Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 07:06:04 -0700 (PDT) From: Puer Amore Subject: The Ice Storm PT IV THE ICE STORM (PT IV ) By Barry pueresamo@yahoo.com Disclaimer: This work is one of fiction. Any resemblance of persons or places mentioned in this story to actual persons or places is only slightly more than coincidence. Copyright 2006 Barry. All Rights Reserved. Barry, are you sure I can stay with you? He asked; as we folded open the hide-a-bed. Travis, my love, of course you can stay with me for as long as you care to. I love you, Barry. He said. I love you more, Travis. I replied. He smiled. Tomorrow, I added, if the power ever comes on, we'll wash and dry your clothes and, if the streets are passable, we'll go get you some new stuff. Oh, that reminds me. He said. You remember I told you that the elders packed me some clothes and stuff. That's right. I said. What became of them? I asked. They're on your porch, in my suitcase, he said. Can I bring them in now? Of course, silly, let's go get them. I said. When we arrived at the door, we saw that the ice and sleet had turned to snow. Will anyone see me if I run out there naked and grab my suitcase? Travis asked. It's 3:30 in the morning, sweetie, they're all asleep. Here, let's go together. I suggested. We were both giggling as we darted out onto the porch, naked, to grab his suitcase. Holy Crap! I exclaimed. It is COLD! I may never get a hard on again. We'll see about that later, Travis chuckled. Wait! I said, as Travis ran back to the door. Allow me. With that I picked him up in both arms and carried him across the threshold. We were both still giggling as I set him down in the foyer, suitcase still in his hand. I also stopped in the foyer to pick up his wet clothes, which had been there since his arrival, to place them in the bathroom to drip dry to the next day. Get into bed, sweetheart, I'll be there as soon as I hang these up to dry. I said. When I returned to join Travis in the bed, I observed him crying his precious tears onto his pillow. What's wrong, my sweet boy. Please don't cry! I exclaimed. Tell me what's wrong. He looked up at me with his beautiful deep blue eyes, tears still rolling down each cheek. What is it Travis? What? I asked again. He threw his arms around my neck and, still sobbing, said, No one has EVER shown me love and kindness like this. No One! Ever! He sobbed his precious tears onto my shoulder and continued, IT's TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE. YOU WON'T WANT ME FOR LONG EITHER, THEN I'LL BE BACK ON THE STREET, WON'T I? Shh...Shh, my love. I said as he trembled in my arms. Have you forgotten already? Ganymede brought you to me and me to you. You remain mine and I yours for as long as you want it so. Do not fear, my sweet boy, you are home now...home with me. Tomorrow morning, my sweet Travis, we'll sort it all out and figure a way to make it all work. Don't worry. Sleep now, my beautiful boy, sleep. I'm right here, and will be tomorrow when you awaken, and every morning thereafter...sleep now...sleep. He slept peacefully through the night with his head resting on my breast and one arm around me. God, how I love this boy. I thought. At some point during our sleep, the power had returned. I awakened first. His arm was still around me as before. Now, with the lights back on and the sun up, my eyes could feast upon this boy in the light. As the firelight had hinted at the night before, he was truly beautiful. Fair skinned, and sporting a lithe, swimmer's build. His hair was blond, very blond, and having been shampooed the night before was shining with a compelling sheen that made me want to run my fingers through it then and there. What sort of despicable bastard would put this boy out onto the street! I thought. What sort of scum would hurt this boy, this beautiful and loving boy? I tried to lie as still as possible, not wanting to wake him. Eventually, I felt him begin to stir. He squeezed me tightly and snuggled up to me closely. Barry? He said, his eye still closed. I'm here sweet boy, just as I promised to be. Slowly, he opened those beautiful blue eyes and looked at me saying, I was afraid to open my eyes. I was afraid it had all been a dream, a wonderful dream, but that it would all be over when I opened my eyes. I'm here, sweet boy, I'm here. I repeated. Thank You Ganymede! He said he said with a grin. Thank You Ganymede! I agreed. Thank you for bringing this beautiful, sweet boy to me. Don't worry, Ganymede, I love him as you knew I would, and I will take good care of him. I looked down at Travis and said, I promise! He squeezed his hug around me tightly. Are you hungry, my sweet boy? I asked. I'm getting there. He replied. I'm getting there too, sweet boy. I said. Let's see what we can do about that. OK. He said. First, let's see what they packed for you to wear, sweetie, I said. I placed his suitcase at the foot of the bed. Opening it, the first thing to be seen was THE HOLY BIBLE. What Hypocrites! I blurted out, before thinking. Sorry, sweetie, I said to my beautiful boy who was still keeping warm under the covers. It's OK, he replied. They just hate me cause I'm a FAG. They said I should read that Bible and get saved, like them. Otherwise I'll surely go to Hell. My blood was boiling by now at the very thought of these sadistic hypocrites. Travis, my sweet boy, please don't ever refer to yourself, or to anyone else, as a FAG. It's an ugly word used by hateful people. Please don't soil your precious lips with that word again---Promise? I asked. OK. He said, looking at me lovingly. As for their bizarre soteriology, we'll discuss that later. I said. Their soteri-what? He asked. Soteriology, sweetie. I declared. It's a theological discipline that concerns itself with salvation and how it is achieved. We'll discuss it sometime. For now, just do your best to forget all the crap that those twisted hypocrites have put into your precious mind. Travis, my love, you are home with me now. Those twisted fruitcakes can't hurt you any longer. I promised. Travis smiled at me. I'm Home! That sounds so good. He exclaimed. Well, let's see what else we have here, I said, still rummaging through his suitcase. This will come in handy, I said. It's your school transcript. Sweetie, they only packed you one change of clothes. Where's your toothbrush, your toiletries, and such? I asked. I dunno, he replied. Guess I'm supposed to buy those things with the money they gave me. It's still in my pants. He said. Well, we need to empty the pockets of you clothes from last night and put the lot into the washer. I'll go get them. I said. OK. He replied. I returned with his clothes from the night before. They were stiff as a board. Well, sweetie, let's empty your pockets and put everything into the suitcase for now. OK? I asked OK. He replied. It didn't take long, as the only thing in his pockets was a roll of bills which he promptly reached to me, saying, Here, you'll need it to help take care of me. It broke my heart for him to offer me all he had in the world, all his money in that way. What love this boy has. I thought. You hold onto it for now, sweetheart. I'll ask for it as I need it. OK? I asked. OK. He said. It's all wet! He proclaimed. Here, let me straighten them out to dry on the hearth. OK, he said, reaching the roll to me again. I unrolled Travis' stash of money only to discover that what Travis believed to be one hundred dollars was, in fact, a ten and nine ones. Those Bastards! I thought. How far did they think he'd get on this? Sweetie, I don't know what they told you but this is not a hundred dollars. But, don't worry. I've got plenty of money for us both. Anything more...well, Ganymede will provide. You Rich? He asked. Hardly! I replied. What do you do? He asked. I'm a writer for the Dallas Herald. I said. I'll write your story someday, if, that is, it's OK with you. OK! He chimed, will I be famous? Maybe, I said, if I do a good job. OK! He replied.