Date: Thu, 26 Mar 1998 22:23:27 -0500
From: Sidney Gittler <SidG@compuserve.com>
Subject: Mall Punk Part 12

     This is the twelfth installment of the ongoing love story
between a man and a teenaged boy.  If that kind of thing disturbs
you please don't go further. 
This story and all its characters are completely fictional. 
Neither this or any part of the story should serve as an
inducement to break any laws you live under.

                       Mall Punk: Part 12
                           Coming Out
                   by Sid G.  Copyright 1998

     Jon and I had a great weekend up at the Concord Hotel. 
Sometimes we hung with Brandon and his family as a group but
mostly the kids disappeared for most of the day, surfacing only
for food or money.  What was really nice was being treated like a
parent by the Markems and everybody else there.  Really felt good
that nobody thought anything out of the ordinary about our
relationship.
     At night sexual passions suppressed by depression since the
confrontation with Jon's brother Paul at their father's house
reawakened.  It was like Jon had been reborn after a carefree
week of fun and clean country air.  A week in which I'd been able
to relax and not worry about Jon all the time.  Even went out
with a couple of old friends for the first time since I met my
young love.
     Jon fell asleep as soon as we pulled onto the highway and
didn't budge until I pulled into our favorite diner for supper.  
While we ate he told me some of the things he and Brandon had
done that he couldn't tell me around his friend's parents....  
     "Remember I told you I'd crashed at Brandon's house twice
before we met?"
     "Yes."
     "The first time he turned down my offer, the second time he
had me give him a blow job.  One quicky before bed, no big deal
to me."
     I started to remind him that it had turned into a nasty deal
that day at the Y but just nodded instead.
     "Wednesday night we're getting ready for bed and he asks me
what's it like to 'sleep in the raw.'  The only thing I could do
was tell him to try it because some people don't find it
comfortable.  He took his pajamas off and faced me with his cock
swinging in the breeze.
     'Remember this?' He asked.'
     'Gee, I haven't seen you naked since we changed to go
swimming this afternoon.'
     'That wasn't when I had in mind.'
     Now to be honest he's grown a few inches since the last time
I crashed with him and his cock had grown about an inch too."
     "We've talked about this Jon," I said.
     "I know, and I remembered then.  I took a breath and told
him to sit on his bed......
                             *****
     "What's the matter Jon?  I thought you enjoyed sucking
cock?"  Brandon asked.
     "Is that what this week's been about Brandon?  Yeah, I
remember blowing you the second time I crashed at your house but
I thought we were becoming friends.  Real, regular friends and
not someone you wanted around to get your rocks off."
     "No you're wrong Jon, I mean you're right.  Oh shit, I didn't
expect this at all.  Shit I'm sorry.  I do want us to be friends. 
I've really enjoyed these last few days with you and I don't
want to wreck it."
     "I believe you, then what was that 'remember this' about? 
After that time at the Y I didn't think you'd want to do
anything like that again."
     Brandon bent over and covered his face with his hands.  I
thought I heard him crying so I went over to him and put my arm
around his shoulders.  "I'm sorry Bran, that was cold and wrong. 
I've forgiven you and the others for that.  I really have."
     "I haven't forgiven myself," Brandon said, "look you have
your secrets and so do I."  He took a deep breath.  "I see this
shrink every week, and we talk about a lot of stuff, especially
sex, and why I feel the way I feel..."
     "Bran, look its OK you don't have to."
     "I want to, need to.  Actually he and I have been practicing
this conversation."
     "Go ahead."
     "I used to think I hated gays."
     "Look, I may not have any real schooling but I've read
enough on the net to understand that somebody like me can be
scary.  Runaway fag whore.  Everything you've been warned
against."
     "You're not getting it Jon.  Oh God."  
     Brandon buried his head in his hands again and started
crying again.  I pulled him close to me and tried to think.  Then
I realized he was leaning into me.
     "Tell me Brandon, spit it out and I'll understand."
     Brandon sat up and wiped his red eyes.  "After that day I
finally really opened up to him.  Told him everything I did.  And
why."
     "Why?"
     "I told him that girls don't turn me on.  Guys do.  In fact
when we were in the shower and I saw you naked again I remembered
the second time you stayed over.  How great the blow job felt and
I started getting hard.  I started everything just to cover my
own feelings."
     "So you think you're gay?"
     He nodded and turned his head towards me.
     "So if I blow you and you like it its proof that your gay?"
     Brandon shrugged.  "That's what I thought.  I'm sorry Jon,
this really isn't how I planned this.  Just seemed a way to bring
it up.   Forgive me please."  He turned away again and lowered
his head.
     "Look at me."
     He shook his head.
     "Look at me damn you."
     When he lifted his head I saw the tears and all I could do
was smile.  I leaned over and kissed him gently on the lips.
     "You're forgiven my friend.  And yes I'm really gay but you
know what.  My blowing you wont prove anything and your blowing
me wont prove anything more than your just having kissed another
boy."
     "How will I know?"
     "Oh you'll know.  Just give it time.  Now give me a hug and
lets go to sleep."
                                *****
     "Wow, that was something.  I'm really proud of you Jon."
     "I know, of course once I was sure he was asleep I jerked
off to the thought of him sucking on my cock."
     We both laughed at that.

