Date: Fri, 14 Mar 2003 14:37:04 +0000
From: Ben nobody <ben_sc@hotmail.com>
Subject: Berto's Roses 59-beginnings

Berto's Roses

By Ben

Part LIX

As it turned out, Berto wasn't the only one who was feeling better. After
Berto and I dried each other and dressed, we headed in to the casa to see
if we could find some coffee and something to eat. Berto had just begun
drinking coffee lately. I drank mine black, but he put so much sugar and
milk in his, he might as well have been having a milkshake.

Coming in through the kitchen door, we were surprised to find the room
empty. The sunroom was likewise devoid of human beings. The cards from last
night were neatly stacked on the large round table. We wondered whether the
card game went late last night. I also wondered if they really DID play
strip poker, and just where that might have led. I saw no signs of and
group-grope, so I didn't really think so.

Berto came out of the kitchen with our coffee and we walked, hand-in-hand
to the garden. The sun had begun to warm the air that morning. It seemed
the stormy weather, which had help to create so much destruction, and
heartache was behind us. The birds were singing and the roses silently
beckoned us.

As we always did, Berto and I worked side-by-side as we tended the
beautiful plants. The new buds were beginning to open and it cheered my
soul to see the resurrection after the storm had caused so much damage.
Unlike before, we took the time to touch and, occasionally, kiss. We
enjoyed each other's company more than ever and the sexual tension that had
built up for so long had given way to comfortable, open affection.

We were just finishing up when we heard soft, masculine voices coming from
the direction of the break in the adobe wall. We turned to see Jake and
Jose walking in from the beach.  They appeared to have been deep in
conversation until they saw Berto and me. They came nearer and Jose turned
to Jake and gave him a big hug.  "Gracias, mi amigo." Jose said to him, in
a voice full of emotion.

"No, problem buddy. I'm glad I could help. You can come to me anytime,
okay?" Jake replied.

Berto and I looked at each other with wrinkled foreheads, silently
wondering what all of it was about. Jose gave me a hug also. It was then I
noticed he was no longer wearing a sling on his arm. "Good morning,
Ben. Buenas Dias, Berto. Would you like me to show you some things about
your new car?"

Berto's face lit up like a beacon. "Si, gracias, Jose!" He grabbed Jose by
the hand and dragged him off to the carport. I was all but forgotten, but
could not feel jealous because Jose seemed to be well on his way to getting
back to normal.

"Wow, what did you say to him, Jake?" I asked.

"I mostly listened and he really needed it. We walked and he talked and we
both cried a lot." Jake said.

I looked more closely and, sure enough, I could see the tracks of now dried
tears coming from the corners of his eyes. Despite some of Jake's past
asshole actions, he truly was a good guy. I knew I hadn't been completely
wrong about him when we met in Atlanta so long ago. "You're alright, for a
jerk." I told him as I drew him in for a strong hug.

"Thanks. You're not so bad yourself." Jake joked as he grabbed my ass
cheeks. "When did all of this with you and Berto happen? Last I remember,
he was pretty pissed at you."

"Well, It's been coming for quite some time. And the thing at the party was
a big misunderstanding." I explained. "Jake can I ask you something? It's
been kind of bugging me."

"Uh-oh, what did I do now? I thought I was behaving myself nicely."  "No,
it doesn't have anything to do with you...this time, anyway. It's about
Berto and me."

"Hey, I have no problem with it at all. I'm not really into twinks, myself,
but he is a cutie. I can see how you would have the hots for him."

"Screw you, Jake! You know it's more than that. Honestly, you can be so
damned shallow." I said crossly.

Jake laughed at me. "Just pulling your chain, man. Calm down. I'm really
happy for you. If you are both happy with it, then who am I to say
anything?"

I laughed, too. "Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have to wonder what
Manuella would have to say about it, though." I thought aloud.

"Ah, so that's what's bothering you? I don't know for sure, but any casual
observer would have known that you two have always had "something" between
you. I can't say I was surprised when I saw that you two were together. I
don't think Manuella would be either. Neither do I think she would be
opposed to the idea. She thought the world of you, Ben."

I was deeply touched that Jake would reassure me this way. Our relationship
had had its ups and downs, but we were still close friends. "Thanks buddy."
I said as I gave him another hug.

"No problem, man. I'm batting a thousand today. First Jose, and now you.
Next! The doctor is in." He joked.

I shook my head at him and said. "You're such an asshole, you know that?
You can't be serious anymore than I can." I laughed.

"Not if I can help it, I'm not." Jake replied.

"C'mon. I'm starving." I said. "Where is everybody?"

"Sleeping, I guess. I went to bed shortly after you guys. I don't know what
time Nathan came to bed, but he woke me around three o'clock and..." Jake
began.

"And what?" I prompted him with raised eyebrows.

"And we fucked like jack rabbits." Jake broke out in a huge grin.

