Date: Sat, 26 Mar 2005 02:54:36 -0500
From: frontrnrusa@netscape.net
Subject: Diabtribe

This is a work of fiction with an adult theme.  I hope you will take the
time to share your comments once you've read the story:
Frontrnrusa@netscape.net


Diatribe
By:  Holloway H
Copyright: 2005 Holloway H


The headlines of the local paper spread the unbelievable news that Timmy
killed himself, 17 years old, 7 months away from graduation.  Timmy had
excellent grades, good attendance, he was friendly and according to many
people that knew him, he was the every day high school boy.  But Timmy's
story isn't unique, it isn't the exception, Timmy's story is the rule when
you are young and gay and male in the public school system where religion
still dominates the thought process and the prejudices of school employees;
principal, dean, teachers, etc., encourage children with similar thought
patterns to act in ways that harm or kill other students.  In this case it
is not that the teacher, the minister, the police did not see what was
happening but rather that they did not care what was happening.


Timmy's story:

Timmy attended McPherson High School, an A & B student he was on the
school's track and soccer teams.  He was a popular boy with lots of friends
he definitely was not a loner or someone who was afraid to be around
people, so what happened?

Timmy's parents wanted him to be well rounded he was an only child.  His
father encouraged Timmy to join the Cub Scouts and Timmy loved it.  By the
time, Timmy was nine his parents had bought their first RV.  Timmy loved
the outdoors, every chance he had he camped out either in the RV or in a
tent in the backyard with his best friend in the whole wide world, Adam.
Adam was Timmy's next-door neighbor he was nine too and had the same joy as
Timmy did in camping out.  Timmy and Adam decided to build their first fort
in a large oak tree in Adam's backyard.  The boy's fathers decided they
would assist with the construction even though secretly they were both
worried about the boys being up in the tree.  It really didn't matter if
there was a fort or not the boys were going to be in trees just maybe the
fort might be the safest option for two nine year olds.  The two men began
working on the fort on a Saturday morning.  Timmy and Adam were great
helpers getting this and that, the boys helped their father's cut wood and
hammer too.  This was one of the greatest days of their lives, at least
that is what they told their parents time after time that night as they
tried to go to sleep but couldn't due to the excitement. Sunday morning
there would be no building.  By 9:30 Timmy and Adam sat in Sunday school
listening as the Sunday School Teacher talked about how a Whale swallowed
Jonah and what it meant.  Timmy loved the singing they did in Sunday
school, he had a special relationship with God at least his nine-year-old
mind told him that.  He wasn't afraid of God, he loved him and wanted to do
the right thing as often as possible, with the exception of the occasional
small story he told.  Timmy loved when Sunday school ended and he was able
to stand next to his parent's in regular church, the beauty of the church
awed him.  He would stand close to his father comforted by the fact that
nothing bad in the world could happen to him or anyone else because his
father would not allow it and neither would God.  After church, Timmy's
parents would stop to eat Sunday dinner at Morrison's cafeteria, Timmy
loved it because he was dressed up and because he was eating out with his
parents it made him feel more grown up.  Timmy walked through the line at
Morrison's in-between his mother and father.  He would point at something
and if he could not reach it, his parent's would place it on his tray.  The
very first time he was allowed to chose he picked all desserts.  Timmy's
mom looked at him and asked if he was sure that was all he wanted.

He looked up with the sincerest blue eyes at his mother, "what should I
have?"

His mother smiled, to hide the pride and the imminent tears in her eyes,
"whatever you want."

Timmy smiled, he put back a few of his desserts and picked other things to
eat he liked, he smiled at his parent's when they sat down and he told them
about his decision to pick good things to eat.  They congratulated him and
secretly smiled to themselves at this change.  Timmy still thought about
that and smiled too, he was younger than he must have only been seven.

Timmy's parent's walk slowly up the stairs to Timmy's room, both of them
expecting to see his smiling face open the door and bound down the stairs
stopping in the kitchen for a coke or glass of milk.  That will not happen
today or ever again.  Pausing outside Timmy's room his father turns the
doorknob today they have to pick one of his suits for the funeral home to
bury him.

Timmy picked up his fork and began to eat the green beans he chose, he
loves the small bowls they put much of the food in and he just as quickly
wonders how they know how much to put in each bowl?  Another bite of
biscuit and a drink of his lemon sweetened tea and he sits back looking up
at his parents, his eyes heavy now that he is content.  Soon the remainder
of his lunch is placed inside a Styrofoam container and he slips into
dreamland in the back seat of his parent's car.

Timmy and Adam spend all their time either at Cub Scout meetings, fishing
or in their fort.  Timmy's parent want to have another child but have
recently learned that Timmy is the only child they will ever have, medical
problems prohibit another safe birth.  Content to have their wonderful
child they move on as though another child was never a thought.

The Cub Scout Pack has volunteered to help feed the homeless on
Thanksgiving.  Timmy's parent worried about Timmy being away from home,
offering to help and make it a family event, soon many of the Cub Scout's
also have family members helping to make this day special for someone else.
When Timmy walked into the homeless shelter, he looked around thinking to
himself this looked more like a cafeteria than a place where people came to
get out of the rain and cold.  He looked at the people sitting here and
there, they didn't seem unusual to him at all.  He watched with awe as all
the food was placed on tables, he was in charge of the mashed potatoes, as
people lined up he stood there proud in his Cub Scout uniform smiling at
everyone.  A few times during the day, he had tears in his eyes when
someone his age would come through the line.  While he saw no difference in
the adults he knew what poor meant and he saw plenty of poor children who
were eager to be fed, it made him feel sad but he worked hard to keep a
smile for everyone.  When the last person was fed Timmy and Adam got their
trays, and sat with a bunch of the kids they had served, somehow Timmy knew
this felt right.  It was almost dark when Timmy and his parents got home.
Timmy kissed his parents then went up to his room he opened the closet door
and sat inside pulling the door closed behind him.  He cried for the poor
people he had seen that day and just as quickly his tears changed to
prayers to God asking him to watch over those people and to give them the
happiness he had with his family.  He never told his parent's about his
tears, he knew they would understand but he wasn't sure he did, not yet.

At 12 years, old Timmy was tall almost five foot nine.  He kept his blonde
hair cut short.  He was not one to follow other kids, he was a leader and
did what he felt was right.  He went his own way.  During the school year
Timmy and Adam both were picked for the Soccer team, they had found a new
love not connected with camping.  Soccer was their world whenever they were
not studying or attending Boy Scout meetings.  In three months, Timmy would
be 13 and he would be going to the Boy Scout Jamboree along with his troop,
it would be the first time he would be away from his parents, he was not
worried, Adam would be with him.  The two boys looked increasingly like
brothers as they grew up.  Adam's hair was light brown but other than that,
they were the same height with a thin muscular build common in Soccer
players.  They were always wearing each other's clothes.

Timmy's father sits on the bed in his sons room, draped over his legs is
Timmy's suit, he looks around the room at all the awards and trophy's on
the shelves and on the walls wondering what could have caused Timmy to do
this?  He stares at the dark suit in his lap and tears begin to fall
steadily from his eyes, at this moment he wants to die too, he's angry he
didn't protect his child better, his son Timmy.  Standing he wipes his
eyes, walking out of the room he pulls the door closed.  Softly he walks to
his room where his wife sits on their bed her tears of loss very real and
utterly heartbreaking.

Timmy writes home to his parent's from the Jamboree.

'Dear Mom and Dad:

I miss you.  We built a teepee with trees we cut down from the woods.
Tonight we will sit in the Teepee and hold council.  Adam and I have earned
another badge, being here is so much fun.  I love you, see you on Saturday,
and don't forget to pick me up at 1pm.

	Love Timmy.'

