Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 11:10:29 -0700 (PDT)
From: Dewey <dewey2k@yahoo.com>
Subject: For the love of Pete Ch.10

This story is a work of erotic fiction involving teenage boys partially
based on real people and events.  Names have been changed to protect the
guilty as well as the innocent.  All the usual rules apply.  If you
shouldn't be reading this now, then don't continue on.

----------------------- 

I am also posting my stories to another site:
http://www.teenboyauthors.org/aww/index.asp

This site publishes only love stories, not quick sex stories.  Since you're
still reading this series, you may want to check it out.

My newest chapters will be posted at this site exclusively for one week
prior to submitting them to Nifty.

-----------------------

Copyright Notice - Copyright  (c)April 2000 by Dewey.

This story is copyrighted by the author and the author retains all rights.
You may distribute, copy, or print this story however you like, PROVIDED
this copyright notice remains intact and you do not change the story in any
way.  Also you may not charge any fee to anyone to distribute or access
this story.

For the Love of Pete
Chapter Ten

For the Love of Brian, part 2

I awoke in the camp trailer, sunlight streaming through the window, falling
on my bare chest.  It was a wonderful feeling, reminding me of the happy
mornings spent at Brian's house, long ago.  The warm caress of the sun had
brought me gently out of my slumber, with full knowledge of the events that
had occurred the day before.  I remembered every detail, every twitch in
Ray's face, every pebble under my body as I fell.

Sadness was foremost in my thoughts, sadness that Brian was out of my
reach, possibly forever.  Sadness for Ray, that his feelings for me had
grown to the point of frustration, and sadness that I couldn't return his
love.  I lay there, awake but eyes closed, ruminating on the confrontation
yesterday, and wondering why I didn't see it coming.  All the clues were
there.  Ray's covert looks when I was changing clothes, his jealousy of
Jared, his offhand comments about us being together after highschool, his
more-than-friendly pats on the back, even holding my hand longer than
strictly necessary in greeting.  I had been blind, so wrapped up in my
personal grief and absorbed in my yearning to rejoin Brian.  And me talking
about Brian all the time hadn't help things either.

I wasn't angry, or even annoyed by what Ray had done.  He had slapped me
with a cold dose of bitter reality, a medicine that I sorely needed.  I
knew that I would have to talk to him this morning, and I wasn't looking
forward to it.  He would be devastated, horrified that he had done this
thing to me, that he had let his true feelings slip.  He would be so afraid
that I would hate him because of the pain that he'd inflicted on me in a
fit of jealous rage.  Strangely enough, Brian wasn't even on my mind that
morning, or rather, he was at the back of my mind.

My contemplation was interrupted by the sound of either Sharon or Kevin
rising from their bed.  The fifth-wheel trailer had the master "bedroom" at
the front separated from the rest of the trailer by a folding curtain.  I
was sleeping on the converted bed where the dining table usually stood.
After some shuffling behind the curtain I heard Sharon come down the steps
leading to their bed, and give a small sigh.

Opening my eyes, I craned my neck and looked at her, rumpled from her
slumber. She saw my movement and gave me a small smile while moving to my
bed.  As she sat on the edge, she caressed my cheek in a motherly fashion,
her face exhibiting a sadness as well as concern.

"Good morning, hon.  How are you?"

"All things considered, surprisingly well."

"You gave us quite a scare.  Do you remember what happened?"

"I remember all of it, even what happened in my head right before I fell
asleep."

"You fell asleep?  It looked to us like you collapsed to your knees and
then fell over in a dead faint."

"Really?  My last thought was of Brian and how he would be able to clear my
confusion after I woke up.  I'm okay now.  I really need to talk to Ray."

"I'm not so sure that is a good idea right now.  I don't know how he will
take the anger and pain you must feel toward him."

"That's just it. I'm not angry.  I have pain, sure, but from missing Brian
so much, and the reality factor.  I may never see him again, and if I do,
he may not want me."  It was a matter-of-fact statement.  I felt nothing,
no pangs of loss or longing.  I hoped I wasn't starting to disconnect from
Brian. I couldn't go on living if I was.  "But I need to tell Ray that I
needed to hear what he said, and tell him that until I am convinced that
Brian is forever out of my reach, I will remain faithful to him."

