Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 22:52:17 +0000 From: acgib1943 Subject: Friendship Destroyed C-5 Please keep this site alive by donating to Nifty. http//donate.nifty.org / Friendship Destroyed -- C-5 I started C-5 and had written about 25% when my local paper ran a story that has shaken me. Some local high school students used social media platforms to post this past week racist and anti-LGBTQ slurs of an extremely demeaning nature. According to the news story pictures were posted revealing students that were targeted. My heart goes out to these who suffer and I am horrified that students in my community and in this age would do that. The perpetrators claim, according to the news account, it was all a joke. Other students were quoted as not accepting this as humorous. As of 4/24/2021, the police are involved and this is the topic of an emergency Board of Education meeting. The community is calling for prosecution. There is much more to this story. I'm sorry. I want to cry at this injustice. I am changing C-5 to address this egregious action by a few and I am having a difficult time starting. **************** Ending to C-4 "That was Bo. His parents will be gone until Sunday. He is responsible for Jordan. He wants to know if they can stay here until Sunday night." I knew Jordan, Bo's brother, was twelve. A twelve year old was old enough to be left alone but not overnight. That would screw our plans for doing stuff with each other. But what the heck. We had to help our friend. There would be other weekends, even after school Playdates. I chuckled. "What's so funny," Finny asked pushing my shoulder. "Nothing. Just thinking of something." "Jerk. I love you. Tell him it's all good. What time will they be here tomorrow?" "He wants to come tonight." Friendship Destroyed C-5 The five of us snuggled in comfort in our nest. Tommy and Cullough were asleep I could tell from their soft snuffles. Finny and I dozed caught between awake and sleep. "I wonder where Bo and Jordan are? I thought they would be right over," mused Caleb. "Give them time. They might have had to do something. Who knows?" I lay in Finny's arms wondering about what Caleb had expressed. Bo lived close to Finny's house. It was late but we lived in a safe neighborhood. "They will get here. Give them ten more minutes. Then text Bo." Finny's doorbell sounded. "I'll get it," I said slipping on my briefs. We were naked and Bo and Jordan needed to accept that. At least I hoped they were okay with that. Bo had made his thoughts clear about being straight and while accepting our gayness, he had no interest in even watching what we did. I opened the door. Two wrecked boys faced me. Bo had Jordan draped over his shoulder and staggered as he supported his brother, I rushed to help while yelling for Finny to get over here. Bo and I guided Jordan to the couch and sat him there. Then we lay his head on the cushion and lifted his feet. Finny slid to a halt, his bare feet squeaking. At least he had put on his briefs. Jordan looked beyond wrecked. I tried to remember how old he was. I thought he was eleven or maybe twelve. Right now he looked like he had suffered a horror. His sobs had turned to sniffles. Finny put a throw blanket over him and brushed Jordan's hair. Bo looked hopeless through sobs as he stared at his brother. I looked questionably at Bo. I did not know what to ask just yet. Finny, my caring boyfriend, put an arm around Bo guiding him to the recliner. "Get him some water," he mouthed. When I returned, Caleb had entered the room and was kneeling by Bo and stroking his hair. We all gave Bo time to become calm. "How could they?" Bo sputtered. "How could they be so cruel to such a sensitive boy as Jordan. How could they do such a mean thing?" Bo began to cry. I felt confused. I went to Jordan. He still shuddered. I kneeled by the couch and rubbed his temples. I made shushing sounds. I did not know what else to do. Bo, such an alive, happy kid, looked like a wreck. His face was dirty with tear streaks on his cheeks. His hair looked like he just woke up. We sat in silence, waiting. I could feel Jordan's young body shudder from time to time. I had not seen Caleb leave but he appeared at my side offering a water bottle. I took it and unscrewed the cap placing the opening to Jordan's mouth. I lifted his head to make his drinking easier. He drank, nodded, and pushed against my hand. His eyes looked at me. I had never met Jordan. I hoped the smile I gave him conveyed friendliness. Jordan turned his head. I saw his eyes lock on his brother. Jordan nodded. Bo still choked a sob every now and then. He looked straight at Jordan and began. "I arrived home to find Jordan curled on the couch crying. I managed to learn some of what happened. I never knew my brother felt like you do about guys. I thought we were both alike, straight. He is a thinker, private in his behavior. He does not make friends easily. Those he has, or had, he considered special. One friend, Jordan told me he liked him in a special way. I felt surprised but let Jordan know I was okay with him like this." I patted Jordan's back listening to him breathe in light gasps and waited for Bo to continue. Bo paused to sip water before continuing. His eyes were devoid of emotion. Finny had his arm over Bo's shoulder. His chin rested on Bo's shoulder. My boyfriend's eyes were red. I could see them from my place by the couch. Bo continued. "Sean is his name. That bastard. Jordan needed to confide in a boy he considered his one true friend. They were at the house while I was over here. Nothing happened. Except Jordan asked if could tell Sean a secret and asked Sean not to repeat anything. I could wring Sean's neck He is the worst ex-friend ever. Jordan said that he told Sean, gawd I never knew, he told his one true friend that he liked boys, that he was gay." Bo sipped more. We waited. "Sean slapped, actually slapped my brother. Jordan hates to even kill flies." Bo had to stop to catch his breath. Sean left and Jordan told me that he lost his breath and crumpled on the floor crying. Then about an hour later, he received a text from another kid asking if the post was true. Jordan looked at his Snapchat. Sean had posted what Jordan told him