Date: Mon, 16 Feb 1998 20:29:00 -0500 From: Sidney Gittler Subject: Mall Punk Part 11 This is the eleventh installment of a continuing love story between a man and a fourteen year old boy. There is sex involved so if that kind of thing bothers you, your too young, etc. then please move on. Mall Punk: Part 11 Return to the Basement Man it's been a busy couple of weeks since that baseball game. Jon called Ru the next morning and apologized for his outburst. They've become friends, not like Jon and Joe but I think there are things my love feels more comfortable talking to Ru about than Joe. The Liberty Corners Parks Department went into shock when I agreed to donate $10,000.00 to have the new playground named for Jon's mother. I mentioned it to Lamont during our weekly phone call and he finished off their fund raising drive. For the first time in a month I'm heading home on a Friday evening to a weekend alone with Jon. Joe and his family are going down the shore to his grandparents to celebrate his father's promotion. The house is eerily quiet as I walk in from the garage and into the kitchen. Then I see the door to the basement's open and a piece of paper with an arrow has been taped to it pointing down. As I took my jacket and tie off I remembered the quiet ceremony that night when Jon had walked up those stairs holding the collar and leash he'd been wearing the day we met and tossed them into the trash. He'd turned and headed upstairs. He slept cuddled in my arms that night. A smile was the only thing either of was wearing. I headed down the stairs and followed three more arrows to the play room. Jon greeted me at the door naked except for straps on each wrist and ankle. I took him in my arms and we kissed a long, long time. When we broke I looked him in the eyes. He nodded to answer my unasked question and proceeded to strip me. Silently he led me into the room and to the chains and pulleys near the back wall. After I hooked him up I ran my hands over his back. My nails drawing lines in his back as he moaned in pleasure. I picked up a paddle and showed it to him. It was a plain wooden paddle made of a soft wood. After ten firm swats on each cheek I walked in front of him and found him smiling ear-to-ear despite his red ass. I gave him a quick kiss and pulled the chains raising his arms over his ends and kept going until his feet were off the ground. "I'll be back. I'm going to hit the bathroom." I took my time freshening up. I remembered Jon's words at the playground when he killed Fido: "But don't worry, Jonathan likes playing rough too." I knew this was his idea and I was willing to go through with it, but. After fifteen minutes I reentered the room and quietly picked up the bullwhip. Without a warning I flicked it and the tip flicked across the base of his spine. His body flinched at the contact. The first ten lashes all hit different parts of the back. While his body was reacting to the blows, which was unusual, I didn't hear a sound from him. Just as I was about to start the second set his head sagged. I dropped the whip and walked around to face him. He was desperately trying to stay silent as tears rolled down his cheeks. I put one arm around him and hit the release button. We sank to the ground with his limbs still chained. I sat him on my lap and released him. Jon was doing everything possible to avoid looking at me so I grabbed his chin and turned his face towards me. "Are you OK? Are you hurt?" He shook his head and looked at the floor. "Talk to me Jon. What happened? What's wrong?" "I love you Stya, I wanted this to work, I really did. When I threw the collar and leash out I figured I would still enjoy this stuff. I mean I know how much it means to you so I wanted tonight to be special." He stopped and gulped, still trying to stop the tears. I held my lover, my foster son, my everything while he composed himself. When he continued his voice was still shaky but under control. "I mean this is where and what let me know you really cared about me. That first morning when you told me to leave the collar down here really told me you wanted Jonathan around and not just Fido. Nobody ever treated me like that before. I wanted to keep that part alive." "What happened?" "You came down and I was OK when you tied me up and ran your fingers down my back. Even the paddling was fine. But then you raised me off the ground and left me helpless when you went upstairs. That's what did it. I realized I hated that feeling, it brought all the loneliness back." "Then why didn't you say something when you heard me come back?" "Because I wanted to do it for you. To prove I loved you. I would have kept quiet for as long as you wanted to go on so you could be happy." My little man had me crying now. I got up and led him out the door. "Turn the light off." He did. "Close the door." He did. I handed him the padlock. "Seal the room." Jon looked at me but didn't move. I took the lock back, closed the bolt and locked the room up. He was just staring at me so I led him to the couch and sat him down. "Jon, this is where I knew how special you were and began to realize I could come to love you like I do. And that was that very first night I picked you up." "What do you mean?" Asked a little boy. "Outside the mall that night you were being Fido, willing to go with whomever, do whatever for a place to spend the night, some food and money. On the way home all I wanted to do was take you in there," I jabbed a finger at the locked room, "and have some fun." "I remember, that's all I was expecting. Then you left me down here and went upstairs to change." "When I came back and saw you reading that magazine all that changed. I realized that someone was hiding inside Fido and I could love him. And you know what?" "What?" A small smile appeared. "I love Jonathan a lot more than I could have ever cared for Fido. I don't need that crap in there to love you. If you don't want it anymore then neither do I." "Don't say that just to make me feel good." "I told you that day on the boat I didn't care if I never saw Fido again. I was thrilled when you threw the collar away. I love