Date: Fri, 3 May 2002 17:26:44 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: The Castaway Hotel - Book 5  chapter 5

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
**You're not 18 or over,
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a
website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's
permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken
against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this
chapter and to Ataan for his suggestions about the storyline.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me
at http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

                *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Although the boys in these stories have unprotected sex, I strongly urge
all of you out there to be smart and protect yourselves from various
sexually transmitted diseases by using condoms when having intercourse.

                *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Castaway Hotel-Book 5-by BW (Young-Friends).  Copyright 2002 by billwstories
Chapter 5 - New beginnings.                       January 2002

When Thanksgiving arrived, we had a house full of people, as usual, and I
was very grateful for this.  The holidays had always been very special to
me, having all our loved ones and friends gathered together, and this was
no exception to the rule.  Whatever depression I had been struggling with
was now only a memory and I enjoyed being around the ones I loved.  All my
children had arrived, bringing my grandchildren with them, and this always
made for an enjoyable time for all of us.  My only regret about
Thanksgiving was that everyone tried to pamper me and keep me from doing
anything strenuous, but what they collectively ended up doing was keeping
me from performing the normal functions I enjoyed so much.  In the end,
however, there was so much going on during that time that I needn't have
worried about feeling left out or deprived of being able to enjoy those
minor tasks.  This Thanksgiving turned out to be a very special one, and
the day held many surprises for all of us.

My older children had begun to arrive the night before with their families,
and the boys had doubled and tripled up in rooms to open up a place for
them to stay.  My daughters and daughter-in-law soon took charge of the
meal preparations, telling me to go relax and enjoy the grandchildren,
which I did.  It was a fun-filled evening, with all of us being able to
talk, play games, or just spend time with each other.  I was really ready
for bed when the time came, as the grandchildren were full of energy and it
took all my strength just to keep up with them.

As each of them had arrived, I introduced Jake to everyone, though we kept
the extent and particulars of our relationship unspoken.  He even went so
far as to spend the evening with his son, Shannon, so as not to raise any
questions about our sharing the same bed.  I also gave up my room, for my
son, his wife, and two children to use, and I spent that evening with
Kevin.  Kevin had actually suggested it, as he was feeling a little lonely,
and he always seemed to feel better when we were together, as I would
distract him and make him forget the reasons he was still alone.  By the
time we were ready to go to sleep, he would manage to cuddle up against me,
like a little kitten with its mother.

My younger son spent the evening in the family room, on the sleeper sofa,
joined by my other grandson.  They had also formed a special bond, as they
didn't live all that far apart and my son would visit their house
frequently.  We he did, my grandson spent a great deal of time with him,
going places with him and playing games together, so his request to sleep
with his uncle came as a shock to no one.  All and all, we found a space
for every individual and they each seemed glad to be home for the holiday.

The following morning everyone was scurrying around getting ready and
helping with those last minute details.  By the time the other guests began
to arrive, all the preparations were pretty much done.  Sally was the first
of those other guests to arrive, and she said she arrived early
intentionally, so we'd have time to talk.  She explained that she had
received a phone call late the previous day, just before she left work, and
an associate in Massachusetts informed her that she thought she had located
the boy from the clues.  Before she told me about him, she indicated that
she thought this boy might be a bit too much for me to handle at this time,
as he had some special problems that would need to be addressed.  She said
that considering my recent health problems and all, I might consider it
better for both of us if someone else was left to deal with this young man.
I told her I wanted to hear about him first, before I made any decision,
and she reluctantly agreed to tell me what she knew.

The boy, she told me, lived just outside of Boston, in a community called
Peabody, and both his parents were deceased.  They had died on one of the
planes originating in Boston, which had been used as flying bombs on 9/11.
This, she added, was probably the reason Graham had seen a plane crash as
one of the clues.  At first I questioned this explanation in my mind, as
Graham had seen his first images before 9/11, but I finally decided that
those on the other side might not see time the same way we do, therefore
allowing Brent to relay information not yet available to us.  Sally then
went on to explain that they had been on their way to the west coast, as
the husband was going back for a second interview for a better job, and
this time he had taken his wife along, to check out the area and possibly
do some preliminary house hunting.  Unfortunately, they never made it
there.

