Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2005 18:56:16 -0800 (PST)
From: Fup Duck <fupduckmd@yahoo.com>
Subject: Life Goes On - David and Chad #28

STANDARD DISCLAIMER: This is the continuation of David's story.  One of two
boys loving each other.  So the same disclaimer applies.  If you can't
handle that, or it's illegal to read this in your area, or you're underage,
then now is the time to leave.  If you continue reading after that
admonishment, Nifty and I aren't responsible.

There could also be incidents of unprotected sex.  As always, I don't
condone this practice - especially in this day and age.

A short chapter to officially end David's summer vacation.

Fup

******************************************************************************
FROM CHAPTER 27

"Guaranteed," David smiled, rubbing the back of his hand down Chad's arm.
"You too."  Chad nodded and backed away as David started the car.  "Love ya
kiddo," he said quietly through the open window.

"Love you too, Dave.  See ya."

David nodded and put the car in gear, turning around and starting down the
driveway.  He waved through the window at Chad and his parents who were
standing on the porch.  They waved back and David watched in the rearview
mirror as Chad walked back to the house and went inside.  One last thing to
do, he thought, heading toward his parents'.


LIFE GOES ON - DAVID AND CHAD #28 - Shedding The Old Skin

The smell of fried chicken greeted him as he got out of the car.  As if on
cue, his stomach rumbled.  "Guess the kid's not the only one who has a
bottomless pit," he chided himself.  He didn't bother knocking on the door
this time, since his dad's truck was already gone.  "Something smells
beauteous," he laughed, walking into the kitchen.

"Hello, David, how are you?" his mother asked from the stove.

"Better now," he replied, sitting on a barstool.

"Well, good, I figured this would be your last home-cooked meal for a
while."

"I was hoping I wouldn't have to go to McDonald's," he smiled.

"You kids and fast food," his mom complained, shaking her head.

So far so good, David thought.  He promised Lynn he wasn't going to 'get
into it' with their mother, and was certainly going to try to uphold his
end of the bargain.  "Where's Lynn?"

"She's out to dinner with her latest boyfriend.  Did you two get everything
accomplished today?"

"Yeah, got all the stuff in the car.  Was going to bring it in, but well,
the smell got the better of me."

"I'll help you bring it in after we eat.  Why don't you get cleaned up and
I'll put the stuff on the table."

David walked back to the bathroom and washed his hands.  Returning to the
dining room, he saw the spread his mom had on the table.  "Daggone, mom,
you didn't have to fix all this."

"Just sit down and eat," his mother laughed.  "What you don't finish, Lynn
and your dad will have for leftovers."

David did as ordered, willingly.  He looked up once to see his mother
shaking her head at his appetite.  "What?" he managed around a mouthful of
chicken.

"I'm just amazed how much you can put away," she laughed again.

"Hey," David responded with mock offense, "can't help it if I love your
fried chicken."  They continued an easy banter throughout the meal.  David
finally pushed his plate away.  "Man, I'm stuffed."

"No dessert?"

"Whew, mom, not right now.  I'd probably explode."

"You make a mess, you clean it up," she warned.

David helped her with the dishes, then they retired to the living room.
David slouched on the sofa and grinned.  "That was good, thanks."

"Well, when you recover, we'll get the things out of your car.  You all
ready to go?"

"Yeah, I think so.  Everything's packed up.  The car's been checked out.
So I think I'm good."  He was content, not really wanting to broach any
other subject.  "Thanks for lending me all that stuff."

"Well, it wasn't a big deal, David.  I sort of figured you wouldn't have
much in the way of all that.  You need anything for school?"

"Nah, bought some stuff the other day, I should be okay."

After a short silence, his mother sighed softly.  "David, I want to
apologize for what I said yesterday."

David looked his mother in the face.  He had promised Lynn he wouldn't
argue, but he felt he had to be honest with her.  "Maybe you didn't mean
it, and maybe I reacted wrong, but it hurt, mom.  I'm just tired of being
hurt, I guess," he replied calmly.  He took a breath and continued.  "I
mean, jeeez, Chad's like a little brother and best friend all in one to me,
you know that.  And he really doesn't act like he's fifteen.  What you said
yesterday really upset him..."

His mom interrupted, "David, it just seems funny that your best friend is
five years younger than you.  It might make some people wonder, that's
all."

"Well, maybe you should talk to the Murrays then, see how they feel about
it.  After all, they're the ones allowing him to tag along with me.  And if
they're not worried, then you shouldn't be either."

"David, I'm proud that you took Chad under your wing, but what about your
other friends?  Did you spend any time with them over the summer, or just
Chad?"

"Yeah, I did.  We played cards a couple times, went to a party with them,
and Steve and I took a couple cruises," David answered, an edge creeping
into his voice.  "They have their own lives too."

"No need to get defensive, David."

"Sometimes I feel that I NEED to be defensive," he said, once again calming
his emotions.  Chill out, he thought to himself.  "But I'm not going to get
pounded on anymore."

"I'm really not attacking you or accusing you of anything, David.  I just
worry, that's all."

"About what?"

"How people will see you, that's all."

"Mom, I am who I am.  I'm just David.  I'm a 20-year-old college student
who's really nothing special.  People are going to think what they want,
anyway.  Not much you can do about that."

"We just want you to have it better than we did."

"It's all relative, mom.  Maybe I already do.  At least in my mind."

"Well, you're an adult now, we can't help you out of bad situations you get
yourself into anymore."

