Date: Thu, 10 May 2012 13:10:30 -0700 (PDT)
From: Pete Bruno <farmboy7456@gmail.com>
Subject: A Single Soul Chapter 2

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A Single Soul

Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.
A true friend is one soul in two bodies.
Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies.
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies.
-- Aristotle --

Chapter 2-Long Days Journey Into Night

  Matt picked himself up off the floor and headed back to the bedroom.  He
collapsed on the bed, curled up in a fetal position, and continued to sob
until he once again fell asleep.  Waking with a start his eyes focused on
the clock radio and when he saw the time, he jumped up and headed for the
shower.  He only had fifteen minutes before he needed to pick up Jimmy.

  He got dressed and headed across the street to the Flannery's.  He
knocked on the door and received his third surprise of the day -- Jim's
very pregnant wife -- Linda Butler.  She had started dating Jim during
their senior year and was always jealous of the boys' close relationship.

  "Well, as I live and breath, Captain Matthew Leo, USMC, all grown up and
married to a dentist, and with a son; pretty big stuff for a boy from
Valley Regional High," she said, just a little too sweetly.

  "Good to see you Linda; what's it been?  Twenty-two years and you haven't
changed a bit, and don't forget a masters degree from Virginia Tech, a
Silver and a Bronze Star," Matt replied with a tight smile, fuck her he
thought, two can play this game.  "I just came to get Jimmy out of your
way; I hope he hasn't been too much trouble."

  "Oh, no, the boys are having a great time.  In fact I was just going to
try and rustle them up something for lunch," she replied in a friendly
manner after being put in her place.

  "Please, no.  I know you're busy with unpacking.  How about if I take the
boys out for lunch and then back to our place to swim?"

The boys were jumping up and down saying, "Please, please."

"Okay, that would very nice; let's just see if I can find his bathing
suit."

  "Oh, Mom! Can't I just go commando like when Daddy and me swim at the
lake?" Matty asked his mother.

  "It's `Daddy and I', Matthew Flannery!"

  He turned away and rolled his eyes.

  "Well, I don't think that would be appropriate at Capt. Leo's house,"
Linda said looking quite embarrassed by her son's revelation.

  "It's fine Linda.  Denise and I have always had a hard time keeping this
one in a suit," he said mussing his son's hair.  "We have a privacy fence
around the entire property, so if you're okay with it, it's no problem."

  "Awesome!" both boys shouted.

  "Well, he is his daddy's son in every way, so I guess it's fine," Linda
said with a bit of edge to her voice.

  "Attention all hands, let's roll," Matt said as he led the two very happy
boys across the street to his car.

  The boys talked excitedly all the way to the restaurant, all through
lunch and the ride back home.  They had many things in common, football,
baseball, video games and wanting to join the Marines like their dads.
Matt enjoyed watching the boys bond, although it did fill him with a bit of
sadness for the years since that fateful day in the spring of his senior
year of high school.

  Looking at Jim's son, and the way he talked and laughed, transported Matt
back in time to when he and Jim were also both eight years old when they
met in cub scouts.  Matt was hypnotized by Jim's bright blue eyes and the
excitement they held.  Being an only child, the thought of having a buddy
like Jim thrilled him.

  It took Matt back more than twenty years...

  "Dad, wait till you meet him, he's so cool and he has two older brothers
and a younger sister and two younger brothers," Matt gushed on the way home
from his Cub Scout meeting.

  "Bet they're members of St. Joe's, too," Frank said.

  "Huh?" Matt asked.

  "Just a joke, son.  Someday you'll understand.  How 'bout we head over to
Burger King?"

  "Great, Dad, that's just what I was thinking."

  "Great minds think alike, buddy," Frank said as pulled into the BK
parking lot.

  "Dad, how come I don't have any brothers or sisters?"

  "Well, I guess you'll have to ask God about that one son."

  "Huh?"

  "Well, that's who controls those kinds of things, and one day when you're
older I'll explain it better, but for now, buddy, just be happy you have
Jimmy to be your best buddy; he can be like the brother you've always
wanted."

  "Really?  Thanks, Dad, that'll be great."

  "Just remember, Matty, if you're a good friend to Jimmy he'll be a good
friend to you; that's what it's all about.  You know that's what Jesus said
was the greatest commandment, "Love your neighbor as you would Love
yourself.  That means always treat people the way you want them to treat
you and you'll never go wrong," Frank told his son, and it's something he
would never forget, and something he would always try to do throughout his
life.

  After lunch the boys played video games for about an hour in the family
room and then went into Matt's office to ask if they could go swimming.
"Alright, just no diving in the shallow end and no running on the deck and
don't forget the sunscreen."

