Date: Fri, 25 Feb 2000 12:53:25 -0500
From: fsw99 <fsw99@pop.mindspring.com>
Subject: Chapter 31 of Matt and Mike

Warning! This story contains sex between minor boys. If you are underage,
this is illegal in your country, or do not like this type of story, please
do not read this.

			       MATT and MIKE

			    Chapter Thirty One

Well, someone really should have stayed with Merriam that day. She got more
and more depressed about allowing her bastard husband to ever take Brad
away in the first place. She blamed herself for what had happened to Brad,
even though it started almost ten years after their divorce. She drove to
an instant teller and took out way too much cash. She really couldn't
afford how much she was taking out. She went to her regular distributer for
her drug habit, and bought the biggest purchase of cocaine in her life. She
went on the biggest binge of her life. Nothing else seemed to matter.

She woke up at noon, with Rick shaking her. She hadn't been to work in a
week, and was a no show the day she was to report back to work from her
vacation in France. Rick had hoped to get her up, and take her to work, but
she was still way too high to even consider it.

Rick put on a pot of coffee, and made her get up and get dressed. He
basically had to dress her, which was very embarrassing to Rick. Even
though he was gay, and had no attraction to the female body, Merriam had
gone to bed completely nude. Merriam's underwear was no problem.  Same
design. Slide them up the legs and pull them up. Her bra was a different
story. Bras have given men fits forever, especially straight men. The clasp
in the back seems impossible to open or close if you are a male.

(Author's note: Sorry. I couldn't stop myself from putting this in
here. This relates to my first steady girlfriend. I was 16. I couldn't get
the DAMN thing undone, to save my life. I almost started to carry a pair of
scissors on dates! I still HATE bras, even though I now don't care if they
attach by velcro.)

Rick struggled with the bra, and almost gave up, but it finally
fastened. God, he was glad he was a man and didn't have to wear one of
those things! At least Merriam was properly covered up now.  Rick could now
get her dressed completely, and take her downstairs.

He made her drink several cups of coffee, before he had to get back to
work.

"Merriam, look, I can cover for you today. I will make up something. But,
you have to be at work tomorrow. Do you understand? You have already used
up all your sick days. You have to quit going on these binges, or they will
fire you. If they do, what will happen to Brad and Sam? You have to get
your life back in order. Do you understand?", Rick almost yelled.

Merriam cringed from his statement. Unfortunately, she cringed more from
the noise, than what he had said. Rick had to get back to work. He wouldn't
have any lunch this day. It was too late.  He had done all he could do.

Merriam's head seemed ready to explode. She needed something to make her
headache go away.  She looked in her medicine closet. She had Advil and
Tylenol. Would that make her headache disappear instantly? No way. She took
the only option she thought she had at the time. What is the old saying?
Hair of the dog that bit you? It works for alcoholics. She went back to her
new stash of cocaine. Her head felt better immediately. She felt lots
better. That was good. The only bad thing was, she just threw away her
future with her boys. She loved them both. All, for a fast high.

She didn't report in to work the next day, either. She hadn't come home the
previous night. Brad and Sam phoned Matt and Mike the next morning, when
they woke up and found she wasn't home. Everyone was frantic.

Rick eventually called the police. Merriam had been caught running a red
light the previous night.  Her eyes were blood shot, and she was very
high. It was easy for the police to know she was on drugs. They searched
the car, and found all the cocaine she had with her. She was now in jail on
felony drug possession with intent to distribute charges. She had never
intended to sell any of the cocaine, but the large amount she had on her at
the time made them believe she was going to. She had just gone to the
instant teller once more and drew out her limit, before spending it all on
more cocaine. If she hadn't done that, she probably wouldn't have been
charged with intent to distribute.

Merriam was eventually convicted on both counts, and sentenced to serve two
years in a woman's prison.

Once Rick found out that she was in jail, he tried to bail her out, but the
bond was too high. He did all he could. He told the boys, and consoled them
the best he could. Sam took it the hardest, and he held Rick and cried for
a long time.

