Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2007 22:00:14 -0700 (PDT) From: Matthew Templar Subject: Never Take Love For Granted - Chapter 21 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! But write to me and say how you liked it anyway. I will answer all emails. Thank you in advance for your time to write. Unless you've submitted a story, you can't know how important it is to hear how you, the reader, 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 the editing of this work and encouraging me to continue. Read Brad's Idol in Adult/Youth and New Horizons in Authoritarian (it's really a beautiful tale about freeing boy slaves and very 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! Your comments and suggestions are most welcome and encouraging. Matthew Templar at matemp1148@yahoo.com * * * * * * Never Take Love For Granted - Chapter 21 The Hawes were at the nature camp for at least four weeks every year. Usually in April, before it really got hot and usually for two weeks at that time. Then they came back for a week long stay when they could. James said they came at Christmas one year, but liked the spring and late summer better. I asked him to tell me how he met the Hawes. How he came to Camp New Haven. He looked up, into my inquisitive peepers and I saw the anguish start even before he spoke. His eyes welled up with tears and he spoke softer for a while. It seems it was a classic example of being kicked out, but there was something wrong with how he said it. So I pushed my way through his facade of what should have been a traumatic experience to a little different twist. He became involved with a neighbor. He'd had some fun with kids from school, like on his soccer team and that was okay. He'd pretty much determined he was gay by the time he was twelve. Seemed a bit young to me but I was no expert. But this neighbor, he said, was a real stud; older, like over twenty, and quite handsome to James. Soon James realized that every time this guy would come out to work in his yard, James would happen to be riding around on his bike. He said he was almost 15 at the time. One bike trip out of the garage found him flat on his face, right in front of this guy's house, in the street. Lucky for James this guy was there to see if he was hurt. Well, he really was banged up in the knee and his elbow, but it was because he was watching the shirtless guy and not the parked cars, when Bam! He slammed into the back of a parked car and went hard onto the pavement. So, the guy helped him up and asked if he could take him home to get it looked at, but James' parents weren't home yet. Much to James' joy, the guy put his arm around James and helped him into the guy's own house. He then asked James to sit up on the kitchen table so he could look at his cuts. I noticed James' eyes close as he related the wonderful smells from the man as the boy leaned into the very arms he'd dreamed of cuddling into for months. He breathed deeply and felt woozy from the feelings it all gave him. How could he be so lucky, he had thought at the time? The man got the necessary first-aid items and began by running warm water to clean the wound. James hurt pretty bad and was afraid the man would not be gentle. But there was nothing but tenderness against his skin. He hurt so good in all the right places at the man's touch. And then the man said he needed to see if he was hurt anywhere else. That meant....my god, thought James, he'd have to pull down his pants in front of his fantasy man. The conflict of sensations going through him were horrible, no good, no. He was instantly hard and there was no way he was not going to be noticed. The man worked his way between James' legs after unbuttoning the front of his pants. Then he ran his thumbs around to the back of James' pants and began to pull them down and off. There was no way he could do that without James lifting his butt off of the kitchen table. For just a second, the man's hands caught James' undies and he thought everything was coming at once. In fact, he was so hot that any touch could have caused an accident of wonderful and embarrassing proportions. Much to his relief the pants came off without a leak. The man was not making it any better though. As he ran his hands up James' legs looking for scrapes and cuts, James made the most horrible mistake yet; he moaned. The man was surprised and snapped his head up, so that, when James opened his eyes, two more were looking back at him. They looked astonished, then turned into slits that helped illuminate the smile on the man's face. So, what was James to do? He smiled back his best smile and apologized. 'For what?' the man asked, 'Feeling good? Enjoying being touched? No need to apologize. Just don't hurt anymore, okay?' Easier said than done. The fall had really cut into his leg, though his elbow was just scraped. Then the man suggested the unspeakable. James' blood started to simmer and get even hotter as he heard the words. The man said they should get the remaining clothes off of James and let him soak in a hot bath. The twinkle in the man's eyes helped to stiffen even more evidence of the feelings James was going through. There was no point in being embarrassed anymore. Everything he had would be pointing up at the man at the removal of his briefs. But his excitement couldn't be held back. 