Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2018 16:31:32 +0000 (UTC)
From: Kim Hansen <ringinmine@yahoo.com>
Subject: Ring in Mine: Nephi & Jerome Chapter 2

Ring in Mine 3: Nephi and Jerome
    Kim Terry

I couldn't pass up taking some literary license that might need
explaining. In the LDS religion we stanchly believe in the bible. We also
have other books we consider scripture. Nephi, Lemuel and Laman are
brothers in the Book of Mormon. Simply put Nephi was the good guy. Another
hero/prophet figure in the Book of Mormon we never really learn the name
of. He is only refered to as the brother of Jared. They are both good
guys. Now that I've explained it you can smile when you read those
references or just ignore my attempt at satirical humor.

If you enjoy the stories on Nifty, please send a little something. Help
support the cause. If you like Nifty donate. If you are nervous about using
a credit card they accept PayPal. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html

All rights are reserved to the author except those given to Nifty to
archive this work. Please do not repost without permission of the author.

Thank you Zach for proofreading this chapter and your insights.

I enjoy hearing from my readers. The only reason this story and the next
exist is because of reader input.

     Kim ----------

Ring in Mine 3: Chilled: Chapter 2

Fed and warm inside there were things that needed doing. Paula's husband,
Peter, had owned a landscaping business. Working for Peter had been Nephi's
first job. His mind wandered back to the day Peter had found him standing
with the day laborers in front of Home Base.

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Nephi's mother had interceded on his behalf long enough for Nephi to load
his belongings into his car. It was a tight fit. She also slipped him a
couple of twenties. Nephi's dad was one of those that ruled the house and
the finances with a tight fist. He expected receipts from his wife to cover
the grocery money. This was probably all the cash she could get her hands
on. Nephi hoped giving him the money wouldn't cause problems for her.

This was his fault. Why had he let his best friend, Liam, kiss him? Liam
had suggested they beat off together that fateful sleepover in Nephi's
backyard. It was dark their sleeping bags were open, their hands around
their dicks; why had his dad chosen right then to turn on the floodlights
to check on them?

Liam was sent home in shame blaming the whole thing on Nephi. Nephi's
father was willing to believe Liam over his own son.

Having just finished his junior year of high school he had nowhere to
go. The first two nights he slept in his car. Just feeding himself was
going through his small supply of cash quickly. A clerk at the 7-11
mentioned the men outside of the hardware superstore looking for work.

Nephi had stood there all morning watching employer's needing an extra set
of hands for the day choose those around him. Nephi realized he didn't look
like much. While being fit, he couldn't put on weight no matter what he
tried. While working out left him with strength, but for the life of him no
mass.

Peter looked over the remaining bunch of men looking for day work. One of
his guys had called in and quit just that morning. Usually they could cover
it, but today was especially full. Early summer was always one of their
busiest seasons. The young kid didn't look like he had worked a full day in
his life. Why did he keep coming back to him?

"Kid can you do yard work?" Peter called out. A man pushed Nephi out of the
way.

"You need a man that can do a hard day's work. You need me!" The man spoke
in broken English. The man's in your face attitude bothered Peter.

"Kid, do you have a car?" Nephi answered that he did. "Good follow me; I
have a day's work for you."

At the worksite, Peter put Nephi to work on one of the hand mowers. There
were two other young guys on Peter's crew. They seemed to goof off as much
as they worked. Nephi needed this job if only for the day. Maybe if he
worked hard enough Peter would hire him again tomorrow.

During lunch break Peter noticed that Nephi was sitting by himself watching
the other guys eating their lunches. The look of hunger was evident in his
eyes. Paula always packed a little extra. Peter didn't really need both
sandwiches or the bag of chips.

"Nephi come over here!" Peter called. Nephi was sure he was being fired. He
couldn't bring himself to look into his employer's eyes. Peter tossed Nephi
first a bag of chips, followed by the ham and cheese sandwich. "Sit down
and eat."

Part of Nephi wanted to say he was fine; but his stomach was doing his
thinking for him. "Thank you." Nephi said. Peter also tossed his newest
employee a half-frozen bottle of water.

"You've got to drink more water. I can't have you passing out on me." Peter
instructed. Peter had noticed all the stuff in Nephi's back seat. "You
don't have to tell me your whole story but answer one question. Are you
living in your car?"