"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" I commented.

Jake chided me. "You think you should be the only one getting some hot ass
around here? Speaking of hot ass, Randy and Wade were getting rather
amorous with each other just as I was going to bed last night. No wonder
they aren't up yet. Is that kid really as hung as you said he is?"

"Oh yes. He sure is. It boggles the mind to look at it." I said without
exaggeration.

" I just gotta get a look at it, up close and personal."

"Well, that's up to Wade and Randy, my friend. Just don't go causing
problems between them, okay?

Jake held up three fingers. "Scouts honor, man."

I snorted. "Like you were ever a scout."

"I was!" He countered." I made it all the way to Eagle Scout."

"Whoopty-fricken-do! So did my oldest brother and he was a child molester."
I said with just a little too much bitterness.

"Really? How do you know? Was he arrested and everything?"

"No. I was one of his victims, so was my sister. He's straight, too. The
vast majority of them are."

"Wow, I'm sorry. I had no idea." Jake offered.

"No problem. It was a long time ago." I changed the subject. "Let's get
some breakfast going."

I poked around the cabinets and the refrigerator and found the makings of a
good, old-fashioned Southern breakfast. There was even a large package of
grits. Leave it to Randy to find that in the middle of Baja California,
Mexico. I found a big pot and started some salted water to boil. I also cut
up and fried some smoked sausages and grated some cheese. Jake cut up some
fresh fruit for a salad and then I sent him to see if the rest of the world
was alive yet.

After I added the grits to the boiling water and gave it a quick stir, I
walked out to the carport to ask the Berto and Jose if they hungry. I found
them both up to their elbows under the hood of the T-bird and chattering
away in animated Spanish. They were having a great time and I hated to
interrupt them.

"Hey guys, would you like something to eat? I have breakfast just about
ready. By the time you get cleaned up after digging around in that engine
it should be on the table." I told them.

They both stood and showed me their hands. Instead of the sticky black goo
I expected to see on their hands, they were completely clean. I walked over
to look at the car and saw that the engine and all of the components under
the hood were pristine. It looked like it had just rolled off the assembly
line. I should have known. "Uh, never mind. Breakfast will ready in a
minute." I mumbled.

They both acknowledged me and I returned to the kitchen. Randy wandered in
shirtless and barefoot wearing only his boxers. "Hey Ben." He kissed me in
greeting "You didn't have to do all of this. You should have woke me up."

"I like to cook sometimes. Why don't you set the table?" I suggested. Randy
nodded and began pulling plates from the cabinet. He grabbed a hand full of
flatware and headed to the sunroom. I watched his narrow ass move under the
thin material of his short. Hot ass indeed!

Ricky came in, fresh from the shower. His hair was still wet when he gave
me a good morning hug.  "Miguel will be down soon. Where are Nathan and
Wade?" He asked.

"I left Wade in the shower. He should be done soon, too. Want me to make
some juice?" Randy offered.

"Yeah that would be good." I turned to answer Ricky. "Jake went to wake up
Nathan. Apparently they had quite the active night last night."

"They weren't the only ones." Said Ricky, wagging his eyebrows in Randy's
direction. "You should have heard those two last night. Made me horny just
listening to them."

Randy blushed. "Yeah we did get a little loud, sorry."

"He's just jealous, Randy." I laughed.

Ricky nodded. "Si, I am jealous, and not just because Wade is hung like a
burro. Jose is not up to doing anything like that, yet."

I hugged Ricky to me. "He'll come around, amigo. In fact, he seemed to be
much better this morning. He and Jake took a long walk on the beach and
talked. He seemed much more like the old Jose. He and Berto are poking
around the T-bird this morning."

"Bueno! I wondered where he wandered off to so early this morning. I will
have to thank Jake later."

Berto and Jose came in from the carport. Berto kissed me and picked up the
platter of sausages then lifted the lid of the pot. "What is in here?" He
asked.

`It's called `grits'." I told him. I hope you like them. How do you like
your eggs cooked?"

"Mama always made them fried so that they bleed when you stab them with a
fork. I like them that way."  He said.  "Over easy. Me too." I took orders
from everybody else as Miguel, Nathan and Wade wandered in. Soon we were
all seated at the table and enjoying our breakfast. As I looked around at
his room full of handsome men, black white and Latino, I noticed that we
had all arranged ourselves as couples. Randy was beside Wade, Jose by
Ricky, Jake sat by Nathan and Berto was with me. The only exception was
Miguel. I thought, "We'll have to do something about that..."


I need to make a correction. I erroneously stated that Danny is a fellow
writer at Nifty. In fact it is Tony is the writer and "Danny" is (one of)
his stories he has posted. Look for it in the "Beginning" section.  Sorry
about that, Tony. If you get the chance, why not read my other stories on
Nifty. Just click on the "Authors" link and scroll down to find "Lyle
Benton".

Thanks, Ben