The second night of the Jamboree Timmy and Adam lay in their tent late at
night talking about soccer.  Timmy tells Adam he has a secret and he makes
Adam swear he will not ever tell anyone.  Adam swears, Timmy tells Adam
that he knows how to masturbate.  Adam giggles and replies so does he.
They talk a while longer before falling asleep.  In the morning, as Adam is
climbing over Timmy to get out of the tent he put his hand on the front of
Timmy's pants, Timmy looks at him and grabs him in a bear hug before
letting him go.  Saturday at 1pm, Timmy's parent's wait for the arrival of
the bus as soon as the bus pulls in and the boys unload Timmy hugs his
mother and father's neck reminding them he loves them more than anything in
the whole wide world.


					The Fort -

Psychologist and Psychiatrist have voiced some basic assumptions, one of
those being that at one time or another boys become curious about other
boys, what dictates how far they go with their curiosity hasn't been
sufficiently studied to make any qualified assumptions.

Timmy and Adam took new interest in their fort.  It was big enough for
probably four guys their age, not that it mattered the fort was for them
only.  Over time they brought up sleeping bags and other things so they
would have a comfortable place to hang out.  They spent a lot of time
sitting beside each other reading comics, playing game boys, and talking
about school.  Something that would change their lives happened on a Friday
night.  Adam's parents were out of town and he was staying the next two
weeks with Timmy.  Friday night Timmy's parents went out to eat buying the
boys a pizza to take up to their fort, they were camping out once again.
They ate, drank cokes, talked sports and Boy Scout stuff before turning the
light off.  Timmy lay on his back next to Adam.  Adam turned on his side
pretending he was asleep and let his hand fall against Timmy's stomach.
Timmy did not move, he was pretending to be asleep too.  After five
minutes, Adam moved again this time his hand rested on the front of Timmy's
shorts.  Timmy did not move, he was not sure he was even breathing.  All he
knew at that moment was that he had never felt anything as wonderful as the
warmth of Adam's hand on the front of his pants.  Almost ten minutes passed
before Adam began to move his fingers around slowly.  Timmy reached over
and touched Adams hair, they whispered to each other in the dark, before
the night was over the boys had used their hands to please each other.
What they both realized was that the bond they had always had between them
was growing rapidly, very rapidly.

					Timmy's Girlfriend -

Timmy met Dinah at school during a dance they were both fifteen.  He had
the best time of his life dancing the entire night.  Not once did he look
around the room, if he had he would have seen the look of devastation on
Adam's face.  Over the next few weeks, Dinah and Timmy became very close.
Timmy and Adam were still the best of friends, but Adam knew this was
something he had no control over.  Dinah's mother was a single parent
raising two kids, Dinah 15 and her brother Landon 17.  Dinah and her family
did not have all the nice things that Timmy had he was aware of that and
went out of his way to make sure he never made Dinah feel bad.

A friend on the soccer team invited the two of them to a hayride, Adam was
invited too, but he decided not to go.  Saturday evening around seven the
hayride took off around Matthew's property, the ride was expected to last
about half an hour and then the kids were going to have a party at the
house there were six couples in all.  The Hayride was great and soon the
boys and girls paired up unsupervised outside.  Dinah had been with a boy
before and was quick to show Timmy what to do, Timmy became very afraid as
Dinah placed his hand on her clothed breast, he drew his hand back and told
her that it was not proper for him to do that unless they were going to be
married.  She laughed at him and asked if he was serious, he said he was.
She didn't say anything for a few minutes, she lifted his hand and they
walked hand in hand to the house, Dinah stood beside Timmy for a while
before being drawn to a few of the other girls, he heard them laugh and
became self-conscious.  He felt very uncomfortable and as soon as he could,
he made excuses to leave. When Timmy got home, he said good night to his
parents and ran to his fort, he knew that Adam was in the fort.  He climbed
the ladder and poked his head in Adam was reading a comic by flashlight.
He looked up then looked back at his comic.  Timmy crawled in, removed his
shoes, and lay down.  Adam did not even look over at Timmy.  Timmy was
trying to tell Adam what happened, Adam put his book down and looked over
at Timmy, that was all it took for Timmy to break down and cry.  Adam put
his arms around Timmy and held him unsure what to say or do, Timmy told
Adam the entire story.  When he finished Adam gently wiped Timmy's eyes
with his fingers and whispered that he loved Timmy so it did not matter
what Dinah said.

Timmy looked at Adam, "I love you too you are my best friend in the entire
world."

Timmy lay back in the dark, Adam rested his head on Timmy's chest, and they
talked, Timmy's fingers moving in Adam's hair, Adam gently touching Timmy's
clothed body.  That night the boys brought each other pleasure.
Unbeknownst to the other both boys worried about what their actions meant
to their futures.  The next couple of weeks filled the boys with a lot of
tension, Adam and Timmy sought each other out constantly, and at school,
they were inseparable.  Timmy knew that Dinah had told a few of her friends
what he had said, one of his friends on the soccer team laughed and told
him he better wake up.  Adam heard the conversation and said, he admired
Timmy for standing up for himself the guy replied with yeah cause your
probably queer for him.  Adam punched the kid in the mouth Timmy broke it
up quickly.  Adam was suspended for three days for fighting.  Timmy felt
like his heart was breaking worrying about what was happening at school and
what Adam's parents were going to say when he told them.  After school the
two boys met up in the fort, Timmy pulled Adam in his arms and kissed him
on the lips, Adam responded willingly, he told Timmy that he meant
everything to him.  Timmy made Adam swear there would be no more fighting,
Adam swore.  Timmy held Adam for a long time before moving down his body
and making love to him, he knew what he was doing was right, he knew
because of the way he felt being with Adam.  Adam layback exhausted and
asked Timmy to hold him.  Timmy moaned under Adam's touch and the two
bare-chested boys lay in the dark, falling deeper in love with each other
than even their fifteen year old, minds could comprehend.

Adam's parents were upset with his suspension and grounded him for a week,
and that meant no contact with Timmy.  Timmy died each day, he would sit up
in the fort and worry about Adam and how he was doing often, as not he
would end up crying out of the loneliness he felt.  On Sunday at church was
the first time the boys had seen each other in six days, Adam looked at
Timmy and his eyes watered.  Timmy smiled and winked looking around he
mouthed I love you he was not aware his father was watching him.  When he
looked up at his father his face turned a bright crimson, his father was
quick to place his hand on Timmy's shoulder.  After Sunday dinner Timmy
changed clothes and prepared to go to his fort, his father asked him to
have a private talk and that stopped him short.  Timmy became instantly
nervous as he nodded his head.  They walked to his father's office and
closed the door.  Father and son sat side by side on the sofa.

Timmy's father put his arm around Timmy and began to talk.  "I love you
more than anything in this world, no matter what you do or where you go in
life the one thing you can count on is my love."

Timmy looked in his father's eyes, "I love you too so much."

His father hugged him tightly then gently let him go, "Timmy tell me about
you and Adam?"

Timmy's eyes remained focused on the coffee table, "we're best friends in
the world."

Timmy's father smoothed the boy's hair with his fingers, "there's more
isn't there?"

Nodding his head, Timmy spoke slowly when he finished he had told his
father everything about Dinah, Adam and being in love with all his heart.

His father's eyes filled with tears as he took in everything he had
learned, he knew before the conversation what he would hear but secretly he
hoped he was wrong.  Now that he was not he had to protect his son no
matter what. "Timmy, I love you and for now what we have talked about is
between just you and me, I'll talk to your mother myself very soon.
Promise me one thing, you will not do anything that is unsafe."

Timmy looked in his father's eyes and began to cry, his heart was breaking
he felt he was letting his father down.  He told him through tears that he
didn't know he would not like girls or that he would fall in love with
Adam, he loved his dad and didn't want him to be ashamed.

