Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2020 21:50:14 +0200 (CEST) From: jacoblion@tutanota.com Subject: A Neglected Boy The Twins LXXVIII Please support Nifty to keep stories coming. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html Thanks to all Nifty Staff for their help. Please remember this Story is fiction, names fabricated, locations may be accurate. Included links are fun. ... There may be some sex; it will be gentle and loving. Just a reminder the story is told by either Jake or Kori in alternating Chapters. A Neglected Boy "The Twins" LXXVIII jacoblion@tutanota.com I was surprised and unprepared when Felipe walked right to our table. His extended hand was so sudden that it was a reflex to extend my hand to his. Jake stood but said nothing. Keith and Ethan were visibly upset by the intrusion and I was relieved that Kyle and Justin were with their `groupies' learning the latest lyrics and moves to some new K-pop song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C2z4GqqS5E We all watched almost in disbelief as Felipe walked away and out the south doors of the dining hall. I didn't catch what Keith said to Ethan but they turned to Jake and I and Keith asked . . . . "Would it be Ok if Ethan and I came home tonight and you could drop us at the pool in the morning for practice?"............... ...............Jake answered before I could . . . . "You never need to ask that question. I think with only 2 weeks remaining it's best to start cleaning out the dorm room anyway." ... ... before I could say anything Keith spoke but in an almost fragile voice . . . . "It's not that I'm afraid of Felipe, I know I could beat the crap out of him, I just........" Saved by our K-pop stars Justin and Kyle and several of their best Asian friends along with 2 Australians, with their fine accent, and 1 from south Alabama that I had trouble understanding; English may not have been his first language. Y'all. The show ended with the rug-rats singing a line or 2 of their new song then ... ... Oh Geeeeze, ... ... you would think they were getting murdered as several, very cute girls, gave those rug-rats a little parting kiss. From what I could see I think one of the Aussie boys tried to kiss Justin but was intercepted by one of the girls, his face showed some disapproval/disappointment. In the SUV we drove and stopped at Durfee Hall. All six of us climbed the 4 flights up to Keith's room and began the first of the clean-out loads. Kyle and Justin each toted 2 trash bags filled with clothes. Jake and I carried as many books as we could and Ethan and Keith grabbed the essentials like soap, towels, face cloths, toothbrush, and the likes. On the top shelf of the wardrobe was a box about the size of a shoebox. That box must have had some things of great importance. It was marked with a bright red stripe all around and securely strapped with 2 large rubber bands and 1 strap with Velcro. Keith grabbed that box and held tight. The ride home was interesting, fun, much like a who done it filled with intrigue and mystery. What could possibly be in that box? Now we all know how much Justin loves Keith and we all know how much Kyle and Justin can be vicious, brutal little Tasmanian devils, and tonight was the proof. Keith was only saved by the fact that the rug-rats were restrained by their seatbelts. Jake was smiling and almost to the point of laughter as we pulled up to the house and stopped. Jake and I were sure we knew the secrets of that `Box'. I opened Keith's door and let Keith have a good head start and if he were smart that `mysterious box' would be hidden well out of the reach and searching of those little monsters. With the SUV unloaded and both Ethan and Keith looking better and much more relaxed we all sat around the kitchen table for a little ice cream and talked about going to the farm and then a quick trip to Mystic to clean Jabbering and get her ready for summer sailing adventures. Assuming things. Assuming you know your friend. Assuming you know about things, about people, about teens. Keith excused himself for a minute and returned to the table with that `Mysterious box'. He was serious. His best friend and boyfriend sitting beside him looking at that `box' so curiously as if Ethan didn't have any idea what it contained. Keith slowly opened the box. He turned the lid up so we couldn't see anything inside. First, he took out an old pocket watch and then a very, very old jackknife followed by a photo of his great grandfather. Item after little item always followed by a photo of some great grandfather or grandmother and a story of when they came from Sweden. Ahhhh, the fair skin and blond hair. How foolish Jake and I felt. Keith held one photo for a long time. His eyes filled with tears but he held back. Finally, he explained it was his