Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2015 13:58:31 -0800
From: R B <castoryteller@hotmail.com>
Subject: Don't Look in the Closet: Scare Me Up a Little Bit of Love

This story is a work of FICTION. The events described are my own invention.
Any similarities to actual events or persons are strictly coincidental. The
author retains the copyright, and any other rights, to this original story.
You may not publish it or any part of it without my explicit
authorization. This story contains depictions of consensual sexual acts
between teenage males.  It is intended for mature audiences only.

Comments are always welcome at: castoryteller@hotmail.com

Scare Me Up a Little Bit of Love

Tolly was lying on the grass, basking in the summer sun, when the moving
truck pulled up.  He'd been enjoying the peace and quiet, a rare reprieve
from Cub Scout Joey, but when the movers started unloading boxes and
stacking them on the porch, Tolly sat up and watched them with rapt
attention.  His whole being vibrated with excitement; he was always
thrilled when new people moved into his house.  The place often sat empty,
sometimes for years at a time, and it was ever so lonely. Now he'd get to
know a new family.

After a few moments the excitement became too great.  Always a curious boy,
Tolly wandered over to the truck and stuck his head inside to see what the
movers had left to unload.  After a moment's polite hesitation he was in
the truck snooping through boxes.  He took note of the traditional
furnishings but lost interest when he heard a second car pull up.

"Where do you want this Mrs. Drake?" said one of the movers.

"Let's stack the boxes on the porch for now and get the furniture inside
first," said a woman's voice.

Tolly stuck his head through the side of the truck and looked down to see
his new family piling out of their SUV.  There was a tall woman with auburn
hair in her late forties who took charge of the movers.  Tolly correctly
assumed she was Mrs. Drake and that made the middle aged man with the salt
and pepper hair who stood at her side Mr. Drake.  Tolly watched Mr. and
Mrs. Drake with keen interest until he heard two more doors open and close.

There was a girl with auburn hair like her mothers who Tolly judged to be
about 17, she looked a few years older than him.  Tolly hopped down from
the truck and went around the SUV to get a look at the boy.  He was so
taken with the boy's appearance that he smiled and waved.  He was puzzled
when the boy didn't wave back.

"Hi, I'm Tolly," he greeted the boy but there was no response.

Tolly scratched his head and examined the boy closely.  He moved around him
like a dog sniffing a fellow dog at the park, in fact if Tolly had a tail
it would have been wagging with excited energy.  The boy's physical
appearance was the problem, he was very cute with his mousey brown hair and
big hazel eyes but there was something off.  His eyes were surrounded by
deep dark circles, his skin was pale and his movements seemed labored.
Tolly followed the boy to a collection of boxes until the boy reached for
one and Mr. Drake stopped him.

"Here, let me get that for you champ," said Mr. Drake.

"Thanks dad," the boy coughed.

Ah ha!  That's what it is, Tolly exclaimed to himself.  Ghosts don't cough,
he's still alive!  Tolly watched Mr. Drake carry the box away and the girl
walked over to her little brother.

"You're not supposed to over exert yourself, remember," she said.

"Gabby, I'm 15," the boy sighed. Tolly gave an internal cheer, he was 15
too and hadn't had a playmate in years. "I can move a stupid box on my
own."

"I know Gavin, just try not to get frustrated, we're only trying to help,"
said Gabby. She reached out and ruffled his hair.

"Gavin honey," said Mrs. Drake as she came down the porch steps. "I had the
movers unload your furniture first if you want to go upstairs and get
settled."

"Ok, thanks mom," said Gavin.

"Hi Gavin, I'm Tolly," Tolly waved excitedly even though he knew Gavin
couldn't see him.  Tolly would have to reveal himself and as that was
always a delicate thing, he'd have to observe Gavin a bit first.

Gavin walked up the stairs slowly, holding tight to the railing.  His
breathing was a bit labored and he stopped once for a break.  Tolly passed
right through Gavin when he stopped to catch his breath; he was used to
bounding up the stairs two at a time.  He reached the landing at the top of
the stairs and turned to watch Gavin shiver as if he'd caught a chill.  It
was the standard reaction people had when Tolly walked through them.

When Gavin reached the top of the stairs Tolly followed him down the hall
and around the corner.  They entered the last room on the left and Tolly
blurted out excitedly, "This was my room!  You'll really like it here
Gavin, you get a great breeze from the garden and the suns on the other
side of the house in the morning so you can sleep in..."

Tolly hadn't expected a response but he took note of how quiet the room
was.  He turned around and found Gavin lying on the bed curled around a
pillow.  Tolly thought that was weird, if he'd been moving into a new house
he'd have been too excited for a nap.  With nothing better to do, Tolly
climbed on Gavin's desk and sat with his elbows resting on his knees and
his chin resting on his folded hands.

He watched Gavin sleep for an hour then watched as Mrs. Drake came in and
sat by his side.  She shook Gavin awake then handed him some pills and a
glass of water.  Gavin took the medicine and then his mom took his
temperature which she wrote down on a little notepad.

"You're a little warm, how do you feel?" asked Mrs. Drake.

"I'm ok mom, just a little tired," Gavin yawned.

"Ok sweetie; why don't you go back to your nap and I'll have the movers
stack your boxes outside your door so they don't disturb you?"

"Ok mom, thanks."

"My angel," said Mrs. Drake and then she kissed him on the forehead.

Gavin laid back down when his mom left and Tolly hopped off the desk.  He'd
watched the exchange between mother and son with concern.  Tolly crossed
over to the bed and sat at Gavin's side, "What's the matter Gavin, are you
sick?"

