Date: Thu, 22 Jul 2004 09:11:43 -0700 (PDT)
From: ds elliot <dselliot28@yahoo.com>
Subject: What I Learned From Saul  -  Part II  (Gay Male/Adult Youth)

What I Learned From Saul - Part II

by ds elliot


This is the story of a lost teen and the adult who found him.

All rights reserved. This story may not be distributed on or linked to
any other sites including pay sites without the express permission of the
author.

Copyright 2004.

This story may contain descriptions of sexual contact between two males.
This is a story of growing, learning, love, and discovery. If you are not
of legal age in your area to read stories of this nature or if you are
offended by stories of this nature, please navigate to another site and
stop reading now.

I would appreciate your comments, suggestions, and constructive
criticisms. You can contact the author at: dselliot28@yahoo.com



and now on to Part Two...



The next day Jon was more relaxed and seemed happier than he had to that
point. When I asked about the subtle changes, he told me that he felt
different and didn't really know how to explain it. As he tried to find
the right words, it became obvious that this change was due in part to
knowing he had a place to live and was with someone who cared about him.
He seemed to stay closer to me -- often following me from room to room.
We talked more too. The conversation wasn't anything intense or serious
-- just comfortable banter and casual chatter. I suppose more than
anything we were relaxing and getting comfortable with each other.

Discussions with the law firm gave me confidence that Jon would legally
be able to stay with me. He would be able to gain status as an
emancipated minor. His age allowed that option. The firm would take care
of getting whatever documents were necessary to complete the process. I
shared what I learned with Jon about the process. He had questions about
the process, but didn't seem at all worried or concerned. The law firm
told me that it would likely take them a few weeks to track down Jon's
birth certificate and get the rest of the paperwork ready for the courts.
I was just happy that gaining a legal standing wouldn't be more
complicated. I still had some apprehension about the process since
lawyers tend to be like used car salesmen with respect to sometimes being
overly confident, but I believed that it would be possible -- even if a
bit more difficult than the lawyer stated.

The school I wanted Jon to attend sent some practice test questions for
Jon to review prior to testing. I was surprised and pleased that Jon was
excited about the process of attending school. I remembered how I viewed
school at his age. I don't think I was ever anxious to go to school. It
certainly wasn't what I would have preferred to do with my days back
then, but I did enjoy the social aspect of the experience. I was lucky
that Jon really wanted to go to school. He busied himself with the
practice test questions. Those areas where he didn't feel confident in
his ability to answer the questions brought requests from him for help.
He wanted to get all the answers right. I tried to explain that this was
a placement test. He didn't have to worry about getting the answers right
-- just doing his best so the school to assess his current knowledge and
place him in classes that would help him the most. That didn't put Jon's
mind at ease. He wanted to go to the library to get books that would help
him with some of the questions. I dropped him at the library one morning
on the way to work. When I went back to get him at noon, he was still
engrossed in his books. He'd completely lost track of time. We had lunch
at a small cafe down the street from the library before he went back to
work. He didn't want to leave the library yet. He was still working when
I went back at 6:00 that evening after I finished work. Before we left
the library Jon asked if he could get a library card. I told him he could
and helped with the forms since he didn't know the house address and
phone number. He then checked out four books so he could continue to
study at home.

Though I'm not absolutely certain, I would bet that Jon spent nearly
every waking hour studying for the upcoming test. Despite my constant
assurance that he didn't need to work so hard to prepare for the test, he
seemed to devote his complete attention to his preparations. Two days
before the test Jon looked more than a little frazzled. We went to dinner
that evening -- my attempt to distract him from all the work he'd been
doing. The theme restaurant I selected seemed to help at least a little.
About a half hour after we retired for the night, Jon was at my bedroom
door. He asked softly,

"Jake... Are you still awake?"

"Yes. What can I do for you? Is something wrong?"

"I can't sleep. I guess I'm just nervous about the test. I know you've
told me not to worry about it, but I can't stop thinking about it. I just
want to do well. I don't want to waste your money."

"Come on in. Lets talk about it."

Jon came into the room and sat on the opposite side of the bed from where
I was laying. I told him to get comfortable. He was only wearing the
boxer briefs I got him and my room is always cool. I suggested he get
under the covers. He did. We had a long talk about the test. I reassured
him that he couldn't fail the test even if he got all the answers wrong.
While that didn't seem to assuage his fears and worries, he did seem to
relax some. As our conversation wound down I pulled Jon into a hug. He
responded by hugging me back and said,

"I can't believe how lucky I am to get this chance. I never thought I'd
ever get to finish school. It's all I really ever wanted to do. I just
don't want to mess up this chance. I also want to make you proud of me.
Is that weird?"

"No, it isn't weird at all. I think we all want others to be proud of
us. It helps us to be proud of ourselves. That is important for our
self-esteem."

As we continued our talk, Jon settled into the closeness of the hug. He'd
rested his head on my shoulder as the length of his body was pressed
against my side. I was suddenly aware of my nakedness under the covers.
I'm not certain if Jon knew that I wasn't wearing anything or not, but he
seemed more relaxed and more comfortable than he had been the last
several days. With his hand resting on my chest and his head on my
shoulder, Jon drifted off to sleep. I, however, was acutely aware of my
nakedness. I didn't want Jon to discover himself in bed with me and worry
that he'd done something wrong or against his wishes. After what seemed
like hours of pondering how to extricate myself from the current
situation, I finally drifted off to sleep myself. When I woke up to the
alarm going off the next morning, it seemed that neither Jon nor I had
moved much all night. The only difference I noticed was that Jon's leg
was over the top of mine and his knee was resting at the base of my
morning erection. Jon woke when the alarm sounded. I could feel his body
gradually come to life as he stretched his arm and legs. Once the stretch
was complete he pulled his limbs back to their sleeping position and
seemed to suddenly become aware that he wasn't in his bed alone. He
raised his head and looked at me. He said,

"I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry about?"

"Well, I just came here to talk last night. I didn't mean to fall asleep
in your bed. You should have just told me to get out."

"It's ok. I don't mind that you slept here. To be honest it's a nice
feeling. I'm glad you felt comfortable enough to come talk with me and
fall asleep here."

"I never slept with anyone before. It gives me a nice feeling too. I
feel comfortable and relaxed. I think I slept way better than I have the
last several days. It's like you made all my worries go away. I don't
know how you do that. I just feel safe. I don't know how to explain it.
It's like I get this feeling inside that everything is going to be fine
-- that I don't have to worry about stuff. I just never felt that way
before. It's like all that other stuff just leaves my head."

"I'm glad all those worries faded away. More than anything you need to
be well rested for the upcoming test. You don't have anything to worry
about. I'm already proud of you."

"You are? Why would you be proud of me. I haven't done anything to be
proud of."

