Date: Sun, 07 Oct 2001 18:43:52 -0400 From: Tom Cup Subject: Kevin - Series Chapter 6 Kevin by Tom Cup Copyright 2000, 2001 by the Paratwa Partnership: A Colorado Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, except in the case of reviews, without written permission from the Paratwa Partnership, Inc, 354 Plateau Drive, Florissant, CO 80816 This is a fictional story involving youth/youth or adult/youth sexual relationships. If this type of material offends you, please do not read any further. This material is intended for mature adult audiences. Names, characters, locations and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. ************************************************************************ This story is part of the Tom Cup Library Please visit the member's area of the Tom Cup Library for Chapter 9 of The Lion of Bolognia (Kevin Chapter 23); Chapter 27 of "Calvin"; Chapter 12 of "Angel"; "David's Christmas Present" (Revised with new additions and chapters by Tom Cup); Chapters 6 of "A Place Called Home"; Chapter 2 of "In Memory of Steve". Also available Tommy -- The Return -- Chapter 2, "Stephen Miller's Journal" Chapter 1; "The Day My Life Began" and many more series and short stories! Once again, thank you for your support, and as always, your e-mail is much appreciated. ************************************************************************ To support this and other stories by Tom Cup, join the Tom Cup Library at: http://tomcup.iscool.net *********************************************************************** Kevin Chapter 6 By Tom Cup Antonio and I didn't really watch much of the movie. We spent most of the time talking. He was really interested about my life before I came to live with them; what it was like to live in Philadelphia; what my mom was like; what my bothers and sisters were like; whether or not I missed them. He drilled me pretty good as he made small jokes of my answers. He wouldn't let me have anymore wine though; even though I begged him, he made me drink water for the rest of the night. It was nearly three in the morning, and we were both yawning pretty good, when he said, "You know, I've been pretty lonely but my life has been nothing compared to yours. I always wished I had a cousin or little brother. I'm really glad you're here." With that, he reached over and pulled me over to him. I nearly fell into his lap. We held each other for a while not saying anything. I was choked with emotion. I felt warm, loved, accepted and, to tell the truth, a little horny. Antonio broke the spell by telling me that we both needed to get some sleep. I held his hand as he walked me to my room. My heart was bursting. I loved my brothers and sisters. Yes, I did, I realized. But this was different. I loved them because I was supposed to. I loved them because they were all I knew. I loved Antonio, just as I loved Tony, because he loved me first. He loved me even though I wasn't prefect. I was awakened by the sound of movement in my room. It was William. "Good morning master Kevin," he intoned. "Good morning, William," I responded. "I have taken the liberty of choosing a few items that would be suitable for today's events," he said presenting, one by one, three suits of clothing. I recognized the clothing of course. They were three of the myriad of clothing I had tried on only the day before. In the end, I chose the gray slacks, white shirt, and blue pull over sweater with the embroidered "B" on the chest. William slightly closed his eyes, with a smile, and nodded. I think that meant that he approved of my choice. William told me that "Madame" was awaiting my arrival for breakfast. So after getting dressed, I walked with him downstairs. We turn not towards the library as I was expecting but towards the gallery. I didn't say anything but was curious nonetheless. I guess I had been so preoccupied with the art that I hadn't noticed the door on the north wall of the gallery near the piano. William opened it for me but did not enter. I found myself standing in a banquet room with a long table with impressive legs that ended on the floor with the faces of roaring lions. There were twelve armchairs around the table each of which had legs like the table. Marie was seated at the west end with Antonio at her right side. Antonio had been bent close to her when I entered and she had been slightly bent toward him listening intently to what he was saying. They both sat up straight when I entered and smiled. "So my drunken, friend," Antonio beamed, "You have finally arisen from your stupor!" Marie simply looked at me with apologetic eyes and asked, "How are you feeling, little one?" I don't know why but I simply loved when she called me that. In truth, I felt great: relaxed and well