Jonathan Sorrel and will do whatever it takes to make him happy." "Then take me upstairs to your bed and gently and kindly fuck my ass." I did. Once again I woke with Jon in my arms and my cock up his ass. I reached around and kissed his cheeks. He was awake and the cheek was wet. I pulled out and turned him around and put his head on my shoulder. "What's wrong Jon? Talk to me." He shook his head. "Please Jon, I love you, I want to help you but I can't if you don't talk to me." "I don't know the words. I love you Stya, I didn't know this life existed much less could be mine, but, but." "Slow down, take it easy and tell me." "There's a hole in me, I've lost my life and I'm trying to make sense of what's left. Oh God, I'm not making any sense and I know this is so important." "Its OK, take your time." "For as long as I can remember my life revolved around being used by my brothers and their friends. I didn't have a voice in it or anything else. What Peter told us doesn't even matter. Now its all gone. I have you and Joe and in a different way Reuben but after last night I realize I'm like a new baby, or someone with amnesia or you know we watched that show about orphans from Bosnia who were adopted by Americans and had to adjust to a whole new world. They have to leave everything behind and I know how they feel." He rested on my shoulder as I tried to slow my mind down. I had known that something like this would happen and last night should have been a warning but shit. "But you know what, you began filling that hole before you even realized it was there. Before it even existed. You started filling it with Joe. Then the life we've built together. Your friends at the Y and now Reuben. You don't have a hole. You've just replaced one life with another and the shocks just hitting you." "Is it really that easy?" A little boy's voice asked. "No, you really lost the first fourteen years of your life and that's a lot to make up for. But you didn't lose it, they stole it from you and you're going to make the most of the rest of your life. We'll take a summer vacation, you'll go to school in the fall, go places and do the things you want to." "With you?" "Of course with me. From now to forever I'll be with you." I bent over and kissed him lightly on the forehead and then the lips. His arms tightened around me and I hugged back. I could feel life flowing back into his body and soul. "I've got one favor to ask Jon." "What?" "Don't be afraid to talk to me if something is bothering you. Don't pretend everything is fine when its not. I'm here for you all the time and for everything. Do you understand me?" "I'll try, but talking is still hard some times. After all, I've only been free for nine months, really alive for five." He put his head on my chest. "I love you Stya." "I love you Jon." He fell asleep like that and it was noon before he woke again. While still quiet he seemed to be in a better mood while I made scrambled eggs and rye toast for a very late breakfast. As he was pushing his final piece of egg onto the fork with his fourth slice of toast he finally spoke. "Stya, I want to do something special today." "Fine, what?" "I don't know really but I want to do something that normal people would do." "We'll never be normal Jon." He scowled, then sighed. "I know that I guess, but can't we just pretend for today. Take me someplace I've never been before." I thought for a moment. Here was a fourteen year old boy who except for a trip to Las Vegas and Skylands Park had never been out of Longston, New Jersey. East into New York City, south to the shore or west into the country. No, north and west into the mountains. "OK, we're going away for the night. Go upstairs and pack your small bag. Include a bathing suit and something nice for supper." He got up and kissed me and ran upstairs. I thought and dialed a number I hadn't used in years and made a reservation for the night including the late show. Jon started to ask where we were going and I told him it was a surprise. While the ride up 287 to the NY Thruway to Route 17W wasn't as colorful as when the leaves are changing it was still beautiful. Jonathan had never seen anything like it and kept pointing out every cow, horse and tractor. After a couple of hours we stopped for a quick lunch and then headed on for the last few miles. When we pulled off the highway for the second time it was like a time warp as I drove up the long driveway and in front of The Concord Hotel. My parents, older brother and sister and I had come up every summer for two weeks for years when I was a boy. My father became Sheriff, Boris headed off for college and that ended those vacations together. It was at least a decade since my last trip up here. The place was as big, if not bigger, and as gaudy as I remembered. We followed the bellhops directions to the front desk and Jon stared in wonder as I checked in. As we followed the bellhop through the main lobby and for another half mile or so I recalled my amazement at my first sight of this classic resort. There were people of all ages, sizes, shapes and races milling about. I think what really amazed Jon were all the children running about carefree and unattended. We got to our room and it reminded me of the ones we used to stay in. "Two double beds?" Jon asked. "You said you wanted us to be normal and fathers and their fourteen year old sons don't usually sleep in the same bed. So for tonight you sleep in one and I get the other. Your choice." "Cool, can we go swimming dad?" "Yes son, take your bathing suit and t-shirt into the bathroom and change. I'll change out here while you're in there." He went into the bathroom and I pulled my suit out of my bag. I turned my back to the bathroom and as I slipped my suit on thought my parents are never going to believe where I am today. Appropriately dressed and map in hand we went in search of the outdoor pool. It took two wrong turns and fifteen minutes to finally find it. Another five to find two adjoining empty chairs. We sat for a couple of minutes looking around. "So this is what normal people do for vacation?" "My family came up here