Date: Wed, 1 Dec 1999 11:35:15 EST
From: CaRtOoN80@aol.com
Subject: life as i know it 2

Life as I Know It 2

The following story is a work of fiction that does not want to imply that
anyone in this story is gay, lesbian, or bisexual. The storyline may be far
fetched but it's for entertainment purposes only. Thank you


	The next day I woke up after a great dream of Josh and I
again. When I woke up, I thought about the first dream as I picked up the
bouquet I caught. I had to laugh, but then I thought about he reality. He
was extremely growing on me way too fast. I knew I had to slow down on my
feelings. I got up and fixed Jessie and I breakfast. I fixed us some
"Captain Crunch," since my cooking skills where less than good. As I headed
for Jessie's room, the phone rang.

	"Hello," I asked.

	"Hey, honey," My mom said as she yelled though her cellphone. "I am
just checking to see if Jessie and you are ok."

	"We're good. Where are you?"

	"I am heading back to Baltimore. At in an hour. Just wanted to
check on you both."

	"Mom, I've babysat before, besides, Jessie and I have lots of fun
together, and she will have a blast in Florida."

	"I hope so. Well have fun and call me when you get to your house."

	"Sure," I said.

	We said of pleasantries and our good-byes just as Jessie came in
the kitchen.

	"Um, Dilly," she said as she looked at breakfast.

	"Yes,"

	"Why don't I make breakfast."

	With that, Jessie kicked me out of the kitchen and started on with
making breakfast. I went to the living room and turned on the
television. All that was good was Jerry Springer, which wasn't even that
good anymore, and Ricki Lake, which I never liked. In all abandonment, I
turned to MTV just in time to see Backstreet Boys "Larger Than Life"
playing in, as usual, heavy rotation around the MTV clock. I like the
Backstreet Boys, don't get me wrong, but "Larger Than Life" was not some of
their best work. Next was Jennifer Lopez' "Waiting for Tonight," the Hector
Hex remix. I loved that remix. I turned up the volume and started dancing
in the middle of the living room. Jessie walked in, and was surprised to
see me dancing, but soon joined in. The music was so loud that I didn't
even recognize Jessie heading towards the door. As the song ended, I heard
applause from Jessie and Josh, who had rang the doorbell.

	"Nice moves there, good lookin'," Josh smiled.

	Jessie laughed while I know she could see my embarrassment.

	"You're just in time for breakfast, if you want it," Jessie said to
Josh.

	"I'm up for a little hot meal," Josh smiled. "Did you cook, Dylan?"

	"Yeah, right. Dilly couldn't cook toast," Jessie laughed.

	"Hey, I make a slamming Fruity Pebbles," I insisted.

	"Wow," Josh smiled, "you are bad."

	The three of us sat in front of the buffet of eggs, toast, bacon,
and vegetables laid out by Jessie.

	"I am sorry about the big spread," Jessie apologized, "I am used to
cooking for daddy's appetite."

	"I can handle the food," I smiled, "how about you Josh."

	"My appetite can handle anything, when giving something to feed
it," Josh smile back at me.

	"Good, take a plate and dig in," Jessie smiled.

	We all started on the food laid before us.

	"Dilly, could you pass me the hash browns," Jessie asked me.

	"Can I ask you both something, why do you call him Dilly," Josh
questioned.

	I smiled as I handed Jessie the hash browns.

	"That would be my Uncle Jasper's fault," I laughed. "When I was
little, my Uncle Jasper would always say that I would dilly-dally around
the house. Well, when Jessie was a baby, my Uncle Jasper would always try
to teach her to call me "dilly-dally," which he'd always fail."

	"Until I learned to speak," Jessie continued. "My first would was
"dill" Than it just became Dilly."

	"Hey Jessie, can you get me the orange juice," I asked.

	Jessie smiled and walked to the kitchen.

	"Another thing about the name `Dilly," I added, "I only let thoughs
who are extremely close to me call me Dilly. Drew, my bother, used to call
me that until I went to college and Uncle Jasper called me that until he
died 4 years ago."

	"So the only person who calls you that is Jessica," Josh asked.

	"Jessica is the closest think to having a daughter of my own. I
helped my brother raise her. She is a part of me."

	"Well, she's lucky to have a guy in her life like you," Josh smiled
as he placed his hand on mine.

	The telephone rang just as Jessie walked into the dining room with
three glasses of orange juice.

	"I got it," I smiled.

	I took my hand from under Josh's and went to answer then telephone.