Then Sally went on to tell me that he basically had no other living
relatives, as his grandparents had all passed and his only uncle had been
killed during a robbery in Boston.  He was shopping at the wrong place, at
the wrong time, and he caught a bullet from one of the robber's weapons.
Next, she went on to explain the reasons she thought this boy might be too
much for me to deal with at this time.  First, he would be dealing with the
trauma of losing his parents like that, and then having to cope with being
totally alone.  Second, he had hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy, which
meant he had some physical limitations as well.  She told me that she knew
my intentions were all good, but possibly this time I would be biting off
more than I could chew.  I told her I appreciated her concerns, and I would
research his situation and condition, but I would like to meet with him in
person before I made a final decision.  I told her that I would appreciate
it if she could arrange for him to come for a visit, so we could chat and I
could evaluate his situation for myself.  Sally didn't readily agree to
this, but after a verbal give and take, consisting of questions and
responses over possible scenarios either of us could come up with, she
finally gave in and said she would do as I asked.  I also told her I would
pay for his entire trip, so her department wouldn't have to be involved
financially.  She told me she'd get back to me the following week, to let
me know what she had been able to accomplish, and I thanked her for her
continuing help and support.

After everyone else arrived, we sat down to dinner.  As is the custom in
our home, we then went around the table, well actually tables, asking each
person to say at least one thing he was thankful about.  Other than the
usual responses, there were a couple that stood out, at least in my mind.
The first such blessing to catch my attention was Shannon's.  First he told
us he was thankful for his father, as he was the person who stood by him
and supported him through his roughest times.  It was also very touching
when he said that after his mother had basically told the both of them that
she no longer wanted anything to do with either of them, he was crushed and
deeply hurt.  He told us that his father had helped him through this rough
period, but this really changed when he found our family and became a part
of it.  He said that he was now glad to be part of a family again, and to
feel loved and wanted by someone other than his father.  Now, he added,
instead of being an only child, he now had many brothers and two dads.  He
finished by telling us that we might not be able to appreciate how much all
of that meant to him, but the boys assured him that they did.

The next surprise came from my younger daughter, when she announced that
she was thankful that she was going to have a healthy baby boy in May, when
came to a surprise to all of us, including her husband.  She waited for
this moment so she could tell the whole family at once.  Needless to say
this led to much discussion and celebration, though we all had to chuckle
over the fact that the sonogram showed it was another male to be added to
the Currie clan.  This news also made us feel bad for my only
granddaughter, as she was still the only girl in the younger generation,
and she would have to grow up dealing with a horde of boys.

The final surprise came from Frankie, when he thanked all of us for helping
him turn his life around and do something with it, such as going to
college.  He said that even though he had begun to appreciate what he lost
after he was sent away that first time, he had made sure he didn't repeat
those mistakes again.  He went on to tell us that he hadn't truly realized
how important the family had been to him, until he went away to college and
met his roommate.  After listening to his roommate tell about his strained
relationship with his parents, how unhappy and unloved he felt, how he had
done things to try to get their attention (and probably still was), and how
lost and alone he still felt.  He told everyone that Tom (his roommate) was
going to come join us tomorrow and spend the weekend, because Frankie
thought he might find some closure or sense of belonging by being with us.
He said he knew we'd all make him feel at home and part of the family, and
he thought that's what Tom needed right now.  Even though this was a simple
statement, it had profound implications about Frankie's growth, maturity,
and his concept of the family, and I was deeply touched that he had come so
far.  I think a couple of others had come to the same conclusion.  After
everyone assured him that Tom would be welcomed with open arms, we dug into
the scrumptious meal.  After we stuffed ourselves on all the food and
plentiful desserts, we just went into the other room to relax and let our
meal digest.