  "Okay, Dad," "Okay, Capt. Leo," the boys answered and ran out to the
backyard.  From Matt's office window, he could keep an eye on the boys as
they played in the pool.  He watched as the boys stripped and put on the
sunscreen and then dove into the pool and began to play a dunking game
while laughing hysterically.

  Once again Matt was transported back in time...

  "Hey, Matt, is your dad going to take us to the gym after practice?" Jim
asked as he and Matt were collecting the equipment after baseball practice
the Saturday after their birthdays (they were only one day apart).

  "Yeah, he'll be here to pick us up soon," Matt replied.  Both boys were
excited.  Matt's dad, Uncle Frank as Jim now called him, had bought the
boys a membership to the gym he belonged to for their fourteenth birthday
gift, it was the minimum age that a boy could work out with the supervision
of an adult.  The gym was for men only except for two mornings a week when
women were permitted.  The clientele ranged from regular body builders,
most of the State Troopers in the area, and many of the professional
athletes from Philly.

  Matt's dad, Frank, was a former Marine who served in Vietnam and now at
thirty-five was working as a State Trooper, and he still looked like he did
when he came home from Nam; at 6'2 he towered over his son and his buddy
and impressed them both with his wide shoulders, narrow waist, huge arms
and tree trunk legs.

  What excited the boys even more than getting to work out was swimming in
the pool.  There were no bathing suits allowed in the pool, sauna, or steam
room making the boys feel like men.  Frank had put together a workout
routine for the boys and planned on bringing them in two evenings a week
and Saturday for their workout.  When they got to the gym, they wasted no
time and completed the workout quickly with Frank monitoring form and
stressing basics of safety.

  When they made their way into the locker room to get undressed for the
pool, Frank put an arm around each boy and drew them in and quietly
explained that they would be surrounded by many naked men, and that
sometimes men got a stiffy for no reason, he continued on to say that they
should just ignore it and it would take care of itself.

  Walking into the pool area Matt was stunned at what he saw -- dozens of
naked men with incredible bodies, all sizes and shapes.  What surprised him
more was his fascination with the their cocks; he had seen both his father
and Jimmy naked many times not to mention the boys at school in gym and
playing baseball and football, but these men were strangers!  They had a
blast swimming and sitting in the steam room; the best was sitting in the
sauna and getting really hot then going out and jumping into the small
round pool with cold water called an ice plunge, then going back into the
sauna.  There were a lot of guys who seemed to be plumped up, and he and
Jimmy both got almost completely hard in the sauna, even his dad was
half-way hard, he was sure everybody noticed but they all just smiled at
one another and said nothing.

  By the time they dropped Jimmy off and got home, Matt's cock was hard as
rock in his pants.  He told his dad he had homework and raced up to his
room for his favorite activity; he ripped off his pants and threw himself
on his bed, and he began the now all to familiar ritual of jerking off.  He
couldn't get the images of all those naked muscle studs out of mind,
especially his dad's half-hard cock; and the smell of sweat was
intoxicating.  He was using long tight strokes, and the pressure was
building; he knew he was going to blow at any moment so he pulled up his
tee shirt.  His toes curled in his sneakers, and then he felt the first
blast hit his chest and at that moment his bedroom door opened, his eyes
locked with his fathers, but there was noting he could do as he continued
to pump shot after shot of hot teen boy come on his chest and stomach while
his father stood wide eyed in the doorway watching.

  As the remaining shots hit his stomach he burst into tears, "Daddy,
please don't be mad; I just couldn't stop," he said crying and hoping his
father wouldn't be too disappointed in him.

  The sound of the ringing phone brought him out of his memory, it was Jim
asking if was alright to come over to collect his son.  "Of course," Matt
replied; "just come around to the side gate and walk in."

  Matt went out to the pool and told the boys to wrap things but they
begged for ten more minutes; of course he couldn't say no.  He was moving
around the deck picking up pool toys and straightening chairs when the boys
got out of the pool in the shallow end to go over to the sliding board,
watching the boys laughing and playing filled him with bittersweet
memories.  He watched as little Matt climbed to the top of the slide and
noticed how much he looked like his father in every way except for one, he
was uncut. Just as the boy slid into the pool, laughing, his father came
through the back gate.

  Jim walked over to Matt and stood watching the boys play.  "Thanks for
taking the boys this afternoon Matt; Linda and I appreciate it, she gets a
little tired these days."

  "Not a problem, I'm thrilled for Jimmy; he's been dying for a boy his age
to play with and I'm sure it will make for one happy summer vacation.  When
is Linda due?  By the looks of it, though, I'd say soon," Matt said.

