Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2004 22:36:41 -0400 From: rhaven Subject: The Next Tomorrow Chapter Two This is a story from imagination, nothing more; it could not exist in our reality. Be warned it is a tale of man/boy relationships with some bad language. I'd like to thank my dear friend Astral Toad for helping me with this story. If you like this story, please visit my site for more at www.rhavenlore.com The Next Tomorrow By Rhaven CHAPTER TWO "Where you been?" Ronnie barked, running off my porch to greet me as I emerged from the woods. Apparently, Ronnie had been banging on my door trying to find me. I was glad that he hadn't checked the lake. "I. I've been walking around." I wasn't ready to share Sean with Ronnie yet. "I found the biggest turtle you've ever seen! I was thinking we should find you one and race them!" I like the way Ronnie's eyes widen when he's excited. But then again, I like everything about Ronnie. His hair is so blonde and so closely cut to his scalp that sometimes it looks like he has a halo. Ronnie sometimes let's me rub his head, I love the way his bristle hair tickles my palm. "I don't want to race turtles Ronnie." I said with a shake of my head. "Then what do you want to do?" Ronnie kicked at the ground, obviously disappointed in my response. "I think I'll just go inside and rest. I'm not feeling good today." I lied. "Oh. okay. Maybe we could do something tomorrow. we still need to get Mark naked remember?" Ronnie is upset with me. He has always been the one who plans our adventures and I'm always the one who follows, making Mark follow me. This is new territory for us, my first rebellion. I hope Ronnie can forgive my defiance. "Okay, see you tomorrow." I half smiled, half frowned, I did want to spend time with my friend, but all I could think about was the man Sean Ponca and swimming with him again tomorrow. He had been such an interesting man and I still didn't know anything about him. Tomorrow we could tell each other about ourselves or just sit on the rock and watch the clouds roll by. It didn't matter what we did, as long as I could be with him. I walked into the house and saw the mess from this morning in the kitchen. It was my first project to finish before I headed to my room and stripped out of my clothes. I sat on my bed and read Ivanhoe in the nude, imagining the gallant hero with the face of Sean Ponca. After an hour of reading, my eyes became so heavy and my body so numb that I couldn't hold onto the book any longer. Sleep blanketed my mind, comforting me into the shelter of dreams. "Honey I'm home!" I woke up with the shock of being naked and franticly dressed before my mother invaded my privacy. "Honey come here, please." My mother's voice was too sweet sounded, she was up to something. I strolled into the kitchen not sure what to expect. Mother was standing there with a man next to her. "Honey, this is Greg. Greg this is Jonah." "How's it going partner." Greg said shaking my hand so roughly that my shoulder hurt. He was a tall man, with a large square head and wide shoulders. On his forearm, I catch a glimpse of a tattoo that says 'Death before dishonor'. I hate this man. "I brought you a grilled cheese sandwich, honey. I hope you're hungry. Have a seat and we'll all get to know each other better." I reluctantly sat down at the table, but not in my normal spot, that was taken by Greg. "So what do you like to do Jonah?" Greg asked with a smirk. "Babe, grab me a beer." He said just as Mom was about to sit down. "I don't know." I mumbled, stuffing the greasy sandwich in my mouth. "He loves to read." Mom said in the sickening sweet voice. "And he's written some wonderful stories." "Mom!" I groaned, I hated when she told people about my stories. "Shit." Greg laughed and shook his head. "You need to be playing sports Jonah. I can teach you football. None of that sissy writing shit." "That would be nice, wouldn't it honey? Greg played football in high school." Mom hugged the man's arm and giggled. "I don't like football." I eyed Mom; she knows I don't like sports. "How do you know if you don't try?" Greg says slowly, rising slightly from his chair. I finished the sandwich and stood. "I'm going to my room." "All right honey." Mom's voice was shaking, forced to sound sweet. My first meeting with my mother's boyfriend had not gone well. I knew I hadn't made any attempt to encourage a friendship, but I couldn't. This Greg was an asshole and nothing my mother could say would make me like him. Morning arrived too soon. It was very late in the night before I heard Greg leave. I think Mom has forgotten how thin the walls are in this house. They screwed in the kitchen and then took it into the den. I didn't think they would ever stop their disgusting moaning and groaning. My bed is too comfortable; I hug my pillow and refuse to move. I still haven't heard Mom get up, so I know I've got plenty of time to just lay here and