Date: Wed, 10 Sep 2003 19:04:10 -0700 (PDT)
From: Thomas Gaige <togaige@yahoo.com>
Subject: My Step-Brother Jacob - Chapter 31

DISCLAIMER: The following story is FICTIONAL.  It contains descriptions of
sexual activities between teenage boys.  If you are not over 18 years of
age, or if you find this type of story offensive, or viewing this material
is illegal where you are, then please DO NOT READ IT!  If you choose to
read it, then - I hope you enjoy it!

			   My Step-Brother Jacob

				Chapter 31

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The white light became blinding as it got closer and closer to me.  All I
could see was white light.  After a minute, I began to see the outlines of
people walking toward me.  They were all blurry and hidden in shadows.  I
kept looking at them.

Suddenly, Lynn walked out of the mist, and came over to me.  She was
carrying a baby.  Lynn looked beautiful, all dressed in a white flowing
gown.  She had a great tan.  Must've been because of all the bright white
light I guessed.  She smiled, put the baby in a white stroller, and walked
up to me, and wrapped her arms around me.  I put my arms around her, and we
kissed.  "Oh God, how I've missed you!" I said, as we parted, "but Lynn,
you're dead.  Where are we?"  "You were shot," she said, "you're dead right
now too, otherwise you wouldn't be here."  "No!  I can't be!  Who'll take
care of Andy and Jacob?" I said.  Lynn smiled at me and said, "Relax,
you're going back.  By the way, I've watched you with them.  They love you
so much, and I can tell you love them just as much!"  "So it's really OK
that I'm bi?" I asked.  "Yes," she smiled, "It's OK.  I just want you to be
happy!"  Then she picked up the baby out of the stroller, and laid it in my
arms.  "This would have been your's and Laney's baby," she said, then she
added "yeah, I know about Laney too.  I was so sorry when you lost this
baby too, but don't worry, he's fine here with me.  I'll take care of him,
and someday, maybe you'll get to be with Dylan.  If you ever do meet him,
tell him how much I love him."  "You know I will Lynn.  And I know he's
safe with a good family!" I said.  "I know," she said, smiling.  "This
baby's a boy?" I asked, looking at her.  "Yup, a cute one too, just like
his dad!" she said.  The baby gurgled, and smiled up at me.  "What's his
name?" I asked.  "He would've been called Richard," she said.  Richard
smiled and gurgled at me, as I nuzzled his little nose with mine, and
kissed him on the forehead.  "Hi Richard!" I said.  "I have to go now,"
Lynn said, "I'll take care of Richard for you."  I handed her the baby.
She looked at me, smiled and said, "I still love you John, and I know you
still love me.  I'm glad you found Andy though.  You two belong together!
Be happy with him! I'll see you again when you come back for good!"  Then
she faded away.  "Wait!  Lynn!  Come back," I called.

I thought she was returning, but then my mother stepped from the mist.
"MOM!" I exclaimed.  She too was dressed in a white gown, and looked very
tan.  She was smiling.  She came over and hugged and kissed me.  "I just
wanted you to know, it's OK with me that you like boys," she said.  I
blushed and said, "I kind of thought you'd be OK with it if you found out."
"Andy's a wonderful boy, I like him very much.  Jacob and Harry are special
too," she said.  "You've been watching me?" I asked, suddenly becoming very
embarrassed as I wondered if she'd watched me having sex.  Mom laughed and
said, "of course, I watch you all the time!"  "All the time?" I asked,
feeling my face beginning to burn.  She laughed again and said, "Yes John,
even when you're having sex!  But it's OK - I think you're pretty good at
it, and I'm glad you're such a tender lover!  No need to be embarrassed.
Sex is a natural and wonderful thing.  So enjoy it!  I try to look the
other way most times anyway!"  Still red in the face, I said "Thanks mom!"
"You're welcome honey, and I love you!  Now I have to leave!" she said.  "I
love you too mom!  But please don't leave!" I said.  She smiled warmly at
me, but then faded away.