  "Yeah, she looks like it but she's really only in her sixth month."  Then
looking at the boys again, he said, "It seems like they've really hit it
off; kind of reminds me of us," Jim said with a tight smile.

  "Let's hope it has a happier ending," Matt said, giving Jim an icy stare.

  Jim flinched at the remark.  He reached to put a hand on Matt's shoulder
but Matt stepped away in time to avoid contact.  "Look, Matty, I don't
understand why you're being so cold towards me, but I wish..."

  Looking Jim right in the eye, Matt cut him off in mid-sentence.  "You
don't understand? Well I think you need to think about for awhile and see
what you come up with, but in the meantime this is how it's going to work;
my son is my life and I love him more than anything in this world.  He's
happy that he's found a new friend and I'm going to do everything in my
power to see he keeps his friend.  As for us -- you and me -- let's just
pretend we met today for the sake of our boys," Matt finished, still
staring into Jim's eyes.

  "Well, I love my boy just as much; I accept your plan."  Jim's eyes were
still locked with Matt's, and Matt could see nothing but sadness in them,
but he wasn't going to let Jim off the hook.

  Breaking the stare down, Jim called out, "All right, Matty, time to head
home for dinner."

  "Dad!  Do I have to go now?  We were going to play video games," the boy
pleaded with his father.

  "Sorry buddy, but Mom wants to go out to dinner; so march!" Jim replied,
as the boys walked up the steps of pool naked and their cocks pointing the
way without a care in the world.  Jim laughed and asked Matt, "Remind you
of anyone?"

  "Yeah," Matt said with his voice breaking, "way too much."

  As the boys dressed, the new friends started making plans for the next
day -- video games, some basketball and a tour of the woods behind the
house.  Jim addressed his boy, "Hold on, buddy, maybe Capt. Leo has plans
for tomorrow."

  "No, that's fine, he can come over after breakfast tomorrow and hang out;
I know Jimmy would be thrilled," Matt said rubbing his son's shoulder.

  "Okay, Matty, tell Capt. Matt thanks and let's head out."  The little boy
ran up to Matt and threw his arms around his waist.

  "Thanks Capt. Matt, you're the best!" the boy enthused and then headed
out the gate with his dad.

  Matt was shaken to his core when the boy hugged him; it was like when
Jimmy hugged him for the first time when they were ten, and Matt had gotten
his mom and dad to let Jimmy come with them for their week at the shore;
something they continued every summer until their senior year of high
school. For the forth time in one day, the pain and sadness of the last
twenty years washed over him, leaving him feeling empty and alone; and then
he felt a little hand take his.

  "Dad, are you okay?" Jimmy asked his father, and in that moment Matt's
broken, empty heart filled to overflowing with love.

  "Yeah sport," he said as he knelt if front of his son and hugged him
tight.  He loved his wife but his son was the light of his life.  "Your
hugs make everything okay."

  As Matt held his son by the pool, the boy excitedly gave his father a
full account of the fun he had that day with his new best friend.  The
happy bonding moment was interrupted by the sound of Matt's wife from the
other side of the patio.

  "Are the two of you Siamese Twins?" Denise asked in a voice dripping with
sarcasm and jealously.

  "No, Mom, just best friends," Jimmy sang out causing Matt's heart to
almost burst with love for his son.

  The answer was so sweet and pure that it even managed to touch Denise who
smiled and said, "Well, boys, let's get dressed and head out for dinner at
Outback."

  Later that evening after a great steak dinner, the family returned home
and Jimmy got to watch his dad's favorite show, Jeopardy, with him, as they
sat close on the couch.  Jimmy loved listening to his dad shout out
answers.  He thought his dad was the smartest man in the world and he
wanted to be just like him so he listened and tried to listen closely to
the answers and questions and tried to learn everything he could.  After
the show it was time for Jimmy's shower and to his room for an hour of
video games before bed.  Matt found his wife in the office working on her
computer.

  He walked over and massaged her shoulders.  "Well, how was your day?"

  "Not as interesting as yours, I imagine, but we do have something rather
important to talk about."

  "Would you like a drink while we talk?"  He knew he needed one; usually
nothing good came out of a conversation that started that way.

  "Yeah, thanks.  A Scotch would be great," Denise replied.

  Matt fixed their drinks and walked over, handing one to his wife and
asked, "What's up?"

  Denise took a long pull on her drink and then exhaled.  "I've been
offered a cruise on a hospital ship.  It would be a big boost to my
promotion chances."

  For the fifth time in one day Matt was slammed.  "For how long, and
when?"

  "I would have to fly out to San Diego on Thursday and we sail on Monday
for six months," Denise replied in surprisingly businesslike matter. "It's
a tremendous opportunity."