Tolly put his hand to Gavin's forehead knowing it was a useless gesture.
He placed his hand against Gavin's forehead but rather than pass through it
Tolly felt warmth.  He looked at Gavin in awe and touched him again.
Warmth radiated through Tolly's fingertips filling his entire being.  He
couldn't believe it; he hadn't been able to touch a mortal since he'd been
one 60 years earlier.  Tolly closed his eyes and reveled in the sensation
until Gavin flinched.  Gavin felt the touch too; the pressure of invisible
fingers, and where Gavin's skin was warm to Tolly, Tolly's touch was cold
to Gavin.

"W-who's there?" Gavin asked the emptiness of the room.

Tolly scrambled away from the boy and backed into a corner.  Gavin startled
him and neither boy had a clear grasp of what had happened.  Gavin knew
someone had touched him but the door was closed and he was alone.  Tolly
knew he shouldn't have been able to touch Gavin and the experience left him
full of questions.  Eventually Gavin chalked the incident up to a figment
of his imagination and went back to sleep but Tolly continued to watch over
him.

Tolly watched the family for the next few days and took note of their
habits.  He liked Gabby, she was bubbly and fun and she had a cute
boyfriend named Michael who she made out with in his car in the driveway.
Tolly hadn't been planning to observe the intimate moment but when it
unfolded in front of him all he could do was cover Cub Scout Joey's eyes
and dream that he was the one kissing Michael.

On Friday morning, a week after the family moved in, Tolly found himself on
Mrs. Nesbit's front porch enjoying one of her chocolate chip cookies.  The
old woman loved to bake and Tolly and Cub Scout Joey were pleased to
benefit when she did.  Mrs. Nesbit drank coffee and Cub Scout Joey tossed
his ball up in the air and caught it over and over as Tolly wiped the last
of the cookie crumbs from the corner of his mouth.

"How's the new family settling in?" asked Mrs. Nesbit.

"Ok I guess," said Tolly.  "There's something wrong with the boy though."

"What do you mean dear?" asked Mrs. Nesbit.

"Well, he doesn't go to school and his mom takes him to these doctors
appointment's every other day.  He sleeps a lot and when he does move
around he gets tired pretty quick," Tolly explained.

"Maybe he's sick," offered Cub Scout Joey.

"I think he must be; I mean he doesn't look well.  When I first saw him I
thought he was one of us."

"Tut, tut, the poor child," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"Yeah," Tolly sighed. "Something weird happened the day they moved in."

"Like what?" said Cub Scout Joey, still catching his ball.  Mrs. Nesbit
looked curiously over the rim of her coffee mug.

"I, well, I touched him," said Tolly. "On his forehead."

"That must have given him a chill," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"No I mean, my hand didn't pass through him, I actually touched him.  I
could feel him," Tolly explained.

Cub Scout Joey dropped his ball and Mrs. Nesbit stopped her coffee mug in
mid sip.

"But Tolly dear, that's..."

"Impossible, I know," Tolly finished for her.

"How did you..." Mrs. Nesbit began.

"I don't know how I did it.  He was napping and his mom came in to give him
some medicine.  She checked his temperature and wrote it down and then he
went back to sleep.  I was curious. I knew I wouldn't be able to feel
anything but I touched his forehead anyway only my hand didn't pass through
him.  I could actually feel him," Tolly explained.

"Extraordinary," Mrs. Nesbit exclaimed.

"Why do you suppose it happened?" asked Tolly.

"I have no idea dear," Mrs. Nesbit smiled.

"What was it like?" asked Cub Scout Joey.

The tactile sense was a strange curiosity for the ghosts on Sycamore Lane.
They could touch everyday objects whenever they pleased but none of them
could ever remember touching a mortal after they'd entered the afterlife.

"It was...warm," said Tolly.  "I could feel it in the tips of my fingers
then it spread into my hand and up my arm before I pulled away."

"My momma used to touch my forehead like that when I was sick," Cub Scout
Joey sighed.

"Yeah, mine too," Tolly lamented.

"Mothers have been doing that since the dawn of time, taking care of their
children," added Mrs. Nesbit.

"Yeah," Tolly nodded and looked at his watch.  "I better get going.
Mrs. Drake will be bringing Gavin home from his appointment soon.
Sometimes he gets sick after."

"You're gonna watch him barf?" Cub Scout Joey crinkled his nose.

"No Joey," Tolly rolled his eyes.  "But if something happens, I don't know,
maybe I can get help or something."

"Tolly, how could you..." Mrs. Nesbit started.

"Gotta run," Tolly cut her off as he got to his feet and walked back across
Sycamore Lane.

She was going to ask him how he thought he could help and the truth was he
didn't know.  Tolly's was a caring soul; he watched families come in and
out of his house, observed their lives and grew attached to them.  He
shared in their joys and their sorrows and always wished he could be
helpful in some way but the constraints of death made that impossible.
Still, he'd touched Gavin, that was something.

Mrs. Drake's car pulled into the driveway just as Tolly returned from
Mrs. Nesbit's.  He watched her help Gavin out of his seat and then walk to
the house with her arm around his waist.  Tolly thought Gavin must be
particularly sick that day if he needed his mom to support him.  Gavin was
so weak that when they got to his room his mom had to help him undress.
When Mrs. Drake went back downstairs Tolly assumed his usual perch atop
Gavin's desk and watched over the boy like a nervous mother.

