Date: Thu, 14 Jan 2010 18:02:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Jason Gardham <gardham1@yahoo.com>
Subject: "Benjamin and Me"  Chapter II

Author: J. Gardham
gardham1@yahoo.com

This story is fiction as are the characters, if you think you see yourself
in this story that's cool as long as everyone remembers there's nothing in
this story that isn't pure imagination.

"Benjamin and Me"

Chapter II


We never did make it to the medium, once we discovered Benjamin and I could
manage physical contact we returned to the house to discuss our findings.
Ben and I were now sleeping together although Benjamin said sleep wasn't
necessary for him he still enjoyed cuddling with me as I slept.  That ghost
of mine is such a romantic.  Six months have passed and the remodeling is
done, the old wall coverings have been replaced with new and the house has
taken on the essence of Benjamin and I.  The floors and wood work has been
restored to it's original beauty and the exterior was restored just as Ben
said it looked when he had it built.

We've had a few neighbors stop in and congratulate us/me on the restoration
giving Benjamin and I the opportunity to test out whether or not he could
materialize so I could see him without others being able to, and he could.
This made for interesting meetings with neighbors since Ben knew he could
draw me into making comments to him when he was invisible while others were
watching.  For some reason this always tickled him knowing how embarrassing
it was for me to get caught talking to him when no one else could see him.
This was even more fun for him as we walked down the street as he carried
on a conversation with me, which appeared to onlookers that their loony
neighbor Thomas was talking to himself.

It happened to be a beautiful fall day as Ben and I were taking a walk
through the park not far from our house.  There was a black man sitting on
a bench tossing bread crumbs to the pigeons.  As we walked by he said,
"good morning guys, beautiful day isn't it?"  Both Benjamin and I answered,
wishing him a nice day before stopping dead in our tracks as we realized he
could see both of us.  Not sure I heard him right when he said, "guys" I
turned to him offering my hand as I introduced myself.  He took my hand,
shaking it as he introduced himself as Reggie, he turned to Benjamin and
said, "and you're Benjamin".  Ben and I looked at each other and back at
Reggie, Ben asked how he knew his name, which struck me as funny since the
first question on my mind was how is it that you can even see Benjamin.
"Oh I've seen Benjamin walking around ever since I was a child, he looked
so sad as he tried talking to people, he'd stand in front of
 them and they'd just walk right through him".

Ben asked why Reggie never tried to talk to him if he could see him all
those years.  "At first I was scared, you know as a kid, watching people
walk right through you was a bit unnerving, and then as I got older it just
seemed like you were always so sad looking that I just never got the nerve
up to speak to you".  I asked, "why now Reggie, it seemed perfectly natural
as you said good morning to us".  "You were both happy and my heart felt
joy at seeing you two together with Benjamin having a sparkle in his eyes".
"It's good to see the sadness is gone".  "Thanks to Thomas here, if he
hadn't come alone and bought my house I guess I would have spend eternity
wandering around never having found happiness".  "Yeah, I kind of guessed
that when I saw you two together, I think the angels who`ve been watching
over you knew it was just going to take time for this to happen".

Benjamin and I both said, "Angels?"  "Oh yes, angels have been watching
over Benjamin ever since I've been aware of him being a ghost, and I'm sure
long before that".  I asked, "and you know this because?"  "Because they
told me so".  This time it was Benjamin who seemed taken back, "you talk to
angels, that's amazing I wonder why I've never seen them?"  "They said you
had to work through some karma that you brought on yourself, they know you
didn't commit suicide but they also were aware that you were thinking
seriously about it, and the fact that you tripped and the gun went off
accidentally left everything in limbo, you never really had a chance to
make that final decision for yourself".

Benjamin thought for a moment before answering, "I'm sorry I was
considering killing myself I know it`s wrong, but I'm also happy to have
met Thomas which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't died."  "I think that
maybe what they've been waiting to hear Benjamin, knowing that you are
sorry for thinking of killing yourself, realizing that it was wrong,
perhaps things will change for you now".  "Change how Reggie?"  "Maybe you
can go home now, I'm not sure to be honest Benjamin".  I jumped into the
conversation with both feet at hearing this, "wait just a minute I don't
want Ben going anywhere, it's the first time in my life I've met someone I
love and who really loves me back".  "Thomas you have to remember Benjamin
is dead and he's been in limbo a long time maybe the decision is up to him,
as I said I'm not really sure what will happen at this point".