Later that evening, after our guests had left, we settled in and watched
the rest of the football game and then a movie, before we turned in for the
evening.  Before we did, I made sure to pull Graham aside and tell him what
Sally had told me, informing him about the boy and his upcoming visit.  He
seemed pleased with most of the news, but not all of it.  He was a bit
unsettled when he learned how the boy's parents had died, and he told me
that he felt like he was becoming a harbinger of death and destruction, not
exactly his words, but it portrays his sentiments.  He went on to explain
that he felt like his 'gift' brought mostly negative type news and this
bothered him.  After explaining to Graham that, in this case, it would also
bring an improvement to this boy's life, he finally conceded that his
ability wasn't entirely bad, though he wished there were more positive
things to come from it.  He also reminded me that we hadn't yet discovered
the Kevin connection, though we had some possibilities for his inclusion in
the visions.  We felt sooner or later we'd get some sort of definite
feedback on why he had been included in the first place, other than the
fact that he and Brent had been close.  Only time could answer that
question.

Friday afternoon, Tom arrived by bus, and Frankie took Dustin with him to
pick Tom up at the bus station.  I guess the boys gave him the grand tour
of our wonderful metropolis before they returned home, because the three of
them were laughing and joking around when they came into the house a couple
of hours later.  Frankie brought Tom in to say hello to me, and I told him
I was glad to see him again and that he should make himself at home while
he was here.  He thanked me for letting him stay with us, and then Frankie
dragged him off to introduce him to his brothers and show him around the
house.  The next time I saw Tom, he was possibly a bit overwhelmed by all
he had seen.

"How do you do it, Mr. Currie?  How do you take care of this huge house,
all these boys, and keep everyone so happy?"

"First of all," I told him, "my name is Josh and I expect you to call me
that, rather than Mr. Currie.  Second, I have a lot of help, if you hadn't
noticed, and they take care of most of the household chores."

"Yeah, but everyone is so happy and I didn't see anyone who doesn't feel
like he belonged and is really wanted and loved.  How do you do that?  I've
never felt wanted or loved by my parents, and there are two of them and
only one of me."

"Well, it's just that we've all learned to care about and depend on each
other, that's basically all it is."

"Well, I wish I could be as happy at my home as they are here.  If I was, I
wouldn't have had to come to your place to visit and get away from the
loneliness I feel at home."

"I'm sorry to hear that you feel that way, but maybe you're just focusing
on the negative aspects.  When you go back, I want you to try to find the
positive points for me.  I'm sure you will find many and will feel better
about your situation, but you're always welcome to come here and be a part
of this mad-house any time you wish."

He smiled and thanked me before adding his final comment.  "Even with all
these people who live here, you're still willing to have me join you too?
Wow, I just can't believe you care so much about everyone.  I'll try to do
what you asked me to, but I don't think it will change anything.  You see,
I tried that once before and didn't find much to put in the positive
column."

"Well, maybe it will be different now.  Anyway, you're always welcome here,
and not just because Frankie likes you.  You may come as often as you want
and stay as long as you wish, as long as your parents okay it."

"That's not a problem.  Chances are, they probably wouldn't even notice I
was missing."

"Well, enjoy your stay here and let me know if you need anything.  All you
have to do is ask."

"Thanks, Mr. Currie...I mean Josh.  I'm really glad Frankie and I got put
together as roommates, so I could meet the rest of you too."  With that,
Tom went off with the boys, as I think a group of them went out to play
football or something.  Later that night a group of the older boys went to
a basketball game at the high school, which was followed by a dance, as
Frankie wanted to show Tom what his old school was like.  They must have
had a good time, as they came home making a lot of noise and joking around,
and I heard Frankie gave Tom his bed and offered to sleep on the floor that
evening.  Tom wouldn't hear of that, seeing it was Frankie's room, and he
said that they could either sleep together in the double bed or HE would be
the one sleeping on the floor.  I guess they ended up sharing the bed, even
though they're both straight.

