Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2004 13:42:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Fup Duck <fupduckmd@yahoo.com>
Subject: Under Pressure 22

DISCLAIMER: Let's see: 1.  If it's illegal - don't.  2.  If you can't
accept it - don't.  3.  If you're underage - don't.  That about covers it.

My grandmother was a firm believer in physical affection.  You showed
people how you felt, fortunately, or unfortunately (depending on how you
look at it), I followed her example.  Sometimes people just need a hug and
`morals' be damned.

This might be weird, dedicating a chapter of a gay love story to my
grandmother.  But she was a wise woman, and knew my preferences before I
told her.  She was nothing but accepting and even more loving, having some
sort of idea of what I was going through then and later in life - she kept
my `secret' to the grave.  So, Nanny, this one's for you.....love you much.

Here is Chapter 22....

Fup

*****************************************************************************
FROM CHAPTER 21

"Yeah," David sighed, "but I still love you."

"I know, and me too, Dave."  He then moved his face to David's again and
the boys joined in a short kiss until the smell got to them.  Then, moving
slightly away from each other, they curled up and went to sleep beside
their boyfriend.


UNDER PRESSURE 22 - The Wise Old Woman

As the boys exited the tent the following morning, they were immediately
struck by how GOOD the morning air smelled.  They stood there in their
briefs, taking deep breaths, then walked to the nearest tree to relieve
themselves.

"Put those things away before they run off," came a shout from behind them.

Startled, they jerked their heads around to see Dale, grinning widely.

Still laughing, he turned away from them and found his own tree.

"Man, I forgot he was here," giggled Kelly, turning back to the task at
hand.

"Scared the heck out of me."

Finished their interrupted routine, the boys slipped back to the tent,
immediately greeted by the smell of yesterday's romp in the mud.  Pulling
back, David grimaced at Kelly, "No wonder it smelled so good out here."

The boys opened the tent flaps, and trying to keep their faces away from
the inside of the tent, pulled out their sleeping bags and discarded
clothes.  Then they rooted through their covered packs, which were still
outside, for less smelly clothes.  Getting dressed, the boys went to the
now dead fire to get their shoes, which had dried while they had eaten.  In
some semblance of order, they retrieved their clothes from the tree limbs,
which were still slightly damp, sliding them inside their packs.

Now only the tent was left.  Following Dale's example, they struck the
odiferous tent, and were ready to go.

Dale laughed, and said, "You two stay upwind of me, you're pretty ripe."

Sticking their tongues out at Dale, they grinned and started moving toward
him, Kelly teasing with his arms out, "Aww, c'mon Dale, I want a hug."

Dale laughingly backed away from the two boys and took off through the
woods.  The three of them reached Kelly's house, collapsing on the back
porch, breathless from running most of the way back.  They were still
recovering their breath when Mrs. Sites came out the back door, took a
sniff, and told David and Kelly to get a shower.

"You can use ours," she told Kelly, "and David can use the one down the
hall.  Leave your stuff here and I'll throw it in the washer."

The boys showered off the scent of the swamp, and got redressed and
downstairs to the table, smelling 100% better, and ravenous.  The boys
devoured the creal and milk, all the while recounting their camping trip to
Mrs. Sites, who was grinning and 'tsk, tsk'ing' as they talked.  The boys
retired to Kelly's room until the laundry was done, where they collapsed on
the bed.  Since both of them were too comfortable to get up and close the
door, they remained side by side, but with their hands to themselves.

"That was so much fun, we have to do it again," David said.

"Yeah, later in the summer, like Dale said, so we can see what's back
there."

"Sounds good," David yawned, "I think I'm going to take a nap."

"Poor baby," Kelly grinned, yawning himself.

Soon both boys were sound asleep on Kelly's bed until his mom roused them
with the announcement that the clothes were finished.  "And," she went on,
"you ought to air out that stinking tent.  David, your mom will be here in
about 30 minutes, so chop, chop."

The boys groaned themselves off the bed and went outside to unpack the tent
and spread it over the clothesline.  Still tired, there was not much
conversation, but neither boy felt it was absolutely necessary.  They were
sitting on the porch steps, David with his pack handy, just chatting when
David's mom arrived.

