Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:30:09 -0500
From: terry@thestorycloset.org
Subject: Climbing the Hill - Chapter 4 - Travels and Travails

The following story is fiction and may contain sexual content and
situations between males of various ages.  If it is illegal for you to view
such content then please leave this page immediately.  All characters and
names are figments of my imagination and are not meant to resemble or
portray any person in real life - past or present.

All work is copyright protected by the author, me.  No reproduction is
permitted without explicit permission from me.

Enjoy!

========
Four - Travels and Travails

As kisses go, it probably wasn't much. But it was the first time I'd kissed
another guy. And it did last a while. But, it was pretty obvious that we
were both pretty new at this.

Actually, it was fucking great! Who am I bullshitting? I didn't want to
stop! I don't think Scottie did either. But, I had to find out what was
going on so I slowly pulled away from Scottie, never losing eye contact.

I guess I'm not the only crybaby since Scottie's face is wet with tears,
too. Though, hopefully happy tears.

"Scottie, we need to talk, bud", I start. "Not that I don't want you here,
but why ARE you here? I thought you moved to Michigan with your family."

"It's a long story, Toddy. Very long. Longer than even the time we've known
each other. Can we please discuss it somewhere else? I'm cold as hell and
haven't had much to eat these last few days", Scottie replies.

"Where have you been staying? Why haven't you been eating?!", I ask -
starting to get a bit worried.

"Toddy, later -please?"

"Ok, Scott. But I want to get one thing straight right now. I will NOT let
you get away from me as easily as you did last time", I say as I lean in
for another quick kiss.

"Damn, I could get used to this", I say pulling back and throwing my arm
over Scottie's shoulder.

As we walk down the hill I take a good look at Scottie. His clothes are
dirty and it looks like he hasn't showered in a while. He wasn't kidding
when he said he was cold, either - I can feel him shivering under the light
coat he has on. He has dark rings around his eyes from not sleeping.

"Mom's off pulling her shift at the hospital and won't be home til after 9
tonight, so we can go home and get you warm and fed. I have some of your
clothes you left at the house the last day you were there; so you can get a
hot shower and get cleaned up too", I say while pulling him closer to
me. Don't want him to catch a chill, you know.

"Todd, I don't want to be any trouble. You don't have to go -", Scottie
starts to say.

"Cool it, dipshit. You aren't any trouble. And even if you were, you'd be
worth it to me", I say with a grin.

During the trek home I was able to get him to admit that he'd been sleeping
in our old barn, which is used by Mr. Yoder to store hay, so he at least
had some shelter. He also said that he'd had nothing to eat in 3 days.

As we walk in the back door I tell him "OK, here's the plan. You run
upstairs and get a hot shower. I'll make us some eggs, bacon and toast for
lunch while you're doing that. K?" Without waiting for a reply, I continue
"Your pants are in the top drawer of my dresser, and your
shirt..eh... well, it's hanging from my bedpost", that got a questioning
look. "Grab some boxers and whatever else you may need out of my dresser",
I finish.

And yes, I know how to cook! With mom gone so much I had to learn. Though,
I'll admit my knowledge is limited to quick and easy stuff. But at least
I'll never starve!

Scottie came back down about 20 minutes later, just as I was finishing up
the eggs. He looked a LOT better, but you could still tell he was tired as
hell. Lunch was a very quiet affair. He was hungry as hell. I'd fried him 3
eggs the first time and since he demolished them I jumped up and did 2
more. I think maybe he needs a cholesterol test after that meal.

I started cleaning up the dishes and Scottie started to get up to help -
which I stopped with a shake of my head and a dirty look. He's still being
very quiet. Not saying much at all. I'm wondering if it's just because he's
tired or if it's something else.

I know this is as new to him as it is to me. So I can imagine he's just as
nervous about the situation as I am. I can't even imagine the things that
are going on in his head. Hell, I still don't know the details about him
being here - not that I don't want him here - it's just that everything is
such a mystery!

After I finish drying the last of the dishes I walk over behind Scottie and
just put my hands on his shoulders - just needing to know he's still there
and that I'm not dreaming all of this. I gently squeeze his shoulders and I
feel his body jerk a bit. I lean down and look at the side of his beautiful
face and realize he's quietly crying.

