Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 09:49:10 EST From: William Watts Subject: The Castaway Hotel Chapter 3 Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: *You're not 18 or over, *If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, *Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories44@hotmail.com * * * * * * * * The Castaway Hotel - by BW (Young-Friends). Copyright 2000 by bwstories44 Chapter 3 - And then there were three. February 2000 I called Sally right back. "Hello, Sally. This is Josh Currie. What's the favor?" "Oh, Josh. I'm so glad you called. Would you hold on a minute so I can take this in the other room?" "Sure." I heard Sally place the phone down, pick up another phone and, then, go back and hang up the first. She was slightly winded by the time she got back to the other phone. "Josh, I've got another boy for you." "Sally, Ricky and I are still becoming comfortable with each other. I'm not sure he's ready to share my attention." "Josh, I really hate to ask you this but I need for you to listen to what I have to say." "Very well. I'll do at least that much." " Josh, this boy is thirteen, nearly fourteen. His father threw him out of their house. A police patrol found him wandering in the park after curfew. The only information he would give the officers was that he had been thrown out of his home and he had no place to go. They took him down to the station house to fill out some paper work and, after spending some time talking to the boy and getting him to trust them, he told them his name and address. When the officers called the house and spoke to the father, he confirmed the fact that the boy was no longer welcomed at his residence. He wouldn't elaborate but told them that they could do with the boy as they wished. They brought him to me. They, also, gave me his parent's names and their address. "When I called the house the next morning and explained who I was, the father told me he had kicked the boy out because he discovered the boy was gay. His exact words were that 'he wasn't going to have no damn queer living in his home'. I asked if I could drop by and pick up his clothes and other things and his father told me 'he wasn't giving that faggot a damn thing'. I had to called a judge to get a court order for his belongings and, then, have two police officers escort me over there to pick them up. He was not a happy camper and he screamed that we had no right taking things that he had purchased. The wife helped me gather up the boy's things as the two officers restrained him from stopping us. The wife actually left when we did, to go visit a friend, because she was afraid her husband was going to turn on her for assisting us. It was quite pathetic. "Anyway, Josh, this kid is just what you were looking for. He's young, gay and desperately in need of some love and guidance. What do you say?" "I say that I'd love to be able to help you but I'm not sure if this is the right time." "I wouldn't ask you if I had a decent home for him to go to. He spent last two nights, here, with me. It was either that or juvenile hall and he didn't belong there." I thought for a minute. "If those are your only choices, I'll take him. Would you give me a couple of hours to talk things over with Ricky? I don't want to just spring this on him." "Sure, Josh. That would be fine." "Do I know this boy?" "No, I don't believe so. He lives in another town in the county and went to a different school district than the one you work for." "OK. I'll see you in two hours." "Thanks, Josh. I really appreciate this." I hung up the phone and looked for Ricky. He was still in his room after changing out of his new clothes. "Ricky, could I speak to you for a few minutes?" He looked up at me puzzled. "Sure, dad. What's up?" "Ricky, I just got a call from Mrs. Swartout." "I didn't hear the phone ring." "Actually, there was a message from her on the answering machine when we got back from church and I returned her call. It seems that she has another young boy in need of a place to live. She wants me to take him in to live here. How would you feel about that?" He looked into my face and didn't say a word. I gave him several minutes to think about it and he, eventually, responded. "Would we still be able to do all of the things we do now?" "Yes, of course. The only thing that I would have to ask of you is that you allow me some time alone with him, over the next couple of days, so I can get to know him. He doesn't go to our school and I've never met him before. We'll have to get to know each other so he can learn to trust me enough so I can help him. You'll have to get to know each other, as well, but we can work on that later. I promise that I'll make as much time for you as I can. Is that all right with you?" He thought for a few minutes. "Yeah, I know what it's like not to have a place where you can feel comfortable. I know that you've got enough love in you to love both of us. It's OK, dad, I understand." "Thanks for being such a great son." I gave him a big hug and a 'fatherly' kiss on the lips. He blushed slightly, as this was the first time that I hadn't kissed him on the cheek or forehead. "We'll need to talk about a few things before he gets here." I told Ricky the rough details about the boy's situation. I did not tell him everything I knew because I felt the new boy would need his privacy. If he wanted to tell Ricky when he got to know him better, I would leave that entirely up to him. For now, however, information was doled out strictly on a need to know basis. Ricky wanted to know the boy's name and I told him I didn't even know that yet. He smiled when I told him that. "I bet you even took in stray animals when you were a kid," Ricky said smiling at me. "I'm glad you're like that, though, or I wouldn't be here with you now. Besides, I think it might be fun to have a brother and not just some kid whose family I'm living with. I want this new kid and me to become close. Do you know how old he is?" "Yes, he's thirteen, nearly fourteen. Ricky, don't push him too fast. It may take time for him to warm up and trust us enough for that." "I know. I'll just be real nice to him, like you were to me. A big brother, huh? That sounds nice, doesn't it?" "Yes, it does. Ricky? Have I told you lately that I love you?" He looked at me and grinned. "Only a few of times, so far today. I love you, too." "I know. That's what makes our relationship so special. Hopefully, this new boy will fit in just as quickly. Do you want to eat now or wait and see if he's eaten?" "Let's wait. That way we can all eat together as a family. I'm still fine from breakfast." "That's a very nice decision, thinking about the new boy like that. You're a good kid, Ricky. I hope