Date: Sat, 5 May 2007 12:56:38 -0700 (PDT) From: Matthew Templar Subject: Never Take Love For Granted - Chapter 11 All rights reserved. Other than downloading one copy for personal enjoyment, no part of this story may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, except for reviews, without the written permission of the author. Furthermore, every word of this story is fiction. Nothing within this tale happened to anyone I know. Any reference to anyone, anything or any place, real, living or dead is coincidental. If there is someone that has written a law saying that you can't read this story because of age or local laws or other such 'wisdom', then you haven't really gotten this far into Nifty to read this anyway, right! Write to me with the date of your legal birthday and I will...Not! I will answer all appropriate emails, but, thank you in advance for your time to write. I also want to say, if you will write me, I will quit making spineless threats to stop submitting more. Unless you've submitted a story, you can't know how important it is to hear how you like an artist's work. Thanks again. Finally, there is not enough room to express my gratitude to my friend, Dwight Wilson for his dedication to resolving the problems I had with making legible sense out of this work and then encouraging me to hit the 'Submit' button. Read Brad's Idol in Adult/Youth and New Horizons in Authoritarian (it's really anti-authoritarian) to know the experience he brings to my story. You will not be disappointed! Then tell him to write FASTER! I need my fix too! I also would like to thank those who have trusted me with their stories, to edit and make suggestions to. Also, thanks Mike for your time. Your help has made a difference too, my friend. Your comments and suggestions are most welcome. Matthew Templar at matemp1148@yahoo.com *** Never Take Love For Granted - Chapter 11 Something smelled great when we hit the main level. There was a host of 'M-m-m-m's from our troop. Clayton and I wandered into the kitchen, which was built like an addition off of the house. The kids all went to the big windows so Dustin and Petey could show off what they had discovered. I peeked right before we left sight of them and the two boys had their arms around Grant just like they welcomed me to their discoveries earlier. What a great group we had going for us. "Well, David, did Clayton and the two boys take care of you while I was gone?" My head snapped to look at Clayton like he'd ratted on us. But I soon realized that it was just a concerned question. I had to relax. I was with family now. I just didn't know what that entailed yet. "We had a great time, Russ," I said, walking over to Sam who was standing at a big frying pan at the stove. I held out my hand to him and greeted him, saying, "Good to see you again, Sam. I..." Somehow he managed to miss my hand. That was because he grabbed me up into a great big hug, and not just a 'We're comfortable doing this' hug. No way! This was a 'You're part of the family now, for life' hug as he attempted to snuff that life out of me. Whew! He let go and held me at arms length. Now, since I had just done that with Grant to teach him something, I figured he had something on his mind. "David, two things!" Uh oh! Two things! One was bad enough. But two...."You are a great addition to our small family here and I love ya almost as much as dad. Second thing." Here it comes! "I could never love you as much as Grant though." This was it! I'll start packing. But before I could get away he grabbed me again in the bear hug of death! "I just want you to be as wonderful to him as you have been up to now. He's my new found guy too, ya know. I could never, ever thank you enough for what you've done for our family. I've never, ever known this kind of happy before. Thank you, David. You gave me a son again, a dad again, and the gumption to run off that old hag I'd been curtsyin' to for too many years. She was a piece of work. So, what are we drinkin' men?" "Ice tea!" All three of us said it. I'd seen the pitcher and knew Grant didn't want any booze around his dad; that's why I said it. We all broke into laughter, even Sam, after the shock left his face and realization took its place. I was still overcome by Sam's sentiments. It was a warm 'overcome' for sure. Russ said, with his hands on Sam's shoulder, "We love ya, son. I'm so thankful to have ya I could cry. I'm also proud that you decided to give up the sauce." Sam dropped his head a bit, in embarrassment I think. "Shit dad. I just did it to dull the pain of that bit...woman...hell, she was a bitch! I don't need no more of that hooch in my life. I wanta feel everything the good Lord has for me." "Really?" We all turned toward the voice, toward the doorway. There stood Grant with tears in his eyes and his smile plastered on thick. "Really, po-dunk. I want to feel everything, see everything, smell everything...