Timmy's father tilted the boy's tear streaked face back and kissed his
forehead, "I have never and will never be ashamed of you, you are the joy
of my life, and I love you no matter what, always remember that."

Timmy hugged his father for dear life they sat in silence for close to an
hour before the sound of his mother's voice told him Adam was here.

He hugged his father quickly, "I love you Dad."  They walked out of the
office together. Adam saw Timmy's face and knew something was up.  He
looked at Timmy's father who smiled at Adam, "you boy's be careful in that
fort."

"Yes sir."  Adam replied

"Yes sir."  Timmy echoed.

The boys walked silently to the fort climbing the tree and sitting in the
dark before a word was spoken.  Timmy told Adam what he had told his
father.

Adam's breath caught, he looked at Timmy, "I love you so much that it makes
me cry all the time."

Timmy pulled Adam in his arms and told him they have each other so
everything would be all right.  Adam loved having Timmy's arms hold him
tight.  He didn't say anything to Timmy but he would tell his parent's
tonight that he was gay.  He knew his father and mother would probably go
nuts but he loved Timmy too much not to tell them.

During dinner at Adam's house, he looked at his parent's and began to tell
them about him and Timmy.  He began to cry and that alarmed his mother, she
went around the table and hugged him, he finally got out the fact that he
was gay.  His father's eyes never left his face his mother began to cry.
Adam ran to his room and lay on his bed heartbroken, feeling his parent's
didn't love him anymore.  His phone rang, he knew it would be Timmy but he
could not answer it.  Adam had fallen asleep and was awakened by his
parents.

They sat beside him on the bed his father was the first to speak.  "Adam we
love you, we never even suspected anything like this about you.  We will
learn to deal with this please just give us some time.  But remember we
love you and nothing can change that, do you understand."

Adam looked at his mother, she hugged him, and his father put his hand on
Adam's back and told him again, "We love you."

Around 11pm Adam's phone rang it was Timmy, he sounded frantic, a
combination of hormones and immaturity made him cry.  "I was scared
something happened to you."

Adam was in tears now, "I told my parent's about us."  There was a long
silence between the two boys.  Timmy talked about soccer practice after
school and then meeting in the fort.

Adam said goodnight, "I really love you a lot."

Timmy sniffled, "I love you Adam, I really do."

Timmy's father straightened his tie in the mirror he hated wearing dark
suits during the summer.  His wife stood next to him her eyes red and
swollen.  Looping the tie through he straightened the knot then picked up
his wife's hand.  Thirty minutes later, they pulled up outside of the
funeral home where their only son lay in a coffin.  Entering the building,
they were escorted to a room.  Walking inside they both could see Timmy's
profile.  As they walked up to the coffin both parent's broke into tears
sitting in chairs directly in front of the coffin they held each other
knowing comfort was not possible at this moment.

In the morning Timmy and Adam met out front of the school, they walked out
to the track and sat up in the bleachers.

Timmy looked at Adam, "I miss you all the time."

Adam, smiled, "me too, all the time."

Timmy kept looking at Adam and Adam asked him why, he said, "you are
awesome."

Adam smiled, "so are you."

The bell ringing caught them unaware and they had to run to get to first
period class.  In their seats across from each other they felt safe once
again and happy with life.

It took several months for both boy's parents to come to grips with the
news about their sons, it had not been something either family had ever
considered, the reality was these were their sons and they loved them.

Adam and Timmy were becoming closer, on the outside what one saw was the
best of friends on the inside was two soon to be 16 year old boys very much
in love with each other and looking toward a bright future together.

Timmy's parents bought him a used Volkswagen for his birthday, he was awe
struck when he saw the black bug parked in the drive way with a red bow on
top, he looked at his parents and fought to keep from crying.  On the back
window, his father had placed a soccer sticker for Timmy.  He hugged them
both then him and his dad sat in the car going over what everything did and
how it worked.  Timmy and his dad took the car around the block, his father
made him promise to never drink or do drugs and drive and also to never let
anyone else, then he changed his mind and said anyone other than Adam drive
the car.

Timmy looked over at his father, "I love you so much."

His father nodded his head, "I love you sport."

Timmy drove back to the house and asked his mother to go for a ride, she
smiled and followed him to the car, as he was backing out he looked at his
mother, "I love you very much, thank you."

She smiled.  Timmy took his mom to the Sonic and bought her a soda they
talked about the car and then returned home.  Timmy left to see Adam.

Adam ran outside as soon as he saw Timmy pull up.  He smiled.  He had a
gift in his hand.  He sat in the passenger seat and handed the gift to
Timmy, Happy Birthday.  Timmy read the card Adam had signed it 'with all my
love.'  Inside the box was a new sports watch Timmy had wanted, he looked
at Adam and could not speak, he smiled, "Adam never stop loving me, promise
me that."

Adam nodded his head, "I swear it."

A month later, they celebrated Adam's sixteenth birthday.  His parents
bought him a used Toyota Celica, now they both had transportation one was
always riding with the other.  The first time Timmy saw Adam's car instead
of being happy he was afraid, he worried that Adam would no longer need him
now that he had his own car, he could go anywhere he wanted with anyone and
that fear was overpowering.  Timmy asked Adam to go eat with him they went
to the drive in and talked in between mouthful.

Timmy told Adam exactly what he was afraid of, Adam looked at him.  "Timmy
I would die without you in my life, I mean it, I never want to love anyone
but you forever."

Timmy was getting ready to put his hand on Adam's leg when a soccer
teammate walked up to the car.  The three boys talked endlessly about
soccer and getting a scholarship to college, no one quite sure where they
wanted to attend school.  Timmy said he wanted to stay local, maybe get an
apartment.

Adam smiled, "great we could share and I could attend locally and save a
lot of money."

It was soon just the two of them once more.

Timmy reached over and touched Adam's leg, "I love you."

Adam smiled, "Timmy I don't care if people know that I'm gay, all I care
about is loving and protecting you."

Timmy looked at Adam, "I don't know what to say, I haven't thought that
through yet, I know I'd kill anyone that touched you, I would."

Adam nodded his head.

Timmy thought about what Adam had said.  He was worried about more than he
should at 16.  He worried what people at school would say, he was also
worried about Adam and how he could protect him at school if people found
out and finally he was so in love with Adam it was hard for him to not be
Jealous, he knew better but he couldn't help himself.

Timmy told Adam that he was worried and explained it all to him.

Adam looked at Timmy, his eyes watered, "I couldn't love anyone else, I
don't care who they are or what they look like.  It doesn't matter to me
how old we are I know that you and I will always have each other."

Timmy hurriedly looked away and then the shear weight of the situation
caused him to cry, he loved Adam so much.  The two boys held onto each
other, whispering promises and words of love.  They ended up laughing at
all their tears, Timmy joked that the guys on the team would think they
were two sissies crying like that.

Adam reached out touching the side of Timmy's face, "What anyone does or
says doesn't matter as long as we've got each other."

Timmy kissed Adam gently, "You're right."

That evening Timmy talked with his parents, he told them about his fears of
people at school finding out.  His mother and father both agreed it would
be better to confront the issue when it arose but that it would serve no
purpose to bring it up and make it an issue.

Timmy hugged his parents then went to his room he called Adam.  "Next time
someone ask me if I'm gay I'm going to tell them yes, I'm not going to hide
how much I love you or feel ashamed because I'm gay."

Adam was silent for a few seconds, "It's going to be okay we have a lot of
friends, some of them will understand."

Timmy's father stands looking down at his son, Timmy's eyes closed, his
hair perfect, his skin pale.  Gently he reaches out and touches the side of
Timmy's face telling him how much he means and telling him how much he
misses him.  Then he kneels and begins to pray asking God to watch over his
only child to love and keep him, he tells God that Timmy was a good boy.

