Date: Sun, 26 Jul 1998 21:30:18 -0400 From: Sidney Gittler Subject: Mall Punk 14 This is the latest, but not the last, installment of an ongoing story that involves sex between a man and a teen boy and also includes man-man sex and alludes to boy-boy sex. If any of this disagrees with you or is illegal in your area then please depart. This is a complete work of fiction and no character is based on anybody real. Any comments please write me at sidg@compuserve.com. Mall Punk: Part 14 Birthday and Vacation By Sid G. (c)1998 It was two days before Joe's fifteenth birthday and Jon and I were on our fourth lap of the largest mall in greater Longston. I understood Jon's problem. What does the boy who can buy anything buy the boy who has everything he wants? Especially the first boy's love. On the third lap Jon looked into Stern's Jewelry Emporium and we entered this time around. He took a quick look at the bracelets and necklaces before coming to the rings. The wedding rings. "No Jon, not those." "But they say what I feel," he replied. I led him back outside. "I know that, but wedding rings are a big step, and one that many people might not understand. Especially your new classmates." "OK, OK, how about this. Can I get him a nice ring and engrave it on the inside with our initials?" "Perfect," I said relieved that I didn't have to suggest it myself. We went back in and over to the men's section. It took my almost fifteen year old foster son and lover twenty minutes to pick out the simple gold and onyx ring. And another fifteen to convince the jeweler that I really wanted it inscribed that way and if he wouldn't do it right away we were leaving without it. At that he agreed rather than lose a three hundred-dollar sale. While we waited Jon tried on a white gold necklace. It looked great against his tanned skin but he almost ripped it off. He handed it back to the salesman shaking his head. "You looked great." "It felt like a collar, and I can't" "How about a larger one," the salesman suggested. "No thanks," Jon said and walked out the door. "Is he OK?" "It's a long story, and one you don't want to hear. But thanks for asking. Let's just ring up the sale while we're waiting." The salesman looked around and loosened his collar and showed me an even scar that seemed to run around his neck. "Just tell your son that he'll recover one day." "Do you want to tell him?" The man shook his head. "I can't leave my post, besides, I may have recovered but it's still hard to talk about it. But please tell your son." "He's my foster son, but I will. He has made great strides since we came into each other's lives but he does have a way to go," I shook his hand, "thanks for everything." With that the jeweler emerged and after I inspected the ring I thanked him and left. I found Jon alone on a bench with his head in his hands. I sat next to him and put my arm around his shoulders. "It came out great, want to see?" He shook his head. "Why so glum son?" "I really liked that necklace and it looked good on me but all I saw was that fucking dog collar. Will everything always remind me of something from then dad?" "Yes, but after you left our salesman showed me a scar that runs around his neck. Could have been a metal collar that was left on too long and too tight. He said, 'Just tell your son that he'll recover one day.' It isn't going to be easy at times Jon but there is a more pressing problem." He slowly picked his head up and looked into my smiling face. "What?" "You finally picked out your present for Joe. But what am I going to get him?" "There was one thing he mentioned," he squeezed my thigh, "but I told him no." "Thanks, it wouldn't be right somehow." "I agree, and so does Joe really. Then he gave me a list of three music CDs he wants. He told me I could pick one." "Let's go then." I bought all three and our odyssey complete we headed home. The next day was Friday, my last day at work before Joe, Jon and I headed up to the lake on vacation. I was busy reviewing projects with my partner when there was a knock on my door. I looked up to find my secretary standing there with a big smile on her face. "Yes Margaret? Spit it out before you swallow the canary," Harry said. He knew, mangled and used cliches that were old before he was born. "There's someone in the conference room who would like to make a brief presentation." "I don't have anybody on my calendar," I said, "do you Harry?" "Just go now," she said pointing the way. "Yes, dear," Harry and I said together. The first things that caught our eyes when we entered the conference room were the blueprints set up on the display board. I took a look and my eyes popped. "Jonathan? Where are you?" "Jonathan? Jonathan did this?" "Hi, Dad, Mr. Lowell. I finally finished the Swiftwater Indian Affairs Research Library at Boulder Community College proposal. What do you think?" "Harry?" "Be honest, Mr. Lowell." "Honest? OK, I need to look at the specs to see if everything works before we submit this but I'll be damned if I'm going to change one line on this unless I absolutely have to. Jon this is damned good work. Your name is going on the submission along with your Dad's and mine. And we're going on only because you're not licensed." "Really?" Jonathan's voice was a touch of amazement, pride and disbelief. Chronically abused children, like Jon had been, develop such low self-esteem that they have trouble believing praise. I walked over and hugged him. "Son, I told you it was good when you showed me the preliminary drawings. It's gotten a great deal better since then. I'm proud of you." "Thanks, Dad, Mr. Lowell. Here's the computer disks with everything you'll need to review. The proposal has to be in Boulder three weeks from today." "Then when your father returns to work so do you. You'll work with me making any needed changes and getting the proposal together. How does that sound?" "Great, can I really? Is it OK with you, Dad? I promise I'll behave while I'm here." "Of course you can, do you realize how happy this makes me?" "Look why don't you two come over for a barbeque and we'll celebrate. Reuben's been asking to see you Jon," Harry said. "Jon?" "Great. I'll go