It is not my intention to offend anyone or to get you in trouble.

The author retains all rights to this original story. Please do not publish without explicit authorization from me.

Disclaimer:
This story is completely fictional. Most of the places mentioned, and none of the characters exist in real life. Some may possess physical or personality characteristics of people I know or have known. But if you see yourself in this story, your imagination is better than mine!

All best, Jon

If you like my story, drop me a line. I'd love to hear from you: seperatepiece@hotmail.com

Matt and Jon

Chapter 27

Jon and Matt woke up early on Saturday morning and headed to the bathroom without waking the others. They showered together more out of practicality than lust. As two hormone charged teens, they couldn’t refrain entirely from pleasuring each other, but they were aware that the others would want to get into the bathroom as well, so it was a hurried affair with soapy hands flying furiously. When they’d dried off and put on the clean clothes they’d brought, they returned to the den.

“Bathroom’s free.” Matt called out cheerfully as the groggy guys began to open their eyes.

“C’mon Eric. We might as well go together.” Ryan said as he held out his hand to pull Eric up off the floor. “Just to save time, you understand.” He added to the rest of the group.

“How thoughtful of you.” Trevor said with a snicker.

Matt and Jon headed for the kitchen and got breakfast underway. By the time all the boys came in, they had the first batch of waffles keeping warm in the oven while they continued to turn them out. Matt had bacon sizzling in two skillets on the stove, and Jon was warming up some maple syrup in the microwave.

Shelley and Dan were impressed with the spread the boys had prepared and offered to do the dishes so they could get going to the fair. When they’d demolished the last waffle, they all headed out for the church. Jamie said his goodbyes, jumped on his bike and headed for the Barker’s house. Bill was going to drive him to the station, then drop himself off back at home so Alan and Jamie could use the minivan for the day.

The church lawn was buzzing with activity when they arrived, and they all were put right to work, whether they attended the church or not. Trevor and Andy began setting up tables and chairs for the outdoor café while Matt helped to get the grills going for the hotdogs and hamburgers. Jon was busy setting up his spin art booth, while the girls supervised the younger kids carrying wagon loads of pumpkins out of the building. Marla was drafted to do face painting because of her makeup experience. Ryan, Eric, and LittleTom helped get the hayride wagon ready, while Todd and Joel iced down the soft drinks.

When Matt had the grills going to his satisfaction, he went over to the spin art booth to visit with Jon before the public arrived.

Matt handed Jon a dollar. “I want to be your first customer.”

Jon smiled as he slotted a card onto the turntable. Matt squeezed blobs of paint onto the card.

“Hey Matt. That’s too much. Save some for the other little kids.” Jon chided.

“Never interrupt a great artist at work.” Matt huffed, as he continued to pile on the paint.

“Are you finished?” Jon asked, rolling his eyes.

“There,” Matt proclaimed. “Give that a spin.”

Jon flicked the switch, and the machine hummed into life, spinning around and streaking the paint all over the little canvas.

“Say when, Picasso.”

When Matt felt that the paint had been sufficiently streaked, he indicated to Jon to turn off the machine. Jon dutifully indulged his boyfriend by fitting his creation into one of the little cardboard frames and handing it to him.

Matt handed it back to him. “I want you to have it.”

Jon took it back from him and tossed it on the grass next to his water bottle. “I’ll treasure it always.” He intoned with mock reverie.

“Hey! That’ll be worth something someday. It’s from my blue period.” Matt affected a horrified expression.

Jon laughed. “Which lasted all of, what…45 seconds?”

“That’s why it’s so rare.” Matt pointed out triumphantly.

He leaned over and gave Matt a peck on the cheek. “You know I’ll keep it sweetie. Everything from you is special to me.”

“That’s more like it.” Matt grinned. He thought he’d better get back to his station as people were starting to arrive.

During the course of the day, the lines at both concessions were pretty much non-stop. Matt looked cheerfully to the next customer. “May I hel…” His face fell when he saw Shade standing there.

“Look Shade, if you want something, I’ll be happy to get it for you, but if you just came to…”

Shade held up his hand. “Listen Barker. This isn’t easy for me, so just be quiet, will ya.”

Matt was encouraged by the fact that he hadn’t called him “queerass,” or “fag,” or any number of other names he seemed to come up with. Matt waited.

“Look, I just wanted to tell you that my uncle is getting out in a week. He got his job back, thanks to your father’s letter. We were lucky that they hadn’t replaced him yet. Anyways, I don’t know why he did it, but I have a feeling you put him up to it. So…thanks.”

