All chapters can be found in:
https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/consequences-of-strip-poker/
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March 4 to 9, 1988
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It was a Friday; Bill was at the Community Center doing things he normally would do on any other Friday. He was in the gym, when he was summoned to the nearest phone. Bill picked up the handset and punched the blinking line. "Hello, this is Bill, how may I help you?" he said to the caller.
"Is this William Foreman, owner of the Dylan Neighborhood Market?"
Bill was surprised to be asked, as this information was only known to a few people. "Who's calling please?"
"Mr. Foreman, this is Sargent Evers with the Hibbing Sherriff's office. There has been a problem at the market and we need you here immediately."
"What's happened, is everyone ok?"
"Mr. Forman, we'll fill you in when you get here, but your presence is required here immediately. We can send a car for you if you need."
"No, that's not necessary, I'll be there in 7 minutes."
The lack of information had Bill's mind racing a hundred thoughts a second, but it was all conjecture at this point. Bill ran through the center, yelling to an associate that he had to leave unexpectedly. He grabbed his keys and took off for the store. Ignoring customary vehicle operation laws, he arrived on the scene in 5 minutes, to find the parking lot taped off with yellow crime scene tape.
He parked in the driveway; his hood extending under the tape, He looked around for Judy, but didn't see her anywhere. The Sheriff deputies were just bringing out a young man 18- or 19-years-old in handcuffs. He could hear the boy crying and trying to explain, "I didn't mean to pull the trigger. I was just trying to scare her. She was giving me the money, and the gun just went off!"
"Where's Sargent Evers," Bill yelled as he ducked under the perimeter tape.
"That's me," the Sargent replied, moving to intercept Bill. He prevented him from entering the store.
"I'm Bill Foreman," he explained.
The Sargent explained that the man just taken away tried to rob the market, but had accidentally shot the manager, Judy Ryan. He went on to explain that the boy had been so distraught that he called 911 while trying to comfort the woman he injured.
"Injured, so she's, ok?"
"She was significantly injured and was transported to Hibbing hospital. The other clerk told us you have a relationship with Ms. Ryan and her son. We thought it would be better if you went and got her son from school and took him directly to the hospital immediately. There is no time to waste here, you need to go and get the boy now!"
The urgency in the Sargent voice, scared the hell out of Bill. He blindly followed the Sargent's orders and left for Chris' school. On his arrival, the principal was waiting for him at the curb with Chris. Chris hopped in Bill's car and they sped to the hospital.
"What's going on Bill? School wouldn't tell me anything!"
"All I know, is your mom has been injured in a robbery attempt at the store and she been taken to the hospital. We're going there now."
The ride was quick and little was said in route. They parked near the emergency room entrance, and ran inside.
"You have Judy Ryan in here? She was just brought in by paramedics."
She's going into emergency surgery, if you hurry, you might just make it before they take her in. Third floor, turn right as you get off to Surgery. Hurry! I'll call ahead. Take that elevator," she pointed.
Bill grabbed Chris' hand and nearly dragged him to the elevator. On the third floor, they jogged to the Surgery center.
"Judy Ryan?" Bill inquired.
"We heard you were on the way, come with me, they're waiting for you!"
The nurse rushed them to the surgery preparation area where they found Judy. She was conscious but sedated and hooked up to numerous leads and bags of fluids. Bill and Chris each took a side of her bed, and held her hand.
"Hi kiddo, glad you made it, she said slurring her words. "You be a good boy for Mr. Bill, and always remember that I love you. Gimme a kiss."
Chris leaned over and kissed his mother. "I love you too, Mom," Chris told her.
She looked over to Bill and squeezed his hand. "Thank you, I know you'll do a good job," her eyes closed as the pre-surgical anesthesia took effect.
With that, the orderlies pushed her into the surgery suite. Chris' hand only letting go as she passed the doorway. A nurse held Chris back from following, then escorted them to the waiting room.
"Is she going to be, ok?" Chris asked Bill.
"I sure hope so. I'm sure the doctors will do the best they can."
They had barely sat down, when a Sheriff detective and a woman arrived and requested Bill and Chris to join them in a conference room. Bill and Chris joined the officers.
"Mr. Forman, I'm detective Adams, we met briefly on the fraud case you brought us. This is Margo Young with Child Protective Services. There are some things you and Chris need to know.
"At the crime scene, before sheriffs arrived, Ms. Ryan asked the suspect for something to write on. He gave her a scrap of paper and a pen. She then wrote this note." The detective then showed them the note in a plastic evidence bag.
It read:
`I leave everything to my son Chris. Bill Foreman is my baby's father, and I name him to be Chris' guardian.'
The social worker informed Bill that the document qualified as a legal last will and testament. Judy's signature on it (along with some of her blood) made it a holographic will, since it was entirely handwritten and signed by Judy, and was witnessed by the assailant.
Bill was about to object to being named the baby's father, but caught a glimpse of Chris' face out of the corner of his eye. In that instant, he somehow knew that she named him as the father to protect her son somehow. Bill knew that it was a physical impossibility for him to have fathered the child as he is still a virgin as far as it comes to women. Bill made no dispute to the officials.
Mrs. Young took over the conversation, "Since she named you guardian in her will and you have a relationship with Chris, CPS is allowing an emergency placement of Chris in your care until Ms. Ryan has recovered from her injuries. This will be formalized early next week." Bill signed some papers and the officials left.
They returned to their seats to await the outcome of the surgery.
With no conversation, time passed slowly. Bill knew Judy was 35 weeks pregnant. He pulled a pocket calendar from his wallet and counted back 35 weeks, ending up on 4th of July weekend. The very weekend Judy joined them nude for the first time, and the same weekend she told Chris about her involvement in the Free Love movement. Chris had spent the night at her apartment and told him that he had slept in his mom's bed that night.
Judy didn't have time for a boyfriend back then, working and going to night school, her baby's father could only be Chris. It all fit, and left no question in Bill's mind as to why he had been named the father. Even lying there, mortally wounded, was she trying to save her oldest son from learning that HE was the baby's father?
When the doctor appeared only 30 minutes later, his face was somber. Bill and Chris stood to hear the news, Bill's arm around Chris drawing him to his side.
"Ms. Ryan was still alive as the baby was removed via Cesarean delivery from her uterus, but she never heard him cry. She died seconds after her body was no longer needed to support the baby. It was a miracle, and sheer willpower that she survived for so long. She fought so hard to keep that baby alive.
"The damage to her lung and heart were simply too great. Nothing short of a heart transplant could have saved her, and there wasn't enough time to get her to a transplant center. The bullet did too much damage."
"The baby?" Bill asked.