relax. I hate it when I don't get enough sleep, it ruins my whole day, takes me forever to wake up. I was drifting back to sleep when I heard someone honk their car horn. "Holy shit!" Mom screamed from her room and I suddenly realized that Debra was here to pick up Mom for work. "Holy double shit!" I yelled and fell out of bed. "Mom you're late for work!" I yelled, despite the fact that I knew Mom was rushing around trying to get ready. "Jonah, tell Debra I'll be right there!" Mom yelled back. I was half way out my door when I remembered I was naked. I hate not getting enough sleep, it makes me stupid. I yank on my shorts and slam the front door open. Debra screamed as I ran straight into her. "Sorry. sorry." I quickly said taking a step away from the stunned woman. "Mom is running late." "No shit Sherlock." Debra said through the smacking, her mouth full of chewing gum. Debra was always chewing gum, it made her look like a idiot. "Sorry Debra!" Mom said racing through the kitchen and trying to put on her lipstick. "Jonah, you'll have to fix your own breakfast. please don't burn down the house." "I won't Mom." "Mow the lawn and pick up all those empty bottles you and your friends have been collecting." "I will Mom." "And be home at six, Greg is taking us out to eat." I didn't answer, thank goodness for Debra's impatience. "We got to go; Philly is going to kill us!" Debra stomped her foot, to emphasize her point. "All right, see you tonight, honey." And off they went, the car zooming off in a cloud of dust. I didn't care anything about breakfast, though my stomach told me I was hungry, but I wanted to see Sean again. Back in my room, I put on a clean pair of underwear, found a clean shirt, one normally reserved for school only. Once completely dressed, and my hair neatly combed to the side, just like Timmy's on that Lassie show, making me feel extremely handsome, I head for the lake. "Hi Sean!" I yelled happily to see the man sitting on the Plank. It was surprising to see him dressed. He looked more adult in clothes and that kind of bothered me. "Good morning, Jonah." Sean stood, planted his hands on his hips and looked me over. "You look tired." "I'm a little tired." I admitted and looked into his eyes to see the same weariness, but didn't mention anything. "If you're not up to swimming, I'll understand." Sean said sitting back down. I quickly sat down next to him. "I can swim. I'm not that tired." Sean smiled and patted me on the shoulder. "All right then, I guess we 're getting wet then." He jumped to his feet and peeled off his shirt. I stood and pulled off my shirt, I laid my shirt on top of Sean's nicely folded shirt. I liked having our clothes together; it made me feel connected to Sean. "You're swimming in your shorts today?" Sean asked, having already removed all his clothing. "No. I was just thinking." I laughed and pulled off my shorts and underwear without the hesitation I felt yesterday. "Ready." I announced and followed Sean into the water. Our swim this day wasn't as energetic as it had been the day before. It was obvious that we were both tired. However, it was still a wonderful time. I got to climb on Sean's back and have him swim me around as if I was riding a dolphin. We swam over to Pirate's Island, which was really just a collection of granite boulders sticking out of the water. Sean lifted me up on the biggest rock and then pulled himself up next to me. We sat there with our feet in the water and watched a flock of birds fly overhead. "I like it here." Sean said quietly. "Why. why did you move here?" I asked as I nervously kicked at the water. I wanted to know everything about Sean, but it felt intrusive to ask. "To the little known town of Archer? I've been banished from my homeland, to live out the rest of my life here in discerning shame." "Banished?" I had no idea what Sean had just said, but I loved the way he talked. "My father found the house for me, it seems I had embarrassed him far too many times and have been sent here until things cool down." Sean leaned close to me and whispered. "He doesn't know that isn't banishment, but a blessing." I smiled despite the fact that I still didn't know what he was talking about. "Let's head back to shore." Sean said as he slid off the boulder and reached up to help me off. Once on the shore, Sean sat down on the Plank. I lay down next to him, stretching out across the cool rock. "So why is my little man so tired?" Sean asked lean over me, so he could look me in the eyes. "My Mom has a boyfriend, some stupid mechanic in town." I said amazing myself that I actually told him the truth. "Not fond of this man are we?" "I don't know. I guess I could get to know him better. Mom likes him a lot. But." "But you don't want to be forced into liking him." Sean ran his fingers through my wet hair, combing it back off my forehead. "Yeah, I feel like I don't have a choice." I screwed up my mouth, feeling embarrassed confessing