Tolly got very upset when Gavin's body started to shake with sobs.
Whatever Gavin's medical problem was it was serious and Tolly knew Gavin
was afraid.  It was a fear Tolly didn't quite understand, after all, he'd
never been sick, his death was so sudden he didn't have months of fear
building inside of him.  It just happened.  He liked Gavin, enjoyed
spending time in his room watching him read or watch TV, he was sad that
Gavin was afraid.

Suddenly Gavin was on his feet and sprinting across the room to the
bathroom.  Tolly hopped off the desk and followed him, arriving just in
time to see Gavin drop down in front of the toilet and purge.  Gavin's body
shook with continued sobs as he puked his guts out.  There was nothing
Tolly could do but watch so he hopped up on the vanity next to the sink.

"It'll be okay," Tolly sighed. "You'll feel better soon."

Gavin of course heard nothing.  He got to his feet and ambled over to the
sink.  He rinsed his mouth out, washed his face then looked in the mirror.
He ran his fingers along his hollow cheeks and sighed at the image before
him.  Gavin started to lose his balance and as he began to fall, acting on
instinct alone, Tolly grabbed him.  For the second time since his death,
Tolly felt a warm body in his arms.  He lowered Gavin so that he was
sitting with his back against the vanity and knelt before him.

Gavin was stunned when he began to fall and something caught him, now as he
sat against the vanity looking at a tall boy with short cropped blond hair
and dressed like Wally from Leave it to Beaver, he was bewildered.

"W-who are you?" asked Gavin.

"Toseland Waverly," Tolly smiled.

"Toseland?" Gavin's nose crinkled.

"I know, it was a terrible name even in my day," he smiled.  "You can call
me Tolly."

"Tolly," Gavin nodded.  "What are you doing here?"

"I live here," said Tolly.

"You're a g-gho..." Gavin started.

"Don't be afraid," Tolly frowned.  "I promise I won't hurt you."

Gavin looked at him skeptically and Tolly could sense his apprehension.

"Look, I caught you didn't I?" said Tolly.  "If I wanted to hurt you
wouldn't I have just let you hit your head?"

"Well, yeah, I guess so," Gavin admitted. He studied Tolly's earnest face
and kind eyes and knew Tolly was telling the truth.  There was nothing
malevolent about Tolly's spirit.  He was a calming influence and made Gavin
feel at ease.  "No, I don't think you will hurt me," Gavin agreed and the
grin returned to Tolly's face.

"I'm glad," said Tolly.  "I've been watching you since you moved in and
I've wanted to reveal myself to you but I didn't want to scare you to
death."

"That's happened before?" Gavin exclaimed. "You've scared people to death?"

"Golly no," Tolly laughed.  "But people don't always react as well as you."

"You stopped me from falling, can you help me back to my bed?" asked Gavin,
thinking he'd rather continue this conversation where he was more
comfortable.

"I think so," said Tolly.  He stood up and held his hands out to Gavin.
Gavin took Tolly's hands and Tolly smiled at the warmth that radiated
throughout his body.  In a moment Gavin was tucked under his covers and
Tolly was sitting by his side.

"So people don't always react as well as me?" asked Gavin.

"I've found that it's a harder thing for grownups to accept," said Tolly.
"They usually get scared and run away before I can explain.  Little kids
don't know any better and think I'm some kind of imaginary friend or
something.  You and your sister are the first teenagers I can remember
living here."

"So you've never really had a chance to talk to anyone else that lived
here?" asked Gavin.

"Well, there was a delightful man that lived here in the 70's.  He got
strange when he took his medicine though," said Tolly.

"Strange?" asked Gavin.

"He would call me `Dude,' and ask me for something called Funyuns," Tolly
shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, gotcha," Gavin giggled knowingly.  "How long have you been..."

"Dead?" Tolly finished for him.

"Yeah," Gavin nodded.

"Since 1956," said Tolly.

"How did you..."

"Oh you know, I uh, just died," said Tolly, quickly glossing over any
details.

"Ok," said Gavin, sensing Tolly's discomfort at the topic.  "So are there
other's like you around here?"

"Well, I'm the only one in the house but there's Mrs. Nesbit across the
street, she makes the best chocolate chip cookies and then there's Cub
Scout Joey, he's nine and tags along wherever I go which can be annoying
sometimes but he's normally ok and...oh yeah, there's John at the end of
the block but we don't go near him."

"Why don't you go near him?" asked Gavin.

"Mrs. Nesbit says John was messed up in the war, you know that Vietnam?"
said Tolly.

"Uh, yeah, I've heard of it," Gavin smiled.

"She said that when he came home he did some bad things to boys and warned
me and Cub Scout Joey to stay away from him," Tolly explained.

"Bad things?  Like what?" asked Gavin.

"I don't know but I was talking to him one day and he put his hand on my
thigh.  I didn't like it but he wouldn't pull it away, that's when
Mrs. Nesbit came and started hitting him with her broom and made him leave.
It was after that she warned me and Cub Scout Joey about him," Tolly
explained.

"Tolly, that John, it sounds like he was going to, I don't know, maybe rape
you or something," said Gavin.

"Don't be silly, that kind of thing only happens to girls," Tolly giggled.

"No Tolly, maybe that's how it was when you were a kid but it happens to
boys too," Gavin assured him.

Tolly pondered Gavin's assertion for a moment before shrugging his
shoulders, "Well, I guess it's a good thing Mrs. Nesbit was there then."

"Yeah, so uh, this Mrs. Nesbit bakes you cookies?" said Gavin.

"Best I've ever had," Tolly smiled.

"I didn't think ghosts had to eat," said Gavin.