home now so you can finish up. Should I take these down?" "No," Harry said, "I think I'll make all those so-called architects in there take a good look first." It was about ten when we got home from Harry's house. I don't know which one of us was prouder of Jon. OK, OK, I was but that's a father's right. You know it's still hard to call myself that. Especially when at a small cough I turn around to see the love of my life standing there naked and fully erect. I took him in my arms and kissed him full on the lips. Our lips danced with passion as my hands flowed over his smooth, virtually hairless body. When we broke Jon started unbuttoning my shirt and then he started licking, kissing and sucking my nipples. I shrugged out of my shirt and somehow undid my pants and slid them down without disrupting Jon's efforts. When I was naked I took Jon's head in my hands and brought his face to mine. "Jon, I love you more than anything or anyone in the world and always will." "As father, friend or lover?" "All of the above if that all right with you." "More than anything in the world. I love you Stya, more than Joe or anybody else." We kissed again and I picked him up in my arms and carried him up the stairs to my bed. I lay him gently on the bed and started working on his nipples. Small but firm and delicious. I let my tongue ease its way down his chest till I reached his pubic hair. He had been totally sexy completely shaved but even more so since he'd stopped shaving his crotch and pits. No longer a young boy, but a young man. I bathed his pubes as I circled around to his balls and slowly washed them and then sucked both into my mouth. I could feel Jon's sperm filling each receptacle, waiting for me to release them. "Stya, suck my cock, please blow me now, I can't wait," Jon almost screamed. And who am I to argue? I released his nuts and inhaled his solid boy cock into my mouth. When I took too long to start sucking Jon took hold of my hair and started me going. I wanted to make it last. To show him the love I felt, the pleasure I got from his body. Slowly I worked his rod, licking the steady stream of precum oozing from his slit. Jon's hands left my head and started stroking my cheeks and shoulders. As I slowly picked up the pace I could feel his fingernails dig into my skin. "Oh Stya, oh yeah, blow me, I'm so ready to shoot my load down your throat. Oh shit, oh shit." With that a powerful stream of sperm flew down my throat and almost choked me. The second was easier to handle but still stronger than most men's first shot. He kept coming and coming. If I hadn't known better I would have bet he hadn't shot in a week. But Joe had slept over last night so I figured that wasn't the case. Finally he stopped shooting and I was able to swallow the rest of his load as his cock slowly went flaccid in my mouth. I slowly licked it clean, even inside his slit which almost had him shooting a second time. But I wanted to wait for that. Finally I let Jon's penis slip from my mouth and moved next to him on the pillow. "That was great," we said together and giggled like young lovers. "Yeah, it was. I never get tired of the taste of your manhood or your cum my love. In fact it gets better every time." "Well the night is still young," Jon replied, "and your rod looks like it needs some tending to." I followed his gaze and had to agree. Jon pushed me onto my back and slowly nibbled his way down my shaft until my bush tickled his nose. I could feel him lubricating my cock with his saliva and my precum. He brought me close to the edge and then backed all the way off twice. After the second time he straddled my upright member and slowly, oh so painfully slowly inserted it into his love canal. He slowly rose up and down on my cock, never quite letting my tip escape back out his sphincter. While the intellectual part of me hated the fact that my young love had more sexual experience than any fourteen-year-old should have, the rest of me was enthralled by the ways he used that experience to keep me in ecstasy. Two, three, four more times he brought me to the edge and stopped. "No more my love, let me come. I want, need to fill your love canal with my seed." "Oh, so you want to shoot?" Jon asked with a wicked smile I could barely make out. Then he squeezed his ass cheeks so tight that my cock went limp. Then slowly, oh so slowly he started going again. For five full minutes he slowly increased the pace and the pressure on my aching prick. Finally, finally I passed the point of no return physically as well as mentally and filled his ass with a huge load of sperm. When I was finished Jon slid off me and into my arms. We kissed again and fell asleep in each others arms. As has been happening since our first night together, one of us wakes up in the morning having to take a leak, and as a result the other one wakes up too. Saturday morning was Jon's turn and I watched his departing back make its way to my bathroom. I waited patiently and was rewarded by seeing his gorgeous body return to me. We were both still half asleep but I took his hand in mine and drew him on top of me. My hands reached for his ass and he smiled at me. "My we're horny this morning," he said. "One of these day's I'll tape that walk and you'll see why." "Oh I know. I see your version enough times." With that he spread his legs and angled his body slightly so I had full access to his butt. Slowly I inserted first one, then two fingers along his crack and into his hole. I felt a combination of his anal juices and the remnants of my cum from the night before. I put a third finger in and twisted it gently around and he moaned with pleasure. I could feel his cock hardening against my chest and he started humping me as I finger fucked him. I pushed my fingers in as far as they could go and found his prostate and gently caress it. Jon howled and shot his load onto our chests. Quickly I took my fingers out of his butt and he rolled over onto his back and raised his legs. Cum was still dripping from his prick and I used it and what was on my chest to lube my cock. But that hole staring at me was too inviting and I quickly filled it with my stiff prick. Jon rested