you two hit it off." Ricky played on the computer while I paid some bills and got them ready to put in the mail. Before we knew it the doorbell rang. Ricky ran out to meet me as I opened the door. There stood Sally, the new kid and several paper bags filled with his belongings. "Hi, Sally. Why don't you two come in and you can introduce us." They stepped into the foyer. "Just put those things down there and we'll go into the living room to chat. As they were lining up his things against the wall, I checked the new boy out. He was about 5'4", dark brown hair, parted in the middle so that when it fell down on his face it seemed to form in a heart shape over his forehead. He, also, had brown eyes and an athletic build. I couldn't tell what his smile was like because he had a very sad expression on his face, and who could blame him? "Danny, this is Mr. Currie and that is Ricky," Sally told him. "Fellows, this is Danny." I reached out and shook his hand. "Hi, Danny. Welcome to your new home." He eyed us both, suspiciously, before he spoke. "Is he your son?" Ricky blurted out "yes" before I could answer. "Well, technically he's my foster son, like you, but we've grown very close since he's been here." "How long have you lived here?" Danny asked Ricky. "A couple of weeks." "And you two have become that close already?" Danny asked incredulously. "He's also the principal at my school," Ricky shot back. "You're a principal?" Danny asked, like he expected me to sprout horns and breathe fire. "Yes. I'm the principal at the middle school. If you're in the eighth grade or under, you'll be in my school." "Yeah, I'm in the eighth grade." He didn't sound too enthused about it. "Do I have to have you for both a principal and a foster father?" "Only for a few more months," I tried to reassure him. "Once this school year is over, you'll be attending the high school. That's down the street from where I work. I think we should be able to handle a few months with me playing a dual role. Don't you agree?" "Yeah, I guess so." "How would you like to go upstairs and pick out your new bedroom?" "Pick it out?" "Yes. I have my room and Ricky has his. There are four other bedrooms up there for you to choose from. Come on. We'll all go up there and pick one out." I grabbed his hand and led him to the staircase. He followed me up, with Ricky and Sally just behind him. I opened the doors to all four rooms and let him look around. "If it's not exactly the way you'd like it, we can always paint it or repaper it." He continued to walk, back and forth, between the rooms and he finally made his decision. "I kind of like the jungle room," he said. "You don't think it's too childish, do you?" "No, not at all. I think three of my children occupied that room, at one time or another, and it always seemed to be a favorite of their friends." I saw him smile for the first time. "Then I'll move in here." "I'll help you," Ricky volunteered. "Thanks, I'd like that," Danny countered. Then the boys rushed down the stairs. Let me describe this room to you. The wallpaper shows several animals, lions, tigers, elephants, zebras and antelope in a jungle background. There is a green shag carpet on the floor and it gives the effect of walking into the jungle as you enter the room. There is a closet on the right side. The bed is on the left. There is a built in desk and a chest of drawers. The furniture in this room is done in maple. When the boys returned with his belongings, we all helped Danny settle into his room and we cleaned it up a bit. "Have you had any lunch yet?" I inquired. "No, we had a late breakfast." "Would you like some?" I prodded. "Yeah, I guess I am a little hungry now." "Fine, let's head downstairs. Mrs. Swartout, would you care to join us?" "No, thank you. I think I'll leave you men alone. You seem to have everything under control. I've got some things I need to do at home. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Danny, I'll see you, too. Good bye, Ricky." "Good bye, Mrs. Swartout," the boys said almost in unison and then Danny added, "thanks for your help." "It was my pleasure. You guys have a good time and get to know each other better." We all waved at her from the front door, me in the back and a 'son' under each arm, as she drove away. I gave Danny the rundown of the lunch hour choices and let him select what we would eat. He wanted hamburgers, so I grilled up some frozen patties, threw some chips and pickles on the plates and both boys get their own drink. We ate in the dining room and tried to get to know each other better. We discovered that Danny's last name was Roma and that he lived about thirty miles from here. He told us about his life, school and family (before the rift) and we discovered that he was a pretty fair athlete. He likes to play almost every sport possible. I didn't push him into telling us about how his father found out he was gay and Ricky doesn't know about that yet. After we finished eating, both boys took care of their own dishes. "Ricky, how would you like to give Danny the grand tour, both inside and out?" "Yeah, I could do that. Thanks, dad. Come on, Danny. I'll show you everything." The two boys took off with Ricky talking a mile a minute. I thought this would give them a chance to bond a little before I singled Danny out for a more private conversation. They were gone quite a while and I was about to worry when the returned. They were laughing and joking, being typical boys. "Do you want me to call you dad like Ricky does?" Danny wanted to know. I was shocked by both the suddenness and the frankness of his question. "That's entirely up to you. If you want, we can discuss what you want to call me." "No, I'll call you dad. My dad told me that he didn't want anything more to do with me, so you can be my dad, now," he said somewhat defiantly. Ricky started to say something and I shook my head no. Danny didn't notice our non-verbal communication. "That will be fine. Just let me know if you change your mind, though. It's not set in stone." "Thanks, but I've made up my mind dad," he said testing the waters. "I like that." "Yeah and that makes us brothers," Ricky added. "I like that, too," Danny grinned. "Come on, Danny, I'll show you the computer. If you want, dad will even help you get your own sign on and e-mail address." He looked at me inquisitively. "Would you do that? I could e-mail some of my old friends that way. I remember some of their addresses and one of them could send me the others." "Certainly," I replied. "There's nothing to it." * * * * * * * * If you enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at http://www.teenboyauthors.org/thewolf/, in the 'Other Stories' section. E-mails may be sent to: bwstories44@hotmail.com.