'Yes,' James fairly screamed, 'I think that's a good way to get me better.' So the man grasped him under his armpits and helped him stand up on the kitchen floor. Just as he landed, James felt the pain return. Straightening out his leg hurt more than before and, if it hadn't been for the man catching James, he would have collapsed. The man lifted James like he was a down pillow, hiked him up into his strong arms, cradling him, and they went upstairs and into the bathroom. James kept telling me how wonderful it felt to be in his arms, that he felt so safe. He wasn't scared what the man would think. Someplace along the story I'd asked if he was ever scared that the man would hurt him. He said it never occurred to him. That he had seen the man around and ridden so close to him for so long, that it was like the most natural step in their relationship. I was about to ask him, 'what relationship,' but I was about to hear all the juicy, I mean, wet, details. James was again set down on shaky feet. He didn't know if the feeling was because of his injury or because of what he desperately wanted to happen. The man started the water and took the time to make sure it was just right, then moved back to James and began the process of stripping him. James told me he could remember closing his eyes and just letting his thoughts of what was about to happen totally encompass his young body and mind. He was so afraid that there was no way that his expectations could even come close to reality, but then he also knew that he had passed that place after being held by the man. He felt tingle after tingle as the man's hands touched him. He lifted James' shirt over his head and then he felt the man's touch again as his hands came to the waist band on James' shorts. Just as the man's hands held James around his waist, ready to slide down his white underwear, he heard the man's deep bass voice. 'I suppose, since we've come this far, James, I should introduce myself.' James almost fainted. He had been so far gone into his own fantasy that a voice was the last thing on his mind. His eyes snapped open and he gave a small cry and started shaking. The man just chuckled lightly and wrapped his arms around James' bare torso. 'Oh, I'm sorry, my little man. I didn't mean to startle you.' He gave a big squeeze before sliding his hands down and around to find the waist band again. James mirrored the man's big grin when he looked into his hazel eyes. 'My name is Craig, by the way.' James just blushed because he felt warm, strong hands on his hips, pushing his briefs down to his ankles. Everything was up, out and on display now. Time for embarrassment was over. He put his hands on Craig's shoulders so he could lift a foot at a time and step out of his undies. Once again he felt Craig's strong hands pick him up to place him into the tub. James looked up at me and grinned shyly as he told me how perfect it was because it was a whirlpool bath, big enough for two people. He remembered looking at all the room and smiling at Craig, hoping that he would join him in his experience. But Craig had other ideas. He told James that he would get the jets going and then he needed to prepare for James coming out of the bath. James was certainly confused by that but, when the jets started massaging his sore body, he forgot everything else. He told me how Craig left but, it seemed he returned in seconds and began to wash James' aching body with a wash cloth. Unfortunately for James, it took only a minute to quickly clean the smooth boy from head to toe. Then the jets went off and he was told to stand. He wasn't as sore, he noticed, but he was tired. Craig lifted him out like a feather and stood him on the tile floor and dried him. About this time I noticed that James seemed a little farther away from me, but his warmth was against me more than before. I think I was too tired and too lost in the story to understand why I felt so warm, yet away from James. Oh well. James said the man just sent him home! Huh? This guy had James...! Okay. I admit he had turned me on by this tale so far and I was far from understanding how it all fit into James' life struggles. I was even a bit embarrassed when I heard me grunt a disappointing grunt. Wait! That wasn't my disappointed grunt. That was one that I knew only too well, though. Then, I finally looked down, between James and me. That little poop Grant had squeezed in and was staring at James, mesmerized by the story unfolding before him. "Grant!" "WHAT?" Oops! He almost fell off of the bed! I'd scared the shit out of the little sneak. He'd grabbed James when he jumped and turned to look at me. His mouth was open, he was perspiring and he had this all amazed look on his cute little mug. "Sorry, Tadpole. I didn't mean to scare ya. I just didn't feel you squeeze in between us." He let out a sigh of relief and I continued, "How long have you been there? What all did you hear?' "Just