(sniff)." In fact, we all sniffed. "Oops! That wasn't the smell I had in mind," he laughed as he went back to his sizzling pan and stirred. "Dinner's in ten! Set the table." All four of us started for the doorway until we were stopped by his voice. "Hey! If I'm a cookin', you're a setting and a cleanin'. Dad, show the guys where everything is, get drinks, ICE TE-E-A! And let's get this road on the show!" Ha! Humor! I might live after all. Only thinking of myself, mind you. I couldn't live without humor. Dinner was tricky. See, we wanted to tell Sam all about meeting the little ones without getting them started on stories of their prowess with, well, lets just say we skipped over some stuff. We had a great time together. I heard lots of stories about what went on while I was floating adrift in the altogether. That brought roars. Clayton hadn't heard the story. Neither had Dustin and Petey but they didn't see anything funny about getting to ride down the river naked. They just begged to want to do it too. The amazing thing was the meal! Sam whipped up fajitas, rice and beans in a little under an hour. It wasn't just good, it was great! I've eaten good Mexican but this was amazing. "What did you say you did for a living, Sam, and it had better be a gourmet chef?" I asked. "Long before Grant, I learned to cook from a wonderful old guy in West Fork. He had a diner that was always 'standin' room only'. He taught me and then up and died on me. I loved him like a...oh, sorry dad." "No need, son. I love hearin' that you were able to gather up some good times. Makes me look forward to tomorrow, every tomorrow. Hm-m-m." We all laughed at the 'Hm-m-m.' "He's always done that," said Sam, laying his hand on his dad's arm, and looking into his eyes with care and love, "but the funny thing is, Grant has done it the same way since he could talk." "Do what, dad? What do I do the same as grampa?" Three of us, maybe even Dustin answered him with a, "Hm-m-m-m-m." Both Russ and Grant were sputtering and stammering and said, in no particular order, "When?" "I never!" "Not me!" "Unh-uh, no sir." We laughed. Petey just sat there, rolled up tortilla in one hand, trying to figure out what was happening; but he laughed when the rest of us did. "So Sam, getting back to this great meal," I just had to say. "You need to think of opening a place in Euphoria. There's no reason everyone should go to West Fork when they want to eat out and there's no reason West Fork couldn't come here." "Humph. I got the place. I just never had the will or the means to see it through. Maybe now..." I could see those gears turning. I could see Russ and Grant getting excited for their son and dad. Sam looked right at me and said, "Now that we have family to help, family that might be just a bit beholden for savin' his pathetic life." I was aghast! My chin dropped to the table. I...I...was being laughed at! "David, I already told ya, it's you that I owe; we owe! It can never be the other way around. Never!" "I didn't do anything. But I've never been...never felt...I've..." "Easy for you to say, huh, David. What are ya tryin' to say?" Grant was serious. Everyone else got a kick out of him. "I love you all. I just came over here to get my head on straight. I had no idea I'd find so many good people and so many great memories. You all have had a big part of that; that and a squirrel, may he rest in peace." That got a laugh. "But most of all, I love each one of you in a really new and special way. You're each so unique and, and lovers yourselves. I'm home, I hope." "Of course you are, David," Russ said. "We wouldn't have it any other way. So, do the dishes!" What a butt! But he got the laugh he wanted and I got three, hardly eager, sort of short, almost useless, helpers to make the clean up take twice as long and leave us all sopping wet. I'm not sure how the dishes got done. When we were done and joined the older men in the living room, they'd moved two couches almost all the way up to the windows. All three were sitting in one of them, leaving the other for us 'youngins.' Petey went up behind Russ and tried to look where they were looking, to see what was out there. "What is it, Grampa Russ? What are you lookin' at out there?" "Oh, everything, nothing, mostly stars, some lights, but not many." "O-o-h!" He came over and sat on my lap. The other two young fellas were on either side of me. I laid back and pulled Petey with me. Then my arms left him and went around Grant and Dustin and pulled them close. It wasn't totally dark yet but you could see some of the brightest stars beginning to turn on. It struck me that I'd never had this opportunity before. I looked at my guys and grinned. I looked over at the 'older's' couch and they were looking at us and grinning. "What?" I was looking for food in my teeth or down my front. Then Russ whispered something to Sam and