Date: Fri, 11 Oct 2002 03:40:55 GMT
From: patcross@kskc.net
Subject: Pat and John-15

    Several days after Pat's day in court, he and his family had several long
talks about the hate that he had experienced, and frankly, they were worried
he'd collapse under the added pressure. Even before his injury and coming out
to Pat, John knew of football teammates who liked to beat up on gay kids, and
he knew the pressure Pat was under.

    Coach Sloane knew this, as well. He told Mr. Galvez, every boy on the team,
and every one of their parents. "I don't pry into people's belief's, BUT when
one of my players turns out to be a hate-spouting gay-basher, he's off my team
IMMEDIATELY. There's no room for that here, and I won't tolerate it. That's
all." As a result, 1/3 of the parents removed their sons from football and
transferred them to other schools.

    With that act, Pat and John knew who their friends were on the football
team. Almost every day, one or two of their buddies would drop by the hospital
to bring them their homework, or just chat with them about school. Much to
their amazement, they found they had more gay friends on the football team than
they thought.

    So, Pat started to heal, both inside and out. Sure, his therapy was a pain,
but it was temporary. He had John, new friends, and his parents. They all loved
Pat, and, in return, Pat loved them with all of his heart. They had all formed
a bond of love.

    Now that John was carefully giving Pat his therapy each day, he found only
one form of therapy that wouldn't hurt Pat; KISSING! They loved to kiss,
anyway, so it only seemed logical to put some fun into the daily routine. And
John found found out that Pat liked having his toes licked, too.

    Mrs. Stephens almost got everybody in trouble by sneaking in 20 lbs. of
homemade chocolate chip cookies for her sons, but a 5 lb. bribe to Dr. Mike
made the others "disappear".

    Within two months, Pat was up and moving again, with velcro casts on. His
therapy got better and better, and he was anxious to go home for Christmas.  He
had gotten addicted to those whirlpool baths while he was in the hospital, and
wanted one for Christmas.

    So, Dr. Mike pulled a fast one on everybody. Pat's progress was so good
that he released Pat on Christmas Eve! With tears running from his eyes, Dr.
Mike looked at the boys, sighed, and said, "Get out of here, so we can fill
this place with some crummy patients, will you?" With that, he grabbed both
boys that he had grown to love, and burst into tears. He was that happy.

    Pat and John were taken by surprise. They had no idea he had felt that way
about them. Soon, they were all joined together in a group hug, crying and
laughing. Dr. Mike found himself invited to a Christmas Day celebration at
their home, which surprised HIM.

    That next morning, they celebrated quietly, but very thankfully, for the
return of their sons. As it was a custom in the Stephens home, they each
shared a past Christmas memory. Pat's was of the previous year, and he choked
up as he remembered it, because it was of when his parents had died.

    "They had gone out of town two days before Christmas Eve, promising to
return that afternoon. When they didn't get home by 9, I called Mom Stevens.
You came right over with a Policeman to give me the bad news. After that, I
don't remember Christmas from last year. I wanted a new bike, and wound up with
dead parents! I love you, Mom and Dad, but I don't think I'll have another
Merry Christmas as long as I live!"

    Pat began weeping, and ran up to his room, with John on his heels. Dr. Mike
looked at the Stephens' and said, sadly, "Poor Pat. With your permission, I'd
like to make an appointment for Pat to see a Grief Counselour. I thought he had
worked through most of his feelings, but I was wrong."

    Pat's parents couldn't disagree, for they loved their son. After 30 minutes
or so, John came down and told the adults that Pat wanted to see them. They
went to his room, and started to talk with him.

    First, Pat tearfully admitted that he needed help in dealing with his
grief. He told his family that he loved them and needed them more, now than
ever. Last, he told them that he wanted to return to school. Everybody agreed
with that idea, and began making plans to see it happen.

    They all went back downstairs, and tore into the feast that had been
prepared for that day. Well, after all that emotion, it wasn't long before the
table was cleared of food. There wasn't a scrap left. There were, however, 5
highly stuffed people who were now very tired.