I turned and looked at Benjamin with tears in my eyes, he smiled and pulled
me into a reassuring hug, "I haven't any plans on leaving you Thomas, you
know how much I love you".  "It's because of the depth of our love we've
developed the ability to touch each other and we'll find a way of working
this out".  "I clung to Ben as tight as I could just the thought of losing
him was breaking my heart.  Turning back to Reggie, we found he was gone,
not a sound and nowhere in sight, he was just gone as if he'd never been
sitting there talking with us.  Benjamin reached up and wiped tears from my
face as he whispered, "dear God I love this man so much I can't bare the
thought of losing him, please let us stay together".

Walking back to the house we stopped in front of the small store that was
in front of our property by the sidewalk.  A boy of about eight walked up
and stood beside us looking up at me he said, "I wish that guy who fixed
bikes was still here, I saved some money and was hoping he'd sell me one
cheap".  I looked down at him, he seemed frail and kind of lost, his
clothes were old but clean, someone was doing their best to look after
him. "you know it seems like when I was storing things in here I saw a
couple of bikes sitting around, hang on and I'll open it up maybe there's
something here that will work for you".  "What's your name?"  "Billy", "I
was hoping to get a bike so I could keep my paper route, they told me my
customers were complaining because it took me so long to get to their
houses and I'd have to work faster if I wanted to keep my route".

I found my keys and opened the store, it was starting to get dark so I
flipped on a light, the place was dusty and basically a real mess, I hadn't
paid much attention to it since I didn't have any plans on using it.  Over
toward one side there was a bike hanging on the wall, it was filthy but
looked like it was fixed and usable.  I lifted it down and asked Billy if
he thought it would work for him, the kid had the biggest smile on his face
I think I've ever seen.  "The tires are flat but that may be just from not
being used for such a long time, I'll see if I can pump them up, if they'll
hold air it's yours Billy".  "I only have twenty-five dollars saved, will
that be enough?"  "Well let's see, maybe if you'll come back tomorrow and
help me clean this place up we'll call it even, how's that sound?"  "That's
great Mr. what time should I be here".  "My names Thomas and let's say
around nine o'clock tomorrow
 morning".  "Thanks Mr. Thomas I'll be here right a nine".  "It's just
Thomas, not Mr., see you tomorrow Billy".

Benjamin stood there without saying a word as he watched the scene unfold
before him, "you've got a heart of gold Thomas".  "I can't believe the
kindness that just flows so naturally from you, I don`t believe there`s a
selfish bone in your body".  Taking my hand we walked to the house, our
house, it really was beautiful fully restored to it's original elegance.
My heart was burdened with thoughts of what might happen to Benjamin and I,
losing him from my life seemed unthinkable.

After breakfast the following morning Ben, Fred and I went out to the store
around eight-thirty and found Billy already standing out front waiting for
us.  "You're a bit early aren't you?"  "Yeah, I was too excited so I came
early, hope that's okay".  "You should have come up to the house you could
have had breakfast with us".  "Who's us?"  "Ah...oh you know my dog Fred
and I".  Benjamin was rolling his eyes at me with a silly grin on his face,
"good save Thomas".  This was going to take some practice on my part,
Benjamin is so much a part of my life that I forget he's a ghost.

Billy and I spent the morning cleaning up the store, and moving things into
places that gave the store room for walking without bumping into junk.  The
tires on the bike held air and as Billy turned to start cleaning it he
discovered it was shinny clean and looked like new, Wow! "Thomas you
already cleaned my bike it beautiful".  "No I didn't....ah yup, it cleaned
up pretty nice didn't it".  I looked over at Ben who had that fantastic
smile of his working and just shrugged his shoulders, whispering, "I had to
do something to help didn't I?"  Whispering back, I said, "it looks great
Benjamin but you should warned me before I made myself look silly since I
didn't know you'd cleaned it already".  Laughing Ben replied, "and take all
the fun out of watching you talk yourself of those situations, no way
Thomas".

"Billy, you did a great job, I can hardly believe how nice this store
looks".  "Thanks Thomas and thanks for letting me work to pay for the
bike".  "You're more than welcome and let us know how things go with the
paper route" "Will do, see ya later guys".  "Guys?, I hope he meant Fred
and I".  "Don't think so Thomas, Fred went back up to the house a couple of
hours ago and Billy was looking right at me when he said, see you later
guys".  "Well that sends chills right up my spine".  "It shouldn't, Billy
was completely fine with it".  "Hmmmmm, maybe your right Ben, I hope so".