Rick took both boys to their grandparents house, but they were both not in
good health, and he knew that they couldn't stay with them long term. He
sent both boys up stairs and talked to the grandparents for a long
time. They loved both of the boys, and wanted the boys to stay with them,
but had to face the fact that they just weren't young enough any more to
raise two more teenagers. They reluctantly told Rick that they thought that
they might have to turn the boys over to the state so that they could be
placed in foster homes until they could be adopted. This would probably
mean that the boys would be separated once more.

"Look, can you just give me a little time to see what I can work out before
you have to do that?", Rick asked. "I think I might have an answer to all
of our problems."

"Sure, we don't want to rush into anything. We want what is best for the
boys, too. We are sorry, but we just don't see how we can take them in.",
their Grandmother said.

"I understand. Let me go talk to some friends of mine. I will come over and
talk to you tomorrow. Just let the boys spend tonight here, OK?", Rick
asked.

"That is fine with us. Please don't think badly of us for not letting them
stay. We just can't raise two more boys the way we are feeling.", their
grandfather said.

"No, I understand what you are saying. I think you are right. If what I am
thinking works out, I think the boys will be happier, anyway. I have to go
now. I'll go up and tell the boys good bye and then I will be back tomorrow
after work.", Rick answered.

Sam didn't want Rick to leave. He held onto him like he was never going to
see him again.  "Look, guys, I will be back tomorrow. I promise. I just
need to go talk to some friends right now.  Just trust me, OK? I will
always be here for you. Now, let me go, Sam, so I can go talk to them.  It
is really important.", Rick said softly.

Sam reluctantly let go of him, and Rick quickly left. Both boys were in
tears, since their future was so uncertain. They consoled each other the
best they could, but both were really hurting.

Rick drove straight over to the Walton's. Like always, Matt and Mike were
already there. They seemed to spend more time there than at home. Rick
knocked on the door, and they let him inside.

"Boys, I need to talk to Troy and Pat alone. Why don't all of you go over
to the mall for a few minutes. I need about an hour. OK?", Rick asked.

No one but Rick knew about Merriam at this time, but they could all see
that something was wrong. "OK, but can't you tell us what is wrong first.",
Seth asked. "Does it have anything to do with Brad and Sam?"

"I can't tell you anything right now. I will, after I have talked to your
parents. That is all I can say about it. I am sorry.", Rick said solemnly.

The boys just looked at each other and got up and left without another
word. All had worried looks on their faces.

After Rick watched them drive off, he sat back down and turned to Troy and
Pat. "Look, I know that I have no right to ask you this, but I don't know
where else to turn. You remember me telling you that Merriam had a bad drug
problem? Well, all of this has been too much for her to take, and she
started doing drugs again. This time, she went too far. She missed the last
two days of work, and got caught by the police last night. I think she is
going to go to jail this time.", Rick said.

"Oh, no, that is awful. What is going to happen to Brad and Sam?", Pat
asked, concerned.

"They are with their grandparents right now, but neither of them are in any
shape to help raise them. They want to put them up for adoption. I think
that will mean that the boys will have to go into separate foster homes.",
Rick continued.

"Oh, we can't let that happen. They just found each other. That would tear
both of them apart. It would also hurt Jerry tremendously. Can't you think
of any other solution?", Pat asked.

"I have thought of one solution. The two of you could adopt them.", Rick
said softly.

"Rick, we would love to help the boys, but we already have two sons to
raise. We don't have the kind of money to raise two more. The DMV doesn't
pay a lot. You know that.", Troy said.

"I know, but I think I have the answer to that, also. Their Dad is going to
be sending $500.00 every month for child support. That should be more than
enough to support them through high school. They would both have to work
like Matt and Mike to pay for their college, but I am sure that they would
agree to that. I know I don't have any right to ask you this. I would adopt
them myself if I could. I just don't see the court system awarding custody
of two boys their age to a 21 year old gay man. Do you?", Rick asked.

Troy just laughed a little, and said, "No, I guess you are right about
that. Rick, can Pat and I talk alone for a few minutes? This is a big
decision."