Embarrassed Nephi looked at the ground as he nodded his head. Peter allowed
Nephi to finish his lunch in peace. Peter did a last walk through the day's
project and was pleased with Nephi's work. He wished his cousin's worthless
grandkids worked as hard as Nephi.

At the end of the day, the crew met together to receive tomorrow's
assignment. Peter pulled out his wallet and looked at the wad of
twenties. "Nephi, I need you to follow me home so I can pay you. I forgot
to grab any cash."

Peter lived in an upper middle class area in the hills above Salt
Lake. Nephi helped Peter clean the equipment and trailer. Nephi was looking
pretty grubby.

"Grab some clean clothes and use the basement shower, while I get your
money. There are clean towels on the shelf." Peter instructed. Nephi didn't
want to put Peter out, but after two days of washing in a McDonald's
restroom the offer of a hot shower was too good to pass up. He promised
himself he would be quick. The pleasure of hot water running over his sore
muscles kept him in the shower longer than he had planned.

When he stepped out of the shower Nephi noticed his dirty clothes were
gone. He was glad he was completely dressed when he emerged from the
basement bathroom. He was met by a fierce looking woman.

"Young man, I was wondering if I was going to have to come in and get
you. I will not accept any ifs, ands, or buts; dinner is ready. It's just a
casserole so there is plenty. Upstairs now." Paula the boss's wife scared
him. Dinner smelled delicious and tasted even better.

"I am not going to ask you why you are living in your car or working as a
day laborer. I do have an offer for you. I will take you on for two
weeks. If you work as hard as you did today you've got a job for the
summer." Peter announced.

"You are not going to be sleeping in your car. You will need to keep the
basement apartment clean and help out with some of the chores, like taking
the garbage out and helping with the dishes." Paula finished.

With that Nephi found himself installed in the basement studio
apartment. It was mainly one big room with a small kitchen, table and
sleeper sofa. There were other rooms in the basement but they were filled
with stuff. Peter had an office and Paula had a sewing craft room. They let
Nephi store his snowshoes and other stuff on a shelf or two in the garage.

Over the summer Nephi slowly opened up telling Peter and Paula parts of his
story. He couldn't bring himself to tell them why he had been thrown out of
his family. As school approached Nephi was resigned to not finishing high
school.

"I've enrolled you at the local high school for your senior year. You will
be working with Peter in the evenings and on weekends. School starts the
Wednesday after Labor Day." Paula announced. Nephi had learned not to argue
with her. He felt it was important they heard the whole story; the tears
flowed as Nephi explained about the kiss knowing he would be on the streets
again.

"I am sorry to deceive you. Thank you for taking me in for the summer. I
will pack up and leave." Nephi sobbed.

"Why would you do that? We've known since that first week. I tried calling
your parents. Did you know your dad is real bastard?" Paula announced.

"You know I am attracted to guys rather than girls?" Nephi asked amazed.

"My little brother is gay." Peter announced. "Nephi, you are a good
person. I've watched you help your coworkers. Maria next door has mentioned
often how you've helped her, turning down any offer of payment."

"She reminds me of my grandmother. The first time I saw her struggling with
her garbage can, I knew I couldn't expect her to do it by herself." Nephi
explained.

"It's funny you say that. Her worthless son-in-law won't let her have any
contact with her grandkids. Having you around has made her happy." Peter
smiled.

"That's what I mean. You have become part of our family. We know you are
putting most of your money away for college. We hope you are staying
local. We want you to stay here." Paula offered. Nephi broke into
tears. "Having you around makes up happy too."

Paula pulled him tightly to her bosom. Maybe he wasn't completely gay. She
did have a very comfortable and shapely bosom.

Peter's heart attack was around Easter. Paula made an early night of
it. Peter promised he would follow after the football game he was watching
on TV. Paula's cries of anguish the next morning had Nephi upstairs in a
heartbeat.

Peter was still in his recliner, his lifeless eyes staring into the
distance. Nephi helped his surrogate mother downstairs into his
apartment. He sat her at the table with a cup of cocoa. Nephi called
911. Nephi called the school and explained his grandfather had died and he
wouldn't be in the rest of the week. Nephi called Peter's brother and broke
the news. Nephi called Paula's sister who was too busy to come help. Nephi
told Maria next door. That was the easiest way to let the locals know. The
bishop was there within twenty minutes. He was ten minutes slower than the
ward's Relief Society President

It was hard on Nephi to watch this strong lady he had come to depend on
collapse. The funeral had already been paid for and planned. The ward took
care of the rest of the preparations.