"Benjamin, we need to talk about this sense of humor of yours, especially
when it's at my expense".  "Okay, can we talk about it while we're soaking
in the tub?"  "Tub?"  "Yup! the tub, you are so dirty I can hardly see you,
but you know what babe, even dirty you're an absolute treasure to behold".
Looking at myself in the mirror I started laughing, good grief, Billy
wasn't nearly this dirty, what happened to me?  "You dear boy, did most of
the dirty work that's what happened to you, if you'll start the water
running I`ll help you wash some of that muck off".  It was funny one of the
few things Benjamin wasn't yet able to do was turn the faucets on.

Getting the tub filled to almost overflowing and throwing in some bubble
bath, I stripped out of my clothes, and stepped into the tub, Benjamin was
already soaking that beautiful body of his.  He pulled me up so I had my
legs wrapped around his waist so he could wash my face and chest,
Benjamin's touch was always stimulating and sensual.  He told me to turn
around and he pulled me back in between his legs so he could wash my back
and hair, I could feel his erection rubbing on my arse cheeks.  He scrubbed
my back clean and massaged my hair and scalp with the apple scented
shampoo, it felt so good I just slid back onto Ben's chest and let my body
relax.  "Don't you dare fall asleep on me, I have plans for you that make
it necessary for you to stay awake".

By the time we got out of the tub my legs were like rubber, thankfully Ben
towel dried me and threw the bedding back letting me lay on my back on nice
clean fresh sheets.  He pushed my legs apart and slipped in between them
resting with his elbows on either side of me as he looked into my eyes.
"Thomas do you have any idea how much I love you, you really have stolen my
heart".  "Yes Benjamin, I think I do because that's just how much I'm in
love with you".  He leaned down and kissed my nose, my eyelids, my
forehead, my ears, my chin, I pointed to my lips, he leaned in a gave me a
tender, loving kiss that made my heart swell.  Moving down he run his
tongue up between my nipples right on up over my throat and back to my
lips.  I opened to him and took in his tongue and sucked on it while he
moaned into me.


He took my arms by the wrist and moved them up so they were resting beneath
my head, moving down he circled my right nipple before nibbling and nipping
it with his teeth drawing a loud moan from me.  Switching to the left
nipple he repeated the same arousing torture eliciting another loud moan.
Leaving my head resting on my hands where Ben obviously wanted them I was
having a hard time laying still.  Sliding further down he run his very
talented tongue into my navel before moving down and sucking on my pubic
hair and twisting it with his tongue, I've never had anyone to that and it
just about drove me crazy.  As he continued this he had my cock rubbing
beneath his chin with the hair on his chest tickling my balls, I was almost
on sensual overload, precum was oozing out lubricating my cock shaft and
the underside of his chin making it that must more sensitive to his touch.

My hips were raised off the bed and I was squirming almost out of control
as rope after rope of cum shot from the head of my cock hitting my chin and
mouth and all down my chest, I'd never came so much in my entire life.  I
was totally drained as Benjamin licked his way up my body after sucking my
cock clean, licking my chest, chin and lips before running his tongue in my
mouth where I sucked it clean of my own seed.  I honestly don't think I
could have crawled let alone walk I was so wasted.

Ben rolled beside me, "time for some shut eye babe you worked hard all
day".  "Not yet Benjamin, I haven't satisfied your needs" "I have a
confession to make Thomas, when you shot your load and cum landed on your
mouth the sight of it sent me over the edge and I climaxed on the sheets".
"Lets rest now, sweet dreams Thomas, I love you".  "Love you too".

Waking the next morning I found Benjamin was already up and outside, I went
to the window and saw him standing looking at a couple of stables that
hadn't been remodeled into garages.  I pulled some old pajama bottoms on
and went outside and slipped my arms around him.  "Hmmmm, you smell good
this morning Ben".  "Morning Tom, hope I didn't wake you when I got up".
"You didn't sweetie, you never do, what you up to?"  "Oh just reminiscing
about the horses that used to be stabled here".  "You miss riding?"  "Yes,
kind of".  "I love to ride let's get a couple of good riding horses and fix
up the stables, there's plenty of acreage here for riding, we could make
some trails though those woods and then into the meadow".