As I stood looking at the light, Mike suddenly jumped out of the mist at
me.  "Yo Horse! Missed ya dude!" he said, grinning at me.  I was amazed!
Mike was in a white flowing gown too, and looked tan as well.  "Fuck, you
look great Boob!" I said without thinking.  "Yeah, I feel great too, for a
dead guy!" he said, chuckling.  "Mike, why'd you kill yourself?" I asked.
"Had to John, you didn't have room in your life for both me and Andy!  And
Andy's a whole hell of a lot better person than I was!" he said.  "That's
fucked up and you know it Mike!" I said.  He looked at me a minute and said
"Yeah, it is, and I know it.  Look, all you need to know is I loved you
when I was alive, and I still do.  Back when I was alive though, I loved
you in a way you could never love me back.  I couldn't handle that.  I
couldn't handle that you weren't going to be able to love me like you love
Andy.  I was miserable, and nothing would've fixed it.  Listen, it's OK
now.  I'm happy now.  The 'Big Guy' was a little pissed that I did myself
in, but he worked with me, and now, up here, I'm happy.  And I'm happy you
have Andy, and Andy has you!"  "Are you shitting me?" I asked.  "No!  I'm
not!" Boob said.  "I did love you Mike, I still do!" I said.  "I know," he
said grinning, "and I love you too!  You need to go be happy with Andy
though.  But before you go, two things."  "What?" I asked.  "Evan - the new
guy you're hanging out with - he's a lot like me.  He's a good guy and he
loves you.  More like a brother than the way I loved you though.  Anyway,
he needs you.  So make sure you're always there for him."  "OK," I said.
"And second, would you check-in with Brian for me and keep in touch with
him?  He's still pretty messed up by me killing myself.  Tell him I love
him, and I always will, and that it had nothing to do with him, and he
couldn't have stopped me if he tried.  Oh, and tell him I said '48-36-24'
should be easy to remember - all multiples of twelve!" Mike said.  "When
the Hell did you get so good at math?" I asked chuckling.  Mike laughed
hysterically then, just like he used to when we were all together before I
left for England.  He sounded so happy now.  My eyes watered a little.  I
was happy for him.  "Thanks for the info on Evan, I'll take care of him.
And I'll keep in touch with your brother too.  But what're the numbers
for?" I said.  "Thanks.  Um - about the numbers though - I can't tell you -
it's private between me and him at the moment.  Tell him if he wants to
share it with you, it's OK with me, but it's his decision.  Tell him he
should at least share the bottle with you though.  You can visit my grave
and share it sometime!  Kinda like you and him and Andy did before you went
back to England.  Not I gotta fly!  I don't expect to see you back here for
several decades Horse!  But when you get back here - we're gonna party
down!" Mike said.  He grinned and in a flash he was gone.

"48-36-24" I was muttering to myself, as suddenly my father stepped out of
the wisps of fog.  He too had a white gown on, but on him it looked rather
silly.  At least his tan was good though too.  "Somehow I didn't expect to
see you!" I said.  Dad smiled ruefully at me and said, "Yeah I guess you
wouldn't have.  Listen, I'm sorry about my reaction to finding out you and
Andy were 'sleeping' together, and that you'd messed around with Jacob too.
Having watched you since I passed, I know that you're not doing anything to
hurt Jacob, and that you and Andy are very happy together.  So in light of
that, I'm happy for you as well, and it's OK with me if you want to be with
a boy.  John, the bottom line is I love you very much!  I always have, and
I always will!"  "Thanks!  I love you too Dad!" I said, as tears filled my
eyes.  "I know," he said, "an would you please tell Jacob I love him, and
I'm OK with him too!"  "I will," I said, "but, um, aren't I supposed to be
dead if I'm here?"  Dad smiled at me and said "You're not really here yet.
You're just at the entrance.  It isn't your time yet.  It was felt though
that since you've gone through so much lately, since you were almost all
the way here, you deserved to get to talk to those of us who you've just
spoken with."  "Damn!" I said, then I cringed.  Dad chuckled and said,
"Don't sweat the small things, He only cares that you live your life well,
and don't hurt others.  As long as you stay the kind of caring guy you are,
you'll be fine!"  "Wow!" I said, "Um, does everyone have to wear the goofy
white dresses though?"  Dad rolled his eyes and said "seems that way!"  I
laughed, and he joined in then.  "I love you son, and you're alright in my
eyes!  Always remember that!  Now it's time for you to go home!  Before you
go though.  Please tell Elizabeth I love her, and I love the name she's
chosen for the baby," he said.  "What name?" I asked.  "Austin Alan
Wilder," he said.  "I like it too," I said.  "OK - I love you!  You have to
go now though!" Dad said.