"The baby is fine, a picture of perfect health for a slightly premature birth. 18.1 inches long and 5 pounds, 4 ounces."
"Premature? How much? Any danger?" Bill asked.
"Normal pregnancies last for about 280 days or 40 weeks. A premature baby is one delivered between 28 and 37 weeks. Judy told the paramedics, in route, that she was at 35 weeks. His length and weight confirm that. So, he's only slightly premature. He is a little underweight and he will have to stay in the NICU for a few days, but you'll be able to take him home soon."
"You said, he and him? Is it a boy?" Bill asked.
"Yes, she had a boy. Congratulations Chris, you have a new brother, and I'm so sorry for your loss of your mother."
The doctor then kneeled in front of Chris, tears running freely down his cheeks, "You should be very proud of what your mom did for your brother. She put forth a super-hero effort to stay alive so your brother could be born. With the amount of blood she lost, a lesser woman would have died at the scene. She fought very hard to stay alive to be able to bring your brother into the world. You can go down to the ICU to see him whenever you're ready."
Hibbing Hospital is too small to have a dedicated neonatal intensive care unit, so they share space in the regular ICU as needed.
On the way downstairs, Chris asked, "What are you going to name him?"
"Wrong question, Buddy. What are WE going to name him? Naming a baby is a family decision, and you and I and your new brother are going to be a family now." Bill said, barely able to believe his own words.
Bill and Chris went downstairs to the ICU and were escorted to the baby's incubator. "He's so small," Chris proclaimed, looking through the incubator's windows at the tiny human form inside. "Was I ever that small?" he asked.
"Only while you were still inside your mother's womb. By the time you were born, at what they call full-term, you were about 2 inches longer and 2½ pounds heavier. That's why your brother will have to spend some time in the hospital. He needs to grow a little and put on some weight before we can take him home."
News of the shooting was the lead story on the 6:00 o'clock and 11:00 o'clock TV news. But neither of them watched any reports. Their friends did, their friends' parents did, and those who did not see it, soon learned of it from their friends or parents. The news spread through the Community Center like wildfire after the evening news. Bill's picture and name had been released as the store owner. The neighborhood of Dylan was in mourning for their favorite market manager.
They stayed in the baby's room in the ICU, sitting on chairs in the corner. A hospital social worker came to talk with them. She gave Bill pamphlets and information sheets about taking home a new baby. For Chris, she gave him one about the responsibilities of a big brother.
They departed the hospital, when the nurse kicked them out for the night. The ride was quiet, neither knowing what to say. Bill turned into their street and Chris began his routine of removing his clothes. But when Bill pulled into the garage and turned the car off was when the reality of the day hit Chris. Still sitting in the front seat, tears welled up in his eyes again, and began streaming down his cheeks.
Chris couldn't move, great sobs of grief racked his body. He had come home without a mother.
Bill went to the passenger side and opened his door. With strong, confident arms he scooped up the nude boy, holding him tight against his chest. Chris wrapped his arms and legs around Bill in a death-grip like hug, the quiet sobs turned to cries of anguish and got louder as Bill carried him inside. He lovingly carried the crying child to the living room where he could sit and continue to hold Chris as he outwardly expressed his loss of his mother.
His cries slowly turned back into sobs, then into gentle crying onto Bill's shoulder. His shirt soaked, but that mattered little to Bill, now Chris' legal guardian, and father of his newborn brother.
Chris cried himself to sleep in his guardian's arms that evening. Bill eventually carrying him up to their bedroom where he laid the nude boy on top of the covers and pulled a sheet out to put over him.
Bill took off his clothes, including his shirt, wet with tears. He went back downstairs and got himself a drink and sat in the darkened kitchen to contemplate the day's events.
It started out as an ordinary Friday. He woke up with Chris in his bed. As Chris began to stir, his ever-present erection took center stage and Chris made love to him, utilizing their now famous `conversation' format. Bill, couldn't remember what they talked about, it was probably school, it usually is during the week. It could have been about the weekend. . .
Chris applied the KY Jelly from the tube they kept under their pillows to his penis. Chris moved in place and teased Bill's hole, transferring some of the jelly. He centered himself as slipped inside Bill. This was when they would have talked. When the conversation reached its conclusion, Chris, made love to him, lasting only a couple minutes before cumming with an enthusiastic groan.
`Wait,' Bill thought to himself, `Today was different, that's why he couldn't remember the talk, there wasn't any.'
Their ritual varied occasionally, and what came next but wasn't a standard part of the `conversation.' As Chris pulled out, Bill lowered his legs back on the bed. Chris then slickened Bill's erect penis from the same tube, crawled on top of Bill, and lowered himself onto Bill's dick, taking all 6" into his rectum.
THIS was when they had their `conversation' this morning. They stayed like this a couple minutes discussing the coming school day. The talking reached its conclusion, and Bill begin almost imperceptible pelvic thrusts. Bill then ramped it up, making longer and longer thrusts, then he grabbed Chris and rolled them over while his penis was deep inside Chris' rectum.
Bill then pulled Chris' legs up and Bill made love to him, this morning lasting almost 5 minutes. This morning, Chris asked him to fuck him harder and Bill obliged, at the end, slamming his pelvis into Chris' buttocks. Chris orgasmed on himself, just before Bill unloaded in his rectum.
They then showered and prepared for breakfast, only getting dressed before walking out the door.
Bill now sat in his kitchen sipping a drink, from a bottle of 35-year-old Scotch. It was probably older; he'd had the bottle for several years. Probably more like 45 years old.
The task ahead of him seemed insurmountable.
A nude Chris appeared at his side. Bill opened his lap, and Chris crawled up on him. He fondled Bill flaccid dick to erectness, then manipulated himself over the erect member, taking it up his behind. Bill wrapped his arms around Chris and they sat there together in the dark.
"Mom really loved working in the new store, you know." Chris offered.
"Yeah, I know. She told me several times."
"What's going to happen to the store?" Chris asked.
"It will go on, serving the community."
"Good. Mom would have wanted that. She loved her customers. What's gonna happen? Won't they miss her? She was the manager."
"Yeah, they're going to miss her. I guess the three assistant managers will step up and run the place. Willie's mom would be a logical choice to become the new manager."
"How do you know all this stuff?"
"Well, I have a confession to make. I didn't want your mom to know, but it doesn't matter anymore. I own the store."
"You own where my mom worked?"
"Technically, I own Miss Sally Merchandising who owns the Dylan Neighborhood Market. But, yeah, basically I own the market."
"How `bout we name the baby Dylan?"
"Dylan? Why Dylan?"