"We don't have to, we get too.  It's one of the pleasures of being dead.  I
don't have to eat broccoli and my mom's runny eggs anymore.  I haven't
eaten a vegetable since 1960," Tolly smiled proudly.

"Ok," Gavin giggled.  "So you've been watching me since we moved in?"

"Yes, I was worried, you seem, well, very sick," Tolly frowned.

"I have cancer," Gavin sighed.

"That's bad, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Gavin nodded.  "Listen Tolly, I'd love to talk to you all day but
I'm really tired..."

"Right, of course, you need your rest," said Tolly as he tucked the blanket
under Gavin's chin.

"Can we talk more later?" asked Gavin.

"Sure thing, just call my name and I'll come if I'm not here already," said
Tolly

"Cool," Gavin smiled and drifted off to sleep.

Over the next few days Gavin and Tolly spent hours talking and getting to
know each other.  Gavin was enraptured by the cute blond ghost with his boy
next door good looks, easy charm and hint of naivety.  They were fast
friends and Gavin felt his heart flutter every time Tolly walked through a
wall.

"I keep meaning to ask you, what did you get your letter in?" said Gavin
one afternoon when they were sitting on his bed.

"Varsity basketball," Tolly smiled proudly and stroked the block C on his
red letterman's jacket.

"You must have been pretty good in order to make varsity as a sophomore,"
Gavin complimented.

"Well, above average," Tolly blushed.

"Don't be bashful.  I bet..." Gavin started but was interrupted by the
ringing of the doorbell. "I wonder who the hell that is?"

"I'll check," Tolly smiled and disappeared.  He returned seconds later in
absolute terror and threw his arms around Gavin.

"Tolly, what's wrong?" said Gavin, shocked at the behavior.

"Please don't make me go, I'll be a good boy, I promise I'll be good, don't
make me go, please, please," Tolly cried.

"Hey, hey, hey," Gavin hugged Tolly and ran a soothing hand up and down his
back.  "What are you talking about?  Who's going to make you go?"

"The man downstairs, he has a white collar and a Bible, he's going to make
me leave, I know he's going to make me leave, please Gavin I swear I'll be
good..." Tolly cried harder.

"Tolly, calm down, no one is going to hurt you," said Gavin.

"But the man..." Tolly started.

"That's just Father Morgan; I forgot he was coming to bless the house.  Mom
called him a week ago," Gavin explained.

"H-he's not gonna hurt me?" Tolly asked timidly.

"Tolly, you're my friend, I'm not going to let anyone hurt you," Gavin
patted his back comfortingly.

"I saw his collar and his Bible and, oh Gavin, I'm so scared," Tolly's
whole body shook.

"It's alright, it's alright," Gavin rocked him, then there was a knock at
his door.

"Gavin?" said Mrs. Drake, then she stuck her head in the door.

"Yeah mom?"

"Father Morgan is here to bless the house, can you come downstairs?"

"Sure mom, just a sec," said Gavin.

Mrs. Drake left the room and Gavin turned back to his ghostly companion.

"Ok, I have to go downstairs now..."

"Don't leave me, I'm so afraid," Tolly interrupted.

"I was going to say, why don't you come with me and you'll see there's
nothing to be afraid of."

"O-ok," said Tolly.

Tolly followed Gavin down to the living room and hid behind him.  He
grabbed onto Gavin's t-shirt and held it tight.  He hunkered down behind
Gavin's back and watched the priests every move from over Gavin's shoulder.
Gavin felt terrible for him.  He had no idea why the arrival of Father
Morgan was causing Tolly so much distress but he was determined to find out
what was going on when this was over.

"Let us begin as we begin all things Holy in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Father Morgan began.

"Amen," replied Gavin and his family as they made the sign of the cross.

"Peace be unto this house and all who dwell here," Father Morgan began.  He
read a few scriptures, Luke 19:1-9, Psalm 112 and finally concluded with
the actual blessing. "Lord, be close to your servants who dwell in this
home and ask for your blessing.  Be their shelter when they are at home,
their companion when they are away, and their welcome guest when they
return.  And at last receive them into the dwelling place you have prepared
for them in your Father's house, where you live for ever and ever.  Amen."

The family crossed themselves again, everyone shook hands with Father
Morgan and Gavin's parents took him into the study for a glass of brandy.
Gavin returned to his room with Tolly who seemed greatly relieved.

"See, nothing to be afraid of," said Gavin, as they sat on his bed.

"Yeah, sorry I acted so silly.  Golly, you must think I'm a ninny," Tolly
blushed.

"Silly?  Tolly, you were terrified," said Gavin.  He wasn't going to let
Tolly just brush his behavior aside.  Gavin wanted answers.

"Yeah, I guess I was," Tolly sighed.

"Tell me why, why would an old priest scare you?"

"Well, this one time, there was a couple living here, an older couple, the
O' Riley's, husband and wife.  She used to make homemade donuts, you know
the kind with the chocolate on top and..."

"Yeah Tolly, I know donuts, what happened?" said Gavin.

"Well, you know how much I love junk food and one morning there was a donut
left and when Mr. O' Riley left for work and Mrs. O' Riley went to see him
off, well, I took it.  Mrs. O' Riley came back to the kitchen, she saw me
take a bite out of the donut and she screamed.  She was so scared Gavin, it
hurt my feelings terribly," Tolly sighed.

"I'm sorry she hurt your feelings Tolly but what's that have to do with
what just happened with Father Morgan?"

"A few days after the donut incident a priest came.  He started praying and
calling me an unclean spirit and tried to cast me out," Tolly shivered.  "I
was so scared Gavin, my body started fading. I felt weak.  I didn't want to
go to hell."