the part in the bathroom," he answered and then turned to the storyteller. "How'd you get hurt and who was that guy that was loving you, James?" God, he was so innocent. There was never a thought of harm or suspicion on his pure little mind; only the joy of loving and being loved. I almost shuddered when I thought about where James' tale was leading, and that Grant may have heard it, too. Grant and James both jumped a little and fixed their eyes on me. "What?" I asked, kind of loud. "Well, you just shook real hard for a second, David. You okay?" James asked it but Grant was nodding to confirm it and switching to look back and forth between us. Okay, so I didn't 'almost' shudder! "Sorry, guys. I think I just a...well, I..., I needed to go to the bathroom. Yeah, that's it." Some day my life will depend on my quick wit and keen instincts to get out of some jam, and I'll probably just die wondering what I could have said. Jeesh. I just got up and went in the bathroom and stood over the sink. Eventually, I washed off my face and returned to hear Grant listening to his new friend, eyes wide and little mouth open. I came up to the other side of the bed so they couldn't see me. Both Grant's eyes and mouth were open as big as ever, evidently taking in the part of James' drama that he'd missed. My heart started to speed up though, when I heard, "But that was only the first time. Wait'll I tell you what happened the next time," said James with more enthusiasm than I would have hoped. I guess I somehow had it in my mind to keep Grant innocent until he had a family himself, to teach how to be innocent. Of course, we'd have to adopt. That would be so wonderful. "Huh? Why'd ya go, 'M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m,' like that?" I found them both turning to stare at me in the normal look I was getting lately; the 'Is he for real?' look that was beginning to identify with me quite often. "Sorry, Grant. I was thinking about some kids. I..." "Do I know 'em, David?" God, he was so cute. How do I tell him, not yet. H-m-m. Oh! I got it! "No, Grant. Not yet." That ought to confound them both. James said, "So, they'd be your own when you and Grant were a couple? How many we talkin' here?" Good grief! "How did you know . . . I mean, why would you think . . . ." I said, walking around and sitting so that Grant was between James and me again. "What are you guys talkin' about? Who's kids're we talkin' about? How come I don't know 'em if you two do?" Grant was straining to look at both of us, swinging his cute head back and forth He was, once again, doing his nose scrunch exercises while he was trying to figure out what we could possibly be talking about. Then the light went on in his little mind and his eyes burst forth, letting that light through, beaming with his smile that quickly turned into a hearty Grant giggle. He was so funny when he did that. Dustin and, especially Petey did the same, but that was my Grant. He finally calmed down enough to put his reassuring hand on James' arm to say, "Oh, James. That was so funny. David can't have babies and neither can I, silly. And we can't be married ya know. Ya need a gir-rl for that," he said in an almost distasteful way. His eyes were rolling in their sockets like he might start laughing again at James' uninformed conclusion as to the way to gain children. He was acting so patient with James. James kind of looked over Grant at me as he slowly went from total confusion to the delight of realizing, like I had a bit earlier in Grant's narrative of where babies came from, just what was making Grant explain it that way. "Oh, Grant, I just meant that when you two became a couple and moved in together, you would probably want to share your love by adopting kids. That's all." Then it was time for Grant to take pause again and, as a worried look came over him, I too began to think we had approached something he had no intention of pursuing in this lifetime. He looked at me, more serious than I have seen him look lately. Then, my favorite little boy's 'idea light' flicked back on in his head, accompanied by a growing grin that soon did its beam thing all over the room. He fairly turned and flung himself into my arms, knocking me flat on the bed. He was laughing and squirming so much that I couldn't stop laughing or growing hard between us. Then I felt the cause of his insanity. I felt James' fingers at my side where Grant's and my naked flesh were touching and heating me up. He was tickling the poor kid on me, making me the recipient of wonderful thrusts and bumps, grinds and grunts until I was beginning to worry that there would be a sticky mess to clean up in another minute. I could feel James crawl his way onto the bed between Grant's and my legs and really lean in. Finally, Grant was calling for help and I had to put an end to James' fun. I grabbed his wrists and held them against us for a few seconds, to calm him down, before I said, "'Kay guys. Whew! We're all gonna need a bath after that one. James, you're relentless, you know that?" Before James could even answer, Grant was whooping and yelling for me to follow through