Date: Fri, 6 Oct 2006 05:09:11 +1300
From: Kiwi
Subject: Jason and Jordan's tale - 18

Hey, welcome to the Westpoint Tales - a series of stories set in a small
New Zealand town over a time-span of 150 years.(This one's in 2005.)All the
usual disclaimers apply - this is Nifty.  If you shouldn't be reading this,
then don't and what are you doing here anyway?


Jason and Jordan's tale - 18 (final)


Somehow, without even thinking about it, he found himself at the other end
of the town, in Jason's neighbourhood. He walked up Jason's street. He
didn't know why he was doing this, the kid didn't want to know him and he
didn't want to know him either. They were finished - over.

But, maybe he might get a glimpse of him as he passed. Maybe. He guessed it
was true then, you never forget your first love.

The McDonald's house stood out in the quiet street. It was lit up like a
Christmas tree.  Every light in the house seemed to be on. That was not
like Jason, he was always very careful about not wasting
electricity. Jordan suspected that Jason only ever turned the heater on
when he was there. Used to be there.

Probably it was Dizzy Aunt Daisy, she was living there now. Obviously she
wasn't so careful with the power bill. Apart from the lights, there was no
sign of life in there as he walked on by.

But then he saw something strange. Jason's father's car was parked
haphazardly outside the front of the house. It was empty but the lights
were on and the driver's door was wide open.

What was going on? He'd left for work days ago, hadn't he?

Jordan sped up his walking pace. It wouldn't pay for him to be seen around
there. Dan McDonald had probably made a surprise trip home to check up on
Jason. But he'd done nothing wrong. Jordan hadn't been around there and he
hadn't been to the Top Shop. He wouldn't be either, not ever again.

He turned the corner into Peal Street, with one last glance back, and he
walked on. Going home - alone.

Partway there, it started raining again, which was a pain. He wasn't
wearing a jacket or anything. He'd just have to get wet then. At least he'd
be warm and dry once he got home.  But it was miserable, he was
miserable. Life's a bitch.

He walked on through the night, and the rain, and his emotions welled up
and he started to cry - again. This was stupid, he was far too big to be
walking around town bawling his eyes out. But, who could tell? It was late
and it was raining anyway.

Just a few days ago, his life was so good, and now it was - well, it was a
bitch. He wished that they'd never come here. He wished that he'd never
laid eyes on Jason Bloody McDonald either. But he hoped that the kid was
all right. He hadn't taken sick had he?  Would even that bring his father
home?

Oh Shit! He hadn't tried to hang himself or something had he? No. He
wouldn't do that.  Would he? No. They'd be at the hospital anyway, wouldn't
they? But, what if it was too late? What if he'd done it?

He'd get Sandie - she'd find out. Daisy was her aunt and she'd tell her
what was going on.  Sandie had already left the dance, with Tommy, but
she'd have to go home sooner or later. He'd phone her, once he got home and
out of this bloody cold rain.

He rushed home, avoiding the main street and making a wide detour around
the Union Hall where the dance was still going on.

Around the last corner, finally, and approaching the rear of the Top Shop,
Jordan saw something on the sidewalk, in the shadows and up against the
fence by their back gate.  What? That wasn't there before. Was someone
dumping rubbish in the street outside his home?

Then, as he got closer, he saw that it wasn't rubbish at all. It was a
person. It was Jason!  And he was naked - apart from an old sack or
something wrapped around his waist, he was completely naked and barefoot in
the night and the cold, driving rain.

He was just sitting there, his chin resting on his drawn-up knees and
staring at the two, unopened, bottles of vodka on the ground in front of
him. The water ran down and dripped off his flattened, saturated hair.

"Jason? Jason, what the fuck are you doing there? And where are your
clothes? Are you trying to die or something?"

"I might as well," he answered. "I've got no clothes. I've got nothing but
the booze and I don't want that either." He looked up with his red, swollen
eyes, then got unsteadily to his feet.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jordan. I shouldn't be here."

He turned to go but Jordan caught his arm and spun him around. "Damn right,
you shouldn't be here. Not like this. What's wrong, Jason? What happened to
you?"

"My father. My father happened to me. He threw me out just like he said he
would. He threw me out with nothing, not even the clothes I was wearing."

"But why? What have you done? You haven't been with me. You haven't been
with someone else have you?"

"Of course I haven't been with someone else!" Jason flared. "I wouldn't. I
couldn't. How can you say that? Sorry, Jordan. I'll go now."

He tried to pull away but Jordan held him tightly. "Don't. You're not going
anywhere.  What happened Jase?"

"Jase?" the shivering, naked boy started crying again. "The dogs are gone,
Jordan. All of them, Prince, Queenie and Sheba, they're all gone. Someone
cut their chains and took them, or something. They've gone away."

Jordan was stunned. "But. . .but who?. . . Who would do that?"

"I don't know," he sobbed. "I don't know. Someone who hates me - take your
pick, there's plenty of them. All I know is my friends are missing and my
father blames me because I didn't look after them."

"The bloody bastard! How could he? He doesn't deserve you, Jase, he never
did."

