Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 06:39:17 -0700 (PDT) From: Puer Amore Subject: Forgive me, Jody PT VI Forgive me, Jody (PT VI) By Barry pueresamo@yahoo.com Disclaimer: This work is one of fiction. Any resemblance of persons or places mentioned in this story to actual persons or places is only slightly more than coincidence. Copyright 2006 Barry. All Rights Reserved. We were still in our positions when morning came. I took my hand from his and began to stroke his hair very gently. Watching him sleep was its own reward. He sensed that I had removed my hand and I felt him press his back and butt against me in response. He reached back and returned my hand to his. He sighed and went back to sleep. God, he's such a miracle. I thought. He's the savviest kid I've ever known. I had to keep reminding myself that he was soon to be 17. His small frame and boyish features would never lead one to think him more than 13. Till, that is, you see him naked. No 13 year old is equipped like that. Still, watching him sleep in my arms, knowing how he trusted me was so touching that I could do nothing but let the love well up in me. Damn! I thought. Why would anyone beat him? Especially his mother. I snuggled back up to him and placed my nose into the hair on the back of his head. I was busy drinking in his scent, when he spoke. Barry, you awake? He whispered. Yes, sweetheart. I replied. I can't believe it. He stated. What, sweetheart? I asked. I slept all night long. I never sleep all night long....NEVER! He declared. You must hold me like this every night.....promise? He asked. I promise, sweetheart. I assured him. I feel totally safe when you hold me, when I'm in contact with you. It's wonderful. You don't understand, Barry. I've never felt really safe, not in my entire life...Never! Jody explained. Gary has always been there to torture me. It's wonderful not to be around him. Don't worry, sweetheart. Gary's not here. He can't hurt you now. Put him and all the beatings, and the jeering from your classmates out of your precious mind. You're with me now. I assured him. You're safe. I love you, Barry. I love you so much. Jody replied, in a most loving tone. I love you too, sweetheart. More than I can find words to express. I insisted. I squeezed him tightly, and he returned the squeeze to my hand, which he had taken possession of. As I released my hug, I asked: What would you like to do today, sweetheart. I'd like to lie here all morning in your arms. He replied. He rolled over to look me in the eyes. He placed one hand on my cheek, then ran his fingers through my hair. He kissed me sweetly on the lips. Barry, he stated, I don't ever want to be without you. You've filled out my life. I don't think I could stand it now, to be without you. Me too, sweetheart. I never want to lose you or be without you. I can't believe what great love has taken root in my soul for you. I fell in love with you when you first snuggled up to me at the picnic. My love for you has only grown since. I explained. We'll find some way to make it work. I insisted. He smiled at me.....that big Jody-smile. Would you like something to drink....some milk or something? I asked. Milk! He exclaimed. How about some coffee. He chided me. What was I thinking! I exclaimed. Fresh coffee coming right up! I said. I crawled out from the covers and replaced them over his gorgeous body. Stay warm, sweetheart. I'll be back in a flash. I said. Soon as I start the coffee. When I returned, Jody was lying there with the morning sun shining on him and that beautiful, straight, shimmering hair. Suddenly, it hit me. You know, Jody, I've been trying to figure out who you put me in mind of sometimes. I said. What do you mean? He asked. Well, I keep thinking that you remind me of some movie or TV character, but it just wouldn't come to me...till just now. Really, who? He asked. You, sweetheart, from just the correct angle, and when you produce that special smile of yours, remind me of a young Mark McCain. Who? He asked. Oh, that's right. I guess you didn't get to watch much TV at the Carney. I continued: Mark McCain was a TV character, a young boy played by Johnny Crawford. He also had that quality where he "lights up" when he smiles. He also had brown eyes and hair color similar to yours. He was so cute in the early years of the series. He wasn't as cute as he reached his teen years, but as young Mark McCain, he was just too cute. Not as cute as you, of course, I smiled at him. Of Course Not! He smiled back. Let me get us some coffee, should be ready by now. I suggested. I returned with the coffee and found Jody throwing back the covers to welcome me back to his immediate presence. While the covers were pulled back, I couldn't help noticing what a beautiful physique Jody had, even more accentuated by the sun bathing that same beautiful physique, Glorious in its nakedness. Jody, Ganymede, himself, would be envious of that physique. I declared. You're really quite beautiful. Thanks, Barry, he said, as he reached for his cup of coffee. We sat with our backs to the headboard and sipped coffee for a while. Jody, if you're interested, I thought about driving over to Bass Hall to enjoy a piano concert by a friend of mine.....his name is Bryan. He's a concert pianist. His performance this afternoon is sort of a dress rehearsal for a concert tour he's starting next week. I haven't seen him in a while, nor his lover, Sam. I think you'd like them. Would you like to take in his concert? I asked. Sure, I've never been to anything as cultured as that. I'd love it. When is it? Jody