his legs on my shoulders and I slowly worked my rod in and out of that magnificent butt hole. Unlike last night he didn't play any games to keep me from shooting but I used my experience to make it last. The best part was not the sensations coming from my groin but the look of happiness on my lover's face. Jon's smile, and I know this is almost heretical, and beatific expression filled my heart with more joy than the pleasure that was filling my cock and balls. I blew him a kiss and when he returned it I shot my load up his ass. I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead, his cheeks and finally our lips met in a long passionate kiss. He slipped off my rod and we fell asleep in each others arms again. It was noon before we woke again, which was fortunate since we were due at Joe's home at one for his birthday party. We considered showering together but figured that we'd never be on time that way. So once again I watched my favorite backside leave my bed and my room. The one hope in both our minds when we arrived was that there would be food ready. From the far side of the backyard Eric and Joe waved and came over. From behind their backs the gave each of us a foot long hot dog. "So you can get used to the size," they said together. Jon and I looked at each other and replied. "You wish." Then Joe took Jon in his arms and kissed him. From around the yard I heard gasps and saw reactions to the scene. I held my hand out and Eric took it, he stepped closer and we kissed as well. We might have kept going if a loud crash didn't bring the four of us out of it. We turned and Joe screamed. "Aunt Celia, oh my gosh." He and Eric went running over and helped get her to a lounge chair. "Joe told me he wanted to come out in an obvious way today but I don't think everybody knew about Eric either. I hope they don't come after us," Jon said. I turned to my son and bent over a little bit. "Look we know how the people who count feel about us, and I'm including Joe's parents. The others will come around in time or not. That's the potential problem with coming out. But then, that's their problem, not ours, and not Eric's or Joe's or the Werners. Mrs. Werner came over and whispered, "Don't worry, cousin Ian came running to see what was happening and ran into her. It wasn't her reaction to you. Though you could have warned me." She pinched Jon's cheek and headed toward the drink table. We moved closer but stayed on the fringe of the group huddling around the recliner. "Eric, Joe, come over here please," said a weak woman's voice. "Yes, Aunt Celia," Eric said and I spotted Joe beside him. "You know you two could have told this old broad that you were gay a little more subtly. And you, Eric, could have done it a long time ago." "Well Joe didn't tell me what he was going to do, and as for me," Eric shrugged, "I was a little nervous how you would take it and I didn't want to lose your love." "You thought your being gay would bother me?" Eric nodded. "Well the two of you remind me to tell you about my brother Eric, the one you're named for, one day." "You mean it doesn't bother you, you approve?" Joe asked with obvious relief. "I'm sure you and that young man of yours will find a way to give your parents grandchildren anyway. Now Don get me something a little stronger to drink than water and you two go get your boyfriends over here and introduce me to them." We walked through the crowd and were introduced to the grande dame of the Werner family. When the introductions were finished she waved everybody else away and the five of us talked and laughed. When it was obvious Aunt Celia was tiring we started to leave but Jon spoke. "Before we let Aunt Celia rest, I want to give you your birthday present Joe. I was going to wait until we were alone but somehow this seems better." He took the small box out of his pocket and opened it before giving it to Joe. Joe gasped and took the ring out. "Read the inscription." "JS & JW Forever. Oh Jon." He started to cry as he put the ring on his left hand and then showed it to his Aunt. "You've got a good one Joe, lets hope your Uncle and your boyfriend's foster dad are as good together. "We're just getting to know each other again but I think there's potential," Eric said. "Good, now you boys run along but I want to talk to you alone Jonathan Sorrel a little later." "Yes, Aunt Celia, boy that sounds nice." The next couple of hours the four of us mingled with the rest of the crowd and either because they were honest or because of Aunt Celia's blessings we were treated warmly. Around 4:00 Don Werner came over and said she wanted to have that talk with Jon and he left. Joe went over to talk with some of his cousins and Eric and I went into the den alone. "Wow, what a way to be introduced to the family." "I hope you don't mind. You don't know how much Aunt Celia's blessing means to me. She's been the matriarch of the family since before I was born. She's my Aunt and Joe's great-aunt." "Fantastic lady, I'm glad I met her." "Joe told me what happened after our date the other night." "Everything?" "Everything, well except what the two of them did after they went upstairs." "I don't even know what they do, or want to. Look, I want to get this out on the table before we go further. Jon and I do have sex. If you're uncomfortable with that fact then let's end it now because I don't want to stop having sex with him and more importantly I don't think he could cope with our stopping at this point." "Joe told me, and told me that he's comfortable with it. He also told me a lot about Jon's life and I understand what your saying. To be honest, normally I wouldn't be comfortable with it but I'm not prepared to walk away from a second chance with you after all these years. Plus I think it would hurt Joe too much if I did. Oh fuck the justifications, I like you Stya Maskovitz and want to give us a chance at the happiness the two boys have." "I want that too. I love Jon more than anyone else and he will always come first with me but there is plenty of room in my heart and life for you. "You know the three of us leave tomorrow morning for two weeks at my brother's cabin." I stopped, took