Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2024 00:16:56 +0000 From: David Greg Denton Subject: Getting to Know Each Other Better: Uncle and Nephew - Part 2 Getting to Know Each Other Better: Uncle and Nephew – Part 2 Gay, Incest, Adult, Youth, Uncle, Nephew If you enjoy reading stories on Nifty, then don't forget to donate! It's easy, just follow the link http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html * * * * Dinner turned out to be quite a revelation for Tyler. He'd never encountered a group of kids close to his own age quite like these six unique individuals. The conversation skirted the issue each of them was thinking but were too polite to ask about. Finally, Tyler himself brought it up, relating his turbulent life since his mother had died. Then each of the others related their own parental horror stories to make Tyler feel less isolated and alone. Tony and Saied came from ultrareligious families, Teri had been caught kissing a girl, Pippin and Brando's parents couldn't fathom why their kids were so different from other kids their age so chose not to even try, and Jim had run away several times because his older stepbrother had been molesting him while his parents refused to believe it. Tyler suddenly didn't feel so alone among a group of strangers. He sure had a lot to think about but the most important thing was where he was going to sleep that night. As if he'd read his mind, Thom pulled Tyler aside and said quietly, "If you'd like, you can spend the night here. I've already spoken with a social worker. She'll be here soon to interview you." Tyler looked like he was about to panic, so Thom touched his arm and reassured him. "There's nothing to worry about. I have permission to let you stay here tonight. She's just going to ask you what happened. I've already sent her the photos so there's no need to show her. You're safe here, Ty, but I do have to ask if you want to stay? The decision has to be entirely yours." Tyler visibly calmed down then answered, "Yes, please." Thom smiled and said, "Good. I brought in your `luggage' earlier." Thom had used air quotes when saying the word luggage. "It's in your room." Tyler hadn't even noticed the big, black garbage bag when he'd woken up from his nap. "After dinner, everyone goes to their rooms and studies. Do you have your textbooks with you?" Tyler shook his head. "No. . . they're still at the house." "It's okay," Thom assured him. "Is there something you'd like to work on until bedtime? I mean after you talk with Miss Goodwin?" "When is bedtime?" Thom snickered and replied, "Well, it's supposed to be 11:00ish but some go to bed earlier and others later. What time do you usually got to bed?" Tyler wanted to be honest with Thom so he told him the truth, "Usually after my dad goes to bed. I don't like to be. . . uh, surprised." Thom frowned then said, "How about you go to bed when you get tired? You're a guest tonight so not really subject to our rules." Tyler nodded and gave Thom a kind of half grin. There was a knock on the front door and Thom went to answer it. It was the social worker Thom had contacted. Thom asked her to come in then introduced her to Tyler. He suggested the two of them go into the library to talk. Once the door was closed, Thom busied himself with tidying up the living room. The talk didn't take long though. Miss Goodwin left after speaking briefly to Thom then he went and checked on Tyler. "You doing okay, Ty?" Thom asked. Tyler nodded. "Did Miss Goodwin explain what happens next?" He nodded again. "Do you need anything?" "I don't have my toothbrush," Tyler informed Thom. He smiled and said, "If you go into the bathroom, you'll find a new toothbrush in the drawer on the right." "Thanks, Mr. Tracey." "No worries, Ty. Alright then, I'll see you in the morning. Goodnight." Thom turned and was about to go to his room when Tyler launched himself at Thom's back and gave him a hug. Thom patted his arms and said, "Sleep well, Ty," then Tyler disappeared into "his" room. Thom was in his room when he got a call. It was Mindy Goodwin. "It's kind of late, Mind. What news do you have for me?" "Tyler's dad was arrested a little while ago. He'll spend the night in jail then go before a judge tomorrow. I'll be in court, so I'll call you when I know the time. It'd be great if you could be there." "Thanks, Mind, I will and I owe you a dinner." Mindy Goodwin laughed and said, "You owe me a lot of things but seeing as you still bat for the other team, I'll accept the dinner." Thom laughed and responded, "You know you could always switch sides yourself. You'd get a lot less drama I suspect." "All relationships involve drama, Thom. You know that. Besides I like the `D' just as much as you do so I could never be a lesbian. Night, Thom. I'll call you tomorrow." "Night, Mind." The next morning, Thom drove Tyler to his house to get his backpack with his textbooks in it, but it was nowhere to be found. His entire room had been emptied of any personal items. Tyler went out back and found a garbage can full of melted plastic and ashes. He cried as Thom held him. Then Thom took Tyler to school and explained everything to the principal while Tyler waited outside his office. Once Thom and the Principal emerged from the office, Thom told Tyler to have a good day and