David let the 'bad situation' comment slide, for the moment.  He sighed.
"You know, at first I was trying to make you guys proud of me.  Doing good
in school, and all that.  I finally figured out that I needed to do it for
me, no one else.  That's one of the things I kinda learned from Kel."

"David, maybe we handled that wrong, but we were just doing what we thought
was right.  You can't blame us for that."

"You're right, I can't.  And I did what I thought was right - for me.  You
can't blame ME for that."

His mother was silent for a few seconds.  Then, "I don't want to fight,
David."

"I'm not fighting.  I promised Lynn I wouldn't.  I just don't feel like
this is really home anymore.  It's like I'm a visitor."

"How can you think that?"

"One word, Dad."

"David, you know your dad didn't mean what he said Thursday night, don't
you?"

David shrugged.  "Sure sounded serious to me.  And anyway, it wasn't only
that.  It's the whole situation.  It's like he's the king of the castle and
it's his way or the highway.  I chose the highway, that's all."

"He's always been that way, David.  You know that."

"Yeah, I know.  That's why I just don't think it's a good idea for me to
stay here when I come back for breaks and all.  If I do, it'll just turn
out bad."

"Where will you stay?"

Time to bring this back around, thought David.  "The Murrays have offered
me a place to stay on weekends when I come back through the year.  Funny
way for people to act if they thought the way you did about me and Chad,
dontcha think?  And as far as longer breaks, I dunno yet, but I've got some
ideas."

"But what about Christmas?"

David shrugged again.  "I really don't know, mom.  I'll figure something
out.  I mean I'll be here on Christmas day, but as far as the rest of the
time, I dunno."

His mother thought for a few minutes.  David remained silent, waiting.  It
was time to fish or cut bait.  Slowly she said, "Maybe I was wrong for
thinking that way about you and Chad, David.  I was upset.  You two seem to
get along like you and Kelly did and I just don't want to see the same
thing happen again.  You changed after he died, you know that?"

"Who wouldn't, mom?  I mean you used to call us the two peas, remember?"
His mom smiled.  "I miss him mom, and I didn't have anyone to talk to about
that.  You and dad thought he was just a druggie and didn't even mention
his name around me after you found out.  That hurt.  And dad's comment the
other night was just, well, wrong."

His mother exhaled slowly.  "I'm sorry about that, David.  Really,
but...well, we were...."

"Just doing what you thought was best for me," David finished, a trace of
bitterness in his voice.  "But to be honest, you all don't know me anymore.
I'm a lot different now.  You said it yourself."

Mrs. Barker nodded sadly.  "Parents don't want their kids to grow up,
sometimes.  And when it happens, it's hard to look at someone who used to
mess their diapers as an adult."

David chuckled a little.  "Yeah, I guess I see where you're coming from.
But, Chad's my friend, mom.  If you can't accept that, then it's your
problem, not mine.  He's a good kid, we get along great.  It's my choice,
and I understand I have to live with it.  But I refuse to have someone
badmouth him without really knowing him."

His mother stared at him silently.  No recognizable expression crossed her
face.  Then she stood up and walked to where David was sitting.  He
flinched as she raised her hand.  A hurt expression flitted across her
face, then she laid her hand on his shoulder.  "You've grown up, haven't
you?" she asked softly.

David gave her a wry smile.  "Maybe, I don't know."

She rubbed his shoulder lightly, then smiled.  "Well, we should get your
things inside."

David rose, and hugged her briefly.  Then he stepped back and grinned.
"Sure your old bones can take that?"

"Old bones?  You might be all grown up, young man, but I can still take you
over my knee," she laughed.

"No doubt, if I let you," he chuckled.

"Don't get smart, or I'll have to prove it."

David hugged her again.  "C'mon, guess we oughta get moving, huh?"  She
swatted his butt on the way by, then they spent the next half hour bringing
the things out of his car inside, and putting them away.  Finished, they
stood at the kitchen door.  "Well, guess that's it.  Thanks a lot for that
stuff and supper."

"Anytime, David.  I'll talk to your father about you staying here when
you're home.  No sense in staying somewhere else."

"Well, I'll do what I have to."

His mother smiled.  "I sort of figured that out.  I may be old, but I'm not
senile."

"Yet," David laughed.

She laughed, then became serious.  "Be careful driving, David.  And good
luck this year, we ARE proud of you."

"I will be.  And it's gotta be better than last year.  I'll give you a call
when I get down there."  He hugged her tightly again.  "Thanks."

"You're welcome David, and thank you too."

"Love ya, mom," David replied, then walked out the door.  He backed out of
the driveway, tooted the horn and waved, then he was off toward the empty
apartment.  David unrolled the sleeping bag on the mattress and got dressed
for bed.  It was only eight-thirty, but he was exhausted and had a five
hour drive in the morning.  He lay awake for a while, thinking over his
evening.  Satisfied he had made his point, at least with his mom, he closed
his eyes and faded into sleep.

He awoke the next morning about seven-thirty.  Morning duties complete,
apartment scoured for anything he might have forgotten, he placed the key
on the kitchen table per Mrs. Bowman's instructions, and closed the door on
his summer.  He climbed into the car, stopped at McDonald's for breakfast,
then started heading south.

******************************************************************************

Some of you might disagree with David's actions and words.  But what's done
is done.  No going back, and in hindsight, it turned out okay.

What a summer.  Life continues to get interesting though.  So stay tuned,
same bat time, same bat channel...:-)

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or feedback.  Thanks!

email:  fupduckmd@yahoo.com
AIM and Yahoo: fupduckmd

Fup