"He doesn't want me anyway, not now. Now I've got nothing and nowhere to
go. I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here. I've got no claims on you. Let me go,
Jordan. I'll leave you alone."

"You will not." Jordan wrapped his arms around the cold, wet, boy and held
him tight.

"You're not going anywhere. This is exactly where you should be. Here. With
me."

"Jordie?" Great sobs wracked his body. "Jordie, help me. Please help me."

Jordan kissed his wet head. "Of course I'll help you. I love you, you
Dork."

"Thank you. Thank you, Jordie. I love you so much. I love you Jordie."

"I know."

They kissed, a hungry, loving kiss, then Jordan broke away. "Later. Come
inside before we bloody freeze or drown or something."

Jordan opened the gate with one hand and started towing him towards the
back door, but Jason pulled back.

"Jordie, I can't. Your parents. . . "

"My parents will be delighted to see you. Maybe not like this, but they'll
still be glad you're here. Mum's been telling me for days to go and make up
with you."

"She has? But . . But your father -" He pulled back but Jordan held on and
dragged him forward.

"Come ON, Jason. My father's not your father, he's nothing like him. Come
on. You'll see. Your old man will probably find out before he's much older
too."

Jordan pulled him in the door, flicked on the lights and banged on his
parents' bedroom door.

"Mum!  Mum, are you awake?"

"Jordie!"

"Shut up, Jason."

There was an answering groan from behind the bedroom door.

"Oh good. Get up, Mum. Please. We need you. We'll be in the kitchen. Come
on, Jase, it's warmer in there." He put an arm around Jason's shoulders and
steered him into the kitchen.

"It's the middle of the bloody night!" Half-awake and grumpy, Mrs. Taylor
came stumbling into the room, tying her dressing-gown cords around
her. "What's going on, Jordan. What have you done now? Oh my GOD!"

She stopped short at the sight of the shivering naked boy in her son's
arms. Jason pulled away from him, his red eyes opened wide.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor. I'm sorry, I shouldn't - "

She cut him off. "Shut up Jason. Come here."

June Taylor wrapped her warm arms around the shivering boy and stood
holding him close while he sobbed over her shoulder.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Mrs. Taylor. Really I am - sorry."

"Jason," she said, pushing him back and wiping her fingers under his
eyes. "If you say that one more time, I'll slap you." Then she hugged him
again. "I told you. You're welcome here anytime."

"Thank you. Oh, thank you." He sobbed and cried again.

Seeing that she wasn't going to get any sense out of him, she turned her
head and looked at Jordan. "What's this boy doing here, Jordie? And where
are his clothes?"

"He came for me. He hasn't got any clothes. His father made him leave them
behind when he threw him out."

"Did he just. The Bastard! Go and wake your father up Jordan. Tell him that
I want him."

"His father's already here." Bill Taylor walked into the room, "What's
going on here?  Jason! What the hell happened to you, Lad?"

"I'm sorry, Mr. Taylor. . I - " Jordan's mother closed Jason's mouth with
her hand.

"I'll slap you," she warned. "Sit down here. Bill, go and get a blanket to
wrap around him.  Jordan, go and turn the shower on, not too hot. And get
out of those wet clothes too. I'll stoke the fire up."

She knelt down, rattling the kitchen fire. Jason sank down into a seat, and
then jumped up again when Bill returned with the duvet off their bed. He
draped it around the boy, then put his arms around him and held him tight.

Jordan came back with just a bath-towel tied around his waist. He took
Jason's hand and tugged at him. "Come on. I need a warm shower too. Let him
go, Dad."

"I. . ah. .." red-faced, Jason looked from one parent to the other. "I
don't know."

"Jason. Go and get in the shower with Jordan before all the hot water runs
out. I'll make us some tea and then we'll talk."

When they came back, both wrapped in duvets now, Michael and Sean had both
got up and all four Taylors were sitting waiting for them. Mrs. Taylor
poured out a tea, and a hot chocolate for Jordan, and put them in front of
them where they sat, together, at the kitchen table.

"Now. What happened, Jason?"

Jason sat and told them all his story while Jordan held him. There were a
lot of questions from everybody. Finally Jordan stopped them.

"Right, that's it. Now you know. Jason's here and he's staying here, okay?"

"Yes. Of course he's staying here," Bill agreed. "As long as he wants to
that is."

"Oh yes. Thank you, Mr. Taylor. I want to. I really want to."

"That's settled then. June? What do you think?"

"What do I think? I think that Michael, then Jordan and then Sean, all our
boys arrived in this family naked, wet and messy. Looks to me like we've
just got another one."

"Thank you, Mrs. Taylor, Mr. Taylor. I really don't have anywhere else to
go."

"You don't need anywhere else, Sweetheart," June smiled. "This is your home
now and this is your family. No matter what happens, even if you and Jordan
split up, you'll always have a home here."

"Hey!" Jordan protested. "We're not going to split up, not ever. I won't
let him."

"He won't try, Jordie," Jason grinned fondly at him. "Not ever."

"Right." Mrs. Taylor got to her feet, stretching and yawning. "Bedtime, I
think. There's nothing that won't keep until the morning now. It's late and
I'm tired."

