Date: Mon, 06 Sep 2004 09:27:58 -0700
From: Mike <thornado5@netscape.net>
Subject: A Thousand Rainbows 7

Welcome back! Well, pizza has been delivered ... with anchovies ... and we
have met the star quarterback of Bridgewater Academy's football team. We'll
get to know more about Paul Miller in the near future. But first, there's
some family business to take care of.

This story deals with adult themes, primarily same-gender sexual relations.
Such relations have their basis in love and commitment, rather than sex for
the sake of sex alone. In some cases they will use protection; at other
times they will not. You and I should always use protection because we do
not live in the world of fiction.

If you are offended the idea of homosexuality or if you are under the age
of consent or if you reside in an area where such things are considered
illegal or immoral, then you should seek entertainment elsewhere.

Comments may be directed to the author at thornado5@netscape.net

This story is copyright 2004 by Mike Williams. All rights reserved. Thou
shalt not steal.

-0-

A Thousand Rainbows
by Mike Williams

- 7 -

As they closed the door, Bjorn asked, "Where do we know him from ...
beside the football team?"

Brian turned to his partner. "Paul was entered in the Junior Photo
Shoot-out last year. I hope he sticks with it. He shows a lot of promise."

"That's right," Bjorn remembered. "He did that series of action sports
shots. Didn't he receive an award for his entry?"

"Several awards, actually," Brian answered. "Best Action. Best Human
Interest. Best black- and-white. People's Choice Trophy. Probably a few
more."

Brian took his lover's hand, and they walked toward the family room, while
they talked of Paul's talent with a camera. Paul had done a series of
photographs on one student in particular, a swimmer named Tyler Garrison.

By the time they got to the family room, Jason and Josh had already set out
the plates, beverages, and lots of napkins. The pizza and cheese-sticks
were on the coffee table, waiting to be consumed. The stereo system played
classical music, and a burning log in the fireplace cast a warm glow
throughout the room. The boys were wearing clean, white shorts and
blue-and-silver t-shirts of Bridgewater Academy. They had kicked off their
sandals. They stood behind the coffee table, holding hands and waiting for
their dads.  Brian and Bjorn smiled at the scene before them and followed
suit, kicking off their shoes before entering the room. The boys held out
their free hands to their parents, who gladly took them. With smiles of
love and gratitude they looked around their circle, into each other's
eyes. Bjorn improvised a blessing.

"We give thanks to the Creator, and we accept this gift with open hearts
and minds. Our energy shall be a beacon to all the world. Blessed be."

"Blessed be," came the response.

"Let's dig in," Brian said, as he and Bjorn reached for the
cheese-sticks. Jason and Josh sat on cushions in front of the fireplace and
leaned forward to load their plates with pizza.  The conversation was light
as the boys told all about their day at school, particularly about their
music class.

Jason began. "Mr. Cabelli listened to the latest revision of ^XA Thousand
Rainbows' today.  He said he really liked the horn section we added ..."

"... But now he wants us to come up with some words." Josh looked a bit
dejected. "I don't know. We didn't write that song for voices, just
orchestra. It should stand on its own ..."

"... Just like it is." Jason finished the thought. They both looked at the
adults.

"Think about Beethoven's ^XOde to Joy' for a minute ... from the 9th
Symphony." Bjorn knew a little about music history. "He actually thought
about tossing out the words of Schiller's poem and leaving just the music
to stand on its own. That would still have been a masterpiece. But he left
the words in there, and other people have since written their own
words. And the words don't take away any of the beauty of the music. So
that's the challenge, guys, making the words and the music complement each
other."

"If anyone can do it, we know you guys can," Brian encouraged them with a
smile.

Jason looked at his brother and speculated. "I'll bet it was Mrs.  Wilson's
idea."

Josh caught on. "Yeah, she said we'd be studying poetry in our English
composition class real soon."

"Yuck!" Both boys grimaced; English composition was not their favorite
subject.

"Just keep an open mind," Bjorn suggested. "And you might want to keep a
notebook handy. Inspiration doesn't strike on a set schedule, y'know."

Brian agreed with his partner. "That's right. That's why Bjorn and I always
keep our cameras with us ... because that award-winning photo could happen
at any time." He reached for a slice of pizza. "As for adding the horn
section in your song, I think it sounded great. It was like ..." He
paused. "What?"

Jason and Josh had been raising pizza to their mouths and froze just as
they were about to take a bite.

Jason knew what was coming and laid the slice of pizza back on his
plate. "Dad, there's no way you could have heard the horn section."

"What do you mean?" Brian asked.

"Dad," Josh answered, laying down his pizza, "we added the horn section
this morning, in the music lab at school. The only other time we've played
it with horns was ..."

