Date: Mon, 20 Jun 2005 21:43:27 +0200 From: hadjo Subject: Harry-21 English is not my native language, so please have some consideration... Chapter 20 ended with: "Are you going to adopt him?" "Yes, that's my intention. What do I have to do?" "For now just sign these papers and your lawyer will do the rest." "OK, thank you." I signed the papers without reading them and left without another word. "Come on boys, let's go home." Chapter 21. John and Davey rearranged the seats, putting three seats in line up front and two seats together in the back of the van. "Jason, Carl, you two take the two back seats and the rest of us will sit on those three seats in line and on the front seat." Hesitantly Carl looked at our golden van, as if he just couldn't believe his own eyes. "Am I really going with you? Where are you bringing me? Are you taking me to another home?" "Yes Carl, I am taking you to another home, to OUR home. You probably are going to live with us." "They will never let me go. They always told me I have to wait until I am eighteen..." "I already signed the papers, so don't worry too much. You and Jason will be together from now on." "They just won't let me. They even didn't let me write a letter to Jason. They tore it apart. They just hate me too much." "Well, you will see... Come on, let's quickly leave this place and get something to eat. I'm starved." As a forlorn puppy Carl followed Jason to the back seats and sat down, letting Jason fasten his seatbelt. Obviously things happened too fast and he just stared into the distance. I myself was glad to leave that prison behind and hoped I never would have to be back there. John, Davey and Nicky took the seats in the front row and little Harry took the front seat next to me, with a big smile on his face and playing with the radio until he found some nice soft background music. "Is Carl really going to live with us Dad? And how about Jason and Nicky? We only have three bedrooms..." "Well, you are a clever boy so think it over for yourself. Perhaps you might come up with a solution?" "You could buy us a bigger house... let's look on the internet when we are home!" "You don't think I'm a millionaire do you?" "Nah, but you always have your credit card..." "When I am paying something with my credit card, where do you think the money comes from?" He started to say something but suddenly shut his mouth, frowned and looked into nowhere. After a while he nodded. "Sorry dad, I've never thought about that before... Of course that's your own money from the bank." I ruffled his hair and he looked up to me with a lot of love and adoration in his beautiful eyes. "But still we don't have enough bedrooms for everyone... and now I am really hungry." We stopped at a fast-food restaurant and four boys hurried inside, followed by me, Jason and a hesitant Carl. I took his hand, Jason smiled and took his other hand, and together we followed our bottomless bit span that already found an empty table. "Sorry sir, but I don't have any money..." Carl hesitantly admitted, looking rather sad. "Well, I have a credit card so today you are allowed to order anything you want, and I will pay everything for us. OK?" He nodded and sat down next to Jason, looking around as if this was the first time in years he entered a restaurant. It probably was. "What do you want Carl, or will we order for you? Perhaps this time you should order the same things as Jason?" He looked very relieved and followed Jason to the service bar where the other boys already huddled together, waiting for their turn. They came back with platters full of the most delicious junk foods and drinks, letting me pay with my inexhaustible credit card. Within seconds all platters were emptied and all boys were stuffed. We continued our journey and in no time we were home again. I parked the car on the driveway where we were greeted by a sun tanned Thomas and Chrissy, both of them glad to see us back. "Wow, you have a new car? What a nice one! It's certainly big enough to take all of us with you, some time..." I just laughed and we entered the house, the boys were glad to see their friends back and Jason and Carl both followed us more hesitantly. John started to fill in Thomas on all our adventures, sometimes interrupted by Davey and little Harry when they thought he forgot something. Nicky just listened, accompanied by Jason and a still rather timid Carl. I sat down on the couch and started to think all things over, stirred into action by the remarks of my little soul mate. A few days ago I was alone in my new house, enjoying my retirement. Suddenly I was accompanied by a whole pack of children, a couple of them being dependent or relying on me. Where was I heading? Little Harry now lived with me as my adopted son and had his own room in my house. John was in my custody for a while until his mother decided to come back to their house. Davey lived with his mother but called me dad and enjoyed every moment of being with me. Nicky lived with his brother and his father for the moment, but his father already asked me to adopt him. Jason suddenly entered my life, opened up to me and where would that end? Carl suddenly entered my life as the soul mate of Jason and I already proposed to adopt him... And of course there were Thomas and Chrissy and