"But. I - umm," Jason looked around the room. "You haven't got a spare
room. Where am I going to sleep?"

"With me, of course," Jordan grinned. "With me, in my bed. Tonight and
every night from now on."

"But, what about Sean? It's his room too. I don't want to crowd him."

"Don't worry about Sean," said Mrs. Taylor. "Just go to bed now. We'll work
something out in the morning."

"I think we can do better than that." Mr. Taylor got to his feet. "June,
Boys, go to bed.  Sean you can go and sleep in Michael's bed for tonight."

"Hey. What about me?" Michael asked.

"You're not going to bed, Michael. Go and get your clothes on. You're
coming with me."

"With you? Okay. But where are we going at this time of the night?"

"We're going to see your uncles. Come on, hurry up. You lot, get to bed."

"Dad? What are you doing?" Jordan asked. "Why are you going to see your
brothers?  They'll be in bed."

"Well they won't be for long. Never you mind what we're doing, you'll find
out. Just go and keep our new baby-boy warm."

"Right. I can do that. Newborns need lots of cuddles don't they?" Jordan
grinned.

"Yes they do," said Mrs. Taylor. "Lots and lots. Go to bed and look after
him."

Next morning, late, Jordan and Jason came back to the kitchen to find all
the family sitting there, along with two other men.

"Morning Family," said Jordan with a big smile.

"About time too," Sean replied. "You think you're on your honeymoon or
something?"

"Shut up Sean."

"Yes indeed. Shut up Sean." One of the men, a spitting image of Bill
Taylor, got to his feet. He offered his hand to Jason. "Good morning,
Jordie. Jason, I'm John Taylor, Bill's brother and Jordan's uncle and yours
too now, I guess. Welcome to our family."

"Thank you, Sir." Jason shook his hand. "Thank you everybody."

"No problems, Jason," said Jordan's father. "This is my other brother,
Scott. Stand up and say hello to your new nephew, Scott."

"Are you ever going to stop bossing me around, Bill Taylor?" Scott got up
and took Jason's hand. "I was just going to. Hello Jason. I'm your
good-looking uncle."

"They all look good to me," Jason blushed.

"Dad, what's going on here?" Jordan asked. "Why is everybody here?"

"We're just having a nice cup of tea with your mother," Bill replied. "Do
you want one?"

"Me? No way. Jason will have one, I'm having coffee as usual."

"Get your own then," Mrs. Taylor said. "Jason, what are you doing in
Jordan's clothes?"

"I, umm, I didn't have any. Jordie said that I could borrow his. That's all
right isn't it?"

"No, it's not all right. Jordan's clothes are Jordan's. He's wearing them
out fast enough as it is. He doesn't need any help from you."

"But...But, I. . ." Jason stammered.

Jordan burst in. "What's he supposed to do then? Get real Mum."

"Don't talk to your mother like that," Bill snapped. Then he
grinned. "We're teasing you, Boys. Go and have a look in the back yard."

"You what? Come on, Jase," Jordan took his hand and towed him out to the
back.

Outside the door they both stopped and stared. A section of the wooden
fence had been removed and Jason's father's motor home stood on the back
lawn.

Jordan's father came out between them and draped his arms around both their
shoulders.  "Like it, Boys? Sean's always wanted his own room. We figure
that you two can live out here. There's only one bedroom of course, but we
didn't think you'd mind sharing."

"Dad! Oh Dad, thank you," Jordan beamed as he hugged him.

"Thank you, Sir," Jason said quietly. "Thank you all for the thought. But
my father would never allow it. He's going to go right off."

"He won't, Jason," Michael said. "We all went around and had a long chat
with your father last night and he was glad to see it go. There won't be
any trouble."

"You all did that for me? Thank you. Thank you all." Jason stood, overcome
and crying again.

Jordan wrapped around him and held him close. "It's okay, Jase. In this
family, we look after our own and you're ours now. Right Dad?"

"Damn right, Jordie. We'll leave you two to sort out the mess in there. We
just threw everything in. You'll find your clothes in there, Jason. Your
clothes and everything else out of your room."

"Except for the bed, of course," Sean grinned. "They figured that you won't
be wanting two beds."

"Shut up Sean," Jordan warned, but Jason pushed him out of the way.

"I'll handle this, Jordie. Shut up, Sean," and he hugged the squirming,
wriggling, Sean.

"I'll be good. I'll be good. Get off, Gayboy."

"Sean," sighed Mrs. Taylor. "Don't talk to your brother like that."




Author's Note : That's it - I quit. Dream up the rest of the story
yourself. Any comments, questions, criticisms etc., please e-mail me at
canned-heat@hotmail.com

I love getting feedback. If you want to see more tales, there's more at
It's Only Me from Across the Sea (http://iomfats.org) Stories by Kiwi. (Or
follow the link on Nifty's Links page.)

And be sure to look around while you're there, there are some great writers
and great stories there.

Thanks to everyone who has written - i really appreciate it. And, thanks
Nifty for hosting my story.

Go well Guys.