"Mom loved that place and the people around it. I think we can honor her memory naming him Dylan after the market."
"I think that's a wonderful name and an excellent reason. We can call him Dylan."
"Can we name him after you too, since you're his dad."
"How so?"
"We can name him Dylan Bill Foreman."
"Buddy, no one is named Bill."
"You are."
"No, my actual name is William. Bill is a nickname for someone named William."
"That's Willie's name too, but people call him Willie."
"Yup, that the other nickname for William, another one is Will, but it's not very common.
"So, how `bout we name him Dylan William Foreman?" Chris suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Bill said agreeing to the name.
"So, my brother is your son, but has a different last name than me." Chris stated, working his way through the new family dynamics. "That makes no sense to me. Shouldn't that make me your son too, and shouldn't we all have the same last name?"
"Sorry, but it doesn't work that way. You received your father's last name, Ryan, when you were born, it normally doesn't ever change."
"I don't think Ryan was my father's name, that was my mom's name."
"Didn't your mom, change her name when she married your father?"
"I don't think they ever got married. He just lived with her, then after I was born, took off."
"Well, we'll need to see what your birth certificate says. By the way, technically, Dylan is only your half-brother. Same mother, but different fathers."
"I think it's cool you're his father, but I want both our names to be the same and the same as yours."
"Well, that is up to you. If that's what you want, we can make that happen. Adoption would make you my son, and you'd get my last name. Right now, I'm Chris Ryan's guardian."
"I want you to adopt me. Would you adopt me, please?"
"Nothing would make me happier than to have you as my son. So, from here on, what shall we call each other? We can still call each other Bill and Chris if that's what you want." Bill asked.
"Can I call you dad, officially? I know I call you that sometimes. I don't ever remember having someone to call dad."
"I'd love that, can I call you son?"
Chris began squirming in Bill's lap. They were sitting in a spoon position with Bill's dick in Chris' ass. Chris went through all the gyrations to turn around 180° while keeping Bill's dick, rather, his dad's dick in him. When he was finally face to face with his dad, he said, "I've been waiting for the day that you would call me son." Chris locked his arms around his dad's neck and hugged him tightly.
They hugged each other in a loving embrace for a couple minutes there in the dark of the kitchen, till Chris whispered in his dad's ear, "Make love to me."
Bill stood taking Chris with him. He laid Chris on the kitchen table and placed his son's ankles over his shoulder. His hips began thrusting. Bill had been hard, this whole time, since Chris had stroked him erect, Bill had not been sexually aroused, their snuggling together on Bill's dick was a comfort thing they shared. Now becoming aroused, Bill made love to Chris on the table, standing with his dick at the perfect height to slide in and out of Chris' rectum, each entry poking his prostate. Chris orgasmed three times before Bill cummed in his son for the first time.
Bill gathered up the boy in his arms, not pulling out of him, he carried Chris up the stairs. He flung back the covers and carefully laid down, still in Chris' ass and pulled the covers over them.
"Make love to me, again," the sleepy boy beseeched his dad.
Bill's hips dutifully began long, slow, purposeful thrusts. In and out. Slowly. In and out. Each direction taking 5 to 10 seconds.
Chris' penis shriveled to that of a 10-year-old. He laid there relishing the sensations of his daddy's dick sliding through anus. His eyes were closed. His breathing evened out and became rhythmic. Chris succumbed to the blissful escape from reality. Sleep. His day in hell was over, a life was over, and a new life had begun.
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Willie was the first to arrive Saturday morning and ring the doorbell. "It's just me, Willie, you don't need to get dressed just for me," he loudly called out saving Bill and Chris from scrambling for clothes. In fact, Willie removed his clothes waiting for the door to open. He thought his mother simply dropped him off, but she had followed him to the door and was standing behind him. She didn't say a word to her nude son standing outside on a 7° morning.
Chris answered the door and Willie rushed inside to embraced his best friend, and to get out of the cold. No words were exchanged. No words were needed. Willie and Chris cried together, Chris for his mother, Willie for Chris. Pam followed him in and pulled the nude boys to her and hugged them both in a group hug. It was a hug only a mother could give.
Bill arrived at the door in his usual state of undress. Pamela stood, paying no heed to Bill's nudity, she embraced him and expressed her condolences. She looked in Bill's eyes and said, "Willie can stay as long as Chris needs him, school be damned." She turned and left, dabbing at her eye with a cloth. She left Willie to be with his friend for as long as he was needed.
It wasn't but a few minutes later, and they heard the distinctive crunch of tires on the gravel drive. Bill peeked and sent the boys upstairs to dress.
Bill put on his robe and opened the door as Jimmy, his little brother Kenny who had recently turned 11, his sister-8 and mom and dad arrived on the porch. We heard, is Chris here?
"Upstairs," Bill told the two brothers, and they tore up the steps.
Jimmy's parents were devastated and conveyed their condolences. Their daughter, unaccustomed to hearing people talking about death, especially of a parent, stood and looked around awkwardly as if Judy would be walking out of the kitchen any moment.
The boys, now reasonably dressed returned downstairs. Discussion turned to the health of the baby and Bill assured them that other than being a preemie, the baby was a picture of health and would be home soon. They offered their help in any way possible as people do in this situation and the conversation stalled.
"Dad, can Jimmy and Kenny stay a while."
"Ok with me. We'll be going to the hospital later; I can drop them off on the way," Bill offered. The parent's agreement was nodded and the awkward conversation ended as mom, dad, and daughter headed back to their car.
How do 13-year-olds mourn? Nintendo apparently, and they followed Chris' lead without question.
The boys didn't get undressed as if they knew better. 15 minutes hadn't passed and Raj's car was pulling up with his mom and dad.
Chris asked if Raj could stay a while. After the same offer to drop Raj off on their way to visit Dylan, his parents departed leaving the original crew, plus Kenny, in the living room.
More friends stopped by, even the director of the Community Center stopped to offer his support.
The same scene repeated multiple times throughout the day, condolences and offers of help and inquiries into the baby's health.
Jase and Pat stopped by, one of their parents waiting for them in the car. Mike, Michael, and Mikey came together. They were having a sleepover and hadn't heard till this morning, and rushed over. Again, the parent, who barely knew Bill stayed in the car to prevent an awkward interaction. That was fine with Bill, that also limited how long visitors stayed.
Ralph and Ralphie stopped by. Ralphie joined the kids in the living room gathered around some formula 1 race cars screaming around a virtual race track. Bill and Ralph talked, bringing up how having a baby might affect summer camp. Bill hadn't even thought that far ahead, but entertained the notion of having a 3-month-old baby at camp with 28 babysitters all arguing over who got to feed him and who had to change his diaper. It was a brief humorous interlude in the day. They too didn't stay long. But it started Bill thinking about camp, an important event on the Community Center's calendar.