Ben turned and looked at Thomas for the longest time before he pulled him
into a hug and whispered, "you don't have to do everything you think I want
Thomas, I couldn't love you anymore no matter what you did".  "I know, but
I love riding and we have the stables and the land for riding there's no
reason not to".  Benjamin stepped back and starting laughing, "what are you
laughing at now?"  "You Thomas, you fill me with such happiness, it just
overwhelms me at times".  "Here I thought all this time it was my beautiful
masculine body that overwhelmed you".  "Well that goes without saying
smartass".


We started going through the stables seeing what needed to be done to
restore them to usable condition.  In the second stable we entered there
was a tarp over something in the corner, I swear I saw it move and motioned
to Benjamin to move back.  I quietly walked over and yanked the tarp off
and there sat the skinniest young man I think I've ever seen.  He started
to run as I grabbed his arm, which wasn't much more than skin drawn over
bone.  "What are you doing in the stable?"  "Please don't call the police,
I won't bother you anymore, I was just trying to find a place to sleep".
"Are the police looking for you?"  "No, but I don't know what they'd do to
me for trespassing on your land".  "Why are you trespassing by the way?"
"My dad threw me out of the house and I didn't know where to go and then I
found these old stables and stayed in here hoping no one would find me".
"Why'd your dad put you out of the
 house?"  "I decided to tell him and mom I was gay hoping they'd
understand, but I was wrong, believe me they didn't understand, they went
crazy and threw me out with only the clothes I'm wearing".

"What's your name?"  "Larry", are you going to call the cops?"  "No we're
not going to call the cops, when is the last time you've eaten?"  "Three
days ago I found some food in the dumpster behind Marko's Restaurant, but
not since then".  "Is your friend angry with me?"  "What friend?"  "The guy
standing right over there".  "You can see him?"  "Of course I can see him,
can't you?"  Looking at Benjamin who looked as confused as I was just
shrugged his shoulders".  "There`s a bit of story that goes with that
question, let's get you in the house and get some food in your stomach
before pass out, ....  Too late, Larry had just collapsed into Thomas's
arms".  "What's the fuck is wrong with people Ben, how could anyone throw
their own flesh and blood out with nothing to eat or no place to go."  I
looked up a Benjamin and saw that his thoughts were in the past where his
lover had been shot for
 the simple fact that he was gay, I must be more careful of what I say.  "I
sorry Benjamin, I didn't mean to bring back sad memories".

"It's okay Thomas, I was just thinking we're all the same, we fall in love,
we share our life with that one person who we give our heart to, what
difference does it make who we fall in love with".  "That's the question of
the ages Ben, hopefully some day people will realize it's not who we love,
but the fact that we do love that's important."  "We need to get this young
man to the house, I believe he's actually starving to death and it looks
like it's up to us to see that doesn't happen".

The first thing Ben and I did was to get some fresh water into Larry's
system, while I was doing that Ben heated some left over soup from
yesterdays evening meal.  We managed to get enough down Larry so his
strength came back enough so he could talk again.  We asked how long ago
his parents threw him out, it had been six months, six months with nothing
but the clothes on his back and no money to even buy something to eat.  He
told us he was eighteen years old, and had tried everything to find work
but in this lousy economy he couldn't find a job anyplace and the dirtier
and thinner he became the more people to turn him away.  I fought back
tears as I told Larry he was safe with us and he had a place to stay as
long as he needed.  Trying to appear as if I was teasing I said, "Would you
like to soak in a tub of warm water for a while, you look like you could
use a good scrubbing down".  Larry actually laughed as he looked down on
himself and his
 filthy clothes, "yeah, a bath would be a welcome sight if you guys don't
mind".  We took him upstairs and filled the tub with scented water and
bubble bath and told Larry to drop his clothes in the hallway we'd pick
them up and toss them into the washer for him.  Minutes later we found what
was left of his torn and beat up clothing in the hall outside the bathroom
door.