Awww, damnit! I can NOT have MY Scottie crying!

I turn his chair and grab him by the hands and pull him up into a tight
hug. Reaching up I gently pull his head against mine as I feel his tears
hit my shoulders - sobs racking his body.

It hurts me sooo damn much to know that he's in pain in some way. In pain
and I don't even know why for sure!

OK, enough of this. I have to know what's hurting my Scottie! I slowly
guide us into the living room and sit Scottie down on the couch. I sit down
beside him and pull him against me. His head against mine, with me rubbing
the back of his neck and running my fingers through his hair. After a while
he tentatively reaches over and takes my free hand into his - not saying a
word.

I don't know what to say. I don't even know where to start! So I just
comfort him until he calms down. Finally, when he seems calm, I glance over
at him as I prepare to try to get him talking.

His eyes are closed, he has a slight smile on his face, and he's sleeping
calmly.

"OK, so I guess we aren't gonna talk now" I think to myself. "But who
cares?! Scottie's here! And he's holding MY hand as he sleeps!

I very gently scoot to the end of the couch, and pull Scotty over so that
he's has his head in my lap and try to make him as comfortable as I can.

I haven't felt this at peace in a long time. I could really get used to
this.

Talking can wait.

******

Several hours later I wake up to find Scottie sleeping in my lap, my hand
in his hair, and my mom looking down at both of us with a confused smile on
her face.

I hold up my finger letting her know to be quiet, and slowly scoot out from
under Scottie. He stirs a bit but doesn't wake up. Mom motions me to follow
her into the kitchen.

"This is quite a surprise", she says as we both sit down at the table.

"It is to me too, mom. But a good surprise, at least to me", I grinned.

I spent the next several minutes explaining the days events to her. She
voiced her concern as to how and why Scottie is here, and, I honestly worry
too.

"I hope he isn't in some kind of trouble, mom. We didn't get a chance to
talk before he dozed off - so I'm still waiting to hear what's going on,
myself", I say.

"Todd, I'm going to let you two talk this out yourselves, initially. And I
trust that if something IS wrong you'll let me know about it", mom said
while giving me a serious look.

"Of course, mom. And I appreciate you trusting me enough to talk to him
about this first. I just hope he'll open up to me and tell me what's going
on. He's been VERY quiet, and my nearly killing him this morning didn't
help", I said worriedly.

"Well, you didn't know it was him, hun - and I'm sure he knows that
too. And I also think he knows he has to talk to you about all of this.",
mom said re-assuringly.

"I know I have to talk to Todd and you both, Mrs. C. - erm, Kathy", he
corrected as my mom gave him a faked mean look. "But please understand that
part of this has to be with Todd only."

"I can totally understand that, sweetie. Why don't you two head upstairs or
where ever while I go get a shower and then whip us up something to snack
on", she said with a smile as she stood up.

I looked over at Scottie and slid my hand across the table to him. He took
it and we both stood up and headed up the stairs.

After sitting on my bed Scottie looks at me and says "Ok, Todd, I generally
don't say much to most people, but I have a huge amount I need to say to
you. Please bear with me though, this is very hard for me."

"Scottie, how 'bout I start? I have just as much to say, and I have this
funny feeling that what I'm going to say may make things a little easier
for you.", I offer. As Scottie nods his head and smiles nervously I quip
"But don't think this means you're getting off easy! You have to talk
too!".

"K, erm.. let's start off with the up front stuff first, I guess. Scottie -
I'm gay. But I think you may know that now. Also, my mother knows I'm
gay. And, erm.. oh hell!", I say in frustration."Scottie, after you kissed
me and walked away, I lost it. I cried off and on for weeks. I was finally
starting to come to terms with who I was, and I actually found myself
falling for you. And the day I made this realization, you kissed me and
left."

"I'd never talked to my mom about my sexuality until just the other
day. The day your card came. The card hit me pretty heavily emotionally and
mom put her foot down and we talked. She told me that she'd pretty much
already figured out that I was gay. And she also told me that she thought
that you and I had feelings towards each other - feelings other than just
friendship."