They departed the house dropping Jimmy and Kenny then Raj at their homes, before continuing to the hospital with Willie. They introduce Willie to Dylan William Foreman.
"Hey William is my actual name too." Willie exclaimed.
"And it's Bill's real name too," Chris added.
The man and two boys visited the hospital at least twice a day, spending time with baby Dylan. Bill informed the hospital of his official name, and a birth certificate was issued. Dylan made progress each day in his quest to go home.
On Monday, the hospital social worker called Bill asking about arrangements for Judy's body. He had to admit that he hadn't given it any thought. She was sympathetic and told him to take his time, but that it was customary for the deceased to be buried a week or so after passing.
The Dylan neighborhood was settled by hardy Swedish pioneers and they brought the traditions of the Lutheran Church of their homeland with them. In the Dylan neighborhood, there was one Catholic, one Methodist, one Presbyterian, and three Lutheran churches. So Lutheran it would be. He drove past the three churches and liked the large stained-glass window of the First Lutheran church. He parked and went in. Walking down the main aisle Bill was impressed with the ornate alter with Jesus looking out over the congregation, the pipes of a large organ high up on the wall on either side of the alter, and the rows of heavy dark oak pews. He was met by a man at the railing around the alter.
"Mr. Foreman, how can I help you."
"How did you? . . ."
"Your picture has been in the news, I'm very sorry for your loss, how is her son and the baby."
Bill tried to explain why he was there. The reality that he was trying to bury a friend and Chris' mother finally hit him and he couldn't continue. He cried as he struggled to regain his composure.
"Come, let's sit down," the Pastor said, guiding the crumbling man to the front pew. He let the man cry. Men need to cry sometimes and this was his time.
"You're here, for some. . . final arrangements?"
Bill nodded and that exchange helped him pull himself together.
"Yes," Bill was finally able to say, "She lived and worked in this community. If it were up to me, I'd have her buried and be done with it, but I understand how much she loved her customers, and her son needs some closure as well."
"How can I help."
"I don't know what I'm doing. I know there should be a public event, and her body needs to be moved out of the hospital to a cemetery eventually, but that's all I know."
"You have some options. Let's go to my office and I can share them with you and help you decide."
Two hours later, Bill had a plan and an appointment with a funeral director two blocks away. Pastor Davis knew of Judy and her interactions with the community through the market. He told Bill that because of that, he expected a large turnout. They settled on a combination viewing and funeral service at the church to be held Saturday afternoon so the community could attend. She would then be cremated and a private internment would happen on Sunday as arranged with the cemetery. For Saturday's service, they would need the size of the church for the expected crowd the service would draw.
In the background, Pastor Davis made a single phone call that ignited a fire under the `Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America' WELCA for short. The fire spread to the other two Lutheran churches just as fast.
A funeral service, with a viewing beforehand and refreshments following, needed to be planned and pulled off in five days. They would honor a community servant and send her to her eternal rest.
Unaware of what had already been unleashed, Bill drove the two blocks to the Funeral Home. "Mr. Foreman, come in please. I just got off the phone with Paster Davis, he told me you were on the way. He's told me of the decisions that have been made and the need for services for the preparation for viewing, transportation, cremation, and internment. Sound about, right?"
"Yeah, you guys are making this easy for me. What do we need to do?" Bill was feeling much better at this point and even his attitude was positive.
The undertaker pulled out a price list and began going over the services he could provide. There was talk of moving the body from the hospital to the home, acquiring certified copies of the death certificate, an obituary published in the local paper, body preparation for viewing including the need for clothing, and moving the body to the church and transportation to the cemetery. The final decision took them to the sales floor for the choice of casket.
He was shown several, varying from $760 to the most expensive at $8,790. "$8,000 and you just burn it?"
"Yes sir, some people demand the very best materials and decorations."
"That seems like a terrible waste." Bill observed.
"True, but other options are available."
"Like?"
"Coffin rental is becoming popular. You can rent one of our finest coffins for, in your case, just the one day, for $400. The inner liner, which is included in the rental fee, is then transferred to a heavy cardboard coffin for the cremation.
"That's more like it, a lot less waste that way." Bill chose the rental coffin.
"Shall we look at the crematorium urns?"
Bill chose a finely engraved metal urn that would have her name and dates engraved on the front, it was only $114.
"Yes, shall we go finalize everything?"
Bill and the undertaker returned to the office and finalized the contract. Everything would be handled and, in the end, the urn would be delivered to the cemetery for placement into a crypt that Bill purchased through the funeral home. Bill even paid extra for crypt in the third row off the floor where she would be at Chris' height. An appointment at the cemetery for the actual placement of the urn was made for Sunday morning.
At home he barely turned the car off before he had the boys dressed and headed for the mall. Chris needed a new suit, his existing one probably fit him when he was ten. Knowing there wasn't a decent store in Hibbing for boy's suits they headed straight to the Duluth J.C. Penny store.
There they found an excellent Boy's Wear department. They asked for off-the-shelf to avoid a return trip. A salesman measured him to find his size and showed them several suits that would fit without alterations. While Chris was trying one on, Bill spotted Willie. "Do you have a suit, Willie?" he asked.
Not one that fits, mine is probably the same as Chris'.
"You are going to be at the funeral with Chris?"
"Yes, Chris asked me to be there with him, he said he wouldn't be able to make it without me. So, I'll be there."
"Then you need a new suit too. Let's get you measured." Their sizes were within an inch of the length of the pants. Bill explained the need for both to have a suit and the salesman suggested a black with grey accents for Chris, and a dark blue for Willie. They looked quite adorable in their suits. New long sleeve white shirts, and ties to complement their suit filled out their ensembles. Neither had dress shoes either, and in the shoe department they both went with a practical loafer style.
They headed back to Hibbing, stopping at the hospital to see Dylan.
Bill knew that more hard tasks needed to be performed. On Tuesday, after their morning trip to visit Dylan, they went to Judy's apartment. The entire walkway in front of Judy's apartment was covered in flowers, candles, and teddy bears; the outpouring of love from strangers was evident. Bill had to clear a path to the doorway, rearranging the memorials. Bill hadn't been in her apartment since he helped her move in a few short months ago. It looked different. It looked like a home. There were pictures on the walls, the mantel over the fireplace, and on tables.
In Chris' room his camp certificate in its black frame hung proudly next to his mirror. A poster of Minnesota Twins star Kirby Puckett, hero to all Minnesota boys after helping the Twins win the World Series last October, was on the wall. There were even clothes on his floor. It was a teen's room.
