew that I probably
should make him sleep in his own room, but I too was becoming addicted to
having him lying beside me, and I would miss the loving embrace we
exchanged as we slept.  I was fearful that this could come back to haunt me
in the future, but for now the benefits just outweighed the risks.

On Friday I got a call from the lawyer, telling me he had news for me, but
he couldn't meet with me that afternoon or over the weekend, as he was
going away.  I was disappointed by that news, but I understood I wasn't his
only client, so I made an appointment for us to get together on Monday.  I
certainly didn't want to wait that long, but it appeared I had no option,
and I also decided I wouldn't mention this to Bryce, or else he'd pester me
about every little thing he could think of about that meeting.

I had promised him I'd come home early on Friday, so we would have another
long weekend together, but I wasn't sure what we'd do this time.  I keep
thinking about that in the back of my mind while I worked, until I came up
with what I thought was a marvelous idea.  Not only did I think Bryce would
like it, but I was more excited that it would also be another surprise for
him.  Now I worked quickly, so I could get everything finished before I
left, and I was ready to leave the office around noontime.  I checked in
with my secretary, to make sure I hadn't missed anything important, but she
urged me to run along, telling me she could take care of whatever else
needed to be done.

Without a second thought, I flew out of there and headed straight home.  I
didn't call and give Bryce any warning that I'd be home this soon, because
I knew he'd have a thousand questions to ask me first.  I pulled in the
driveway, got out of the car, and headed into the house, surprised that
Bryce hadn't come running out to greet me.  I went inside, and then
upstairs, but I didn't find him there either.  I walked around the first
floor again, wondering where he could be, and then I happened to look out a
window and saw him in the pool.  I made my way to the door, so I could go
out to see him, and he didn't see me walking toward him.  He almost leapt
out of the water when I said his name, so I assume he had never heard me
coming.  His eyes were bulging from their sockets as he whirled to see me,
and then I could see him visibly relax when he discovered it was just me.

"Uncle Kyle, you scared the crap out of me.  I didn't expect you home so
early."

"Sorry, sport, I didn't mean to frighten you like that."

"That's okay, I'm just glad you're home already."  Now he climbed out of
the pool, standing there stark naked and dripping wet.  If only he knew
what effect that was having on me, seeing him like that, but I sat down at
one of the patio sets before he could notice the bulge forming in my pants.

"Okay, sport.  Why don't you get dried off and changed, and then I've got
someplace for us to go."

"Really!  What should I wear?"

"Something comfortable.  Maybe a decent pair of shorts and a polo shirt."

"Okay.  I won't be gone long."  Now he raced past me, his dick bouncing as
he went, and then I turned to watch his butt cheeks jiggling as he hurried
into the house.  Man, he was a sight to behold.

It wasn't long before he came running back out to fetch me, excited to
learn what I had planned for the day.  "Where are we going, Uncle Kyle?"

"It's a surprise, so just wait and see."

"Can't you tell me?"

"I can, but I'm not going to."

"Please?" he asked again, showing me that expression which usually made me
give in to him.

"Not this time, little man," I informed him.  "I want this to be a bit of a
surprise, and it will be."  He looked disappointed that he hadn't
succeeded, but I think not knowing also sparked his curiosity, so he didn't
know how to act now.  Using his momentary confusion, I led him out to the
car, making sure he buckled up before we drove off.  All the way to our
destination he teased me to tell him, but I kept mum.  He was beginning to
get frustrated by the time I parked the car, but he knew he was going to
learn soon anyway.  When I led him into a bicycle shop, he began to ask
more questions.

"Why I we going here?  What do you have in mind?  Are you going to buy me a
bike?"  He just kept asking his questions, one after the other, but still I
didn't responded to any of them.  Finally he became very exasperated with
me.

"Uncle Kyle, are you going to buy me a bike or what?" he asked, loudly.

"If you need to know, I'm going to buy a bicycle for me.  Is that okay with
you?" I responded, trying to shut him up.  He looked disappointed and
confused, but he stopped asking questions.  When the employee came over to
help us, he asked what we needed.