"Well clearly you aren't an unclean spirit since that priest wasn't able to
drive you out, but why would you think you'd go to hell?  You were just a
boy when you died, you couldn't have done anything that bad," said Gavin.

"I blame that Mrs. O' Riley for all that unclean spirit nonsense.  I wasn't
the one making all those messes it was her husband sneaking sandwiches and
not wiping the crumbs off the counter," Tolly smiled weakly.

"Uh uh, don't be cute, why did you think you were going to hell," Gavin
insisted.

"Because," Tolly sighed, "I know what the Bible says about boys like me and
then I went and, well, you know."

"No, I don't know, Tolly, come on, you can tell me," Gavin prodded.

"You really want to know," asked Tolly, timidly.

"You're my friend Tolly, I don't want you to be scared and I want to know
what happened to you," said Gavin.

"Ok, then it's better if I show you."

"You can do that?" asked Gavin.

"Yes, take my hand," said Tolly, stretching his arm out to Gavin.

Gavin took the offered hand and he felt his body start to fade.  It was
like slipping into a swimming pool, sinking into cool water.  Everything
went black and then he found himself holding Tolly's hand in the foyer.
Everything was different, the furniture looked brand new but the style was
old and Gavin realized he was in 1956, inside Tolly's memory.

"Wow, this is like something from Harry Potter," Gavin exclaimed.

"Was that the ghost at your old house?" Tolly asked innocently.

"No, it's a...nevermind," said Gavin. "What are we doing here?"

"We're going to go into the parlor now, once we go inside I won't be able
to talk to you.  I brought you here first so I could prepare you.  Are you
ready?" asked Tolly.

"Yeah, I want to see," Gavin nodded.

Tolly led Gavin down the hall and paused outside the entrance to the
parlor.

"I have to go in first," said Tolly.  "When you're ready, come in and
you'll be able to see everything."

Gavin nodded his acceptance of the instructions then watched Tolly
disappear through the wall.  He took a deep breath and stepped over the
threshold and into the comfortable parlor.  There was a fire burning
brightly on the hearth making the room feel warm and cozy.  He found Tolly
standing in the corner hugging himself as if he were standing out in a snow
storm, his eyes were staring intently at the sofa.

Gavin followed Tolly's gaze to the sofa and found it occupied by two blond
boys.  They were sitting on the edge of the cushions, their arms were
around each other and they were sharing a gentle kiss.  When they pulled
apart Gavin realized one of the boys was Tolly, the other had green eyes
and a baby face.  He was about the cutest guy Gavin had ever seen.

"Are you sure this is okay Tolly? What about your parents?" said the boy.

"I told you Danny, my mom has her church ladies group tonight and my dad
had to meet with a client after work," Tolly explained.

"Ok then," Danny smiled and pulled Tolly close.

The boys kissed again, it was gentle and sweet, not the more passionate
making out Gavin was used to seeing on TV but after all, this was the
1950's.  He turned to the corner and saw Tolly, the Tolly who had brought
him here, still holding himself but he reached up to brush a tear from his
cheek.  The boys kissed and giggled and loved each other for what felt like
a long time.  Gavin kept looking between the boys and Tolly standing in the
corner, his head snapped around when he heard the front door open.  Why
didn't Tolly and Danny hear it, why didn't they stop?

"What the hell is this?" exclaimed a middle aged man in a business suit.
He had Tolly's blue eyes but there was nothing friendly about them, they
smoldered with anger.

"Dad, I-I-I can explain," Tolly stuttered.

"It's not what it looks like Mr. Waverly, honest," said Danny.

Mr. Waverly seized Danny by the collar and shoved him out of the parlor and
down the hall, "Get out of my house!"

"But sir..." Danny shouted to be heard.

Tolly stood frozen in fear while his father threw Danny out.  Gavin could
read the look on his face, he wanted to do something but his legs didn't
want to cooperate.

Mr. Waverly slammed the door in Danny's face and Gavin could hear his angry
footfalls as he stormed down the hall and back into the parlor, "What the
hell is wrong with you?"

"I-I love him dad," Tolly insisted. "I can't help it, I..."

Mr. Waverly didn't want to hear it, he backhanded Tolly, his hand catching
the boy's cheek and bruising it with his wedding ring. "Don't you ever say
that again.  I've had it with you, I don't care what you're mother says
about you being sensitive, we're sending you to military school."

"I-I won't go," said Tolly, defiantly.

"What did you say to me you little faggot?" Mr. Waverly spat.

"I love Danny, I won't leave him."

"We'll see about that," said Mr. Waverly.  He took off his suit coat, threw
it on a chair, and then he struck.  This time his fingers were closed into
a tight fist as he slugged Tolly in the stomach.  The boy doubled over as
the air blew from his lungs but Mr. Waverly didn't give him time to catch
his breath.  He pushed Tolly back to his feet and punched him in the face.
Tolly collapsed to his knees but he wouldn't strike back, wouldn't hit his
father.  Mr. Waverly kicked Tolly to the ground then straddled him, he
punched him over and over, again and again.

"Oh my God," Gavin exclaimed and turned to the Tolly in the corner.  "He
killed you?  He beat you to death?"

Tolly didn't answer. He stood in the corner still holding himself only now
he was rocking back and forth and the tears were streaming from his face.
He made no attempt to hide them this time, it was as if he were paralyzed
by the memory.

"You are going to military school and you are never going to see that boy
again," Mr. Waverly panted when he finished beating his son.