He gave Chris and Willie some empty boxes and asked Willie to help him pack up his room, everything he wanted to keep. The first item he put in was the camp certificate. He made no movements to pack anything else, so Willie packed his things. When he pulled old clothing out of drawers or the closet, Willie would try them on. If it didn't fit him it wasn't going to fit Chris. If it was close, he forced Chris to try them on before putting them in a box or the pile on the floor. Most of Chris' clothes were too small, as we'd already found out and were slowly updating his wardrobe. That was how the two boys ended up nude in Chris' room.
Bill found the drawer with important papers. Chris' birth, kindergarten graduation, and elementary school graduation certificates. Report cards, and handmade Mother's Day and birthday cards that Chris had made for her. Bank deposit booklet and a checkbook. He took everything. On the bottom was a children's book, a Winnie-the-Pooh 1st edition. Before putting his birth certificate in the box, he took it from its envelope. Mother's Name: Judith Ryan; Father's Name: a blank line. Baby's Name Christopher Robin Ryan.
Bill smiled at seeing his full name, Judy really was a free spirit at heart. That also explained the book.
Another drawer contained snapshots of Chris from birth to present. In one of them, as a baby, he was being held by a man, but the head had been cut off making identification of the man impossible. He put them into the same shoe box he put the important papers.
Chris' Games were easy. All Chris' games, puzzles, and toys, even ones he'd outgrown, were put in boxes for the move to Bill's. Dylan would grow into them one day was his logic. Fairly sound logic too.
Bill went through the living room, their shared bathroom, and kitchen while the boys did Chris' room. He took the soap and shampoo they used so Chris would have that smell for a while at least. There were a couple nice towel sets and Bill packed them for Chris' bathroom.
He searched everywhere; looking for anything that appeared important, sentimental, or valuable. He found an envelope with $200 of emergency cash hidden in a kitchen drawer. A coffee mug that obviously been decorated by a much younger Chris.
Bill went through the refrigerator throwing out all the fresh food that wasn't so fresh anymore. A coffee can in the freezer had more emergency cash, $300.
Bill made a run with the garbage to the dumpster. He saw her garage and opened it. Chris' bicycle was the only thing in there of consequence. But the garage did remind him of Judy's car which would still be at the market in the manager's parking spot behind the store. He'd have to do something about that.
There was a knock at the door, a customer from the market stopping by, she brought a pan of home-made lasagna with a loaf of garlic bread. It had been made from bread baked in the store. Bill accepted it on Chris' behalf.
Bill found the empty folded up, boxes they had used when moving her into the apartment and used them on the front porch to pack up all the teddy bears, potted plants, photos, letters, and cards the neighborhood had left as memorials, he left only the floral displays and the mostly consumed candles. Chris helped and picked out one bear he wanted to give to his brother.
They loaded the full boxes in Bill's car filling the back seat and most of the trunk. Chris' bicycle was laid on top, and Bill tied the lid down with twine from the junk drawer in the kitchen.
He slowly drove to his house across town, not all that far considering how small Hibbing is.
Chris' boxes went to his room. "You need to think about something Chris. There are three bedrooms on this floor you can choose from. You've been using this one on a temporary basis. When you unload these boxes, whatever room you do that in will become YOUR room, permanently. One of the two remaining rooms will be your brother's. So, you have an opportunity right now to select a different room if you want."
"Don't you need Dylan's room to be near yours for like his 2:00 a.m. feedings and stuff?"
"I think, for the time being and 2:00 a.m. feedings, I'm gonna have Dylan's bed in my room with me. According to the stuff the lady at the hospital gave me, he should sleep in here till he's at least 6 months or up to a year old before he moves into his own room."
"Ok, so when that happens which room do you want him to be in. He'll still be a baby. I think he should be in my room across the hall from you. I can pick one of the other two."
"You are so very observant and thoughtful. I love you so much."
"So that mean he gets my room."
"Yes, my sweet boy, and you can have either of the other two rooms. Whichever you pick, we can repaint it or wallpaper it or fix it up any way you want it. I want you to really make it YOUR room."
"So, I don't need to move today."
"No, Dylan is only 4-days-old and not ready for his own room. You have time."
"I'll let you know which room I want after me and Willie figure it out."
"Ok, deal. Try not to unpack too many boxes."
The important stuff box went in the portion of the great room that loosely could be call Bill's office. There was a roll-top desk there. The other boxes didn't need to be in the house, so along with his bicycle, they went in the garage. And they went back for more.
"What more is there?" Chris asked.
"Umm, there's your mom's room."
"Oh."
And then there was silence in the car.
"Are you ok with helping me with your mom's stuff?" Bill asked.
"Do I havta?"
"No, I can take you and Willie back home."
He was quiet for a while as we continued towards her apartment.
"It's ok, I'll help you."
"Thank you. I need your help."
They didn't say anything the rest of the way, and reentered without a word.
Bill reassembled a couple boxes. "Ready?" Chris nodded. Poor Willie didn't know what to do. He just tried keeping near Chris. With each of them carrying a box they went in Judy's bedroom. There was some low-hanging fruit that got them started. "Get all the pictures you two," Bill directed.
"Did your mom have a favorite outfit maybe a bit on the formal side."
"Oh, you need that for her funeral."
`Damn! He wasn't supposed to know that,' Bill thought to himself. But that was exactly why he asked.
"Yes. She needs something `nice' and `her style'."
Chris went to the closet where most of her clothes hung. "This is her nicest dress and she really looks good wearing it." He said laying it on the bed. Then back at the closet, he pulled out a shorter dress, black background, and covered with prints of flowers in outlandish colors. "This one, she told me was her favorite dress. It's from the 1970s when she was a hippie. She put it on the night we came here after the July 4th fireworks. You remember that weekend, the first time she was nude with us at your house."
"Yeah, I remember that." Chris was in the middle of a happy memory and was encouraged him to go on.
"Then what?"
"She had a wreath of plastic flowers that fit her head. I don't see it though."
"That's alright, we'll find it."
"Then she made me dance with her. I don't know how to dance but I did my best. We were laughing so hard. She took the dress off and put it on me. It came down to my ankles. It looked much better on her. We cuddled on the bed awhile I laid on her and she held me close. We had stayed up late, and I fell asleep still laying on her. She fell asleep too and we slept together on this bed. The next morning, I had cum on me. She told me I had one of those orgasms that happen at night, a uh, . . ."
"A nocturnal emission."
"Yeah, that's what she called it, and that she had to clean up the sheet after that, but she didn't want to wake me by cleaning it off me."