"I'm looking for a bike for recreation," I told him, seeing Bryce start to
lose interest when he thought that was my only intent.  After selecting a
suitable bicycle for myself, I told the employee to do the same for the
boy.  Bryce's face lit up when that fellow asked him what type of bicycle
he'd like, and he announced, "One like my Uncle Kyle's."

Once we both had our bikes, I also bought a bicycle rack for the car, had
the guy install it, and then he attached our bikes to it.  We drove home,
with Bryce playing twenty-one questions with me again.

"Why did you buy us bikes, Uncle Kyle?  What are we going to do?  Where are
we going to go?  Are we going riding today or tomorrow?"  I avoided
answering him, until he began to get very frustrated again.  "Uncle Kyle,
tell me!  Okay?"

"All right.  What would you LIKE to do?"

"Can we go for a ride when we get home?"

"Sure, that's kind of what I figured on in the first place.  Any place in
particular you'd like to go?"

"I don't really know where to ride bikes around here.  Remember, I only
walked the part of the city down by the factory."

"Ah, yes.  I forgot.  You're not really from here, are you?"

"No, I'm not."

"Well, then, how would you like to get the scenic tour of the suburbs?"

"That sounds nice, Uncle Kyle, but I'd go anywhere, as long as it was with
you."  With that, he flashed me another of his infamous smiles.

"You are so full of it," I told him, trying to stifle a laugh.

"But I would!"  He looked hurt that I didn't believe him.

"I know you would.  I was merely teasing," I told him, trying to mend his
bruised feelings.  "I know you're being serious, and I don't doubt you at
all.  I'm sorry if I led you to believe otherwise."

"I HOPE you believe me, cuz I do love you a lot."

"You know, I'm even beginning to believe you."  That brought a smile to his
face.  "However, I still believe in what I've told you before."  That same
smile faded slightly.  "Let's just get on our bikes and have some fun," I
told him next, to bring him back out of his temporary funk.

I had to run up to my room and change first, getting out of my business
clothes, and then I told him to follow me.  I led him around the
neighborhood, making sure of his bike skills before we went farther, and
then I took him out on a route that led away from the city.  When we got to
a place where the traffic was thinner, I maneuvered so we could ride side
by side, with me taking the position closest to the traffic.  We talked, we
joked, and we laughed, and we also discussed things we passed along the
way.  I knew he was enjoying it, and I was too, so we kept going, making
the most of this simple pleasure.  As dinnertime approached, we stopped at
a small country diner to eat, and then we turned around and headed home.

On the way back Bryce keep thanking me.  "Uncle Kyle, thank you for doing
things like this for me.  I've never had anyone who wanted to do anything
just for me, like you do."

"Well, I enjoy doing them too."

"I know, but I know you probably wouldn't do them, if I weren't here.  At
least, not as much."

"Who knows?  That's hard to say."

"I know and I love you for it.  Thank you for being so nice."

"Hey, don't say that too loud or you'll ruin me as a businessman.  I
haven't got where I am by being nice, you know."

"I don't believe that.  I think you do so well because everyone likes you
and trusts you."

"Well, I've never heard that as one of the keys to success before."  He
looked at me a little confused, but then I think he caught on to my little
joke and he smiled.  After that we continued to pedal on, reaching home
tired and sweaty.  As soon as we put our bikes away, Bryce asked me if we
could take a shower together.  I hesitated, so he promised to do nothing
that would make me mad, and now I felt kind of bad that I gave him that
impression, so I agreed.  Once we were in the shower, he asked a favor of
me.

"Uncle Kyle, I know you like to do things for me, and I love having you do
things for me too.  So would you do something else for me?"

"Well, I guess that depends on what it is," I told him, thinking he might
be trying to con me into having sex with him again.

"Even when I was young, I can't remember anyone giving me a bath, so would
you mind washing me?  Please?"  He looked very serious, and this sounded
like a very special request.  I knew he had been neglected most of his
life, and I could understand how this could mean so much to him, so I was
tempted to do it.  My only concern was that he was using this as a ploy to
get me aroused.

"Okay, sport.  I'll do it for you, but not your waist."

"Can't you wash all of me, Uncle Kyle?  I promise I won't ask you to do
more than that."

