Date: Mon, 23 Sep 2002 13:53:03 +1200 From: Arthur Subject: the vision chpt 8 cont. Part Eight Red Sails In The Sunset Dinner for the two of us was the complete opposite of breakfast being as Benny wanted something simple so it was off to the Big Mack country for our evening meal but after just one burger and one small fries he was full, so then it was out to the movies and it was agreed that he picked one he liked and I would just tag along, as I was not a great movie enthusiast, but he found a good blood and guts one he liked so the evening was not to bad after all. We left the cinema at around ten o'clock and made our way back to the one room with all the arrangements made for the movers tomorrow at nine am and then we were out of here and the new life would begin. As I pulled back the covers for Benny to get into bed, he turned to me, eye's downcast and a small blush begining to appear on his cheeks. "Umm, John, umm, can I, umm, you know, umm, have a, umm, you know, umm, cuddle, umm, you know?" What else could I do but put my arms out to him and squeeze him tight as he melted into me with a big sigh and a snuggle onto my chest, I was still trying not to laugh at the way he had made the suggestion but I could feel his need for a bit of tenderness from someone. "Ok kiddo,in you go, time for sleep." "Thanks John, for everything." "It's ok son tomorrow is going to be another day so get your head down and I'll see you in the morning." "Night John." "Night son." I watched as he settled down on his makeshift bed while deep inside me there was a small fire begining to burn and the doubts and fears of the past started to fade into that part of my memory with the delete bin. I lay back on my bed listening to the quiet breathing of the small mound on the sofa and let my mind run free for the first time in ages,plans forming and being filed for later use, I now had a purpose and that purpose was to see that Benny had every chance and opotunity that I could give him. Yes there were going to be problems and maybe the odd fight or two with the powers that be, but then again that was going to be half the fun, this boy, this angel,this "SON" was going to get every chance I could buy,beg,cajole,or damn well demand for him. The dream held me in a comfortable embrace, the light giggles and and pushing fingers as the perfect vision stood before me, slim, tanned legs leading up to a pair of snug league shorts and on up to a pale green t shirt and through the mist of dreamland was the face made just for dreams, smiling mouth gleeming eyes topped off with a rumpled thatch of brown hair. I sighed with contentment, if all my dreams were going to be like this then i could sleep for a week, again the digging and giggling came through and I realised it was no dream, there he stood beside my bed carefully holding a cup of coffee out to me. "Morning John" "Mrmph, Morning son" Now is this the way to wake up or what? "you sleep well son?" "Yes thanks, I wanted to make a coffee for you" "That's just the way I like to wake up kiddo, thanks a lot." "You want to go have a shower son?" "Oh I've done that already, can I ask a question?" I pulled myself up against the head board settling the coffee on my lap. "Sure Buddy, what you want to know?" I patted the bed beside me for him to sit down and looked at the very thoughtful look on his face, a hundred emotions running across it as he tried to form the questions. "Do you have,uhm, a family?" Doesn't beat about the bush this one does he I thought, well if he wants to know then he has a right as far as I'm concerned. "No Benny, I've never been married, as far as I know I'm the last of my family." "Oh,uhm,did you ever want a family?" "Well let me see,how can I explain this to you, when I was younger I was always busy having fun and things then, as I got older I thought it would be pretty neat but now it's to late so I guesse there wont be a family for me now." "Ahh,well if you had a family how many kids would you want?" Now was this a leading question or what,I think I can see where this is heading, but hey isn't it what I had in mind anyway???? "Well I would have to have a son first, that would be important and if there were anymore after him then I would be very happy and love them just the same." I watched his reactions a he sat crosslegged facing me on the bed, his fingers entwined in his lap thinking, forming the next question. "What would your,uhm,son be like?" Again so many emotions ran over his face and in his eyes, fear, hope,desire, desperation, all of them churning and whirling through his mind, painting a picture on his face. I leaned over to place the cup on the bedside table,crossed my arms resting back against the bed head and looked straight into his eyes. "Benny,if I had a son I'd want him to be exactly like you in every way." He didn't move but held my gaze, firm and steady almost expressionless. "Why like me?" "Because deep inside you there's a very special person waiting to come out." A quizzical look came over his face. "But I'm nobody, I don't even have a mum and dad." "What you have do or don't have doesn't make any difference to the person you are" "Tell me Benny, do you remember anything about your parents?" "No not much, only what the people at the DCYFS told me." "And what did they tell you can you remember?" "Well my dad was a carpenter but he died at work, some accident I think, and my mum went to hospital but never came home again then the DCYFS lady came and took me to the home, then I was sent to different homes all the time but I didn't like it much." "Do you know where you were born?" "I'm not sure, I think it was Wanganui,why?" "Oh it's ok buddy, I'm just being a nosey old bugger." "Oh John you're not old, I'd ah,you know?" "No I don't know, what are you saying Benny?" "Well I,uhm,wished you was my dad." He threw himself at me and I felt the small sobs coming from him as I patted his back and tried to calm him down. The last few details from Benny had given me a ray of hope for our future but I had a lot of checking to do yet so felt I could not say to much just then. "Hey come on there, lets dry those happy lines on your face, then let me up so I can get ready for the movers." One more little hug and he was off the bed as I threw the covers back and made ready for the day ahead, my hopes had just risen by a factor of ten,if what I hoped was true then after the dust settled with the DCYFS Benny might have a future. to be cont. Authors Note: Thanks to all of you people who have sent emails about this my second story, your reactions and advice have been outstanding and so positive that i dont think that even if i wanted to i could not stop this story from proceeding. One point was made about the surnames being similar and yes you were right I can only put it down to senility or a blonde in my family tree somewhere and i promise to try harder for you (he he he) but your point was a valid and important one and i do appreciate all your trouble to make it. Thanks again to all of you and i will try to answer all emails where there is a return address Arthur.