On Saturday, my older kids began to leave and return to their own homes
with their families.  It is always sad to say good-bye to them, but they
were all planning to return for Christmas or New Year's, so we would see
them again fairly soon.  Once they had all returned to their own lives, the
boys slowly moved back into their own rooms.  That fascinated Tom as well,
that the boys had given up their rooms without complaint to make room for
those who no longer lived with us, as if it were some big deal.  He later
told me that he felt his room was his only sanctuary and the only thing he
had to cling to as just his, so he would never have considered moving out
of it to make room for someone else, even for one night.  He said staying
with us had made him look at things in a whole new light.  By the time
Sunday arrived, the three college boys were a little sad to have to leave.
We went to church first, and then out to lunch, before they had to head
back to their respective campuses.  When that time came, Tom found it hard
to say good-bye.  He thanked all of us for being so nice, told us he wanted
to come back soon, and I reminded him he was always welcome in our home.
Jake had volunteered to drive Frankie and Tom back, as Dustin found another
ride back, with a friend of his. I happily let him do that for us, but it
was nearly midnight before he returned.  He didn't have to go to work until
Monday afternoon, so it was no big deal for him, but it had taken a great
deal of pressure off of me.

Sally happened to call Sunday night, telling me that she was arranging for
this boy to visit the following weekend.  He would arrive Friday afternoon
and then return Sunday afternoon.  She said she spoke to her contact on
Friday and the boy on Saturday, so most of the details had been ironed out.
She had already arranged for his transportation and all she had to do was
have her contact make sure the boy had a ride to and from the terminal.  I
also discovered that the boy's name was Alvin Mitchell Rydell, that he was
15, but would turn 16 on December 17th.  I also discovered that his
hydrocephalus and cerebral palsy happened shortly after his birth, when he
had contracted bacterial meningitis.  By the time it was detected, the
damage had been done and it would be permanent.  It was not contagious and
no one could get either of those conditions from him, but he would be
plagued with various maladies from them for his entire life.

During the following week I continued my research into those two
conditions, making sure I was fully prepared to deal with him.  I wanted to
know all about each ailment, exactly what it might entail as far as care
and modifications to the home if he came to live with us, and what
questions I would need to ask him before I would be able to make my
decision.  After researching these things online and following that up with
a trip to the library, where I read through numerous medical books and
journals, I called and made an appointment with my doctor, to see what
other things he might be able to tell me about either situation.  I went in
as his last appointment of the day, spent about a half hour discussing the
boy's condition with him, and I came out ready to meet and question the
young man.  It wasn't as if it would be an interrogation, I just needed to
know exactly what I'd be getting myself into, should I let him come live
with us.  I figured I already knew the outcome of that meeting, especially
if Brent could see in the future, so to speak, and knew more than we did,
but I went through the motions anyway.

That Friday I picked him up at the terminal at a little after 6:00 p.m.  He
was easy to spot, as he was the only one there using crutches.  They were
the metal type of crutches, the kind that wrap around the upper arm, and
not the wooden type that you place in your armpits.  I helped him retrieve
his luggage and load it into the car, but he hadn't said very much, as of
yet.  He was shorter than I expected, only standing about 5' 6", but he was
kind of cute.  He had dyed blond hair and brown eyes, but he seemed to have
this natural glow about him.  He seemed to be a happy person, despite the
bad hand life had dealt him, not to mention the other problems dumped on
him later.

I had brought Kevin and Graham with me, seeing they were the two most
involved with his situation, though Kevin might not yet know how or why,
and we struck up a conversation with him as we drove back.  He confirmed
his name was Alvin Mitchell Rydell, but when Graham asked him if he liked
to be called Al, he replied with an emphatic 'No!'

"I prefer to be called Alvin or Vinnie," he told us.  Obviously the name
Vinnie had come from the second half of his proper name, though I would
never have considered that an option on my own.  "I can't stand to be
called Al," he continued to inform us, "but I guess it's probably just me.
I knew to other guys named Al, and I despised both of them, so I never
wanted to use that name for myself."