Giving Kelly a one-armed hug, David slid his pack into the backseat, waved
at Kelly, and was off back home.  After getting the rundown on his weekend,
Kelly's mom said that they were going to his grandmother's for supper.
David perked up at that bit of news.  He loved going there.  Nanny, as he
called his grandmother, always fixed an excellent meal and was always
smiling and giving hugs to her grandchildren.  It was a happy place.  When
they got home, David changed into more appropriate clothes, and as usual,
ignored Lynn's chatter about how they had gone out to the house over the
weekend, and she had met the neighbors, and on and on.

Semi-dozing in the back seat with his sister, who was now in the midst of
another Barbie adventure, David couldn't wait until they got there.
Finally after a never-ending drive - or so it seemed to David, they were
bursting in the door of his grandmother's house, the smells of supper
making his stomach rumble.  Hugs were exchanged and some small talk, and
David's mom helped her mother set the table and set out the food.  David
thought that these meals were like the ones at Kelly's.  Everyone talking
over the table, to each other, laughing as they caught up on each other's
lives.  His belly full of mashed potatoes, roast beef, and lima beans,
David sighed, and slumped in his chair.  Smiling at him, Nanny asked,
"Well, David, was it good?"

Suppressing a belch, David grinned back, "As usual."

"Good, can't have you not liking my cooking."

"Never," David exclaimed, "in a million years."

Chuckling, his grandmother began to clear the table, and David got up to
help, eliciting surprised glances from his mom and dad.  Smiling inwardly,
he even volunteered to help with the dishes.  "I do it at Kelly's," he
defended himself to his parents' expressions.

"Let the boy help if he wants to," said his grandmother to his parents,
"you don't give him enough credit."

His parents and grandfather made their way to the living room, while Lynn
ran outside to play with a neighbor girl she noticed was home.  David and
his grandmother stood at the sink, her washing while David dried.  They
were just talking about 'normal' things when David asked, "Nanny, you love
Pops, right?"

Somewhat taken aback by her normally quiet grandson's question, she
replied, "Yes, always have, why did you ask?"

David was silent for a minute or two, then, "Well, how did you know?"

Sensing this conversation may be a long one, she replied, "Why don't you
and I talk out on the porch?"

Somewhat nervous about opening this can of worms, David agreed and went
back to drying the dishes.  Finishing up, his grandmother wiping her hands
on a dish towel, she smiled at David and announced to the adults in the
living room, "The kitchen staff is going to take a break out on the porch,
do not disturb until we've recovered."

The 'kitchen staff' made their way outside, his grandmother lighting a
cigarette and motioning toward a porch chair upwind of her smoke.  "Now,"
she began, settling into the porch rocker, "what's this all about?"

His earlier bravado gone, David looked at his feet and asked hesitantly, "I
just want to know how you knew you loved him, that's all."

"Well, what have your mom and dad told you?"

"They just said that only grown-ups know what love is, so I thought I'd ask
you."

His grandmother snorted, coughing a little on the smoke she had inhaled,
and said, "Bet that helped you a lot didn't it?  Your mom and dad don't
like to talk about that stuff, I know."

"Yeah."

"Well, if you look at me, I'll tell you.  It's nothing to be embarrassed
about."

Slowly looking up, he was pleased to see a smile on his grandmother's face.
He gave a small smile back and asked, "Well?"

Putting her cigarette out, she turned to face her grandson, "So they said
only grown-ups know huh?"

"Yeah."

"Well, David, let me tell you that they are a little wrong.  Now I'm going
to tell you why."

David turned his chair so he could focus on this revelation, and leaned
forward.  His parents were WRONG!  His grandmother said so, so it must be
the truth, she had never lied to him, or even 'glossed things over.'

"Well David, your Pops and I got married when I was 16," noticing the
surprised look on his face, she grinned, "That's right, I was 16 and your
Pops was 25.  So I wasn't a grown-up, really.  But I knew I loved him.  He
just gave me a good feeling in my heart," she continued, smiling at her
enthralled audience.  "Ever know someone that you are completely
comfortable with telling your secrets to, someone who likes you for who you
are?"  David nodded.  "Well that's part of it, another part is thinking
that you could spend the rest of your life with them.  You don't need to
tell them what you want or need, they already have an idea of what it is.
You know that feeling?"  Another nod.  "And, you can feel them here,"
pointing to her heart, "even when they're not around."

