Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 17:25:13 -0500
From: Bill Porter <wep363@netzero.net>
Subject: My Bodyguard Chapter 19

My Bodyguard Chapter 19

A very special thanks to Ed for editing this chapter.

This story is not true.

This is a story of love, trust, hope, and commitment. It is not a sex
story.  However, this story deals with love between two teenagers. If you
are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do
not read this story. There will be some sex scenes in this story; however,
sex is not the main theme. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal
to read this story where you live, don't read it.

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Thank you for all your e-mails.  If I have missed answering you, I am truly
sorry.  I have tried to answer all of them. Please continue to send me your
comments.

This chapter is going to switch to Mark's point of view.

*************

I laid in bed Monday night after Mike fell asleep.  I was just thinking
about the last 6 weeks.  Before I met Mike my life seemed to stand still.
I would not call my life boring but it was nothing like it is now.  The
last 6 weeks seem like about two days.  And the last 5 days are a blur.

Mike has opened up something in my heart that I did not know was there.
He's kind and caring.  He's smart and just fun to be around.  Our
friendship and love has grown to the point where I can't imagine my life
without him.  Every time we make love it gets more intense.  I am still
very shy when it comes to sex.

I am starting to wish that Mike's dad Greg was my dad.  He is the best.
Every time I talk to him I feel better.  He never talks to me like I am
just a kid.  As a matter of fact he doesn't treat me any differently than
he treats Mike.  He has rules he wants me to follow but they are not any
different than my mom's.  He is so supportive of my relationship with Mike.

Even though I am together with Mike 24 hours a day I don't get tired of
him.  He always has something new and fresh to say.  Even when we say
nothing to each other I am happy.  We have developed a comfortable silence
between us.  We don't need to talk to feel what the other is feeling.  Mike
talked about this weeks ago, and now I know what he was talking about.  I
can't tell you what it is like, waking up every morning in his arms.

I have had a chance to get to know Mike's mom, Amy.  Mike has told me many
times not to get her mad, but I have never seen her mad yet.  She also
treats me like I was her own son.  We have had several long talks in the
last six weeks.  She is easy to talk to and makes me feel comfortable.  She
also has a unique sense of humor.

My mom has been great.  I miss her so much.  I call her at least twice a
week.  I hate the fact that she is alone and if I can find a way to get her
up here, I will.  Perhaps I should talk to Greg about that.

Five days ago I didn't know that my dad was alive.  Now I have gotten
together with him and looked up his entire background.  He is a puzzle to
me.  His words don't match his actions.  I think he is telling me what I
want to hear.  Perhaps I should just forget about him but Greg's words keep
ringing in my ears, 'You can choose your friends but you can't choose your
family.'  I don't know if is possible for him to change but if I love him
perhaps he will love me back.  All I really want from him is his love.  I
can remember all the fun times we used to have together.  If I show him
unconditional love and set an example for him perhaps that will rub off on
him.  I am really going to need to think about how to approach him in
Chicago in two weeks.

Uncle Sam is great to work for.  He hardly ever tells me what to do.
Instead he tells me a story that leads to the right thing to do.

I have been able to save up $5,000 since last summer.  Perhaps I will be
able to get a scholarship to help with school.  I really don't want to go
in the military in order to get enough money to go to school.  If I do that
I will not be able to stay with Mike.

I have found all kinds of cool sites online involving the medical field.
The great thing is most of it is the latest information.  I spend much of
my spare time online, reading.  I can't believe all the information I can
find online.  The computer has been a great help.

School is really not any different than it was at my old school.  I have
had a 4.0 average throughout high school and I am not challenged at all by
it.  I am usually a chapter or two ahead of the class.  I really don't miss
my old school at all.

I can't believe how lucky I have been.  I haven't felt like this since I
was a little kid.  I still get the feeling that something bad is going to
happen and I will lose all this happiness I am now enjoying.  I have come
to the conclusion that I need to let tomorrow take care of itself.  I can't
allow myself to be afraid of things I cannot change.

I kept thinking about all this stuff and was having a really hard time
going to sleep.  I looked at the clock and it read 1:00 a.m.  I closed my
eyes and tried to clear my mind.  Finally I fell asleep.

**********

I woke up with the alarm going off at 6:30 a.m.  We got up and took a
shower and got dressed.  We went downstairs and Mrs. S. was up.

"No school again today, boys.  The main roads are clear but the side roads
still need clearing.  What are you going to do today?" she asked.

"Don't know," Mike responded.

"We could go up to Saginaw and go Christmas shopping," I said.

"That sounds good.  The mall should not be too crowded today," Mike said.

"That's fine, boys.  Just make sure that you are back before dark, and let
Sam know where you are going.  You know how he likes to keep tabs on you,
Mark."

Mike wanted to drive, so after calling Uncle Sam we took off for the Mall.
We decided to have breakfast at Denny's near the Mall.  Saginaw is only
about a half-hour away.  In no time we were at the restaurant.

"Mike, what do you want for Christmas?"

"That's easy, Mark.  I am taking auto mechanics next semester and I need a
tool box."

"I guess that means that I am taking auto mechanics and will need a tool
box for my truck too.  But, I kind of wanted to surprise you."