Nephi finally got to meet Peter's little brother at the funeral. Benny's
orientation was obvious. Benny fit every stereotype of a gay man that
British Television had ever come up with: the purple ascot, pink
handkerchief, the walk and heaven forbid even the lisp. By the time of the
funeral Paula had finally pulled herself together. She saw the concerned
look on Nephi's face.

"No, Nephi, no one would know you were gay unless you told them. Benny
isn't really this way. This ward treated him badly when he grew up
here. This is Benny's way of getting even." Paula explained.

Paula was right Benny spent a couple of days going over Peter's papers. He
really was down to earth and an alright guy as well as a very smart
accountant. He had been the business side of Peter's landscaping venture
since the beginning.

"Did you see Sister Mann's face?" Benny laughed over dinner. Benny had worn
last year's Halloween Fancy Dress costume to his brother's funeral.

"Peter would have loved it." Paula laughed with him. Peter had never
totally forgotten how many ward members had treated his much beloved little
brother; forgiven yes, forgotten no.

"Nephi, it is decision time. Do we sell the company or keep it going for at
least another year? I would like to keep it going. It will give you the
chance to finish saving up for college." Paula asked.

"Can we think on it for another day or two?" Nephi asked.

The next morning, Saturday, Nephi woke early to an especially heavy spring
snowfall. Without really thinking, Nephi pulled on his cold weather
gear. He powered up the truck with the plow. He dropped the blade and
cleared his way to the street. There were clients expecting their parking
lots plowed. He had done this a couple of times this winter when Peter
hadn't felt well. It was a tired boy that returned home around two backing
the truck into the garage.

He opened the center bay of the three-car garage. The lawn tractor with the
blower attached finished off the driveway. It was easier to do the
sidewalks all the way around the block than turn around. Maria's driveway
and a couple other widows had to be done before he drove the tractor down
the sidewalks to the chapel. With the three-foot wide snow blower the
sidewalks around the chapel were clear for the next day's services. The
parking lot hadn't been done so on returning home, the truck once again
left the garage. Nephi made short work of clearing the snow.

It was late when Nephi finally made it into the house.

"Grab clean clothes and head upstairs young man." Paula ordered. Nephi was
led to the master bath. He didn't know they had a Jacuzzi tub. The water
was hot and the bubbles were on. "Dinner will be ready in twenty minutes."

Nephi hadn't realized how cold he was until he slipped into the comforting
bubbles.

Nephi jumped when Paula shook his shoulder. "I called your name but you
must not have heard me." The timer on the bubbles had turned off. Nephi
quickly covered himself with his hands when he realized Paula could see all
of him.

"Some young man is going to be very happy someday. Peter would have been
envious." Paula chuckled as she left the room. Nephi looked at himself in
the mirror as he dried off. He was glad it hadn't been a cold shower. If
Paula were going to see him naked at least he wasn't all shriveled.

Nephi had kept the landscaping business going. It took some juggling with
first high school and then college. He missed some days when it snowed but
he never let himself get behind on his work. He found his business classes
were interesting. He also added in some technical classes in small engine
repair.

During the summer he worried how the regular workers would handle having a
19-year-old boss. Nephi handled things just as Peter had done. Those that
didn't want to work for him were given the option of looking
elsewhere. Things smoothed out after Nephi fired the first person for
slacking off.

Benny kept the books straight. The company kept its head above water, just
as it had always done. During the summer they did really well. During the
winter it was just Nephi and the money was tighter.

Nephi was more than surprised when for his twenty-first birthday he opened
a plain manila envelope. It contained a contract. Except for making
payments to Paula while she lived, promising to continuing to live
downstairs and paying for Benny's accounting services the house, the
business and its equipment was his. Nephi protested.

"Nephi, you came into our lives and filled a void we didn't even
recognize. We couldn't have children. Benny doesn't need it and my sister
doesn't deserve it. My grandson Nephi will follow in Peter's footsteps."
Paula proudly stated pulling a tearful Nephi into her arms.


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