David, by now, was nodding almost at every word.

"That's how your Pops makes me feel, David.  That sounds like a line out of
a soap opera, but it's true."

David knew he had to phrase the next question carefully so he wouldn't give
anything away.  He had no desire to disappoint his grandmother by even
hinting that maybe he was in love with a boy.  "Well, what if Pops was
like, ummmm, colored?"  He asked, blushing.

She laughed gently at the question, "David, I don't think that would have
mattered a bit, at least to me.  Now it would have upset the family if that
was the case - and they might have kicked me out, but it's what YOU feel,
not what other people think.  You love someone for who they are, not what
they are."

"And....," prompted David.

"And what?  That's it.  It's no big mystery like your mom and dad put on.
So," she grinned at him, "you think you have someone special?"  David's
blush gave her the answer she was seeking.  She gave one last thought, "You
know, people try to make a big production over things, just remember,
David, it's YOU that has to be happy."

David sat there, mulling over this information.  Then, "So why do people
make a big production?"

"Well, some of them because you're happy and they aren't, some because they
don't understand and really don't want to try, and some because they're
just plain mean."  She gently poked his chest, "It's what's here," then
pointed to his head, "not there that really matters, David."  Then she
smiled.  "Now enough heavy stuff, you ready for dessert?"

David was still thinking, but the promise of dessert overrode the thought
process.  "Absolutely, let's go," he laughed, "And Nanny," standing up,
giving her a tight hug, "thanks."

"Well, young man, you're welcome.  Now that pie is just going to waste."

Re-entering the kitchen, they discovered that the rest of the family had
discovered the apple pie and had helped themselves, leaving two pieces.
Lynn, back from her friend's, complained, "I wanted another piece, but mom
made me leave it for you."

"Well, sometimes your mom is smarter than you," answered his grandmother,
her tone giving away exactly what she thought of Lynn's selfishness.  "And
you can have my piece," she began, watching Lynn reach for the pie, "unless
David wants it."  She and David chuckled at her response of looking at
David expectantly, still reaching for the piece of pie.

"Well, I sure would like to have two pieces," began David.

Lynn started whining, "You're just saying that because I want it."  Then,
"MOM!  David won't let me have the piece of pie Nanny gave me."

David's mom started on him, "David, you know that's not fair, if Nanny gave
her that piece of pie...."

David's grandmother immediately jumped in, her acidic tone directed at her
daughter, David's mom, "I did NO such thing, I told her she could have it
if David didn't want it.  Lynn was just trying to be selfish and get David
into trouble at the same time.  You should get the whole story before you
start yelling.  I raised you better than that."

Properly chastised, David's mom apologized and sat back down in her chair.
Nanny gave David a small wink and smiled with one corner of her mouth.
David grinned back then turned to Lynn, "You can have it if you want it,
I'm almost full anyway."

Glancing at her grandmother, Lynn slowly put the piece of pie on her plate,
and whispered, "Sorry, Nanny."

In a low voice, she replied, "Lynn, you can be a real sweet girl, but stop
trying to get your brother into trouble, that's not too fair, he doesn't do
it to you, does he?"

Lynn shook her head negatively, and gave a small smile, "Ok, I'll try.
Thanks for the pie, David."

David felt he was in another world, their earlier conversation, followed by
his grandmother `yelling' at his mom (even if she didn't raise her voice
much - it was still `yelling), Lynn's apology, it all seemed like some sort
of weird universe.  Seeing the look on David's face, she whispered, "I'm
still her MOTHER."

David giggled and dug into his pie.  He had a lot of thinking to do.

*****************************************************************************
Well, a short chapter, but hopefully long on story.  She WAS a wise woman -
but more importantly, she was RIGHT, and I miss her terribly. :-) She was
my best friend - at least of the female persuasion.

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

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

Fup