Gavin watched Mr. Waverly get up and leave.  He raced over to Tolly's body
and was surprised to find him still breathing.  He dropped to his knees and
tried to touch him but found that the memory of Tolly was as translucent as
a dream.  Tolly remained in the corner, still watching his body.  The
beaten Tolly started to stir and Gavin stepped away from him, he was
horrified by the damage done to Tolly's face.  His eyes were both blackened
and started to swell, his lips were cracked and bloody.  His checks were
bruised, he looked like he'd been in a horrible accident.

The beaten Tolly stumbled to his feet and staggered from the room.  Gavin
looked to the Tolly in the corner and when he moved to follow his beaten
body, Gavin followed.  They followed the beaten Tolly upstairs and into his
parents room, he sat on the bed for a moment and Gavin heard him reach for
something in the nightstand.  When he stood, Gavin recognized the
unmistakable shape of a pistol in beaten Tolly's hand.  They followed him
downstairs and into his father's study where Mr. Waverly sat at his desk,
an open bottle of Scotch on the blotter.

"Dad," said beaten Tolly.

"What do you want?" Mr. Waverly growled.

"I-I won't go," said beaten Tolly as he put the gun to his head and pulled
the trigger.

The memory instantly dissolved and Gavin tumbled onto his bed.  He
instantly looked to the corner and found Tolly there sobbing.  Gavin
struggled to his feet and went to him.  He threw his arms around his
ghostly friend.  Tolly held him tightly and cried until the tears stopped
running down his cheeks.

"Tolly, oh God, I'm so, so sorry," Gavin sniffled.  He was horrified by
what had happened to Tolly.  It was a crime, a horrible, horrible crime
that someone could beat their son like that and drive him to take his own
life just because he'd kissed a boy.

"So now you know," Tolly sniffled.  "You know I'm going to hell because I'm
an abomination and I took my own life..."

"Tolly, shhh," Gavin soothed him.  "You're not an abomination! I don't want
to hear you call yourself that."

"But you saw what I did, what I am."

"I saw you kiss a boy, so what?" said Gavin.

"The Bible says it's wrong and you saw what it made my dad do..." Tolly
sniffled.

"Tolly no, fuck what the Bible says.  Maybe sixty years ago that kind of
thinking was ok but it's not now.  There's nothing wrong with being gay and
what your father did to you, he'd be put in jail for it now," Gavin
insisted.

"You don't think I'm unclean?" Tolly wiped the tears from his eyes.

"No, Tolly, I think you're sweet and cute and charming and that boy, Danny,
he clearly loved you.  He was lucky to have you," Gavin assured him.

"You really mean it?"

"Of course I do," said Gavin and then without thinking he kissed Tolly on
the lips.

"What are you doing," Tolly giggled.

"I don't know," said Gavin.  "I mean I've always thought you were cute but
I never really thought about kissing you before.  Did you like it?"

"It was warm," Tolly smiled.

"Can I do it again?" Gavin asked nervously.

"You're not scared?  What if your dad comes in?" asked Tolly.

"He'd probably wonder why I was making out with the air," Gavin giggled,
reminding Tolly that Gavin was the only one that could see him.

"Oh, right," Tolly snickered.

"And if he did see you he wouldn't care.  Tolly, my parents know I'm gay,"
said Gavin.

"And they don't care?"

"It's a different world then when you were a kid Tolly, things have changed
a lot."

"Gee whiz," Tolly exclaimed.

"How about that kiss?" asked Gavin.

"Ok," Tolly nodded.

Gavin leaned in and put his lips to Tolly's.  He could sense Tolly's
apprehension at first but as he enjoyed the kiss, Tolly began to relax.
Gavin luxuriated in the softness of Tolly's full lips and thought to
himself, just my luck, I finally find a boyfriend and he's been dead for
sixty years.

"Golly, that kind of tickles," Tolly giggled.

"I like it too," Gavin smiled and kissed him again.



"Are you sure this is a good idea?" asked Gavin as they walked down the
driveway.  They'd waited until his mom had left for the grocery store
before going outside.  Gavin didn't think she'd approve of him hanging out
at the empty house across the street.

"You said you wanted to meet my friends," Tolly reminded him.

"I do, it's just, they're all..."

"Ghosts?" Tolly smiled.

"Well, yeah," Gavin nodded.

"You remember how you protected me when I was scared of that priest?" said
Tolly.

"Sure, that was just the other day."

"Well, if you get scared around my friends I'll protect you too.  But
you've got nothing to worry about, you'll love them," Tolly smiled and
patted his shoulder reassuringly.

"Ok," Gavin stiffened up.  "Let's go meet your buddies."

Gavin moved slowly and cursed his weakness.  Tolly continued to smile
cheerfully and put his arm around Gavin's waist for support.  They crossed
the street and walked up the front steps to find Mrs. Nesbit with a cup of
coffee and Cub Scout Joey tossing a ball up in the air and catching it.
Despite all the time he'd spent with Tolly and all the things Tolly had
shown him, Gavin was still amazed.  Mrs. Nesbit was a tiny old woman with
horn rimmed glasses and her hair pulled back in a bun.  She gave Gavin a
welcoming smile.  Cub Scout Joey was a red headed little boy in a Cub Scout
uniform who didn't smile because, Tolly had explained, he'd lost a tooth
shortly before his death and was embarrassed by the gap.  That didn't stop
Joey's eyes from sparkling in wonder over the new arrival.

"I see you've brought a friend this morning," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"Yes ma'am," Tolly smiled.

"Did he tell you his real name's Toseland?" Cub Scout Joey giggled.  The
playful spirit set Gavin at ease.