Matt extended his hand and Shade shook it with a lopsided smile. “Jon’s the one you should thank. He’s the one who asked my father to do it.”

Shade chuckled and shook his head in disbelief. “What’s with that kid anyway?”

Matt shrugged. “Sometimes I have no idea.” He said with a grin. “So, you want a burger?”

“Sure, why not. You guys are supposed to be good cooks, right?”

Matt took the remark in the friendly spirit it was intended. “I do alright.” He said with a grin as he handed the other boy a burger and took his money. He watched Shade make his way to a table. The next customer in line was Pastor Margaret. She had to call his name to get his attention.

“Oh, sorry. What can I get you?” Matt offered apologetically.

Pastor Margaret smiled at him. “I’ll take a cheeseburger.” She smiled at one of her favorite young parishioners as he expertly slid a burger onto a bun for her.

“Matt, I heard what that boy said to you. He’s the one whose uncle threw the bricks?”

Matt nodded. “The last time we spoke, he was so full of hate. I can’t believe he came here today to thank me.”

She put her hand on his. “Matt, I have no doubt that God is using you and Jon to work a miracle in that boy’s heart. Even bad things happen for a reason.”

Matt watched as the pastor made her way across the lawn and took a seat across from Shade and offered him her hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he was aware that they had quite a long conversation before he saw Shade making his way over to the spin art booth. He smiled to himself, knowing that his emotional boyfriend was going to be a teary mess later. He looked forward to holding him in his arms while he expressed his joy. He also knew that he would probably shed a few tears of his own.

Across town, Jamie waited anxiously on the platform with Bill as they watched the train pull into the station. For the first time since contacting Alan, Jamie was feeling a little nervous. What if his brother didn’t recognize him? Would he recognize Alan? What if Alan didn’t like him? All of these thoughts dissolved when Alan stepped off of the train. The second Jamie saw him; he bounded into his waiting arms. Alan hugged him tightly to his chest.

“Hey punk. I missed you so much.”

Jamie had almost forgotten that Alan used to call him that. It felt so good to hear it again. Bill watched from a distance, enjoying the reunion silently. When they broke the embrace, Jamie dragged Alan by the arm to meet Bill. The two men shook hands. Bill led the way to the minivan, and they all got in. Bill drove the five minutes to the house.

“I’ll admit I’m curious how a 16 year old street urchin wound up as a lawyer at a high power firm, but I think the most important thing right now is that you get to re-meet your awesome little brother.”

Alan smiled. “Mr. Barker, I can’t thank you enough for putting us in touch. As well as things are going for me, I always had an ache inside not knowing how he was doing. Leaving Jamie is the one thing that bothered me all these years…well, that and my mom.”

“Please. Call me Bill.” Bill said as he wheeled the minivan into the driveway. He left the car running and stepped out. “I assume you remember you way around?”

“Well, it’s changed a lot, but I’m sure Jamie can fill me in as we go.” Alan answered as he slid into the driver’s seat, and Jamie scrambled to the front seat.

When Bill had disappeared into the house, Alan looked across at Jamie. “Where do you live now? I want to see.”

Jamie hung his head. When Alan was still at home, they lived in a small house in a clean, respectable blue collar neighborhood. Jamie’s current address was a dingy apartment over a liquor store in a run down area of town. He shook his head.

“Can’t we just go to the diner? You used to take me there when I was little. I’d like that, Alan.”

Alan smiled a sad smile as he gazed at his little brother. He knew he hadn’t had an easy life, and was determined not to push him. “Okay punk. Whatever you say.”

Alan backed out of the driveway and headed back downtown. When they were seated in a booth at the diner, Alan gazed at Jamie.

“Sorry if I’m staring, but I just can’t believe I’m sitting across the table from you.” Alan said, scooping Jamie’s hands into his own and squeezing them as if to confirm that he really existed.

“Alan…what was it like for you…after you left?”

Alan sighed. He knew that Jamie would have to be curious, but he was hoping not to have to share his odyssey right away.

“Well, you remember my friend Brett?” He began.

Jamie nodded. “I ran into him a couple of times at the mall, and he’d ask about you.”