Then Lynn, who was still holding Richard, Mom, and Mike came back into view
and joined Dad.  They were all smiling and began waving.  Then, they all
seemed to float rapidly backward away from me.  "I love you guys!" I
called, as I felt a couple tears run down my cheeks.  Suddenly, I felt like
I was being pushed backward at breakneck speed.  Then, with a thud, I
landed on my back.  Everything was black again.  "He's Back!" I heard a
male voice yell, as I opened my eyes, and blinked at the bright overhead
lights.  "Oh My God! JOHN!" I heard Andy shout.  "A-Andy," I muttered.
"John?" Elizabeth asked, staring down at me, in her nurses outfit.  "Eliz
-" I said, coughing.  "Just relax, you're in the Emergency Room.  The
doctors are going to fix you!" she said.  I tried to smile.  "Andy?" I
whispered hoarsely.  "He's here, and he's fine!" she said, and I saw Andy's
face, full of tears staring down at me.  "Y-You're good with a-a coat
tree!" I said, trying to smile.  Andy grinned and started crying, telling
me, "Just rest, they're going to fix you.  We can talk later."  I tried to
smile, then closed my eyes, as it was too much effort even to breathe.
"We're taking him for his operation now," I heard.  Then I felt like I was
moving.  A while later I heard a woman say, we're putting you to sleep for
a while now.  Then everything went black again.

I opened my eyes, and had a hard time focusing.  I tried to look around.
Suddenly, Jacob was leaning over looking down at me, grinning.  "John!
You're awake!" he exclaimed.  Then Andy and Elizabeth were there too.  They
all appeared to be swimming for a minute or so, then my vision finally
cleared up and I could focus on them.  They were all looking down at me,
smiling, and all talking at once.  Behind them, I saw Harry, Laney, and
Evan clustered around too.  I opened my mouth and tried to speak, but I was
so dry, I couldn't.  Finally, I managed to rasp the word "water".  "OK,
everyone back up and give him some room," Elizabeth said, then she held one
of those little sponges on a stick to my lips.  It was wet.  She said, "You
can't drink yet, but I can moisten your mouth and lips with this."  Then
she wiped my lips and stuck it in my mouth and moved it around.  It wasn't
a real drink, but it did the trick, I was able to work my mouth again.
Everyone looked at me expectantly, as I finally said, "who are you?"  "Oh
my God!  He has amnesia!" Jacob groaned.  I smiled weakly then, and said
"No - him", and I looked beyond everyone.  Everyone turned then and
chuckled when they saw a chaplin standing there.  "Oh Hell, they said I
wasn't dead!" I said.  Even the chaplin laughed then.  He said, "I just
stopped by to see if you needed any spiritual help."  I smiled.  Elizabeth
thanked him and told him he could say a prayer if he wanted to.  He did,
then he excused himself and left.  A nurse bustled in then and said "OK,
there are too many people in here!  You'll all have to take turns, but only
after I check our patient!"  Then she shooed them all but Elizabeth out of
the room, and directed them to a lounge down the hall.

Elizabeth watched as the nurse checked me over, then pronounced me to be
"fine".  She told Elizabeth I could have short separate visits with
everyone, then she wanted me to nap.  Then she turned and left.  I looked
at Elizabeth and said "are you like her when you're working?"  She chuckled
and said "worse!"  I grinned.  "You gave us quite a scare," she said, "but
the doctors say you'll be OK."  "I died for a while, didn't I?" I asked.
Elizabeth went white, and tears welled in her eyes.  Finally she said,
"yes, they lost you in the ER for a few minutes, but they were able to
revive you."  "I know," I said, "I think I was on my way to heaven.  Lynn,
Richard, Mom, Mike, and Dad all came to meet me.  I talked with them all!"
"Who's Richard?" Elizabeth asked, looking puzzled.  "uh, not important, but
listen," I said, "Dad wanted me to tell you he loves you, and he loves the
name you picked out for the baby!"  "Did he say what the name was?" she
asked.  "Austin Alan Wilder," I said.  Elizabeth went completely white, and
sank down in a chair next to me.  "How did you know that was the name I was
thinking about for a boy?" she asked.  "Dad told me.  He said to tell you
he likes it," I said, "and by the way, I do too!"  She just looked at me,
then she got up and kissed me and said she'd get Andy.