a piece of paper from my wallet and handed it to him. "Here's the address and phone number of where we'll be staying. If you can get some time off give me a call and come on up." "You serious?" I moved over and kissed him. "Does that answer your question?" Eric stood and walked over to the door. "Don, can I see you a second?" Don turned the cooking duties over to one of Joe's cousins and came over. "What is it Eric?" "I'm taking the next two weeks off. I'll be at the cabin chaperoning my nephew." "Just call in once a day to keep those characters of yours in line and have a great time," Don turned to me, "Isn't it great when your brother runs the company and your nephew is the owner's son-in-law?" Don turned and quickly left. Eric's face was confused but understanding finally set in. "Did he say what I think he said." "Only if you promise not to tell a soul." "I thought Joe was holding back something about Jon but I never expected it was that. Jonathan Sorrell is Lamont Sorrell's youngest son?" "The product of his second marriage." "Oh my God, that's what Aunt Celia wanted to talk to him about. I escorted her to that wedding. My Uncle was dead already and she'd known Robin Giladee since Robin was a little girl. She must have seen his mother in him. We'd better go." I shook my head. "No, I think Jon needs to learn about his mother. He doesn't remember her at all and he can't talk to his father about her. Their only contact is through me, more Jon's decision than Lamont's at this point. I think Aunt Celia will be able to tell him just what he needs to hear and stop when he's had enough." "You're right, now what do I have to bring with me?" ***** Jon had been ecstatic on the way home and all that night. Learning about his mother and maternal grandparents from someone who'd known them had given him such a high he was virtually useless as we finished packing for our vacation. Of course his first question had been why we were bothering taking clothes in the first place. I explained that not only might we want to do something away from the cabin but that bug bites and sunburn on certain parts of the anatomy could make love making rather uncomfortable. Neither did I know how comfortable Joe would be being naked around Eric. Come to think of it I wasn't sure how I felt about it. I mean the cabin has three bedrooms and I didn't know where Eric planned on sleeping or how Jon would feel if it ended up being with me. "Jon." "Yes, dad?" "You know Eric's coming with us?" "Yeah, it's really cool." "I'm glad you feel that way but what if Eric and I, you know." I couldn't believe I couldn't say the word. "If you end up in bed together and do the nasty?" The former boy slut and his last customer started laughing hysterically. After a couple of minutes we finally settled down. "Yes, what I need to know is how you are going to feel if Eric and I have sex together?" "Are you planning on it?" I smiled and shrugged. "I didn't really expect him to come up for the whole time when I invited him and I don't know what he expects. Or if we'll even want to, but that's not the point right now. I remember how you reacted to my going out to dinner with him and I can't do that to you again." Jon came over and knelt before me and took my cock out of my pants and kissed it. Then he looked right at it and started talking. "You can play with Uncle Eric if you want, but remember you belong to me." He kissed it and then kissed my chest over my heart. "And you belong to me." He hugged me and kissed me on the lips. "And you belong to me as I belong to you. If you can understand me and Joe I guess I can learn to deal with you and Eric. Just lock the door so neither one of us walks in on you two." I kissed him back. "I belong to you first and before anybody else. Eric knows that and understands it. I promise to double lock the door. You two better do the same if you don't want us to come in either." "You never have." "That's me, I don't know about Eric. Now lets finished packing and get some sleep." "You want to start with sleep?" "I'll pack my cock so far into your ass I'll have to drive with you on my lap tomorrow." "Can I steer?" "You always steer in bed my love," I said as I caressed his cock. "I meant the car." "What would Grandpa Sheriff say if you did something like that at your age." "Don't do it where you'll get caught?" "Get the rest of your clothes." I swatted at his rapidly departing behind. Amazingly both Joe and Eric were ready when we got to their respective homes. Jon and Joe went into Eric's house and to help him with his stuff and got in the back seat on their return. Eric slipped in next to me wearing a pair gym shorts and a Dennis Rodman basketball shirt. It was my first good look at his physique and it was still impressive. "Still the gym rat I see," I said as I gave him a quick kiss. A kiss that drew a pair of "ooooh"s from the back seat. Eric and I just shook our heads. "Not heavy anymore, just three or four days of weight work and some running the other days. Still can wear my college wrestling singlet." "I'd hate to know what you call heavy, if we didn't have our own exercise equipment I don't know if I'd get anything done." "Oh, I know one muscle Stya has that's really strong," Jon said. "Now cut that out," I said. The rest of the ride Eric and I caught each other up on what we'd been up to since high school. I had the feeling we covered some of this on our first date but I didn't remember. For the most part the boys were quiet, I guess enjoying learning more about both of us. I realized that I knew more about Jon than he did about me. Unless my parents had squealed. When we got to the cabin Eric put his stuff in the third bedroom, which both disappointed me and took a weight off my shoulders. I guess he saw the expression on my face because he took me in his arms and kissed me. Breaking he whispered in my ear. "I don't want you to think I'm easy. Besides, I don't know how the boys would feel about us staying together." "I talked to Jon and he's trying to understand, but I think your right. But you are welcome to visit." "Sex fiend." Before I could respond Jon called for me to come into the kitchen. On