Date: Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:41:45 -0700 (PDT)
From: adm2780 <adm2780@yahoo.com>
Subject: New Horizons  Chapter Seventy-Four

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enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted by any
means, except for reviews, without the written permission of the author.
As in real life, the sexual themes unfold gradually and are kept to a
realistic level.  Comments on the story are appreciated and may be
addressed to the author, Dwight Wilson, at adm2780@yahoo.com

This story contains descriptions of consensual sexual contact between
males, adult and minor.  As such it is homoerotic, designed for the
entertainment of mature adults.  If you are not of legal age to read such
material, or if the subject matter would create irresolvable personal moral
dilemmas, please exit now.

Note: I would like to thank Colin, John and Matthew for their continued
support and patience while I try to write this story.  Their support and
efforts at editing and correcting my errors keep me focused.  It is the
emails and comments I receive from you, the readers, that encourage me to
continue.


Chapter Seventy-Four: New Horizons


"Daniel," Paul called out as he stuck his head through the office door,
"Elizabeth is on the phone for you."

"Elizabeth, good morning.  How are you?"

"Fine, Daniel, just fine," came the pleasant reply.  "Listen, I'm calling
to ask you about your next debate.  According to my calendar, it's
scheduled for next week."

"That's right, in Orlando.  If I'm not mistaken, you are supposed to be the
moderator."

"That's right.  Now, do you know what's happening on Tuesday morning, the
day before your meeting?"  Daniel's hesitation told Elizabeth that Daniel
wasn't sure what she was talking about.  "The hearing on the guardian ad
litem cases is on Tuesday.  If the judge rules in favor of the children, or
if he hears the arguments and decides to withhold his ruling for a few
days, even though it appears things are going in favor of the boys, that
could make a big difference in what is discussed on Wednesday.  Here's the
point I want to get to.  We are going to do segments beginning Sunday
morning and running twice on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, regarding the ad
litem program.  We would like for you to be in those segments; they will be
aired statewide."

"Elizabeth, you know I'll do anything I can to help those children.  I
haven't talked with Arthur in several days.  Do you know how many children
are the subjects of this hearing?"

"The latest word I have is nine.  All of them are boys fourteen and
younger."

"And you say the segments begin on Sunday?"

"Yes, but you don't need to be here in person.  We were thinking that we
might be able to send a crew down there to you and we'll do your interview
there.  What I would also like to do is be able to interview Arthur at the
same time."

"Well, you know I'll make myself available at your convenience.  I'll have
to call Arthur and find out about his schedule.  However, between you and
me, I think if I call Mom and let her know she'll see it as an opportunity
to have time with Jeremy.  From that perspective, Arthur may not know it
now, but I'm sure he will be planning a quick trip in this direction."
Daniel couldn't help but laugh a little while he spoke to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth fully understood what Daniel was saying and laughed herself.

"Well, my intent is to be a part of that crew.  We'll have to do your
interview on Saturday afternoon or evening in order to be edited and set
for the Sunday AM segment."

"Elizabeth, would it be a reasonable assumption that there will also be at
least two more boys visiting for the weekend."

"Daniel, you know my boys.  All I have to do is hint that I'm coming down
there and they head for the car.  I'd hate to try and live with them if I
left them behind."

"I'll make sure the boys' beds are setup for them and you'll have a private
room in the modulars.  You'll share the modular with Arthur and Mom, and
Colin.  Is that acceptable?"

"That's fine.  That will give me extra time with Colin and I'm sure he'll
appreciate the time with Arthur and Linda."

When Daniel hung up with Elizabeth, he was immediately back on the phone
calling his mother.  Linda jumped at the opportunity to come visit and see
Jeremy.  She let Daniel know that she and Arthur had discussed coming for a
visit either that weekend or the next.  The controlling factor would be how
comfortable Arthur was with his case preparation.

While Linda and Daniel talked, Linda suggested that Elizabeth might
consider a segment with a mother, holding one of the boys, speaking from
the heart to the mothers watching the television.  Only a mother who had
experienced the harsh realities of losing a child could convey the emotion
and heartache another mother would understand.  When Daniel hung up the
phone, Paul was standing in front of his desk, smiling.

"What?' Daniel asked, looking at his friend.

"Daniel, have you forgotten that Captain Jackson and his men will be here
this weekend, plus their boys?  Think about the number of them, plus the
television station crew, plus Linda and Arthur, plus Colin and Nigel.  It
might be a good idea to let Barry know how many to expect for meals?" Paul
suggested, smiling and knowing how Daniel sometimes forgot to share all the
information with those affected.