asked. Oh, relax. It's not till 3PM this afternoon. We have plenty of time. I advised. I'll call Sam in a bit to make sure it's not sold out or anything. Great! Jody exclaimed. I can try out some of my new duds. Right! I confirmed. Bryan and Sam will be smitten by you. They might try to take you away from me, then there'd be a big fight over you. I teased. That would be a first. He teased back. Someone fighting over who gets me instead of who gets to get rid of me. Don't be silly. I, for one, feel blessed and special to have you here at my side. If you disappeared from my life now....I'd....well...I'd spend the rest of it singing John Denver's I'm Sorry and crying my eyes out. I advised. I continued: You're a real treasure, Jody. I'll always treat you like one...Always! You've made, for yourself, a place in my heart and in my soul that is uniquely yours, only you can occupy it now. You really mean all that, Barry? No one has ever said anything like that to me in my entire life. I don't know what to say....except...I feel the same about you. That's why I'm ready to surrender myself to you totally as I told you last night. I love you, Barry, I've dreamt of you and of loving you for 2 years. Now it's all coming true. Jody explained. He continued: I want that event to be our exclusive, beautiful, moment of consummation. It must be more than just sex. I want it to transcend the mere physical and occur on a higher plane. Does that make any sense? He asked. Of course it does, sweetheart. We'll both give it much thought and talk about it tonight when we get back. OK? I asked. You see, Barry. My cherub role was fashioned after Ganymede, as I told you. I used to fantasize about actually being Ganymede, and finding my Zeus, to take me away from the world and love me as completely as my surrender to him. Jody explained. He continued: You're my Zeus, Barry. I want to completely surrender myself, all my love, to you, and for you to love me, and only me, completely. I don't want you to ever think of Ganymede or speak the name Ganymede, unless my face is in your mind. I want to be your Ganymede, and you, my Zeus. I will be your cupbearer, Barry; all I want is your undivided love. Jody concluded. My God, Jody! That's beautiful. I do love you, never doubt it. I replied. I can't let you be my cupbearer, though, not my servant, not subservient. True love forbids such a thing. I want you to be my lover, not my slave. I want our love to be complete and perfect too, and, yes we'll serve each other out of love for each other, but, we will be lovers...not master and slave. Of course, he replied, but still, I want to surrender myself to you as a sign of the complete pouring out of my love to you. It may be ceremonial, but its significance is real. Very well, My Ganymede. God, how I love you. I exclaimed. You're the most savvy and sophisticated young guy I've ever known. You're really quite remarkable. I added. But, Jody, are you really ready for such a surrender, such a commitment... Especially to someone as unworthy and imperfect as me. I am ready, he replied. I've been dreaming, even praying for my Zeus to appear. When Dad began speaking of you and how he could easily fall in love with you, and describing all the reasons why, I knew you were my Zeus. I hoped, and waited till you finally appeared. There's nothing unworthy about you, Barry. It is I who am unworthy...I know it's so. I'm yours, Barry. I want to make it official in our own unique ceremony. All we need now is our own Mount Olympus. Jody suggested. Wow! I said. The two of us on Olympus, galvanizing our unity and our love for each other in a grand ceremony. That's a fantasy, even I find compelling. Yes! We must fulfill your dream. Let's NOT do it in haste. We must consider every detail, lest we leave anything out and regret it, after the fact. I explained. I'm getting excited about this, Jody. It's a beautiful way to codify our relationship. I continued: It must be something absolutely beautiful; it must be gentle, tender, and perfectly loving. Jody smiled. What? I asked. You see! He said. Just as my Dad described you, Barry! ...... gentle, tender and loving. Jody, I'm so humbled that you would want to become one with me. It's beyond anything I've ever dreamt of....beyond anything I ever considered possible for myself. I insisted. It's almost imponderable for me. It's like.....well.....like a miracle, defying anything that could happen in nature without Divine intervention. I concluded. There's nothing to ponder, Barry. I'm yours. Jody stated as fact. Well, I suggested, let's grab a bite of breakfast and refresh our coffee. I want to call Sam and make sure we can get in to see Bryan's concert.. Then, I want to call my friend, Scotty and see if his shop is open today. If so, as long as we'll be in our Sunday best, I thought we might drop by his studio, at the mall, and get our picture taken together. Is all that OK with you, sweetheart? I asked. Really! ......our picture together? Jody smiled. Absolutely! Especially if you have that big Jody-Smile on your gorgeous face. I said. ALLRIGHT! He exclaimed. I can't wait. You can pick out the frame.I suggested. Scott has some really beautiful frames to choose from. As with all my gay friends, I try to bring him a little business whenever I can. We gays have got to stick together, you know. I continued: Then, when we're done with all that, it'll be time to drive to the concert. It's all the way over to Ft. Worth, so we'll leave extra early, especially since the Cowboys are playing this afternoon and we'll need to take a more round about