"Are you sure?" I asked, trying to make sure this wasn't some sort of
juvenile trick to get what he wanted from me.

"Yes, I promise," he added, his eyes pleading with me to do his bidding.
"This would mean so much to me, Uncle Kyle.  So pretty please?"

"Okay, but any stunts and I stop."

"Don't worry, there won't be."

Hearing this, I picked up a washcloth and soaped it up, and then I gently
washed his face and neck.  He closed his eyes and held his lips together
tightly, just like a smaller child would do, and he just let me clean his
face.  After that I washed his chest and arms, giving a little extra
attention to his budding nipples.  Then I had him turn around, so I could
wash his back and butt.  When I reached his behind, I even ran the
washcloth up the crack of his ass, tenderly washing that area too.  I
thought I even heard him let out a couple of sighs as I did so.

Next I washed his legs and feet, making sure to get them clean, and Bryce
turned back around, so that now his groin was right in front of me.  I
looked at it and hesitated, and Bryce opened his eyes, letter me read the
anxiousness and anxiety that registered there.  I knew he was looking
forward to this, but I believe he was also concerned that I might not do
that area.  Slowly I reached out and began to bathe his groin, and Bryce
just let his head tilt backward, as he enjoyed the feeling of my fingers
guiding that small piece of cloth over those sensitive areas.  First I
washed his scrotum, and then his pubic patch, with the newly sprouted
hairs, and then I began to clean his penis.  As I was doing that, it
suddenly sprang to life, proving that he was truly enjoying this.  This
made it easier to clean, but it also indicated that he was sexually
stimulated, so I finished up quickly and left him standing there.

"Uncle Kyle, would you just make me shoot, please?  I really need to do
that."

"Well, you can do that for yourself.  Remember, you promised you wouldn't
ask me to do anything else after I washed you."

"I know I did, but it just isn't the same when I do it to myself, Uncle
Kyle.  It would be so much better if you'd do it for me.  Please!  Then I
won't ask you for anything else.  I really, really promise this time."  I
studied his face and read his expression.  I knew what he meant about it
not being the same, but it would also mean that I'd be stepping over that
invisible line, past the point of no return, and I wasn't sure I was ready
to make that step.  "Please, Uncle Kyle?  I really promise.  Please believe
me."

He was just so persuasive that I just couldn't deny him, especially since
it wasn't all that big of a deal.  Slowly I began massaging that area with
my hand, and Bryce smiled down at me, and then he closed his eyes again.  I
knew he was in heaven now.  Slowly I began to stroke him, making sure I ran
my thumb around and over his mushroom knob on each upstroke.  He was
moaning as I did this, and I knew he was really enjoying this.  At one
point I thought his knees were going to buckle, so I helped to prop him up,
leaning him against my body.  As I stroked away at his rigid, young dick,
he began to pump his hips, as if some unseen puppeteer's strings began to
control his movements.  Now his mouth was hanging open and his breathing
was shallow and raspy, and I realized he was about ready to spew those few
precious drops he had just started to produce.  Suddenly he thrust his hips
forward, his back arched and his breathing stopped, and those thin clear
strands of immature cum shot from the slit.

I stuck my leg out in front of him, so those precious drops of honey would
land on my thigh, and when he had finished ejaculating his load, I held him
up.  While he was recuperating, I reached out with my free hand and scooped
up as much of it as I could, and then I brought the fingers of that hand to
my lips, to sample that tasty treat.  It was as sweet as he was, and as
delicious as the nectar of the gods should be, and I greedily devoured it
all.  He opened his eyes in time to catch me savoring the last sweet
droplets, and he smiled at me, letting me know he approved of what I had
done.  Not realizing it before now, I was hard too, so I tried to
concentrate on less erotic thoughts, so my little friend would go down
before Bryce noticed it.  I didn't quite make it, but it wasn't that rigid
we he eventually saw it, but he knew that I had been sexually aroused from
playing with his little package.  He thanked me sincerely, telling me it
was the best orgasm he'd ever had, though in more childish terms, and then
he hugged me and gave me a big thank you kiss.