every summer for two weeks for years and years. Do you see that family over there with the grandparents, parents and three kids?" "Yeah." "The grandparents probably started coming up before the parents were born and the family's never stopped." "Why did you stop?" "Dad became Sheriff and Mom wouldn't come without him. But when you said you wanted something normal and special I thought about here." A waiter came by and took our order for a beer and a cola and we basked in the sun as we waited for his return. "Jonathan?" A voice came from the pool. "Jonathan Sorrel?" "Brandon?" Jon had focused on the boy's face sticking up from the side of the pool. "What you doing here? When you get here Jon?" "Just got here, how about you?" "Yesterday, you coming in?" Jon turned to me and I told him to get going. I watched him and Brandon play and talk in the water. Amazed at the difference from that first day at the Y gym. Grateful that it was someone who knew my son's limitation as a swimmer. While I was sipping the last of my beer a figure blocked out the sun. "Hello," I said. "Hi, Mr. Maskovitz I presume." "Correct and I presume your Brandon's father," I said sticking my hand out. "Ralph Markem, can I join you for a minute." "Sure, just toss me Jon's shirt. Quite a coincidence them meeting up here. And make it Stya." "Yeah, you know Brandon's told me a bit about Jon and you. I'm impressed, not many people would have taken on the challenge." "Don't regret it a bit. From the first day I met him I knew there was something special in him. It maybe a cliche but he just needed some loving." "Actually, I wanted to thank you for bringing Jon to the Y." "Huh?" "Brandon has always been a handful, mild case of ADD, selfishness up the kazoo." We both chuckled at that. "But since he met Jon his attitude towards his mom and I has been a lot better. Even goes to school and does his homework without much complaining." Our eyes drifted over to where the boys were pretending not to watch us. "Don't wave," Ralph said, "that's embarrassing." I nodded. "A kid hear's Jon's story and suddenly his mean old parents and siblings aren't that bad any more. Enough about them, what do you do for a living?" We leaned back in our seats and exchanged notes and stories with only the occasional glance over to the boys. Finally they emerged from the pool and walked over to us. "Can I have some money for the arcade Dad?" They asked in unison. As we both reached for our wallets I looked over at Ralph. "Five dollars apiece," he said and handed the bill to Brandon and I followed his example. "Be back in the room by six to change for supper." "Yes Dad," Brandon said. "I'll find my way back then too Dad." We watched them run off. "Still getting used to that," I said. "Most of the time its Stya which I don't mind but 'Dad' is pretty nice." "Yeah, how long you two staying." "Just tonight, this was last minute and I have a major presentation Monday afternoon." "I know what you mean. I was supposed to have the week off but depositions in a big case were rescheduled and I've got to handle them. Hold it a minute, I've got an idea. My wife, Charlene is staying and we've got two rooms. My daughter can move in with my wife and Jon can stay up here with Brandon, my treat and we can come back up on Friday for the weekend." I thought for a minute. After last night and this morning was Jon up for this? I wasn't sure but it was something 'normal' kids did. "If it's all right with your wife and the boys its fine with me. Just if there's any really big special expense I'll pay you back, and I'll have to buy Jon some more clothes since we only brought for one day. Two things though, one this will be the first time we'll be apart since he moved in and he usually sleeps in the raw." "Let's go talk to Charlene." That went fine, I just had to tell Jon he couldn't wonder around the room naked. We even decided that Ralph and I would drive back together so his wife would have a car for the week. I headed back to the room to shower and prepare myself for Jon. As usual I shouldn't have worried so much. Jon walked in all excited. "Stya, I've got a question." "Shoot." "Would it be all right if I stayed up here with Brandon for the week?. His father's going home tomorrow and they'll have the room. Please." I stifled a grin. "Two conditions." "What?" "You mind Mrs. Markem and do what your told." "Of course, and the second?" "She says to tell you that you can sleep in the nude but you can't wonder around the room that way. She and Brandon's sister will be right next door." "Fine, hold it what's this 'she says?'" "Mr. Markem came up with the same idea and Mrs. Markem gave her approval while you two were at the arcade. I have one question." "What?" "This will be the first time we've been apart and Brandon is not Joe or Reuben. You have to act straight up here and with them. Something goes wrong and it'll take me several hours to get here. Can you handle this?" "When Brandon suggested it I got so caught up I said yes without thinking about anything except that I don't have enough clothes. On the way back I started thinking about that. Yeah, I'm a little scared but Brandon knows a little bit already and if I really want to be a normal kid with normal friends and do normal things with them and go to a normal school then I've got to start acting more like one." "You got the office and home phone numbers memorized?" "Yeah." "Can keep your hands of Brandon for a week?" "Easily." I raised an eyebrow. "I didn't say I wouldn't jack off for a week but I'll try and act straight. Of course he may want to do it." An evil grin turned to a pout at my stare. "I know, on what basis do I want to build my normal friendships? I remember. Now is it really OK?" "Yes, it's OK. Now go shower and get dressed for supper. Were meeting them in thirty minutes." The next Friday when Ralph and I had returned and Jon moved into my room he told me that everything had gone fine. There had been only one thing he'd had trouble getting adjusted to. For the first time in his life he'd had to deal with these weird creatures called: Women. As always, to be continued.