	"Hello," I said very pleasantly.

	"Hello, Dylan. It's your father."

	"What would you like," I said in a cold voice.

	"I just wanted to say that as hard as I tried, I cannot except a
gay son in my life. If you can't be the son I want you to be-"

	"Dad, why are we having this conversation then. If you cannot love
me for who I am, then forget you."

	"I never said I don't love you, Dylan. I just can not imagine
having my son and his faggoty boyfriend over for dinner. Just the words "my
son's boyfriend" make the situation uncomfortable."

	"I get it. You want me to come running saying, `Oh daddy, I will be
straight for you!' Well forget it. I will not change myself or my whole
being for anybody, including dear ole' dad."

	By now, Jessie and Josh where standing next to me while I yelled at
my father.

	"Dylan, this is not a trick," my father yelled.

	"Of course it is," I retorted, "The Turner family existence is a
whole trick. You tried to make the perfect normal family, and every time
Drew, I, even mom messed up, you banished us from the family.  Well let me
be the first to say that I do not want to be part of your hypercritical,
self demeaning, shame of a cult"

	With that, I slammed down the phone. I looked at Josh and Jessie's
face.

	"I need air," I said as I ran out of the house.

	Josh tried to follow me, but Jessie stopped him. I ran out and
started running anywhere. Before I knew it, I was jogging to Bakers Pond. I
sat on a log and huffed as I looked at the water flow. Soon, my tears began
to replicate the water in front of me. I knew I did the right thing, but I
still loved my dad. I knew I had to be strong, but how strong did I have to
be? I knew what I had to do. I had to get on with my life. I walked back to
the house to see Josh and Jessie engrossed in General Hospital.

	"Hey,' I said.

	"Shhh," Jessie hissed. "Carly is just about to have sex with
Sonny,"

	We finished watching General Hospital when I looked at the clock.

	"Hey, are you finished packing, "I asked Jessie.

	She rolled her eyes and went upstairs.  Then Josh looked at me.

	"Are you ok," he asked.

	"Your asking about the phone call, aren't you," I frowned.

	"I don't mean to pry," Josh started, "but it's a little creepy to
hear you yelling at the phone then disappear for an hour and a half. Now
Jessie told me to act like nothing has happened, but I can't do that.
Something is immensely bothering you and I want to help you get through
it."

	"How did your parent's take you being gay?"

	"I never told them, really."

	"You won't understand what I am going through until you do. I am
sorry Josh, but Jessie and I have to get ready for a flight."

	"I understand," he said as he got up. "Let me just say goodbye to
Jessie and I will be off. Maybe we can hang out, the three of us, in
Florida. I am heading back there in a couple of days anyway."

	I nodded as he went to say goodbye to Jessie. While he was
upstairs, I wrote down my home number.

	"Here," I said to him as I gave him my number on the way down the
stairs. "This is my number at home. You can call me anytime, I have a
answering machine."

	"Don't mind if I do," he smiled as he placed the paper in his
pocket.

	Josh headed to the door, then turned around and hugged me.

	"Thank you," he whispered in my ear.

	"For what," I whispered back.

	"For making me feel good, inside and out."

	He pecked me on the cheek as he left the house. Jessie, who was
standing there the whole time, came and stood next to me.

	"That was really sweet. If you guys get married, can I call him
Dally," she joked.

	I smiled at her as I said, "You better be pack or I'm going to give
you the tickling of your life."

	She smiled, until she knew I was serious and ran upstairs. I
immediately followed her.


	We landed in Miami right about 8pm. We went to my car and drove
back to my nicely designed apartment. Jessie sat in front of the TV while I
too the newspaper I got from the airport and went to the want ads. There
were a few jobs that seemed interesting, but the one that stuck out to me
was a clothing coordinator for an up and coming singer. Immediately, I
circled the ad and called for an appointment. A nice woman picked up the
telephone and asks some questions to see if I was qualified for the
interview, which I was surprised by. When she said that I should meet her
at the office at 2pm tomorrow, I almost shit a brick. I was finally getting
my-self back together. Being it almost being 8:30 and Jessie and I had not
done a thing, I decided to take us shopping, me for a suitable outfit to
wear tomorrow and her for some nice summer clothes. We got an outfit each
and then decided to do some light "under 23" clubbing at a local club
there. Jessie had fun, and even attract some men's attention there, which I
had to protect her. We got home at two in the morning, ending your rain in
Miami for one day.

