Date: Fri, 04 Aug 2000 17:03:25 -0500
From: fsw99 <fsw99@pop.mindspring.com>
Subject: Chapter 7 of One Big Happy Family

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.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me
in Young Friends ("Matt and Mike" 3/24/00 and "New Neighbor" 12/17/99),
Incest ("My New Life" 12/18/99) and Adult Youth ("Sam Finds a New Father"
12/16/99 and "Billy and Jim" 12/13/99).

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: fsw99@mindspring.com.

			       Chapter Seven

Keith was so tired of school, he couldn't wait until final exams were
over. All he could think about was no more studying for three months. He
made excellent grades, especially for a blonde boy (Sorry, Keith, I
couldn't help myself), but he always did his best, which meant lots of
extra time spent going over even the smallest details. When you had been
over the same material as many times as Keith had done, it would tend to
start to make anyone a little bit crazy.

He knew that all his studying would be well worth it, though. Keith's
father owned a giant conglomerate, with real estate holdings all over the
United States, Canada, and Europe. Hotels, shopping malls, forestry,
anything that brought in more and more money interested Keith's father.
Keith would be expected to take over running all the companies when his
father retired, and he knew that his education would play an important part
in how successful he would be when his turn came.

But, he was 15, 16 in a couple of months, and extremely tired of studying
right now. All he could think about was he desperately needed to get away
from home for a while as soon as exams were finally over.

He closed his books for a while, and decided to go downstairs and talk to
his father. Keith wasn't spoiled like you might think for a kid who had
grown up living in mansions with his own personal valet and maid, but he
knew that if he really wanted something, he could usually talk his father
into it. And, this proved to not be an exception.

Keith walked into his father's study, where he was reading a report on a
company he was thinking about buying. He always made time for Keith,
though.

"Hi, Dad. Are you busy?"

"Hi, Keith. To tell you the truth, yes I am, but I can spare you a few
minutes. What is on your mind? You don't seem too happy right now."

"All this studying is about to drive me completely crazy. I really need to
get away for a little while when all of my exams are finally over, just me
by myself. Just go somewhere that nobody knows who I am, and I can just be
like everyone else. Am I making any sense?"

"Sure you are. I remember feeling exactly the same way at times when I was
your age. It's not much fun being 15 and having to have body guards around
you every time you want to go somewhere, is it?"

"No, it gets to be a real drag at times. Sometimes, I think I would give up
everything I have just to be a regular person and go anywhere I want to
without worrying about being kidnaped and held for ransom. I really need to
get away, even if it is just for a little while. Do you have any ideas?"

"Actually, I do. I am flying on our private plane to London on Monday. I
was just going to be there two days, but since your exams are over on
Friday, why don't we both go over on Saturday? I was planning to stay with
your Grandmother while I was there, anyway. She constantly asks when we
will visit her next, you know that. You could spend a couple of weeks with
her. You have plenty of friends that you have made on all your other trips
over there, and I am sure they would take time to go places with you. I
could then bring your mother and cousins over in two weeks, when I have to
be back anyway, and we could all have a vacation together.  How does that
sound?"

"That sounds great, Dad!! Time in London is exactly what I think I need
right now. No one knows me over there except for my friends. I was able to
go with them all over London when I was only 13. Thanks! That is perfect,"
Keith said, coming over and hugging him.

His Dad returned the hug just as enthusiastically as it was given. They
both loved each other tremendously. They knew each other inside and out,
and it had been Keith's Dad who had guessed that Keith was gay, and had
asked him about it when he was 13, and Keith had told him the truth. He had
taken the news wonderfully, but Keith's Mom had complained about not ever
having grandchildren. Keith's Dad knew he hated all the security, but being
the heir to multi- millions made you pay a certain price. You know the old
saying, you can't have everything.

As so, it was set. Keith still had to endure a week of exams before he
left, but with the knowledge that he would soon be free for two whole
weeks, he re-dedicated himself to his studying, and again made excellent
grades on his finals. (Again, REALLY GOOD for a blonde!!! - Hehehe, payback
is Hell, you know, Keith!!!)

Little did he know that the trip he needed so badly to clear his mind would
start a chain of events that proved to be some of the most painful times of
his life, both physically and mentally.

		       *****************************

"Oh, come on, Phill. We are your mates, too, you know. All you have done
for the last two months since Jason moved up north is mope around. Now,
your Dad tells you that your whole family is moving to the US, man you
didn't even tell us! We have set this trip up as one more good time
together before you go, and you are going, whether you like it or not. None
of us may ever see you again after you leave. You know a couple of nights
in the pubs in London will make you feel lots better," Brad said.

"Yeah, how many times do we get to stay in a flat in London for nothing. I
still can't believe that my cousin will have the whole house to himself.
The way he tells it, the house is huge, and cost sooo much that he doesn't
even know how many zeroes are on the price tab. His mum really married into
money after she divorced his Dad," Sam added.

"So, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we aren't going to let
you turn it down. You will have a great time, just wait and see. If you get
so pissed (stumbling drunk, for you Yanks) you can't walk, we will even
help you back to the flat. What more can you ask for?" Jerry asked.