on my bath promise. James finally toppled over to the side as Grant was bouncing to get out of the sandwich he was in. As soon as he was set free, he was gone! "Uh, Grant, I was just saying we might..." To which he came running to the door of the bathroom and shouted in a frenzy, "I got it started, David. Come on, James. It's 'most as big as the pool, only it's inside!" Gone again! James looked at the cloud Grant left in the doorway for a second, then over at me with his mouth in awe. "What can I say, bud, except, 'join us for a bath?'" He laughed at me and we got up and sauntered into the bath area with my arm over his shoulder. His arms were swinging until the left one hit my thigh and only stopped when he grabbed something to stop its swinging. Ha! He then looked up at me with the shyest, most innocent look, complete with a slight grin. Then, as the feelings he was giving my tool began to increase its blood flow, he closed his eyes and moaned softly. We'd just turned the corner into Grant's line of vision when panic set in for me, knowing he would be jealous again; that I was going to hurt his trust level again. "Ha, ha, ha! David, he grabbed your wiener, I mean your penis, I mean your, ha,ha,ha, cock! James, if you squeeze it enough, it shoots his juice. Ha! Do it! Let's see if you can. I can show ya what ta do!" My god, he was pimping me! I just started laughing and ran the few steps toward Grant and scooped him into my arms and hung him over my shoulder. Of course, in his quiet, sedate way, Grant was screaming and bouncing and slapping and laughing. He had me laughing so hard with him that we forgot all about James until I noticed him approach the side of the bath. He was walking so stiff, like a zombie or something that he caught the attention of both of us. He walked up to the edge of the 'tub'. I say that because it was at least six feet, maybe more, wide; even longer. It's top edge was even with the floor and had steps into it. And it was full. So James reached the edge, turned all the way so his back was to the water and froze. With what I saw in his face, his far off looks, I was concerned that he might be into it again. Grant looked at me like he was trying to figure out who was crazier. Just as I was about to set Grant down to reach for James, a gleam came over James' face and his eyes closed and he.... Fell backward, into the pool, splashing us both and making Grant squeal like a pig in delight of James' stunt. At some point I asked James if he would want to talk more and he was very vehement. He needed to get it out. Grant didn't hear me ask but he saw the look on James face when I asked and he witnessed the hug that James gave me, squeezing off most of my wind pipe. Grant smiled, almost looking like he was going to cry with his new friend, James. Then, as I finally got my wind back from James, Grant slapped my arm and said, "See? I told you that squeezin' stuff hurts!" He and James got out and left me in total agreement. I'd have to be more careful about how hard I showed him my love. * * * Now the problem was to figure out how to have that talk with James without Grant. I could just see his innocence fly out the window at whatever James had to get out. If it had to do with his face wounds, I really didn't want Grant to hear. He'd have plenty of time to grow up without hearing tales like that. * * * Everyone had come up from the pool by then and several asked if I'd had a good nap. I just smiled and thanked them for their loving me. But good old Clayton wasn't letting it get by him. He made me go back down and he would send somebody to wake me when dinner was served. As I walked down to our landing and room I thought I heard the phone ring and remembered the message I had forgot to give Russ, but as I passed his landing I heard him bellow through the partially closed door saying, "Well, it's good to hear your voice, too, you old pill pusher. What remedy you callin' about now?" Then there was some silence and a, "Ha! I had forgotten indeed. Three weeks? Not much time." But then, "Uh, yeah, but oh hush up and let me ask, will you, you old coot? Uh, have you gotten hold of everyone yet?" There was a pause where he must have been listening. I felt like a thief waiting by the steps as he said, "Oh, you know. I'm always hoping for a miracle. But I think in the last two weeks I done got me more miracles than most people should in a lifetime. You know?" It didn't take me much to imagine who he was asking after. "Maybe, but I doubt it. Okay, you miserable old goat, get off my line in case someone important calls me, like a survey or somethin'. I know. Good night to you, too, old friend." I had already started on my way down the next set of stairs. I was soon on my bed looking at the ceiling and trying to figure out what was making it so hard to call my dad. Just then a huge sweeping feeling of . . . something came over me. I actually shivered and drew up the top sheet to my chin. I had no sooner knocked my chin with my fist as I was pulling than something else came upon me. What an idiot! If I had really been the brunt (or butt) of the problem with our