Date: Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:42:58 -0500 From: Prince Ernest Subject: Room 108 Adult/Youth Section Chapter 22 Disclaimers: Everything you read in this story is my intellectual property and as such should be treated with utmost respect. The students described are not living, breathing human beings mind you. They exist only in the realm of pure imagination, somewhat. These are my fantasies that I have developed over the years. The students described in the story do not really exist, but are rather the combination of several different students. Thus I am not harming anyone, because they combine features and thus are not really in existence. ANY RESEMBLANCE TO REAL PEOPLE IS ENTIRELY COINCIDENTAL ON MY PART. All other disclaimers/rules/procedures apply. If you are under the legal age of viewing this material (depending upon where you live, that could be any age) please direct yourself to something else that will occupy your time. Also, PLEASE PLEASE consider donating to Nifty Archives! We lose funding, and all these great stories disappear :(. Just click on the Donate tab at the top of your screen! Simple, easy and definitely worth it! Other than that, I sincerely hope you enjoy my story. Constructive criticism/feedback/comments are duly appreciated. Please direct them to my email at prince_ernest86@live.com. All are welcome! And thank you in to all those who I already consider my fans! Your support means more than you will ever know! Room 108-Chapter 22: The Conference Hayden's mom did little to allay the fears that Hayden was displaying. I knew from the information I had collected at the beginning of the year that her name was Beth, and she had been on her own for some time. Beth worked as a teller at a local bank, which provided her and Hayden with enough so that they were comfortable but just barely. She had come to the Open House at the beginning of the year, but that was before I had met her delicious looking son. She looked thin, pale, and ragged beyond her years. She was wearing a nice outfit, but it looked big on her. Her hair and eyes were the same color as Hayden, but that was where all facial and familiar resemblance stopped. She extended her hand towards me in greeting, and summoned up a smile that I could tell was painful for her to muster. I told her to sit down wherever she was comfortable, and began speaking before she could. I thought that a good defense was a good offense. "Ms. Van Diver, thank you for arranging this meeting. I'm sure Hayden has told you about our win last night, and I just wanted to let you know how incredibly proud I, and in fact the whole team, are of Hayden. He has proven himself to be a good team captain. He backs this up with his tremendous work in class, where he has the highest grade in his class. In short Ms. Van Diver, your son is a great asset to this school, and certainly to our soccer program." Her voice was ragged, and weak again concerning me for her and Hayden's well-being. "Mr. Lambert, thank you for your kind words. However, my visit here in not a social call. I'm dying Mr. Lambert, and I need to discuss Hayden's well-being with you. He's told me about your after school activities, and I want to talk to you about them." The shock that was registered on my face was compounded when I looked up and saw Hayden looking at me. His face registered as pure agony, mixed with a slight betrayal of embarrassment as how this conversation might possibly play out. It was obvious that she had discussed this with him prior to our actual meeting, but he was now living it out and it was his worst nightmare. "Mr. Lambert please do not misunderstand me. I'm not judging what has happened; in fact I'm grateful for the assistance that you have provided for Hayden. He has really blossomed because of your guidance and I fully believe that you have been a positive role model on him. I'm aware that my son is gay, and I gather that you are as well from the conversations that you have had with Hayden, after soccer practice and after running into each other at the park. I love my son Mr. Lambert, and I can tell that you love him too, as a big brother. Is this true?" Hayden's face was again a tortured mess, but it was more out of fear than any other emotion this time around. He was afraid. Hayden Van Diver was actually afraid of what the conversation MEANT, not what the conversation was about. It was the fear of uncertainty that was making Hayden look so afraid. "Am I correct in my estimation of your feelings for my son Mr. Lambert? You have been a positive role model to him, and I would like you to continue to do so, but first I need to make sure that you have my son's best interest at the center of your heart." I could tell that both Hayden and his mother's eyes were boring into my soul, and amazingly enough, my response took only a second to think of. I was a firm believer in the philosophy that your first response is usually the response that you really want to go with. "Ms. Van Diver, I care deeply about the well-being of your son. Hayden has again proven himself to be a good judge of character. The entire 8th grade team looks up to him, and he has proven numerous times in the few short weeks that we have been in school, that Hayden is an outstanding student and athlete. Hayden Van Diver is a great student, and you should be proud." The pride beaming from this woman's face was paralleled with the pride beaming on Hayden's face. I don't believe that he had received many positive comments from male figures in his life, and hearing it from someone that he respected, such as myself, made him feel incredibly proud of himself. I would remind him later that the words I had spoken were not only praise, but it was the truth. Beth cleared her throat, and looked away for a minute. When her gaze returned to me and Hayden, it was clear that there were beginnings of tears in her eyes , as her eyes were beginning to become puffy, but she still managed to hold her emotions in check. "Very good Mr. Lambert, I thank you for your honesty and kindness. It makes what I'm about to tell you easier, because I know that whatever comes Hayden's way, he will have an advocate in the form of you." Once more I looked over at Hayden, and instead of fear and embarrassment, there was only sadness behind the pale blue eyes of Hayden's face. Hayden's