"I understand.  Have you been able to talk to Brian at all?  Phone calls?
Letters?"

"I tried to call him several times, but usually I get no answer.  Once his
mother answered and she said she would tell him I called.  She even took my
number, so either he doesn't want to talk to me or she's not telling him.
As far as the letters, the same thing applies.  Either he got them and
doesn't want to talk to me, or someone is keeping them from him."

"Would his parents do that, knowing how much he cares for you?"

"I don't think they would.  But then again, I thought Mother was okay with
me until that morning.  I suppose they could be holding my letters."  The
thought chilled me.  If he wasn't getting my letters, then he must think
I've forgotten him.  I really need to get him a message somehow.

Sharon sat silently, lost in thought.  I tried to crawl out of bed, but she
was sitting on my blankets, holding them down and trapping me.  "Um,
Sharon? I have to go to the bathroom."  She didn't respond to me at first,
then absently got up and moved to the back of the trailer, where she could
stand and not be in my way.

Throwing back the covers, I realized that I was in my underwear, and my
clothes were nowhere to be found.  Sharon was oblivious to my predicament,
and rather than walk around in my skivvies looking for my clothes, I sat
back in bed and covered myself, modesty winning out over bladder.

Sharon stood there for a moment longer, then snapped out of her reverie.
Noticing that I was still in bed, she said, "I thought you had to go to the
bathroom."

"Um, I do, but I need my clothes."

"Shy, Pete?"  She grinned at me warmly, got my clothes out of the little
closet by the entry door, and returned them to me.  "Well, are you?"

"I was taught it isn't polite to parade around in my underwear.  Call it
what you want to, it just isn't comfortable for me to do that in front of
you."  I dressed myself as we spoke

"Just kidding, hon.  Do you want breakfast before you talk to Ray?"

"No, thank you.  My stomach is queasy anyway.  I need to get this over
with."

"Okay. Do you want me to come with you?"

"I don't think so.  I let this happen and I need to deal with it on my
own. Thanks anyway."

You're sure?  Kevin could go with you if you'd rather."

"I'm sure."  I headed for the door, opened it, and stepped outside.  As I
did, I glanced back at Sharon and caught the worry that she had been trying
to hide from me.  She knew as well as I that this could be the end of my
friendship with Ray, which would make it impossible for me to be around the
Patterson's without causing bad feelings.

The morning held a chill as I closed the door.  Dew was in the grass and on
the windshield of the truck.  I could see my breath in the air.  The tent
that Ray and I were sharing was zipped up tight, but I could hear movement
inside.

Sitting on the picnic table bench, I waited for Ray to come out of his
cave, trying to gather my thoughts and put together what I was going to say
to him.  I needed to reassure him that I wasn't angry with him first of
all.  Explaining what I was feeling for Brian would be next, but doing so
would be a task.  How does one put love into words, even when it is a
thousand miles distant?  And how does one explain to a person who loves you
that you love someone else?  I liked Ray, maybe even loved him as a
brother, but I wasn't IN love with him.  I didn't want to lose what I had
with him.

The sound of the zipper being undone cut the silence like a knife.  Ray
climbed out of his tent with out really paying attention, and turned to zip
the flap shut again.  Only after did he notice me sitting there.  Fear,
love, frustration, resignation, sadness, all of these and more slid across
his face in a fraction of a second.  He stood there rooted in place for a
long 15 seconds or so.  When it was apparent to me he was too scared to do
anything, I walked over to where he stood.  I could see his expression
change to one of desperation and panic.

"Ray, please don't go.  I want to talk to you."  My voice broke his
immobilization.

"Why? To tell me how much you hate me? To tell me you never want to see me
again, or how much I disgust..."

"Stop!"  The strength of my voice startled me.  It sounded so loud in the
still morning air, and held a note of command.  "Ray, I am not angry with
you, not at all.  In fact, I want to thank you for putting a fact I have
been avoiding forefront in my mind.  You started me really thinking.