Two months had passed since Timmy and Adam had the conversation about their
sexuality and telling other people.  The Soccer Team was scheduled to
compete in the State finals, which meant the team would travel almost five
hundred miles they would be staying in a hotel for three days, two boys to
a room.  Timmy and Adam were quick to insure they roomed together.  During
the bus, trip the conversation on the bus turned to girls and dating.  Boys
being boys they were asking each other some personal questions.  Timmy and
Adam tried to avoid being caught up in the conversation.  One of Timmy's
friends and a teammate joking said he wishes he was like Timmy and had a
bitch like Adam to take care of his needs.  Timmy was out of the seat
before the boy had gotten out the last syllable.  Timmy jerked him out of
his seat and told him if he ever said another word about Adam, he would
wipe the streets with his dumb ass.  The kid backed down quickly.  It
didn't matter the team knew that there was more to Timmy and Adam then just
friends.

Someone in the back of the bus asked, "you two guys queer."

Adam, without looking calmly said, "No we're gay."  At that moment you
could have heard a pin drop.

The coach stood up, "did I understand you right, you two boys are faggots."

Timmy looked at the coach, "no sir, we're gay, not faggots."

The coach nodded his head, "I don't care what the hell you call it, it's a
sin and you sure the hell aren't going to play on this team."

Timmy looked at Adam.  A few of the guys questioned the coach but were soon
quieted by heckles that they might be queer too.

The bus was pretty quite the remainder of the ride.  After the bus arrived
at the hotel the coach attempted to harass Timmy and Adam, Timmy called his
father and told him what had happened.  Within the hour, the school had
notified the coach that Timmy and Adam would play.  The coach was deadest
against it but gave in. During the game, those that supported Timmy and
Adam included them in plays, those that didn't did everything to keep them
from playing including giving up shots to the other team, when the night
was over the team lost 6 to 1.  As they were walking off the field one of
Timmy's teammates blamed their loss on the fucking faggots.  Timmy punched
him in the mouth, it was not long before Timmy and Adam where standing up
to six guys the coach stood on the outside long enough to make sure that
Timmy and Adam got their licks.  Timmy and Adam fought hard and gave as
good, or better than they got, finally the coach broke it up and blamed the
entire incident on Timmy.

"You can't take offense every time someone says something you don't like."

Adam, looked at the coach, "we'll see what a lawyer has to say about that
and your harassment."

The coach looked at the boys, "fuck you faggots."

Timmy and Adam flew home alone their parents were at the airport to pick
them up.  Timmy and Adams parents hired an attorney and by the end of the
month, the school grudgingly terminated the coach due to misconduct. The
situation at school got worse for the boys, now everyone knew about their
sexuality polarizing the student body into those on the boys side and those
on the side of homosexuality being a sin. The boy's parents offered to send
them to an alternative school but the boy's refused saying they only had
another year and a half before graduation and they believed the furor would
die down.  It didn't, as the next few months moved forward the fights
increased to the point where Timmy refused to leave Adam's side, it was at
that point that all hell broke lose.  A local minister and his congregation
started picketing the school with signs that made it very clear where they
stood on the issue of homosexuality.  The ACLU got involved due to the news
coverage and was representing the boy's rights.

Quietly and without further legal wrangling Timmy and Adam moved to a
school in another county, one with a more liberal student body.  The first
week at the new school, both boys felt the difference.  The soccer team was
pleased to have them and it was not long before they were back into their
old routine.  At home the phone number was changed to unlisted, the boys
received hate calls, threats and tons of mail for and against what they
believed.  During this time, Adam had become increasingly quite.

Timmy took Adam on a camping trip he was worried sick about Adam.  Timmy
sat up their campsite while Adam looked around, uninterested in what was
happening.  Timmy fixed dinner for them, after dark, they crawled into the
tent.  Timmy pulled Adam in his arms and told him what he felt and how
afraid he was.  Adam's body began to shake and he fell apart, he cried
until he fell asleep from exhaustion.  Timmy watched Adam sleep all night,
his eyes never left Adam's face, he studied the line of his jaw, the way
his brown eyebrows moved as he slept, he found himself moving his fingers
through Adam's hair praying that Adam would be all right.

Adam woke and looked up at Timmy, he felt tears in his eyes. "Timmy, I'm
sorry but I've been so afraid something would happen to you it was making
me crazy.  Why would people hate us so much just because we love each other
it doesn't make sense?"

"Adam, people are ignorant, it makes them feel good to have someone to put
down, and if it wasn't us it would be someone else.  Love doesn't mean
anything to those people all they see is the hate they've built into their
religious beliefs, hate replaces Jesus in their teachings, it gives them a
purpose."

Adam snuggled closer to Timmy, "don't let me go."

"You never have to worry about that."  Timmy gently kissed Adam and told
him to go back to sleep.

Adam reached up running his fingers through Timmy's hair, "I love you with
all my heart."

"I love you too you're my baby."

Adam smiled.

The camping trip was what the boys needed to get some normalcy back into
their lives.  Returning home things were as they had been before all the
uproar.  The night of Timmy's seventeenth birthday, Adam rented a room at
the beach for the weekend it was one of his surprises for Timmy.  After
school, the boys went home and ate.  Timmy's parents had a cake for him and
gave him a beautiful watch engraved on the back it read, 'we are proud of
you and love you.'  He hugged them before leaving to go meet Adam.

Adam was all secretive making Timmy crazy.  When they pulled up to the
hotel, Timmy looked over at Adam, Adam smiled, "follow me."  After checking
in the boys went up to the 10th floor, the room was beautiful.  They
hurriedly changed and ran down to the pool and played around until they
were exhausted then returned to their room, ordered room service and
watched television.  Around 9pm, Adam went to the bathroom and came back
with a small gift-wrapped box he looked at Timmy.

"I want you to always remember how much you are loved."

He opened the box and pulled out a gold wedding band placing it on Timmy's
finger.  Timmy looked at the band and then at Adam, he did not know what to
say.

He pulled Adam in his arms "God I love you so much, more than you'll ever
know."

Adam kissed him deeply, "I have one other gift, and this gift means we are
forever."

Timmy nodded.

Adam lay back and asked Timmy to make love to him.  Timmy looked at Adam
afraid he would hurt him Adam needed this expression of love from Timmy.
Timmy was gentle but it still hurt Adam, slowly they both became
comfortable and Timmy took Adam whispering to him over and over that he
would always belong to him, always.

Exhausted the boys lay beside each other, Timmy lay on his side looking at
Adam, his fingers gently caressing the side of Adam's face, "you all
right."

Adam looked at Timmy, his eyes brimming with tears, "yeah, I love you so
much, all I want for us is to have a good life together not having to worry
about if people know we're together or not."

Timmy continued to stroke Adam's face, "next year we'll be in college, it
gets easier and I'll never let anyone hurt you, never."

Adam gently pulled Timmy's lips to his and they kissed their eyes looking
deep into the other's soul.

Timmy's father rises and sits beside his wife his eyes never leaving his
son's profile.  Timmy's mother rises, she walks slowly to the coffin
cradling her only child. Her fingers move gently over the cool skin of his
face as she questions him, "why would you kill yourself, you had everything
to live for?"  Tear's fall from her eyes glistening off the front of his
dark blue jacket gently her fingers smooth his hair, she leans forward
kissing his forehead, "how do we go on without you?"  As she turns her
husband stands, coming to her side they look down at their son.  Their
hands caressing the shell that rested in front of them.  Turning slowly,
they leave the room knowing that tomorrow they would see him one last time
in this life.