"Sure you have. You've done lots of things to make me proud of you.
First of all you've been very cooperative and helpful when you didn't
have a reason to be. You've trusted me and been trustworthy. You've
worked very hard to prepare for this placement test when you didn't have
to do anything at all. You've been showing me who you really are. I don't
think most guys who have been through what you've experienced growing up
would be as positive and trusting as you."

"Oh, shit! I'm so sorry." Jon said as he quickly pulled his leg and
body away from mine.

"I didn't mean to touch you. I didn't know I was touching you there. I
didn't do it on purpose, honest. I didn't mean to be rubbing against you
either. Oh, God... I'm so embarrassed."

"Jon, relax. I didn't think you did it on purpose. It happened during
the night while you were sleeping. There isn't anything to be embarrassed
about. Most guys wake up with erections. I do and so do you. It's a
normal bodily response. You didn't do anything wrong. It wasn't a sexual
thing at all. Now that we aren't pressed against each other, I've really
got to pee."

With that I flung the covers back, got out of bed, and headed to the
bathroom. When I came back into the room Jon was still in bed watching
me. He said,

"I haven't seen you naked before."

"I guess you haven't, but you were bound to sooner or later. I hope you
aren't offended by it. You shouldn't be. I usually sleep naked. If I'd
known you were going to come to my room last night I would have worn
shorts to bed."

"You should sleep the way you want. It's your house and your bed. I
guess I'm more use to sleeping in my clothes because that is what I
usually did before. I think I sleep better with just shorts on. I did
sleep naked a couple of times here. It's nice doing that. I wasn't sure
if you'd let me do that so I've only done it a couple of times. Is it ok
if I sleep naked too?"

"Sure it is. I just have always hated wearing anything when I sleep.
That was the hardest thing to get used to in the army. It was hot were I
did basic and the boxers we wore just seemed to make it harder to sleep
at night."

"Can I ask a personal question?"

"Sure you can."

"Well, I never saw a grown up naked before. Your dick is a lot bigger
than mine. Your balls are bigger too. Will mine get that big?"

"That's one I honestly can't answer. I suspect yours will get bigger
because you're still growing. The size is really mostly hereditary. I can
tell you that yours seems to be larger than average though so that is
some consolation."

"What's average?"

"Average is about 5 ½ inches long. I'm not sure what the average size
for balls is, but my thought has always been that as long as they work it
really doesn't matter what size they are."

"Were you embarrassed when I saw you naked?"

"Not so much embarrassed as just a little awkward. I guess all men check
each other out to see what the competition has. I think all guys want
theirs to be bigger than all of the others out there -- or at least know
where they fall when compared to others."

"I felt really embarrassed when you saw me naked the first time. I was
even more embarrassed when I got a hard on in front of you. I thought I'd
die when that happened. Do all guys check out other guys? I mean is it
just gay guys who check out other guys or do straight guys do it too?"

"All guys -- gay and straight check out other guys. Of course you have
to understand that they do it for different reasons. Most straight guys
check out other guys in a subtle way so it isn't obvious. Gay guys are
more obvious I guess."

"So since you're gay you checked out mine more?"

"Well, I don't have it committed to memory if that is what you're
asking. Honestly I did check you out, but when I did see you naked I
wasn't thinking of you as someone to have sex with. When you were naked
and even when you had a hard on, I didn't see it as sexual. Does that
make sense?"

"So you don't think I'm sexy?"

"No, that isn't what I mean. I saw you as a young guy in need of help.
You were injured and in pain. I wasn't thinking about sex with you. I was
thinking about helping you. Besides you are just a kid. I wouldn't have
sex with you because you are a minor. That wouldn't be right. I also
wouldn't have sex with you because you told me you weren't interested."

"So you do think I'm sexy, but because I'm a minor you don't see me as
sexy? I don't think I understand that. I've got to pee really bad too."

With that our conversation ended. Jon got out of the bed and headed
toward the bathroom. When he came out I went back in to start the shower.
When I was dressed for work I found Jon in the kitchen still in his boxer
briefs. He had breakfast ready for us. I usually only had coffee and
juice before Jon came to live with me. I had to admit as I ate breakfast
that it was more than nice to start the day with a full stomach and
pleasant conversation.

I took the day off work to take Jon to the Williams Academy -- the
private school where he would be tested. We arrived early for the test. I
thought it might help Jon relax if we could get a tour of the school
prior to the testing. The vice principle gave us a guided tour of the
facilities. I was impressed with several aspects of the school. They had
a state of the art sports and recreation center with an Olympic-size
pool, tennis courts, a fully equipped weight room, racketball courts,
basketball court, indoor and outdoor tracks, and a newer football and
soccer stadium. The school also had what looked to be a very modern
computer center. I didn't noticed any classrooms with more than 25
students -- many with only 20 students. The cafeteria was older, but
decorated with a more modern theme. The really unusual aspect of the
cafeteria was that the food actually smelled good. That wasn't the case
when I was in school.

While Jon took the assessment test, I spent time with the vice principle
getting forms completed for enrollment in the school. I knew I wouldn't
be able to complete the process of enrolling Jon because I didn't have
the necessary legal documents, but I also knew that a check for a full
year of tuition would help to grease the wheels. Jon was anxious to start
school as soon as possible. I wasn't going to push him to attend school
during the summer, but when I told him that was an option he was eager to
start then. The start date for the summer session was just over six weeks
away. I was certain we'd have the legal documents by that date. The
assessment test would indicate which subjects Jon might need additional
help in so decided not to pick any classes until the test was scored. I
made an appointment for two weeks from the test day to actually register
for his classes. When I left the office I was loaded down with more
information than I ever thought necessary. I knew Jon would pour over all
of the information in the brochures and booklets in the next two days.

The test results arrived in the mail ten days after the test. I offered
the envelope to Jon to open and read first, but he was too nervous to
actually open it. He gave it back to me telling me to see what it said. I
was more than surprised when I started reading the test scores and the
recommended classes. In all but two cases the school suggested Advanced
Placement courses. Jon didn't fare well in the science section. While he
was beyond what the school taught in the biology department, he lacked
Chemistry and Physics knowledge. He also had no foreign language. Jon
would be taking Advanced Placement courses in English, History, Math, and
beginning classes in Chemistry, Physics, and a foreign language of his
choice. The school had most of Jon's classes at the senior level. I was
concerned about that, but thought I would discuss it with Jon as well as
the vice principle. I really wanted Jon to have two years of high school
before he went on to college. My thoughts were more for his social
development rather than anything else. I noticed that Jon was
particularly shy and withdrawn when we spoke with the vice principle. I
also recalled that he acted in a similar fashion when we went to a store
or dined out. He always deferred to me as he sat quietly. He needed to
learn to interact with kids his age, become a bit more aggressive and
assertive -- to find his place in the world.