"I also want to say I am so sorry for what I put you through.  I was so
wrapped up in myself that I didn't notice how you actually felt about me,
and I led you on without knowing it.  Ray, I value you as a friend, but
like I told your mom, until I am convinced beyond doubt that Brian is out
of my reach, I will be faithful to him. I owe him that much.  He means so
much to me that even now there isn't a minute that goes by without a
thought of him.  He saved me.  If I hadn't told him that day, I would have
been alone when my dad had found out about me being gay, and I'm not sure I
would have gotten away.  I could be dead now, you see?

"He also filled a void in my life like nothing else I have ever
experienced.  We were only together four hectic, terrifying days, but for
those four days, I was whole. Complete.  And I think Brian felt the same
about me."  I ground to a halt. Tears were starting to spring up in my
eyes, and I could see them in Ray's eyes as well.

"I'm sorry for what I said to you Pete.  I was hurt and angry, but I had no
right to say those things.  After I realized what I said, I was so ashamed
that I ran away.  I didn't want you to see me.  I could have killed myself.
I didn't mean to fall in love with you, Pete.  It just happened, and now I
don't know what to do.  Can I still be friends with you knowing that you'll
never love me back?  Can I torture myself every day by being near you,
feeling as I do, knowing you don't feel the same way?  I don't know... I
don't know if I can do that."  A few moments of silence followed, both of
us shuffling our feet, lost in thought.

"Ray, regardless of how this turns out, I want you to know I love you like
a brother.  You are my best friend up here.  I can talk to you and you
understand me.  You know what to say, how to read my moods, how to keep me
out of a funk.  But I'll understand if you decide you can't be around me,
and I won't bother you if that is what you decide.  You have been a true
friend to me from the beginning.  I only hope I can repay that debt."

I reached out and put my arms around him, drawing him close to me.  Holding
him tightly, I said in a soft voice, "I'm sorry Ray.  I didn't mean to hurt
you.  That is the last thing I ever wanted to do."  We held the embrace for
a while, a minute, thirty seconds, I wasn't sure, and it didn't matter.
With a final squeeze, Ray broke my hold on him, turning around and walking
away quickly.  I could see sobs wracking his body.

"That can't have been easy."  Startled, I turned and found Jared and Jason
standing a short distance away.

"You're right. It wasn't, but it needed to be done.  How much did you
hear?"

"All of it," Jared said.  "I'm sorry too.  I didn't realize how you felt.
I feel like an ass for coming on to you like I did."

"How could you know.  I didn't tell you.  I'm sure Jason didn't know the
whole story."  I turned to watch Ray walk away again.  In a quiet voice, I
said, " I got so wrapped up in myself that I hurt the people I care for the
most."  Sighing, I walked off toward the river.  As I left, I heard Jason
say he was going after Ray to make sure he was okay.  Jared didn't follow
me, but I felt his eyes on me until I disappeared into the trees.

The day wore on slowly.  I sat on the beach, occasionally throwing a rock
into the water, or at the odd passing seagull.  My thoughts ranged free
over whatever popped into mind.  Before I knew it, the sun was high
overhead, and my neck was on fire.  Wonderful.  Just what I need.  A damned
sunburn.

As I considered going back to camp to get something for my neck, I saw
Kevin crossing the rocks toward where I sat.  He approached in silence,
watching his footing more than anything else.  Upon reaching me, he sat
down on the rocks beside me, tossing one idly into the water as he did.  We
sat in a pleasant silence, the only noise being the water against the
rocks.

"The water is relaxing, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"I like to come down here at sunset and let my thoughts wander.  You'd be
amazed at how far your thoughts can go when you don't try to control them."

"I've been doing that all morning."

"I know. I've been keeping an eye on you, making sure you don't do
something stupid."

I snorted. "You don't have to worry.  Suicide has never crossed my mind."

"That is good to know.  I heard what you said to Ray this morning.  That is
probably one of the toughest things you will ever have to do, you know?"

"Yeah, I suppose, but if I had been paying attention in the first place, it
wouldn't have come to that."

"Yeah, it would have, but earlier.  It would have been just as difficult,
too.  I think Ray is attracted to you because you are the first gay boy his
own age that he could really get to know.  It might be a crush, but I don't
know for sure.  In any case, I know that you are dedicated to Brian, so
what happened is probably for the best.  I won't say I know how you feel,
but I empathize, and I'm here if you want to talk.  Anytime, anywhere."