Waking early the next morning, Timmy slips out of bed dressing hurriedly he
leaves the room, Adam's car keys in his hand.  He drives downtown finding a
jewelry store where he buys Adam a gold wedding band.  Returning to the
hotel, Adam is still sleeping.  Timmy orders breakfast then changes into
shorts and flip-flops.  When room service arrives, he pulls the cart in,
Adam already waking, sees the cart and smiles.  He puts his arms out and
Timmy hurries over to him, they hold each other then Timmy urges Adam to
sit up and brings him breakfast the two boys eat and talk non stop, they
are deep in conversation about a recent soccer match when the topic turns
to the beach.  Fed and clean the boy's head down to the beach, their
youthful bodies, light colored hair and overall appearance makes one take a
second look. The morning is early and not many people have arrived at the
beach, a few are running, riding bikes or walking along looking for shells.

Timmy looks at Adam, "what do you see in our future."

Adam smiles, "I see you and me as old men after a hundred years together,
your head laying in my lap as I read to you or we listen to music
together."

Timmy nods his head, Adam's words had really pulled at his heart, he
smiled.  "How do you know you'll always be happy with just me?"

Adam looked at Timmy, "my heart tells me, my body tells me.  You're a part
of me, without you I couldn't go on living."

Timmy stopped looking out to sea then sat down.  He called Adam over.  Adam
sat close their legs touching.  Timmy pulled the ring from his pocket he
lifted Adam's hand and slipped the ring over his finger.  "Adam, I'll love
you forever, it doesn't matter what happens in the future, I know without a
doubt I'll always love you."

Adam stared at the ring, he hung his head Timmy saw the tears falling from
Adam's eyes, gently he stroked the back of Adam's head, "I love you."
Adam's head nodded slightly.  The boys sat in silence until Adam's tear
streaked face looked up with a smile, "You are my life."

Adam stood up giving his hand to Timmy they brushed the sand off each other
and continued walking.  Well after five, the boys returned to their room,
their bodies lobster red from a day in the sun, exhausted the boys
hurriedly ate then crawled into bed watching movies and holding each other
throughout the night.  The following morning after breakfast they checked
out and returned home, each of them sporting a sign of their commitment to
one another.

The door bell rings at Adam's house, his mother looks out to see a State
Trooper, she calls out for her husband, he rushes to her side opening the
door, with the door open they see the Chaplain standing beside the Trooper,
Adam's mother faints.  The Trooper opens the door helping Adam's father
carry his wife to the sofa.  The chaplain calls 911.

Timmy was already making plans for Adam's seventeenth birthday.  He has
saved every dollar and with his savings, he had enough money for the two of
them to drive to Western Sports a sport resort that Adam was always talking
about visiting.  At the resort, you had the chance to play sports with
professional players.  The place was fantastic it overlooked the ocean
there were beaches and places to hike.  Timmy told his parent's about his
plans, they were happy for him and offered to advance him funds if he
needed them, after hugging them, he told them he had saved enough.

The ambulance arrived at Adam's house, after the EMT examined his mother
they left, sitting in the living room were Adam's parents, the Trooper and
the Police Chaplain.  Adam had been missing since the night Timmy killed
himself, his parent's were frantic trying to find out where he was, they
knew he would be devastated by Timmy's death.

The Trooper looked around the room then at Adam's parent's "Adam has been
found."

Adam's mother began to cry, his father sighed.

"As near as we can tell Adam died the same night as the other boy."

Adam's father began to cry, he shook his head no.  His wife put her arms
around him consoling each other with tears.  The Chaplain explained to them
that they would need Adam's dental records.  Adam's mother stood almost
mechanically walking to the kitchen she pulled a card off the refrigerator
it was Adam's scheduled dentist appointment.  She handed it to the
Chaplain.  The Trooper rose offering his condolences and following behind
the Chaplain he left the house.  Closing the door Adam's father pulled his
wife in his arms together in their sorrow.

Timmy was excited as the reservation clerk gave him his reservation number.
He was so excited over the next week Adam constantly asked him what he was
up to.  The morning of Adam's birthday, Timmy showed up at his house and
got him to pack, Timmy had already told Adams parents what he was doing.
Adam kissed his parent's as he headed out the door with Timmy.

The drive was three hours, the boys listened to music, and talked the
entire trip, when Timmy's car pulled up to the resort Adam, looked over at
Timmy, "you're kidding."

Timmy smiled, "Happy Birthday."

Adam's face broke into the biggest grin, "Oh my God, this is great."

Timmy laughed.  After checking in, they took a tour of the facility.  They
were scheduled to play soccer with a couple major league teams players that
afternoon.  With their tour complete, they returned to their room and got
ready for their first big game.

Adam looked over at Timmy, "This is great, but just being with you is
everything."

Timmy smiled, "I love you but I'm still not going to let you win."

The boys checked out the sports arena before showing up on the field about
fifteen minutes early.  Standing on the field also waiting were the members
of their old high school soccer team the shock was apparent.

Adam looked at Timmy, "let's go, they aren't worth it."

Timmy's face took on an almost angelic look, "this is your birthday, and
they are not going to ruin it for you."

Several major league players came out on the field and introduced them
selves, then they had the boys introduce themselves too.  One of the high
school boys pointed out quickly that they would not be playing with the two
faggots.  The professional players asked the boy what that had to do with
how well someone played soccer he shrugged his shoulder.  He looked at the
other boys telling them they could either play or forfeit and leave the
resort.  They decided to play.  The soccer game turned into more a game of
football then anything.  However, when all was said and done two of the
high school, players were thrown out of the resort, and the professional
players apologized to Adam and Timmy for the actions of the other guys.
All seven of the professional players stayed on the field an extra hour
with Timmy and Adam giving them tips on playing and complimenting them on
their style and ability in the game.  Walking off the field after shaking
everyone's hand and getting autographed shirts Adam was on top of the
world, Timmy's face beamed with a huge smile, Adam was happy.  Timmy and
Adam went to their room and showered.

Timmy looked at Adam, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

Adam smiled, "I had a great time, they made themselves look like fools."

Timmy sat on the bed after his shower, his back against the headboard.
Adam came in the room and laid his head against Timmy's chest they talked.
Timmy told Adam that he meant the world to him and whatever made him happy
he would do.

Adam looked up at him, "Never stop loving me."

Timmy looked at Adam, straightening his hair with his fingers, "I never
will."

Timmy had arranged a special dinner for Adam, the server brought out Adam's
birthday cake and everyone in the restaurant sang happy birthday, then
Timmy gave Adam, a gift, he looked at Timmy, "More?"  Timmy smiled.  Adam
tore the box open finding a new CD player for his car, he smiled at Timmy,
and mouthed, "I love you."

The next two days went great every game they played were with team members
they did not know.  The techniques they were learning from the professional
players on the team would make their abilities on their high school team
much better.  With one day left at the resort they decided to go hiking and
see the sites before they had to leave the following afternoon.  Timmy
drove over to an area the hotel recommended for hiking.  As soon as they
pulled up they sat in the car for a minute and just looked out over the
ocean it was beautiful.  They hiked for an hour up one cliff and down
another before returning to the top and sitting near the edge looking at
the rocks below and the ocean rumbling in.  The sun was setting and the
scene was beautiful.  As the sun set Timmy stood up and helped Adam to his
feet.  Behind them two people yelled dirty faggots, Timmy turned there were
five guys from the high school soccer team standing there.  Timmy told them
to fuck off.  One of the guys pushed Adam and Timmy instinctively punched
him in the face.  All hell broke loose two guys held Adam while three guys
were beating Timmy severely, Adam was yelling for them to stop.  Timmy lay
in the dirt not moving the boys looked at each other then jerked Timmy to
his feet he could barely stand, they literally drug him to the edge of the
cliff.  The other two boys brought Adam next to Timmy. Adam was trying to
reach out for Timmy but the boys held him just out of reach.  The boy's let
Timmy go, he stood swaying unsteady on his feet.