"Thomas we'll have to throw these clothes out, if we wash them they'll
disintegrate for sure".  "My clothes will be large on him but they'll have
to do until we can buy some that'll fit him properly".  I rummaged up a
fairly new pair of jeans, a t-shirt, sweatshirt, socks and an extra pair of
sneakers for him and we laid them outside the bathroom door for him.  Ben
called through the door that there were clothes in the hall for him to put
on when he was done, we didn't hear a response.  I leaned close with my ear
on the door I could hear crying, there's things that just really get to me
and hearing that scared kid crying alone really did it.  Ben put his arms
around me and pulled me away from the door, "he'll be okay Thomas we'll
make sure of it, it'll take some time but with some decent food to build
him up and a lot of tender loving care he'll make it.

"I'm so glad we found him this morning Benjamin, what would have happened
if we hadn't?"  "Thomas we'll never know because we did find him and that
was meant to be, he's safe and you and I can love him like our own son".
"let's just take this as we take all other things that come our way, one
step and one day at a time".  "How did you become so wise Ben?"  "All I
have to do is look into your eyes and see the light that shines with love
for everyone you meet Thomas, the wisdom I gain is from watching you and
how you give of yourself so freely without an unkind thought entering your
heart".  "You are so unaware of your own goodness, you're a miracle
Thomas".

"I do wonder how Larry was able to see me, how do you think that happened
Thomas".  "I've been given that some thought Ben, I think Larry was so worn
down and close to death himself that he was almost in an in between state
of life and death which allowed him to see both of us as real." "We're
going to have to try and make him understand the situation as soon as
possible so it won't come as a complete shock once he's healthy".  "Yes I
guess it would be a bit of a shocker if I suddenly just disappeared in
front of him once his health starts to return".

Larry came walking downstairs in Thomas's clothes, he had scrubbed himself
shinny clean.  "Thanks for letting me bath, it feels good to have that
filth washed off, I used some of you shampoo, I hope it was okay".  "Of
course it was okay, you look great we hope you're feeling better, we were
just about to start working on dinner is there anything special you'd
like?"  Larry was surprised that he was expected to stay for dinner and
wasn't sure what was taking place in his life.  "If you don't mind I'd like
to have dinner with you, but you've done so much already".  Ben said,
"Larry take a seat and let's talk about what's going to happen with you".
"First, you have a place to stay as long as you want to, the offer we made
earlier allowing you to live here still stands".  "This house is huge and
there's plenty of room so it's not an imposition to Thomas and I and if
you're willing to help around here we sure
 could use it".  Thomas added, "we're planning on buying some horses so
we'll need the stables brought up to standard and we have two-hundred acres
of land here to be cared for so there's lots of work if you're interested,
but not until you're feeling up to it".  "Right now we need you to build up
your strength, your body is nothing more than skin and bone you need to put
on at least thirty-five or forty pounds for a guy your height".

Larry just sat there looking stunned, Thomas asked if he was okay.  His
eyes filled with tears and Ben reached over and took his hand, "it's okay
Larry, we know how you feel everything has changed and it's a bit much for
you to take in".  "You know I'm gay and you still want me to live here and
help out?"  Ben and Tom looked at each other both realizing that Larry
hadn't given a thought to the fact that they might also be gay.  "Larry,
Benjamin and I are gay, so having another gay man here isn't exactly a big
shock to us".  "You guys are gay?"  "I thought I was the only person in
Berlin who was gay".  "Nope you not alone, although sometime I'll tell you
why I chose Berlin as a place to move to".  Benjamin looked at Thomas and
laughed.

"Larry there is something else we need to talk to you about and it isn't
going to be any easier for us to tell you than it is for you to accept".
Benjamin gave Thomas a surprised look, "you think now is a good time?"
"Benjamin we might as well lay it all out on the table now as later".
Larry said, "if you're talking about that fact that Benjamin's a ghost I'm
already aware of that".  Thomas and Benjamin just sat there staring at each
other before Benjamin said, "and how did you come to that conclusion?"
"There was a guy named Reggie who came into the bathroom and helped wash my
hair and he told me a lot of things about you guys, although he didn't
mention you were gay, that is a surprise, he told me I was safe and to
trust you, that you were good people".  Both Ben and Tom said, "a guy named
Reggie....in our bathroom.....helping you wash your hair...."  "Yes wasn't
he suppose to come in and talk to me, I
 thought you guys sent him in?"  "Oh it's okay I guess, we just haven't
quite figured Reggie out yet is all".