The day after we got the test results I got a call from the school. The
request was to give Jon an IQ test. While this wasn't required to get
into the school, the school administrators thought it would be beneficial
because Jon had done remarkably well on the placement test despite the
fact that he really hadn't attended school for the past two years. I
scheduled the test, but told the vice principle that I'd discuss it with
Jon and let her know for sure. Jon agreed to take the test, but I think
he was less than enthusiastic about it. I can't really blame him for
that.

Jon and I made a trip to the mall to get clothes and shoes for school.
The school didn't have a uniform as such, but they did have a strict
dress code. I got Jon a few pairs of black and navy blue slacks, several
white dress shirts, dark socks, and dress shoes. We also picked up two
navy blue sweaters for colder days in the fall and winter. Jon also
needed some things for PE class. We got three pair of gym shorts in the
school colors, two jock straps, white tennis shoes and socks, and three
t-shirts also in the school colors. As we were heading home from the
mall, Jon was excited about the school clothes and starting school. I
think having the clothes made the idea of attending school much more real
to him. I decided to take this opportunity to mention that I'd scheduled
a physical for him the next morning. He knew it was required, but we
hadn't discussed it much since he casually mentioned it. The mention of a
trip to the doctor seemed to dampen his spirits some. I explained that he
didn't have anything to worry about, but Jon didn't seem to believe me.

Jon was showered and dressed the next morning when I came out to have
breakfast. He was fidgeting at the table when I sat down with my coffee.
I asked if he was hungry, but he told me he was too nervous to eat. I
tried again to tell him the doctor was just going to check him over. He
started to ask what exactly he was going to check. I tried to tell him
the basics of the physical, but he seemed horrified as I told him what he
could expect (and I didn't discuss drawing blood or any of the things I
thought might make him uncomfortable). We arrived at the doctor's office.
I went in with Jon to fill out some paperwork prior to the actual exam.
Together we completed the forms the best we could. Jon didn't know
anything about his family history so much of the form was left blank. I'd
been to this doctor before. He'd been Saul's doctor for several years.
When I made the appointment I explained the situation to the doctor so
none of this would be a problem.

When the nurse called Jon he stood up and started to walk towards her. I
stayed seated. As Jon got about half the distance to her he turned and
glared at me. He came back to me and whispered,

"The called me. Come on lets go."

"Do you want me to go with you?"

"I'm not going in there alone. I... I... well, would you please come
with me?"

"Sure.. no problem. I just didn't think you'd want me in the exam room
with you."

"Why not? They'll let you come won't they? I don't want to go in there
alone."

"I'm sure they'll let me come along." I said as I stood to follow him
and the nurse.

The first stop was the scale. Jon weight 150 pounds. Next she measured
his height. Jon was just a bit over 6'1" tall. We were escorted into the
exam room. The nurse told him to strip down to his underwear. He knew
from our discussion that this was going to happen so he took his clothes
off folding each item until he was down to his boxer briefs. I told him
to sit on the exam table. We talked about the various items in the exam
room until there was a soft knock on the door and the nurse came in
again. I could see the shock on Jon's face as he quickly moved his hands
to cover his crotch. The nurse stuck a thermometer in his mouth under his
tongue. She next told Jon that she was going to take his blood pressure
and asked for his right arm. Hesitantly he removed his hand from his
crotch and extended it for the nurse. She wrapped the cuff around his arm
and proceeded to run that painless test. When she finished that test she
made a note in the chart she'd started then checked the reading on the
thermometer and noted his temperature in the chart. Next she told him
that she needed to draw some blood. Jon's eyes immediately flashed at me
with a questioning look. I tried to calm him by telling him that she was
going to need it to run some basic tests. He seemed to calm down a little
until he saw the needle she planned to use. He didn't bolt, but I could
tell he wasn't happy. That task over, the nurse left the room saying the
doctor would be in shortly. When she left Jon expressed his unhappiness
at not being told about that part of the exam. He also asked what else I
didn't tell him. I figured that I should come clean so I told him about
what had always been the worse part of any physical I'd ever experienced
-- dropping my shorts to be touched in more private areas as well as the
finger up the butt.

Before Jon could respond the doctor came into the room. Dr. Colter is one
of those people who could put anyone at ease. He spoke with Jon as an
equal and not as a child. Jon responded well to that approach. The doctor
explained what he was going to do and what he was doing it for before he
did anything to Jon. He also allowed Jon to put the stethoscope on then
told me to take off my shirt so he could listen to my heart. I did what
the doctor asked. Jon was impressed by the experience and then told me to
take a deep breath and exhale as he moved the stethoscope to the other
side of my chest. The rest of the exam went by with Jon asking a lot of
questions especially when it came time to drop his shorts. He wasn't
embarrassed, or at least he didn't seem to be. He just wanted to know
what he was looking for and then what he found. Before he left the room
the doctor told Jon he'd need a urine sample before he left. He gave him
a cup with his name on it for the sample. I told Jon what he had to do.
He seemed more embarrassed about peeing into the cup than anything else.

Jon was upbeat on the drive back home. He told me it wasn't as bad as he
expected it would be. He told me he really didn't like the nurse coming
in while he wasn't dressed. I told him she'd likely seen lots of guys in
their underwear. I also told him that he didn't have anything to be
ashamed of in that department. That seemed to bolster his self-image a
little. While sitting through the exam I also noticed that Jon was
starting to fill out some. His ribs weren't sticking out nearly as
prominently as when I'd first found him. He was gaining weight and so far
none of that weight was turning into fat. I suggested that perhaps we
should start going to the gym three evenings a week. Jon though that was
a good idea. He wanted to build some muscle, but had no idea what to do
or where to start.

That evening after dinner Jon said,

"It was kinda weird when I felt the doctor stick his finger inside me.
It tickled a little at first, but it felt uncomfortable. I can't believe
you can put your dick up there. Doesn't it hurt a lot when you do that?"

"It can if you don't prepare the person first. The sphincter muscle is
very elastic. That means it stretches. Before you put your dick in there
you have to stretch the muscle to accommodate a penis. The doctor put one
finger inside you. If I was going to put my dick inside someone, I would
stretch the hole by first putting in one finger then two fingers and
finally three fingers. The muscle starts to relax and as it does it is
easier to add more fingers to help the muscle keep relaxing."

"I can't believe you can get three fingers up there. One felt tight."
Jon said as he looked at three of his fingers bunched together.

"It can be done, and it feels very nice if it's done right. It still can
hurt a bit the first few times as the body adjusts to the sensations and
size."

"So doesn't shit just come out after you stretch the muscle out?"

"No. Remember the muscle is elastic. It stretches out, but it also
closes back up to it's original size."

"So it would hurt every time you did it then? That doesn't seem like
much fun to me."

"Well... the first few times you have to stretch the muscle more. Once
your body is accustomed to it, it doesn't take that much work and the
body knows what to expect so you relax that muscle more easily. I guess
it's something you have to learn to like and enjoy. Talking about it
doesn't really sound like that much fun, but it really does feel good for
both people involved."