I nodded. "Thanks, Kevin.  That means a lot to me."

Kevin got up, and as he did so, gave me a pat on the shoulder.  Then he
noticed my fire engine red neck. "Oh boy.  Come on kiddo, lets get
something on that burn before you turn to ashes."  I got up slowly and we
headed back to camp together.

Walking back side by side, I studied Kevin out of the corner of my eye.
Was this what it was like to have a father who truly cared about you?  Did
his easygoing attitude represent his respect for my feelings, or was it a
ploy to relax me so I would confide in him?  Either way, I'm not sure I
mind.  It felt good to have a connection to the adult world, which is
something I never got from my parents.

Respect is something kids don't get enough of.  So often kids are to be
seen and not heard, condescended to, treated like a five year old even
though we are teens, or nearly so.  We aren't adults, but we aren't
children, either.  We are somewhere in between.  Maybe that's what makes it
so hard for parents these days.  They sense that we aren't children, but
they know we aren't adults.  Dealing with children is easy.  Dealing with
adults is easy.  But dealing with a man-child who is hormone-crazed and
emotionally volatile?  That is enough to scare anyone.  So rather than deal
with the teen, they ignore him or try to confine him in the child role.
Some rebel against it, and some succumb to the pressure.  Either way,
trouble is just waiting so strike.

We arrived at camp, and the first thing that Sharon said was "Oh - my -
GOD!  What did you do, use a magnifying glass for your neck?  Come on, lets
go get something on that."

"I can take care of it, hon.  We'll be back in a minute."  Kevin had
intercepted Sharon's motherly persona so deftly that I'm not sure that
anyone else noticed.  But I saw the look pass between them, so I knew
something was up.  I wasn't sure what yet, but alarms were crashing in my
head.

The trailer door was open, letting air inside through the screen door.  It
did tend to get stuffy inside, and the noon heat was not quite
uncomfortable.  A good day for swimming after lunch.  Then again, maybe
that wasn't such a good idea after what had happened between Ray, Jared,
and me.  Time would tell.

"Come on in, Pete.  Strip off that shirt.  I'll get the aloe."  I did as he
said, noticing an uncomfortable tingling on the back of my neck.  I tried
to check it out in a mirror, but couldn't see all of the burn.  What I
could see filled me with dread.  It was bad, and that meant I'd have to go
tank top or shirtless to avoid the irritation of collars.  Putting on the
sunblock would be irritation enough, I was sure.

Kevin squirted some aloe into his hands and motioned me to turn around.  As
I did, he began to rub the aloe on my neck.  It felt ice cold, but I
quickly got used to it.  Kevin began to speak to me as he took his time
treating my burn.

"When I was your age, my parents acted much like yours did, but not for the
same reasons.  I'm not gay, so that wasn't an issue.  Mother and Father had
already raised three children and had gotten them out of the house when I
came into the picture. I was an accident, they told me, and they really
didn't want me.  They made that more and more clear throughout my
childhood.  But instead of giving me up for adoption, they took the
'honorable' way out and kept me.

"My earliest memory is from when I was about three.  I had just made a
great colorful swirl of wax on paper with crayons. To me, it was a
masterpiece that I wanted to share with my parents.  I tried to get their
attention and show them.  Father told me to show Mother with out so much as
a glance.  Mother said 'That's nice, now go play,' again with not so much
as a glance.

"The lesson I learned that day, and one that was beaten into my head
everyday from then until I was fifteen, was that they didn't care about me,
and I didn't matter.  Over and over I tried to get their approval, or even
just their attention, and each time they either ignored me or told me to go
away."

Kevin had finished tending to my sunburn.  He closed the bottle of lotion
as I turned around to face him.  He looked deep into my eyes, making me
uncomfortable.  I dropped my gaze and shifted uneasily.  Kevin continued
on.

"They kicked me out of the house the day I turned sixteen.  Father just
announced that I was now a man, and I had to move out and live on my own.
My friends put me up for a few weeks each until I could find a job and pay
for my own apartment.  I worked as a paper pusher at a prestigious law
firm, but they made it clear that I couldn't work during school hours, so I
worked late into the night.