There it is! That was how Judy got pregnant. Judy was playing around with Chris and got horny, he fell asleep on her and she pulled him up between her legs, his penis goes in her vagina, Chris orgasms in his sleep, and Judy ends up pregnant. At least he didn't have sex with her and he'll never know that it was his semen that fathered the child. He'll never know his brother is his son.
"That's a great story, Chris. Which dress should we take? Formal? Or Hippy?"
"Mom was more Hippy than formal, let's take this one." Bill put the dress in the box and they continued to search the closet. The floor held nothing of interest for Chris, just shoes mostly. What was hanging were dresses and blouses. Nothing a 13-year-old son would want, though Bill did go through pockets and such, looking for valuables. He found a ring box with what appeared to be a diamond ring in it.
"That was her mothers." Chris explained. The top shelf contained boxes, so Bill got a chair and looked through them, nothing worth noting. They found her jewelry, Chris identifying a couple pieces that went with the dress. Bill put those with the dress and boxed the rest for another day. Next was the dresser, the drawers revealed only normal everyday clothes, panties, socks, a very few bras, work blouses, slacks, swim suit, normal stuff. But they did find the cheap wreath of plastic flowers. "That was what mom wore that night," it went in the box, not to be worn, but as an example of the one made of fresh flowers she would wear.
"Do you want any of her clothes?" Bill asked.
"Why would I want any women's clothes." Chris asked.
"I don't know, maybe you have a women's pantie fetish you haven't told me about."
"I do not."
"So, no clothes then?"
"No."
In the bedside table were books and magazines, but in the drawer was her electric vibrator. "She used that on her neck when she was sore after a long shift, then she'd put it between her legs to help her relax. I finally figured out that she was having orgasms doing that," Chris explained. "Can I have that?" It went in the box.
Bill looked under the mattress and under the bed, finding nothing. The items they were taking from her room only filled one box.
They locked the apartment. On their way out, Bill stopped to talk to the manager telling him that his tenant had passed away and no one would be returning to the apartment again.
"So, she's all moved out?" he asked.
Bill's answer was biting, "She has everything she'll need. The rest is yours."
"She's gonna lose her deposit it it's not cleaned out!"
"I don't think she cares. Asshole!"
They went back to the hospital for their afternoon visit. Chris tried to give Dylan the bear he had brought, but the nurse stopped him. "Sorry, but nothing from outside can go in the incubator with him. We can't take the chance of introducing germs to your brother just yet. He isn't quite strong enough to fight them off. You leave him with me, and I'll take care of his bear."
"His name is Bob," Chris told the nurse.
"Bob?"
"Yeah, put them next to each other and you get Bob Dylan."
"Oh, my god, that's so clever. I love it. Bob Dylan, you are just too precious," she told Chris.
After their visit, Bill dropped the boys and boxes at home, but took out the dress, jewelry and the plastic flower wreath, and went to the funeral home. He handed over the items she would wear, and asked if they could fit Judy with a flower wreath, with real flowers instead of plastic. They would, of course, and promised she would be beautiful.
Tuesday night, one of the many times Bill answered the phone, it was a familiar voice.
"Hello Bill, it's Aaron McKinney."
"Hello Aaron, nice to hear from you."
"Hey, one of our friends from Natural Arches who was there between Christmas and New Year's, was visiting his sister in Duluth. Oh, man, I don't know how to ask this, so please forgive me. They heard a news report and saw your picture in relation to a shooting at a neighborhood market. Is Judy. . . ?" He couldn't finish his question; he didn't want to hear the answer he knew he would.
"What your friend heard is true. Judy was shot in a robbery."
"NO! Don't say it!"
"She didn't make it Aaron. She lived long enough for the baby to be born and passed away."
"OH FUCK!" Aaron nearly screamed.
He could hear Aaron relaying information to whoever was in the room.
"Oh man, I'm so sorry. The baby?"
"A healthy 18.1 inches long and 5 pounds, 4 ounces at birth and gaining weight every day."
"How's Chris?"
"He's doing ok, Willie is here with him. Friends are stopping by. It hit him hard Friday night, but he appears to be coping. We visit the baby twice a day in what passes for a NICU."
"What's happening with him legal wise?"
"I'm his legal guardian. Judy named me in her will, and Social Services confirmed it yesterday. I've been his de facto guardian since last summer so it's not that different for us. He wants me to adopt him, since his brother is my son, he wants to be too.
"You're the baby's father? Are you ready to bring home a baby?"
"No! Judy hadn't even started. We thought we had seven more weeks for that, I gotta start getting stuff. I got the funeral arranged yesterday for this Saturday.
"Do you have a couple spare rooms?"
"Yeah, why?" Bill asked.
"You're gonna need help man. A 45-year-old bachelor like you, I'll bet you don't know shit about raising a baby."
"I don't. I can handle 13-year-olds. I'm reading about babies and it's scaring me to death."
"Ok, look, don't do anything about a nursery. Jenifer and I are gonna take care of it for you. Got It?
"I got it. Not sure I understand though."
"Ashley has graduated out of diapers completely, and we're done with baby stuff. We've moved on to toddler stuff. We'll see you tomorrow. We'll call when we get in."
Wednesday morning all three had to wash their hands up to their elbows and wear hospital gowns before the nurse led them to Dylan's aluminum cage. Peering in through the little window they could see Bob perched on Dylan's pillow. "I thought he couldn't have the bear?"
"With that name combination, I couldn't keep him out. I ran him through the sterilizer. He's the most sterile bear in Minnesota!" Over Bob's head was a name tag reading "Bob. Over the baby's head was another name tag reading Dylan." They were close enough that no one could read one and not the other.
The nurse asked as she prepared to get Dylan out, "So, are you big fans of Bob Dylan, naming the baby Dylan and all?"
"No." Chris emphatically replied. "He's named after the Dylan Community Market where my mom worked." The nurse wisely didn't say another word. Not wanting to touch the raw feeling stirring inside Chris.
She opened the incubator, extracting Dylan, not the bear, and placed him in Bill's arms. "I'm your father Dylan. I know I'm a little old to be a dad, but I'm gonna do my best to be there for you. Every baseball game or school play you're in, I'll be there cheering for you or applauding your performance. If you want guitar lessons; I'll find you the best instructor. You'll have to be patient with me sometimes, this being a dad is all new to me."
He passed Dylan to Chris under the watchful eyes of the head nurse. "Hi, Dylan, I'm your big brother. You and I are gonna have a lot of fun together as you grow up." He gently kissed baby Dylan on his tiny forehead. The nurse took him back, and handed him to Willie. Willie froze. Dylan laid in his arms, and Willie was like a statue. His face contorted with a look of fear that Bill had never seen on the face of a boy. Bill gently took his son from Willie arms. Willie was greatly relieved that he hadn't broken anything.