father's father. The man in the photo was handsome, even at his age, tall with thick blond hair and looked like an old-time ship captain. His eyes were a dark blue and his face well-shaped and rugged, a commanding appearance. Keith, now sitting with Justin and Kyle hugging, explained how gentle and loving his grandfather was. How they had done everything together when he was just a little boy. It was fishing, sailing, camping, and the yearly carnival. How his grandfather loved the games, it was always just the two of them. Keith grabbed Justin and Kyle's hands to show them how his grandfather would tightly hold his hand; he smiled at the boys and said . . . . "I love you guys the way my grandfather loved me." . . . . Ethan stood behind Keith and gently kissed the top of that beautiful blond hair. Every item, one by one carefully replaced, in what appeared a special order, back into that box. Keith attached the large rubber bands and the Velcro strap and returned the unmysterious box to their bedroom. I looked at Kyle and Justin and asked them if they understood how important and personal the box was. They understood and then Jake and I made them promise to never, ever open that box. It was a cross your heart promise. Ethan and Keith returned and joined Jake, me, and the rug-rats. Ethan brought his laptop and asked how to find the charts we use when sailing. I showed he and Keith how to bring them up and to use my password. They were off to their room and Jake and I grabbed our little tyrants and dragged them off for a shower and a story. Shower over and it was lots of giggling and fun then the question of where they were sleeping and tonight was a huge surprise. The rug-rats decided they were sleeping in their bedroom. ... ... Really? ... ... I was elected to tell the story and decided it was time to start a good book. You might think it would be Harry Potter but, no it was about a wicked dragon ... they love dragon stories. I began reading ... ... "Once upon a time, there was a cold-hearted, backstabbing dragon that was so mean and ugly. He loved to travel to the human world and snatch little kids out of their beds while they were sleeping............ (giggling and quiet screaming) ............ the cold-hearted dragon would drop them down his green tortoise throat. Now back in those days, all the kids would sit in his stomach and cry, "Let us out, Let us out." Of course, he would not let them out, but sometimes a brave little soul would travel the long journey till he plopped out the other end." <<< that got lots of giggles and pointing to a certain area ... `gross' said Kyle and Justin in unison. I continued only for a minute more realizing my words were simply floating on air. Eyes were closed and I swear Kyle was snoring but, Justin was all cuddled up to him asleep with a smile on his face. Jake and I sat in the kitchen with an ice-cold OJ/diet sprite mix. We were talking about the trip to the farm when Ethan and Keith entered with the laptop. Ahhhh, now we see the importance of looking at charts. Ethan showed us chart 13267 suggesting a sailing adventure up through the Cape Cod Canal to Plymouth and then on to Boston and further. Jake and I were smiling and we did discuss the length of a trip like that then came the next suggestion and that was south to Sandy Hook, New York, and then a little more south to Asbury Park, New Jersey. Now that would be a better and smoother trip. Jake asked about Block Island and the story was that we've all seen it and it would be just a little boring. We need a new adventure Keith and Ethan had decided. I turned the laptop around and made a few clicks then told Ethan and Keith to pull up Chart #13006 and find Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor Maine. Jake looked at me like I was crazy and asked . . . . "Seriously Kori? that's a long trip." . . . . we need a good summer and a real adventure was all I said. Ethan and Keith found Bar Harbor and I heard the word ... "Seriously" again. Ethan, Keith, Jake and I sat making plans for the next 2 weeks. The school trip for Justin and Kyle then the final year-end swim competition. The school trip is in 3 days the swim meet is Friday so let's run-up to the farm on Saturday and next weekend we run to Jabbering. The boat needs a thorough cleaning. Ethan suggested that he and Keith take the forward V birth for their cabin and the means everything needs to come out. Only the very necessary items will be kept and stored under the bunks. Everything else will go in the storage locker at assigned on the dock at Mystic. It was time for bed and Jake and I were left to clean the kitchen counter. Jake walked down the hall to check on the rug-rats. He was gone longer than a quick check and as I stepped into the hall he motioned to come look. I looked in and "The Twins" were