Date: Fri, 12 Dec 2008 22:02:24 -0500
From: Morris Henderson <bigmoh@post.com>
Subject: a_rocky_road_chapter_3

A ROCKY ROAD

CHAPTER THREE

Dinner the next evening was pleasant although TJ
and Neil were anxious because after the meal, they
planned to come out to Neil's mother and brother.

Everyone helped, as usual, clearing the table and
loading the dishwasher.  Jeff was about to leave
the kitchen when Neil said, "Jeff, can you hang
around a little while?  TJ and I would like to talk
to the whole family."

Both Jeff and his mother were curious but his
father anticipated what was to come.

"Okay," Jeff replied.  "Will it take long?  I was
going to go over to Ryan's house to lift weights."

"Not long," Neil said although he had no idea where
the conversation would lead or how much time it
would take.  When everyone was seated at the
kitchen table, Neil continued.  "First and most
importantly, I want to tell you how much I love all
of you and how grateful I am for being a member of
this family.  I'm also very proud of the way you
have welcome TJ into the house for a visit.  Please
remember that I love you as you listen to what I
have to say."

"And we love you, too," Neil's mother interjected.

"Okay," Jeff grunted.  "Is this a love-fest or
what?"

"There's more," Neil said, ignoring the scorn in
his brother's tone.  "You know how much I have
grown to like and respect TJ since we met.  What
you may not know is that I've come to love him.
And, fortunately, he loves me.  There's no other
way to say it so I'll put it bluntly.  I'm gay.  TJ
is gay.  We plan to live together as a couple."

Neil's father listened to what he already knew and,
like Neil and TJ, watched the reaction from his
wife and youngest son.  His wife's reaction, he
thought, was remarkably subdued.

Jeff's reaction was far more expressive and
revealed his obvious shock and dismay.  But then he
grinned and said, "No way!  Tell me this is some
sort of twisted joke!"

"It's no joke, Jeff.  We're gay.  We love each
other and plan to live together."

Jeff's expression turned suddenly sour although his
parents sat quietly.

"You're really serious?" Jeff asked incredulously.

"Yes."

Jeff thought for a minute and then exploded, "You
mean I have a queer brother and he brought his
pervert fag boy friend home with him?"  That's the
most disgusting thing I've ever heard!"

Mr. Bailey immediately said, "Watch your language,
son!  You're entitled to your opinion and have
every right to express it ... but not with
insulting terms!"

"Okay, how's this?  My brother is a deviant, sinful
homosexual!  And I'm ashamed to say he's my
brother!"

Mr. Bailey disapproved of Jeff's fervent
condemnation of his brother but at least it didn't
include pejorative terms.  Turning to his wife, he
said, "The boys told me about this last evening but
they wanted to tell you themselves.  How do you
feel about the unexpected news?"

"Not entirely unexpected, dear.  Mothers see things
that fathers don't.  We sense things that men
cannot.  I suspected something when Neil was in
middle school but discounted it, thinking it was a
phase of growing up."  Then, turning to Neil, she
continued, "My suspicions grew stronger when you
were in high school.  You didn't date as much as
the other boys.  I assumed it was because you spent
so much time studying and practicing.  But seeing
you and TJ together ... well ...  Don't ask me to
explain it.  It was just intuition but there seemed
to be a magic to your friendship.  Am I surprised?
Yes, but not as much as your father and brother.
Am I disappointed?  Yes.  It's not what I dreamed
about as you grew up.  I pictured you as the
husband of a lovely wife and as the father of my
grandchildren.  But a mother will always love her
children."

"MOM!" Jeff exploded.  "How can you love a queer
fag?"

"That's enough!" Mr. Bailey commanded.  "I've
warned you about that sort of language!  I don't
want to hear any more of it!  Do I make myself
clear?"

"Clear as a bell.  I'm outta here.  I don't want to
hear any more about my brother's repulsive
behavior."  With that, he stormed out of the
kitchen, slamming the door as he left the house.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Neil said.  "I'm
sorry if I've hurt you.  I didn't choose to be gay.
It's what I am.  I recognized it years ago.  I love
you both but I also love TJ.  I can only hope that
you understand how much he means to me, how much
joy he gives me.  And that you realize that I'll be
happy with him and miserable without him."

Both TJ and Neil craved some inkling of acceptance
or even, however unlikely, approval of their
relationship but none was forthcoming.  Mrs. Bailey
turned to her husband and said, "We know how Jeff
feels.  How do you feel?"