Bill held his baby for a few minutes before he fell asleep in his arms. He kissed Dylan's cheek.
"Ok, looks like Dylan's had enough for today," the nurse said, taking the baby back and returning him to his metal box with windows.
Walking back to the car Chris told Bill. "I think he's a little young for guitar lessons, Dad." Bill didn't walk though, he floated.
When they walked in the house the answering machine was blinking. Not unusual for this week considering all the calls they were getting. As Bill listened to more condolences, and the like. The last one, that they just missed was Aaron. "Hey guys, we're on the ground. Gotta find the Suburban and a U-Haul now. Should be at your place soon."
`A U-Haul? And how did they get to Duluth so early?' Bill wondered. He checked his watch and calculated their arrival time at roughly 2.5 hours since he had to find a U-Haul.
"Aaron and Jenifer will be here, in a couple hours or so." Bill announced to the boys.
Bill began making some lunch, for himself and the boys. He hoped Aaron and Jenifer would stop along the way and get something to eat.
No one had just, stopped by, since yesterday, so the boys figured it was safe to lower their defenses and return to the naturist lifestyle to which they were accustomed. Bill enjoyed seeing the boys beginning to relax again as well. Healing was happening. He joined their clothing style in the kitchen draping his clothes over a chair.
A few minutes later, the crunch of the driveway announced someone was arriving. Willie got up and looked, it was just his mom. Bill hadn't even heard it from where he was in the kitchen.
Willie waited by the door and opened it as she approached. Pamela entered, she held her finger to her lips and "Sssssshhhhh," silencing Willie.
"I've finally decided, I'm going to do this," she whispered to Willie. Since Willie had come home from Christmas in California, he was pretty much full-time nude in their apartment. Even Charles had taken to nudity nearly full-time as well. Pam had been practicing at home with her boys.
Pamela removed her clothes for the first time outside her own apartment.
"Awesome mom!" Willie exclaimed. His exclamation drawing Bill from the kitchen where he was preparing lunch.
"Pamela!?"
Pam's first instinct was to cover something, but she resisted, instead she closed her eyes, as if that would keep Bill and Chris from seeing her nude.
She kept them closed, and kept her arms at her side. She turned towards where she last heard Bill's voice. "I hope you don't mind, but as much time as Willie spends nude here and at home. I've been wanting to join him. I'm finally ready to step out and enlarge my circle a bit. I know Judy enjoyed being nude, and I hope to enjoy it as well. I know your house is considered `clothing optional' so I am exercising that option. Today is my first experiment."
She opened her eyes and Bill was looking right at her eyes from across the room.
"Well, welcome to our world, would you like to have lunch with us? I was just starting to fix some lasagna from one of your customers."
"Oh, that was Mrs. Pershing. She mentioned taking some by Chris' apartment and giving it to a man, I'm glad that was you." Pam was visibly relaxing the longer they talked. "Yes, I'd love some."
"Would you join me in the kitchen I have something I'd like to ask you." Pam strode nude across Bill's living room, and confidently joined him at the table.
"You already know that I own Dylan Market, he said.
"Yes, everyone knows since your picture was on the news. Some of us were pretty surprised."
"Judy told me how she was being screwed by her old boss, so we figured out a way to get rid of him, and at the same time I bought the store at a fire-sale price. All the changes though were Judy's ideas. Running the store was all Judy. I will take credit for two things. I required the store to remove cigarettes, and hard liquor, that was non-negotiable. And I'll also take credit for suggesting you for the new assistant manager position. I could see you needed something better than where you were."
"Yes, I surely did, thank you for that."
"But it was only a suggestion that she talk to you. You earned the job. And have done a fine job ever since.
"I'm going to continue to own the store, but never having run a retail outlet in my life, I'm going to continue my hands-off approach; any decisions about the future of the Dylan Neighborhood Market, are now in your hands. That is, if you'll agree to be the store manager."
"You want me to manage your store?"
"Who's managing it now? Certainly not either of your assistant managers. Yes, I want you to take over for Judy and continue making the store into what it can be. What it needs to be for the community."
"Will I at least be able to talk to you about store business?"
"Not when you and Willie are over here for dinner. But other times, yeah, we can talk shop. Like right now. Your first task is to hire a new assistant manager who can do what you do. I want you to have backup."
"Yes, thank you. I'll do the best I can for you."
"Don't do it for me, do it for the neighborhood, do it for your customers.
"Oh, and by the way, there's a salary increase that comes with being the manager. $160 a week."
Bill got up to continue fixing the lasagna when the crunch of tires was heard outside. The boys went to the window. "It's a suburban with a trailer."
"How the hell did he do that? It's only been 45 minutes from when they called," Bill said out loud, but to no one in particular.
Pam's little experiment in nudity was about to become a trial by fire, but even Bill didn't realize it yet.
"Don't worry, this is the couple we met in California. I'll introduce you." Bill and Pam went to the front room to await their arrival. People and kids kept getting out of the suburban, until 6 of them were shivering in the 26° temperature.
Bill bumped the thermostat up a couple degrees to help their guests warm up. They ran for the door and the boys tore it open, six under-dressed guests were standing in the great room. Sean holding two large pizzas. There were hugs all around, everyone glad to see each other again. But introductions were necessary.
"I'd like you to meet Willie's mother Pamela. Pam, I'd like to introduce our friends from California." Going in order, "This is Aaron, owner of Million Dollar Homes; his wife Jenifer owner of Million Dollar Homes Interior Design. In their arms are Michael, 3½, and Ashley, 2½. Next is Debbie, their housekeeper and cook extraordinaire, and her son Sean, 11. Sean, you can put those pizzas in the kitchen.
"I didn't realize all of you were coming! And how did you get here so quick? I wasn't expecting you till later?"
"That was me, I misled you by omission. I did ask if you had a couple spare rooms, but I never did tell why. And when I told your machine we were on the ground I knew you'd assume Duluth. We flew straight to Hibbing's Range Regional Airport."
"How did you get a flight into there."
"Private jet, with all the stuff we brought, it was the only way, and I'm officially spoiled. The jet services company had our requested suburban with a trailer waiting on our arrival. What took so much time was moving all the stuff from the jet to the trailer."
"You really didn't need to do that."
"Yes, we did," Jenifer replied, "I did some calling and couldn't find a decent place to buy baby stuff in Hibbing. Since we're done with our stuff, we brought it along. And it gave us an excuse to come."