Adam was calling out to him, Timmy looked up "I love you."

One of the boys took his foot and kicked Timmy, he fell back, Adam grabbed
for him, and two of them came to rest 80 feet below on a large wave swept
boulder sticking out of the ocean.

The boys looked at each other in disbelief.  Then scoured the area making
sure they had not left anything that would point to them.  Piling in their
car they returned to the resort, they sat up in their hotel room and swore
to one another that what they had done was what God would have wanted, one
boy even pointed out that the minister and the coach had told them the only
good faggot is a dead faggot.  They made a pack with each other never to
tell a sole, then they prayed before going on as if they had done nothing
wrong.

Early the next morning, a young couple spotted a body on the rocks below
and called the police.  By afternoon the police had shown up at the resort,
Timmy's body had been found at the bottom of the cliff an apparent suicide.
Everyone that had been in contact with the boys during their stay was
interviewed.  The boys that had killed them were interviewed and told the
police that Timmy was a fag and had seemed very unstable.  The professional
players that had met Timmy and Adam gave a much different story to the cops
including the run in with the other boys.  The cops not wanting to deal
with the queer issue confirmed the scene showed no struggle and it was
ruled a suicide unless the Coroner came up with another cause of death.
The search for Adam was on no one knew what happened to him, other than the
boys that murdered him.  His body had been swept out to sea.

Around 2pm, a police cruiser along with a chaplain showed up at Timmy's
parents house, his mother answered the door.  She quickly invited the
police in.  The officer asked her if she could contact her husband, she
looked at them nervously but did as asked.  Within half an hour, the two
parents sat on the sofa in the living room looking at the two police
officers across from them.  The police officer began to tell them what they
knew so far, at first, they stared at the police then Timmy's mother began
to cry, Timmy's dad continued to stare.  The chaplain offered words of
comfort but there would never be comfort in this house again.  Timmy's dad
stood almost mechanically and showed the officers out of the house, he
returned to his wife pulling her in his arms and they fell apart.  It was
dark outside before they let each other go, stood up, and turned some
lights on.  Timmy's dad called Adam's house, Adam's parents cried on the
phone at the news, becoming concerned about Adam.  Timmy's father thought
about where Timmy was and he became excited, he had to make sure his only
son was all right even though he was dead.  He began calling everyone
unsuccessfully finally he called his attorney, who before midnight set up a
meeting at the Coroner's office in the morning to view Timmy's body before
releasing him to the undertaker.  Timmy's father had been warned it would
not be advisable to view Timmy before the undertaker had a chance to
prepare him.  Timmy's father was adamant he would see his son.

At 7am, Timmy's parents accompanied by their attorney along with a hastily
signed court order rang the bell at the Coroner's office.  Fifteen minutes
later the parents and the attorney stood in front of a sheet covered body
in a glass room with the curtains pulled.  Timmy's father pulled back the
sheet slowly.  Timmy's face was swollen and bruised, he still had crusted
blood near his nose, and his lip was split.  Instinctively his father went
to smooth Timmy's hair he saw the large indentation in Timmy's skull.

He stood looking at his son and cried, "I love you so much how could you do
this?"

Timmy's mother pulled the sheet back she almost fainted and had to be
carried out of the room by her husband and the attorney.  What she had seen
was that Timmy's body covered in cuts and bruises.  The Coroner's report
stated the majority of his injuries came from the fall but how he sustained
the remaining, bruises could not be determined.  In addition, even though
no note was found he listed the cause of death as suicide.

Adam's parents called Timmy's parents letting them know Adam had been
found.  Timmy's father cried as he heard the news.  It isn't possible that
both boys would kill themselves there had been no signs whatsoever.  Once
more Timmy's father arranged with the Attorney for Adam's father to view
his son.  That morning it was only the two boys' fathers.  They had been
strongly encouraged not to view the body due to the amount of time it had
been in the water.  Once more Timmy's father stood where he had when
viewing his son just a few days before, under the sheet this time was the
boy his son had loved so much and a boy he had come to care for as a member
of their family.

Adam's father slowly pulled back the sheet.  He knew it was Adam but only
because he had been his father for seventeen years.  He cried.  Timmy's dad
pulled the sheet all the down the bruising was present on his body too.
The two men left together their only children dead and they had no idea
why.

Friday morning at 11am, two closed white coffins sat in front of a lectern
where the minister would speak, one covered in yellow roses the other in
red, both where just children 17 years old when they died.  The Chapel
filled up as family and friends came to pay their last respects still
shocked by the apparent double suicide.  By 2pm, a small backhoe was
filling in the freshly dug graves, pulling tons of dirt on the coffins,
never to be seen again.

Adam's family did not understand but over the next few months, they
accepted their son's suicide.

Timmy's father would not accept it, he hired a private detective to
investigate the records he had received from the sheriff's office were
inconclusive.

Bill McGrevin was the private investigator.  He was a father of three and
had been an investigator for five years.  He took on the new role once he
retired from the New York City Police Department.  Bill met with Timmy's
parents he outlined the cost involved and a projected time.  Timmy's father
told Bill all of Timmy's college money was available and if necessary he
would sell everything they owned but he would not rest until he knew for
sure.  Bill shook hands and left, flying to the resort that afternoon.

Bill's first visit was the resort.  He spent time talking with the players
the boy's met that day.  He learned about the dispute between the boys on
the team and Timmy and Adam.  He collected the boy's belonging taking them
back to this hotel room.  The first box he opened had a partially wrapped
present in it, a CD player.  He opened the card addressed to Adam, inside
Timmy had written.  I love you so much I hope this is the best Birthday
ever.  You and I have a whole life together I cannot wait for college.
Bill closed the card placing it back inside the envelope.  He went through
the remaining belongings finding a picture of the two boys in each other's
wallet it was the same picture.  He shook his head, what a senseless thing
to lose two boys so young.  He sat in his room that night eating dinner and
reading over the Coroner's report, he couldn't understand how the numerous
small bruises could have been caused by the fall, unless Timmy's body was
battered around in the ocean which it wasn't.  There were too many ifs
going on in his mind.

He returned to the resort the next morning and after some quick talking he
was able to secure a guest list for the period the boys had stayed at the
resort.  Leaving with his list he went to the place where the boys had
hiked, he took extensive pictures.  He looked around the area where it was
speculated the boys had jumped.  On his hands and knees he studied the
edge, he noticed several dark spots, he returned to his car and secured
some specimen swabs, he placed them in his container.  He was crawling
around farther away and found a part of a button unsure if it had any
significance, he placed it in a specimen container.  Positive there was
nothing else to be found he returned to his room, he wondered if Timmy or
Adam's fingernails had been examined.  He reread the Coroner's report.  No,
neither boy's hands had been bagged or examined other than the perfunctory
examination required by the Coroner.  He quickly jotted down several notes,
he wanted to examine the clothes the boys were wearing when found.  Leaving
in the afternoon, he returned home, driving to the Coroner's office in time
to get the boy's belongings.

Instead of going home, he returned to his office.  He laid the boys clothes
out on clean tables in his office.  With a bright light and magnification,
he began combing every inch.  He noticed that Timmy's shirt had several
tears on the backside the tears were jagged as though the material had been
pulled apart.  He also found blood splatters on the front of Timmy's shirt
where his stomach would have been, why would there be blood on the front in
that area?  He made several notes.  Bill was not one to jump to conclusions
and he felt there had to be an explanation that was reasonable, but he kept
an open mind.