"This just keeps getting weirder and weirder Ben".  "Yes, I think we need
to have another chat with Reggie when and if he shows up again".  "Larry
why is it you're surprised that Benjamin and I are gay but it didn't seem
to surprise you that Benjamin's a ghost?"  "I don't know I guess I've
always believed there were ghosts, but I had no idea you guys were gay".
"Getting back to the matter at hand are you okay with living here with us
and helping around the place?"  "Are you kidding me, this is heaven sent, I
can't believe you guys will let me live here in this beautiful house, I'll
do anything you ask as far as work and helping".

"There's always things to be done, but the first thing we need to do is get
some meat on your bones, everything else will fall into place as it
should".  We fixed dinner and managed a lot of small talk until it was
done".  Without our asking Larry looked through the cupboards and found
dishes to set the table, it was good to see a smile on his thin face.  He
ate like a starving trucker which delighted Ben and I.  When we finished
dinner Larry immediately cleared the table and started putting dishes in
the dishwasher.  "I have a feeling you've done this before Larry".  "Yeah,
I had to do the dishes at home, keep the house clean, mow the grass, take
out the garbage, and keep the car washed and detailed".  Ben started
laughing, Larry and I both looked at him wondering what struck him so
funny.  Ben said, "I wonder how your parents are managing without you there
to do all the work for them?"  Larry sat down and thought about that before
 he started laughing, "yeah I hadn't thought about who would do all the
things that were considered "my jobs", I hope they get used to doing for
themselves".

Six weeks went by and Larry had put on twenty-five pounds and was beginning
to look like one hot and sexy young man.  Benjamin had been cutting his
hair into a nice style that really suited him and the work he was doing
getting the stables ready for the workmen had put some nice muscle on him.
Ben and I both found it hard to keep our eyes off him when we're all
working together outside with our shirts off.  Larry's broad shoulders and
chest had developed into every man's dream tapering down to a twenty-nine
inch waist followed by a bubble butt you could serve tea on, you could say
he had become quite an attractive distraction.  Climbing ladders constantly
to clear junk from the eves and roof had built up his legs which were
tanned to perfection from wearing shorts as he was working outside all day.
Eat your hearts out girls this sexy young man is going to make another sexy
young man a perfect mate when he decides he`s ready to make that
 commitment.

We discovered Larry's nineteenth birthday was coming up this weekend and
decided to surprise him by taking him with us to pick out the horses we
planed on buying.  We thought we'd stand back and watch until we could see
which one he took a special shine to and it would be his as his nineteenth
birthday gift.

That evening the doorbell rang surprising all of us since in the time we've
been here visitors have been few and far between.  Larry answered the door
and called back to us that a kid named Billy and his dad were here.  Ben
and I looked at each other as I said, "I almost forgot about Billy with
everything else we've been involved in, guess we better go see what's up".
Going to the door we found Billy and his dad in the foyer with Fred who was
jumping all over Billy.  "I reached out to shake Billy's dad's hand as I
asked Billy how the paper delivery business was going?"  Billy introduced
me to his dad, Glen and we invited them in to the living room where we all
took seats.  Ben hadn't said anything yet, not sure whether or not Billy or
his dad could see him.

"Glen what brings you to our humble home this evening?"  "Humble...... this
place is unbelievable I've never seen anything like it".  "Billy wanted to
thank you for the bike and let you know he was doing well with his paper
route".  "I came along because I don't like him out alone after dark, I
hope you don't mind".  "Not at all, can we get you something to drink, a
cold beer, soda, tea?"  Neither Benjamin nor I had missed the looks passing
back and forth between Larry and Glen.  I asked Larry and Glen if they knew
each other and they said no and Larry did a nice blush.  Glen didn't look
like he could have been much over twenty-seven or twenty-eight, he must
have fathered Billy very young.  It was easy to see where Billy got his
looks, his dad was a knock out and I could easily see why he had caught
Larry's eye.  If I wasn't missing my guess Larry had also caught Glen's
eye.  I wondered looking at Billy if at nine years
 old he caught any of this attraction between Larry and his dad.

Bill spoke up and asked who the other guy was, Larry, Ben, and I just
looked at Billy and waited for a reaction from Glen which came almost
immediate.  "What other guy Billy?"  "The guy sitting next to Thomas on the
sofa".  Okay mystery solved, there was only one of us who couldn't see
Benjamin and that was Glen.  What to do now was the interesting question of
the evening.  "What are you talking about Billy there isn't anyone sitting
on the sofa next to Thomas".  Larry's head was bouncing back and forth
between each of us as the conversation continued, it appeared he was
getting a kick out of the situation.