We told him whatever name he wanted to use would be fine wit us, and then
the boys changed the topic and began to tell him about our family and where
we lived.  He seemed surprised to learn the family was that large, and all
boys to boot, but he seemed pleased by what all he learned.  The three boys
did all of the talking, the entire trip home, and I had left instructions
that dinner should be intentionally delayed until he got there, so we could
all eat together and get to know each other better.  When we pulled in the
driveway, a horde of boys streamed out the various doors, running out to
the car to greet our visitor.  I thought this might overwhelm poor Vinnie,
but it seemed to have an entirely different effect.  It seemed he was very
pleased to see that all the boys had wanted to come out and meet him
personally, as he was afraid some of them might be indifferent or maybe
even hostile to his coming.  I guess their welcome had allayed some of his
worst fears.

The older boys took his luggage and carried it to my room, as I had
informed them he would be staying there during his stay, and I'd use the
sleeper sofa.  Jake greeted him as he came in the door, as he had been
watching over the food as it finished cooking, but Vinnie seemed to be
puzzled by his being there.  I think he was expecting a woman, not another
man.  I managed to sidestep that for now, and I figured we would explain
that situation later,.  I then showed him where he could clean up for
dinner, and then I led him to the dining room.  He was impressed at how
long the table was, and that we could all sit together, so I took my seat
at the head of the table, with Vinnie sitting to my right.  One of the boys
said grace, as was our custom, and then everyone dug into the special meal.
Jake and the boys had outdone themselves with this one, and Vinnie felt
honored that somehow they had discovered what his favorite foods were and
then had prepared them in his honor.  I'd have to send Sally and her
contact a special thank you for providing that little tidbit of
information.

All through the meal, the boys either asked Vinnie questions about himself,
or he asked questions about us.  He wanted to know how each of the boys had
come to live with me, and he seemed to relate to some of the stories they
told, especially when Trey told his tale, as he had lost his parents in an
accident too.  After the meal I let the boys show Vinnie around the house,
but only after I questioned him privately about whether he could negotiate
the stairs on his own.  He told me that he could walk up them, but coming
down he would slide down the stairs on his butt, as there was too great a
chance he could lose his balance and fall down the entire flight.  I told
him that would be fine, and then had Danny spread the word to the boys
about how he would come back down, so no one would think he was just being
silly and make an inappropriate comment.  Danny did as I asked, and the
whole tour went well.

After that, we went into the family room to relax, putting a movie on for
entertainment, though the boys spent most of the time talking or playing
cards with Vinnie.  When bedtime arrived, I sent everyone to his room and
showed Vinnie to mine.  Before he got ready for bed, I told him I would
like to talk to him, as I had a few questions I still needed to be
answered.  He seemed to have no problems with that, as I explained that I
needed to understand more about his situation.  After discussing his family
and how he came to be orphaned, I asked him if he might be interested in
coming to live with us.  He told me, from what he had seen and how he'd
been treated so far, he'd like that very much.  Then I told him that I
needed to learn other details about his needs, before we could finalize
that arrangement.

"Vinnie, I know you use crutches, but do you have to use anything else,
like maybe a walker or wheelchair at times?"

"No, I never have to use those, but I do wear braces under my pants."  With
the pronouncement he lifted one pant leg and gave me a glimpse of one of
his braces.

"Do you wear those all the time?" I asked him.

"Not on weekends, except sometimes if I go someplace, but never around the
house."

"That's great!  Does your condition give you any other problems, besides
getting around?  What I mean is, does it affect your speech, your ability
to eat, or do you ever have seizures?"

"No, none of those things."

"That's good to hear.  What about special things you might need, like
special silverware or pen/pencil holders?"

"Nothing, except my crutches.  Well, I mentioned to my parents before they
died about maybe getting a laptop, to help me with schoolwork.  I even told
that to the social worker when she asked me a similar question.  I suppose
I could do without it, but it sure would help make things easier for me."

"Well, we could see what we could do to help you with that.  How about
therapy?  Do you receive any type of therapy and, if so, what kind?"

"I get physical therapy, both regular and pool therapy, and I also do
weight training."

"How often do you do this and what does it involve?"  He began to look
nervous now, almost like he thought I would think this might be too much to
have to deal with.  I instantly knew I had to reassure him, as I could read
the concern on his face.  "I just need to know what kind of things I would
need to provide you with, not that it would prevent me from allowing you to
come live here."