"Whoa, she did?!" Scottie interrupted. "Oh no, that means she knows about
me too. She's not going to let me spend any time with you now! I came all
this way for nothing!" Scottie finishes, hysterically.

"Scottie.. Scottie!", I yell trying to get his attention.

Finally, I just lunge across the bed and wrap my arms around him. I hate to
see him cry! It drives me nuts to think he's hurting!

"Hey, Scottie", I whisper into his ear. "Scottie, she's ok with it. Calm
down, angel. If she wasn't ok with it do you think she'd let us up here
alone? Deep breaths, Scottie. There we go."

"She's ok with it? She isn't angry at me?", he says as he pulls back and
looks me directly in the eye.

Gawwwd I love his eyes. Hell, I love everything about him!

"No, Scottie. She isn't angry with you. But I think she's worried. And so
am I", I say. Scottie starts to look down, and I reach over and gently lift
his chin, "Not in a bad way, Scottie. I'm just worried about you. I don't
know much about you, Scott. You've never really said much to me. Well, you
have; but not about you!"

"Don't get me wrong, Scottie. I'm very happy you're here. This is the
happiest I've been since you left. I'm just worried how you got here, and
why you're sleeping in our barn. What about your parents? Aren't they going
to be worried?", I finish.

Scottie just looks in my eyes, looking as though he's searching for
something. After what seems like forever he finally says, "Toddy, I don't
have parents anymore. Not since they decided they didn't want anything to
do with a gay 14 year old. My loving, upright, christian family decided
that this fag was NOT their son. That somehow he'd left them and been
replaced by some THING else. The day I came out to them was the day I was
put out."

In a bitter voice he continues. "It's funny. They always said that we
should be open and honest with each other. That by living an honest life,
God would be there for us - guiding us, and making everything all
right. Well, he made everything all right with me, didn't he?"

"I have no family, no home. I've lived with foster families for the last
two years. This last family was the longest I've lived with one - just over
a year. And that was only because I stayed away as much as I could."

"And, for the last few months I was here I was actually happy. I'd found
someone that I really enjoyed being around. Someone that made me feel
special in a way. Someone that made time for me. Someone that I was
beginning to feel something more for. Then I had to leave again", Scottie
finished.

"Then the family I was staying with found out that I couldn't be taken out
of state without permission from Childrens' Services... So.. they dropped
me off at the CS office in Cleveland and left. I was placed with another
family, and things there were bearable until they offhandedly found out I
was gay. I was told to pack my things and be ready when the social worker
shows up. So, I packed my things in a duffle bag and walked out the door. I
hitched and walked until I got here a few days ago.

I was scared to see you so I stayed in the old barn, knowing that nobody
goes there much anymore. This morning I decided I had to at least try to
see you. I'd missed you so much, Toddy. All I wanted to do was just see you
from a distance. I figured you'd be up on your hill sometime or another
today - you're there almost daily. Well, then.. you know the rest", Scottie
finished with a few tears trickling from his eyes.

Scottie looks down - like he's ashamed. This drives me nuts. He has NOTHING
to be ashamed about. It's everyone else in his family that needs to be
ashamed! To treat their own child like that! I was getting angry at how
people had treated my Scottie. But then I realize that he doesn't need
anger right now.

"Scottie... I'm not a religious person, but, someone guided you back
here. So maybe someone is watching over you." Pulling him into a hug, I say
"And if I have anything to say about, NOBODY is ever going to treat you
like that again."

"No, I can guarantee that nobody will treat you like that again, Scottie",
we heard from the bedroom door. Pulling apart and turning towards the door
we see mom standing there."Guys, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on
you, but you left the door open. I came up to get you to come downstairs
and eat.. and well.. What I heard when I walked up sort of riveted me to
the spot."

Turning and looking directly at Scottie, mom says "Scott, you're staying
here. You will NOT be put through that mess again. You understand me,
sweetie? Come Monday I'll start making phone calls to straighten this mess
out. But from this point forward, you have a family if you want one. OUR
family."

==============

This is my first attempt at writing a story.  Please feel free to contact
me at terry@thestorycloset.org with any comments or feedback.  A few newer
chapters and updates of mine, and other author's stories, can be found at
http://terry.thestorycloset.org .

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