“When I left that night, I went to his house. I didn’t know where else to go. I stayed there for a few days, but his parents were getting suspicious. I decided to go into the city where I thought I could be more anonymous. You know, kind of get lost in the crowd. The night I left, I went around to the house and looked in the window of our room. I saw mom holding you while you cried. God Jamie. I swear I never wanted to leave you.” A tear escaped Alan’s eye and slid down his cheek.

Jamie squeezed his hand. “Alan, it’s okay. You didn’t have a choice.”

Alan sniffed and went on. “Anyway, dad came in and told mom not to molly coddle you or she’d turn you into a fag like me. Jamie, I ran as fast as I could. Brett had lent me train fare, and I made it to the city. I was crying the whole way.”

Jamie looked steadily into his brother’s eyes. “How did you survive? What did you do for food and shelter?”

Alan held his gaze. “Jamie, I’m not really proud of that, but I did what I had to do. I slept in Penn Station the first night. I still looked fairly respectable, and I had my duffle bag, so I looked like I could be waiting for a train, I guess. That first day, I went looking for something to eat. I had breakfast out of a restaurant dumpster. It was summer, so it was still warm at night. I spent the next night in an alley. I don’t really remember what I did the next day, but that night a well dressed guy in his 40s approached me and asked me if I needed a place to stay.”

Jamie looked at his brother’s face and he knew where this was going. “Oh Alan, I’m sorry.”

Alan smiled wanly. “It was a long time ago. I figured I was gay anyway, and I really needed the money. I wasn’t prepared for how bad it would make me feel to have this guy pawing me all night and treating me like a commodity for his gratification. Just four nights before, I’d slept in our room with you in the next bed. I was a kid, and now…”

His voice trailed off. Jamie studied his face. “Alan, you don’t have to tell me this if you don’t want to.”

“No Jamie. I want…need to tell you this. Besides, that’s the worst part. Anyway, he gave me 50 dollars the next morning and told me he was going on a business trip but that he’d be back in town in two weeks, and that I should meet him at the same place. I agreed, and left. I knew the money would have to last me for awhile, but I was so hungry. I splurged on a big breakfast. The rest of the day, I just wandered around the city. Finally, around 5:00, I passed a church. I saw people going in for mass. I had nowhere else to go, and I figured I’d kill some time. Mom used to take us to church, so it was comforting and familiar. When the mass ended, I didn’t want to leave, so I sat there for awhile, just staring into space. After awhile, the priest came over to me and asked if everything was alright. I just told him I was fine. I didn’t want him to call Child Protective Services or anything. I really didn’t know who I could trust. I thought they’d put me in an orphanage or something.”

Jamie tried to imagine what it was like for him. He was fairly streetwise himself, so he had an idea of how Alan must have felt.

“Eventually I left. The Father told me I was always welcome. I don’t really remember the next few days. It’s all sort of a blur. I managed to find places to sleep somehow. I met some other street kids who kind of looked out for me. The next Saturday evening, I was drawn back to church. It just felt so good to do something normal, and forget about my troubles for awhile.”

Jamie cast his mind back to his early childhood. He remembered sitting between his mother and brother in church. He didn’t really understand what was going on, but he remembered being in awe of the drama of it. When he’d get bored and start to fidget, Alan would whisper funny things to him about people in the room, and make little jokes. His mother would look sternly at him when he’d giggle while Alan pretended to be paying attention with an innocent look on his face. As soon as his mom would turn away, Alan would give him a wink.

Alan continued his saga; bringing Jamie back to the present. “Anyway, the priest invited me to a potluck dinner in the basement after mass. I was starving, so I accepted. He must have noticed that I really pigged out.” Alan said with a chuckle.

Jamie was reminded of his own feeding frenzy at the Barker’s cook out. There was always something to eat at home, but it was rare that he had the chance to really chow down like only a teenager can do.

“Anyway, everyone was really nice to me, and as I was leaving, Father Andy handed me a card. It had the address of the rectory and his phone number. He told me that the parish had a hot meal program and a shelter and that I was welcome there anytime. No questions asked. I remember being embarrassed that he’d figured out that I was homeless. I guess I was starting to look a little ratty by then. I put the card in my pocket and left.

“At the end of the week, I was supposed to meet the older guy again and go to a hotel for the night with him. I didn’t want to do it, but I needed the money. Also, I was looking forward to having a proper shower instead of washing up as best I could in men’s rooms. I got about a block away from where I was supposed to meet him. I could see him standing on the corner. I stuck my hands in my pockets and felt the card that Father Andy had given me. That moment, I made a decision that changed my life.”