Sam kind of stiffened in reaction. Russ 'humpfed' at his son and whispered some more. A quick glance from Sam at us and then he whispered to Russ. To this, I could hear Russ say, "No. You have to give them permission, Sam. They don't want you to feel uncomfortable. But you can see 'em squirmin' over there. It just seems so natural." Sam looked again and smirked. He looked at his dad and Russ gave him that push thing with his head as if to say, 'get on with it'. "Boys. I guess it's okay if you don't want clothes on. I think I'm okay with it. You too, David. Hell, I don't care. All of ya can strip. Just don't expect me to." No one moved. Everyone heard but we were all told to be more modest in respect of Sam. Actually, I was really proud of the boys for waiting. I could feel their energy, their twitching in anticipation of freedom. They had their eyes glued to Sam, hoping it was no joke. "Honest, guys," he said with a smile. Clothes were once again falling like rain drops! I had to cover myself again, there were so many naked legs and nude elbows swinging around. I'll have to say, these kids knew how to strip in seconds. I just lay back watching, fascinated. Petey came up and asked me, "You gonna strip too, David? You gotta. Weeze all together!" And he held out his hands to show himself in the altogether. I thought for a half second and nodded at him. Soon I had the youngest helping me pull off my duds and we had an audience of Clayton and Russ looking and laughing at the boys' antics. Next to them was Sam with a lap full of a naked Grant. Grant was cuddling up to his dad for possibly the first time ever. If this wasn't a photo opportunity; no, this was sacred. I smiled at Grant as he looked my way. His eyes beamed their smile back to me and he nestled farther, deeper into his daddy's lap, the best place on earth; just ask him. I was a little surprised that I wasn't at all jealous. This was a wonderful gift to both of them. There was no way that I lost anything in their love; only gained. I, too, had my hands, or arms full. Two boys scampered up onto me, one on each naked leg, and did their own burrowing into my shoulders. I held on and squeezed. What a great way to enjoy living. I could almost hear, as much as sense, a big sigh from everyone; a great big, relaxing sigh of contentment. Soon I opened my eyes when the mumbling on the other couch got loud enough that I wanted to hear. "Okay, I guess we'd have to go outside to see the Big Dipper but I think that's the, ah..." That was Sam and I saw him pointing to a bright star formation for Grant. "May I, Sam?" Clayton asked. When Sam nodded with a relieved look Clayton started in, showing Grant the heavens that lay before them. I looked at Dustin and Petey, sleeping on either side of me and I was soon sawing logs with them. *** "David? Come on, David. Wake up so you can go to bed." Now that made a lot of sense. But Grant was also pulling as he was talking; pulling gently. I opened my eyes and realized the two boys were gone, in fact everyone but Grant and Sam had gone to bed, I guess. The lights were dim and I was weak from exhaustion. "Nursey DeWitt has got to get you covered in gook before we can way your widow heady to sweepy-bye, my widow poopsy." I started chuckling at his antics. I could hear Sam, as he moved over from the other couch and then he helped Grant pull me to my feet. "Oh, fank oo, fank oo, Nurse DeWitt for wanting to gwease me up. I bet oo can't wait to taste it again." Grant slugged my arm and I told Sam what had happened in the hospital when Grant covered his mouth with his cream covered hand. Lots of blushing from the shorter of us three. "If you guys don't need my help I'll excuse myself. But David, Pops and I want to talk about your idea tomorrow. I'm ready for something to do." "Pops?" Grant and I both said. Sam smiled and shrugged his shoulders, then he scooped up Grant in a huge hug until Grant did his crushed and dying thing. Then he kissed his son right on the mouth. Grant and I were both surprised. "Hey! I can love him too, ya know. He was mine first," Sam said in a whiny voice. That sounded funny coming from him. Then he looked at Grant and said, "Just no tongue. Okay?" I gasped and Grant blushed. Sam turned to notice my grief stricken face and said, "What can I say? He tells me everything." God, I loved them. Setting Grant down, he said his final good-bye and left as we headed for our beds. *** I've been tired before but that night, I was tired and sore. After all, I'd just been released from the hospital after being blown up, I'd been attacked by two over-active tadpoles and had my senses and emotions tossed every which way while, for the last few days, repairing a pathetic family of decades of anger. Stand Back! Lightning is expected! My martyrdom has reached new heights! I just wanted my bed. Grant held my hand as we walked down the two flights to