"I was shocked at the news.  I've now had some time
to think about it.  Like you, I'm disappointed but,
as I told the boys last night, my disappointment is
chiefly because they will face the kind of ridicule
and condemnation that Jeff displayed.  I'm
convinced that they are sincere when they say they
love each other.  I'm less sure that their love
will endure."  Turning to the nervous teens, he
continued, "Last night, I deferred judgment on your
relationship because I needed time to think it
through.  I'm on the fence.  I neither approve nor
disapprove.  I'm not happy with the situation but
neither am I angry.  Maturing from a child to a
young man to a man requires that you to make a lot
of decisions, some good, some bad.  But you learn
from them.  As a parent, I hate to see my son get
hurt by bad decisions.  But I also realize that you
must be given increasing freedom to decide and to
live with and learn from those decisions.  While I
don't approve of this decision, I wish you well."

"Thank you, dad.  I love you."

Mrs. Bailey said, "TJ, I'm afraid we've left you
out of this conversation.  Do you want to add
anything?"

"Yes, ma'am.  Neil told me that you were wonderful
people and that I would like you.  He was right.
If anything, you're more wonderful than he said.
You welcomed me into your home and showed me the
very best hospitality.  Your reaction to learning
that we are gay has been amazing.  I'm sure my
parents will not be as reasonable and loving as you
have been.  I don't exaggerate to say that I risk
being disowned when they find out.  But that's a
danger that I'm willing to face because I love your
son.  I love my family, yes, but my love for Neil
is stronger.  Finally, let me assure you that I
will never hurt your son but will do whatever it
takes to make him happy."

"My husband and I don't always agree but in this
instance we do.  I cannot approve of your
relationship but I don't condemn it.  I've
sometimes wondered what kind of girl Neil would
marry and whether I would like her.  Now I have to
adopt a new perspective.  And I must confess that,
given the fact that my son is gay, I admire his
choice of a partner."

"Thank you, ma'am.  I'll do my best not to change
your opinion of me."

"If only we could change Jeff's opinion," Neil
mused sadly.

"Jeff will settle down," Mr. Bailey said.  "His
outburst tonight was largely due to the surprise.
I don't think he'll ever fully accept the reality
of the situation but we can hope for a degree of
tolerance.  He's a good boy but he still has some
growing up to do.  In the meantime, I hope you will
be patient with him."

For the remainder of the teens' two week visit to
Oklahoma, Jeff didn't speak to either of them and
rarely acknowledged their presence.  Except for
meals, he would leave the room if they entered.
Neil made several attempts to engage him in
conversation, always on a topic unrelated to
homosexuality, but all questions were consistently
ignored as though they hadn't even been asked.

Neil was despondent as he grieved over the loss of
friendship with a little brother with whom he had
shared so many good times.  His parents tried to
console him by saying Jeff only needed time to
absorb the news and his attitude would soften.
However, those assurances were not credible.

On the last night of their visit, Neil and TJ
cuddled together in bed.  Neither spoke but they
both felt a special sense of love and of union.

TJ whispered, "I'm sorry Jeff feels the way he
does.  And it hurts me to see you suffering.  I
wish it had turned out differently but we knew he
would disapprove."

"Disapproval I could accept but the ferocity of his
outburst and being treated like I don't even exist
is more than I expected.  We were always so close.
He was my best friend ... until I met you, of
course.  For God's sake, he's my only brother and
I've lost him!"

Tears formed in Neil's eyes as a perfect storm of
emotions overtook him.  Tears gave way to sobs.  TJ
also cried because his lover was in pain.  They
clung to each other like a drowning man would cling
to a lifesaver.

Eventually the emotional storm subsided but they
continued to embrace each other for several
minutes, Neil drawing strength from his partner.

"You must think I'm a silly baby for crying," the
still sad teen said meekly.

"Not at all, my love.  It's probably a good thing
that you let it out.  I know you've bottled it up
inside for days.  This may sound weird but I'm glad
I was with you when all that grief erupted."

Neil hugged his love mate more tightly and replied,
"I may have lost a brother but I have you and
that's what counts.  Thank you for being there for
me.  Thank you for loving me and accepting my
love."


On the last day of their visit, a Saturday, Neil
and TJ loaded their suitcases in the car for the
ride to the airport.  Before leaving the house,
Mrs. Bailey called up to Jeff who was ensconced in
his room.  "Jeff, honey.  Come say goodbye to your
brother."

"I don't have a brother!" he yelled back.

Mr. Bailey, with steely determination etched on his
face, started for the stairs.

"Let it go, dad," Neil said as tears became evident
in his eyes.  "Don't get mad at him.  He may feel
he's lost a brother but don't lose him as a son.
Can we go now?"