relationship, then why would I expect him to be so all fired angry at me? Wow! I felt like a huge load had been dumped right in my lap! Yes, not off my shoulders! I was trying to hold onto more than ever needed to be. My god, I don't know how I remember to tie my shoe laces in the morning. Then I thought about my present garb and laughed at myself. Hey! I laughed at myself! I kind of snuggled into the mattress to enjoy my little discovery, let out a big "Ah-h-h-h," and closed my eyes. M-m-m-m, was I dreaming? I had the best feelings of being, well, warm! But it was mostly around my...oh, I was dreaming that I was being sucked! Oh, and was it getting hotter. It seemed to go on for awhile. I'm certainly no expert and have no experience except on one tiny little cocklet that I favor above all others, but this sucking wasn't very deep and it was a little rough. That only added to the amazing charges that were piercing through me. And just as I thought I could only handle one more suck...they stopped. I gasped but the feelings were definitely gone. I had no recourse but to just try and relax again. You know how you never want to open your eyes when the sleep, even a short nap, was that good? And when you felt as rested as I did right then? I stretched and heard some light bird sounds, almost a pleasant squeaking. Then I felt something small and warm on my leg. It moved up to my hip and then my waist and stopped. Well, then the owner of the warmth, a hand I suspected, plunked it's tiny little bottom down on the bed, against my thigh and just sat there, naked skin against naked skin. I could play along too, so I waited. Oh! There was whispering from the doorway. The instigators of this event, I supposed. "What? I don't...huh?" My little Petey. Those two guys had brought Petey to wake me up. He was so gentle, it seemed he was afraid of waking me. I had to make it easier on him somehow...Naw! He tapped my leg twice and whispered, "David." I was awake and, even so, could barely hear him. So I just rolled over and put my arm around him and then rolled back like I was still sleeping. That poor little guy just gasped and held on tight, trying not to wake me too hard. I heard more gasps and then laughter from his support group of two. Finally, I just started tickling his skinny naked body in everyplace I could. He laughed as he lay on top of me and we looked into each others' eyes as two more sets of eyes and all the rest that made up two heavenly nude boys' bodies, pounced on the bed, so as not to miss one tickle, one squeeze or one goose. "Hey, Petey," said his brother, Dustin, "you were s'posed to grab his dick and make him feel good." I looked over at Grant and his eyes were happy, smiley slits nodding up and down with the rest of his blushing head. My god! I was keeping him from James when I should have had a chastity belt around him to protect him from an eight year old! They'd finally calmed down after all that tickling, until we were a silly laughing, pile of living flesh on this huge bed. It would take days to figure out whose legs belonged to which body. "I couldn't do it cuz he was so nice to touch," said little Petey. He reached out his hand to feel my hip again and his electricity passed between us. He even pulled back his hand and looked at it. That's strange since we were already touching, so it couldn't have been electro static discharge. "Wow, David, I felt you in me! You tingled me inside." "Petey, you are so special. You make us all feel good." He smiled so big. The other two boys just rolled their eyes. Just that fast all three boys started moving and swinging and jumping to remove their lithe little bodies from me and the bed. Needless to say I grabbed what I could of me and raised up my knees to protect all that I was left with from every other sharp knee attack lately. All I got from my wisdom was that look from two of the boys, telling me how weird they knew I was. But from Petey I got a hand up and a pull to join him upstairs where dinner was waiting for me. When we reached the top of the stairs and the great room, all three big boys and a naked James were once again enjoying the terrific view beyond the glass of the picture windows. Sam turned to tell me, "Supper's on the table for you, David. I sent Grant down to wake you but he said you were so sound asleep, you didn't even know he was there." Ha! Dream, My Pecker! I turned to look at Grant who was still walking in with Dustin and saw him turn the most gorgeous shade of crimson, probably at the knowledge that I must not have been totally asleep. I took the opportunity to run up to him, scoop him into my arms and, together we swung around about four times while he whooped it up. Then I hugged him close to me and whispered into his ear, "M-m-m, my little lover. You know a lot of good surprises. I'll get to return the favor tonight!" I set him down as he grinned a sweet, sweet grin and gave me the most gentle nod; then he lowered his head and blushed some more. I couldn't wait to get him alone tonight to...well, talk about 'my dream', of course! * * * As I'd been told, everyone had already eaten. The kids got a