my room. When we went through the door I turned to him and thanked him for escorting me to MY room. Then I made like I was going to close the door with him on the outside. "Hey! Don't I get to be in here too?" he asked, with his hand stopping me from closing him out. I was so mean. He looked like he was almost in tears. I knew a lady once that would pinch her grandbabies to make them cry because they were so cute then. He was so cute, too. I opened the door really wide and stepped back, sweeping my arm wide to show him the whole room. "Grant, I don't think so," I lied. "There's only one bed and I don't think..." But I couldn't keep it up. He was staring up at me with his mouth open in disbelief. I scooped him up and swung him around and said, "I can't be without you, you crazy little munchkin. I need you all the time; even when I sleep." He was laughing by now but not enough that he didn't hit me in my chest. "Ow!" "Not funny, you turd. I almost believed you. Not funny at all." He sounded a bit pissed off. I stopped my swinging and started walking toward the bed. "I need you too, ya know; real bad. I love you, ya know." I had my arms under his bare sitter and he was holding the sides of my head and staring right at me with his intense, beautiful eyes. I could tell what his intentions were and just as he started to pull my head toward his lips, I - - dropped him, right on the bed. "He-e-y! You really are a poop tonight, you, you, you big poop!" He folded his arms over his chest and crossed his legs and turned his head in disgust. I guess my fooling around went a bit too far. I couldn't help but laugh. "I love you too, Grant. There's no way I could let you sleep somewhere else. I was teasing you; you know that, right?" I was trying to snuggle up to him, crawling over him while he sulked. I wasn't making any headway so I slid back to his feet and started kissing my way up his naked form. I kissed both of his ankles, and kept switching back and forth as I kissed up both legs. He was giggling gently at first. Then I kissed him all over his right thigh for a minute and then, while he couldn't help but start laughing louder, I went to work kissing his left thigh. He tried hard to hold his legs together but I held his knees and pushed them apart. He was really laughing now. His legs were trying to kick free and his arms, which had been swinging around at the tickling I was administering, tried to push my head away; that is, until... "O-o-oh!" he exclaimed. I had just passed my tongue over his little stiff two incher and his reaction was to splay himself as wide as possible to give me all the access I wanted. "O-o-oh! What was that?" "That was me kissing you everywhere." "No it wasn't, I mean, not that part. That was you doing something that sent me flyin'. You didn't..." I stopped to speak and he rose up on his elbows to look down at me. "You didn't just lick my thingy...I mean, my penis did you?" His look was priceless. All I could do was to see if he recognized the feeling if it happened again. "Naw! Cuz if I did it would have felt like this." I swooped down and licked him twice, the whole length this time, balls to tip. "Nya-a-ah! Oh my god! A-a-h. Phew. I can't believe it. That was awesome. You did it. Oh my god! What's it like, David?" He'd fallen back and then up again on his elbows, eyes wider than ever. "Well, I guess it feels really, really good from the sounds you were making," I said, snickering at him. "No, no, you poop. You know what I mean. What's it taste like? How was it for you?" I slowly crawled up over him again, arms on either side. He just stared at me, waiting for me to tell all. When I was over him, I started to lower myself until I was lying next to him and hugged him into me, as close as we could be. His ear was just next to my mouth. "You, Grant, taste better than the best dessert, better than a chocolate river, better than the richest gravy. You, Grant, taste better than the most wonderful tastes there ever was. M-m-m. I love your taste." Then I hugged him just a little harder and eased off to let him think about that. "Hm-m-m. You're funny, David," he swooned, almost a whisper. "That's where I go, ya know. Nobody wants to taste that. You're silly and nuts." And then he giggled some. As soft as he spoke, I returned with, "Gosh, little love. I guess you're right. I promise not to do that again, okay?" He was still giggling. "Heh, heh, h-m-m. Hunh-uh. Oh no. I promise to be very clean though." He just kept up this gentle giggling. "I kinda like showers now, ya know." That got me giggling with him. I scooted us both so we were laying a little better on the bed and reached down to pull up a sheet. We were both out in seconds. What a day it had been. NTLFG - The End of Chapter Eleven To be continued - I promise! Comments on the story are very much appreciated. Thank you. I'm Matthew Templar at matemp1148@yahoo.com