"The lead partner of the firm, Mr. Vanderkamp, or Van, talked to me a lot
for the first couple of months I worked for him.  For some reason, he liked
me, and eventually he offered to pay me to go to and finish high school.
The only thing he wanted in return was for me to promise I would go on to
college, which I was planning on anyway.  I didn't believe my good fortune.

"Van had a son my age who worked in the office too.  His name was Kevin
also, which caused a lot of confusion until people started calling us KV
and KP.  Anyway, he and I became friends.  I went to the public high
school, and he went to a private school, but when we got to work, we were
inseparable.  Our work was done quickly, and done properly.  We had a good
reputation around the office, so much so that we were taken off the paper
pusher detail.

"One of the other partners walked up to us one day and asked if either of
us were even slightly interested in being lawyers.  Of course, growing up
hearing his father tell stories of the courtroom, KV was very much
interested.  I was interested in specific areas of the law, specifically
civil liberties and child abuse.  Old Ozzie , Mr. Oswald, smiled and told
us to follow him to the library.

"He gave us a case report, and told us to start looking up precedents
relevant to the case.  He told us to take our time, and it did take us a
while.  We asked a lot of questions, but we did finish the research for
that case. What he hadn't told us was that it was an old case, and he
thought he would begin to put us through practical law school because we
were interested and we had good potential.  Van agreed, and that is how I
came to study law.

"After I graduated, The firm gave me a full ride scholarship, and even
continued to pay my way through the bar exam.  After, they hired me as an
associate.  I've been there ever since.  KV went on to Harvard Law, and
works in New York now. We still keep in touch.

"Life can suck, but if my parents had loved me and cared for me as they
should have, I wouldn't be what I am today.  I believe that there is a
purpose for what happens in our lives.  I've seen too many coincidences for
them to BE coincidences.  I know that may sound hokey now, but later on,
I'm sure you'll see what I mean. Bad things happen. But in my experience,
good will come of it if you look for it.

"Now you're probably wondering why I told you my life story.  I'm not quite
sure myself.  Sometimes it helps me deal with the pain from childhood if I
talk to someone I trust about it.  And maybe something in my experience can
help you somehow.

"Pete, if you've never really listened to me, please hear me now.  All of
these emotions you keep bottled up will come out one way or another, some
day down the road. If it stays bottled up, it can lead to deep depression,
move you to violence, or just cause a breakdown.  Trust me on this one.  I
don't want to see you come to that.  Please consider sharing with me, or if
you don't feel safe with me, maybe Sharon.  If that isn't comfortable, we
will find someone for you.  I know this sounds like a lecture, but I've
seen what can happen.  This is an important issue for me.  For us.  Please
let us help you."

Kevin drifted into silence, looking at his shoes.  He was awaiting my
response.  What could I tell him?  I had already told him my life story,
talked about Brian, what was I bottling up that needed to be shared?  Sure
I was angry with my mom and dad, but there was nothing I could do about it,
so why waste the energy?  And I was worried about Brian, too.  Did he still
love me?  Did he know I was alive?  Did he know I still loved him?

Tears formed in my eyes as I thought about Brian.  I tried to blink them
away, but more came.  I was too old to cry.

"I know that your parents gave you up.  They didn't want you anymore
because they couldn't accept who you really are.  Pete, that is not your
fault.  Nothing that happened to you when you were with them is your fault.
They were supposed to care for you.  You did nothing to cause them to
reject you.  It isn't your fault."

I didn't answer.  I didn't trust my voice.  Tears began to fall even
faster.

"You really do love him, don't you."

I nodded, unable to speak because of the growing lump in my throat.  Tears
ran down my face unabated.

"You miss him too.  I can tell.  You miss him holding you, being there for
you when you hurt..."

I was sobbing now.  Why was he doing this?  I didn't want to think about
these things!  I had it all under control until he started talking about
Brian.  I didn't want to think about this!

"You miss holding him too, I bet.  He is a true friend, he completes you.
But he's not here. He was taken away from you.  They left you alone.  All
alone, with no one... not even Brian. They took the most important part of
you away."