Suddenly he looked as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders and
let out his breath.  I think he had been holding it in since I asked my
initial question.  I tousled his hair, gave him a wink, and then he seemed
to relax even more.  "Well, I do the physical therapy three times a week,
both the regular and the pool therapy.  It takes about an hour and a half
altogether, half an hour in the pool and the rest out."

"What type of things do you do during those times?"

"Mostly stretches, to help strengthen the muscles and keep them loose."

"Okay, I see.  I suppose we could work something out with the YMCA or the
school, to use their pool, or could you do the same things in a Jacuzzi?"

"A Jacuzzi would work fine."

"Great, I've been thinking about putting one in, so this would be a good
excuse to do it.  We'll build a small addition off the downstairs bathroom
and put it in there."

"You don't have to go to all that trouble, I can do them at the Y or at
school, if that would be easier."

"Well, you can do them there if you want, but I still think I'm going to
put in the Jacuzzi anyway."  He looked up at me and smiled, as he knew that
I was doing it for him, even though I made it sound like I was doing it for
myself.  He had a cute smile, and it was infectious, so I couldn't help but
smile back at him.  We sat like this for a few seconds, just looking at
each other and smiling, before I asked him the next question.

"You also mentioned weight training.  What do you use, what types of things
do you do, and how often do you do it and for how long?"

"Well, I do leg extensions and toes raises.  I do it twice a week and I can
use a leg lift or leg extender to do it with."

"What are those?  I'm not sure I'm familiar with them."

"Well, a leg lift is a bench you sit on and put your leg under a bar, which
you lift up with your leg.  The extender is one you sit on a seat, put both
feet on a surface, and then push the seat back."

"Is the leg lift what a place-kicker or soccer player might use?"

"Yeah, the same thing."

"Great, then I think I know where they have one.  Where do you normally do
this?"

"My school had a leg lift, so I did it there, and then I would go out and
walk around the track for like another 15 minutes."

"Wow, you have to have a lot of discipline to do all of that.  I'm
impressed."

"Well, if I want to walk, I have to do it, or else I might end up confined
to a wheelchair.  I don't really have much of a choice."

"I'm still impressed.  I'm pretty sure the school has a leg lift, but I'll
see who might also have a leg extender.  If you don't mind, however, I
still have a few more questions for you.  This time I would like to know
about the hydrocephalus.  I know that means 'water on the brain', so what I
want to know is, do you have a shunt in your head for drainage?"

"Yes, I do."

"Does it require any special care?"

"Only when it is malfunctioning."

"What do you do then?"

"Well, I just go to the doctor and let him take care of it for me."

"Okay, that's simple enough.  I'll check to make sure we have a doctor with
sufficient knowledge of these conditions before you get here.  I think what
I mean, Vinnie, is I think I'd be happy to have you come live with us, if
you should decide that you want to."

"Really?  I think I'd like to do that too.  I really feel comfortable with
you guys and you all seem to care.  I didn't think I'd ever find a place
like this."  At that point I gave him a little hug and kissed him on the
top of the head.  He didn't react or pull away from me.  In fact, he seemed
to give in to my hug and kind of melt against my body.  After that I told
him to get ready for bed, I asked him if he needed anything special.  He
said he didn't, but I told him I'd put a nightlight in the bathroom, seeing
this was a strange place and I wanted him to be able to see where he was
going.  He thanked me for my concern and thoughtfulness, and then I left
him alone in the room.

The rest of the weekend we all spent time getting to know Vinnie better,
and he got better acquainted with us.  He spent time with each of the boys,
some individually and some in small groups, but I could tell he seemed to
fit in with them all.  He still hadn't met Frankie or Dustin, who were away
at school, but I knew that would be no problem, judging from what I had
seen with the others.  I did notice that Vinnie and Kevin seemed to be
spending more time together than he did with the others, and I thought back
to the clues we received when Brent told Graham about this poor soul who
needed us.  Maybe there was more to Kevin's inclusions in the clues than
just that Brent was thinking of him or that they had been close.

