Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2003 09:32:37 -0400
From: Sequoyah <sequoyah@charter.net>
Subject: Mountain Magic Chapter Three Repost

Mountain Magic

Chapter Three

Warning!

The usual warning applies: This story contains erotic events involving
alternative sexualities. Do not read the contents if such will offend
you. If accessing this site causes you to break local laws (village, town,
city, county, province, state, or country, etc.), please leave now or
accept the consequences, should there be any.

By reading or downloading this file you implicitly declare that you accept
total responsibility for your actions in regard to material intended for
mature, responsible members of society capable of making decisions about
the content of documents they wish to read. You are accessing this site of
your own free volition. You have been warned!

Disclaimer

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either
are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and
any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments,
events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright Notice Reminder

This story is copyright by the author and the author retains all
rights. Expressly prohibited is the posting of the story to any sites not
approved by the author or charging for the story in any manner. Single
copies may be downloaded and printed for personal use provided the story
remains unchanged.

Thanks and Dedication

Thanks to editors D, G and S.

This chapter is dedicated to the newly hitched. May your lives be long and
your joy complete!

Comments

Good, bad or indifferent are appreciated: sequoyah@charter.net

Sequoyah

Chapter Three

During the summer, I had managed to get in the habit of waking up at the
same time as my grandparents, but before I went to bed I had set my alarm
clock. I was pretty sure that I wouldn't just "wake up" on school
days. When my alarm clock went off, I wanted to pick it up and toss it
across the room. "Only 179 more days of hearing that," I thought as I
turned it off, climbed out of bed and headed down the hall to the bathroom.

One thing I really liked about living with my grandparents was having my
own private space. I had the upstairs to myself. When I was old enough to
notice such things, I was surprised to realize that while Dad was an only
child, the upstairs had been finished and had three rooms and a bath. Since
there were two bedrooms besides the master bedroom downstairs--one had been
my dad's and the other was a guest room--I wondered why the upstairs had
been finished.

When I asked Dad, he said it had been finished after he left home. A
neighbor was laid off from his job when a cutback came and was in very bad
shape financially. "Your granddad is a mountain man himself and knows the
mountain attitude toward handouts. He knew the neighbor wouldn't accept
money, but he would work for it. 'Cost me more to help him out than if I
just handed him a check,' your granddad had said, 'but you have to respect
a man's pride.' So, after Mom and Dad were the only two at home, they got
an additional three rooms and bath."Well, they really didn't need it, but I
liked having a bedroom and I especially like having my own bath.

I had thought about using one room for my computer and study desk but, when
I gave it more thought, I took the largest room and put everything in
it. Stuff from the den in Durham was in a second large room, but I was
seldom in it. The room I chose for mine had twin beds which were moved into
the third room, the smallest of the three, and I had the queen-size bed
from Durham.

Grandmom had the movers bring the furniture upstairs and put it where I
wanted it and when it was in place, she said, "You know we brought the
draperies from the den in Durham. Of course, the windows up here are
smaller, so I'll have to remake them one of these days, but there's no
rush." I don't know how quickly she would have had the draperies altered if
there had been a rush, but they were up a few days later when I came in
from working with Granddad.

So I had a great space of my own--a bedroom, a den and a bath.

I plodded to the bathroom and after I had taken care of the demands of
nature, I brushed my teeth, showered and decided to shave even though I
really didn't need to. Back in my room, I got dressed and went
downstairs. Granddad was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper
and drinking coffee.

He looked up when I walked in and said, "Douglas, you won't need the tie or
blazer at Coldsprings. I guess all of your school clothes are like those,
right?"

"Sure. We had uniforms at St. Stephen's--gray slacks, white shirt, blue and
red tie and blue blazer. I thought they would be ok for Coldsprings. I took
the St. Stephen's shield off the blazer pocket."

"Coldsprings is not St. Stephen's. Coldsprings kids don't wear blazers and
they don't wear ties."