my fears. "I'm sorry Jonah; I don't have any words of wisdom for you." Sean sat up straight and pulled his knees into his chest. "I hope your mother is smart enough to think of you first." He whispered. "It's okay Sean. I worry too much anyway. I bet my Mom drops the guy after a week. Can I ask you a question?" "Of course you can." He said looking a little more cheerful. "You said your father sent you here. aren't you kind of old to be listening to your dad?" Sean's laugh echoed across the lake. I felt a little hurt that he found my question as funny. "Jonah." Sean began once he had controlled his chuckles. "It doesn't matter how old you get, parents are always going to try to control your life. My father is a very successful businessman and he treats his family as if we were his employees." Sean must have seen the frustration on my face, since I was pouting still from him laughing at me. "I didn't laugh at you Jonah." He said scooting close to me. "I was laughing at myself. I would never consider not listening to my father. No matter how much I hate him, no one ignores his orders." "He sounds scary." I said no longer upset, but keeping my pouting look. "Oh he's scary. my father has glowing red eyes that shoots brimstone and fire. From his forehead are horns for which he spears his enemies." Sean had his hands on his head with his finger sticking like horns as he made a horrible face. I giggled and pushed him away from me. "Stop being silly." I laughed. "I am never silly, little man." He pushed me back, but it was a wimpy push that didn't even knock me over, but it was enough to declare all out war. I shoved him again, laughing too hard to have much force behind my push to move him. "Is that all you have?" Sean grinned and shot his hands under my arms to tickle me. My uncontrollable giggles made me wriggle like a hooked worm, but I managed to fight my way on top of Sean and triumphantly tickle him. "Uncle. Uncle!" Sean begged. I accepted his surrender with great pride. I had defeated an adult in a tickle war; there was no greater glory than that. Through our combat, I now found myself sitting on Sean's stomach. We grew quiet, our giggles slowly fading from our lips. "It feels good to laugh." Sean said quietly. I rested back into his raised legs, using Sean as if he was a lounge chair. I could feel his pubic hair against my bare bottom and had to resist from reaching back there to scratch as it tickled my skin. I should have felt odd about sitting there on him, my legs spread wide, resting against his sides. The man had a blatant clear view of my privates, but I really didn't care. I liked the idea that he was seeing me nude. "Do you like Tarzan?" I asked leaning my head back on his knees to look up at the sky. "The King of the Jungle, I like the books, but never been fond of the movies." Sean yawned, which made me echo the yawn back. "I've only seen a few of the movies. My favorite book is Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar." I said awkwardly as I yawned again. "So I have a reader in my lap, huh? Do you read many books?" Sean asked giving me a crooked smile. "I love to read." I leaned down and laid my head on his chest. "But only cool stuff, nothing boring." Sean ran his hand down my back, making me yawn again. "In 'cool stuff', I'm assuming you mean adventurous?" He said quietly. "I guess." I didn't really feel like talking at the moment, with Sean stroking my back, I was having a hard time keeping my eyes open. I listened to his heartbeat; its comforting rhythm soothed me into a deep serenity. "Little man? Little man. Jonah? I opened my eyes and realized I had fallen asleep. "Jonah, someone is calling for you." Sean said sitting up, holding me tight to his chest, so I wouldn't slip off. I cocked my head to the side and listened. I heard my name echo through the woods. It was Ronnie, followed by a weaker yell from Mark. "That's my friends. I guess I better go." I grudgingly said. "Of course." Sean lifted me to my feet, so that I was standing with him between my legs. I leaned down and planted my hands on his shoulders. "I really had fun today." I whispered. With his hands now on my hips, Sean smiled and nodded briefly. "You better get going, little man." "See you tomorrow. I said heading off towards the woods. "Jonah are you forgetting something?" Sean said jumping to his feet quickly. I blushed and smiled awkwardly. Once I was back in front of Sean, I gave him the best hug my arms could muster. "That was very sweet Jonah, thank you." Sean seemed happy and sad at the same time from my hug. "But I was talking about your clothes or do you plan to spend the rest of the day naked?" "Oh!" My face reddened again and I couldn't stop giggling. Sean had to help me get dress, I was so flustered, that I almost fell twice trying to get my shorts on. Once I was finally clothed, Sean stepped back and nodded to me. "Off you go little man, see you tomorrow morning."