the refrigerator door I found a note from my brother dated the Sunday before. "Hi, Sty; Hope you, Jon and Joe have a great two weeks and that the weather stays as nice as its been this past week. Everything's clean and in working order and I hope it stays that way, though with two teenage boys I don't know how it will. One last thing, don't leave any food outside. I've spotted some kind of animal lurking around and any food we've left unguarded for even ten minutes has disappeared. Rachael's yelling for me to come on and she and your nephews and niece say hello and want to see you two again soon. Enjoy, Your older brother. Boris" "What kind of animals are up here?" Joe asked before the others could. "We've seen deer, squirrel, but the only scavenger I can think of would be raccoon and that's not their usual behavior. Just keep an eye out and don't leave any food out on the deck. If you've got leftovers you can throw it over the side but we don't want anything up here if we can help it. Understand?" "Yes dad. We've got everything put away, can Joe and I go for a walk?" I looked at the three bags of food still on the kitchen table and nodded. "I'll teach you what 'everything' means later but go on. Stay close though, try to keep the cabin in sight." The two ran out without answering. "Their clothes off yet?" Eric asked. "No, but they're in deep lip lock. Then they'll go looking for someplace private. Don't worry, I know most of those." I turned to start putting the groceries away but felt a strong pair of arms around my waist. I turned and put mine around his. He lifted one hand and pulled my mouth to his. "That sounds like a great plan," he said right before his lips locked onto mine. My hands slipped under his shirt and explored his firm back as our tongues explored each other's mouths. When I felt his hands slip under my waistband I returned the favor to find nothing but a beautiful bubble butt. I reluctantly pulled my lips from his. "I don't do floors if I can help it." "Getting old, but I know a nice king size bed down the hall." We held hands as we walked down the short hall to my bedroom. We each took one side of the bed and stripped in unison. Once naked and on the bed we took our time slowly exploring each others bodies with our hands and mouths. Eric has a very light coating of fine blonde hair on his chest and arms, only a little heavier on his legs. It was easy to trace the definition of his well muscled body and I willingly followed where his touch led me. To the point where I was facing his cock. His seven inch, thick, circumcised cock. Without waiting or being told my tongue snuck out and started licking its way along the outside and down towards his throbbing balls. As I took first one and then the other into my mouth Eric did the same to me. Wordlessly we had discovered a rhythm that only heightened my ecstasy. When I sensed him leaving my balls I released his and quickly licked my way back to his tip. I expertly licked his precum away and slowly let my lips work their way down his penis. When my lips were sniffing his pubic hair and his cock head rested down my throat I paused to catch my breath. And think for a second. There's a difference between a teen's prick and a man's. Even if it's as experienced as Jon's. I felt and tasted that difference and realized that Eric was the first adult I'd had sex with since I'd met Jon in early March, that I was having sex with a man, with anybody besides Jon actually. Was it really just five months? Eric didn't say a word, just ran his fingers through my hair. I composed myself, licked around his shaft and started sucking on it. His manhood swelled in my mouth and I couldn't take the whole thing in my throat. I massaged his balls as he fondled mine. "Oh yeah, Stya, work my cock. Oh yeah, that feels so good," Eric moaned as his hands made sure my head kept moving up and down his shaft. I tried to slow the pace, make it last but Eric was having none of it. "It's getting close, oh shit, oh shit, I'm cumming." With that he emptied his load into my mouth and I emptied mine onto the sheets. I sucked him dry and licked him clean. "Tonight, I get to drink," Eric said. "Sounds good to me." We stayed in each others arms while we recovered and then reluctantly got dressed and just finished putting the groceries away when the boys returned. Their clothes weren't quite as neat and clean as when they'd left, but then they had been in the woods. After pulling two sodas out of the fridge and giving one to Joe Jon turned to me. "Dad, we think we saw that animal but we couldn't figure out what it was." "Where were you?" I asked. "We headed down toward the lake and heard something to the side. We turned and I saw its eyes for a second before it scurried away. We didn't move for a few minutes but when it didn't return we moved on." "Jon, Joe, this is a wild animal out there. Not some lost pet. Don't try and make friends with it. Do you understand me or do we go home now?" I said in my most father knows best voice. "We'll stay clear of it. We get the picture," Joe said. "Good, now go wash up and get the dirt off your clothes. We're going into town for supper." I don't know what happened down the hall that evening, although one of these days I'll have to ask Jon and Joe if they want to contribute to this tale, but the sex in my room was hot. Well past a return blow job. I'd tell you but my mind was too preoccupied to remember details. I think you can fill in the details by now. The next few days we relaxed around the cabin. We took short walks in the woods and down to the lake but never spotted the scavenger. Wednesday afternoon the boys took a swim in the lake while Eric and I read on the deck. We had spotted a new restaurant in town and decided to give it a try. Though how good a Thai restaurant could be out here we weren't sure. When the boys returned they first took their wet shirts off and draped them over the bannister and then put their bathing suits next to them. Facing into the woods they stretched and shook their smooth butts in unison. I glanced over at Eric and sensed an embarrassed turn on. "Enough boys, shows over," I said. Joe and Jon