Mark and Marrie. And a few other neighborhood boys and girls sometimes enjoying our new swimming pool in the backyard. How about sleeping arrangements? Ok, let's think about that. Little Harry and John both have their own rooms. Davey is sleeping at home. Nicky is sleeping at home. But Jason and Carl? Can I separate them? Don't they need each other now? Little Harry and John will have to share one bedroom. Carl will get the other bedroom and thus could invite Jason for a sleep over... but that's not fair regarding John. I promised him to have his own room in my house... I will have to talk things over with my boys! After a while all boys went upstairs to change into swimming trunks and after that they disappeared into the backyard, even Carl and Jason. A moment later I heard them splashing in the water and having lots of fun. John hurried back into the house: "Dad, can I put on the water hose again? The pool's half empty..." "Of course you may, but don't spill too much water." "OK dad, thanks and I love you." He gave me a fast hug and was gone again, with a beaming face and nearly skipping. I LOVE that boy! The rest of the day went past rather uneventful. Now and then one of the boys showed up for a drink or a visit to the bathroom, giving me a wet hug and a big smile before disappearing again. Only Carl still was a little bit bashful. "Sir, may I use your bathroom please?" "What will happen when I say no?" He looked up to me with a question mark in his eyes and I ruffled his wet hair. "You're not used to grownups teasing you I suppose?" He shook his head and involuntary his hands went to his groin. Seemingly he really was in need. "Hurry up before you wet your swimming pants and my carpet!" Grateful he went to the bathroom and I heard him sigh with relief. When he came back I threw my arms around him. "You are one of us now Carl. This is your home now and you never have to ask to go to the bathroom any more. Do you understand?" Suddenly his eyes filled with tears and he clamped onto me like a frightened child. "I don't know... I'm afraid this is only a beautiful dream and after some time I will wake up in the orphanage and be more sad..." I just hold him until his sobs lessened and he reluctantly let go. I got him a Kleenex and he dried his eyes. "You are now one of MY boys and I never will let you go. Just trust me! And now go back to the rest of our family and to Jason." At sic o'clock Davey went home, promising to be back the next day. Jason and Nicky went home making the same promise. Thomas and Chrissy went home giggling and still having lots of fun. Little Harry, John and Carl helped me in the kitchen to prepare a healthy meal after all that junk stuff. Of course after two minutes little Harry took over everything, his head just above the kitchen table, and gave us directions like a chef cook, beaming and looking very critically at the same time. "No dad, don't slice those potatoes into cubes, make fat slices. And Carl, don't smash the lettuce too much, be careful. John, now you can put the butter into the saucepan, but not too much. In the mean time I will get us some herbs." He went into the backyard and came back with a handful of herbs. He carefully washed them and sliced them into small pieces. "John, can you get me the olive oil from the left locker above the sideboard?" The food again tasted delicious and soon we all were stuffed, complimenting our proudly beaming cook. "Next time I will try a little bit more of garlic. And dad, do you have any idea where we could buy that greenish snot they offered us where we ate Chinese food in that beautiful palace?" Suddenly Carl sniggered and looked around rather confused. "You ate greenish snot?" Now we all sniggered and John roared with laughter. He nearly fell off his chair. "Yeah, I think they milked that from a green dragon with the flu." "Yuck!" Carl uttered from the ground of his heart, "I think I will never eat Chinese food any more." We washed everything, cleaned the kitchen and went to the living room where we sat down onto the couch, little Harry on my lap, John on my left side leaning into me, Carl on my right side not knowing what to do. I waited for a moment and carefully draped my arm around him. With a deep sigh he let himself go and completely melted into me. "I hope this beautiful dream will never end..." "Dad... I've been thinking," little Harry started after a while, "I am just a little boy, so it's quite normal for me to sleep with you in your bed. So I don't really need a bedroom. For the time we don't have a bigger house Carl can have my room, sleep in my bed and even use my desk. And John can keep his own room. Is that ok?" He threw his arms around my neck and snuggled even closer. I love that little boy with his big heart soo much... "Thank you my dear soul mate, that's a wonderful solution for the moment. Is that ok for you too Carl?" Carl just nodded and tried to completely disappear into me. Obviously he missed a father in his life! "Come on, let's go upstairs and prepare your new room for the night." "But I don't have any clothes... I borrowed the swimming trunk from John. All my clothes are home... eh... still there." "Tomorrow we will go downtown, together with Jason, and buy you new clothes and everything you need. Okay?" He nodded and