I dashed back upstairs, took off the blazer and tie and put them in my
closet, but the button-down shirt and slacks would have to do. I had little
else good enough for school. When I came back downstairs, Granddad said,
"Let's have breakfast."

After breakfast I said, "School's only half-day today. Ok if I drive my
Jeep? I need to go into Clarksville to see Mrs. Roberston and the Y swim
coach."

"Douglas, you can drive every day if you choose. It's up to you," Granddad
said.

"There'll be no lunch at school today, so I packed you one," Grandmom said
as she handed me a very large bag."This feels like enough for two or
three," I said.

"I thought you might need more before you got back since you're going on to
Clarksville," Grandmom said.

"Thanks. Well, I'm off," I said as I kissed my grandmom on the cheek.

Granddad stood, put his arm on my shoulder and said, "Be careful."

I drove into the school parking lot and saw students all over the place,
gathered in small groups, talking and laughing. Suddenly I felt very
alone. I got out of the Jeep and started walking toward the entrance. As I
approached, a group of guys standing near the front door started
whistling. I wondered what was going on and then one who looked practically
old enough to be a parent, said in a very loud voice, "Well, look what we
have here, a fancy pants. Hey, Fancy Pants, where you think you are? Some
uppity private school? Man, you are one more sissy. You wear lace panties,
Sissy?" the knothead said, trying, no doubt, to sound like a tough street
punk.

I could feel my face getting red. I guess I should have expected a bit of
kidding--the new boy always gets it--but the tone of voice the guy used
made it clear this wasn't innocent kidding. But even realizing it was more
than just teasing the new boy, I did not and could not realize how serious
the hazing would become and how miserable he and his crowd was going to
make my life. This time they just kept talking and I just kept walking as
the other jerks took up their leader's taunting.

There were signs posted all over the school telling students where to
report for homeroom. I was to report to Ms. Cleon's room, Room 121. I
finally puzzled out the numbering system and got to Room 121. As I walked
in, a lady with Ms. Cleon on her name tag said, "Good morning, I am
Ms. Cleon."

"Glad to meet you, Ms. Cleon, I am Douglas McElrath, a new student."

"Welcome to Coldsprings, Douglas, and to Homeroom 11-3. The eleven means a
junior homeroom and the three means this one, the one in room 121", she
said. "Just don't ask me how students are assigned to homerooms or why this
is junior homeroom 3 because it is a complete mystery to me too," she
laughed.

"I bet he don't feel too welcome," a girl sitting about half way back
said. "Jerry Arington has already started a bunch of stupid nonsense."

"Then I guess it is up to those of you who have some manners to make
Douglas feel welcome," Ms. Cleon said.

A good-looking girl said in a very sultry voice, "Come sit by me,
Douglas. I'll make you feel welcome."

"I saw him first, Jennifer! Come sit by me, Douglas. I'm Kathy.

"Girls, I doubt that Douglas likes being fought over," Ms. Cleon said, with
a smile.

I could feel my face burning and knew I was blushing, but decided not to
let it get away with me, "Oh, I'm not sure about that, especially if they
are as good looking as. . .sorry, I don't know your name," I said to the
girl I was standing beside and who had not spoken.

"Alexandria, but you can call me Alex."

"Or you can call her Xander, doesn't matter. She'll come," the girl behind
her said.

"My, my. Something wrong with your Meow Mix this morning, Anita, or has
your mom changed to a cat food you don't like?" Kathy purred.

"Douglas, I suggest you avoid the cat litter box and come back here with us
nice girls," a girl sitting near the back of the room said.

"Janie, what makes you think he is interested in a nice girl?" a girl near
the front said. With all this going on, I failed to notice there were only
girls in the room. It was now obvious there were two groups of girls taking
pot shots at each other.