Andy came in and sat next to me on the edge of my bed.  He leaned over and
kissed me, then crying, he told me how much he loved me, and how upset he'd
been when he thought he'd lost me, and how happy he was now.  I reached up
and wiped the tears from his face, and asked him to tell me what had
happened.

Andy said that his father always keeps a shotgun under the couch.
Apparently while Andy was upstairs putting his stuff in the suitcases, and
I was fighting with Ian, his father crawled over to the couch, pulled out
the gun and shot me.  I got hit in the shoulder.  An artery was hit and I
lost some blood, and my lung collapsed.  Luckily it missed my heart by just
a little!  Anyway, when Andy heard the shot, he ran downstairs and realized
what had happened.  He was so furious that he'd hit his father and brother
with the coat tree, knocking them both out.  Andy's mum had called an
ambulance, and since it was a shooting, the police had come as well.
Hearing Andy's story, they arrested his father and brother.  Meanwhile I
was brought to the hospital.  I died in the ER, but they brought me back.
Then I was operated on, and I just woke up from it.  Andy had called
Elizabeth on my mobile phone from the ambulance.  She told him to have them
bring me to the hospital where she worked, which they did, as it was
closest anyway.  Elizabeth of course had told Jacob and Harry what had
occurred, and Jacob had called Evan after he got out of work.  While I had
been in surgery, Evan and Laney stopped by and got my car keys and went
back to Andy's to get my car.  Andy's mother had come to the door when they
arrived and asked them to take his suitcases and a couple of boxes.  She'd
apparently finished packing all of his things after she'd gotten home from
the police station.  Andy's father was apparently being held without bail
on attempted murder charges, and his brother was also being held as an
accessory.  Neither had yet been released.  Andy pulled out a letter his
mother had included and read it to me.  It was from her.  In it she
apologized for what had happened, and said she hoped I'd be OK.  She told
Andy she loved him, but that she also loved his father and brother, and
needed to stay with them.  Andy's eyes filled with tears at that point.
She went on to say that she felt that he should have his things though, so
she'd packed them all up for him.  Then she'd asked that Andy not contact
them anymore.  Andy was weeping openly by the time he read that part of the
letter.  I reached up and pulled him to me and held him as best I could
with one arm, while he wept.  By the time he'd cried himself out, Jacob had
come in and was standing on the other side of him, rubbing his back.  Andy
sat up and looked around at Jacob, then gave him a hug, and thanked him for
being there for him too.  "What're brothers for?" Jacob asked, smiling at
him, at which Andy started tearing up again.  He stood up and said, "Oh I'm
fine, you two need to talk a little, I'll be back in a bit."  Then he left.

"He's been that way since we got here.  It got worse after he got the
letter from his Mum." Jacob said.  "I need to be with him," I said.
"Relax, you need to get well," Jacob said, "We've all been hanging out with
Andy.  He'll be OK.  He keeps saying he feels like an orphan.  I told him
that was nonsense, and that'd we'd all adopted him."  I smiled and said, "I
bet he felt better about that!"  "Nah, just started blubbering again,"
Jacob snickered.  "Well, those new tears were tears of happiness I guess,"
I said, "but seriously, please take care of him for me till I'm out of
here, OK?"  "Of course," said Jacob smiling.  Then he turned hesitated,
looked down at his feet and said "uh - John, I just wanted to say that I
love you!  And, you're the best big brother a guy could ever want!  When
you almost died, I almost died along with you.  If you had really died, I
don't know what I would've done!"  I smiled and said "I love you to Jake,
and you're the best little brother a guy could ever want, and I'm not about
to die on you.  Almost did though I guess, but they sent me back.  Because
of you and Andy I think!"  He looked puzzled, then I told him about my
experience.  His eyes were large when I'd finished.  His eyes looked watery
when I told him what Dad had said.  Harry knocked then.