  "What about me and Jimmy?"

  "You know, Matthew, sometimes I really don't think my presence really
matters," she said taking another pull of her scotch; the words stung Matt
a little, even if there was a bit of truth to the statement.

  "That is ridiculous; you're my wife and I love you, and yes, I love our
son, but regardless what you may think we do, I need you," Matt whispered
trying to prevent his son from possibly overhearing.

  "I'm sorry, Matthew; I'm ashamed to say that having a family really was
more important to you than it was to me.  Yes, I love you and our son, but
I don't want to give up my chance to retire as a Commander."

  Matt thought for a minute; he owed Denise more than he could ever repay
her for giving him his son and saving his life, so he figured he owed it to
her to let her fulfill her dream.  He walked over and grabbed his wife and
pulled her into a hug and kissed her forehead.

  "Go for it, kiddo; we'll keep things ship-shape here while you're gone."

  "Thanks, Matthew, you really are a good man, and I love you more than you
know.  Listen, I really need to get this work done; I don't have much time
before I have to leave."  She kissed Matt on the cheek and headed to her
computer.

  Matt watched his wife sit at her computer and start to work her way
through her in-box as he sipped his drink.  He left her to her work.
Leaving his empty glass at the kitchen sink he made his way to his son's
room.  He needed to think about all that had happened that day.  He slipped
as quietly as he could into his son's room and sat in the rocking chair
that had managed never to be removed since the days when he used to rock or
feed Jimmy as a baby.  This is something Matt had often done when he needed
to think; it was almost meditative, sitting and watching his beautiful boy
sleep as he replayed the events of the day.

  His wife's news about the cruise was, well, a bit disconcerting, but he
understood.  But the appearance of Jim Flannery and his bitch of his wife
was certainly an unexpected shock; but given the last time the boys had
seen each other was more than twenty years ago and the fact that Jim had
named his son, Matthew, was mind blowing.  His first concern was keeping
everything he felt prior to that fateful day, buried safely, and deeply
where it had laid for the past two decades.

  "Daddy," his son's voice broke into his thought, "what are you doing
here?"

  "Nothing, sport, I just wanted to check on my best friend."

  "You look sad, Daddy; you can climb in with me like I do with you when I
have a bad dream."

  "Okay, buddy, but just for a little bit while Mommy is working on the
computer."  He crossed over to his son's bed and lay down with him and the
boy quickly snuggled into his side.  There was plenty of room in his new
bed, a double with a single bunk above that Jimmy just had to have for when
he had sleepovers, but the boy held tightly to his dad and buried his head
in his father's chest.

  Father and son lay together holding each other tightly, talking
quietly. "Thanks for my new friend, Daddy."

  "What are you talking about sport? I had nothing to do with it; they just
moved here."

  "But isn't Matty's dad your friend, and his dad's name is the same as
mine, and his is the same as yours?" the boy astutely pointed out.

  "Well, yeah, his dad and I were friends many years ago, but the name
thing was just an accident."

  "Aren't you friends anymore?"

  "Well, yeah, but not as close as we once were."

  "Why, Dad?"

  "Well sometimes things happen, people hurt other people's feelings, and
their friendship ends."

  "Well, if you're not friends with him anymore, I won't be friends with
Matty."

  "No! No, sport; you keep on being friends with Matty.  Listen.  What
happened between me and Matty's dad happened a long time ago; it just
happened but it has nothing to do with you boys.  Be his friend and always
remember to treat him like you want him to treat you.  That was a
commandment of Jesus that Papa taught me and I have always lived by and it
has served me well.  Listen, sport, I want you to remember one thing,
beside that commandment, always be your own man and don't let anyone ever
make decisions for you; just follow your heart; it will never steer you
wrong.  Oh, and always listen to your mom and me."

  "Well, I'm glad it's okay to be friends with him; Matty is so cool, and
he likes all the same things I like, and they have a dog -- hey, can we get
a dog?  And he likes to play baseball and best of all he thinks girls are
yucky, too."

  Matt laughed at that.  "Well sport, most boys think girls are yucky when
they're eight, but check back with me when you're thirteen; you may have a
different opinion."

  "Yeah, well, it's still great to have another guy to do stuff with; it's
going to be a great summer."

  Matt squeezed his son. "I sure hope so, son."  He kissed the boy's
forehead and got out of the bed.  "Goodnight and sleep well, buddy; I'll
see you in the morning."

  "Goodnight, Dad," he said as he rolled over.

  Matt headed to his bedroom still feeling a bit shell-shocked by the day's
events and picked up the phone and dialed; after four rings, a man
answered, and Matt said, "Dad, I need you."


To be continued...

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