During the last exchange, a group of boys came in, the loudmouth from the
front entrance and some of his henchmen. Loudmouth said, "What makes you
think Mr. Sissy Fancy Pants is interested in girls at all? Are you
interested in girls, Sissy, or are you more interested in a hot man like
me?" Jerry asked as he wiggled his butt.

I knew my face was bright red and I didn't know how to cope with this kind
of raw put-down.

"Jerry, that is more than enough. You know that kind of talk is not allowed
in my room. I would like to get through the first homeroom of the year
without having to deal with you and your mouth," Ms. Cleon said in a very
cold voice.

She then passed out folders with all sorts of stuff inside--bus route
sheets, forms for school activity insurance, forms for free or
reduced-price lunches, all sorts of things. Some had to be signed by a
parent or guardian, some had to be filled out during the homeroom and some,
she said, were for our information and "Please deposit those in the
wastebasket as you leave and not on the floor as I know you will discard
them as soon as you can."

I was busy filling out a form when I heard Ms. Cleon say, "Good morning,
welcome to Homeroom 11-3."

"Hank Dennison at your service, ma'am. At your service."

"Well, Mr. Hank Dennison, good to see you again," Ms. Cleon laughed.

I looked up to see a very blond guy, bowing to Ms. Cleon. He was looking
all around the room. There were plenty of empty desks, so I thought he was
looking for someone or to see who was present. After his glance had swept
the room, he headed directly toward me. When he reached my desk, he looked
at me, smiled, and slid into the desk beside mine. As I said, he was very
blond, as blond I was dark and had the bluest eyes. As soon as he was in
his desk, he extended his hand and said, "Hi, I'm Hank."

I took his hand and just sat there looking into his blue, blue eyes until
he smiled and said, "You do have a name don't you?"

While I was stammering, Jerry said, "Yeah, he's Sissy."

With a huge smile, Hank shook my hand and said, "I'm very pleased to meet
you, Mr. Sissy, but don't you think we should be on a first name basis?"

"Yeah, Hank. I'm Douglas, Douglas Sissy," I smiled and the whole classroom
roared except for Jerry and his fellow knotheads.

"Hank, Douglas is new student and I hope you will make him feel welcome at
Coldsprings without getting him into too much trouble. Now," Ms. Cleon
said, "if you will take out your schedules, we will check them. Make sure
you are in the right classes because schedule changes will be made only if
you are improperly placed."

"What if we have a teacher we don't like," Jerry demanded.

"No doubt in your case the feeling would be mutual and the teacher would
welcome a change, but you both will just have to deal with the schedule as
is."

Hank put his schedule on the desk beside mine and as he looked them over
said, "Damn, you must be smart." I looked at his schedule and saw that he
was in AP lit/comp and AP chem, but the rest of his classes were regular
ones. "We'll be in the same classes first and fifth period and I see you
are excused from seventh," he said.

"Yeah, I'm probably taking piano two days a week and hope to be swimming on
the Y team so I'll swim three days. See you are also free."

"Yeah, I'll be joining you at the Y. I swam for the team last year. I
usually try to help at the store the other two days. My dad owns the music
store in town."
we were talking, I heard a deep, resonant voice say, "Sorry I'm late. I got
lost. I'm Jason Talltree."

When I looked up I felt my heart skip a beat, my face turned red and I
gulped. It was the guy from the park!

As he spoke, the bell announcing first period rang. "Jason, if you'll
remain behind, I'll help you get straightened away," Ms. Cleon said.

As I started walking out of the room, I passed Jason, who looked at me and
quickly looked down. I wondered if he had any classes with me. I sure hoped
so, but at least he did have a name now. The guy from the park, the
mountain spirit, was Jason.

Hank and I had AP lit/comp first period with Mr. Greene. As soon as class
started, I learned I was behind. Students had been assigned three novels as
summer reading: "Catcher in the Rye", "The Scarlet Letter" and "The Wizard
of Earthsea". Fortunately, I had read one of the three, LeGuin's "The
Wizard of Earthsea". I was surprised that it was on the reading list, but
delighted as well. I LOVED that book.