turned around and faced us. "Oh hi, we didn't realize you were here," Jon said. "We'll go in and get dressed for supper now," Joe added. Jon bent down and kissed me before he went in. Joe kissed Eric, but without Jon's sensuousness. "Are they always like that?" Eric asked. "No, at least not in front of me usually. I have a feeling they just wanted to see our reaction. You know about me and Jon and there's a part of Joe that wants to have sex with me too. And I have no idea how he feels about you." Eric leaned back and closed his eyes and groaned. "I'll handle that when I have to." "The word handle might not be the best choice." He threw his book at me. The food was fantastic and then we walked around town for a while. Eric made Joe buy and send his parents and brother a postcard. To make it easier I had Joe send one to his grandparents too. By the time we got back to the cabin it was dark and we were all tired, so after watching TV for an hour we went to sleep. "Stya, my bathing suit and shirt's missing," Joe said as he came back in from the deck the next morning as I made breakfast. "Did you check on the ground under the deck?" "Yes, I couldn't find either one there or anywhere around the house." "How about Jon's clothes?" "On the railing, but I think they were a little messed up. Not sure though." I turned down the heat and went back out with Joe. We looked around again and didn't spot a thing. I looked for strange tracks but we'd messed the dirt up so much I couldn't tell one set of footprints from another. "You've got another suit, we'll just have to make sure not to leave anything outside. This scavenger will take anything I guess." "Do raccoons eat clothes?" Joe asked. "Don't think so but they like to collect things and maybe they use it for nests." I ruffled his hair. "Come on, if we don't get back inside breakfast will be ruined." Joe took a last look around and we went back in. Over breakfast Joe told Eric and Jon about the missing clothes. "You know, I got up to go to the john right after dawn and thought I heard something moving on the deck but didn't think anything of it." Eric said. Jon stood and looked out the window. "Did you touch my stuff, Joe?" We both said no. "Something did, we both made a point of being super neat to prolong the show." "We noticed," Eric said, "but this is getting spooky. I can buy an animal taking the clothes for nesting material but not being choosy." "Hey, that was my favorite bathing suit, Uncle Eric." Which cracked everybody up. At lunch we decided to leave some food outside for the animal but we wet down the deck to try and get its paw prints. When we got back from the lake the boys crept up the stairs to see if it was there but sprinted as soon as they hit the top. When Eric and I heard shouting and scuffling we ran up the stairs. I prayed nobody needed rabies shots. The sight at the top of the deck stopped me cold. I had expected two boys and some kind of animal. Instead there were three boys. Jon, Joe and a dark complexioned boy of about twelve with long black hair. "Antonio! What are you doing here?" Eric said from behind me. At the sound of his name the boy stopped struggling and stared as Eric came towards him. "Mr. Werner?" "Yes, how did you get here? It's fifty miles from where your father said you were camping. We searched the woods there for a week." "Should I call the police, Eric?" "No," the boy screamed and started struggling again. "OK, no police Antonio. Are you OK? Sick or hurt?" The boy shook his head and his eyes followed Eric as he came closer. Eric knelt in front of the boy but made no move to touch him. "Are you ready to have that talk now? I told you you could trust me and you can trust my friends." Antonio shook his head and stared at the ground. Jon looked over at Eric, touched his back and whispered, "Like me?" Eric nodded and mouthed, "I think so," and shrugged. Jon let go of Antonio. "Joe, let him go." "You sure?" "You promise not to run, my friend?" The scared youngster appeared startled by the word and after a pause nodded. "I want to show you something, and if you recognize it will you talk to us?" "I'm sorry I took the clothes but mine were so dirty." "We don't care about the clothes or the food," Jon said. He took his shirt off and turned his back to the boy and knelt. Eric gasped, he'd never really taken a good look at the scars and welts that permanently marked my love's back. "Does that look familiar, Antonio? You can touch if you want." Slowly the boy's hand reached out and traced several of the marks, tears started streaming down his face. "You too, you too?" Jon turned and took the boy into his arms, he was crying as well. "Me too. Like you, I thought I was alone, the only one but I was wrong. And I escaped and I promise if you tell what happened you'll never have to go back to that bastard again." "That's not your father?" Antonio pointed at me. "Foster father, he's never hurt me, he's given me my life back and there's somebody out there for you too." Eric reached for hand. Antonio jumped at first but when Eric left his hand out he cautiously, very cautiously took it. "I showed you my back can we see yours?" Jon asked. Antonio nodded and gingerly slipped Joe's shirt off his shoulders and was left standing in just Joe's swim trunks. I tried to recall the search Eric had mentioned and realized it had been the first week of July that Antonio's picture had been splashed across the TV screens and the whole tri-state area kept watch and then mourned when the search was over and his crying parents thanked everybody for their help and support. As Antonio moved I could see how supportive his parents had been. There were marks on every inch of his torso, front and back. Some of the fading bruises and signs of malnutrition I couldn't tell if they were from before or after he'd been dumped but were surely part of it. "What happened Antonio? How did you get here?" Eric asked. "The Sunday after school ended we went on vacation. My father, two older brothers and me. I should have know something was up when mom didn't get into the car but it was too late by then. As soon as we were on the highway my brothers stripped