Alan told Jamie about the shelter. He’d made friends, and felt accepted, but always wondered if Father Andy would kick him out if he knew about his sexuality. He knew that the Catholic Church disapproved of his preference. One night he approached him in his study. He told him he felt guilty about accepting his hospitality and living a lie. Father Andy assured him that when he told him “no questions asked,” he’d meant it. He told him that though the teachings of the church are against homosexual acts, they are not against gay people themselves, and that God offers love and forgiveness to everyone.

Alan was relieved that Father Andy understood, but he had to tell him that he didn’t think that he’d need forgiveness for falling in love. Father had smiled, and told him that that was between God and he, and that it in no way affected his status at the shelter.

Jamie beamed at his brother. “Some of my friends are gay and they go to church. I went with them last week. Matt and Jon sing in the choir.”

“I’m so glad you found such cool friends Jamie, I can’t wait to meet them.”

Jamie smiled across the table at his big brother. “So how did you become a lawyer?”

“Well, once I knew that Father Andy wasn’t going to kick me out, I trusted him more and more. True to his word, he never asked me a thing, but I ended up telling him everything. I told him about dad, and even about the older guy.”

Jamie’s eyes went wide. “What did he say about that?”

“Oh, he totally understood. He said he knew I did it for survival. He even said that in some ways, I was an innocent victim. He was also impressed that when I was faced with the decision again, I’d made the right choice.”

“Wow, he sounds like a really cool guy.”

“Yeah, with my approval, he managed to get guardianship of me. Looking back on it as a lawyer, I realize that mom and dad must have been involved in that. I didn’t think of it at the time, but I never went to court, so they had to have agreed to it without a fight.

“Anyway, I lived at the shelter and attended the parish school. Even though we didn’t live under the same roof, Father Andy was like a real father to me. He made me tow the line…well, all of us really. I graduated with honors and got a partial scholarship to a state college. I made up the rest of my tuition by working nights. That and a little help from Father Andy’s slush fund. I majored in pre-law, and was pretty high in my class ranking. I’ll never forget that summer after I graduated. I’d done pretty well on the L.S.A.T.s, but I was still sweating out my applications to law schools. I was living in a little apartment with my former roommate from college and working as an office temp.”

Jamie asked without thinking, “was your roommate…close?” He stammered an apology. “I’m sorry, that’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Alan laughed. “Nah, it’s okay punk. You can ask me anything. We’ve already missed too much of each other’s lives. To answer your question, Steven is straight. We were just really good friends, and we both needed a roommate. Anyway, I came home from work one day, and Steven met me at the door waving an envelope over his head, well, I grabbed it out of his hand and saw right away that it was from Fordham Law School admissions department. Man, Jamie, my hands were trembling. I just sat there at the table staring at it. Steven finally said if I didn’t open it, he would. I tore it open and looked at it. When I saw that I’d been accepted, I jumped up from the table and hugged Steven so hard I thought I’d broken his ribs. Then I ran the 20 blocks to the church to show Father.”

“He must have been really proud of you.” Jamie said, as he wiped the beginning of a tear from his eye. He wished that he could have been there to share his big brother’s elation.

“Oh, he just chuckled and told me that after the recommendation he’d written me, he was surprised they didn’t make me dean. He also said that he’d meant every word and that I’d really worked hard for it and earned it.”

“Do you still see him?” Jamie asked.

“Yeah, I volunteer my legal services for the kids at the shelter. I also still go to mass once in awhile. I could never really reconcile myself with many of the churches policies, but I always find the spiritual side of it comforting. I may not agree with them about everything, but they saved my life. I’ll never forget that.”

“I hope I get to meet him some day.” Jamie said sincerely.

“Oh, you will punk. There’s someone else I want you to meet too.” Alan said with a sly smile.

“Oh? Someone special?” A smile spread across Jamie’s face.

“Yeah. Bennet. The man I love.” Alan answered.

“Is he a lawyer too?” Jamie asked.

“No, but the next best thing. Bennet’s a doctor. He has an office in the ground floor of the building where I live. He’s a little older than me, but not by much really. About a month after I moved in, I went to him for an ear ache. After that, I kept running into him in the lobby and one day he surprised me and asked me out. We really hit it off, and after dating for about a month, I told him it was silly that he commuted from across town, when he could move in with me and be right upstairs from his practice. He asked me if I was proposing to him. I said yes, he accepted, and the rest is history. Jamie, I love him with all my heart. I just know you two will get along great.”