just as I left them all cuddled up with arms around each other. They are the best two little kids! That is when their sleeping. Jake and I crawled in bed and it was only seconds before I was dreaming of Jabbering's bow cutting the waves. I could see beads of water with sunlight hitting them and they looked like pearls and diamonds. The dream was so real that I could smell the fresh salt air. I know I was smiling in my sleep because I remember spotting the rug-rats just forward of the main cabin dancing naked for all to see. How innocent these two little boys. The night was peaceful and morning came with that aroma of Jake's coffee and bacon. ... Yes! Ethan and Keith are in the kitchen; love having them home. Then Jake and I were abruptly awakened by those little tyrants as they tore the covers from us. ... Ahhhh, but then they climbed up and the hugs were delightful. The boys smelled like strawberries and that reminded Jake and me that we needed a quick shower. Oh, I forgot to mention the little fun he and I had just after we crawled in bed last night. ... No time to talk about it we need a shower and that ended up with 2 little rats joining us as well. ... Ok, it was fun. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, homework, showers, and stories and 3 days were gone in a flash. We've been dropping the teens at school and cleaning the remainder of their `stuff' including another well-protected box after swim practice. As Keith carried that `box', he and Ethan both had sheepish little grins. Today was different, it was the trip day. Neither Jake or I could really say we were happy but we joked and smiled and told Kyle and Justin what a great time they would have. "The Twins" hugged Jake and me and I didn't want to let go. We watched as they boarded the bus and waved as it drove away. How many thousand times did I look at my watch? How many times did Jake call and say this was a difficult day? I agreed. The day crawled just one painful minute after another. When we met Keith and Ethan after school at the pool it became evident that their love for Justin and Kyle had made their day as miserable as ours. We weren't hungry. We grabbed a cold drink leaving the pool and drove over to the University elementary school. The conversation was little. The bus was scheduled to arrive at 9. It was 8:55. The four of us were now standing leaning against the SUV watching the curve for signs of the bus. It was 8:58. Jake was pacing then Keith and Ethan would walk 50 feet and look, stop, and walk back. My stomach was upset. It was 9:00 pm. Ethan and Keith walked to the corner and stood looking down the street. Other parents were quietly sitting in their cars reading or on their stupid cell phones texting like that's the normal thing to do. It was 9:12, - 9: 17, - 9:34 ... ... where the hell is the bus they were supposed to be back at 9-o'clock! Jake was visibly upset and getting worse by the minute. 9:57 Keith screamed they're here! Here they come! ... ... The bus pulled up to the curb the door opened and out scrambled a bunch of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. We watched every kid get off the damn bus. The driver was standing next to his seat and finally Justin and Kyle, after giving the driver a hug, stepped from the bus. I was upset and trying not to show it. Jake appeared very pissed or was it something else. His face lit up when the boy's feet touched the ground. Then the driver came to us to tell us all about how helpful and polite Kyle and Justin were. That they are fine examples of the students here and how proud Jake and I should be. The rug-rats were beaming. Six of us in the SUV and what was the first thing we heard? ... ... Come on ... you all know ... Ok, ... ... ... "we're hungry Dad!" ... We knew that they would say that so, we were already with some fresh fruit and whipped cream. The ride home and right until they fell asleep their little mouths never stopped. The best story was about Parker. They were in the restroom taking a pee when Jimmy a tall skinny kid walked in stood next to Parker and tapped him on the shoulder; Parker, surprised, turned quickly and peed on Jimmy's leg and it drizzled all the way to his sneakers. Yep, that was the very best story (almost) and Justin said he thought Jimmy wouldn't tap no one on the shoulder again when their peeing. ***Authors note to readers; "please don't ask the rug-rats how many dinosaurs at the Boston Science Museum! Or how long the penis is of a Tyrannosaurus rex" ... according to Justin, ... Kyle asked their guide, a young female intern, who simply said ... ... "much bigger than you can imagine." Morning came and Jake had Keith and Ethan wake our little cherubs. To make sure they were wide awake the teens dragged the rug-rats in for a morning shower. I think the shower must