"Why do you keep saying people when you mean guys?"

"Men and women can both enjoy anal sex. A woman's anal muscle stretches
the same way a guys would. Some straight couples enjoy anal sex as much
as some gay couples."

"You mean guys would want to fuck a girls butt? I thought only gays
fucked each other in the butt."

"Sure... not just gay guys do that. Here's another bit of information
for you. Not all gay guys have anal sex. Some gay men limit their sexual
encounters to just oral sex -- blowjobs. Some gay men prefer to be
bottoms. That means that they only like to have another man's dick in
their butt. Some gay men are called tops. That means they only like to
put their dick in another guys butt. Then there are others who enjoy
either role."

"So what do you like?"

"I would be considered a top."

"What if the guy wanted to put his dick in your butt? Would you let
him?"

"I guess that depends on the guy. If I really loved and trusted the guy
then I'd let him do that to me."

"How do you know what you like?"

"I suppose it's a trial and error thing for most guys. I suppose some
might know ahead of time, but I think most guys find out quickly during
their first sexual experiences."

"How old were you when you found out?

"I was about 24."

"How old are you now?"

"I'm 27."

"You mean you didn't have sex until three years ago? Most of the kids I
knew back in Texas were having sex or at least they said they were."

"I'd had sexual experiences before that, but that was the first time I
let another guy inside me."

"So how old were you when you first had sex?"

"I was 17. I was still in high school. It was with a girl I'd been
seeing off and on most of my senior year."

"So you weren't gay when you started out? I thought you said you were
born gay. What made you gay if you weren't born that way?"

"I was born gay. I just didn't want to admit it I guess. I didn't want
to be different than my friends. All the guys I knew were dating girls so
I did too. At the time I guess I thought if I did it too I might learn to
like it, but that didn't happen. When I first had oral sex with a guy it
was so much better to me than any of the experiences I'd had with a
girl."

"That's pretty strange to me. I thought gay guys only liked guys. I
didn't think they could get hard with a girl. So how did you know you
were gay?"

"I guess it all started when I started puberty. The guys I hung out with
and played with were all talking about girls all of a sudden. We all
hated girls when we were 10 years old, but that gradually began to change
for most of them. I noticed the girls too, but I didn't get the same
feelings or have the same urges that the other guys had. I gradually
began to realize that I did get those same feelings and urges for some of
the guys I knew. Instead of checking out the girls, I was checking out
the guys. One thing that also indicated to me that I like guys was what I
thought about when I masturbated. It was always a guy I was doing things
with and never a girl. I had fantasies about having sex with all the good
looking guys at my school."

"What if you don't really get excited about guys or girls?"

"I think that depends on the person. If we are talking about you, I
think you've been preoccupied with getting food and shelter and sleep.
Those are primary needs that have to be met before you progress to the
secondary needs. Sex is a secondary need. I think you will find that
during summer school you will start to notice girls more."

"How do you know I'll notice girls and not guys?"

"Well I don't I guess, but you told me you weren't gay so I assumed that
you are straight. That means you will probably notice girls more than
guys. If you do find that guys attract you that's fine too. There isn't
anything wrong with being gay. You just might be one of those people who
is bisexual. That means you could be attracted to both guys and girls. I
guess you can think about your fantasies when you are jacking off. That
will give you a clue too. Think about who and what you are doing in your
fantasy as you masturbate. That might give you a clue to your sexual
preference."

Jon turned red when I mentioned his masturbation fantasies. I figured the
blush was the result of discussing his personal and private thoughts and
actions. I didn't want to embarrass him by continuing the discussion. Jon
also seemed to be thinking about our conversation so I sat quietly as he
sorted the information. I could almost see his mind busy at work taking
the information I'd given him and filing it away for future reference.

The rest of the time until school started was busy for both of us. Jon
had a series of three dentist appointments. The initial exam appointment,
another to get his teeth cleaned and polished, and one more to fill a
single cavity. I couldn't believe how his teeth sparkled after the
cleaning and polish. I was also amazed that this was his first trip to
the dentist. This time I made sure to tell him what exactly would happen
prior to each visit.

The legal documents were all prepared and ready for filing with the
courts. That process took the better part of an afternoon for both Jon
and I. There were no problems at all, but dealing with government
employees meant that nothing happened as quickly as it should have. Had
the system been organized in an even slightly intelligent manner, we
could have been finished in an hour instead of the four hours the process
actually took.

Jon and I also had a trip to pick up all of the supplies he'd need for
school. While getting the basic things he needed for class, I also
decided to add some personal items that most kids have to the list. I got
Jon a Laptop computer with the carrying case, another battery, a home
docking station and larger keyboard and mouse, and printer. The store was
also featuring the new I-Pod so I picked up one of those for him too --
and all of the accessories that seemed necessary. I also wanted to get
Jon something special. I decided on a watch. While Jon was looking at the
music store, I slipped away to one of the jewelry stores to pick out a
watch. I decided on a sports model that wasn't too huge for his wrist. I
tucked that away planning to give it to him the night before his first
day at school. The week before school Jon began setting his alarm in the
morning. He told me he was seeing how long it would take him to get ready
for school so he wouldn't be late. He knew the school was about 2 ½ miles
from the house. He'd already timed how long it would take him to walk
that distance in the morning. When I told him I'd already made
arrangements to start work a bit later so I could give him a ride to
school, he was surprised that I would do that -- and insisted that it
wasn't necessary. I decided to leave that up to him. I would be available
to take him if he wanted, but wouldn't be offended if he decided he
didn't want me to take him to school. In the end he decided that he'd be
happy to have a ride since that would give him just over another half
hour of sleep -- a critical consideration to any teenager.

That last night before class started I took Jon out for dinner. After
dinner and dessert I gave him the watch. I had it wrapped with a nice bow
on the box. He had tears in his eyes when he opened the box and saw what
was inside. We were still in the restaurant, and Jon was not one for
public displays of any kind. This night though that didn't seem to matter
he sprang out of his seat and wrapped his arms around my neck in a
vice-like hug. Now I had tears in my eyes too. You'd think I'd given him
the keys to the city or something equally as huge. It was just a watch --
a nice watch -- but not that expensive. When he released the hug he sat
back in his chair. After brushing the tears from his eyes he put the
watch on and admired it on his wrist. He finally looked up at me and
said,

"This is the best gift I've ever had. I've always wanted a watch ever
since I was a little kid. I don't know how you knew that, or if you even
did. This is the best!"

"I didn't know, but I thought it would be a good gift for a young man
starting school and needing to be on time."

"You've already given me too many things. Even if I lived to be a
hundred I don't think I could ever repay you for everything."