"Sure. I understand. I'll go walk around outside for a few minutes. Take
your time.", Rick answered.

"You really love them, don't you?", Pat asked.

"Yes. I would do anything to help them right now.", Rick answered, walking
out the door.

Rick nervously paced back and forth, waiting to be called back in. He
wracked his brain trying to come up with a second plan in case that Troy
and Pat said no. He just couldn't think of anything else. He knew that he
didn't have enough room to take them into Jim's house. The courts would
never let them, anyway. He was getting more and more nervous.

He didn't have to worry. Troy and Pat finally called him in. "We have
decided to adopt them like you want us to. On one condition. We want you to
also play a part in their lives. We want you to stay on as their big
brother and help in any problems that come up. You can also help us with
Seth and Jerry, also, even though they don't really give us much trouble.",
Troy said.

This brought tears to Rick's eyes. "I would be glad to do that. It would be
a honor to be considered part of your family. Thank you.", he said, as he
walked over and hugged both of them.

They decided to go and talk to the boys right then. They were let inside
the house, and again the boys were forced to stay upstairs. Everyone talked
for a few minutes without them until everyone was in agreement.

"Guys, can you both come down here now?", Rick called up to them.

They were downstairs in a flash. They had wanted to be down there the whole
time. After all, this was their life everyone was talking about. They had
listened a little earlier and had heard their grandparents say that they
did see how they could let them live with them. Both boys were scared to
death about what was going to happen now. Rick, Troy, and Pat were standing
up when the came down the stairs.

"Boys, your grandparents don't think they are well enough to take care of
you full time. They would love to have you come visit, but two boys your
age to take care of is just too much for them. They both love you, but
neither of them is very well. Do you understand?", Rick asked gently.

Both of them just shook their heads yes.

"They have decided to put you up for adoption.", Rick started.

"No, they can't do that. They will make us live in different houses. I
can't lose Brad right after I finally met him.", Sam yelled.

"Sam, calm down and let me finish. Troy and Pat want to adopt both of
you. They want you to become their new sons. What do you think about
that?", Rick asked.

Both boys eyes just got big, until Sam got up and ran over to Pat. "Thank
you. Thank you so much for wanting us.", he cried, as he hugged her
tight. Brad also got up and hugged Troy. Then, they switched so that they
could each hug their other new parent. Everyone was either crying or had
tears in their eyes.

"We won't be any trouble. We will both help you out around the house. I had
to take care of our house for my Dad, and I am pretty good at cooking and
cleaning.", Brad said.

"I want to help, too. Mom did most of the cooking and cleaning at our
house, but my job was to do the laundry. I am real good at that.", Sam
added.

Troy and Pat just looked at each other and grinned. Maybe this would work
out better than they thought.

"Is it all right if we take the boys with us now? We all need to have a
talk with our sons about this.", Troy asked the boys grandparents.

"That would be fine with us. I think you all need to be together right
now.", their Grandfather said.

The boys quickly ran upstairs and got their bags, which were still packed
from coming here to start with. They were back almost instantly, excited
about being able to live with Seth and Jerry.  They each hugged their
grandparents, and everyone left.

"Boys, we have two extra bedrooms, so you can each have your own room.",
Troy said, as they drove home.

Sam blushed, but said, "I was hoping I could just share Jerry's room."

Troy looked at Pat, who just nodded her head. They both laughed at the same
time. "That is what we thought both you and Jerry would say. That is fine
with us.", Troy laughed.

Brad didn't say anything, but you could tell he was deep in thought.

They finally got home, and went inside. Home! Brad and Sam sure had never
thought they would call it that.

"Where have all of you been? What is going on, anyway?", Seth asked, fuming
at being left out.

"Just calm down. All of you sit down. We need to have a family
discussion.", Troy ordered.

Everyone immediately sat down, even though some had to sit on the floor.

"Brad and Sam's mother is in big trouble. She has been caught with drugs in
her possession. Rick is almost positive she will go to jail for several
years. Brad and Sam's grandparents can't take them in, so they are forced
to put them up for adoption.", Troy said.

"No! They can't. I might not ever see Sam again.", Jerry cried.