Jason finished the sentence. "... This afternoon ... after we got home from
school ... before we went outside to play soccer."

Brian looked from Jason to Josh to Bjorn, then back to the boys. There was
a momentary silence. "Not exactly how I had thought to segue into our next
topic of conversation. Yeah, I heard it with the horn section ... after I
finished my bike ride. I was coming down the upstairs hall, and I was going
to congratulate you guys on the terrific job you're doing with your music,
and I ..."

"Dad," Jason interrupted, "we know you poked your head into our room ..."

"... And you saw what we were doing," Josh finished the thought.

"Busted, eh?" Brian raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Jason answered. "I guess we're all busted."

Brian looked to his partner. "Since you're the only one not busted, would
you act as referee and judge?"

"I accept. The court is now in session," Bjorn responded. It had become
their custom to talk openly about situations within the family, together,
and often having one member of the family moderate the discussion. Everyone
felt that it saved a lot of nerves and hard feelings. It also sharpened the
boys' debating skills, forcing them to think things through quickly,
rationally and thoroughly. He smiled and turned to the twins.  "You will
present your case first. Good luck, gentlemen."

Jason and Josh looked at each other, sharing a silent communication.  After
a moment they turned back to their parents, and Jason took the floor.

"Dads, we are special in this family, all of us. Here we are, two teenaged
boys, being raised by two gay men who have been together for 25 years, who
don't hide their love for each other and for us. The spirit of love and
good humor and playfulness is alive in this house, and it touches
everyone. Josh and I have been together since the day we were born. It
would be hard for us not to know each other's mind. Even when we're apart,
I can still feel him with me. I can't imagine what it would be like to be
without him. And now that ...  well ... things ... are happening to us, the
closeness and togetherness we've always had is changing too. In the last
couple weeks we have started thinking of each other differently."  He
turned to face his brother, then back to the adults.

Josh took the floor. "We've read all the stuff we could find on how
homosexuals are made, whether they're influenced into it or born with it,
and we don't really care what the reason is.  We believe that Jason and I
were born to be together. I guess what you saw this afternoon was just one
way that we show how much we love each other." He turned to his brother. "I
love you, Jason."

Jason looked back at this twin. "I love you too, Josh."

They turned back to their parents. Bjorn turned to his partner. "Brian?"

Brian was silent for a moment, formulating his reply.

"When Bjorn and I first starting talking about having a child, we knew it
wouldn't be easy.  We had to look at it from many different angles, not the
least of which is the skyrocketing rate of divorce in this country and its
effect on the children. We had to be certain of our own relationship
first. Technically Bjorn and I are not married, but we are just as
committed to each other as any married couple. Most of society just isn't
ready for something like this.  But we were determined that we could do it
successfully. You two are the result, and we couldn't be more proud. You're
talented, healthy ... you have impeccable manners ... you show kindness and
consideration to everyone you meet. Now that, as you say ^Xthings are
happening' ... things, I might add, that cannot be reversed or stopped
... our role as parents has to change as well. Even though you are still
minors in the eyes of the law, it's up to us to support your choices, not
to mold you into the people we think you should be. We did not set out to
raise gay children. But, if that is who you are, then to prevent you from
discovering and being who you are would be wrong. We hope we have been
... and will continue to be ... an influence for good in your lives. We
love you, and we will support you in all your decisions; that's one part of
this family that has never changed and never will."

Brian turned to his partner and nodded. Bjorn nodded back and turned to the
twins.  "Rebuttal? Questions?"

The boys smiled and shook their heads. "No rebuttal or questions," Jason
replied. " But a request."

"Name it," Brian said.

Jason thought before continuing. "If Josh and I are to find new dimensions
to our relationship, then we're going to need your guidance and advice in
....  uh ..."

"... Sex," Josh finished the thought.

Brian looked at his partner, then down at the floor with his hands folded,
deep in thought.  Then he looked up the two boys, seeing them more as young
men than as teenagers.

"Two very important things. First is safety; you know all about that.
Second is discretion.  There are still a lot of people out there who would
hate you and try to hurt you simply because of your choices, people who you
might think of now as friends.  As for the rest of it ..." He turned to
Bjorn. "Your Honor, may we have just a moment's recess?"

"Granted. I'm still hungry."

Brian rose and left the room. The others could hear him walking through the
kitchen and jogging up the spiral staircase. In his absence Bjorn polished
off another slice of pizza while the twins attacked the cheese-sticks. When
Brian returned, he was carrying a book.