Phill knew they were right, and he had to go with them, as much for them as
for him, since he might never see them again, like Brad had said. The one
thing they didn't know, which was the reason he had taken Jason's moving
away so hard was Phill was gay, and Jason had been his lover. None of the
others had any idea, and Phill was determined to keep it that way.

Phill knew that he had to start getting over Jason and start living his
life without him, but it was extremely difficult. It had taken years before
he and Jason had told each other their feelings for each other, and they
had been best friends since they started school together. Phill was the
type of guy that had to love someone deeply before he could ever start a
relationship with them, and to him, the relationship was far more important
than sex. In fact, he and Jason had shared their feelings with each other
for a couple of months before they went any further than hugs and kisses.
But, he also knew that keeping a long distance relationship with Jason was
really difficult now, with Jason living 400 miles away, and it would be
totally impossible once Phill and his brothers moved to the US.

So, he made his decision. "Oh, OK. I am coming. I could really murder a
couple of pints."

"All right!", everyone yelled simultaneously. With the decision finally
made, the rest of the conversation was about what each would take, and
where they would meet. After all, the trip was only three days away.

		      ******************************

Robbie and I had known we had to be careful with our neighbors from the
beginning. Mrs. North next door was known all over the neighborhood as the
local gossip. She was in her middle seventies, and didn't have much to do
other than keeping an eye out the window and watching soap operas. She was
one of those telephone, telegraph, or tell Mrs. North kind of people. The
news got out just as quickly either way.  I made it a point to take Robbie
over and introduce him to her soon after we started our relationship.

Our excuse was to inquire about Robbie cutting her grass for her. She was
all for that, since she could keep an eye on Robbie at the same time.
Robbie paid lots of attention to her, asking lots of questions about the
various pictures and odds and ends she had displayed around the house. He
had her eating out of his hand in no time, especially after he explained
about his mother's work schedule and how I had let him stay with me on the
nights she worked. Mrs. North even seemed to warm up to me, which she had
never done since I first moved in. I am sure she thought I was running some
kind of illegal activity out of my house since I never seemed to leave the
house for very long. And she knew when I left and when I came back, I
guarantee you.

We had hoped that we could go and talk to her for a few minutes and then we
would be back home, but it sure didn't turn out that way. We ended up
having a piece of cake and drinking a glass of iced tea before we could get
out of there. The cake was very good, though, I have to admit.

With her blessing, Robbie got referrals for more and more yards to cut in
the neighborhood. He started making so much money in the summer that I
thought about charging him rent. Nah, just kidding, but his bank account
did rise steadily, and it made him proud to know how much money he had
saved. The constant exercise and exposure to the sun didn't hurt him
either. He had a deep tan that accented his dark hair and brown eyes.
Swimming in my pool also helped develop his muscles and darkened his
tan. Robbie was turning into a really good looking young man.

Mrs. North almost became an adoptive Grandmother for Robbie. He would go
over and visit with her, even when he didn't have to cut the grass. He
would go with her to the grocery store, and unload the groceries for her
when she got home. They became very close. She even gave him his own key,
which he never had to use but once.

Robbie found her first. She had tripped on an old throw rug, and had fallen
and broken her hip.  He had made some brownies, as he was very eager to
learn how to cook, and wanted to take several over to her. He knocked on
the door, but she didn't answer. He knew she was home, as her ankles had
swollen lately, and she was having to use a walker to get around. She
hadn't even wanted to go to the grocery store the last few times, Robbie
and I had to go for her.

Robbie was immediately concerned, and ran home to get his key off the key
ring. He was back with the key within thirty seconds. His heart was beating
loudly as he opened the door, calling out "Mrs. North, are you home?"

He had only taken a few steps inside the living room, when he saw her on
her side, moaning slightly. She had tried to crawl over to the telephone,
but the pain had been too much. Robbie quickly checked her to make sure
that there was nothing he could do, and then ran back to my house as fast
as his legs could carry him.

He burst into my office with tears streaking down his cheek. "Stan,
Mrs. North has fallen, and can't get up. She looks like she is
dying. Please come quick."

We both ran over as fast as we could, but there was no way I could keep up
with Robbie. He beat me by a mile. He was sitting next to her holding her
hand and trying to talk to her went I entered the living room. I knew
immediately that she had broken something. "Don't try and let her move,
Robbie. I am calling an ambulance right now."

I dialed 911, and both a police car and ambulance quickly arrived. They
took her away in the ambulance to the local hospital, and we stayed just
long enough to look up her daughter and son's phone number in her address
book. Robbie had been over so many times he knew exactly where she kept
it. We had to leave a message on the daughter's answering machine, but got
the son's wife and explained everything as quickly as we could. We locked
up her house, and went back to mine long enough for us to get our wallets
and my keys and lock up my house, and we were on our way for a long day of
waiting in the emergency room waiting room.

As with many elderly people, breaking a hip at her age would mean it would
never heal properly, and she could never stay by herself again. She moved
in with her son and his wife, as they had three small children and the wife
had quit her job to stay at home with them while they were still small.
They moved out all her furniture and personal belongings, and put her house
up for sale.

We both missed her, and made it a point to go and visit with her about once
a week. At least we tried to. At times, it was impossible, with the way our
lives changed so suddenly. But, that is the next part of this story.

Comments can be sent to fsw99@mindspring.com