Date: Sat, 2 Nov 2002 15:09:19 -0500 From: C. E. Jordan Subject: "JOHNNY CAKE & JACK - part 3" (b/b) Johnny Cake and Jack c.e._jordan@mailandnews.com >From last episode: Johnny frowned and drew closer to the mirror, **'Jack actually kissed me, '* he thought, **'right there.'* Bemused, he touched his sensitive mouth with two fingers and slowly traced the contours of his slightly parted lips, **'and it felt so right...so good.... I wanted him to do it again...what the fuck's wrong with me?* "Johnny? Are you still in there?" His mom was knocking on the bathroom door. "It's alright mom, you can come in, I'm just leaving... He quickly wrapped a towel around his waist, dodged past his mother and headed for his room. ________________________________________________ JOHNNY CAKE AND JACK - Pt. 3 Copyright c.e. jordan Across an expanse of garden, a small pool, plus a clump of trees on Johnny's side of the fence, Jack sat at the edge of his bed trying to read Harry Potter's latest adventure. But he couldn't concentrate. He willed himself not to get up and stare over at Johnny's window. Only a wooden fence and the trees divided their backyards. Finally, he tossed the book to the floor and began walking restlessly around the room touching things. But he avoided Bry's bed, which he'd asked to be put in his room when they moved here. It was comforting to look over and see it there--at first. But now, looking at it just made him even more lonely and miserable. His brother's big old brown teddy bear they used to call `Bearly' was the only one who sat on it these days. It was like the teddy was waiting for Bryan to walk into the room at any moment. At the old house Bry could have had his own room if he wanted, but the boys always liked being together. Jack could never understand why most of the guys he knew were always arguing and fighting with their little brothers. He picked up a small, framed, picture from his desk. His dad had snapped it the year before while he and Bry were roughhousing at the park in their old neighborhood. Jack was the dark-haired boy in a blue t-shirt grinning stupidly into the camera as he sat triumphantly on his brother who lay conquered on the ground. Bry's eyes were closed and his head was thrown back as he laughed out loud. Bry's wild red hair provided a vibrant contrast as it curled into the bright green grass. Jack brought the little photograph closer to his eyes and peered at it. His hand shook slightly and he nearly dropped the photo. How come he'd never noticed how much Johnny K looked like Bry? They were just about the same size and age, and had the same wild red hair. The only thing different, Bry's eyes were blue, not Johnny's liquid hazel-green... His mind almost blank, Jack finally wandered over to his window. It was dark now, and a light went on in Johnny's room. As Jack gazed into his neighbor's wide-open windows tears ran slowly down his cheek... ******* Johnny K switched on the light in his room and without thinking about it tossed the towel from around his waist onto the bed. He was naked. First, he clicked the mouse on the music play list and his computer filled the room with the rhythmic sounds he loved. He grabbed a white t-shirt and a clean, but ragged blue jeans. Holding the garments to his body like a floppy dancing partner, he pranced happily around the room with them. He spun around once, twice, and was suddenly aware of Jack's open window across the way. He halted self-consciously; there was someone at that window watching him. Jack. Johnny froze in place for a moment with the clothing clutched against his nude body. Then, still in full view of the pale-faced little figure at Jack's window, he deliberately dropped the T and jeans to the floor. He moved closer to the window and waved. The figure at the other window seemed to hesitate for a moment, and then waved back. Johnny quickly backed away out of view and plopped onto his bed. **Now, why the hell did I do that?* he wondered. "I must be nuts," he said aloud. But he was smiling to himself, and for some strange reason, he was quite hard. (to be continued...)