Unlike the drive from the airport, there was very
little conversation during the return to the
airport.  The teens checked their luggage and got
their boarding passes before rejoining Neil's
parents by the Security Checkpoint.  They all
chatted for fifteen minutes before Neil suggested
it was time to go to the boarding gate.

Mr. Bailey hugged his son and shook TJ's hand,
saying, "I hope you enjoyed your visit to
Oklahoma."

"Indeed!  You've been wonderful hosts and I
thoroughly enjoyed my stay.  And I apologize for
upsetting you ... I mean the news about Neil and I."

"As I said, young man, I wish only the best for
you."

Mrs. Bailey then tearfully hugged her son with the
obligatory request to keep in touch.  Then, she
surprised everyone by hugging TJ and saying,
"Welcome to the family, TJ.  May God be with you."

TJ was stunned.  Neil was extraordinarily pleased.
Mr. Bailey, showing no identifiable reaction, said,
"I hope you come back to see us again, TJ."  It was
not merely a polite comment; TJ knew that was his
way of echoing his wife's comment.

He struggled to stem the flow of joyful tears.
Still astonished at the hug and the `welcome to the
family' comment, he barely managed to find his
voice.  "Thank you ... for everything!"

As the teens stood in the Security Checkpoint Line,
TJ marveled at what happened.  Did she really say
`welcome to the family'?  Did he want to hear it so
badly that he imagined it?  No.  It was not a
dream.

"I told you they would like you, TJ.  There's no
better proof of that than what my mom said."

"You have wonderful parents.  How they reacted to
the news astonishes me.  If there's a gene for
compassion and understanding, it explains why you
are the way you are.  You must have got a double
dose."

"Maybe I got my brother's share," Neil joked but
his lingering pain was apparent.

Having cleared security and as they walked toward
the boarding gate, TJ could hardly contain his
exuberance.  "Isn't it simply fantastic?" he
gushed.  "Your parents may not approve but they
accepted it!  No tears ... no sermons ... no anger!
I couldn't be happier!"

"Two out of three isn't bad," Neil replied glumly.

TJ suddenly felt guilty for his cheerfulness as he
realized that his lover was still mourning the loss
of his brother.  "I apologize, Neil, for thinking
only of myself.  And I'm sorry that Jeff rejected
you.  We knew he wouldn't approve but the way he
reacted was cruel."

"Yes, it was.  But it's something we'll have to
deal with, isn't it?  I mean there are a lot of
Jeffs in the world.  We'll meet a lot of them."

"Like my father?"

"Perhaps.  But let's not dwell on it now.  Let's be
grateful for my parents' reaction and for each
other."

It was late when the plane landed at Dulles airport
and the two very tired teens were surprised to see
Isabel (the Ryerson's housekeeper) at the baggage
claim to meet them.  "Welcome home," she said.

"Isabel!" TJ exclaimed happily.  "I'm delighted to
see you but I thought my mother would be picking us
up."

"She had to fly to Chicago this morning.  Your
sister had a miscarriage and is in the hospital.
Your mother went out to take care of her and her
two little girls for several days.  Your father is
attending a conference in New York.  So here I am,
welcoming my two favorite young men."

"Is Susan all right?"

"She'll be fine.  Of course, she's upset but she'll
go home tomorrow.  Your mother was quite upset,
too.  It would have been her first grandson and
she's worried about how Susan will cope."

On the 25-mile drive from the airport to the
Ryerson estate near Arlington, Isabel inquired
about the boys' vacation and the teens were eager
to describe what they did and how much they enjoyed
it, omitting, of course, the unplanned disclosure
of their relationship.  Mentioning that would have
violated Isabel's insistence on not hearing or
seeing any evidence of their intimate bond.

It was after ten when Isabel pulled into the
carport at the side of the garage and said, "It's
late, Neil.  Why don't you spend the night here?
You can drive back to campus in the daylight
tomorrow."

TJ enthusiastically seconded the invitation and
Neil readily agreed with thanks.

"Fine!" the woman grinned.  "Sleep as late as you
want.  I'll fix breakfast for you when you get up."

Both teens recognized the covert message.  She
knew, but would never admit to knowing, what they
would do with the private time together.  She
suspected that they may not have had a chance while
visiting Neil's parents and was pleased to give
them an opportunity to be together.  She loved her
TJ as though he were her own son.  She wanted to
see him happy and, given the fact that he was gay,
could imagine no better partner than the bright,
talented, and considerate young man he loved.