I learned later that Vinnie had told Kevin almost all the information he
had told me, some because of Kevin's questioning him, but some on his own
initiative.  Kevin did seem to be taking a special interest in Vinnie as
well, not only as an individual, but also about his special needs.  Maybe
they were bonding because Kevin had suffered through so much too, both
medical problems and the loss of people close to him, but whatever had
caused the bond, I was glad to see it happening.

Late Saturday night Vinnie came to talk to me in private again, after
learning that some of the boys were bi or gay.  I thought at first this
might be a problem, but he seemed to be relieved by this revelation.  He
told me that he had pretty much suspected he might be gay, not that he had
ever done anything, but he seemed excited by the fact that there were
others like him or who had similar interests.  He then asked me if I'd mind
if he asked Kevin to spend the night in my room with him, though he
promised me that nothing sexual would happen.  I told him that would be
fine, as long as Kevin wanted to, and then I explained to him that nothing
ever happened in the house unless both people agreed to it.  I guess the
boys hadn't told him about the sex-capades that go on from time to time,
and I think he took my warning to only mean that Kevin had to agree to
spend the night with him.  Kevin must have accepted, because I saw them
enter my room together later, and I was glad that Vinnie had decided to
live with us.  It would be good for both he and Kevin, from what I could
tell.

>From what Kevin told me later, I guess the two did cuddle and kiss once or
twice that evening, though Kevin didn't initiate more, in case Vinnie
decided not to join us.  I hadn't told him that it was pretty much a done
deal at that point.  Kevin told me in private later that he felt that if
they had done anything, and then Vinnie hadn't come to live with us, he
would have felt as though he had lost another lover, and he couldn't go
through that again.  Therefore, he decided that just a little intimacy was
all he was willing to do, even though he thought he might have feelings for
the newest possible addition to the Castaway Hotel.  I told him I admired
his decisions, how he had worked his way through the options to make that
choice, and his careful analysis of the situation.  I told him I would
support him, no matter what he decided to do along this line in the future.

Vinnie also came to see me and talk to me about the previous night,
although he didn't know me or trust me well enough to get into the details
of what they had done.  Basically, he told me that he and Kevin hit it off,
that they had gotten close, and now he was a little confused about his own
feelings.  We talked about the situation in very vague terms, since he
didn't seem to want to get into specifics, but I posed different
possibilities to him and made various suggestions concerning those
possibilities.  I think this helped him out, even in ways I couldn't
fathom, because he seemed to be less troubled when we had finished.  He
thanked me for my help, told me he'd definitely like to live with us, if it
were still his choice, and then he hugged me.  I guess I wasn't ready for
the last part, as I didn't think he'd known me long enough to do that, or
even that he was a demonstrative person, but I guess I was wrong on both
counts.  I hugged him back, told him I'd be proud to have him as another
son, and then I saw a tear in his eye when I lifted his head toward me to
see his reaction.

Suddenly I thought that he might have misunderstood my last statement,
thinking that I was trying to replace his parents, so I quickly made sure
that he understood that was not the case.  That's when he informed me that
he already understood what I meant, but he was touched that I'd offered to
be a father-figure to him so soon, seeing we had known each other less than
two days.  He told me he loved the house, he loved the family, and he loved
me personally, and that he'd be thrilled to come there to live with us.  I
told him I'd make the arrangements, as quickly as I could, but I warned him
it might take a few weeks to work out all the legalities, seeing we lived
in different states.  He said he understood, and that it might be better if
he finished most of that semester where he was, and maybe he could work out
something with his teachers about first semester grades before he left.  I
told him that was an excellent idea, and we left it at that.

Later Sunday afternoon I took him back to the terminal and sent him on his
way back home, telling him that he was welcome to join us for Christmas,
just in case we couldn't work things out by then.  He gave me a hug, kissed
me on the cheek, and then said good-bye to Kevin and Graham, who had gone
with me again.  We waved to him as he departed, hoping we wouldn't be
separated for very long.

                   *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.