route to avoid all that traffic. Jody looked absolutely stunning in his new "duds". I couldn't even take credit for it, as he had picked them out and coordinated it all, himself. As we were walking the mall on our way to see Scotty and have our picture taken, a voice called out. Hey Jody! We turned to see who it was. Hey Mike, Jody answered. Whatcha doing up here? Mike asked. What are YOU doing up here? Jody asked back. We moved here. Dad took a new job with Texas Instruments, so we live up here now. Mike answered. Mike, Jody interrupted, this is Barry. He's my friend and a friend of my family. I'm going to be living with him now. My Mom's in the hospital and might be there for several months. Cool! Mike answered. I mean, not hat your Mom is sick.....but Cool we'll be able to hang. Nice to meet you, Barry. Mike said, as he extended his hand. I shook it, and looked him square in his eyes. He didn't like that and immediately shied away from eye-contact. My first impression of him was, accordingly, negative. So, where you livin' Mike asked Jody. Before I could stop him, Jody told him. Fortunately, Jody didn't give him an apartment number. Gotta Go, Mike, I interrupted. Jody and I have an appointment in just a few moments. That's Cool! Mike replied. See Ya, later, Jody Sure thing! Jody responded. Sensing my negativity, Jody looked at me and asked: What's wrong, Barry. You didn't like Mike? I'm not sure, sweetheart. He didn't want to look me in the eye....he just made me uncomfortable, and my instincts tell me not to trust him. How do you know him, anyway? I asked. School. Jody answered. I see. I said. Well, anyway, I continued, I'd be really careful about hangin with that guy. I can't tell you why, just yet, but I wouldn't be around him. Jody smiled and said: Oh, Barry, you're not jealous are you? No sweetheart, it's not that. It's my maternal instincts, I guess. I smiled back. Scotty processed our picture while we waited. Jody picked out a marvelous frame. The matt was embossed in gold leaf with the inscription: "Together Is The Nicest Way To Be". The print came out Great! Me, behind Jody with my head to the right of his and a hand on each of his shoulders. Our heads tilted, slightly, toward each other. Perfect! Scotty exclaimed, as he placed the print into the frame. Perfect!, he commented, "Together is the Nicest Way to be" ...Good Pick, Jody. Scotty remarked. I love it, Scotty. It's a great shot. I declared. Scotty handed me an envelope, saying: Here's the rest of the set, some wallet sizes and all. I paid Scotty, and, as he was waiting on my credit card to approve, he said: Was that that Mike kid I saw you talking to outside the shop? Yes, he's a former school mate of Jody's. I replied. He's trouble, is what he is. Scotty replied. He's been raising Hell every day for two weeks, here at the mall. Security has thrown him out several times. Scotty looked at Jody and said: I'd stay the Hell away from him, if I were you, Jody. OK? Scott asked. Sure, Scotty. Don't worry; I can take care of myself. Jody assured him. OK. Scotty replied. I'm glad you're with Barry. He'll take good care of you. Don't worry. I know. Jody responded. I know he will. Thanks to all the damned Cowboy's traffic, we barely made it to Bass Hall on time. Sam had left our names at the stage door, so Jody and I could watch Bryan from back stage. Sam welcomed us with a hug. Bryan only had a few minutes before he had to make his entrance. He too, hugged us both and, then, turned to Jody and said: I hear you are a performer too, and that for years you acted professionally as Ganymede on stage. Jody smiled and replied: Well, I never thought of it quite like that. I'd like you to help me warm them up. Would you do that for me? Bryan asked. Sure! What do I do? Jody asked. Just follow my cues, It' be obvious. Then, as I sit down at the piano, you can return to Sam and Barry. OK? Bryan asked. OK! Jody exclaimed, with that big Jody-Smile in full force. Bryan took Jody by the hand and began walking onto stage toward the concert grand waiting there. Applause greeted Bryan and Jody the whole time they walked to the piano. Bryan motioned for the applause to subside. It did. Bryan looked out, over the audience and said: Thanks, all of you, for being here. Something different to start my performance this season, Bryan said, as he turned to Jody. I've brought along my personal good luck charm to initiate the concert. Bryan said. Lady's and Gentlemen, this is my dear friend, Jody. He, at his young age, is a professional stage actor and has performed for many years in the classic role of the ancient Greek Icon, Ganymede. I'm delighted he could be here to initiate the concert. Bryan concluded. Bryan leaned over to Jody and placed his finger to his cheek. Jody knew, instantly, what to do. Jody gave him a sweet kiss on the cheek. The audience broke into uproarious applause. Bryan moved to sit at the piano bench. Jody knew to walk back to Sam and me, waiting off stage. The kid's a ham; Sam chuckled, as Jody traversed the stage. It's Great. He's certainly not shy in front of a crowd, So it seems. I asserted, as Jody made his way back to my side. You were Great! I assured him. They'd have thrown money, if I'd been in my pastie, he responded. I laughed. Jody was agog at Bryan's performance. Bryan is truly gifted. It's as if he has one entire brain for his left hand and another for his right. They can move so effortlessly and seemingly detached, each from what the other is doing. I can't even imagine having such a talent as does Bryan. Soon, too soon, we were on our way home.