Unsure what he was actually looking for he flew back out to the resort.  It
took a day but he got a diver to take some close ups of the rock formation
where Timmy was found, he showed the diver the original picture and
explained he needed it from the same vantage point but much closer.  The
diver was able to get the pictures Bill needed, he returned home late in
the evening this time actually going to his house to rest. Bill wasn't away
from the office for long by 9am he was going through the pictures he'd
developed, the tear patterns on Timmy's clothes didn't match the way his
body was found lying on the rocks.  Maybe it was just coincidence but
something was starting to be out of whack.  Rereading the statements, he'd
taken from the people the boy's met at the resort he knew the boys didn't
fit the picture of being suicidal.  Then again, he thought maybe they got
in a fight with each other and fell over the cliff fighting.  Without an
examination of the boy's fingernails that would be difficult to determine.
His only option was to interview the boys from the high school that had
stayed at the resort, he did not think he would find anything to add since
they had not been friends of the boys but it was a lead.

The first boy he contacted was Carl Morgan Carl's father was quick to point
out that his son was not speaking with anyone unless ordered to do so by a
judge. He then contact Stewart Williams, his parents were happy to help and
set up the interview for later that day.  Bill arrived at 3pm Stewart would
arrive home at 3:30pm.  Bill met Stewart's parents and waited for Stewart.
Right at 3:30pm Stewart walked in the door, his father told him who Bill
was.  Stewarts face turned a bright shade of red he would not look Bill in
the eye.  Kids nowadays seldom look anyone in the eye.  Stewart sat in
between his parents as Bill asked him questions, he stuttered through his
answers and several Bill had to ask again as Stewart forgot the question or
nodded instead of answering, the recorder couldn't pick up nodding.  When
he was satisfied, he thanked the parents giving them and Stewart a card
just in case they might think of something.

Artie Sweats parents refused to let Bill interview their son.

Roger Davidson's parents also refused.

Tim Matheson was a different story, his parents wanted him interviewed, and
if he did something wrong they wanted him out of the house.  Tim sat alone
looking directly at Bill answering every question his voice had a chill to
it.  His face appeared passive he almost had a smirk on his lips.

Bill got ready to leave, he turned to Tim and asked him a final question,
"Tim are you gay like those two boys were?"

His face turned a hot red, "fuck no, those boys were faggots they're in
hell where they belong."

Tim's father looked at Bill, "no son of mine is queer."

Bill hurriedly thanked them and went to his car.  He thought about his
interview and found Tim's the most interesting, for some reason he knew now
that Timmy and Adam had not killed themselves but he couldn't prove it,
right now it was speculation.

Bill met with Timmy's parents the following afternoon.  He wanted
permission to have Timmy's body exhumed and his fingernails swabbed for
evidence.  They agreed without comment.  It took almost a week to have a
judge sign the order but when signed the coffin was exhumed and taken to
the Coroner's office.  Bill was present for the examination, underneath
Timmy's finger nails they found foreign matter it might be nothing more
than deterioration, but samples were removed and sent out for DNA analysis.
Before the end of the day, Timmy's body was laid to rest for the second
time in a month.  Bill knew if the foreign matter they had taken from
Timmy's finger nails matched Adam's DNA then in all likelihood the boys may
have had a fight and ended up falling over the edge, maybe on purpose maybe
accidentally but that went with them to their grave.  The test would take
two weeks.  During the interim Bill worked over every angle of Timmy's body
lying on the rocks, it was not possible that the damage to his clothing and
the blood spatters could have happened after the fall, it had to happen
before the fall.  On a hunch he removed Adam's clothing from the packaging
once again, this time he looked for damage of a similar nature.  The back
of the shirt Adam was wearing when he died was ripped all a result of the
fall and resulting period spent in the water.  On the front of Adam's
shirt, there were two very similar areas of damage that concerned Bill.  On
Adam's collar there appeared to be blood spatter, Adam had hit the rocks on
his back when he fell the blood spatters if that is what they were had to
have happened prior to his falling.  The likely scenario being either a
broken lip or nose as a result of a fistfight, there could be other
possibilities.  Additionally, the button near where Adam's abdomen would
have been in the shirt was broken.  Bill pulled the partial button he had
recovered at the scene it was not a match.  The test results came back from
the FBI lab.  The matter found under Timmy's fingernails was human tissue,
probably because of scratching or grabbing hold of someone with the
fingernails being imbedded.  The DNA results showed that the tissue did not
belong to Adam.  Bill's mind started turning at a million miles an hour.
Someone out there was involved and knew exactly what happened, it could
still be a double suicide or suicide-murder the important aspect was
someone knew.  Bill started his investigation over.  He contacted the local
police department where the resort was located he talked with the
investigating officer.  During the conversation, the officer asked Bill why
he was so interested in the suicide of two fags.  Bill wrote the comment
off in order to continue to get information from the source, when he
finished he sat back in his chair.  He looked around the room, he knew then
the investigation was completed inadequately and hurriedly because the
victims were gay.  He shook his head and continued his research.

At the end of the first month, he reached two conclusions, the deaths were
not suicide, based on the evidence and the killer was still out there
waiting to be caught.  He flew out to the resort for the fourth time he
interviewed everyone on his list before returning.  He had also hired a
professional photographer to take detailed photos of the area where Timmy
and Adam had fallen and died.  On his return, he paid to have Timmy's car
released to him.  He went over the car with a fine toothcomb, in one of the
notebooks in the backseat he read a note written by Adam.  'If the guys on
the soccer team would just leave us alone things would be fine.  I don't
understand why, we don't bother them.'  Other than the hastily written note
in the back of a notebook, there was nothing of importance in the car.  He
drove it over to Timmy's parents house, Timmy's mother and father were
standing in the driveway when the car pulled up.  The look on their faces
told the story they were hoping that Timmy stepped from the car.  Bill
handed over the keys they walked in the house together.  Bill went over the
evidence he had and the conclusions he had reached, he wanted the family to
authorize him to contact the State Attorney's office and see if the
investigation would be reopened?  They readily agreed.

Bill met with Susan Hanlin the Assistant State Attorney he provided the
evidence he had amassed.

Susan read his report than looked at Bill "this is all circumstantial."

Bill nodded his head, he had known Susan many years, "I've got a feeling
these boys were murdered because they were gay."

Susan looked at him over the report, "what?"

He stood up, "Susan, these boys were murdered.  The Coroner, the police
everyone involved with these boys rushed because the boys were gay.  I've
had cops ask me why I was investigating a crime against two fags, even the
dead deserve justice."

Susan put the report down, "Bill where's the key to this investigation
then."

He smiled, "the boys they knew from their old high school were at the
resort during the same period, somehow I know it's connected."

She nodded, "all right this is all I'm willing to do with what you've
provided, I'll have the boys interviewed from that we'll see where we go."

Bill smiled, "thank you Susan."

She shook her head, "I'm a push over for a New York cop"

He smiled and they shook hands.

Yancy Morgan served as an investigator for the State Attorney's office.
Yancy read through the report Bill had provided, he told Susan he
personally found homosexuality disgusting, but he added the law is the law
and everyone deserves justice.  He arranged individual interviews with the
boys involved.  The first boy he interviewed was, Artie Sweat.  He arranged
for an interrogation room, he planned to intimidate the boy if possible.

He walked in the room and introduced himself.  Sitting with Artie was his
attorney Marion August, she looked at Yancy they had worked together
before.  The court reporter began when Bill asked Artie his name.

He replied "Artie William Sweat, 122 Diamond Street"

"How old are you Artie?"

"17" he replied shifting in his seat.

"Are you gay?"

Arties face turned red, shaking his head at the same time, "Never, faggots
go to hell, our minister says the only good faggot is a dead faggot."

Marion turned to her client and issued instructions.