me and started hitting me. The cabin we were staying in had a little shed in the back and they kept me chained in there for three days except when they gave me trunks and took me to the lake." "Probably just providing evidence you were there," I said. Antonio shrugged before continuing. "After the last trip to the lake they brought me into the cabin and after I took my suit off they tied my hands together so I was hanging from a beam. They spanked me, whipped me with whatever they could find." "Didn't anybody hear you?" Joe asked. "I had learned that screaming only made it worse so I didn't. The next morning they let me down and threw me in the trunk of the car and drove me someplace near here and dumped me." "Why didn't you ask somebody for help? You saw somebody with children was here for a couple of weeks." I asked. "I believed they wouldn't believe me and send me back to my family who would kill me. I couldn't trust no one." Jon took Antonio back into his arms and whispered into the boy's ears. I couldn't hear what he said but then no matter how much Jon's told me about his life I guess I can never understand it fully or really know what it feels to be treated like that by your own family. Nor, to be honest, do I really want to. "Joe, Jon, take Antonio inside and give him a proper meal and then get him cleaned up," Eric said. "Sure, Uncle." Joe guided the two abuse victims into the house and it was a couple of minutes before we heard the fridge door open. At that point something happened in the kitchen because suddenly they sounded like three little boys again. "How did you get involved with the boy?" I asked Eric. "Believe it or not, he was my paperboy. Took over his big brother's route. Always thought something wasn't right but I couldn't get him to talk," Eric paused and seemed deep in thought. "Can you get your father on your cell phone from up here?" Eric asked. "This isn't his jurisdiction." "Neither is Millburn, and it isn't even the same state as where we were told he was abandoned. But your father is a respected Sheriff and probably knows Sheriff Daniel Cody and whoever's in charge here." I nodded and headed around to the car and made the phone call. I think dad was glad he had a potential high profile child abuser to throttle since he hadn't been able to do anything to Lamont Sorrel or Jonathan's brothers. An hour later Jon came out of the kitchen to tell me that Grandpa was on the line and wanted to talk to me. "Did you call him?" He whispered. I nodded. "Had to son, it's the only way we can help Antonio get his life back. You know how much he helped us." "No, you're right and when I explain things to Ton Ton he'll understand. But we're not going to abandon him are we?" "Of course not. 'Ton Ton?'" "It's a nickname he likes, Antonio is what his parents call him. Now come on, Grandpa's waiting." The following morning my father, Sheriff Cody, local Sheriff Erik Asman, Sheriff Justin Adams of Essex County and Millburn Police Chief George Schroeter arrived around ten. It took about two hours to tell our stories. The lawmen went out on the deck to talk while we prepared lunch. After we ate my father asked the boys to go inside. "Grandpa," Jon said. "Go, Jonathan. Look, I know how you relate to Ton Ton, but we'll do what's right. I promise." Jon gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and led the other boys inside. Once they were inside, Sheriff Cody and Sheriff Adams of Essex County filled Eric and I in on their plans. One element we agreed to was that the boy would stay with us for another couple of days or until things had been finished back in Millburn. "Sheriff Adams, Chief Schroeter, I'm willing to take care of Ton Ton for as long as it takes," Eric said. "I know I'm not a prime candidate to be his foster parent but I want you to know that if he needs me I'm available." "I appreciate that Mr. Werner and we'll be in touch. Now I think the five of us have work to do, and I for one can't wait to get back and start things rolling." We called the boys back out and told them that Ton Ton was going to be staying with us for a couple of days while the police cleaned things up. "My father, mother and brothers go to jail?" "Probably son," my father answered. A sea of emotions washed over the little boy's face and Jon and Joe took him inside. I walked my father back to the car and he gave me a hug. "Just tell my grandson that I'm very proud of him. Not every kid who's gone through what he has can reach out to another victim. And I'm proud of you too son. You've done a hell of a job with Jon." "Thanks, dad, I've never been happier." Without either of us saying a word Eric moved back to the third bedroom that night and I was left alone as the three boys slept together. Jon even took one of my tee-shirts to use as a nightgown. Looking at the crowd around the breakfast table the next morning I thought Ton Ton was the only one who'd gotten a good night's sleep. We went into town and bought our new guest some new clothes that both fit and were in for a kid his age. According to him even his underwear had been hand me downs. Back at the cabin I looked at Joe and Jon and knew they needed something and whispered to Eric that he might want to take Ton Ton swimming or for a walk, just the two of them. He looked puzzled but when I nodded at the two older boys he understood. When they were gone I walked over to my son and his lover and took them in my arms, one on each shoulder. Their body's were at once limp and full of tension. "Let it out boys, let it out, it's OK." Tears streamed down both their faces immediately and mine weren't far behind. Joe started whispering "how, how" over and over again.. "How what?" I asked. "How could anybody, much less a father, do such a thing? How can anybody not notice and say or do nothing? Through my other arm I could feel the anger boiling up through Jon and started to kiss his forehead but it broke through. "How could they do something like that? How could they fucking do something like that? Because those fucking bastards don't think of Ton Ton as a human being. He's just a fucking dog to them to be used even worse than they'd use their