board game out and flopped in the middle of a cushy rug to perform mortal combat on the enemy next to them, or, more likely, move little pieces of cast metal around a colorful maze, every time they rolled the dice. Either way, it was amidst a gaggle of laughter and generally, wonderful little boy sounds. The others were caught up in the scenery, still, with Sam and Russ occasionally diverting to talk about the restaurant. I was thinking about James; how I was going to get him alone without Grant being in ear shot. The food was so good, it was hard to concentrate and I was still pretty tired. As I looked over to him to think about the possibilities he looked over at me with what could have been hope in his eyes. Then he leaned over to Clayton and, when he'd gotten his attention, he whispered something to him. Clayton asked something and, when he heard James' reply he grimaced and touched James' lip. Then his gaze went up, thinking, and he leaned across James to speak to Sam, closest of the two on James' other side. Sam shrugged his shoulders and nodded approval of whatever was transpiring between them all. He elbowed Russ and asked something to which Russ eagerly nodded and stood up! "Boys! I was wondering if you three youngun's would do your Grampa Russ a mighty big favor?" All boys' heads turned with a serious look at their favorite oldster. "I got me a hankerin' for some real good ice cream, don't 'cha know." Two boys gasped as though caught up, suddenly in the same 'hankerin'', while the other boy, less restrained than his two peers, jumped up and ran around to his Grampa Russ with all the enthusiasm of a 5 year old. "Oh, Grampa Russ. Do you know where there is some of that kind, cuz'a Dustin and Grant and me, we loves that kind too, huh guys, huh?" Nodding flew hair around on two heads; well, one. The other nodded enthusiastically too, but his shortened hair wasn't moving too much. "So would you two po-dunks take your Clayton to town and get us all some ice cream? I think he knows just where the best is, but he needs three whole boys to help him pick it out." Now it's hard to type sounds. God knows, I try my best, but Russ kind of sang his request slowly and passionately, making it all sound like the best idea for the best ice cream that ever was. There was no doubt in anyone's mind when all three boys were jumping and pulling Clayton to the front door. One of the funniest things I have Never seen, yes, never, happened just then. Clayton said that they would be going in the dodger but he needed to go get the keys. As he went to the kitchen, three excited boys pulled open the front door and disappeared around the corner, toward the old metal beast. It was the most natural thing to see, if you'd been in that community of ours for a few days. Then, as I heard a few chuckles and gasps from the direction of Sam, Russ and James, I began to realize just how natural it was for the three boys, too. Clayton walked back through with the keys. As he passed me first, in the dining area, he said, "An hour and a half? Maybe a bit longer. Have your talk, David." And he blew me a kiss. Ya gotta love 'im. When he got closer toward the door, Sam said, "Uh, Clayton. You might have a hard time getting into Brenner's with the boys. Or getting back here without a side trip to jail for ten to twenty years." Russ was laughing. "No way! I ain't waitin' that long, even for George and Christine's good ole ice cream." "Gotcha covered, old people. Hold your chaste horses," said Clayton as he went out and around the corner too. This is the 'funniest thing I've never seen' part! I would have loved to see their expressions when Clayton told them that the Brenners don't serve ice cream to naked little boys. They must have looked shocked or silly or something. In a minute all you heard was screaming and laughing and soon saw three naked rumps skittering down those stairs to find the most meager of things to wear. After all, they were just going in to get some dessert and run back into the truck. As they came up the stairs, Dustin was dressed in his shorts, sandals and a T, as was Grant, but Grant also had a set in his hand. Close behind was a still too naked Petey, except for his sandals, laughing and telling them that he wanted his ice cream too and he needed his clothes to do it. It was Sam that yelled, "Have fun boys!" to which all three stopped for just a second, looked over at Sam, laughed like it was the funniest thing they'd ever heard in the world and then high-tailed it for the truck and the waiting Clayton. They didn't even bother to shut the front door. "Now!" exclaimed Russ to no one in particular, almost scaring the shorts off of James, if he'd been wearing any, "just what in the hell was that all about?" I'd moved over closer by that time and James was just staring up at Russ speechless. NTLFG - The End of Chapter Twenty-one To be continued Comments on the story are very much appreciated. Thank you for the emails you've written. Each one is an encouragement. Please don't stop. I get real insecure that it isn't working (my writing, not Yahoo!) I'm Matthew Templar at matemp1148@yahoo.com