"So, I see this really is a clothing optional home, mind if we join you?" Aaron asked.
"Welcome to our family." Sean hadn't waited for permission. After dropping the pizza on the kitchen table, Chris and Willie had him nude in front of the Nintendo. Aaron and Jenifer undressed then helped their two young ones remove their clothes.
"Excuse me for saying this, Pam, but based on my experience, you appear to be a little uncomfortable here." Jenifer inquired.
"Today was supposed to be just a little experiment in going nude outside of my own apartment for the first time."
"And we invade and surround you with nude bodies, oh that's rich." Jenifer laughed.
"Oh, it's worse than that. Since my experiment started 30 minutes ago, I got a performance review on my current job, I got a promotion to manager, I got a raise, AND I've been surrounded with nude bodies of people I'd never met before."
"Well, welcome to the world of nudism. It usually isn't THAT traumatic. But considering everything going on, you seem to be handling it well."
"I was doing better, I'd almost forgotten I was nude, till the six of you showed up. I was going to leave after lunch."
"Oh, speaking of lunch, since I messed with about how many there would be we stopped and got pizza."
"And I have lasagna if someone wants a combo."
"You got any lettuce? Debbie asked, "I can throw together a salad and call it lunch," she stated as she took over the kitchen. "You guys sit, I'll call you when everything's ready."
"Dang Bill, it's cold outside. Why would anyone want to live in this frozen wasteland?" Aaron complained. Bill didn't reply.
"How about showing us around this beautiful house." Bill showed them what little they hadn't seen of the first floor, then took them upstairs.
Pam, decided to go to the kitchen. "Debbie? Hi, I couldn't help be notice that you don't dress like the others."
"Yeah, I don't do that, I'm not a naturist, and it wouldn't be very professional to be nude as their housekeeper."
"Oh, I'm sorry, should I put something on?"
"No not at all, every employer family I've worked for during the past 15 years have all been naturists. Your nudity doesn't bother me, just as my clothing shouldn't bother you."
"Oh, it doesn't. I'm just so new to all this, I'm doing it for my sons. I've seen an improvement in their attitudes and their love towards each other, that I wanted to be a part of it."
Upstairs, Bill showed them the four bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath. Jenifer correctly assumed the room across the hall from Bill's would eventually become the baby's room after he graduated from sleeping in Bill's room. "And it looks like Chris is still in this room?" she asked.
"Yes, he's already agreed to move to another room before Dylan is ready for his own room. He and Willie promised to figure out which room he wants."
"I like Willie, he's a great friend for Chris. You think it would be ok if I asked them to move out a little early? We're going to completely refurbish that room. And we're going to need to figure out some temporary sleeping quarters for everyone." Jenifer explained.
"Unless we freeze first," Aaron kidded.
Debbie and Pam came up joining the group. "I'm going to need someone's keys. If I'm going to make any more meals in this house, I need groceries. That's Old Mother Hubbard's kitchen down there."
Both Bill and Aaron offered their vehicles. "I'll take the car; I don't need to be hauling a trailer around on the frozen streets of the bitter north."
"Oh, come on, it's not that bad." Bill countered.
"Yes, it is," all three replied in unison.
"Oh, and lunch is ready in the kitchen." Debbie said, heading back down.
"So, you have two empty bedrooms. Jenifer and I and the twins can take one room by adding a mattress on the floor. Debbie and Sean can have the other room, so we just need to figure out what to do with Chris and Willie while we decorate the nursery."
"Wait, your kids aren't twins."
"No, but everyone thinks they are and we treat like twins. They're not quite 10 months apart and are similar size, so, we sometime call them that. Calling them Michael and Ashley all the time, is a mouthful."
"Well, most of the time Chris and Willie sleep with me, so they can move into the master for now."
"It's a good thing you have a king bed in there, half the time, you'll have Sean in there as well. He flits around a lot; in with us, Michael's toddler bed, his mom, his apartment, we never know where we might find him."
"And as a last resort. The couch they are on playing video games downstairs, is a king size hide-a-bed, and the love seat is a full bed." Bill added.
"Oh, that's perfect, we can steal the full mattress for use as a toddler bed. We'll just lay it on the floor of our room. So, we're good on beds then, let's go eat, then get our suitcases unloaded," Jenifer suggested.
No one wanted to get dressed for the cold and there was only one robe available, so Bill and Aaron took turns wearing it, running to the suburban, and bringing in a load of luggage, then handing off the robe to the other and taking the luggage to the proper room. On the last trip, Aaron disconnected the trailer which they hadn't even opened yet and manually moved it out of the way. It was all the baby furniture, some bound for Bill's room, some for the remodeled room, some for neither location, but destined to go inside to a yet unknown location.
The afternoon was a time or relaxation, catching up, and figuring out what Bill liked or wanted in his son's nursery. Jenifer, being the interior decorator for Laguna's wealthy, pumped him with questions and was taking notes.
Pam forgot all about going home and enjoyed her afternoon nude among a bunch of like-minded adults. They surveyed Bill's master suite where Dylan would reside for 6 months or so, before moving to the nursery, and fully planned it out. Jenifer drew a map of where each piece would go. Knowing the baby would soon be home, they wanted to get the painting done quickly so the upstairs wouldn't smell too much like fresh paint when he arrived.
Bill snuck away in the afternoon to visit Dylan. This time they had him sit in a rocking chair with the baby. He held him for almost an hour rocking away the whole time. On his way home, he decided they would need to add a rocking chair to the layout.
At dinner Bill announced Chris and Willie would be returning to school. It was time.
You would have thought he'd asked them to cut off their right arms, considering the push-back they gave. They had every excuse as to why they should wait till after the funeral. The funeral on Saturday was exactly why Bill wanted them back in school, he knew Chris' friends, acquaintances, and teachers would all want to offer their condolences, and thought it best if that happened before. Bill offered a compromise; they could stay home Thursday, but had to return Friday. That appeased their complaints, somewhat, and satisfied Bill's requirement. Bill informed the principal of their excused absence and their return to class on Friday.
Jenifer announced the plans for the new nursery upstairs and the need for Chris and Willie to move in with Bill. Thursday morning the room was to be completely cleaned out, so painting could begin. Chris didn't mind the early move, not into his dad's room.
Pam finally got dressed and went home after spending most of the day nude with Bill, Chris, her son, and six other naturists friends. One could say she acclimated well. She also was starting her new job as manager at the store tomorrow morning.
3 more chapters to go. . .
This work © by The_Curmudgeon, February 2023.
All chapters can be found in:
https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/
consequences-of-strip-poker/.
My other Stories: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/authors.html#curmudgeon
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