Now I had an attack of conscious, and I told him so.  "I probably shouldn't
have done that Bryce, so please don't ask me again.  Okay?"

"Don't say that, Uncle Kyle.  It was soooo nice, don't ruin it now."

"But that was wrong."

"No it wasn't!  It was wonderful and lovely."

"Maybe for you, but the law says I should go to jail for doing that."

"So, the law is dumb.  It puts me into foster care to protect me, and then
I'm treated as bad or worse than before.  Then when someone really loves
me, the law says we can't do anything with each other.  I think the law is
stupid then."

"Well, I guess that might be your position, but not everyone sees it that
way."  I continued to talk to him as I dried him off, as he had also
insisted on that too, and then we both put on robes and went to the living
room to watch some TV and relax.

Bryce sat on my lap again, so I watched where I put my hands this time, as
he was only wearing that robe, which would miraculously flop open from time
to time.  I didn't say anything about that, but I knew it was just another
of his subtle hints to me.  Even though he did that, he was pretty mellow,
but very loving during that time.  He curled up against my chest,
occasionally lifting up to kiss me on the cheek, chin, or neck,
interspersing those actions with a continual flow of 'thank you' for all
the different things we had done.

That night I had to carry him up to bed, as he fell asleep in my lap and I
hated to wake him.  He did wake up momentarily, when I went to put him in
my bed.  I think that was a panic reaction for him, and he was merely
making sure where he was, as he afraid that I might have put him in his own
room.  Seeing he was awake, I urged him to quickly use the toilet, which he
did, and then he slipped off his robe, as he hopped back into bed.  I was
about to say something to him about that, but then I thought he was too
tired to try anything tonight anyway, so I let it slide.  Instead I turned
and went to turn off the light, and he must have thought I was leaving him
at that point, so he shouted out.  "Please don't leave me, Uncle Kyle," he
pleaded.

"I'm not little man.  I'm only turning off the light."  Once he understood
that, he just lay back on the bed and waited for me to join him.  I did in
short fashion, taking off my robe too, and we spent the night naked and
snuggled up against each other for the first time since he had moved in.

The next morning when I awoke, I could see Bryce's form under the bedding
again, but I knew he wasn't touching me this time.  I waited for a while,
to see what he might be up to, but he just stayed like that.  Finally I
decided to discover what he was doing, so I spoke to him.  "Good morning,
sport.  What are you doing under there?"

He scrambled to get out from under the bedding, and he had a scared look on
his face when he emerged.  "I wasn't doing anything, Uncle Kyle.  Really!"

"Don't worry, sport, I believe you weren't doing anything sexual, but why
were you under the covers?"

He blushed before he answered.  "I was just checking you out.  You're so
handsome that I just wanted to look at you...you know, the parts I don't
see very often.  You aren't mad, are you?"

"No, I guess there is no harm in that."

"Uncle Kyle, are you sure we can't do something.  I've got to do it soon,
or I'll have to go look up some of the guys who used to pay me for it."  I
think he might have been a little serious, but I felt the biggest reason he
mad his statement was more to put pressure on me.  Possibly he thought that
might be the added weight that would tip the balance scale in his favor.

"Bryce, we did do something yesterday, remember?  And that was more than I
intended on doing with you, so you should be happy."

"Oh, I am, but I need more.  It was good to get off, but I want you to make
love to me.  I need to feel that.  I need to feel you inside me."

"Believe me, Bryce, I know you do, but I'm not ready for that yet."

"But I need it.  It can feel so good, with the right person, so if you
won't do it for me, I'm going to have to go find one of those other guys to
help me."

"Bryce, I certainly can't stop you from doing something like that, but if
you do, I'd have to ask you to leave my home.  Not that I'd want you to
leave, but I couldn't take the chance on you getting caught and the police
tracing you back to me.  It that happened, they would charge me as a pimp
or something, and then they would lock me away for a very long time."
Having listened to me say this, his eyes were bugging out of his head in
total shock.

"Would you really ask me to leave?" he wondered, not believing his ears.

"Only if you start turning tricks again," I answered, trying to convince
him, yet reassure him at the same time.  "Otherwise I want you to stay."