TJ expressed his appreciation obliquely, confident
that his beloved Isabel would understand the
meaning when he said to Neil, "We've already
promoted Isabel from princess to goddess but she
deserves another promotion.  What's better than a
goddess?"

Neil chuckled and said, "I don't know.  We'll have
to invent a title.  How about Supreme Goddess?"

"Excellent!  Supreme Goddess Isabel it will be!"

"You're talking nonsense!" the embarrassed woman
objected as she got out of the car.

Once in the house, Isabel went to her suite above
the garage after telling the teens, "Sleep tight."

TJ giggled, which confused Isabel who didn't
recognize the unintended meaning of `tight' but
Neil was able to control his amusement.

Safely in TJ's room and assured of an entire
night's privacy, the two teens joined in an embrace
punctuated by kisses, softly at first but soon
escalating to deep probes of their dueling tongues
into each others' mouths.

Reluctantly, Neil withdrew his tongue and said, "No
offense, but you need a shower and I probably do as
well."

TJ laughingly replied, "Are you telling me that I
stink?"

"I'm just living up to our promise to be honest
with each other, even when the truth hurts."

They stripped off their clothes and made their way
down the hall toward the bathroom.  TJ stopped half
way there and giggled, "Look at us -- walking
around through the house naked.  I haven't done
that since I was a little boy.  I knew Dad would
yell at me if he caught me.  Besides, I was never
sure that Isabel wouldn't be upstairs to see me."

"Well, you're safe now.  There's nobody around to
see you but me ... and I like what I see!  Smooth,
athletic body; handsome face; firm, round butt
cheeks; and a meaty cock that sways when you walk."

TJ playfully wagged his cock at Neil and said,
"I'll bet you'd like a taste of this, you horn
toad!"

"Not now," Neil shot back.  "I'll have to wash it
first."

Wash it he did, as the warm shower rained down on
two virile, young bodies.  The result was both
predictable and inevitable: TJ developed a very
firm erection that pointed to the ceiling.  Neil
was on his knees giving exceptionally tender
attention to the manly rod that twitched and
throbbed with every touch.  TJ hoped that his lover
would lick it, swallow it, stroke it, make it spew
the hot, creamy love juice that was accumulating in
his low-hanging balls.  Indeed, Neil wanted to do
it but held back because he had a more fulfilling
idea in mind.

Neil stood, leaving TJ slightly frustrated over the
abrupt end to his pleasure.  "Your turn," Neil said
as he thrust his hips forward slightly in
invitation.

TJ, dismissing his own pressing need, dropped to
his knees and began, almost worshipfully, to wash
his lover's flaccid although manly cock and balls.
In short order, owing to TJ's expert manipulation,
Neil's cock began to inflate, growing longer and
thicker and, truth to tell, increasingly eager for
the ultimate satisfaction.  TJ sensed that.  He
wrapped his lips around the now firm shaft and
prepared to deliver what both he and his love mate
wanted.

He was both surprised and disappointed, however,
when Neil lifted him to his feet and said, "If you
don't mind, my love, I'd like to continue in your
bedroom."

TJ then grinned in anticipation.  Quickly, they
dried themselves and returned to TJ's room, their
cocks still erect and bouncing with each step.
Once on the bed, Neil cooed, "Fuck me.  Please.
It's been two weeks since we've done that."

TJ couldn't refuse the plaintive request.
Moreover, he welcomed the invitation.  Retrieving
the lubrication that he had hidden in the bottom of
his bedside table, he prepared himself and his
lover for the sexual union.  Beginning slowly and
lovingly, he found the slow, steady rhythm that he
had learned his partner favored.  Mustering all the
disciplined control that he could, he was
determined to prolong his lover's pleasure.  It
wasn't easy.  He had to pause, motionless, several
times to ease back from the brink of orgasm.

Neil recognized the effort and sacrifice his
partner was making and eventually said, "Let
yourself go, TJ.  Give me your seed."

Gratefully, TJ intensified his efforts.  It took
only a few fast and deep thrusts before his climax
suffused him with erotic delight.  He collapsed
onto his lover as his buried cock pulsed with
several volleys of cum deep into Neil's gripping
ass.

They hugged and kissed and reaffirmed their love
until TJ's spent cock popped out of Neil's warm,
comfortable ass.

TJ had to use his expert hands and mouth to return
Neil's cock to readiness but was then rewarded with
the same pleasure he had given his lover and a full
measure of cream in his bowels.

They awoke the next morning and repeated the mating
ritual, aware but not mentioning that it would be
their last chance for several days.  Neil had to
return to campus for summer session classes on
Monday.

To be continued.