dogs. You're angry, hit Jon. You want something and mom or dad wont give it to you, rape Jon. Nothing else to do, rape and beat Fido. Those fucking bastards didn't need a reason for doing it, they just wanted to and could do it so they did. What else was Fido good for? You can't understand, you can't, I can't, I can't. No matter what I did for them it didn't matter. I tried being a good little brother and not complaining to daddy about the games they were playing with me and hurt me. I tried, I tried. What did I do to deserve being beaten and raped? Tell me please?" At that point he completely broke down and became hysterical. "Stya, I'm sorry." I turned to Joe and shook my head and whispered, "He'll be fine. You asked the right question and it opened doors he was keeping closed and right now the devil is finally leaving him." "Should I go?" "No Joe, he needs us, both of us," I replied as I held the crying boy who was my son in my arms. And asked the same question that Joe had asked. 'How?'" I sat on the deck and lifted my son onto my lap and cradled him in my arms, stroking his hair and whispering calming nothings into his ear as Joe held a limp hand. It was hard keeping calm when anger and hatred were rushing through my soul. For the first time in a long time I wondered if my father and I had done the right thing in letting Jon's brothers off the legal hook for the atrocities committed against their young, innocent half-brother. But then the two who were truly responsible had been exiled to Arab countries where pederasty was a capital offense. The third was facing the hell he'd made of his life. Jon's step-mother had been exiled too in a way. Lamont sent her to live in their New York condo and she only returned to Longston when he needed her presence. Lamont's world shattered as well. He had to face failure in something that should have mattered a lot more than it had. But the only Sorrel who really mattered was slowly settling down in my lap. He finally took his face out of my tear soaked shirt and looked at me and Joe. Back and forth. At first I couldn't place the expression on his face. Then it hit me, amazement. I leaned down and kissed him on the cheek. "You stayed, you both stayed," he said in awe. "I thought I was imagining you were still here and I was alone again." "Jonathan, my son, you will never be alone again." "Never, we will never desert you," Joe whispered and Jon started crying again. This time he cried himself to sleep and I carried him into my room and put him on the bed. Joe and I each pulled up a chair on opposite sides of the bed so Jon would see one of us when he woke up. Someplace along the line, God knows I don't know how long this took, Eric and Ton Ton returned. Eric offered to relieve either one of us and we accepted just long enough to hit the john and grab a soda. We filled him in on what had happened and sent him out to stay with the other victim. Ton Ton brought us supper and stayed staring at Jon for a while. I reached out and took his hand. "Mr. Werner, Eric, told me what you told him. I'm sorry if I brought Jon pain." "It may be too early for you to understand, Ton, but he needed to get the feelings out." "Feelings?" I saw Joe turning towards me and motioned him over. "Look, Ton, did you ever wonder why you were getting hit?" "My father said it was because I was bad. 'Devil spawn' he called me." "So it was your fault that he and your brothers did this to you?" "Momma too." He realized he hadn't answered the question. "I don't know, they told me I deserved it and I believed them. Are you saying they lied to me." "Did you deserve this?" Joe asked. "To be beaten and thrown away like a piece of garbage? Nobody deserves to be treated like you and Jon were treated." "No, we didn't and, no, we don't," said a groggy voice from the bed. The three of us turned and saw Jon awake and propping himself up on one elbow. I hurried over and took him in my arms. "You feeling better, son?" A shrug. "Something to drink please." "I'll get it," Ton Ton said and ran out. Joe sat on the other side of the bed and we sat in silence until Eric and Ton Ton reentered the room. Jon took a slow, long drink from the glass. When he was finished he put the cup down on the table and looked at the four of us as he finished sitting up. He looked haggard and still half out of it but back in control. I offered him my plate but he shook his head. "More soda?" He started to nod but then shook his head. "I don't want any of you leaving here yet. I'm still trying to believe that you're all still here. For the first time I have a real family. I mean Stya, I knew you loved me, and that Joe, you loved me but that was because I was always good, but I was afraid if something bad happened that you'd desert me." "Your dad and boyfriend both love you, Jon; they would never leave you. I will also be your friend if you will be mine." "Of course I'll be your friend, Ton Ton, and thanks, Uncle Eric. But Ton Ton, we must never forget that what they did to us was not our fault. I think I know that now, but it is a hard lesson." Ton Ton climbed up on the bed and leaned his head on Jon's chest. "I know, but I try and learn it." Supper grew cold, stomachs rumbled but somehow we all stayed together in that room and slept together that night. The phone woke us late the next morning. It was my father calling with the news. Ton Ton's mother had broken down and confessed everything almost as soon as they said Ton Ton was alive. When they started questioning his older brothers they both took their shirts off and showed the police the signs of their own abuse. Regardless all four were in jail pending hearings. The D.A. was promising jail time for all four, even if they cooperated. Family Services had agreed that Ton Ton could stay with us until the end of our vacation. Hopefully the publicity will die down by then. He would stay with Eric until a satisfactory home could be found. For the rest of the two weeks we played, swam, shopped, talked and cried. Jon and I are going to see separate psychiatrists to help with his recovery and my role in it. But he's still going to start school in two weeks. To be continued...