"Oh, yeah; guess you're right.  I'll run over to the mess hall now and tell
him.  But, he should have plenty of food.  This shouldn't be any problem."

"It's not a problem, Daniel, when you know what to expect.  The food supply
is no problem either, but the supply of cooked food on hand might be.  You
know how Barry reacts to these little surprises that he thinks might make
him look bad."

Daniel smiled and shrugged his shoulders, he knew how upset Barry could get
and the pride he took in operating an efficient kitchen.  On the way to the
mess hall, Daniel was again distracted.

"Heeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyy," Danny always greeted him with the longest 'hey'
Daniel had ever heard.  Daniel looked behind the boy and saw Brian and Ian
coming out of the building.  The boys were just finishing morning classes
and were going out to play before lunch.  Daniel also noticed that Danny
was running and holding his boyhood; this was not normal for Danny.  When
Danny reached the man he held his arms up and didn't wait for Daniel to say
it was alright, he just jumped into the man's arms.

"Danny, do you need to go to the bathroom and pee?"

"Noooooo," the boy whimpered.

"That's what caused his problem, Mr. Dan'l." Sean surprised Daniel.  He
hadn't seen the boy approach.  Daniel gave Sean a puzzled look.

"It happened yesterday, Mr. Dan'l.  Danny did need ta pee but somebody
moved the step stool the little guys use from in front of the urinal.
'Stead of waitin' for me to find it, Danny was in such a hurry he ran over
to one of the toilets.  He put the seat up, but not quite far enough.
While he was peein', the seat fell down.  Well, you can guess where it got
'im." Sean concluded, trying hard not to laugh.

"Danny, did that toilet seat fall and get you?"  Danny nodded.

"Yeah, and it hurt, too."

"Does it still hurt some?" Danny nodded.  "Well, do think a band-aid might
help some of the hurt to go away?"  Danny grinned and nodded this time.

"Sean, how about running over to the office and tell Mr. Paul that we need
a band-aid.  Danny and I, and I guess Brian and Ian, too, will be in the
mess hall."

"Yes, sir."  Sean ran towards the administration building, laughing.

Daniel continued to the mess hall.  He carried Danny in his arms while
Brian and Ian each found a belt loop to hold on to.  Barry spotted Daniel
as he came in with his little entourage and gave him a questioning look.

"He had a little accident last night; nothing a band-aid can't work
miracles on," Daniel explained before he told Barry why he really came
over.  "Barry, we're going to have several guests this weekend and I just
wanted to be sure you had advance notice."

"Daniel, since when do we not have extra guests on weekends?"

"Well, look at it this way, we're going to have several weekends of guests
here all at the same time.  Elizabeth is coming in with a television crew,
and her boys.  Captain Jackson will be here with his men and their sons.
Arthur and Linda will be coming also.  Think we can handle it?"

"No problem," Barry answered.

Sean walked in with a band-aid just as Daniel and Barry finished talking.
Daniel set Danny up on the counter and asked the boy to show him where it
hurt the most.  Danny quickly pointed out a spot on his little stem which
Daniel wrapped with the band-aid.  When Daniel set Danny back on the floor,
Brian and Ian quickly ran up to Danny, bent over at the waist with their
hands propped on their knees, and thoroughly examined Danny's new badge of
courage.

"You know Danny," Barry began, "I think any boy that can be as brave as you
were at least deserves a popsicle as a reward.  I bet we can even find
enough for Brian and Ian for standing by you; Sean should have one, too.
How's that?"  Three little faces lit up with smiles.

Danny and the other boys strutted outside to show off Danny's new badge of
courage and what Mr. Barry gave them as a reward for being brave.

                                       * * * *

"Dad?" Daniel called out to the speaker phone.  "Wasn't sure I'd catch you
in this time of day."

"Hello, son," Dr. Thompson replied.  "Where'd you think I'd be if not
here?"

"Usually at your office or the library.  I can remember when I had to make
three or four calls to get you to call me back."

"That was only because you insisted on calling while I was holding class.
What can I do for you?"

"Dad, you know the hearing is coming up next week on the ad litem program.
The futures of several boys are involved."

"Actually, I didn't know it was next week, but I did know it was close.
Last time I talked with Arthur he felt pretty good about the case.  Has
anything changed?"

"No, not that I'm aware of."  Daniel's tone turned very serious.  "However,
I do have some serious concerns about the boys.  These boys aren't like the
boys I have here now, except for Jeremy.  The boys here were just
threatened with slavery.  The boys that are the subject of the hearing have
been enslaved and used.  I'm not even sure of their ages and how long
they've been enslaved."