Mr. Greene asked who had completed their reading and had their journals
with them. About half had. He then asked who had read LeGuin. Most had, so
he said, "We'll start with it. The rest of you better get to reading if you
expect to pass."

We had just started talking about the book when Jason walked into the room
and handed Mr. Greene his schedule. "Jason, just find a place to sit. I
figure if students can handle a college level course, they can handle
finding a place to sit."

Jason looked around and took a seat on my right. Hank was sitting to my
left. As Jason sat down, he smiled at Hank, then me.

"Jason," Mr. Greene said, "We are talking about "The Wizard of Earthsea". I
know you are new and didn't get the reading list, but have you by any
chance read it?"

"At least a dozen times, Mr. er..."

"Sorry, Greene, Jason. I'm Mr. Greene. Would you like to tell us how you
came to read it so many times?"

Jason looked down, like he regretted speaking up. "Well, I spent some time
in foster care when I was ten, eleven, and my foster mother read us foster
kids a chapter a night and I just loved it. I saved my little allowance
until I could buy a used copy which I still have and still read. I know Ged
is only twelve or so, but I think he's really older--now I mean. It's like
he is always my age when I'm reading. For some reason or other, I find the
conflict in his life helps me think about my own life. I really identify
with Ged." Jason spoke in a very tentative voice as if he was waiting for
someone to pounce on him. I don't know why he was so hesitant because I
felt exactly the same way about the novel.

Several other students spoke about how they reacted to the book and just
before the class ended, Mr. Greene said, "Start work on your first paper
tonight. It is to be a persuasive paper, not more than two pages long. Your
objective is to convince the English department to make 'The Wizard Of
Earthsea' required reading. And get to work completing the reading on your
list. Jason and Douglas, here are the three novels. Maybe you can get
caught up quickly. And welcome to Coldsprings."

"Thank you," we both said.

As we were walking out the door, Hank asked, "Where to next, Jason? Boy
genius here is off to AP calculus."

"Hardly that smart," he smiled. "I have algebra, room 230 with
Mr. Valentine."

"Lucky us, I'm in that class and Mr. Valentine is a great teacher. So
you're doing AP math too?"

"Yeah, but certainly not calculus," Jason said.

"Old Douglas here is not only in AP calculus, but has Mrs. Fox as well. She
is a real hard-ass. Likes to keep students guessing. Just watch her,
Douglas, and don't let her put anything over on you."

The two started down the hall and, as I started walking with them, Hank
said, "Whoa, hold up. Douglas, you go in the other direction."

Since school was on a half-day schedule for opening day, periods were very
short. Fortunately, the time between classes wasn't shortened or I would
never have made it to a class. Even with a map, I was usually lost.

After calc, Jason and Hank showed up outside my door. "You and Jason are
together next period and I am just down the hall, so follow me. No-one
dropped bread crumbs to guide you newcomers to classes," Hank laughed.

It didn't take me long to realize that the AP American history teacher was
going to be boring. I enjoy learning, but it was clear Mr. Sawyer wasn't
interested in his subject and was lecturing from notes yellow with age.

After class, Hank came bounding down the hall and said, "I'm off to Spanish
and you guys are headed to where?"

"Third year French," I answered.

"Honors again, I see. Jason where are you this period?"

"First year Spanish. I haven't had any foreign language."

"I'm in second year Spanish. After our language classes will be lunch, but
since we are on a half day schedule, there's no lunch today. We're all in
the same area next period, so I'll get up with you there."

When we got together after our language classes, we found out Jason was in
advanced computer applications with Hank and me. "You'll love it," Hank
said. "Ms. Wheeler is a great teacher and you'll get to do all sorts of
cool stuff. Actually anything you can come up with. I'm running to the
restroom, but just go down this hall, take the first right and walk to the
end of the hall to the computer lab. See you there."