"I'm not giving you these things because I want to be paid back. I give
you things you need to help you succeed. I want you to have the same
opportunities all of the other kids have. I know every kid doesn't have a
Laptop computer and an I-Pod, but many do at your school. I want you to
fit in -- help you to feel like their equal. We already know that you are
smarter than most of those kids so these things should make it easier for
you to do the work."

"You really are the greatest guy in the whole world. I can't believe how
lucky I am that you found me. If you hadn't taken me home and allowed me
to stay I probably would be dead by now or worse. Thank you so much! That
hardly sounds like enough to say for all you've done."

"It's more than enough, Jon. I'm glad I found you too. Having you share
that house really has made it our home. I can't tell you how much I've
enjoyed our time together so far, and I know I'll only enjoy it more as
time progresses. You have given a new meaning to my life -- someone to
take care of and help and nurture. I think I needed that at least as much
as you needed a place to stay. We've really helped each other. I can't
help but think that somehow Saul was watching down on me and seeing that
I needed someone like you to fill the void in my life."

As we left the restaurant Jon put his arm over my shoulder. I put mine
around his waist. Walking to the car Jon said,

"Jake... I really do love you. I feel like my heart could burst."

That said he kissed me on the cheek. I pulled him into a full hug and
said,

"Jon... I love you too. I know what you're feeling because I feel the
same way. I'm so glad we're sharing each other's lives. I don't think
I've ever been happier than I've been these last several weeks."

"I feel the same way. I never knew it was possible to feel this good. I
feel like I'm on top of the world. I just want to tell everyone how great
you are and how good my life is now."

Back at home Jon double and triple checked all of this things to be
certain he was ready for school in the morning. I couldn't help but
chuckle to myself as I watched him. We finally headed for our rooms about
11:00. Jon came to my door about 30 minutes after I climbed in bed. He
whispered,

"Are you sleeping, Jake?"

"Not yet. Are you too stressed to sleep?"

"I guess. Can I sleep in your bed? I know that makes me sound like a
baby, but well... would you mind?"

"No, I don't mind. Come on in and get comfortable."

Jon tossed and turned for a bit until I pulled him into a one arm hug.
Once his head was resting on my shoulder with his hand on my chest he
seemed to fall soundly asleep. When the alarm sounded in the morning, he
got right up. He looked ready and focused. He followed his planned
routine . While I got ready for work, he got ready for school. We met at
the same time in the kitchen. We had cereal and juice for breakfast. I
knew Jon would need money for an ASB card so I gave him enough to cover
the cost of the card and some extra. He tucked the money into his pocket
as we headed out the door.

I picked Jon up after I finished work. He decided he'd stay in the school
library to do his homework once classes were over. Since he didn't have
much in the way of homework the first day, he elected to read ahead in
both his Chemistry and Physics books. At home we worked together fixing
dinner as he recounted his day. He talked about his classes, the
teachers, some of the kids he'd met, and his PE class. He was doing
weight training during the summer session. I told him that he didn't have
to go to the gym with me since he was working out at school, but he told
me that he still wanted to go with me.

Life went on that way until the second week of August when the summer
session ended. He had two weeks of vacation until the fall term started.
I decided to book a vacation for us just so we could both get away. We'd
both been working hard all summer and needed the break. I decided a trip
to Disneyland and then on to San Diego would be just the thing. The trip
was a surprise to Jon. He was very excited to be going, but at the same
time wondered if he wasn't too old to be going to Disneyland. I told him
that I always enjoyed going there because it was just pure fun being a
kid.

The trip was better than I thought it could be. Seeing Disneyland through
Jon's eyes was truly an experience in the wonders of innocence. Each of
the five days we had slated for Los Angeles was packed with adventure. We
visited all of the theme parks in the area as well as several points of
interest to Jon. When he found out we were going he searched the Internet
for things to see in the Los Angeles area. San Diego was more for just
relaxing. The hotel was on the water with a wonderfully large pool. We
spent the time there enjoying the sun and the water as well as some
sightseeing trips. The whole experience was a first for Jon. He'd never
been on a vacation, never been on an airplane, never stayed in a hotel,
and never done most of the things we found to do each day. I think I
found more joy in watching his expressions and reactions as the vacation
unfolded.

We arrived back home with one day left before our routines started again.
We easily slipped back into our pattern of school for him and work for
me. His grades had arrived while we were away. I wasn't surprised to see
that he'd gotten a perfect report card. His efforts alone should have
gotten him that. He was taking some classes that I knew would be more
difficult for him. Perhaps the most difficult was going to be a Public
Speaking and Debate class.

Jon threw himself into his school work. His Public Speaking class
required him to give six speeches over the course of the semester. The
first speech is always the most difficult. He'd written and rewritten it
several times before he seemed happy with the finished product. I heard
him rehearsing the speech in front of the mirror in the bathroom and then
later in the bedroom. Finally he asked if he could do the speech for me.
Of course I agreed. The speech itself was very good, but his presentation
was lacking. He was nervous and uncomfortable, and it showed. I gave him
some hints and showed him what I was talking about by giving the speech
to him. He seemed to get what I was talking about almost immediately.
When he did his final practice the night before his presentation, I took
him with me to the Jewish Center where I had a meeting. I asked a group
of seniors in one of the rooms if they'd be kind enough to let Jon give
his speech for them since he needed the practice. He was as close to
perfect as I thought he could get. He was calm and comfortable with the
material as well as being in front of the group. He spoke clearly and
loud enough to be heard in the room. He made eye contact with the
audience and smiled often at the appropriate times. While his speech was
a minute or so longer than it had to be, it was right in line with the
assignment. He was certainly relieved when he finished the speech and
seemed to be bolstered by the round of applause he got from the group.
Jon visited with the seniors and got talked into a pool game while I
attended my meeting.

A few weeks into the fall semester Jon asked if he could invite a friend
over on Saturday. I told him that he didn't need to ask permission to
bring his friends home or to have them over. Jon was quieter than usual
during dinner so I asked if he was having any problems. He told me he
wasn't, but I had the distinct impression there was something he wanted
to say. I didn't prod him because I figured he'd say what was on his mind
when he was ready. I could see his brain working behind his eyes. Jon
cleared the table while I finished my coffee. He sat back down at the
table and asked if we could talk.

"We can talk about anything that's on your mind any time you want to
talk. I hope you know that by now."

"I do, but this is different. It isn't anything bad. I was wondering if
I could.. well.. I wanted to know if I could learn how to drive. I know I
don't have a car and can't afford one. I also don't even expect to drive
your car or for you to give me one, but I'd kinda like to know how to
drive if that's ok. The school has a driver's ed class after school two
days a week. I can sign up for it for next semester if that's ok, but it
costs more money. I understand if you say no. You've already spent enough
money on me, but... well.. I thought I'd ask anyway."

"I hadn't even considered it, but sure it's fine. I should have thought
about it myself. I know how eager I was to drive when I was your age --
probably even younger. I can write a check for you so you can sign up
tomorrow."