I couldn't hold back anymore.  Throwing myself into Kevin's arms, I buried
my face into his shoulder.  I cried uncontrollably as sobs wracked my
frame, howling my pain and desolation. Any crying I had done before might
as well not have happened.  All of the torment I had inflicted upon myself
for the last two years came out all at once.  He held me tightly as he
rocked me, telling me to let go, to let the pain and anguish out of my
heart.  I don't know if I let it all out, but I couldn't stop crying for
what seemed like forever.  As his tears fell on my neck, Kevin continually
told me that everything was going to be okay and he was with me.  I
couldn't feel his sobs because of my own.
 
I am sure that everyone within a hundred yards heard me, but I didn't care.
I didn't care if they saw me scream and cry like a baby.  It just didn't
matter.  Brian had been ripped out of my life, possibly gone forever.  It
hurt me so much that I denied the pain, put on a mask of strength and
indifference, and all the while, the pain was eating me up, destroying me
inside.  I couldn't maintain the mask any longer.  It had cracked and
shattered.

I eventually stopped crying, but random shudders still ran through my body,
causing me to inhale sharply, just like a baby.  Gradually the tremors
slowed and finally stopped.  I was still wrapped in Kevin's arms, and
neither of us tried to break the embrace. I felt safe and secure in his
grasp.

A knock on the door startled both of us.  Sharon asked "May I come in?"  At
Kevin's nod she opened the screen door and stepped into the trailer.  I
tried to pull away from Kevin so I could gather myself, but he held me
tight against him, like he was afraid to let me go.  Maybe I was a
surrogate for Jeff.  All I do know was that he didn't want to let me go
yet.

"How do you two feel?"  What a silly question.  I feel like a baby.

"Fine," I responded.  Sharon gave me a look of impatience.

"Don't think you can blow me off that easily.  I want to know what you feel
right now, this instant."

I thought for a moment, searching for the right words.  "I feel like
someone died.  I'm sad, angry, and exhausted.  I'm especially tired of
being a fake, being someone other than myself, pretending like nothing
happened."

She nodded thoughtfully.  "Now that's an answer that I can believe.  How
about you, Kev?"

"Better.  I've been holding that in too long.  I'm sorry I couldn't tell
you.  I just figured out what it was."  She smiled at her husbands honest
answer.  Sharon came over to us and wrapped us both up in her arms,
sandwiching me between them.  Other than when Brian held me, that was the
safest feeling I have ever had.  I found myself wishing that Kevin and
Sharon could have been my real parents, that my mom and dad should have
never had me.  I was angry - no, angry wasn't the right word.  I was
infuriated because they had me in the first place, and then rejected me.
Why couldn't they have accepted what I am like Kevin and Sharon do?

As these thoughts ran through my head, I began to cry again.  Together,
Sharon and Kevin held me, stroking my hair, murmuring that I was safe now,
and I would be fine with time.  They held me as a mother and father hold
their child.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *

The rest of the trip went quickly for us all.  I found that I was crying
myself to sleep softly for the remaining nights at the river.  Ray would
throw his arm around me and hold me close, trying to comfort me, and we
would fall asleep like that.  He had decided that being my friend was
better than not having any contact at all, and honestly, I was glad for
that.

Jared and I still continued our diving lessons, but he was all business
like during his instruction.  We joked around just like always, but the
tension between us was gone, and we enjoyed each others company.  Jason was
spending the last couple of days relaxing and reading in camp.  Ray kind of
hovered around us on the sandbar as Jared explained how to perform certain
skills such as controlling a twist, how to control somersaults and not over
rotate, that kind of thing.  But I noticed something in Ray's eyes as he
watched.  He was watching us closely.  No, not us, but Jared.  I don't
think Jared was aware of it, either.  I decided it best not to interfere
and let things take their course.

The last night before we left the river for the long trip home, I
confronted Jason.

"You brought Jared with you in hopes of setting him up with me, right?"  He
blushed immediately.

"Um, yeah. I did, and I'm sorry.  After what happened..."

"Nothing shaken, Jase."  He winced as I spoke.  "Did I say something?"

"No, you wouldn't know anyway.  Jeff used to call me Jase.  It was his pet
name for me.  No one has called me that since he died.  But maybe it's
time.  Use it.  Everyone has to heal and move on.  It's time to heal this
as well."

I held out my hand and he shook it.  Not a crunching handshake, but a
greeting of equals who understand each other a little better that they did
a week ago.