Hank disappeared down the hall and as Jason and I reached the computer lab,
Jerry was coming out. "Sissy Fancy Pants in computer class? What you be
doin' Sissy?" He stopped cold and turned and walked away. It only occurred
to me later that he stopped what he started to say when he saw Jason.

Ms. Wheeler was excited about her class and it definitely made a
difference. "You will be introduced to a number of programs, major
programs, as quickly as possible. And I do mean introduced. As soon as
everyone has been exposed to the programs we will be using, you are to
select one and get to know it backwards and forwards. Then you will develop
a project using the program you have chosen. You can do a set of books
using bookkeeping software, you can do a presentation using presentation
software, whatever you are interested in doing, you may do. BUT your final
project must be top notch since 75% of your final grade will be for your
project. All our lab work will be in pairs or teams of three and you may do
your project with a your partner or team if you like." She then made a list
of the available programs and started by introducing some image editing
software. Needless to say, Jason, Hank and I immediately teamed up.

When class was over, I asked Hank how to find the chem lab and Jason asked
about the AP biology one. "I'm in between your two classes again," he said,
"in regular chem."

"Hank and I are finished for the day after next period. What do you have
sixth?" I asked Jason.

"I'm finished as well. I have permission to leave to go to work--provided I
can find a job. I really need one to help out at home, but I have a real
problem since I don't have transportation."

"Hank and I are going into town after next period. Want to join us? Maybe
we can help you out."

"Sure, I guess."

"Meet us in the parking lot."

The bell rang ending sixth period at 12:30. As I walked out of the
classroom, I met Hank who said, "Man, I feel really sorry for those who
still have a period to go. They won't get out until 1:10 and I am starved
already. MickeyD's here I come."

"You don't have a lunch?"

"Nope. Thought I'd grab something at MickeyD's."

"I have enough for an army and would be delighted to share."

"Sounds good to me. Here comes Jason. Jason, over here," Hank shouted.

Hank reminded me of a cocker spaniel pup--full of energy, dashing ahead
without thinking, happy. I laughed and said, "Think I'll have to call you
pup, Hank. You are a lot like a Cocker pup, bouncing around. You even look
like one with all that blond curly hair."

"Yeah, well watch it or I'm jump up on you and then pee on your leg. Get a
move on, Jason, we're going to help Douglas dispose of his lunch. He says
he has enough for all of us and I know just the place for eating it. Move
along, I'm hungry."

When Jason caught up with us, he smiled and asked, "Don't you think Douglas
might have something to say about the disposal of his lunch?" Man, that kid
has a smile that would melt an iceberg. The corners of his mouth turn up
just a little bit and his eyes sparkle.

"Nah, he's a push over."

As we got in the Jeep, I noticed Jerry and his half-wit buddies coming
toward the parking lot from the stadium.When Hank saw them, he said, "You
can bet your last dollar that bunch have been down in the woods behind the
stadium smoking--maybe something as innocent as tobacco. That jerk and his
asshole buddies are trouble waiting to happen. I wouldn't put anything past
them."

I didn't say anything about my encounters with them. It was only the first
day of school and I suspected they would move on to something else and
leave me alone shortly.

As soon as we were settled in the Jeep, Hank asked, "Where do you guys
live?"

"I live with my grandparents in Deep Cove," I answered.

"Who are your grandparents?"

"He's Douglas McElrath. That give you a hint?" Jason asked.

"Oh, the McElraths. In Deep Cove."

"Yeah, you know them?" I asked.

"Sure do. Next door neighbors. Our place is just beyond yours. Our house is
on the opposite side of the road about a mile after your place. How about
you, Jason?"

I noticed Jason seemed reluctant to answer, but finally said, "I live in
the cove too. With my grandmother. About three quarters of a mile before
Douglas' place."

"Hey, that's great. We are neighbors. Have to get together some time."

"Like now?" I asked.