"Elizabeth said we only have a few minutes before visiting hours are over,
so we have to speed things up if we all want to see you," he said.  "Well,
c'mon in then," I said.  Jacob grinned and said "I'll give you two a minute
alone.  See you tomorrow John."  "OK, thanks," I said, then grabbing
Jacob's hand and giving it a squeeze, I added "and Jacob, always remember I
love you!"  Jacob blushed and said "Me too!"  Then he left.  Harry came in
and sat down next to me then, and we had pretty much the same conversation
as I'd had with Jacob.  He too shyly declared his love for me - his big
brother, which I of course reciprocated.

Laney was next.  She too told me how worried she'd been.  I told her then
about my visit to Heaven's front gate.  She seemed to be humoring me, until
I told her about how Lynn was holding our baby, and it was a boy named
Richard.  She too turned white as a ghost when I mentioned the baby's name.
I asked her if she was alright, and she said "that's the name I had given
him in my head, but I never told a soul!"  Then she started to weep, and
ran from the room.

"What'd you say to Laney?" Evan asked, walking in.  "She'll be OK," I said,
"thanks for coming, and for helping get my car and Andy's things home!"
"No problem, you know I'd do anything to help you out," he said.  "Good,
cause I'm gonna ask you one more favor," I said.  "OK," he said.  "I need
you to keep an eye on Andy for me, you know, kinda watch out for him, until
I'm out of here.  Can you do that for me?"  I said.  "Sure, no problem,"
Evan said, "but from what I hear, he's pretty handy with a coat tree!"  We
both were chuckling, as a nurse walked in and said it was time for Evan to
leave.

Just then, Andy scooted back in the door and over to my bed.  He had a tiny
Teddy Bear, he must've gotten in the gift shop.  "I know it's not the same
as snuggling with moi, but, you can think of me when you look at him!" he
said.  Evan grinned and said "I'll see you tomorrow John!"  Then he turned
to the nurse and said, "I'm leaving, but can you give these two just a
couple more minutes together - please?"  The nurse looked sternly at him,
then at us.  Finally she said, "you've got two minutes!"  Then she left,
pushing Evan out the door.

Andy leaned down and stroked some hair out of my face, then he leaned in
and kissed me on the lips.  He stood back up and said, "I love you John!
If you had died, I would have too!"  "I feel the same way about you Andy,"
I said.  Then he leaned over and we kissed again.  Andy had just stood back
up, when we heard a "Harumph" from the door.  The nurse was standing there,
her hands on her hips.  We both snickered, and Andy left, saying he'd be
back in the morning.

Elizabeth popped back in just long enough to ask if I wanted anything from
home.  I asked for some briefs, socks, sweat pants, and t-shirts.  She said
she'd bring them the next morning, then she kissed me good-night and left.