"That is so cool! Thanks! I've got all the information in my backpack.
I'll get it for you tonight so you can see it. You know my friend Ben
from school is coming over on Saturday right? Well I told him we go to
the gym to swim on Saturday's so I was wondering if he can come along."

"Of course he can. If there is something else you'd like to do that's
fine too -- maybe a movie or hanging at the mall or whatever."

"Thanks! We haven't talked about anything else, but going to a movie
might be fun. I was also wondering if when he comes over if I could...
well, I mean I know you aren't, but kinda you are... Geez... I was
wondering if I could introduce you as my dad."

"Jon, I'd be honored if you would. We've never talked about that before,
but certainly you can."

"Thanks! I actually wanted to ask you that before, but I didn't know if
you'd like that or not. I know you aren't exactly old enough to be my
dad, but I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have for a dad than you. It
probably sounds kinda corny, but well... I feel like we're a family. I
know I had a mom in Texas, but that wasn't like a normal family. Thanks,
Dad!"

I could feel the tears running down my cheeks when Jon called me 'Dad'.
I'm normally not an emotional man, but this kid could bring them out of
me with just a few words. As I looked at him through the tears in my eyes
all I could say was,

"I love you, son."

"I love you too, dad."

And we both sat there on opposite sides of the kitchen table crying our
eyes out with the shear happiness and joy of the moment.

As we pulled ourselves together we both stood and hugged. I kissed his
cheek, and he kissed my forehead.

Jon's first school dance was the weekend of Thanksgiving. It was a
homecoming dance held in the school gym. Jon asked a girl out -- his
first date. I can tell you I was perhaps the worst 'mother hen' as Jon
was getting ready for the dance. It was dressy casual. He didn't need me
picking out his clothes, but he allowed me to fuss over him anyway. Jon
was double dating with his friend Ben. After the dance they were going to
another school friend's house for free food and a bit more partying. This
other kid's father was the Chairman of the Alumni Committee. He was
having a private party for some of the adults. I asked Jon when I could
expect him home. He asked if 1:00 would be too late. He told me that Ben
had to be home by 1:00.

It was approaching 1:00 when I started to worry. I couldn't even think of
sleeping. Hell, I could barely sit still in the chair. The closer it got
to 1:00 the more I paced the floor and looked out the front window. The
phone rang at 1:05. It was Jon. He didn't sound so good. He asked if I
could come to get him. Thank God I knew where the party was being held. I
drove across town to get Jon. I wasn't mad at all. I suppose if anything
I was relieved. I knew he was still alive and had sense enough to call.
When I arrived at the house, Jon was waiting on the front steps. I asked
where Ben was. He told me that he was probably still passed out. I
thought it best to bring Ben home with us so I went in to find him. The
first door I opened was to a bedroom with two drunken teenagers trying to
engage in sex. It probably would have been comical if I hadn't been
searching for Ben. I found him in the next room -- the bathroom. He was
groaning on the floor. He'd obviously lost everything in his stomach, and
most of it missed the toilet. The mess was disgusting, but I believed it
served the homeowners right for not supervising the kids. I got Ben to
his feet and together we managed to get down the stairs and out to the
car.

No one got sick on the drive home -- thank God. I helped Jon get in his
bed then turned my attentions to Ben. I put him in the bathroom where I
could clean him up a little before I put him in the guest room. Once both
boys were in bed it was nearly 2:00. I decided to call Ben's parents. I
didn't know if they'd be waiting up or not, but I at least wanted them to
know their son was safe. Ben's father picked up the phone on the first
ring. I told him who I was and where Ben was. I didn't go into details,
but I think his father knew or at least suspected. I told him I expected
the boys to probably sleep late and probably not feel too good when they
woke. I asked if they'd mind Ben coming home late in the afternoon. His
father agreed.

Jon crept slowly into the kitchen about 10:00 that morning. His eyes were
red, and he looked like his whole body hurt. I gave him a bottle of
water. He proceeded to guzzle the water. He put the empty bottle on the
table, looked at me and said,

"I really fucked that up. I know that saying 'sorry' isn't going to make
it better or change anything. My mom used to tell me she was sorry when
she spent the grocery money on drugs. I know how I felt at the time. I
suspect you feel the same way now. I let you down. I never meant to do
that. I know you won't be able to trust me now. That's probably the worst
part. I know better. I know I deserve to be punished for this too. You've
never punished me before so I don't know what to expect, but whatever you
decide will be fair. I really am sorry, dad."

"Mistakes happen. I know you're smarter than that. I know you know
better. You grew up around people who spent most of their time drunk or
drugged up. You know the consequences of that behavior. I really wish
that you didn't have to experience a hang over to realize it isn't any
fun, but maybe the hang over will teach you that no matter how much fun
you thought you had last night, it isn't worth the pain you're feeling
now. At least you had sense enough to call rather than get into a car to
drive."

"I called because I didn't know what to do. I really only had three
drinks. I wasn't going to drink at all, but I let the guys talk me into a
drink. One became two and two became three. I just didn't think I would
get drunk on three drinks. I don't know how much Ben drank, but I got
scared when he got sick. We both went looking for the bathroom when he
just blew chunks all over the place. That freaked me out. I thought I was
going to do the same thing so I left him there to find a phone. When I
got back he was on the floor. That's when I went outside to wait for you.
Is Ben still here?"

"Yes. He's in the guest room. I checked on him about an hour ago. He was
still sleeping soundly. I washed his clothes this morning so he'd have
something to wear when he finally wakes up. I suspect his dad is going to
be very upset with him."

"Oh shit! I should have called them last night. I bet they are worried
sick by now."

"I called his father last night once I got you both settled in bed. His
dad wasn't any too happy, but I think he was glad that nothing more
serious happened."

"Thanks for calling his dad. He'll probably get grounded and not get to
drive his car. He got in trouble for going to the mall when he told his
dad he was coming here. His dad took his car away for a month. In fact he
just got it back this last week. He probably won't ever be able to drive
again."

"Well, that is his father's decision. I don't know what will happen, but
I hope Ben learns from this experience."

Jon took a couple of aspirin at my suggestion, but instead of going back
to bed he took a shower and got dressed. When he came back into the
family room he looked much better. He wasn't as full of energy as usual,
but at least he wasn't dragging. We talked more about the dance, his
date, and the party after the dance. As we were about to make lunch, Ben
wandered into the family room in his boxers. He really looked like hell.
Jon was the first to mention how bad he looked. I told Jon that he didn't
look much better a few hours earlier. I told Ben to sit while Jon went to
the kitchen to get some water for him. Once Ben gathered his thoughts a
bit he said,

"I gotta call home."

"My dad did that last night after we got back here. Your dad doesn't
expect you until late this afternoon." Jon replied.

"Fuuucckk, man! I'm gotta get my ass whipped over this. Shit! He's
probably already sold my car." Ben said flatly.