"Yeah," Hank replied and, as we would discover, in his usual manner of
carrying on a conversation changed the subject or picked up on something
most people would have forgotten. "You said you needed a job, Jason?"

"I sure do, but I have no way to get to one except walk. I don't even have
a bicycle."

"Won't be much help if you did," Hank answered. "There's nothing to do in
Coldsprings and it's four miles from the cove. Douglas, you'll be driving
into town every day, won't you?"

"Sure."

"We'll have to find you a job in Clarksville then. One problem solved,"
Hank said. And to Hank's mind, that was true. Problems were solved by
agreeing that they were solved and moving on to something else.

I guess I need to explain something about the area in which we all
lived. Deep Cove, where Jason, Hank and I live, is about four miles north
of Coldsprings where the high school is located. Coldsprings itself was
little more than a crossroads until a few years ago. In fact, a feed and
seed store was all there was to it. Well, that and half a dozen or so
houses.

Several years ago, the school board recognized the need for a new high
school. In fact, they had had little choice since the old one in
Clarksville was too small, too run-down and too expensive to keep up. The
decision was made to raze it and build a new school in Coldsprings, I
suspect, because Coldsprings is near the center of the county.

Soon after the new high school was built in Coldsprings, a dentist and
doctor opened offices in the village. Later a branch bank and a country
store opened.

When we talk about going to town--as we were--we mean Clarksville which is
about ten miles east of Coldsprings. It's a small town of about ten or
eleven thousand people and many of the people who work in Clarksville live
in the surrounding area as does Hank's family . They drive through
Coldsprings to get to the music store they own in Clarkesville. Confusing
enough? There's more.

We also talk about going to town when we mean Asheville which is about
twenty-five miles from Coldsprings. You have to listen to what's being said
to know what we mean when we say we're going to town.So we were driving to
town--Clarksville--after school when Hank decided we would eat my lunch and
then take Jason to town to look for a job. "I don't know that Douglas likes
you volunteering him--or his lunch," Jason said with a faint smile. "I
haven't heard from him yet."

"Sure he does. We're the three musketeers--one for all and all for
one. We've got to stick together. Friends for ever."

"Hope you mean that, Hank. You may change your mind later," Jason said. I
wondered what he meant, but didn't feel comfortable asking him.

"Hey, I almost let it slip up on us. Take the next right," Hank said.I
turned down a narrow gravel road which ran along a pasture fence. In the
distance I could see a line of trees and, further on, a mountain. About
half a mile after I turned off the highway, I approached the trees and saw
they were lining a river bank. "Turn left and follow the river," Hank
said.The road became nothing more than a barely visible path through the
grass. There was barely room for the Jeep between the fence and the
river. The path ended at a pasture gate. The fence went down to the river
giving the cattle access to the river. "We're here," Hank said as he
grabbed the lunch before the Jeep stopped.

We all climbed out and followed Hank. "There's a place we can cross the
river right here."

I could see where the river widened and was shallow enough to wade across,
but I knew we'd get wet."Hank, maybe you don't mind going into town soaked,
but I have to see a music teacher. I know we can probably wade across here,
but I'm sure I'll get my pants wet."

"Not if you are carrying them," he said and as if to make the point,
started taking off his shoes and pants.

As I followed Hank's example, I saw Jason was not moving. "Jason, are you
with us?" I asked.

"Yeah," Hank said, "Off with the shoes and pants."

"I...I...I'm... well, I'm not dressed for polite company," he finally got
out."

Ah ha! Now you know why yo' mama told you to put on clean underwear. It was
not because you might have an accident, but because you would be caught
with dirty underwear when your friends decide to strip," Hank laughed as he
pointed to Jason.

I wouldn't have thought someone as dark as Jason could blush, but he did.

"Hank, I'll not be caught with dirty underwear, but bare-assed."

"You got nothing we don't have and, anyway, I'm not into guys. Off with the
pants, I'm ready to collapse from hunger," Hank urged as he clutched his
pants to his chest with one hand, held the lunch bag with the other and
headed for the river. "Leave your shoes and socks here, you won't need
them," he said as he stepped into the river.