"But Uncle Kyle, I need that kind of love.  Can't you understand that?
Maybe if I'd never done it, I wouldn't feel like this, but I have done it
and I do feel that way."

"I know what I'm asking you is not easy, but please try to understand.  I
do love you, and maybe some day I will feel differently, but just not now."

"You really think we can someday?"  A glimmer of hope ignited in his eyes.

"I'm sure of it, it's just that I'm not sure how soon that will be.  I do
have to admit that I do love you now, and I will now accept that you love
me too, so you're making progress."  I gave him a wink this time, hoping
that would be enough.

"Yeah, I know, but I need more than that."

"Well, have patience, little man.  Your day will come."

"I sure hope so."  That's how this conversation ended, but I knew that was
only for now.  I was positive that we'd revisit this issue many times in
the future, although I was silently praying that somehow it would resolve
itself, without our participation.

Saturday was a lousy day, at least weather-wise.  It rained all day long,
and it was on the cool side.  I wasn't sure what type of things we could do
under such circumstances, or what Bryce might like to do, but I did see
that one of the local high schools was putting on a musical later that
evening.  As it turned out, it was one of my personal favorites, 'Camelot'.
I made the suggestion that we could go shopping after lunch, and pick up
some computer games and other things to help keep Bryce occupied while I
wasn't home, then we could go out to dinner, before going to see the
musical.  Bryce thought that sounded good to him, so that's what we did.

When we looked at the computer games, we decided that they weren't as good
as some of the other options, so I ended up buying him a PS2 system, and
several games to go with it.  I also bought him some educational software
for the computer, to make up for his lack of formal schooling, and I
thought ahead a little, even mentally setting up an educational program for
him to follow.  Bryce had tried to talk me out of buying so many things for
him, telling me it was cost way too much, but I did it over his
protestations.  I really think it was his genuine concern about the
expense, and not because he thought some of it might mean work for him.

"Uncle Kyle, you can't keep spending so much money on me."

"Why not?  It's my money and I love buying you things."

"I know, but I don't want you to go broke."

"Oh, don't worry about that.  It won't happen anytime soon.  Trust me on
that one."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Bryce.  I'm positive."

After that we went out to dinner, eating at a restaurant we hadn't been to
yet.  It was a nice meal, and Bryce talked during nearly the whole thing.
He talked about our bike ride, about his new game system and the software,
about living with me, and about his future.  After that he wanted to know
what the musical was going to be about, so I filled him in a little on
Arthurian legend.  It just happened to be a fascination of mine, and I'd
read nearly every book or story written on that topic.  He seemed
fascinated by it too, and was now anxious to see the show, so we left and
went to buy our tickets, getting there early to get a decent seat.

The performance was a typical high school production, but the main
performers were quite talented.  The show was done fairly well, and Bryce
had many questions for me when it was over.  Most of them were the typical
questions that anyone not knowing much about the legend would ask, but
others were quite insightful and proved to me that he had an interest in
the topic.  I indulged his interrogation, doing my best to sate his
curiosity, and then I told him that we'd rent both the movie version of
'Camelot' and the Disney film 'The Sword in the Stone', so he could get
other perspective on it.  He seemed excited about that, so we stopped to
pick them up on the way home, figuring we could watch them on Sunday.

Shortly after we returned home, we went to bed.  We were going to church in
the morning, and if the weather was nice, bike riding after that, so I
wanted to make sure Bryce got enough rest.  Bryce took everything off again
before he got into bed, and I questioned his doing that.  "I just like
sleeping that way better," he told me.

I thought about it for a minute or so, and listened to his unsolicited
promises that nothing would happen, before I decided to let him do it,
though I still wore MY shorts to bed.  True to his word, Bryce was good
that night, just like he had promised, so I began to trust him more and
more after each of these occurrences.  The biggest thing he wanted to do
when he slept with me was to cuddle, and I had no problem with that, as I
probably enjoyed it as much as he did.