rested. Marie seemed relieved to hear that and her eyes danced with joy as the smile that roses envied passed across her lips. We ate Danish pastries, poached eggs with asparagus and hollandaise sauce followed by fresh fruit with a sour cream and honey dressing. I was stuffed and sitting back rather lazily in my chair when Marie cleared her throat and began to speak. "Kevin," she said, "It was completely wicked of Antonio but he has confided in me some of the conversation you two engaged in last evening. I assure you he had only your best interest at heart." She paused and I realized that she was waiting for me to respond in some way. I sat up so as to pay closer attention. I didn't mind that Antonio had told her what I had said but I think she thought that I would. As if, we were never to tell what another person said unless that other person said we could. "It's OK," I managed at last, "What I said wasn't a secret." They both seemed to relax at that point and I learned another lesson about living in my new home. What we tell one another is, as a rule, between only those who hear it at the time. "Very good," Marie continued, "You see Kevin, Antonio was very concerned, no that is not the word, grieved by what you have gone through; as am I upon hearing it. Though my son, to his credit, has a talent for not showing his pain. I, as his mother, can somehow sense it." She looked at Antonio and he lowered his eyes blushing just a bit. I realized that he had meant to keep what we said between us but that somehow Marie had drawn him out. I envied him that his mother cared enough to be concerned about his feelings. "I imagine now," Marie continued," this is what caused Tony to bring you home to us. In essence, what I am saying is that we are sorry that you have had to endure such hardships and that we swear that you shall never have to endure them again." We were interrupted by William who told us that "the await call had been received." I had no idea what was going on. I was beginning to feel a bit guilty. They were all being so nice to me. I wanted to tell them the truth: that I wasn't really related to them; that Tony just found me on the streets; that I was expecting him the use me for a night or two and then to dump me somewhere. I wasn't expecting them to take care of me; not like this. We all walked to the library where Marie took the phone. "My dear brother," she began, "This is intolerable. How could you have not told us of what this child has had to endure? Why was he not brought to us sooner? How could you be so proud as to let him suffer for so long?" I realized that she was talking to Tony and fear leapt into my heart. I had gotten Tony into trouble. I had screwed up. Marie listened intently to whatever was being said on the other end of the phone; nodding and looking at me in away I could not read. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I knew I would die of shame once she knew the truth. I was a liar. I had lied and deceived them. They had opened their home and hearts to me and I was no more than a traitor in their midst! I began wondering what it would be like to live on the streets of Chicago. I supposed that I could manage. I imaged that it would be no harder than the streets of Philadelphia. I decided to ask Marie if I could at least have some of the clothes and a coat. I still had the three hundred dollars that Tony had given me and I could make that go a long way if they didn't take it back. Maybe, I thought, I could get a bus to somewhere warmer; then things wouldn't be so bad. I even thought about going back home. If I gave my mom the money, she might let me stay there until summer and by then I could figure something out. With all these thoughts spinning in my head, I hadn't noticed that I was sobbing. I stood there, frozen like a statue, with tears streaming down my face and my chest heaving. I didn't hear the last part of what was said. I only realized that the call had ended when I felt Marie's hand on my face wiping the tears away. I also realized that Antonio was standing by my side with his arm around me trying to comfort me. This only made it worst. Why were they being so nice to me? They should hate me. My mother was right, I thought, I am nothing but shit. I don't really know how I got there but the next thing I remember is being back upstairs in my room, in bed, crying into my pillow. I didn't want to leave. I loved it here. I promised over and over to be good, and begged God to forgive me. At some point, I simply fell asleep. The first thing I noticed when I woke was Antonio sitting by my bed. He didn't say anything; just pushed the button to the intercom. "Yes Sir," William's voice came over loud and clear. "Kevin's awake," Antonio responded. "Very