Jason took off his shoes and socks and placed them beside mine and
Hanks. He then removed his pants and, sure enough, he was bare-assed. I
tried not to look, but had to take a glance and a glance was enough to let
me know he was well endowed. Hank, who had reached the other side, yelled,
"Get your bare-ass and needle dick over here, Jason. I'm famished!" I guess
he hadn't looked.

The bank on the other side of the river was grassy and as soon as Jason and
I reached it, we put our pants back on. Hank had dressed already. We sat
down and Hank opened my lunch. "I see three sandwiches, two apples, some
chips and what looks like, and are, fried apple pies. Man, your granny must
think you eat like a horse. There's even a water bottle in here which still
has ice in it," Hank said as he tore the lunch bag open and put the food
out on it. "Well, help yourselves, Men."

Jason was just shaking his head, laughing. Before we started eating, Hank
opened the water bottle and asked, "You don't have some kind of deadly
disease you picked up from some loose woman do you, Douglas?"

"Not possible. I am as pure as the driven snow," I laughed in reply,
whereupon, Hank took a slug of water and passed the bottle to Jason. We ate
the lunch and while I suspect we all could have eaten more, we really had
plenty. When we had finished the lunch and gathered up the trash, we lay
back on the grass, hands behind our heads.

"All right, if I am to be the leader of this band of scholars and
vagabonds, I need to know the facts. Just how did you get sent to spy on
Coldsprings High School, Douglas?"

Before I could say anything, huge tears welled up in my eyes and I sat up
to keep them from running into my ears. As soon as I sat up, Jason got up,
moved to my side and put his arm around me. Hank started getting teary eyed
as he, too, moved to my side and said, "Damn, Douglas, I didn't mean to
hurt you. Man, I'm sorry. Damn, I'm sorry."

Jason's arm around me was so comforting--Hank's too--that I was soon able
to get control of myself and when I did, I said, "No need to apologize,
Hank. You couldn't know." I then told the two what had happened to my
family.

"Shit, Man, I don't know how you'd keep going. I think I'd just curl up
into a ball if something like that happened to my family. I'm sorry--both
for what happened to your family and for making you think about it."

"That's ok. I think being able to talk about it helps. You don't get over
it in a hurry and you really need to face it. I can usually handle
remembering, but sometimes when I feel safe, I bawl."

"I'm glad you feel safe with us," Jason said softly and when I looked into
his eyes, I saw real concern there and a surprising tenderness.

"Damn square," Hank said, then fell silent.

Jason was looking down at the ground, obviously struggling with
himself. Finally he said, "I'm afraid as soon as you know about me, you'll
want to put a lot of distance between us, but it's not fair to you for me
to hide. I live with my grandma up in the cove. She lives in a shack
half-way up the side of the mountain. It belongs to old man Richfield. It
is the old mountain cabin where she and my grandpa lived when they worked
for Richfield for years. When my grandpa died ten years ago, Richfield was
going to throw her out, but she reminded him he had never paid social
security on grandpa and could be jailed for that. He agreed to let her keep
living there, but that's all. There have been no repairs on the house. Of
course, it has no running water and only a fireplace for heat. Well, there
is an old wood stove for cooking which she says she uses for heat as
well. She's is too old to go out and cut wood so she says she seldom has
enough for more than one day. You could throw a cat through the cracks in
the wall so I can just imagine what it'll like this winter. I dread the
thoughts of cold weather coming."

"There's only one room and a half loft where I sleep. The place is hardly
fit for a dog, but it's all she has and all I have is her. She gets a
little welfare check which barely keeps us in food and then only if I get
it before she spends it on white liquor. She's an alcoholic, but I can
hardly blame her. Our situation is the reason I really need a job. It's the
reason I am bare-assed--not because I like it or think it's sexy or
anything, but underwear is something I can do without."