eyes could convey all the emotion in the world without trying to, and it was one of his more endearing traits. "Mr. Lambert, may I call you Michael?" "Of course, if I may call you Beth." "I would prefer if you did so. Michael, I have been diagnosed with stage four stomach cancer. There are not many options available for me, and those that are open to me, are not financially open if you understand me. I have decided to enter Hospice at the local hospital, and make myself comfortable for the remaining months I have in my life. I'm a Christian Michael, and I believe that this is the Lord's Will. I want to provide for my son however, and in order to do so, I must make sure that he will be in a safe and secure home. You are the home that I want for him." I was completely stunned by what this woman was telling me. An hour ago, I had thought that this woman was coming in to complain about how late her son was staying out, and that he needed to be home sooner from soccer practice, but here she was telling me that she wanted to entrust the most precious gift she had, to me. Michael Lambert, 22 years old gay man who was in his first year of teaching. I was be asked to shoulder the incredible responsibility of raising a teenage boy. A bright, vivacious, fun loving teen boy who was gifted academically, physically, and with a considerable endowment between his young legs as well. It was something that I had never dreamed would happen, and here we were with it facing as a reality that could become something larger than the two of us. Hayden's voice broke through my thoughts, and shattered the line of thinking that I was going down. His voice was unsure of himself, but he spoke with determination that told me he wanted to be heard, and he wanted to speak his mind. I gave him my full attention. "Mom, you are so weird. Mr. Lambert is teacher at my school, he can't take me in...but I want him to." He spoke the pause with the most perfect timing, showing me that he understood the hurdles we would face if we were to actually travel down this path, but that he did want to proceed with me if I was willing. "Michael, like I said I know this is unexpected, but it has been made easier on my soul because I know you are gay." Bewilderment must have registered on my face immediately, because she smiled a little, and it became clear to me where Hayden's smile came from. "I don't understand homosexuality, and I don't pretend that I ever will. I know there are some people out there that would want to hurt you or my son, but I'm not one of them. I believe that God is full of love, and his son, Christ, loved us as well. Hayden needs positive male role models around him, and the Lord knows that I haven't been able to provide that for him in the form of his father or the men that I have dated. Hayden came home the first day of school talking about how excited he was to have you as his teacher, as well as his coach, and it was apparent to me even then that he loved you. Over the next couple of weeks, if I didn't hear about you at least ten times a night, I thought something was wrong. You have proven to be a caring individual about my son, and I've known he was gay since he was 10. Keep in mind, he didn't tell me until I caught him with his browsing history in my laptop when he was 12, but I've given him his space and allowed him to develop himself according to his own will. I couldn't be prouder of him, and I think he will only continue to do well under your care." "Beth, I don't know what to say. Everything you have said indicates that you are a truly loving parent to your son, and I know his relationship with his father is almost non-existent. I don't want to sound like I'm not flattered, but are you aware of what you are saying? You are asking an almost total stranger to raise your son for you when you die. And how are we to know you are even going to die? People come back from cancer all the time when the odds seem against them. " Her face smiled at me, in the caring knowing way of a mother whose child is throwing a tantrum over something small, and the storm will soon past. Beth already knew the answer to the questions I was posing to her, and she knew she had the best answers possible. She was supremely confident in herself, which was even more amazing given the state of her body and her mind as well. "Michael, a woman knows her body. My body is shutting down, and again I've prayed about this and have received my answer from my Heavenly father. My time is short, and I'm not going to rail against the world because of it. I've had a good life, and I've brought my son into this world and trained him well. I look to you to provide the next link in the chain. I know you will face hardships when you take him on, but again I know he loves and respects you in a way that his father never could inspire him to. I work at the bank downtown, and we have several lawyers that have accounts with us. I know of one who would be willing to draw up paperwork for me to transfer guardianship over to you while I am still alive, and then once I pass on, you will become his sole legal guardian. These are my wishes, and I want you to trust me that I know this is the best possible course of action. I'm asking you one last time, Michael Lambert, will you help raise my son when the Lord takes me on home to be with him." I heard a cough coming from the door of the room, and there stood to my complete surprise was Liam. I hadn't expected him that day, and it was very clear that he had intended to surprise me. The surprise was for him however as it was clear that he had been standing there for some time. He looked at me, and then looked back at Beth. "Well Michael? Like I said my time is precious, and I want this resolved by the end of the month when I transfer myself over to hospice." ***** Again, I just love keeping you all on your toes. We all kinda know what Michael's response will be, but any guesses on what Liam's reaction might be? Also, I have updated some of the model photos that I use...if you would like to see the new ones, just let me know. But be prepared to give me something in return ;) Questions/comments/concerns/and dare I say complaints, please direct to my email, prince_ernest86@live.com Or Skype me @ prince_ernest86. Please, again consider making donations to Nifty! Your support is gladly appreciated!