"Are we talking about adjustment, Daniel?"

"Yes, but not just for those boys.  I think consideration also has to be
given to their families and what we are going to do with the boys between
the time that they're freed and the time they're reunited with their
families.  Dad, did you ever find anyone that was familiar with the
problems of adjusting from slave to free person?"

"Unfortunately, the answer to that question is yes and no.  There are a
number of books and so-called experts in the field.  The problem is they
are experts only in theory.  Not one of the authors has had any first-hand
experience working with a child that's been freed.  You know, Daniel,
there's never been that much opportunity in the past.  I believe the
opportunities that have been there have been kept quiet in order to protect
the individuals.  Think in terms of our situation.  Very few people knew
what I was doing with you or that you were a former slave until you chose
to make it public.  I felt that needed to be your choice."

"Dad, maybe you should be the one writing a book.  As I recall, I managed
to present a few challenges along the way."  Daniel's dad laughed, and then
continued.

"Daniel, this may be very much like when you were trying to research
studies on abandoned children.  Only since you started working to have New
Horizons approved has there been an opportunity to study children that have
been abandoned.  While there is a big difference between a child being
freed from slavery and a child being orphaned because the parents were
removed, they are also somewhat related.  In both cases, we are talking
about children without parental support and guidance."

While Daniel talked with his father, Colin stuck his head in through the
doorway.  Daniel motioned for him to come in.

"Dad, someone has just joined.  Colin Smythe is here from England doing a
story on the two British boys that lost their family.  He's also doing
interviews and research for additional stories."

"Colin, it's nice to meet you.  Sorry, I can't be there in person at the
moment, but maybe one day soon."

"Dr. Thompson, I've heard a great deal about you.  It's my pleasure to make
your acquaintance."

"Dad and I were discussing the boys that are part of the guardian ad litem
program.  Their hearing is coming up and, assuming they are released, there
are the issues of where they go afterward and how they receive treatment."

"You know, admittedly I'm a little naïve about all this," Colin
interjected, "but, I had assumed the boys would just be returned to their
parents or other family members."

"Ideally, that's how it would work," Daniel stated. "Unfortunately, what we
consider to be ideal and what turns into reality are not the same thing.
There are nine boys involved in this hearing.  Of the nine, we have been
able to locate family for five of them.  The remaining four boys, well,
they were enslaved because they didn't have anyone to assume responsibility
for them.  We have agreed to assume responsibility for them here."

"Daniel, I've had people tell me how slavery works with children, and I've
read about it, but I still find it incredible that a society would rather
enslave the children than provide a good home for them."

"Colin, that very thought is what served as the genesis for New Horizons.
All of these boys are homeless and would have been enslaved if not for our
program.  They have no family to care for them.  There is one big
difference though.  The boys here were never enslaved, except for one.
Slavery can have a deep and long lasting effect, mentally, emotionally and
physically; even for the boys who have families to return to."  Daniel
studied Colin to be sure the man had some grasp of what they were talking
about.

"Daniel, let me try to explain for Colin."  Daniel sat back in his chair
and allowed his dad to explain the intricacies of the new challenge.
"Colin, let's look at this strictly from the viewpoint of the boys who do
have a family to return to.  It will be those boys and those families that
will pose the biggest challenges.

"If a boy has a family to return to, that means he was taken most likely
because the family got into some kind of financial trouble.  A levy warrant
was issued by the court; the child was seized by the authorities and sold.
Proceeds of the sale were used to payoff the debts.  Now, most likely, the
child will know why he was enslaved.  How is the child going to view the
parents that allowed him to be enslaved?  That's only part of the question.
The other part of the question is, how will the parents react knowing they
were responsible?

"The research we've been able to do thus far suggests there is a much
larger problem with the parents.  Each time they look at the child, they
are reminded of a failure.  They are reminded that their own child had to
pay for that failure.  The big question becomes one of whether or not the
parent can shed the burden of guilt and work to re-establish a loving and
nurturing relationship the child will need to move forward."

"It isn't nearly as simple as one might think when approaching the
problem," Colin stated while deep in thought.  He then asked, "I suppose
you have a program to address the problems?"

"We think we have a pretty good solution, at least in the beginning,"
Daniel answered.  "The boys will be both frightened and untrusting.  We
believe the best way to get them to relax is by mixing them with the other
boys.  They should learn very quickly that it's alright to talk and ask
questions.  The other boys will tell the new boys what it's like around
here and what to expect.  We'll also have counselors here for them to talk
to.  There will be a separate set of counselors for the parents, who are
counseled outside.  We're hoping it won't take too long to reunite the
families.  One thing we don't do, though, is push them.  Everything must
happen in its own time."