along with Jordan's picture. Other kids began to Snap hate, really hate, words. They said what they thought should happen to gays and Jordan in particular. My poor brother." Bo broke into heavy gasps like he could not get air. I put my arms around Jordan and drew him into a hug. Whispering into his ear I told him that here he was loved and he was safe. Then I cried with Jordan. After some time the thought entered my mind that our group had to be the most emotional group of teen boys ever. I continued to reflect as I held this boy. Social media had a dark side, I was learning about its darkest aspects. I brushed Jordan's hair and kissed his temple while cooing softly as my mother did when I had been hurting as a child. I felt Jordan relax. I looked at Finny and Caleb. Help me get Jordan to our nest. We eased him from the couch, helped him to the bathroom. He barely stood. In the bathroom, I placed one of his hands on the sink and helped him out of his pants so he could pee. To give him privacy, I did not look, just helped him balance. Caleb waited in the doorway. Jordan finished,. I pulled his briefs to where they belonged but left his jeans on the floor. Finny had Bo in our bed, covered. I placed Jordan in our nest. Tommy and Cullough never moved. I eased next to Jordan and Finny lay on his other side. Caleb rejoined Tommy and Cullough. Finny and I made soft sounds as we held Jordan. I fell asleep wondering why people were so cruel. Friends then enemies. Who knew what lurked in people's brains. "No. No. Please No." Jordan's screams and sobs woke the room. I pulled him into me, hugging him and nuzzling him telling him he was safe. Finny was there along with me. Bo moved us aside to wrap his brother in his arms. He kissed him over and over with brotherly kisses on his lips murmuring he had him. Tommy and Cullough rubbed their eyes gaping at the sight they woke to see. I heard Caleb explaining to them what was going on. When he finished I heard Tommy snarl, "This is such bullshit. That guy out to be strung up by his dick." Slowly we took care of necessary morning business. Everyone dressed. I guessed no one wanted to be naked right now. Now was a time to come together for help and healing, not sex. We fed Jordan and we also ate. Then we sat to figure out how to deal with this issue. No one talked. We were either thinking or comforting Jordan. He looked calmer this morning. His eyes still stared and looked lifeless. Caleb broke the silence. "I have a friend who has a friend in Jordan's grade. I'm going to give him a call." We listened to Caleb's side of the conversation. Then he disconnected. "This kid will call his buddy. Some of his friends heard what happened. He told me that a ton of kids are beyond pissed at what Sean did. No one thinks this is funny. Sean tried to say he was just joking. Many are blocking him or unfriending him. They do not what else to do." We continued to sit and stare. The doorbell rang. Finny went to get it. I provided backup, standing behind him. When he opened the door there were two middle school looking boys and three boys wearing varsity jackets. I recognized two of the older kids. I knew they played varsity football and they wrestled with Finny and me. "They looked uncertain as the one I knew as Al asked if they could come in. Finny motioned them in. In the living room, one of the middle school kids went and sat next to Jordan. "You okay? Sean sucks. He sucks a big one for this." That got the first smile I had seen from Jordan since he arrived. "Thanks Tomas." Everyone found a spot on the floor. "We got your back Jordan." Al stared at Jordan as he spoke. "The word is out. No messes with Bo's brother or the wrath of the varsity football team will descend on them." "Jordan smiled again. "Thanks all of you. I felt really down last night. I did not know what I was going to do. I still feel afraid to go to school. Tomas leaned closer. "Sean is the one who needs to be afraid. I do not think he has many if any friends after what he did." Then Tomas leaned close and whispered so I had to strain to hear him. "I am sorry but I am glad to find another boy like me. Can I kiss you?" Jordan turned and looked surprised as he stared at Tomas. He nodded. Tomas took his cheeks in his hands. Not caring that the room was full of teens, Tomas gave Jordan a light kiss right on his lips. Jordan moaned before easing back but not breaking his gaze from Tomas. He said, "Thanks." From the corner of my eye I saw Bo motion to Caleb and me to head out. As we left the group, Bo went to Jordan and told him that he would be right back. In the kitchen, we gathered around the island. " Bo began. "Last night I told you I was okay with gays. I still am, more than I was. I cannot believe the hatred directed at Jordan. Then I see the support he is getting. I feel so humble. I need to give Jordan my support and love. I will hold him and give him all the love I can as his brother. I can't do stuff with him that you guys can. I can't answer his questions about gay stuff. Will you guys do that? I am okay sitting in and listening. I do not know if I can watch. I would if Jordan asked me to watch. I hope he does not but I would for him." We all hugged and returned to the living room. Finny let us know pizzas were on the way with 5 liters of pop. Jordan and Tomas were talking and chuckling on the couch. The jocks were talking sports. Tommy and Cullough were right there with them. I looked at the room full of teen boys talking and sometimes laughing. They were like teens everywhere. Accepting and goofing around, playfully poking each other. I placed my arm around Finny and kissed his cheek. He turned and kissed me deeper. "This is nice. You and me. Our friends. Jordan is going to be okay. All of us will see to that. Tomas will certainly see to his heart, I hope. acgib1943@protonmail.com I feel better having written this. The problem of hatred exists. Mine is a small voice trying to light a candle. I have stories not on Nifty that also consider this issue that were written months ago and are in publication. This chapter, C-5, has no sex. It has love between boys who arrive to ease Jordan's pain. Stay safe. Stay healthy. Love. Peace Out Please donate: http//donate.nifty.org