He sat down on the couch and continued, directing his comments to the
boys. "We've told you how Bjorn and I met, how we told each other how we
felt about each other. The first time we had sex wasn't until eight months
later, during the summer break. We've been faithful to each other ever
since. We knew we would spend the rest of our lives together, but we didn't
know the first thing about what we were doing sexually.  Then we found
this."  He held up the book ^XThe Joy of Gay Sex'. "Over the rest of summer
break we read it, studied it, tried some things. We fumbled our way through
the chapters.  But by the time we went back to school, it was too late." He
look at Bjorn with great affection. "While it was fun ... and still is
... the sex became secondary. We were in love." He took Bjorn's hand and
looked back to the boys. "And I guess that is the best advice we can offer
... not to let the sex get in the way of everything else that's
important. Enjoy it, have fun with it, but don't let it dominate your
lives."

He laid the book in the table between the pizza and the cheese-sticks,
smiled and turned back to his partner. "I rest my case, Your Honor."

As judge and referee, Bjorn rendered his decision. "Brian mentioned two key
points: safety and discretion. Those two points apply no matter where you
are, no matter what you do.  We hope you will exercise safety and
discretion at all times. As parents we can find no greater satisfaction
than seeing our children grow up and become productive members of society
and leaders of the community. As your relationship moves forward you will
discover new challenges and new rewards, as well as new questions. We are
here for you; we have always been here for you. That's not to say that we
have all the answers. And there will be questions that we will find ... umm
... awkward or unsettling. But ask your questions anyway.  And together
we'll find the answers." He turned to face his loving partner, then back to
the boys. "This doesn't mean that any of us have the freedom to engage in
sexual activities whenever and wherever we please. Being discrete means
what goes on in private stays private. Case closed."

All four were quiet for a moment, reflecting on Bjorn's decision. Jason
broke the silence.  "We love you, Dads. You are the most important people
in our lives."

"We couldn't have asked for better parents. Thank you," Josh added.

"It's us who should thank you," Brian said. "We knew that raising children
was a real challenge and a lot of blood, sweat and tears. With you two the
job has been a real joy."

"Well, we had good genes to begin with," Jason quipped.

As usual Josh finished the thought. "So it came natural to us."

Bjorn tapped Brian on the shoulder. "And I think you had a little help,
eh?"

Brian turned and gave his partner a cheese-flavored kiss. "That's right,
lover. And I couldn't have done it without you."

"Thank you, and, well, we did have some other help too. Y'know ... Sarah."

"Well, of course, we couldn't have done it without Sarah. I'm mean, she
... SARAH! Shit! I totally spaced it." Brian smacked himself on the
forehead.

"FOUL!" cried the twins.

Brian looked quickly at the boys. "What?"

"Cussin' in front of the kids," Jason accused.

"That's a 75-cent fine," Josh declared the penalty.

"Pay up." They both faced Brian with their palms up.

Brian's mind raced back over the conversation of the last few seconds.  He
conceded and reached for his wallet and pulled out two one-dollar
bills. "Guilty as charged. I haven't got any change."

The boys took the bills. "Don't do da crime ..." Jason began.

"... If ya can't do da time," Josh finished.

Brian put his wallet away, somewhat bewildered. He looked to Bjorn for
help. "Now I've completely lost my train of thought."

Bjorn brought him back on course. "Sarah Sterling-Becker."

"Oh, yeah." Brian was back on familiar ground, as he turned back to the
boys. "I got a call from your mother this afternoon. She and her husband
and their son are coming up from San Diego for Thanksgiving, and they'll be
staying with us for about a week and a half."

Jason and Josh both brightened at the prospect of seeing the Beckers.
Although they had seen pictures over the years, neither could remember
them, having been so young when the Beckers moved from the Willamette
Valley to Southern California.

"We know we've heard it before ..." Jason requested.

"... But could you tell us about them again?" Josh again finished his
brother's sentence.

"Well," Brian began, "we met Sarah when we were freshmen at the
university. She was a photo arts major, like us, with a minor in
marketing. Then in our second year Will transferred from the community
college, and we all became real good friends. After about a year Will and
Sarah got married." He paused and turned to Bjorn.  "Their anniversary is
coming up, isn't it?"

"Yeah, on the 29th. It'll be fifteen years," Bjorn replied. He could see
Brian's mind working.  "What have you got in mind?"

"Let's talk about that later." Brian turned back to the boys. "Anyway, long
story short, we all lived together in this big house. Bjorn and I started
talking about raising a family. Will thought we were both nuts, but he and
Sarah agreed to surrogate a baby for us. I provided the ... uh ... y'know
... and Sarah did the rest. All five of us were in the delivery room when
you guys were born. And we all lived happily ever after." He moved to get
up from his seat on the couch.

"That story just keeps getting better. But, Dad," Jason protested.
"There's you and Bjorn and Will and Sarah. That's four."

"Who was five?" Josh asked.

Brian resumed his seat. "Did I say five?" He turned to Bjorn. "Did I say
five?"