I remember noticing Jason's clothing when I first saw him in the park. What
he was wearing wasn't as small or as worn as those had been, but his
clothes were, nonetheless, too small and well-worn, but clean.

"Where are your parents?" Hank asked.

Jason kept looking down at the ground and when he spoke, I could barely
hear him. "You heard me say I was in foster care for a while? Well, both my
old lady and old man got picked up for pot and, because they gave the
police some trouble, spent some time in jail. I was in foster care for a
couple years when I was ten-eleven. After that, one or the other of them
were usually in jail or something and I was pretty much on my own. Well, I
did at least have a bed to go to."

"Then last year my old man knifed a fellow in a drunken brawl. He's serving
ten to twenty years in Central Prison in Raleigh for manslaughter. Because
of him, I missed most of school last year. Even though I took hard courses,
I missed so many days I'm repeating my junior year."

"My old lady is a lot like her mother, my grandma. She'll drink anything
she can get her hands on. After my old man was gone and money was even
shorter, she discovered she had something to trade for alcohol so she spent
a lot of time on her back. Three, four months after my old man got sent to
Raleigh she brought another drunk home. He swung both ways so I had to
swing at him. They put me on the street and when I went back to try to get
the few things I had, they had gone. I was in Wilmington with no place to
stay and after a couple months on the streets, hitchhiked to here. So you
have just had lunch with the son of a jailbird and a whore who now lives
with an old drunk. Fine company you two keep."

Jason never looked up while he was talking and when he did, he had to see
the tears in my eyes and in Hank's. "Jason, this is hard to say, but I
think there are things worse than having your family killed," I said and
wrapped an arm around him.

Hank was silent for the longest time and then said, "I want both of you to
know that I think you are real men. I don't think I could handle either
situation and I promise to try to remember what you have been through and
are going through the next time I get pissed at my parents. But, Jason, you
sure don't sound like a street punk, if I may say so," Hank said, sounding
puzzled."

"Thanks, and I mean that," Jason said. "I've always had a
teacher--sometimes two--who was interested in me and who insisted that I
not talk street talk. They made sure I understood what was tough on the
street would get you nowhere once you got off the street and they knew I
wanted off."

"Now we know your situation, you two. Mine? I am the middle kid in a
three-kid family--I have a brother in college and a sister in middle
school. We live in the same house in Deep Cove where I have always
lived. We are upper middle class so far as money is concerned and I have
everything I need and most of what I want--I am, to be blunt--a spoiled
brat, but I intend to change to be worthy of hanging around with you
two. So, how can I help?" Hank asked, looking at Jason and then me.

"Just be our friend," Jason said.

"Yeah, just be our friend."

Hank was silent again for a long time and then said, "You know something? I
thought I had friends before, but the slightest thing and we were mad at
each other. But somehow, what you two have told me, trusted me with, makes
me think there're more to friendship than I have known before. Yeah, and I
like it--I mean being friends, not what you two have been through."

I thought Hank had to be pretty shallow to decide we were life-long buddies
after having known us for less than a day, but the time ahead proved he
absolutely meant what he said. He made decisions the way he solved
problems. He just decided and that was it.

We sat silent for a long time, lying back on the grass, hands behind our
heads, watching the play of sun and clouds through the trees. I think we
were getting ourselves together and allowing what we had revealed to each
other to find a place inside. I know that was what was going on with
me. Almost at the same time, we turned over on our stomachs, heads to the
center, our bodies like three spokes on a wheel.

"Yeah, being friends--one for all and all for one--I like it too," Jason
said and I nodded.

After that we just talked about nothing in particular for half an hour
until I finally said, "Well, I have an appointment with a piano teacher." I
was really enjoying my time with Hank and Jason and really didn't want to
get on with seeing Mrs. Roberts or the Y swim coach, but the time had
come. The three of us picked up our trash, walked back to the Jeep and went
on into Clarksville.