	The next day, I woke up and made myself some cereal, as usual,
while Jessie had a coffee and a bagel. I put on the clothes that I bought
the day before and gave Jessie a little money to go to the mall as I headed
out to Orlando. When I got there, I stopped at a mini market to get
something to drink. As I reached for a Tropicana, a hand quickly grabbed
the last one.

	"Excuse me, I need that," I yelled just as my eyes met his. "Josh?"

	"Dylan," Josh smiled, "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

	"Same here. What are you doing in Orlando, I thought N'Sync moved
out west."

	"We did, but I am here to see my parents. They live here, Thought
you were in Miami."

	"I have a job interview. Remember, I lost my job before Drew's
wedding."

	Josh smiled at me and I at him.

	"Oh," he smiled as he handed me the Tropicana, "here is your
drink."

	"You can keep it," I laughed.

	"Ok," he said as he walked to the counter.

	I frowned and picked up another drink, which I was not in the mood
for. I got to the counter and Josh took the drink from my hand and handed
me the Tropicana.

	"Your drink is already paid for," he smiled.

	"Thought you were taking the Tropicana?"

	"You thought wrong," he whispered in my ear as he put the drink
back.

	I waited for him at the door as he bought another drink.

	"So, how long are you staying with your parents," I asked him.

	"Hopefully for awhile. I have a plane ride back home on Monday, so
until then, I'm gonna be at home."

	"Ok, well I gotta head for the interview, so call me when you get a
chance," I said.

	He nodded as he headed for his car. I looked at him wave and drive
away before I headed for my car. I drove to the offices on the outskirts of
Orlando and walked into the door at exactly 1:58. Pamela, the woman I
talked to on the telephone greeted me at the door.

	"Mr. Turner," she smiled.

	"Yes, Dylan Turner," I said as I shook her hand.

	"Hello, I am Pamela Silver. We talked on the
telephone. Mr. Appellate is expecting you in the office.

	Pamela showed me over to a nice wood-like office. I walked in with
my portfolio and my resume.  Mr. Robert Appellate stood up as I entered.

	"Dylan Turner I presume," he said as he extended his arm.

	"Yes, Mr. Appellate," I said as our hands met.

	"Please, sit down."

	We both sat as he asked for my resume and my portfolio. He sat for
what should be about 10 minutes looking at my portfolio and running through
my resume. Then he looked at me.

	"Well, I must say you have what we are looking for. A young,
vibrant man who is capable of making clothes that flatter a person, without
making them look slutty. The person you are fitting is a your woman and,
well let's face it. We do not need another Britney Spears running
around. Well, let me show these to the artist and I will be back in ten
minutes."

	Robert stood up and walked out of the office. Pamela came in and
offered a drink, but I refused. I was too excited about the whole
ordeal. Finally, Robert came back with Jessica Simpson behind him.

	"Dylan, this is Jessica Simpson, the artist you will be working
with," Robert smiled.

	"I got the job," I said as I stood up."

	"You sure do," Jessica said as she shook my hand. "You seem like a
person with good taste and will keep my good nature at heart. I can't pass
you up."

	Jessica invited me to dinner, to meet most of her staff, which I
agreed, a long as Jessie could come along. I quickly drove back to Miami
and told Jessie the news. She was extremely excited as we both rushed to
get ready. While Jessie was in the shower, I received two messages.

"Hello, this is the home of Dylan Turner. Please leave a message at the
beep: BEEP

	`Hello, Dylan. This is Pamela Silver. Congratulations of the new
job and we hope that you enjoy yourself while you are working for us. The
dinner will be in Orlando. The directions and the invitations should be in
the packet I gave you before you left. If you cannot make it due to an
emergency, the number to reach me is in the packet as well. Hope to see you
there, however, Good-bye, Dylan and congratulations.'

BEEP

	`Hello, Dylan? Jessica? Um, this is Josh. Listen, I need a place to
crash until my plane leaves. My parents and I- Well I'll talk about it when
I call you. My cell number is.."

	I wrote down the number as I heard the sad, frighten, raspy voice
of Josh. As soon as I got the number, I called Josh and told him he was
welcome here. I gave him the address and directions. Next I called Pamela
and cancelled.

	"What's going on, Dilly," Jessie asked as she saw me start taking
off my tie.

	"We're not going," I sighed. "JC is in need of help, so I am going
to help him."

To be continued


Please, tell me what you think of this story so far. Send questions and
comments to cartoon80@aol.com.
Thank you.