silently started to sob. "Am I REALLY going to live with you?" "Yes Carl, you now belong to our family, and Jason and you can visit each other as often as you like." We went upstairs and little Harry took Carl's hand, leading him into his new room. "You will have to sleep in the nude here, for we all do. We all are naturists, even dad!" "Really? Isn't that... I don't know..." "The first time it's a little bit strange, but after a while you get used to it and after that you never want to wear anything in bed again." "But... when you have to go to the bathroom? Or when you... you know... get a woody?" "We all have from time to time, and we all look the same except from some hairs. Just always be proud of yourself. Come on, let's take a shower. That's the best place to get used to be naked." Little Harry started to undress, followed by John. Hesitantly Carl looked at them. "Come on, don't spoil the fun! Shall we help you?" Carl looked at me for approval and I nodded. Slowly he started to undress, looking at already naked Harry with very big eyes. "Sorry, I didn't know you were THAT burnt..." "Don't sweat it. It isn't how I look but who I am that's really important. Come on, let's hit the shower." After a while they HAD fun, all three of them. Even Carl now and then laughed. Suddenly the bell rang and I went downstairs. At the front door stood a very big smiling person with two smaller persons behind, trying to hide themselves from my sight. "Come in BJ! You are all alone I see?" Big Jason entered the hallway and I tried to close the door directly behind him, pretending not to see Jason and Nicky. "Hey!" Nicky desperately shouted, trying to keep the door opened. "Oh... I didn't see you... both of you. Now you are too late, the house is already crowded." "You are silly!" and he slipped past me, followed by a grinning Jason bumping into me. We went to the living room and Jason suddenly looked around with a worried expression on his face. "Where's Carl?" "He's upstairs, having a shower with Harry and John. Want to join them? Just go upstairs, it's OK." 'OKAY!" Nicky shouted and stormed the stairs, hesitantly followed by Jason. We sat down and BJ looked at me with tears in his eyes. "Thank you, thank you so much! You gave me my boys back. I am so grateful... we had a talk, all three of us, for the first time since those years. First it was difficult, but after a while Jason started to tell everything about himself and Carl, how they loved each other and how he always had to be careful and afraid of discovery. Until I ruined his and Carl's life..." He started to sob and this time I threw my arms around his huge shoulders without hesitancy. Now he really started to cry, holding onto my arms with his big hands and nearly bruising them. Still sobbing he went on: "I have my boys back. They both embraced me and kissed me and it felt really good. I have been so blind... I never thought love between two males could be more than a sexual aberration, but now I could see Jason really LOVES his friend. They both forgave me everything I messed up in those two years and I promised them I will do everything I can to make it up for them." He let go of my arms and I got him a Kleenex to wipe his face. We talked for a long time and I told him my vision about love, sex, intergenerational love, love between two males or two females, and the bad side of forced sex without mutual consent. He nodded and sighed. "I have been so shortsighted... of course love is love... how can I ever make this up for Jason?" "Just let him be himself and love him, that's all you have to do." "Is his ...boyfriend, Carl, with you? Can I see him?" "Of course, he's upstairs with the rest, probably they are still under the shower. Shall we have a look?" He nodded and we both went upstairs, BJ with some difficulty and obviously with a rather painful spine. The boys had put the shower head into a corner, pointing upward so that the water drops formed a rain shower all around the stall. They all five sat down in a circle, softly talking with each other. Little Harry and Nicky had put their arms around each other, bumping shoulders. Jason and Carl were totally entangled into each other, arms around each others waists and their legs crossed. John looked totally content with the love and happiness of his friends and smiled from ear to ear. Suddenly Carl detected us standing in the door opening and panicked. He tried to untangle himself from Jason and nearly threw him against the wall, trying to stand up and get away with all his force. "I'm sorry!" he shouted and he desperately tried to pass us. I wrapped my arms around him and held him close, preventing his escape. "It's OK Carl, you are not in any trouble. Just relax and listen to me. You did nothing wrong. Do you trust me?" He shivered and looked at BJ with a lot of fear in his eyes. BJ coughed and offered him an enormous hand. "I am so sorry Carl for not understanding you two years ago. Please can you forgive me? I want us to be friends again..." Carl still looked like a trapped animal, but fortunately he stopped fighting. Hesitantly he looked up to me. "That's right Carl, Jason's father was wrong two years ago and he wants to make it up to you. He approves of you and Jason being together as friends. Everything is OK