     As we drove up our block Jon spotted a car in the driveway. 
"Watch out Stya, there's a car in the driveway.   Shit, its Mr.
Werner's.  I hope nothing happened."
     I resisted easy reassurances as I pulled up in front of the
house.  As I turned off the engine two people emerged from the
car.  Mr. Werner from the driver's side and Joe from the other. 
We both let out a sigh of relief as we got out of the car.  
     The tension between Joe and his father was evident as we
approached.
     "Hello Don, Joe, I hope you haven't been waiting too
long," I said.
     Mr. Werner waved my comment away.  "Can we go inside please,
we need to talk."
     "Sure, let me get the suitcase and we'll be set." 
Unrequested silence fell until we were seated in the living room. 
Mr. Werner and I took the end chairs and the boys sat on the
couch between us.
     "Stya, they want me to go to Longston Academy in September
and not Harding Middle School.  Please talk to him.  I don't want
to go there, I want to go to Harding with Jon," Joe pleaded.
     "You want to back up a second," I said, "Don, you want to
explain this to me."
     "That's the crux of the issue but its brought up other
concerns.  But lets start with that.  I've got nothing against
Harding or Longston High but the Academy is a better school."
     "More prestigious you mean," Joe grumbled.
     "You'll get your turn Joe," I said and when he nodded I got
a stare from his father.
     "Yes its more prestigious, yes almost all the top executives
from Mr. Sorrel on down send or have sent their children there
but it is a better school.  Even your teachers would tell you
that Joe." He stopped and took a deep breath.  "His first
response was that all his friends were at Harding but I told him
that a few did go to the Academy and that he could still see the
others after school and homework, just like now."
     "'But its not the same,'" I said.
     Don Werner nodded.  "We started going round and round and I
was about at the 'I said your going so your going' when he flat
out said he would only go where Jon went."
     "That's right!"  Joe shouted from the couch.  "I love him
and I'm not letting him start school alone."
     "Joe!" Jon gasped.  All I could do was stare back and forth
between the two Werners.
     "I can see your surprised about that too Stya."  Don said.
     I took a breath, knowing I had to answer this both honestly
and carefully.  "Don, what surprises me is not that Joe loves
Jon."
     "And I love him," Jon interrupted and shut up at my quick
glance.  His hand inched over and grabbed Joe's."
     "Or that.  It is him saying it like that.  It takes a lot of
guts."
     "Hold on," Joe's father interrupted, "you mean you knew my
son was gay?"
     "Yes, and Jon and I are gay too.  It's why my father brought
the two of us together when Jon came in and they needed a foster
home for him."  OK, that was stretching the truth, all right
a pure lie, but its one my parents, Jon and I had agreed on.
     "I need a drink," Don muttered.
     "Jon can you get me some ice and the two of you go into the
kitchen for awhile."
     "Sure, come on Joe."
     "Dad," Joe said. "I do love you and mom."  Joe ran out of
the room before his father could respond.
     I had poured the drinks and Don had taken a healthy gulp
before another word was said.
     "He does love you Don.  You should have heard the pride in
his voice when he told us you'd been promoted."
     "I know, I know he does and I've got nothing against gays,
actually my youngest brother is gay.  But I guess I can
understand what my parents felt when he came out, and he was
twenty."
     "My father started by listing all the laws, by section mind
you, that were used against gay sex or existence.  Fortunately
New Jersey's become a lot more legally enlightened since then but
its still not easy.  But, as you can see, he accepted it."
     "Do they have sex together?"
     "They sleep in the same bed when Joe stays over.  More than
that you have to ask him since I respect their privacy.  How's
Mrs. Werner taking it?"
     "Went from wailing at where she went wrong to wanting to
join P-FLAG."
     I refilled our drinks and waited for him to continue.
     "Where do we go from here?"
     "I don't think breaking them up is possible or a good idea. 
Jon's already lived on the streets and Joe will follow him."