"Dad, can't you do something?", Seth yelled.

"Will both of you let me finish? We are doing something. We are going to
adopt them both. You two are going to have two new brothers.", Troy added.

Seth and Jerry's eyes got really big and both jumped up at the same
time. Jerry ran to Sam and hugged him to him. Seth did the same to
Brad. This kind of startled everyone.

"Dad. Mom. Thank you so much. I know I love Brad. He doesn't love me yet,
but I will make him love me. I wanted to tell you before, but I just
couldn't make myself.", Seth said.

"Well, it looks like we still have two extra bedrooms.", Troy said,
laughing.

That broke up everyone, and then everyone started hugging everyone else. A
situation that started out in tragedy turned out good after all.

The adoption took several months, but it was finally official. Brad and Sam
were officially part of the family. All the boys did start to help
out. Brad actually was a very good cook, and took over most of the
cooking. Sam did all the laundry. Seth and Jerry had always done anything
their parents asked them to do, but now they even started volunteering for
jobs. If anything, it was easier on Troy and Pat having two extra people in
the house than it was before.

Matt and Mike continued to spend more and more time there. Rick was there a
lot, also. Zack started coming with him. All of them were accepted as
members of the family.

Brad got closer and closer to Seth. He finally began to love Seth as much
as Seth loved him. All the hurting he had inside finally started to heal.

All four of the boys finally made the decision to come out of the closet
totally, even at school.  Once their friends found out the truth, they did
give the four of them more than a little grief, but all four boys didn't
let it get to them. They never returned any of the comments that were made
to them. Pretty soon, it all died down, and they were accepted for what
they were.

Matt and Mike were always there for them. They had been through far worse
than what the other four were going through, and helped them through their
tough time. Troy and Pat really appreciated the support Matt and Mike gave
all four of them during this time, and became closer and closer to both of
them.

When everyone, including Rick and Zack, were over for dinner one night,
they sprung the new surprise. "Everyone, Pat and I want to talk to all of
you for a few minutes.", Troy said.

Everyone came in and all sat down. "Matt and Mike are over here so much
that they almost live here.", Troy started.

"I hope we aren't coming over too much, Troy.", Mike said quickly.

"No, nothing like that. Pat and I just don't think we have enough boys
living with us right now.  We want you and Matt to move in with us
permanently. Rick and Zack too, if they want to. We worry about all of you
leaving so late at night, and this would ease our minds. We both have come
to love all four of you. We know we can't adopt you, but we would like to
treat you as our sons, just like Brad and Sam.", Troy said.

All of us just stared at them with our mouths open. We all enjoyed living
with Jim and our grandparents, but it really wasn't the same as having a
Mom and Dad.

Mike and I just stared at each other. We both knew that we wanted to do
it. We stared over at Rick and Zack, who were sitting on the couch. They
just grinned at us, and shook their heads yes.

"We would all love too.", all four of us shouted almost at the same time.

And that is what happened. We all moved into the other two unoccupied
bedrooms. Mike and I still didn't trust adults very much, but we gradually
began to trust Troy and Pat more and more.  Sorry, Mom and Dad. They
insisted we call them that. It was hard getting used to calling them
anything but their first names, but we gradually became used to it.

Mom and Dad even joked with us not to go and find any more kids who needed
help. They said "8 Is Enough", like the old TV show. We all agreed, but we
also knew that if we did find someone who needed their help, they would
find a way to do so. They were both loving and caring people, who could
never turn their back on anyone who needed them. It was a very refreshing
change from what we had been used to.

You know, maybe all the bad times are finally going to be over. We all
hoped so.

     To Be Continued

Any reader's comments or criticisms are appreciated. The more comments I
get, the quicker I will forward more chapters. Again, I am trying to tell
the story using actual facts, but I do insert parts of the story that did
not really happen. The boys always give me permission, before I submit my
version. I hope you like this method of telling a story. Any comments can
be sent to fsw99@mindspring.com. The only gratification I really get out of
writing is your comments. I have made good friends out of Matt and Mark,
and could use some more.