now. Just try to trust us, OK?" It was very difficult for him and he still shivered, but after a while he nearly invisibly nodded. I beckoned Jason and he took his friend over from my arms. He held him very close and Carl started to sob on his shoulder. "I was soo afraid my beautiful dream had ended and I would be chased away again, just like two years ago..." BJ and I went downstairs to give the boys some space, both with tears in our eyes. "Now I really could see how wrong I was... what did I do to that poor boy!" We went to the kitchen and made ourselves a cup of very strong and hot coffee. After a while all boys came downstairs, still impressed by what happened. Little Harry and Nicky both nestled onto my lap, fighting for the best place and with their arms around each other, Nicky furtively looking at his dad for approval. BJ just grinned and winked at him, and Nicky winked back, now grinning too. John took his place on my left side, leaning into me; and Carl leaned into my right side with Jason next to him. "Jason, Carl, again I want to tell you I was totally wrong two years ago. Now I can see you two really love each other and I wish I could undo everything I did to both of you. Please will you forgive me? Please..." Again BJ got tears in his eyes and suddenly Jason threw himself at his dad, embracing him. "Daddy, I love you soo much..." I pushed Carl and hesitantly he followed Jason, until suddenly BJ threw his big arms around Carl and nearly suffocated him. "I want you to be my third son. Welcome into my family Carl." We all cuddled and talked for a long time until BJ went home, leaving Jason and Nicky to spend another night with us. Of course Jason and Carl wanted to sleep together in Carl's new room and I offered them a box of Kleenex to take with them what made both of them blush fiercely. "Don't make a sound like a wounded elephant when you come," little Harry teased them with a big smile on his face. "That's none of your business!" Jason bitched back. "Only when you wake me up in the middle of the night, like John..." Now John blushed fiercely and poked Harry in the ribs. "That's personal and private!" "Sorry, I was just teasing you." Harry and Nicky wanted to sleep together in John's room so John would sleep with me tonight, at least officially. We went upstairs, I took a quick shower and we all went to bed after a couple of very big and warm hugs. Harry and Nicky already with their arms around each other, Jason and Carl blushing and carrying the precious box of Kleenex with them. John nestled himself against me with his pecker proudly poking into my thigh and that's the last thing I remembered until the next morning when the sun shining through the curtains woke me up with a softly snoring John next to me. ------- Chapter 22 will follow. Again thank you for all your wonderful emails. I really enjoy them, even the smallest. A few excerpts: * Well .. u did it AGAIN! Got me to sniffling with the reunion of Jason & Carl .. The Chapters are wonderfully written even if English isn't your natural tongue. The story is totally being written from the heart and it is fantastic! Keep it coming:-) * Love your story! As a father (7) and grandfather (6) I can identify with Big Harry. Over the years I have taken in several boys and loved them, help them get a successful start in life. Now I miss all that love in my senior years when I need it so desperately. Your story helps me a lot. Thanks again and keep the story going. * Hi! I like your story very much, it kind and cute. I thank you for your work, it good for the soul. Take care. * Wow you have done it again. An excellent chapter; you have shown how even though someone can be hateful and mean that there is still hope and salvation for them. I love this story and I can't wait to read more of it. You have shown us love that has no limits and understanding that can't be understood by everyone. Please keep up the great story. Thanks. * Another nice chapter -well done - but please don't loose the focus on Harry in all this development please. * You are filling us that house. Where are you going to put them all - bigger house I guess. Good Chapter. * I'd like to thank you for taking the time to write "Harry". Although I don't get to see him often, I have my own "Harry" in my life. An 8yo boy who was badly burnt in a fire in a caravan when he was 2 or 3 (no, not a gypsy type of caravan, just your normal vacation type). His face is OK fortunately, but he has one ear visibly burnt and the other is fused to his skull. The rest of his body is also badly burnt and he generally wears a sort of "shell", a hard plastic shirt to protect the skin of his torso. While I haven't told him about it, your story has given me some thoughts on how I can help him. I am not well off so at the moment my encouragement is only kind words and affection where I can give it, but if I had the money you know that I would be seeing to it that he got the best medical care possible. Thanks again for all your wonderful comments. I really like your mails, even the smallest! Please send your comments (or hints how to go on) to my mailbox: mailto:harry@hadjo.nl and thank you very much for reading my first story in the English language. My native language is Dutch (Nederlands) and I am living in The Netherlands.