Date: Wed, 6 Dec 2000 17:48:00 -0500 From: Bill Porter Subject: My Bodyguard Chapter 21 My Bodyguard Chapter 21 A very special thanks to Ed for editing this chapter. This story is not true. This is a story of love, trust, hope, and commitment. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between two teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There will be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't read it. New Web Page: http://wpstories.tripod.com/ Thank you for all your e-mails. If I have missed answering you, I am truly sorry. I have tried to answer all of them. Please continue to send me your comments. ************* We got to our 1st period class the next day and the principal came on the intercom announcing an assembly 2nd period. About five minutes later the principal's secretary came in our class and directed us to follow her. Once we were out of the classroom she said that the principal wanted to see us. We followed her to the principal's office. When we walked into his office there was a well-dressed man with the principal. "Mark, Mike, after I read the newspaper article last night I called my college roommate and he agreed to come and address our student body today. Let me introduce you to the Honorable Mayor Richard M. Daley." "Hello, Mark and Mike, it is good to finally meet you. I knew that your parents would not be able to attend my presentation in Chicago next week. When your principal and my friend, Roger Smith, called me last night I decided to present you with your citations here in front of your peers and your parents as well as in Chicago next week. I have contacted your parents and they will be here." "Principal Smith also explained to me the problems that Mike had and the reasons that Mark is here. I intend to address the student body on school violence. In Chicago we have had a really hard time controlling it. By the way, Mark, your uniform suits you. If you decide that you want a job in law enforcement in Chicago, I have a job waiting for you." "Thank you, Mayor Daley, but I want to be a doctor." "We have some very fine medical schools in Chicago. Should you decide to go to school there you could work for the city while you are going to school." "That is very kind of you, sir, and I will keep that in mind." "Okay, boys, here is the plan. You will be sitting on the platform along with your parents. I'm going to say a few works and then introduce Mayor Daley. The Mayor is going to make a speech and then will present you with your citations. You will then sit back down and I will say a few closing remarks. Any questions?" "No, sir, but I do have another matter to discuss with you. Yesterday we had a minor matter come up and I used my discretion. It did not involve Mike but another student. I documented the incident." "That's fine, Mark, just make sure that you keep me informed and give me a copy of your documentation. That way if there are more problems and you are not here I can use my discretion." "Mark, was the information we sent you on your father helpful?" "Yes, sir, I was able to do a complete background check. I couldn't have done that without your help." "I'm glad we were able to help. If you need anything else just let me know." "Let's go ahead and go to the auditorium. The assembly is going to start in ten minutes," Principal Smith said. When we got to the auditorium, my parents and Mark's mom and Sam and his wife were waiting for us. Principal Smith introduced Mayor Daley to our parents. We sat down and the first period bell rang. Students started to filter into the auditorium. After everyone was seated, Principal Smith walked up to the podium. "May I have your attention. It's not every day that one of our students distinguishes himself or herself. Today we have two students that have distinguished themselves. We have a special guest who is here to address you. Let me without further ado introduce to the student body and faculty the Mayor of Chicago, the Honorable Richard M. Daley." "Greetings, students and faculty. It is my great privilege and honor to present two members of your school with a certificate of valor. But, before I get to that, I would like to say a few words on school violence. In Chicago we have over 1000 schools. We have problems with gang violence, extortion, assault and battery, and murder. We have metal detectors in all our high schools to keep guns and knives out. We have instituted a number of policies to try to control these problems. We have also placed armed guards and policeman in our schools. One thing we haven't tried is to place student police officers in our schools. Recently you also had some problems with school violence. Principal Smith has told me that he was at his wit's end trying to stop bullying and harassment of students. Fortunately a solution presented itself which has worked out extraordinarily. "In Chicago we try to be open-minded and ahead of other cities when it comes to being tolerant of minorities and those that are different. I am proud to say that three years ago we were the first major city in the United States to offer insurance and other benefits for same-sex couples. We took a lot of heat from certain groups for our actions. Regardless, we chose to stick to our policy of nondiscrimination." "Over the course of the last three years a gang has been terrorizing the Chinatown section of Chicago. We had identified four of them in connection with numerous muggings, assaults, and even murder. I have been on the police chief's case for two years to solve these crimes. He hired extra police officers and undercover police officers to apprehend these criminals. We had no luck." "Two of your students visited Chicago last weekend. They made a trip to Chinatown for dinner. Our four main suspects in these crimes decided to try to mug them. What they didn't know was one of them was a deputy sheriff and armed. Within the next two minutes these two young men did what Chicago's finest hadn't done in three years. They brought into custody the four main suspects in our investigation." "As a result of their testimony and information from prior investigations, we were able earlier this week to get confessions from the suspects. They aren't going to be back on the street for at least the next 20 years." "The Certificate of Valor I am presenting these young men is the same award I would give a police officer for performing above and beyond the call of duty. But these young men were not police officers in the city of Chicago. One of them has no experience with police work and yet, when attacked, he defended his friend and his friend's mother. The two assailants who attacked him are lucky to be alive." "At this time, I ask that Mike Stevens and Mark Adams join me