"Gee whiz Joey, cut me some slack.  I didn't pick that name," Tolly
groaned.

"He did tell me, Joey," Gavin smiled.  "But I like Tolly better."

"It beats Tosey," Joey snickered and went back to tossing his ball in the
air.

"Would you like a cookie dear?" asked Mrs. Nesbit as she offered the tray.

"Uh, sure, thank you," said Gavin as he took a cookie.  Tolly took one too
and once he took a bit, so did Gavin.  "Wow, Tolly wasn't lying these are
good cookies!"

"Aren't you sweet," Mrs. Nesbit smiled. "Won't you take a seat?"

"Thanks," Gavin smiled back and sat down on the bench seat built into the
porch railing.

"Tolly tells us you haven't been feeling so well," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"No, I uh, I've got cancer," Gavin sighed.

"How come your hair's not falling out?" asked Cub Scout Joey with all of a
little boy's innocence.

"Joey!" Tolly exclaimed.

"What?" Joey replied, "Isn't that what happens when you get cancer?"

"It's alright," said Gavin patting Tolly on the shoulder then turning his
attention to Joey.  "Your hair doesn't fall out just because you have
cancer.  It falls out when you have chemotherapy and even then, not
always."

"I'm sorry you aren't feeling well," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"It's ok, I'm kind of used to it.  I've been sick for a long time," said
Gavin.  "I was diagnosed with Leukemia when I was six, fought it for years
and thought it was gone but it came back when I was thirteen."

"I didn't know that," said Tolly.

"Being a sick kid isn't fun, talking about it isn't much better," Gavin
offered a weak smile.

"What do you like to do when you're feeling better?" asked Mrs. Nesbit.

"Oh I used to be into sports, you know, swimming, soccer, that sort of
thing."

"Baseball?" asked Joey as he caught his ball again.

"Sure," Gavin winked at the little boy.

"Our Tolly here was quite the basketball player in his day, weren't you
dear?" Mrs. Nesbit smiled.

"I was ok," Tolly blushed.

"Who are you?" said a voice from the sidewalk.  Tolly stood up and put his
hand on Gavin's shoulder protectively.  Mrs. Nesbit got to her feet too and
grabbed her broom.  Cub Scout Joey scrambled around her and peered from
behind her skirt.  "I said who are you new boy?"

"Me?" asked Gavin, a hint of fear creeping into his voice.  Whoever this
new ghost was, he wasn't like the others, his gaze made the hair on the
back of Gavin's neck stand up.

"He's no concern of yours, John, now get off my lawn," said Mrs. Nezbit,
raising her broom.

John licked his lips and looked at Gavin with a hunger that made his skin
crawl, "You can't watch them all the time old lady."

"Wanna bet?" Mrs. Nesbit glared at him.

"Hmpf," John snorted and stalked off down the street.  The four friends
watched him and no one said a word until he rounded a corner.

"That was tense," Gavin panted, he hadn't realized he'd been holding his
breath.

"You've got nothing to fear from him child.  He can't hurt you," said
Mrs. Nesbit with some authority.

"What about me?" asked Cub Scout Joey.

"I won't let him hurt you, my sweet boy," Mrs. Nesbit smiled and pinched
his cheek.

"I'm taking Gavin home," said Tolly.

"It's ok, we can stay a little longer," said Gavin.  He wasn't about to let
a creep like John run him off.

"No we can't; your mom will be home soon," Tolly reminded him.

"Oh you're right," Gavin sighed, then stood to leave.  "It was nice meeting
all of you, thanks for the cookie."

"You're very welcome dear, come see us again sometime," Mrs. Nesbit smiled
at him.

"Thanks, I will," Gavin assured her.



"Do you know how they died?" asked Gavin a few minutes later when Tolly
helped him back into bed.

"Mrs. Nesbit and Cub Scout Joey?"

"Yeah, I'm curious," Gavin yawned and snuggled into his pillow.

"Well Mrs. Nesbit's house burned down and she died in the fire and Cub
Scout Joey's ball went in the street.  He chased after it without looking
and got hit by a car," Tolly sighed.

"Poor kid, that's so sad," said Gavin.

"Yes," Tolly agreed.  "He was such a happy child.  I was watching him play
when it happened.  I tried to grab him but it was no use, my hand passed
right through him."

"Awww, at least you tried," Gavin reached out and squeezed Tolly's hand,
then a thought struck him.  "Wait a minute, if you couldn't touch Joey, how
come you can touch me?"

"I really don't know," Tolly admitted.  "You're the first mortal I've been
able to touch since I died and I have no idea why.  I asked Mrs. Nesbit and
she doesn't have a clue either."

"I have a theory about old Mrs. Nesbit," said Gavin.

"Oh yeah?"

"I don't think she's a ghost," said Gavin.

"Of course she is, her house burned down and..."

"Tolly, that's her house across the street isn't it?"

"Well, yes," Tolly agreed.

"And you died before she did, right?"

"Yes, it was several years after I died before I met Mrs. Nesbit."

"Tolly, I don't know how you see things but that house across the street,
it's at least a hundred years old and there aren't any signs of there ever
having been a fire," said Gavin.  "Do you remember their being a fire?
Surely you'd have seen it."

"Well...no.  No I don't," Tolly scratched his head.  "But if she's not a
ghost then what is she?"

"It's only a theory but I think she's your guardian angel," Gavin smiled.

"But..." Tolly looked confused.