Bjorn nodded. "You said five."

Brian continued gazing into his partner's face. "I haven't thought about
her in such a long time."

Bjorn smiled and returned his Brian's loving gaze. "Neither have I. Why
don't you tell them?"

This time Brian was successful in getting up from the couch. He walked to
the bookcase where he picked up a photo album. He brought it back to the
couch and sat down. "It's no secret. It's just something we've never talked
about with you guys."

He opened the album to the first page of photos and continued. "Yes, there
were five of us in that old house. And here we all are." He turned the book
so the twins could see the picture, pointing to each person as he
spoke. "This picture was taken about a month after you guys were born. In
the center that's Sarah, and Bjorn and I are on either side of her, holding
you in our arms. Will is standing behind us, and the woman seated on the
floor in front of us ... that's Jill Mason. She was Todd's mother. I think
she was about four months pregnant with Todd at the time."

Brian pointed to a woman with dark brown eyes. Her knees were drawn up, and
her head was tilted, almost resting on her knees, her long dark hair
falling nearly to the floor. Her smile was captivating.

"Wow, she was pretty," Jason observed.

"Yes, she was," Bjorn agreed. "She was an art student, a free spirit with
excellent taste in men. There was a carriage house on the property, and the
landlord helped us turn it into a studio for our various projects and
masterpieces."

"And what masterpieces they were," Brian said. "You guys know the painting
hanging in the living room." The twins nodded. "Well, that is a Jill Mason
original."

"I think there's another photo of her on the next page, Brian," Bjorn said.

Brian turned the page to reveal a picture of Jill with a sleeping baby at
her breast. Again, there was her captivating smile, her long hair loose
about her shoulders. The photo looked like a "madonna-and-child".

Brian brought his hand to his mouth and appeared choked up. "Oh, my god, I
had forgotten about that picture." He quickly turned away.

Bjorn quickly laid a hand on Brian's shoulder. "I'm sorry, babe. I
shouldn't have brought it up. Are you alright?"

Fighting back the tears, Brian replied, "I can't look at that photo without
..." He broke off, sobbing.

Bjorn took the album and closed it as the twins looked on with concern.
Without taking his hand from Brian's shoulder, Bjorn turned back to the
boys, seeing the questions in their eyes.

"Since we were all friends, living in this big house together, we helped
each other in our studies. So we each took turns modeling for each other's
projects and babysitting each other's kids." He paused and pulled Brian
closer to him.

"What happened to her?" Josh asked.

Bjorn rocked Brian quietly. "The day after that photo was taken Jill was
leaving the house to go to class, and Brian was just getting home. Jill was
hit by a drunk driver in the middle of the afternoon right in front of our
house. Brian saw the whole thing.  Before the paramedics could get there,
Jill died in the street, in his arms. She had named Will and Sarah as
Todd's god-parents, so they adopted him and raised him as their own son."

By this time Brian was recovering; he took a deep breath, turned back to
the boys and resumed the story where Bjorn left off. "That was the last
photo of Jill, and it was displayed on her coffin at her funeral. You gotta
understand that Jill and her step-mother had never gotten along. So when
she saw the photo of Jill and the baby, she just went into hysterics and
threw a screaming fit. She stormed out of the chapel. Jill's father ran
after her, trying to calm the woman down. But it was no use. She was
screaming horrible things about her grandson, and what a floozy her
step-daughter was, and how we were all going to hell. I think she even
punched Jill's father a few times." Brian was almost laughing through the
tears at the memory.

Bjorn smiled. "Yeah, she caused quite a scene; it was really embarrassing."
He took a deep breath and continued the story. "A couple days later Will
and Sarah received a letter from the woman's lawyer, in which she and
Jill's father completely disinherited Jill and Todd. As far as we know,
they packed up and moved to Pocatello, I think, and no one has ever heard
from them since then. It's sad, really."

Jason wondered aloud. "Does Todd know he's adopted? Does he know who his
parents were?"

"Yes," Bjorn answered. "Will and Sarah have told him everything. They want
him to know who his family was. He knows Jill was his mother. But no one
knows who his father was."

Josh spoke up. "How could Jill's father do something like that? Sounds to
me like he's really, really pussy-whipped."

Brian raised an eyebrow. "Now I could call a foul on you for cussing in
front of your parents.  But, in the light of everything that's been said
over dinner tonight, I think we can overlook it."  He took Bjorn's hand
from his shoulder and held it tightly in his own.  He turned to look into
his partner's blue eyes. "I think I'll skip dessert, babe," Brian
whispered. And he closed his eyes and leaned in to lay his head on his
lover's shoulder.

The boys gathered up the leftovers and the plates, and quietly left the
room.

-0-

to continued in Chapter 8