that he'd see him back at the house after school. Then the Vice-Principal was asked to walk Tyler to class. He waved at Thom before disappearing around a corner. Thom got the call a little later and met Mindy at the courthouse earlier than expected. Once their docket number was called, Mindy presented the state's case to the judge and Tyler's dad was asked how he pled to the charges. He pled not guilty of course but the judge had seen the photos and was not going to be lenient. He ordered Mr. Fergus held in jail until his pre-trial hearing then he said something Thom would never forget, "What you are accused of doing to your own son is heinous. I hope you rethink your plea while you're sitting in your cell, Mr. Fergus, for your son's sake." As they were leaving the courtroom, Thom asked Mindy what the judge meant. She answered, "He's hoping that Tyler's dad will change his plea to guilty so there won't be a trial and Tyler won't have to testify against him in court." "Oh God, Mind. I hadn't thought of that. It would be horrendous if Tyler had to do that!" "I know. All we can do is pray that his dad makes the right decision between now and then." "How long do you think it'll take to get a hearing?" Thom asked, "It could take a couple of months. Listen, don't worry about that. I was able to track down a relative of Tyler's. His name is Vincent Rubin and he is Tyler's uncle on his mother's side. I gave him your number and your address. He should be arriving at your house later today." "Sounds good, Mind. Thanks again for this." Then he hugged her but as he started to leave she called after him, "It's gonna be a big dinner, maybe even expensive!" Thom just laughed and nodded then waved goodbye. Tyler's day was full of "What happened to you?" from classmates and "Leave Tyler alone" from teachers. He somehow managed to make it through the day and arrived back at Randall House in the early afternoon. When he walked through the front door, the other kids were mysteriously absent which Tyler thought was strange. Then he saw Thom sitting with a guy who looked a lot like his uncle. "How was your day, Ty?" Thom asked as he got up to greet his newest charge, "It was okay, thanks," he responded never taking his eyes off the other man. Vince rose from his seat on the couch and approached Tyler slowly. He wasn't sure what kind of reaction he was going to get so he started with, "Do you remember me, Tyler?" he asked nervously. Tyler nodded, so Vince continued, "It's been awhile, hasn't it?" Tyler nodded again then added, "Since Mom's funeral." "Yeah, that was a rough day." "Yeah, dad told you to go and never come back. I remember." But Vince felt Thom deserved further clarification, "Thom, what Tyler's dad actually said was, `Get the fuck out of here you fucking faggot. You're not gonna turn my son queer like you.'" As the shock registered on his face, Thom's eyebrows lifted involuntarily. "I remember, Uncle Vince." When Vince was within a few feet he added, "I would have been there for you, Tyler, if I could have been. Did you get the birthday and Christmas cards I sent?" Tyler shook his head. "I'm sorry. I guess your. . . well never mind. I'm here now and I could really use a hug but I'll. . ." Vince started but was interrupted by Tyler launching his body at him instead. "Well, okay then." Vince added as he hugged his nephew back. Thom was going to excuse himself but Tyler saw and asked, "Does this mean I have to leave, Mr. Tracey?" Thom turned and addressed them both as they pulled apart and listened to Thom. "Well, your Uncle Vince and I were discussing it before you came home" (he said that word without thinking), paused, then continued, "You have three options. You can continue to live here with us and your uncle can visit you on the weekends." "I live a couple of hours away so commuting back and forth every day isn't feasible," Vince clarified. "You can go live with your uncle." "But I only have a one bedroom apartment and you'd have to change schools." "Or you can split your time between the two. . . weekdays here so that you can continue to go to school and spend the weekends at your uncle's place. What do you want to do?" It didn't take all that long for Tyler to come up with a fourth option. "I'd like to keep going to school here, if that's okay?" he asked looking between the two. They both nodded, then Tyler continued, "Could Uncle Vince stay here with me, in the library on the weekends? He doesn't have a room for me at his apartment and we've missed so much time together already. I'd like to get to know him again. We could get another bed and we could help around the house and. . ." Thom had to stop him so that he could ask Vince a question. "What do you think, Vince? Would you like to stay here on the weekends? The room isn't much but we could fit another bed in there easily. I'd have to run it by the board but I'm sure they'd approve of the idea. I really am at my limit with the six I already have. An extra hand would be much appreciated on the weekend. . . when the kids have so much free time on their hands." Vince was overwhelmed by the offer, so he agreed immediately. Thom promised to call the board members right away which left uncle and nephew to get to know each other again after so many years apart. (to be continued in Part 3)