"Maybe if you explain it to him it won't be so bad." Jon offered.

"You don't understand my dad, man. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! This just sucks,
man. I know better than this." Ben said as he looked up seeing me again.

"Oh, shit! I'm sorry Mr. Harlowe. I didn't mean to swear. I'll be lucky
if I'm not kicked out of the house over this. My dad doesn't want to hear
excused or explanations. I've tried that before. I'm not supposed to
drink period. It's against our religion. This is so fucked up. Sorry..."
Ben said.

"Well, there isn't any point worrying about what is going to happen
until you know for sure." Jon offered.

"I already know for sure. First he's going to yell at me and quote
scripture. When he's done with that phase he'll haul my ass to the garage
and beat my ass until I can't sit for at least a week. Then I'll get sent
to my room. The only thing I don't know for sure is if I'll be grounded
until I'm 18 or told to pack my shit and get out. My older brother got
kicked out for something similar after my dad beat the crap out of him. I
saw my brother's ass after that beating. At the time I swore I'd never do
anything bad ever again. My brother cried the whole time he packed up his
stuff. He left that night and hasn't talked to my dad since. It's been
over four years. Damn... this is about the worst thing that could
happen." Ben said while choking back tears.

"Would you like me to try to talk with your dad, Ben? I don't know if it
will help, but if you like I don't mind trying." I offered.

"I don't think it will help, Mr. Harlowe. If you want to try though I
don't think it could possibly make it any worse. Umm.. if I do get kicked
out of my house once all of this is over, would you mind if I stay here?
I know you don't know me that well, but I swear I won't make this mistake
again. My brother went to stay with our grandmother. She lives in
Minnesota. I've got some money, but I don't know exactly how much. If I
do get kicked out, I'll call her and ask if I can stay with her. I can't
believe this is happening to me. I wish that he'd just tell me I'm kicked
out before he yells at me and beats my ass." Ben said.

"Let me call your dad first. You can stay here if Jon doesn't mind, but
we'll cross that bridge when it comes." I said.

"It would be ok with me if you stay here. Is your dad really going to
beat your ass? I didn't think that was legal." Jon responded.

"My dad doesn't care what's legal. Thanks Jon. You really are a good
friend." Ben replied.

I went to the den to place a call to Ben's dad. I offered to meet him for
lunch at a restaurant close to his house. I thought he might be more calm
in a public place as I got his ideas and thoughts and then shared mine.
An hour later we were just starting our lunch when I said,

"Thanks for meeting with me, Chuck. I thought we could talk about the
boys missing their curfew last night. Jon has never been late getting
home before so I wasn't really sure how most parents treat that. I don't
want to be overly harsh or too lenient either. Perhaps it shouldn't even
be an issue since Jon did call at 1:00 to let me know they had a problem.
In all honesty I should have called you right away to let you know the
situation, but I was anxious to get the boys back home. Once they were
home I was more concerned about them getting warm and in bed than
anything else. I guess it's my fault completely that I didn't notify you
sooner." I started

"For one thing he won't have a car anymore. Getting drunk is not
responsible behavior."

"How do you know he was drunk? Did you talk with him last night?" I
asked.

"No, I haven't talked to him. I just assumed he was drunk. Why else
couldn't he drive home. Why would he have to stay at your house if he
wasn't drunk?"

"The boys were just being boys. It seems they gave a mutual friend a
ride home from the dance who didn't have a ride. This kid's family has an
outdoor pool. The three boys were horsing around and before long all
three were in the pool completely dressed. It was a cold night so
naturally they were freezing cold. Jon called me for dry clothes. I
brought some for him and Ben. They were both shivering so badly and my
car was already warm so I just had them get in mine. I told Ben we'd go
back to get his this afternoon. The reason I suggested Ben not be
expected home until this afternoon is because I figured all teenage boys
sleep late on Saturday. I also heard Jon and Ben talking about something
they were planning for the afternoon. I think it was something to do with
school, but I can't be certain since I didn't get the details." I
related.

"Well I suppose this is less serious than I first thought. I usually
ground Ben when he misses his curfew. He hasn't been late in quite a long
while so I guess I'll ground him for two weeks. If Jon hasn't missed his
curfew before I think being grounded for two weeks will get the point
across." he stated.

"That does seem fair. It gets the message across without being too
stern." I replied.

"I agree. The punishment has to fit the crime. If Ben had been drunk,
the punishment would have been much more severe. He knows not to drink.
It's against our religion. He's heard that preached to him since he first
went to Sunday school. I don't tolerate breaking God's laws. His older
brother decided to move out rather than live under God's laws. I hated to
see him go, but I could not tolerate a sinner under our roof
contaminating the younger children. Ben has a younger sister who doesn't
need to witness this ungodly behavior." He preached.

"Well, Chuck, I sincerely appreciate meeting you and having this
discussion. I feel that I'm on track with my boy." I said.

With that we shook hands and parted company. Back home I sat both boys
down in the den and said,

"Ben and Jon this is very important. I've just gone out on a limb for
you. I did something I'm not exactly proud of doing, but at the same time
it seemed to be the lessor of two evils that I faced. What we discuss
here will only be talked about this one time. I don't expect you to
repeat this to any other person. I'd like you both to promise me that
right now."

"I promise." both boys said in unison.

"Ben, I met your dad for lunch. When I realized that you weren't
exaggerating your father's reaction to your behavior last night, I
decided I had no choice but to lie for you. I told your dad that you gave
a mutual friend a ride to his home after the party. While at his house
the three of you were horsing around outside and all three of you ended
up in the pool with all of your clothes on. I told him that Jon called to
ask for dry clothes. I told him I brought dry clothes for both of you. I
told him the reason you didn't drive your car was that you were shivering
so hard from being wet and cold that I thought it best to put you both in
my warm car. I took the blame for calling him late. I told him that my
concern was to get you both completely dry and warm before I made the
call. I then went on to explain that all teenagers sleep late on Saturday
and that you and Jon were planning something for the afternoon. You
better memorize this story and repeat it until it is second nature to
you. I don't at all believe in telling lies to avoid just punishment, but
I have to say that I think your father was being overly harsh. Do you
agree with what I've just told you both? I asked.

"Mr. Harlowe, you are the absolute best! I don't know what to say. I
swear on a stack of bibles that I'll never be this stupid again. Thank
you for saving my ass. I owe you. I can't thank you enough. I was so
worried about all of this. Jon, I can't believe what your dad did for me.
You are so lucky to have him as your dad. I'd trade you in a second."
Ben gushed.

"Ben, I hope you realize what my dad really did for you. Lying goes
against his nature. He's the most honest and decent man I've ever known.
He lied to save your ass. I just hope you are smart enough to never put
yourself in that position again. You got a second chance. Don't screw it
up, man." Jon said.