here at the podium." Mark and I got up and walked toward the podium. I was really nervous. I had never been in front of so many people at once in my life. And they were all looking at me. "Mike Stevens and Mark Adams, I am proud to present you with this City of Chicago Certificate of Valor. Valor means courage and boldness, as in battle, and bravery. In addition, Mark Adams, I hereby appoint you an honorary member of the Chicago police force. What that means is when you are in Chicago you have a right to act, if you see a crime, as if you are a Chicago police officer. Also you have the right to use the resources of the Chicago police department even if you're not in town. Here is your honorary badge." The Mayor handed us our certificates. I was incredibly nervous. I think Mark was too. As soon as we had our certificates and Mark his badge, the auditorium erupted with applause. After the applause died down, Mayor Daley addressed the audience again. "Mike and Mark, you may take your seats." "A week from tomorrow in Chicago before the City Council, Mark and Mike will again receive this award. I am proud that I was able to also present this award before you today. I hope you realize how lucky you are to have Mark and Mike at your school." "When I get back to Chicago I'm going to talk to school officials about instituting student police officers in our schools. From what Principal Smith has told me, it has worked well here. As you know, schools are no longer a safe place. Even in small schools in small towns, violence is commonplace. When I went to school, the worst things kids did was talk in class, chew gum, and occasionally fall asleep. Today teachers and students fear for their lives. Each and every one of you should be thankful that, because of students like Mike and Mark, you can have a safe environment in which to learn." "I would like to thank Principal Smith, the faculty, and you, the students, for allowing me to address you today. And a special thanks to Mike's and Mark's parents for raising such fine young men. Now I need to get back to Chicago. I give you Principal Smith." "As I said two months ago, there will be no tolerance in this school for bullying, threatening, or violence against any student. You are here to learn. Yesterday several of you forgot this policy. This is your last warning. Before you open your mouth and put someone else down, think, think about your future. Think about those that are no longer in this school." After those well chosen words, Principal Smith excused us from the assembly. Mayor Daley took a few minutes to talk to our parents. After that he left and we went on to class. When Mark and I walked into gym class we were greeted with applause. At lunch our table was the most popular one in the lunchroom. Ken sat with us again and so did Doug. I have never been popular at school and I think all the attention was starting to get to me. After lunch things settled down a bit. The next day at school things got back to normal. I mean really normal. I hadn't felt this way since before I was outted. Kids said hi to me who hadn't talked to me in three months. I guess it was a combination of two things - first, the presentation by Mayor Daley, and second, the fact that Mark hadn't busted the two kids the day before. I learned something. I guess discretion really is the better part of valor. After school we made a trip down to Linden to spend the weekend at Mark's house. His mother was off both Friday night and Saturday. When we arrived, we walked in the house and noticed the dining room table nicely set. Mark's mom came walking out of the kitchen. "Mark, Mike, I have prepared a special dinner for you tonight to celebrate the awards you received this week. I am going out tonight. I have a hot date. I'll be home late. Don't destroy the place." "That's very nice of you, Mom, but you fixed this meal, you should share it with us." "I told you I have a hot date. Don't worry about me. I plan on having a great time tonight. And, anyway, you boys don't get much time alone." Mark knew better than to try to argue with his mother. We went out to the truck and brought in our stuff. As soon as we got back, she had dinner on the table. "Goodnight, boys, I'll be back well after midnight, so don't wait up." "Goodnight, Mrs. Adams, and have fun." Mark said goodnight to his mom and we sat down to dinner. It was excellent; she had prepared salads and soup for an appetizer. Then she had chicken cordon bleu with wild rice and hollandaise sauce. For dessert she had key lime pie. After dinner we went in the living room after cleaning the table. Mrs. Adams had rented a couple of videos for us to watch that were on the coffee table. Both were action adventure movies. I cuddled up in Mark's strong arms and we watched the movies. I guess I fell asleep and Mark carried me to his bed because the next thing I knew it was morning. After getting up we found we had about four inches of new snow on the ground. Mark and I got dressed and went out and shoveled his driveway. After that we went over to Ron's and worked out with him. He showed me several new moves and, although I'm short, I've been learning to use that to my advantage. When we got back to Mark's house, Mark's mom was up. "Did you have fun last night, Mom?" "I sure did, how about you boys?" "We did too, thanks for everything." "Mark, I need to talk you about next week. I assume you're going to see your father and there are some things I think you need to know." "Mom, I did background check on him this week with the help of Sam's computer. I also got some information from Mayor Daley. I basically know the whole story and, don't worry, I'm not going to let him hurt me again. But, I also love him unconditionally. Perhaps, if he sees my unconditional love for him, he will learn to love me unconditionally." "That is a really mature attitude, Mark. That is far more mature than my attitude toward him. They say to make mistakes is human and to forgive divine. I guess you could say I'm human but your attitude is divine." "I am going to try to confront him on the information I have found out. Nevertheless, if he can accept me for who I am, I can accept him for who he is." Mark and I spent the rest of the day enjoying each other's company and peace and quiet. The next day we headed home. Once we got home we did laundry, homework, and got ready for another week of school. Monday came far too quickly and we found ourselves back at the old routine. Ken sat with us at lunch every day and he was really starting to grow on us. We were joined by someone new every day. It seemed like everyone in school wanted to get to know us. Before we knew it, Thursday afternoon had arrived and we were packing for our trip to Chicago.