have been fun from all the laughing Jake and I could hear. I clearly heard Justin when he said . . . . "Do it again Keith it feels good." ... ... ummmm ... I thought `what feels good'? Justin and Kyle arrived in the kitchen just in time for the pancakes and bacon to hit their plates. I was somewhat relieved when the squirts told Jake and me how good it feels when Ethan and Keith wash in between their toes. Hey you guys no seconds on the pancakes the swim meets start in 90 minutes. The entire morning was nothing but perfect. Justin and Kyle remained at the top in their division as well as Ethan and Keith in theirs. There was no break for lunch just a slightly longer time between events for the rug-rats division. One more event for Ethan and then we could enjoy watching Keith finish the last of 5 dives to finish the day. It was an early release for Antonio, Lorenzo, Marco, and Kris so the Judge had cleared his schedule and arrived with our support team. We watched as the scoreboard began to place results for all swimming events. It was fun and good to see how Kris has almost completely recovered. It was also lots of fun for Jake and me to watch the cute interplay between Antonio and Kris as they `excitedly' watched the scoreboard. They do try to hide their affection, not well but they try. Ethan along with Keith, Kyle, and Justin had all placed at the top. I never realized just how popular our 4 boys are as Jake and I saw more than a hundred of their friends cheering. ... ... Oh, `Henry', Lorenzo, Marco, Kris, and Antonio have huge voices. The diving started, Jake and I love the Speedos. The first 3 dives Keith scored 8.5 putting him in second place. The entire feeling for the afternoon changed as Keith began dive 4 and stepped to the end of the 7.5-meter platform. As he stood, we noticed his focus was interrupted. Keith backed up several feet and again approached the end of the platform. We watched every move as he began his handstand. He shoved off. His timing was wrong, his tilt was wrong, his entry was wrong. There was an audible gasp from the spectators. The results were immediate 2, 2.5, 2, 2, 3 ... another noticeable amount of discussion from spectators. Keith's coach was rubbing his back and I can only imagine trying to discover what happened. Six other divers and then Keith again climbed the tower to the 7.5-meter platform. Slowly with intense focus, Keith stepped to the edge. His body bending like a jackknife. His hands placed at the end of the cement platform, his legs beginning to raise in perfect position and now pointing directly at the sky. His body perfectly rigid, like some inverted Michelangelo statue. Jake, Ethan and I counted the seconds. For whatever reason Keith held his position 6 seconds longer as if proving some point; yet in that time his body never wavered, not the slightest hint of a move. Ethan's hands excitingly pounding his knees, almost as saying `Yes', as he noticed Keith's legs began tilting forward and then the release. His feet so perfect, body folded in pure perfection, unfolded and then the final twist as he entered the water like an arrow. Not even the hint of a splash. The crowd erupted in cheers as we watched the scores ... 10, 10, 10, 10, 10. ... It was the first perfect 10 score of the day and the scoreboard showed Keith on top. Ethan was looking to the left of the diving platforms and had noticed something. He jumped up shoved passed Jake, the Judge, me and the rest of the row, rudely, saying nothing. We watched as he ran toward the front of the pool then we could just spot him as he passed behind the diving platforms and around to the opposite side of the pool. People were leaving and entering that first section of spectator stands when we spotted Ethan again. ... ... Jake, the Judge, me along with Justin, Kyle, Antonio, Lorenzo, Kris, and Marco were slightly in shock with what we were about to witness. Ethan was obviously confronting someone. ... ... Then it happened ... ... he turned to the right so damn swiftly, almost in a golf swing, his fist doubled then back to the left delivering his fist to Felipe's jaw. It knocked Felipe off his feet and throwing him in the pool. Security rushed and grabbed Ethan................... To be Continued: A Neglected Boy "The Twins LXXIX Other hobbies I enjoy can be seen on my Flickr photo page. Flickr is `Free' to visit or `Free' to join, you can favorite any photo I have posted or leave a comment at jacoblion@tutanota.com. Photos are of wildlife, landscape, camping, cycling. https://www.flickr.com/photos/161652854@N06/ https://jacoblion.weebly.com/a-neglected-boy-the-twins.html Stay safe and remember that "racism should never be tolerated" it is only through education and love that we will defeat the unbelievable ignorance and hatred we are seeing today. Jacob R. Lion