                                       * * * *

Late morning and most of the boys were taking a break before lunch; having
completed their morning assignments.  True to their word, Brad and Patrick
were teaching Jeremy how to skateboard; Sean also had a board and worked
with Jeremy to give him support.  Following the rules, the boys wore a
helmet plus knee and elbow pads.  Jeremy, working steadily and trying to
master the art of balancing moved along the sidewalk.  As soon as the
wheels struck an expansion joint, Jeremy took a fall, a hard fall; he
landed on his butt.

"I don't know why they say we have to wear these elbow and knee pads;
that's not the part getting hurt the worst," Jeremy commented as he stood
and rubbed his derriere.  The other boys laughed with him.

"Just wait," Brad commented, "once you get the hang of just riding the
board, then you'll want to do tricks.  That's when you'll be thankful for
the pads."

"Yeah, Brad oughta know.  He set the record for the most times anybody
busted their butt tryin' ta learn a new trick."  Patrick teased his best
friend.

"Jer," Sean interrupted, "don't pay attention to them.  Just concentrate on
staying on the board and moving in a straight line.  It's all a matter of
balance.  When them two was teachin' me, all I did was fall and bust my
rear end.  Then, one day, I got on the board and it was as easy as walkin'.
Don't know why, it just happened that way."

Jeremy, like all boys, had a one track mind when it came to learning
something he really wanted to do.  There was no such thing as quitting or
falling too much.  Like Sean had suggested, Jeremy concentrated on standing
on the board and moving forward.  With each try he went a little farther.
However, with each try, after he'd gone a certain distance, he became a
little over confident, and fell again.

"Man, I need to take a break.  I fall many more times and I'm gonna look
like somebody's been beatin' my butt.  I need ta find a butt pad."

Brad and Patrick continued riding the skateboards.  Jeremy left his board
and safety gear with the two boys, while he and Sean took a walk.  Jeremy
rubbed his rear end that had some very distinctive red marks from his
falls.  Sean and Jeremy walked off.  They weren't going anywhere in
particular.  They were just two boys, friends, taking a break.  They walked
towards the grove.

"Sean, can I ask ya somethin'?"  Sean looked at his friend and waited.  "Do
you ever get where ya just like to sit down with somebody and be with 'em,
but not have ta say anything?  Do ya know what I'm tryin' ta say?"

"Yeah, I liked doin' it with Brad.  Since him and Patrick's not fightin'
anymore though, it don't seem like he has time.  I miss it."

"How come you don't say somethin' to 'im?"  Sean kind of shrugged his
shoulders.

"I don't know.  Guess I'm not sure what ta say.  Sometimes, I think I'm
afraid he'll think I'm bein' silly and laugh at me."

"He's your brother.  He's not supposed ta laugh at ya."

"No.  He's my brother, that's why he laughs at me," Sean answered "He's
kinda funny 'bout other people laughin' at me though, he won't let 'em."
Sean paused a moment and then sat on the ground and leaned against a tree.
"When we first lost our folks I used to sit with Brad a lot.  I'd almost be
sittin' on top of 'im.  He'd hold me and rub my back, almost like my mom
used to do.  He'd tell me stuff like he'd always be there to take care of
me and things would be alright.  He told me what I wanted ta hear."

Jeremy sat on the ground next to his friend.  He was remembering what it
was like to have a friend; a real friend.  The two boys sat on the ground,
leaning against the tree.  They looked out into the surrounding country
side.  They sat quietly; neither boy said a word or made a sound.  Jeremy
would sneak a glance at Sean.  Sean would sneak a glance at Jeremy.  Sean
placed a hand on Jeremy's leg.  Jeremy looked at his friend, smiled, and
placed his hand on Sean's hand, holding it in place on his leg.

They were two boys that could understand what it was to lose family.  They
knew fear, uncertainty and loneliness.  They knew what it was to have their
childhood, their time of looking at the world with innocence and wonder,
stolen from them.

"Jer," Sean spoke softly so only the two of them could hear, "you know, you
got a chance to get some of it back.  You can have a mom again.  Are you
gonna do it?"  Jeremy shrugged his shoulders and wrapped his arm around
Sean's arm.

"Scared?" was Sean's simple question.

Jeremy pulled himself closer to Sean, lay his head on the other boy's
shoulder and answered simply, "Some".

End Ch Seventy-Four

To Be Continued

Comments welcome: contact Dwight Wilson at adm2780@yahoo.com