"Glen there is an explanation but first I want to ask your son a question
or two".  "Billy when did you first see the guy sitting next to me, his
name is Benjamin by the way".  "I saw him when you turned and realized my
bike was all cleaned up, you seemed surprised and he stood there with a big
smile on his face".  "Billy do you have any idea what Ben is?"  "Well since
he just sort of appeared out of nowhere I figured he was a ghost".  "And
that didn't scare you?"  "No, you were there and he looked like a really
nice guy".  Glen started sputtering, "Ben.....ghost....appeared,....what's
going on?"  "Okay Glen this isn't going to be easy, kids seem pretty
relaxed about finding Benjamin living here as a ghost but I'm not sure how
you're going to take this".  "Benjamin can you make yourself appear to
Glen?"  "I'm not sure why he can't see me now, everyone else can, but I'll
put more effort into it and see what happens".  "Who said that?"  "Glen you
heard that?"  "yes", and apparently he did since he turned several shades
of white.

Benjamin give it all he had and slowly he materialized to Glen as he sat
next to me, at which time Glen passed out and slid out of his chair scaring
Billy out of his wits.  "Dad, dad, what's wrong, Thomas something's wrong
with dad, can you help him?"  "Calm down Billy your dad's okay he's just
fainted, Larry get us a damp cloth", Larry was way ahead of me and handed
one to me immediately, I patted Glens' face until he started to come
around.  Ben and I noticed Larry was kneeling beside Glen rubbing his
forehead as he spoke softly to him telling him it was okay, "you'll get
used to it Glen, it just take a bit of time is all".  Glen looked up into
Larry's eyes and gave him a faint smile as Larry continued to stroke his
forehead.  Larry lifted Glen up so his head was resting in his lap and we
noticed Glen didn't give any sign of objecting to the intimacy.

I took Billy into the kitchen and we each had a coke from the refrigerator.
Sitting at the table, I told Billy his dad would be fine there was no need
to worry, he had simply reacted to a shock to his system.  "I know, he's
fine and I know why you brought me in the kitchen".  "And just why do you
think I brought you in here for anything other than a coke".  "Thomas I'm
not stupid, dad and Larry had sparks flying and you wanted me out of the
way".  "Yeah, you're right about that, I just thought it might be nice if
we gave them some privacy for a few minutes".

"It's okay, I know my dads gay, and I want you to know he's the best dad
ever'.  He doesn't know I'm aware of it but he goes without enough food to
make sure I don't go hungry".  "Yes I'd say that's a father who loves his
son".  "So I take it you and your dad are having some hard times in this
stinking economy".  "Dad was studying at the university to become an
anesthesiologist when I was born and my mother just dropped me off on him
unexpectedly".  He gave up everything for me, all his dreams of becoming a
doctor, everything he ever wanted in life is gone because of me".  With
that Billy started to cry, I put my arms around him and pulled to me and
let him cry.  "Billy, nothing in life at nine years of age is your fault
we'll figure this out, try not to worry about it".

Glen and Larry walked in together with Benjamin close behind, apparently
they had worked out the kinks of the ghost in the house shocker.  Glen came
to his son and kneeled down and took him in his arms to comfort him, it was
obvious he worshipped his son.  "What's wrong son?"  "It's nothing dad, I
was just afraid you were sick or something, it scared me when you fell".
"I'm sorry kiddo, it was just a bit of a shock running into a ghost, but I
have to admit he one heck of a nice ghost".  When Glen looked up at me I
shook my head indicating there was more to Billy's problem than he was
telling.  After a few more minutes of chat Glen said they'd better head for
home it was getting late and Billy had a school day tomorrow.

Larry and Benjamin picked up on the fact that I wanted to talk to Glen
without Billy hearing and they walked out onto the lawn with Fred as I ask
Glen if he would mind stopping in tomorrow while Billy was in school, we
need to talk.  He said he would, we shook hands as he went out and we all
waved as they headed on home.  Benjamin said he'd like to follow them home,
there was something bothering him and he said he'd be back shortly, with
that he faded away so he couldn't be seen.  Larry looked at me with a
"what's that about look" and I said, "I guess we'll know when he gets
back".

To be continued


 Jason Gardham