     "What about school?  Longston Academy is both more demanding
while giving the student room for progressing at his own pace.  I
think Joe needs that but how do we get over this hurdle."  He
pulled a brochure out of his pocket and handed it to me.  "Look
at this, excellent academics, good sports programs and yes I'll
admit it, it will be good for me at work to have my kids there."
     I scanned through the pages.   Kids were all neat but no
uniforms, Don was right about the schools credentials and
reputation.  On the inside back cover I saw the name I was
looking for as Vice-Chairman of the school's board.  "I see Jon's
cousin is on the board.  Maybe we can use that to get Jon
admitted too."
     "You think so?  I mean Jon's a bright kid but without any
formal schooling."
     "He's more likely to get the individual attention he needs. 
Let's see what I can do in the morning."
     We called the boys out and Don told them the plan.  The boys
started giggling between the thanks.
     "I knew you'd be happy but what's so funny Joe?"
     "Uh, well, you see, Jon and I were talking and came up with
the same idea."
     "Yeah, that's right," Jon added, a little too quickly.
     "Good, I'm really happy that's settled.  Now all we have to
do is convince the admitting committee.  Hopefully your cousin
really does have enough pull."
     That caused another round of giggling between the boys.  One
I had a hard time not joining.  Don looked at all of us
quizzically.
     Joe and I looked at Jon.
     Jon finally settled down.  "Mr. Werner, Lamont Sorrel is not
my cousin, he's my father," Jonathan Sorrel said.
     "But I thought he only," he stopped and thought.  "That's
right I remember one dinner party when this little boy came down
just for dinner and then disappeared again.  That was you?"
     "One of my rare public appearances, but we do not discuss my
family history."
     Don paused for a long minute and then nodded.  "Then when he
said he was talking with his two youngest sons it wasn't Peter
and David but you and Peter?"
     "And Joe and Stya were there too."
     "Too much, too much in one day.  But I guess we have two of
the Academy's newest students in front of us Stya."
     "I guess so.  But Don, that last bit does not go any
further, especially at work."
     He nodded.  "I understand and you have my word Jon, not even
to your father."
     "Thanks Mr. Werner, for everything."  He stretched upward
and kissed Joe's father on the cheek.  "Now tell me about this
brother of yours."
     "Which brother, oh you mean Eric."
     "Yes, tell us about my 'swinging bachelor Uncle Eric who'll
never get married.'" Joe added.
     "About five foot seven, collar length dirty blonde hair,
three time state champ in wrestling and deep blue eyes to die
for," I said.
     "I take it you know my brother," Don said.
     "Nope, never met him."  We all laughed at that.  "He was in
my year at Longston but we didn't travel in the same circles and
only had a couple of classes together.  Eric was the macho jock
and I was the arty type.  So where is he and what does he do?"
     "Lives in Millburn, alone, and heads our graphic arts
department."
     "Interesting, tell him I said hello, if he remembers me that
is."
     "Oh, I'll remind my Uncle.  You don't have to worry about
that Stya."
     "On that note I think we'd better get going," Don said. 
"Have to tell your mother the good news."
     "One final thing Don.  Jon and I were planning on going on
vacation and obviously Jon wants Joe to come along.  If its OK
with you of course."
     "Where?"
     "My brother has a secluded cabin, house really, right on
Lake Cosmos that I use the first two weeks of August every year. 
Three bedrooms, small boat, private beach.  Really quiet and
beautiful."
     "Please dad, I promise to behave and listen to Stya. 
Please."  The final please lasted thirty seconds at least.
     "You want to argue with that?" Don asked.
     "No way."
     "But I'm going to hold you to that promise son.  Now lets
get going."
     I walked Don out to the car and the boys followed a minute
later.  We waved as they drove off.  When they were out sight we
walked around the house to the deck.  Jon cleaned off the chairs
as I turned on the lights.

     We sat in silence staring at the stars.
     Jon took my hand and I gave his a gentle squeeze.
     Happiness had come to Longston.