The nurses were good about giving me painkillers, so I slept well that
night.  The next morning, around 9:00, Elizabeth, Jacob, and Andy came to
see me.  While, Elizabeth went to talk to the doctor, and Andy went on a
mission, to find me a newspaper and some coffee, Jacob helped me put on a
pair of briefs, some sweat pants, and a T-shirt, they'd brought me.  After
he'd pulled the curtain around me, he helped me to get naked.  I was lying
in bed, expecting him to help me put my briefs on, but suddenly, he started
to playfully fondle my penis, which of course immediately began to stiffen!
"Jacob!" I hissed.  He grinned and wrapped his fist around my dick and
started to jack me off then.  Within seconds I was completely hard, and was
trying to push him off me.  Jacob looked at me impishly then, and lowered
his mouth over my cock, and began sucking me off!  I couldn't believe he
was doing this in the hospital, when anyone could just walk in on us!  At
the same time, I was horny as hell, and knew it'd take less than a minute
for me to climax.  By the time I'd taken a few seconds to decide how to
handle the situation, it was too late, I could tell it'd be mere seconds
before I had my orgasm, so I just laid back and enjoyed the feeling of
Jacob's hot, wet mouth gliding up and down my boner.  He had his tongue
positioned just like I like it, right under the vein-like urethra on the
underside.  Jacob sucked expertly up and down my shaft.  He cupped my balls
with his left hand, and wrapped his thumb and index finger of his right
hand around the base of my dick, and began to masturbate the base of it in
time with his sucking.  I was breathing heavily, and could feel my orgasm
building.  I was extemely greatful the bed next to mine was empty, as I
couldn't hide my gasps as Jacob sped up a little, then suddenly, I tensed,
and squirted a huge gob of cum into his mouth.  He swallowed it greedily,
just as I shot another load.  Moaning softly, I fired at least another 6 or
7 loads of semen into Jacob's mouth, all of which he quickly swallowed.
When I'd finished cumming, he licked me dry.  Then he helped me get my
briefs and sweat pants on.  Just in time too, as a nurse poked her head
around the curtain and asked if I was alright.  I'd forgotten I was still
hooked up to a heart monitor, and they watched the monitors back at the
nurses station, and my heart rate had just skyrocketed for a minute or so.
I turned red in the face, as Jacob snickered.  "I'm fine," I said, "just
about to kill my brother, that's all!"  "Well, you really need to take it
easy!" she said sternly, looking at Jacob, then glaring at me, "you just
had surgery yesterday you know!"  "I'm sorry," Jacob said, looking
genuinely concerned, "It's my fault."  The nurse gave him a look, then
left.  I started snickering again, but Jacob looked upset.  "What's wrong?"
I said.  "I could've hurt you," he said, looking at me, clearly still
upset.  "You boob," I said, "I'm fine!  Now help me finish dressing!"  He
smiled a little then, and helped me get my T-shirt on.

Andy arrived back with a cup of coffee for me, and tea for the rest of
them, a box of pastries, and a newspaper.  "We'll send you out for
breakfast more often!" I said.  We all laughed, then we spent the next hour
together reading the paper and having our breakfast.  Elizabeth took Jacob
home afterward, but left Andy with me.  He spent the rest of the day with
me, and helped me cut up my food at dinner time, refreshed my ice water,
fluffed my pillows, read to me, and did anything else I needed for him to
do.  After supper, Elizabeth and Jacob visited again briefly, and took Andy
home with them.

Later that night, after visiting hours were over, I was watching TV, when
Evan snuck into my room, and pulled the curtain around my bed.  Then he sat
down on the edge of it.  "How'd you sneak in here without being seen?" I
asked.  "I have my ways!" he said, grinning evily at me.  Then from inside
his jacket he produced a bag of 'doughed bangers' from the Bell & Crown,
and a bottle of ale!  "Thought you might need a snack!" he said, grinning,
as he popped the top off the ale, using an opener on his key ring.
"Unfortunately there's not a lot.  So we have to share.  Even the ale!
Cheers!" he said.  He took a swig, and then handed me the bottle, and I
took a swig.  "Damn, that's good!" I said, as I picked up a banger and
munched happily on it.  We both snickered quietly, then had a nice visit.
I really enjoyed my snack!

Evan was just getting ready to leave, when we heard a man's voice muttering
"I swear I smell 'doughed bangers'!"  Then the curtain was pulled back a
little and a male nurse looked in.  "Aha! I knew I smelled food!" he said,
looking accusingly at us.  "What were you eating?" he said as he stared at
the empty food bag.  I snickered and said "'doughed bangers'."  "I knew
it!" he said, pointing at Evan - "Bell & Crown, right?"  We both grinned.
Then the nurse saw the beer bottle and he got serious and said to me, "how
much of this did you drink?"  "Just a couple swigs, Evan drank most of it,"
I said.  "You're not supposed to drink when you take medication!" he said,
looking sternly at me.  "I know, but really, I only had a couple swigs!" I
said.  "Well, OK, " he said, but NO MORE drinking while you're here!  And
you, Sir," he said looking at Evan, "it's well past the end of visiting
hours!"  "I'm going," Evan said grinning.  He picked up the beer bottle and
stuffed it in his pocket, and we said good-night.  As he was going out the
door, the nurse said, "and remember, if you show up tomorrow night, make
sure there's enough to share with me!"  We all snickered, as Evan sauntered
off down the hall.