Sunday morning we went to church again, and then we came home and grabbed a
quick lunch, before we went for another bike ride.  This time we went a
different route, so he could see another area of the suburbs, and we rode
for nearly four hours during the round-trip.  When we got back, we showered
together again, and once again he wanted me to wash him.  I did, and it was
much the same as two days before, except this time I did masturbate him in
the shower.  It's not that he didn't want me to or didn't ask, but I
resisted his efforts this time, telling him that it was not something we
were going to continue to do.  He was visibly disappointed again, probably
because he had worked his hopes up, thinking that because I'd done it once,
I'd do it again, but he didn't put up a big fuss when he didn't get his
way.

After we dried and dressed, I took him out to eat, and then we came back to
watch the two videos we'd rented the night before.  He wanted to see the
Disney video first, which we did, and we both had a good laugh watching
that interpretation of the legend.  We immediately followed that up by
watching the movie version of the musical, and Bryce commented on all the
differences that he noticed.  He is really quite observant, but I suppose
some of that came from leaving on the street.  If you're not observant
there, you can end up dead or in trouble.  Fortunately he survived his
ordeal.

After the videos ended, I took the education software and the daytime cable
listing from the Sunday newspaper, and I outlined a 'class schedule' for
Bryce to follow during the week.  I interspersed some education television
with his working with some of the software, making a list of the things I
expected from him each day.  I had expected a protest from Bryce over this,
but he seemed excited by the prospect, as it would make his days pass more
quickly while I was gone.  I also think he saw this as a way for us to
spend more time together, went I went over what he had done when I got home
each evening, and I told him we'd take care of the physical ed requirements
on the weekend.  He smiled about that, knowing it meant we'd play ball, go
bowling, go swimming, or ride our bikes then for exercise

When we went to sleep that night, Bryce just did his thing and crawled in
bed with me, and I started to wonder how I had ever survived before he had
arrived.  The room across the hall might technically be his, especially for
appearance, but I don't know if I could get used to sleeping without him
any more.  By this time I definitely knew I was head over heals in love
with this kid, and I'd admit that fact to him too, but I was glad he
stopped being so aggressive about us having sex, because I didn't know how
much longer I could have resisted his efforts.

Monday morning I got ready for work, but I looked at him sleeping so
peacefully in my bed and I just wanted to stay there with him.  If I hadn't
had the meeting scheduled with the lawyer, I just might have done it too.
Instead I lightly kissed his forehead and moved toward the door, only to
hear a sleepy little voice say, "Bye, Uncle Kyle.  I love you."

I worked about two hours, before I left to meet with the attorney, and then
I was in with him for nearly another hour.  We discussed many things and he
told me what he had learned from his contacts.  "I'm afraid that most of
what I learned is not good," he began.  "It seems DSS wants to closely
supervise all of the boys who were in Bryce's last foster home, not only
because they ran away, but because of what went on there.  They were
already been labeled as having sexual problems, and then it was discovered
they'd all been prostituting themselves there, so DSS wants these boys in
group homes or with strong couples, with plenty of supervision."

"Those boys only prostituted themselves because they were forced into it by
their 'approved' foster parent!"

"DSS admits that, and they admit that they made an error certifying that
guy, but they blame that on the fact that they relied on the recommendation
of a local judge, who turned out to be one of their biggest customers.
They had no way of knowing he was corrupt before he made that
recommendation, so they feel blameless on that point.  They also feel the
boys were sexual predators before that, so they won't back down on their
demands concerning their new placement."

"So they are going to punish the boys for their mistakes?"

"That's not how they see it.  They claim they are trying to protect others
from their sexual proclivities, regardless of who's at fault."

"So the boys still suffer."

"Unfortunately that may be true."

"What are the chances I could become his legal guardian, or even adopt
him?"

"Not good.  I already ran that by my friend in the department.  They are
excluding ALL single people as candidates to look after those boys."

"That can't be constitutional."

"Possibly not, but that would require a court decision, and it could take
years to settle this legally.  By the time you got that question resolved,
Bryce would be old enough to be on his own."

"So what are my alternatives?  Hide the kid out until he comes of age?"

"No, and DSS is pulling out all the stops in looking for these missing boys
too.  They have all law enforcement agencies watching for them, along with
a few private investigators.