"Surprises are for little kids.  I would much rather get something that I
need than some tie or fruit cake I will never wear or eat.  If you want to
surprise me, buy a card.  I don't think we need to spend lots of money to
show how much we love each other.  I don't need some sappy ring, or
necklace, or bracelet to remind me of my love for you.  All I need to see
is your smile."

"That's sweet."

"Also, we can go in on our gifts to my folks, your mom, Sam and Norma, the
twins, and your father.  I don't plan on buying them anything expensive,
just useful."

"You don't need to go in on gifts for my family, Mike."

"But I feel like they are my family too.  Unless you don't want to and
would rather buy your own gifts."

"No, I like the idea of gifts coming from us.  After all, we are a team
now."

"Great, then it is settled," Mike said.  "What do you want to get Sam and
Norma?"

"Sam could use some new polo shirts and Norma could use a new cutting
board.  Her old one is about 100 years old."

"How about the twins?"

"They liked my punching bag so much I thought we could get them one, and a
few video games."

"And your mother?"

"No brainer, she needs new tires on her car, but not Firestone."

"Don't you want to get her something nice?"

"New tires would be nice."

"How about your father, Mark?"

"I saw his tool belt in his truck and he has a real old hammer.  I was
thinking about getting him a new one and having it engraved.  That way,
every time he uses it he will think of me.  What should we get your
parents, Mike?"

"Well, Mom loves fruit cake, and Dad could use several new ties," Mike
said, laughing.

"We could get them that and how about we give them a night out on the town?
We can buy them a gift certificate from Outback Steak House and one for my
mother too.  What do you think?"

"I think that is great.  We have not even finished breakfast yet and we
have decided everything we are going to buy."

We made short work of our shopping and were done by 1:00 o'clock.  We then
had lunch at the food court and went home.

Once we got home, Mike and I went riding on the snowmobiles.  I had never
driven a snowmobile before.  Mike says that he is going to teach me to
downhill ski this winter.  I get this picture in my head of me with a
broken leg and Mike helping me around.

After racing around on the snowmobiles, which was great fun, we went
inside.  I wanted to work out and Mike joined me.  He is getting much
stronger.  When we first started, he could only bench 75 pounds for 10
reps, now he is benching 125 pounds for 15 reps.  I am glad that he is
working out.  It seems to be helping his self-image and developing his
upper body nicely.

Dinner was quiet and we were worn out from the long day.  Mike and I went
upstairs.

"What are you going to do about your father?" Mike asked.

"I think I should talk around all the truths I have found out."

"What do you mean?"

"I could ask to see where he lives, for example.  And then see what he
tells me.  Then I could ask him if he has a girlfriend.  I could then ask
if I could meet her if he does say he has one.  And keep getting into it
deeper and deeper until he has no way out.  Also he is not dumb.  He is
going to figure out sooner or later that I know what is going on and
spill."

"Do you think it would've been better if you had not found him?"

"Not at all.  I don't care what problems he has, I still love him.  I want
to keep in contact with him.  I was also thinking last night that I have
more respect for your father than I do my own.  What do you think he would
say if I started calling him 'Dad'?"

"Don't know, but let's go see.  We can get some pops and say goodnight."

So Mike and I went downstairs and went into the kitchen to grab some pops.
When we came out of the kitchen into the living room, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens
were watching TV.

"Goodnight, Mom, goodnight, Dad," Mike said.

"Goodnight, Mike, goodnight, Mark," Mrs. Stevens replied.

"Goodnight, Son, goodnight, Mark," Mr. Stevens said.

"Goodnight, Mrs. S., goodnight, Dad," I said.

"Dad," Mr. Stevens replied.  "I like the sound of that, but I don't think I
will call you son, Mark, son-in-law perhaps."

"You really don't mind?  You have been more of a father to me in the last 6
weeks than I have had in the last eight years."

"Not a bit."

"And, Mark, I am getting tired of 'Mrs. S.'  Why don't you call me Amy?"

"OK, Mrs. Amy."

Mrs. S. gave me a look like, 'I will get you for that later.'

"By the way, guys," Mr. Stevens said.  "I saw the newspaper article today
and it will be in the paper tomorrow.  Perhaps it will help change people's
attitudes.  Also I think that I have found a preacher for the church I am
going to build right next to our old church."

"You are building a church next to our old church?" Mike inquired.

"That's right, I am not going to sit back and let Pastor Simpson boycott my
store and not fight back.  Besides, I miss going to church as a family
every Sunday and I don't like the other churches in town.  The preacher I
got in mind should bring some life back into this town.  It is going to be
the biggest and best church in the county.  We will see who goes out of
business first, me or Pastor Simpson!"

"You don't fight fair, 'Dad'.  Remind me never to get you mad at me," I
said.

"I can get used to that 'Dad' stuff, Mark.  As far as fighting fair, I
didn't start it but I will finish it.  As far as getting people mad, it is
not me you have to worry about.  It is my wife.  You better come up with
something better than Mrs. S., and fast."

"Okay, goodnight, Dad, and goodnight, mother-in-law."

"Goodnight, boys, and we will see you tomorrow," Mrs. Stevens said.

We went upstairs and Mike and I made out for about 45 minutes.  After we
got off we fell asleep in each other's arms.