Jamie laughed. “If you love him, that’s good enough for me.”

Alan took a sip of his coffee. “So punk. Enough about me. Tell me about your life.”

The smile vanished from Jamie’s face. He shrugged. “It’s okay I guess. Dad pretty much ignores me. Mom really tries, but…”

Alan slid the plates aside and took Jamie’s hands in his. “What is it, Jamie?”

Jamie sighed. “She’s never been the same since you left, Alan. She got real depressed at first. She hardly left her room. She loves me, and like I said, she tries real hard, but sometimes she stares out the window for hours. I do most of the cooking these days or we’d starve to death.” Jamie said with a dry laugh.

“How are you doing in school? Are you at Southside now?” Alan asked, trying to lighten the mood.

Jamie brightened. “Yeah. It’s a breeze. I get straight A’s. My friends think I’m some kind of egghead, but really, it just comes naturally for me, I guess.”

Alan laughed. “Just like your big brother.”

Jamie beamed with pride. “Yup. Just like him…well, almost!”

The two shared a much needed laugh. “In all the ways that matter, anyway.” Jamie added.

There was a lot more that Alan wanted to know, but he decided to let Jamie tell him in his own time. He didn’t want him to feel like he was giving him the third degree.

“Jamie, have you got a wallet?” He asked, much to Jamie’s surprise.

Jamie pulled out a nylon wallet with a Velcro closure. “I found it in our room when we moved. It was yours.”

He opened it and showed Alan an old family portrait. It was faded, but you could still see the four of them clearly. Alan was holding Jamie on his lap.

“Alan…I never forgot what you said that night…before you left.”

Alan gazed at the old photo. He remembered they had gotten it done for a Christmas card when he was 14. It seemed like another lifetime. He felt a lump in his throat.

He reached in his pocket and took out his own wallet. He handed Jamie a crisp new $50.00 bill.

“Jamie, fold this up and hide it in your wallet. If you ever have to get away, this will be plenty for the train and a cab to my building. I’ll tell the doorman to let you in if I’m not there. Bennet will be in his office most days too.”

Jamie was reluctant. “Alan, you don’t have to do that. I can always go to the Barkers or the Kents in an emergency. I’ll be all right.”

“Jamie, please take it. I’ll feel much better knowing you can get to me if you have to, in case they’re not home or something. Besides, you might just want to come for a visit.”

Jamie smiled and stashed the bill. Alan pulled out another bill. This time a $100.00 bill.

“This is for you. Spend it on something nice, or just piss it away with your friends. Anything you want.” He smiled as he slid it across the table.

Jamie started to protest, but Alan would have none of it. “Look Jamie, I’m doing really well and I want to share my good fortune with my little brother. It’s about time someone spoiled you a little. Besides, if it’s my wallet, I get to say what goes in it, right?”

Jamie smiled. “Thanks Alan.” He said shyly.

Alan looked at his watch. “Okay, punk, if we leave soon, we can catch some of the fair before we go for pizza, but first there’s one more thing.”

Jamie watched as Alan slid his hand into his jacket pocket and brought out a cell phone. He slid it across the table toward his brother.

“I lost track of you once, and I’m not going to let it happen again.” He fished the charger out of his other pocket and set it on the table by the phone.

Jamie’s eyes went wide. He was speechless.

Alan told him he had programmed his home, work, and cell numbers into it, as well as Bennet’s office and cell.

“It’s an additional line to my account. The minutes are practically unlimited, so knock yourself out. It doesn’t cost anything to use it.” He explained.

Jamie picked it up and looked it over like it was from another planet. He turned it over in his palm, marveling that it was so small.

Alan chuckled, reaching into his inside pocket and fishing out the user’s manual. “Here I guess you’ll be needing this as well.”

He knew that Jamie wouldn’t be up on the latest technology, like most kids his age.

“Alan, I don’t know what to say.”

Alan laughed. “How about ‘c’mon big brother, let’s go to the fair.’”

Jamie grinned. “C’mon big brother, let’s go to the fair.” He parroted enthusiastically.

Alan paid the check, and the Mathers brothers went to the minivan with their arms around each others shoulders.

How about that? I actually got another chapter out in a timely fashion (he says, patting himself on the back). I have heard from a lot of you, and I appreciate all of your emails very much. I enjoy answering each one personally, and look forward to hearing from you again, or from newcomers as well.

All the very best, Jon