"So my choice is to smuggle him to someplace safer?  This sucks, and there
must be something you can do to help us."

"Well, I won't give up trying to discover an option here, if you don't want
me too, but I'm telling you up front that this could be a long and
expensive process for you."

"I don't care.  This kid has been screwed enough, and I mean that any way
you want to take it.  He's a good kid who's had more bad breaks than anyone
deserves.  I want to make sure that he catches at least one decent break,
and I don't care how much it costs me to give that to him."

"Well, that's very admirable, but it could also turn out to be very foolish
and extremely costly for you."  He looked at me a little longer, to see if
I said anything else.  When I didn't say anything more, he asked one
additional question.  "Are you sure you still want to do this?"

"Absolutely."

"Hey, it's your money, so who am I to complain."  He just looked at me
again, so I thought I'd get in a shot of my own.

"I know, and I want to feel like I'm getting my money's worth too."  I
think he took that comment personally.

"I told you, I'll do my best, but I think we'll need a minor miracle to
pull this one out."

"Then buy me one," I told him, though I'm not sure what he thought I meant
by this, or if he thought I was joking or not.

By the time we parted, my mind was reeling.  What was I going to tell
Bryce?  I had innocently let it slip out that I was meeting with the lawyer
today, and I was sure he would have tons of questions for me when I got
home, if not before.  I knew I couldn't lie to him and be convincing,
because there was no way I believed that myself.  It would be almost
impossible for me to tell him everything was going to be fine, when I knew
that it probably wouldn't be, and I was sure he'd be able to see through
that ruse.  What was I going to do?

When I returned to work, my secretary could tell something was wrong, so
she started asking me questions.  I couldn't tell her what was up, because
she thought Bryce was my nephew, so I just told her that certain issues
were tearing the family apart right now.  She tried to comfort me, but soon
discovered that was going to be impossible, so she told me to go home and
that she'd handle things at the office for the rest of the day.  I thanked
her and took her up on her offer, as I knew I wouldn't be much good there,
but I knew I couldn't go home either, not until I knew what I was going to
tell Bryce.

I drove to the park and walked around for a while, trying to clear my head
and come up with a plan of action, weighing all the options over in my
mind.  First of all, what could I do to legally have him live with me?  My
first thought was to have him use one of my nephew's names, one who was the
same age, or close to it.  I could get a duplicate birth certificate and
use copies of my nephew's school records to get him enrolled at school, but
then Bryce would have to go by a whole new name.  I'm sure he wouldn't mind
doing that, as long as he could stay with me, but I was worried that would
make things worse for us, if we did get caught?

I even thought of just keeping him hidden, and home schooling him myself,
but Bryce needed to be around kids his own age, so that wouldn't be fair to
him.  What if we moved to another city, or even another state?  That was an
option, though I'd still have to figure out how we could hide who he really
was again, but at least there they wouldn't be actively looking for him.
Then I had another idea.  Maybe I could talk one of my brothers or sisters
into adopting him, and then letting him come live with me?  But then I'd
have to explain to them why I wanted to take in a young boy by myself, and
that might cause them to start questioning my sexuality.  Up until now,
everyone thought the reason I didn't date or hadn't married was just
because I was married to my business and dedicated to becoming a success.
I think they all still expected me to get married some day, but my taking
in a boy before finding a wife might cause them to question that
assumption.

I also considered what might happen to Bryce if he were forced to go to a
group home or another foster home.  He was so set on staying with me that I
don't think he'd considered any other options.  I felt he'd be crushed when
he learned of those possibilities, and I was concerned how he might react.
Would he run away, rather than go someplace else?  If he did, that would
mean he'd have to turn tricks again, in order to survive, and that meant
more concerns about his future safety.  Damn, why does life have to be so
freaking difficult?

Now I had to think of what I'd tell Bryce about my meeting with the lawyer.
Should I be honest with him, or should I try to spare him for as long as I
could?  Should I crush him now, or should I give him false hope?  Should I
continue to let him be a boy, or should I teach him the harsh realities of
being a man?  I still had no idea what I was going to do when I got home,
and I had only a few hours left before I would have to face him and tell
him something.

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