"I'm here if you need me, Pete.  Don't forget that."

"I know, and for what it's worth, I am here for you, too."

He smiled at me and put his arm around me. "Come on, bro.  Lets go get
dinner."

The actual road trip back home took us on a different route than the trip
down.  We went south initially for about fifteen miles or so on US Highway
101, until we came to the junction with highway 199, where we turned east.
As we followed that winding road, I saw some of the most beautiful country
I have ever witnessed.  The Smith River ran through the Trinity National
Forest, cutting deep gorges out of the bedrock.  Trees blanketed the
landscape, their bright greens complimenting the brilliant blue sky.  It
was a wonderful sight.

We drove for about two hours before reaching Grants Pass, a fair sized town
that had the small town look, even if it did have 40,000 people.  Following
199 straight through town, we made it to the junction with Interstate 5 and
turned north, driving to Roseburg, where we stopped to eat lunch.  Then we
packed up and spent the next five grueling hours getting to Portland.  We
arrived about seven.

Rather than send us all home, the Patterson's insisted that everyone spend
the night, and they would take us home in the morning.  Sharon ordered
pizza for us, and then drug Kevin upstairs for some personal time.  Us
"kids" spent the time talking about the vacation or kidding each other
about our sunburns.

The pizza arrived about thirty minutes later.  Kevin came down stairs long
enough to pay the bill, but I did notice some strain around his eyes and a
pensive expression on his face.  After putting the pizza on the table and
telling us to dig in, he hurried back upstairs.

A short time later, three pizzas lay decimated on the kitchen table.
Everyone retreated to the family room and slouched into the couches patting
their distended bellies and smiling like a sated cartoon lion.  Sharon and
Kevin hadn't come down to eat yet, so Jason turned the oven on to keep
their pizza warm.  Ray flipped on the TV and chose some sci-fi show to
watch.  Twenty minutes later, the doorbell rang and Kevin bellowed, "I'll
get the door!" from upstairs.  Half flying, half falling down the stairs,
he made it to the door and let a man in the house.  He was around sixty,
gray, and wore a fine suit which looked like silk.

"Hello, Van.  Thanks for coming on such short notice."

"No problem.  I understand your position and why you called.  Have you
notified the party involved yet?"  Kevin shook his head.  Van looked into
the family room and it seemed he made eye contact with me, but as soon as
he did, he moved on.  "I see.  Well, let me go get my things organized in
the office while you inform our client."  With that, Vanderkamp climbed the
stairs to the office.

Ray nudged me. "This is weird.  I've never seen Mr. Vanderkamp here before.
I've seen him at the office, but whatever is happening must be important
for him to come all the way from downtown.  This is freaky."  Jason also
looked worried.

Kevin walked toward the family room, stopping at the threshold.  He took a
deep breath and let it out again.  His gaze fell on me.  "Pete, could I
talk to you, privately?"

A sinking feeling came from the pit of my stomach because I already knew
this was serious, and now I knew it concerned me.  I got up from the couch
and made my way unsteadily toward him.  Kevin motioned me up the stairs and
into his bedroom.  Sharon watched me like a hawk as I entered, concern and
sadness etched on her face.  Kevin shut the door behind him as he entered.
Again he motioned to me, directing me to take a seat next to Sharon.  By
this time, I was really freaked out, not knowing what was happening.  All
sorts of things went through my mind as I sat there, but my main fear was
Brian had committed suicide.  I fervently prayed it was not so.  Kevin
knelt before me, his head level with my chest.  His eyes bored into mine as
he spoke.

"Pete, last week your Grandparents took a trip over to Tillamook.  On the
way back, there was an accident.  They were run off the road and hit a tree
head on.  They didn't feel any pain, and died instantaneously."

----------------------- 
Constructive criticism and comments gladly accepted.  Please e-mail me at 
dewey2k@yahoo.com. Flames will be deleted.
-----------------------

I'd like to invite you to join a list that will notify you of new chapters
being released for "Pete".  To subscribe, you can write to:

dewey2k-subscribe@listbot.com 

You can also subscribe to the list by visiting its ListBot page: 
http://dewey2k.listbot.com 

After you send or fill out a join request you will be sent a verification
request, to which you will have to reply in order to complete the join
process.