The boys fooled around in Jon's room for a couple of hours before I took
Ben to pick up his car. On the way to the car, Jon was reviewing the
story Ben was supposed to stick to. He seemed to have it down pat. I
wasn't too worried. Ben seemed like a good little con man. I knew he'd
pull off the bluff. What I didn't know and really worried about was how
long it would be before he was stupid enough to do this again. The lie I
told for him would work once, but I really didn't think his dad would
fall for it twice.

Thanksgiving quickly turned to the Christmas holidays. I gave Jon several
things that he really needed -- and most of that was clothes. He had
grown a bit taller, but more impressively he'd added some weight and
muscle. Jon's chest was showing development and definition. His arms were
certainly bigger -- from the forearms through the shoulders. His back was
starting to develop nicely. His waist was still thin, but his butt was
firming up very nicely. His legs were also much stronger and thicker --
both calves and thighs. He had spindles for legs when he first arrived. I
asked Jon to step on my scale. It was the first time I'd seen his weight
since the trip to the doctor. He was at 175 pounds in just his shorts. I
couldn't believe the changes.

Jon gave me a gold ID bracelet with my name engraved on the front. On the
back he had engraved, "To Dad with Love, Jon". I was overwhelmed with
joy and and happiness. Nothing I'd ever received held more meaning.

Jon and I celebrated New Year's Eve with dinner at a very nice
restaurant. I ordered a bottle of wine with dinner. The waiter poured
wine for both of us. Jon wasn't sure about drinking the wine. His
experience with alcohol was still fresh in his mind. I told him he didn't
have to drink the wine, but if he decided he wanted to try it he should
just sip it with his meal. He took my advice. While he didn't really like
the taste at first, he did begin to appreciate the wine as I tried to
describe some of the subtler tones and fragrances to him. Jon directed
our dinner conversation to what he was most thankful for in the year just
ending, and what he was looking forward to most in the year about to
start.

What Jon was thankful for was a retelling of the nearly nine months we'd
known each other. What he was looking forward to in the coming year was
learning how to drive. He was so excited to actually start the driver's
ed program. In addition there were a few other things he was hoping to
accomplish, but he kept coming back to driving. I remember how I was at
15. I couldn't wait to get behind the wheel of a car. I would have given
anything to have a car at that age. I suspected Jon wasn't all that
different. I told Jon that I'd make certain to take him driving at least
a couple of evenings each week and weekends as well. His excitement was
contagious. The more he talked the more excited I got about his learning
to drive. Jon's exuberance made me feel 16 all over again. I think I was
looking forward to the driving experience at least as much as Jon.

And so the year started. Jon did learn to drive. I don't recall ever
knowing as many laws and regulations as Jon had memorized. In addition to
his knowledge of the rules of the road, he was an extremely safe and
cautious driver -- taking the responsibility very seriously. He finished
the 13 week course with another perfect grade. I'd have been amazed if
he'd gotten anything less. I took him to get his driver's license the day
after he completed the course. Though Jon was nervous before the test, he
got perfect scores on both the written and driving tests. I didn't do
that well. Jon drove home with his new license in the new wallet I gave
him once he passed the test. I don't think I'd ever seen Jon so excited.
I had Jon drop me off at home so he could take the car on his own. That
only increased his level of excitement. I asked him to be home for dinner
at 7:00. He was back a few minutes early. He told me all about his drive.
He stopped by to visit all his friends.

Jon's birthday was just a couple of days away. I'd been listening to Jon
as we drove around town practicing and increasing his driving skills. One
of the things we talked about were which cars were cool and which ones
weren't. I learned which of the many models Jon thought was the hottest
car. Fortunately for me it happened to be one that was not an expensive
model. I tried to be as sneaky as possible to get all of his thoughts
about his perfect car. I knew what color he wanted as well as some of the
extras. Jon talked about a good stereo with a multi disc CD player. He
wanted good speakers, but he didn't want one of those huge base units
that would rattle the cars in the next lane. I found his 'perfect' car
and added a few other items that I thought he'd enjoy over time like air
conditioning, better front seats, lightly tinted windows, an alarm
system, and a high performance package that added power and a more stable
ride. I was so excited when I stopped to check out the car after it was
ready. I almost couldn't wait to give it to him, but I really wanted to
see the look on his face when he opened the door the morning of his
birthday. I'd ordered a big red bow for the top of the car. I wanted his
17th birthday to be one he'd remember his whole life.

I got up in the middle of the night to park the car in the driveway. I
put the bow in place then wrapped the key in a box with another red bow.
I went back to bed, but I was too excited to sleep. I finally got out of
bed before the alarm sounded. I showered and dressed for work and was
making a 'special' birthday breakfast -- Jon's favorite. I put the box
with the key at the top of his plate. Jon came out dressed for school. I
sang a corny version of Happy Birthday to him as he blew out the candle
I'd placed in the French Toast. When Jon finished eating, he picked up
the box. I told him he should open it since he didn't have a lot of time
before school. He tore the package open and stared at the keys inside.
I'm not sure what thoughts were going through his head, but he didn't
seem to be able to get up from the table. I hugged him and wished him a
happy birthday as I pulled him out of the chair. We walked toward the
front door. He opened it and immediately saw the car. He seemed frozen in
mid stride. I prodded him along down the walk toward the car. His eyes
were as big as saucers. As we got to the car all Jon said was, "Is it
really for me?" His hands were shaking as he pushed the remote to unlock
the door. He pulled the door open and just stared at the car. His lips
moved, but no sounds came out. I encouraged him to sit in the car to see
how it felt. As he got seated I took the bow from the car. I looked at
Jon as he just stared at the dash. I said, "It looks like it fits you
just fine. Why don't you start it us so we can see how it sounds." He
fumbled with the key and finally got it in the ignition. He turned the
key and the car came to life. The improved performance package gave the
small car a more meaty sound. Jon seemed to be gaining control of the
situation. He adjusted the rear view mirror and then the passenger
mirror. I closed the door so he could adjust the driver's side mirror.
I'd put the seat back as far as possible. Jon had long legs. He looked at
me through the window then rolled it down. He told me to get in so we
could take a spin around the block. I was so happy he wanted me to be his
first passenger. The first few blocks were a little jerky starting and
stopping as Jon adjusted to his new ride. It seemed so much more
sensitive than that tank I drove. We went about six blocks before Jon
turned back. He seemed much more comfortable as he pulled into the
driveway. He turned the car off then got out and came to my side. I was
just getting out when Jon pulled me up into a bear hug. He just kept
saying "Thank You!" over and over and over.



Thus ends the first part of this story.

Thank you for reading this offering. If you would care to share your
comments, suggestions, and constructive criticism, please contact me at:
dselliot28@yahoo.com

I do have other works posted at Nifty. Please look for my name in the
"Authors" category for a complete list of my work at Nifty.



Thanks for reading my submissions!

Peace and Love.

ds elliot