I spent another 4 days in the hospital, before they finally let me go home.
I saw Elizabeth nights, and early mornings, as she stopped in before and
after her shift.  I highly suspect she may have looked in on me during her
breaks while I was sleeping as well.  Laney brought Andy, Jacob, and Harry
to see me each day after school.  And Evan snuck in with a different snack
for me each night.  I felt bad that he was spending all his money on
bringing me snacks, especially since he made sure to bring enough to share
with Albert, the male nurse, who always took a bite, looked the other way,
and allowed us a short visit together after hours.  I tried to talk Evan
into just coming to visit without snacks, but he said he figured if it was
him in the bed, and I was sneaking in, I'd bring snacks too, regardless of
what he said.  "What are best friends for, anyway?" he ended with.  Then
realizing what he'd said, he blushed and looked a little sheepish.  I
smiled and said "you're absolutely right, and Evan, aside from Andy and the
boys, I consider YOU, MY best friend too!"  Evan grinned hugely then, and I
thought I saw his eyes glistening.  He leaned over and gave me a gentle
hug, so as not to hurt my shoulder.  Then he said he had to go, and hurried
out the door.  The snacks continued arriving each night thereafter.

Finally, I was discharged!  I was happy to get home.  Of course, then the
nursing staff of Elizabeth, Andy, Jacob, and the part-timer - Harry, kicked
in!  Unfortunately, my late night visits from Evan ceased.  He did stop by
to see me after school each day though.

I also received a lot of calls from the US when I got home.  Apparently the
twins had called and Jacob had told them what had happened.  They in turn
told my buddies.  For a few days, I got calls from 2-3 different stateside
friends.  One afternoon Brian called.  I told him about what had happened
when I died.  I could hear how upset he was when I told him about seeing
Mike, and gave him Mike's message.  He dropped the phone and I could hear
him doing something.  Then I heard a 'snap' and Brian said "Son of a
Bitch!"  He came back on the line.  He was crying and said, "You really did
talk to him!  That was the combination to the lock on his foot-locker.
I've been trying to open it for weeks now!"  He thanked me and said he'd
call again, but then excused himself to go inspect the contents of Mike's
foot-locker.

Within a week and a half, my stitches were out and I felt well enough to
return to school.  I still had to wear a sling on my arm though.  Of
course, when everyone saw that, the questions started.  Everyone had
thought I had been sick.  They all wanted to know what had happened, and
why nobody'd said I'd been injured.  We were sitting at lunch the first
day, when a group of our friends had surrounded us and wanted answers.  I
looked at Andy, he gave me a resigned look.  So I said "I wasn't sick, I
was shot."  "WHAT?" they all cried.  Then of course they wanted details.
Thinking quickly, I said, "I can't share the details of my shooting, all I
can tell you is I was shot in the shoulder during a fight, and I've been in
the hospital and at home recovering from it.  And I asked my family and
closest friends who knew about it, not to say anything, so please don't
blame them, blame me, if you don't like it that you were kept in the dark
about what really happened."  There were several puzzled looks, and of
course a few questions, only a couple of which I answered.  Thankfully, the
bell rang soon, and it was time to get to our next class.  The next day I
did finally tell Rob, Rick, Niles, Jane and Betsey what had occurred.  They
were all glad I'd shared the information with them, and all agreed to keep
quiet about it.  Over the next few days I skirted a few more questions from
some other classmates, but then things got back to normal.

A week later, Jacob turned 15.  We had a party for him.  After the party
was over and his friends left, he, Harry, Elizabeth, Andy, and I were
sitting in the livingroom.  The door bell rang, and Jacob answered it.  We
heard him yell "DAD!"  We all looked at each other.  Then Elizabeth looked
sick as Duke walked into the room behind Jacob, who was beaming, and had
tears in his eyes...

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The next chapter in this series will be published shortly.