Date: Sat, 11 Feb 2012 16:32:48 -0500 (EST) From: Brad Crandall Subject: "My Time In Topeka" Part 2 Gay Adult - Youth After finishing my lite meal, if you really want to call it a meal, Steve and I began talking. He asked me if I was new to town, what had brought me to Topeka and where I was staying. As I explained my situation to him I felt my heart pounding like it would burst out of my chest at any second.. Then it happened, he touched my knee with a look of sadness and sympathy on his face.. My God, I thought I was really going to die by that point. Before I could even finish telling Steve that I didn't have a clue where I was going to stay, his face light up as he exclaimed I could stay with him and his family. Now where I come from no one would even consider letting a complete stranger stay with them. Of course I accepted the offer and as soon as Steve was done with his shift we were off to his little ranch on the outskirts of Topeka.. By the time we arrived at the ranch it was headed for one in the morning, so his parents were both asleep, well they were asleep until the Rottweiler, Fluffy started barking and woke them up. Janet and Ken were down the stairs in a flash to see what was going on. Can you imagine me in my twenties standing there with their sixteen year old son? The thoughts began to run through my head, what would I do if I couldn't stay, and then I began imagining Ken blowing me away with his shot gun. Thankfully though Janet hugged me and welcomed me into their home.