good Sir," came the response, "I shall inform Madame." I sat up, crossed legged, in the bed trying to think of some reason they should let me stay. They all sounded so lame: I'll be good; I'll never lie again: I'll do anything you tell me; Maybe I can be William's helper. I sat there with my head bowed and tears started to gently roll down my cheeks again. You are being so stupid, I thought at last, you knew that this was going to happen. People like this don't need someone like you around. I agreed with my thoughts and got up wiping the tears from my eyes. I decided that I would just change into my old clothes and leave. It was the best thing to do. "What the hell are you doing?" Antonio asked as I dug my old things from the back of the closet and began undressing. "Getting the hell out of here before you throw me out," I answered mustering all the angry determination I could. Antonio's mouth dropped open and he laughed, shaking his head, as I continued to get dressed. Marie arrived just as I was tying up the laces to my old shoes. She stopped dead in her tracks gazing from me to Antonio and back again. "Kevin," she said so calmly, and gently, that all my mock determination for leaving disappeared, "Why are you wearing those clothes?" She looked at Antonio as for an answer but he simply shrugged his shoulders. "They're all I got," I said with tears again rolling freely down my cheeks. "I see," she said, "You think we think less of you because of what you have gone through. You are wrong." She came over and knelt taking my chin in her hand making me look into her eyes. "Listen to me little one," she commanded, "I want you to take those things off and give them to Antonio." She then looked at Antonio and said, "I want you to take these... these...items and dispose of them. I do not care how. Burn them if you must but I do not wish to see my little one in them ever again." That was when it hit me. I wasn't going to be thrown out. I fell into Marie's arms sobbing and saying, "Thank you. Thank you. I love you. I love you so much!" I was made to change and Antonio disappeared with my old clothes. I was not allowed to wear the clothes I had chosen that morning because Marie said they were to wrinkled from my lounging in them. I told her I didn't mind and that sometimes, back home, I had to wear the same thing for a week, maybe two, or more. She was aghast to hear this and forbade me to ever mention such a thing again. William dressed me on Marie's command that I be more than presentable for the arriving guest. Antonio had arrived at my door in time to hear this and laughed out loud saying, "Porcelain doll!" But he stop quickly enough as Marie turned to William and said, "And find something for my son to wear also," before she left. I couldn't help but giggle. William fussed over me for far longer than I thought necessary and I hated what he made me wear: slacks, dress shirt, vest and jacket complete with a Windsor knot. "Why do I have to wear this?" I complained, "I feel like a circus monkey." His only reply, "Because Madame wishes it." It was good enough for me. I was taken down to the library to meet Mr. Princeton Millstone, The Third. He was a family friend and counsel on certain affairs. He said he had talk with both Tony and Marie, and that he understood most of my problem, but he needed to hear from me that I really wanted to make this my permanent home. I told him I did. He asked me if I would miss my brothers, and sisters, and I said that I would but I wanted to stay with Tony, Marie and Antonio. He smiled and said that was all he wanted to hear. Marie seemed really pleased as they both stood and head for the entry. Antonio came over and stood by me and whispered, "Just like a true Bolognia," while putting his arm around me. "That was it?" I asked, "You mean we had to get all dressed up for that?" Antonio was already ripping his tie off and went into hysterics. When he recovered, he sat on the bench in the entry and I sat beside him. "I'm sorry Kevin," he said, "I really shouldn't laugh that you don't know this game. You see, Mr. Princeton Millstone The Third is not only a family friend, and counsel; he is also a judge in this county. He talked with your dad a few minutes after Marie talked with him. Then called to talk with Marie while you were asleep. He had heard enough. He just wanted to see you." "To see if you really were taking good care of me and that I really wanted to be here," I posed softly. "You got it," Antonio smiled, "So you can relax. Things are being taken care of." We were heading upstairs to get into something more comfortable when Antonio said, "Oh, I almost forgot. Uncle Tony said he'd be calling to chat with you tonight." Send comments to: tom_cup@hotmail.com