Yancy began again, "Artie let me tell you what we know from our evidence.
We know that a fight occurred before the boys fell, we know that someone
else was present we have DNA samples of someone at the scene taken from
under the fingernails of the boys."  Yancy abruptly stopped and looked at
Marion.  "Artie, what where you wearing the night the two boys died?"

Artie looked at Marion, she nodded her head, "I was wearing a pair of blue
jeans, my rebooks and a light blue polo shirt."

Yancy nodded his head, "do you still have the clothes you wore that night?"

"Yes Sir."  Artie replied.

He looked at Marion, "I'd like to examine his clothing."

She shook her head no.

Yancy nodded, "I'll have the order in an hour, make sure your client
doesn't get rid of the clothes and I'll be requesting a DNA sample."  She
nodded.  Yancy knew by the way Artie had answered the questions he knew
more than he was letting on.  He returned to the office and asked Susan to
have a judge order all the boys to take DNA testing based on the evidence
so far and to have the boys surrender their clothing from that day.  Susan
looked at Yancy doubting a Judge would be willing.  She talked to Judge
Sara Williams, she explained about the boys the evidence they had and the
fact that she felt the boys may have been murdered because of their
sexuality.  The Judge wrote the order but admonished Susan from asking for
another one on this case without more substantial evidence.

It took some doing but Yancy arranged to have the boy's clothing collected
almost immediately, he feared it would end up disappearing.  He also
arranged for all of them to show up for their DNA samples at the same time.
He watched as the nurse swabbed the insides of their mouths, he noticed
that one of the boys, was near tears, he wrote that down for later use.
There would be almost two weeks before the boys DNA was matched with the
DNA material found under Timmy's fingernails.

Yancy began by inspecting the clothing.  Of course the clothes had been
clean repeated times it was impossible to find anything that had not been
washed out.  Yancy was looking at the last set of clothing belonging to
Carl Morgan when he noticed a button broken on the shirt.  He returned to
this office and pulled out the evidence Bill had provided excited he
returned to the exam room, the buttons were a match now he knew that at the
least Carl Morgan was at the same spot.

He called downstairs and asked for the transcript of his interview with
Carl Morgan. He read through to the question, "Have you ever visited or
been in the area where the two boys supposedly committed suicide?"

His reply, "never I don't like hiking stuff."

The excitement Yancy felt was overpowering.  He still had another week
before the DNA results returned.  He had the shirt photographed along with
the button that had been found by Bill then he turned over all the boy's
clothing to the forensics team.

The FBI report showed that the DNA found under Timmy's fingernails belonged
to Artie Sweat.  He called downstairs for the transcript of his interview
with Artie, he had asked Artie the last time he had had any contact with
the boys, he said it was the first day he was at the resort and that he
didn't play soccer that day because they were on the team.  Although there
was not a clear picture, the pane was beginning to clear up.

Yancy called Susan telling her what he had found.  She could not believe it
she congratulated him, and decided to go for a touchdown.  She issued a
warrant for the arrest of Artie Sweat and Carl Morgan in the murder of Adam
Phillips and Timmy Simons.  Before having the warrants issued, she
contacted both families of the two slain boys and explained that there was
sufficient evidence to suggest foul play in the deaths of their sons.

Artie and Carl were arrested at high school.  Stewart, Roger, and Timmy
watched in utter disbelief as the two boys were handcuffed and lead away.
Their arrest had the intended impact Yancy had hoped. He knew the boys
would be in Juvenile within a couple of hours.

Carl and Artie were separated.  The detective began questioning the boys.
Artie was silent he wanted an attorney.

Carl on the other hand made a statement on tape that sealed his fate, "I
only held Adam."  When the detective questioned him, further he became
upset and asked to speak to his dad before saying anything else.  At that
point, the interrogation ended.  Now without a doubt Yancy knew the two
boys that were listed as suicides there was much more to it.  He called
Susan and read to her the statement Carl had made.  She decided after
hearing the new information to expend more resources on the case.

By 4:30pm, a reporter from the local newspaper showed up at Timmy's parents
house.  He asked if they had heard that two boys had been arrested in the
murder of their son and another boy.  Timmy's father nodded his head, yes.
The reporter asked him if it were true that the boys were murdered because
they were queer.

Timmy's father looked at the man, "the boys were gay, but I'm sure that had
nothing to do with their death, my God I hope not."

The reporter fired another question, have you heard that the original
investigation was rushed because neither the Coroner's office or the
Sheriff wanted to deal with two dead homosexual boys?

Timmy's father looked at the man, his eyes filled with tears and he went
back inside the house.  He sat beside the phone trying to control his
nerves, then he called Adam's father to prepare him for what had just
happened.

Artie and Carl's first appearance was scheduled for 9:30am.  Susan asked
the judge to not allow bail she stated she intended to charge them as
adults.  Carl started to cry, his attorney desperately trying to calm the
boy.  The Judge granted the State's request and the boys were bound over
the county sheriff led away.

Yancy was pleased but he knew there were still possibly three boys out
there with first hand knowledge if not participation in the murder of the
two boys.  He wanted justice and would not settle until everyone involved
answered for their part in the crime.  Yancy decided to interview the boys
again.  He interviewed Stewart Williams first Stewarts parents said an
attorney wasn't necessary since Stewart had not done anything wrong.

Yancy's first question threw Stewart for a loop.  "Artie and Carl have told
us that you pushed Timmy over the cliff."

Stewart shook his head "that's a damn lie, it wasn't me, Tim pushed him
with his foot."

Yancy nodded, "what about Adam?"

I held Adam, "sure we beat them up, but it was to teach them a lesson.  It
was not to hurt anybody.  Tim had called Adam a faggot, and Timmy punched
him in the mouth.  Tim and two other guys beat Timmy up pretty good he
couldn't even stand.  The guys drug him over to the edge they were going to
scare him, instead Tim pushed him off the cliff with his foot.  Adam tried
to save him and ended up going over with him.  I swear that's what
happened."

Yancy shook his head and called Susan.  She listened in disbelief as Yancy
told her the story Stewart had just relayed.  She went to the Judge and
asked her to issue three more warrants.

The story hit the front page of the papers the following morning and by mid
afternoon the story had hit the wires.  News trucks parked on both sides of
the road outside Timmy and Adam's parents house.  The minister of the five
boys arrested in the murders began picketing outside the houses carrying
signs reading 'They Got Their Just Reward."  And the 'only good faggot is a
dead fagot.'  By evening, there were 20 protestors.  The following morning
the nightmare got worse.

Susan announced to the press that she would be prosecuting the crime under
the Federal Hate Crimes act.  The American Civil liberties union contacted
the family of the dead boys and asked their permission to monitor the trial
the families approved.

Eighteen months after Adam and Timmy died, justice was served.

Tim Matheson was found guilty of first-degree murder in the deaths of Adam
and Timmy he received life without parole.

Artie Sweat was found guilty of accessory to the murder of Adam and Timmy
and received two 25-year sentences to run concurrently.

Carl Morgan was found guilty of accessory to murder of Adam and Timmy and
received two 25-year sentences to run concurrently.

Stewart Williams was charged with manslaughter and was sentenced to 1 year
in the county jail and five years probation, he testified on behalf of the
State.

Roger Davidson was charged with manslaughter and received a 1-year sentence
in the county jail and five years of probation for his testimony on behalf
of the State.

Adam and Timmy's parents have found comfort in the fact that justice was
served.  They are currently pursuing civil suits against the sheriff and
coroner's office.  Any award will go to establish scholarships in Adam and
Timmy's name.  Adam and Timmy's memory continues to live in the love of
their parent's and the people they touched in a positive way.


http://www.hatecrime.org/
http://www.hate-crime.net/
http://www.lambda.org/
http://www.worldzone.net/international/mattshepard/prevent.html