"Think about it, she appeared after you died, she saved you from that John
creep and then today, when he showed up, she was ready to whip his ass with
that broom and did you hear what she said when he told her she couldn't
watch us all the time?"

"She said `Wanna bet," Tolly repeated the line.

"Sounds to me like she goes to an awful lot of trouble to watch out for you
and little Joey," said Gavin.

"Maybe, but if that's the case where was she when Joey ran out in front of
that car or the night I-I..." Tolly trailed off.

"I don't know sweetie, it's just a theory," said Gavin.

"Something to think about," Tolly nodded.

"I need to take a nap, kiss me good night?" Gavin smiled.

"Sure," Tolly smiled back, then leaned down and gave Gavin a gentle kiss.



Time passes quickly, more so for the dead, and before Tolly knew it a week
had gone by.  He was due across the street at Mrs. Nesbit's in a moment and
he sat by Gavin's bedside, disappointed Gavin couldn't come with him.

"I'll be fine," Gavin assured him.

"Are you sure you're not just worried about that creep, John, because if he
shows up I swear..." Tolly started.

"Tolly, you know I haven't felt good all week.  I just want to stay in
bed," Gavin assured him.

"I could stay with you," said Tolly.

"No, I'm just going to sleep.  Go have one of Mrs. Nesbit's cookies for
me," Gavin smiled.

"Ok," Tolly smiled for him.  "I'll see you when you wake up from your nap."

Tolly leaned down and kissed Gavin then disappeared leaving him to his
rest. Gavin didn't want to worry Tolly but he'd felt incredibly weak the
past few days and all he wanted to do was sleep.  As soon as Tolly was
gone, Gavin pulled the blankets tightly around himself and closed his eyes.
His eyes opened like a shot when he heard his mother scream.

Gavin scrambled out of bed and when he stood he recoiled at the sight
before him.  His body was lying in his bed and his mother was cradling him
in her arms.

"Oh God, oh my baby!" she wailed.

"Oh God," Gavin began to panic, then he called out, "Tolly!"

Tolly was across the street enjoying his Friday morning cookie with his
friends when he heard his name and the fear in Gavin's voice.  He dropped
his cookie on the porch and raced across the street, he passed through
walls and plumbing until he was at Gavin's side.

He found Gavin looking healthier then he'd ever seen him.  His eyes were
clear and bright, there was color in his cheeks, it looked like the years
of sickness had faded from his body.  Then Tolly noticed Gavin's mother and
what she was holding.

"Oh God," said Tolly, bringing his fingers to his lips.  "It happened."

"What happened Tolly?" said Gavin, his voice trembling.  "What happened to
me?"

Tolly took Gavin's hand and held it, the warmth was gone, he was as cold as
Cub Scout Joey or Mrs. Nesbit. "Gavin, sweetheart, you've died."

"No, no, no," Gavin protested then started to cry.

"It's alright, I'm here," said Tolly, taking Gavin into his arms.

"I know I was sick but I thought I had more time," Gavin cried.

"It's alright Gavin, we'll be together now," Tolly assured him.

"What about my family, my mom and dad, what about Gabby?" said Gavin.  "I
never asked you about that, what happens to my family now?"

"They, well, they'll go on," said Tolly.

"Just like that?" Gavin spat.

"No, they will miss you for a long, long time," Tolly sighed.  "My mother
cried for weeks but it eventually stopped.  She talked to me sometimes and
then one day she wasn't here anymore and a new family moved into the
house."

"Oh God," Gavin cried and clutched Tolly close.

"It'll be ok," Tolly rocked him in his arms and then a bright white light
began to glow in the corner.  "No, I won't let you take him!"

"What is it?" said Gavin as he turned to look into the light.

"It wants to take you," Tolly trembled.  "I won't let it."

"I think I have to go with it," said Gavin, feeling himself drawn to the
light and the warmth radiating from it.  "Don't you feel it Tolly, it's so
warm."

"You don't have to go," Tolly sniffled.

"Yes he does," said a woman's voice.  The boy's turned toward the source
and found Mrs. Nesbit smiling at them from across the room.  "And you have
to go with him."

"No, I can't," Tolly shuddered.

"What is it?" asked Gavin.

"It is the path to the next plain of existence," Mrs. Nesbit smiled
serenely.  "Cross into the light and be at peace."

"I can't," Tolly trembled, "We'll go to hell because we're..."

"The light came for you when you died, didn't it Tolly?" asked Mrs. Nesbit.

"I couldn't go into it, I was afraid," Tolly wiped tears from his cheeks.

"You were a good and decent boy, Toseland Waverly, you've earned your
peace.  Take Gavin's hand and find comfort together," said Mrs. Nesbit.

"I can't," Tolly closed his eyes and shook his head.

"You must," said Mrs. Nesbit, taking his hand and putting it into Gavin's.
"There is nothing to fear."

"It's alright Tolly, it's going to be ok," said Gavin, mesmerized by the
light.  "Can't you feel it?"

"I-I feel the warmth," said Tolly.

"Come on," Gavin smiled and took a step forward, pulling Tolly along with
him.

Mrs. Nesbit watched the boys until they began to disappear into the light,
"Rest well my children."

"Oh Tolly, it's so beautiful," Gavin exclaimed.

"I love you Gavin."

"I love you too, Tolly."

Mrs. Nesbit watched as the light vanished from the room and then let out a
contented sigh.  She left Gavin's mother to her grief knowing her child was
in a better place.

"What happened?" asked Cub Scout Joey when Mrs. Nesbit returned to the
porch.

"He's finally at peace," Mrs. Nesbit smiled and patted Joey on the head.



THE END