Date: Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:55:36 -0400 From: D Dragi Subject: The Courage to Care. Chapter 5 Please take the time and donate to Nifty. Support this site and keep the stories coming. I f you have any comments or suggestions they are most welcome. Email me at tughill1383@yahoo.com I'll respond back the same day Chapter 5: Tis the Season The Monday after Thanksgiving Brad went in to full Christmas mode and not a single nook or cranny of the house wasn't decorated with some Christmas decoration. There were battery powered single candle holders in every window. A huge wreath was on the front door. The columns of the porch were decorated with garland and in the garland were small white lights. There were two large nutcrackers on each side of the front door. There was a manger in the living room and the railing on the stairs was strung with garland and red bows. The plates were changed to the Spode Christmas tree pattern. There was a pine cone centerpiece on the dining room table and one on the mantle over the fire place. I said to Matt does he always spend this much time on decorating for Christmas. Matt said it's something he loves to do and I love him for the way he transforms the house making the holiday season special. Brad showed me an advent calendar. He said there was a different candy for each day and it was mine for the taking. My new worry was the upcoming Christmas semi-formal dance. I told Matt and Brad about it and told them I needed a suit. Matt said next Saturday we will head to my tailor in New York and order you one. Matt had an impressive wardrobe of tailored suits. He had the full complement of shirts, ties, cuff links, and shoes. He looked like a model for GQ. We drove to New York to meet with his tailor Antonio. Antonio was known as the clothier of Wall Street. Before we got there Brad said he hoped Antonio's nephew Paolo wasn't there. He said Paolo was just a little to eager to measure Matt's inseam. We got to the shop and Antonio was all smiles when he saw Matt. We were met with a warm greeting and offers to have espresso. Matt took a cup but Brad and I declined. Matt told Antonio he needed a suit for me. He said he was thinking of a navy blue Italian wool suit. Antonio said "as usual you have impeccable taste." Antonio said let me get the boys measurements. He called out to his nephew Paolo and there was no doubt Paolo was gay. He was wiry thin wearing tight black pants and a black turtle neck. Angelo told him to take my measurements. Paolo was just a little too eager to move his hands over my body with the tape measure. Matt then told Angelo we need a couple of shirts and ties and shoes. I caught a glimpse of the invoice for the suit, shirts, ties, and shoes and it was over $800. Angelo said it would be ready next week. When we went next week and tried it on Paolo whistled at me. There I was in a navy blue Italian wool suit, a white shirt, and a red paisley tie. I looked at myself in the mirror and didn't recognize myself. I was stunned. The fit and feel of the suit with its silk lining, the shirt with its 800 threads of cotton, and the incredibly comfortable dress shoes I just couldn't believe it. The total came to close to $900 for everything and per usual Matt just whipped out that platinum American Express card and thought nothing of it. After I got in to my street clothes Brad said it's now time to do something with that mop of hair. Brad made me an appointment with his hair stylist Mr. Pierre. We went to his shop and when he was done my thick black hair framed my face. Matt looked at me and said "looking good." The basketball season was off to a good start. The team had a record of 5 -0 coming in to the Christmas Tournament. The Christmas Tournament brought teams in from other conferences. Teams we probably would only play if both teams made the state tournament. The games were back to back and was a tough stretch. We wound up winning the tournament and our record jumped to 7-0. The local paper did an article on Connor and I calling us the "dynamic duo." Watson's High sharp shooters mowing down the competition. Both Connor and I were at the top of the conference scoring leaders. With our success on the basketball court Connor and I were the most popular students at school and we became inseparable. The Christmas Semi-Formal Dance arrived and I picked up Melanie at her house. Melanie's mom made us come in to take pictures. Melanie was wearing a strapless fed gown. Matt drove us to the school and Melanie was wearing a red gown. The gown pushed up her breast creating a seductive cleavage. The gym was crowded and decorated for the season. The DJ was playing the latest songs and we got to a slow dance I held Melanie close and we swayed back and forth. I told Melanie to wait a moment and I would be right back. I went up to Vic and asked if he had his keys. He said Yeah why. I told him I wanted some alone time with Melanie. He smiled and said no problem man and gave me the key ring. I got Melanie and we went in to the storage closet and started making out. We kissed passionately and I was getting hard. My boner was pressing against that expensive navy blue wool suit. I was so turned on I wanted to have sex right there and then. As Melanie pushed against me she took her hand and grabbed my crotch. She laughed and said "I see my man wants me." Oh I wanted her. I wanted to empty my balls deep inside her. We went back to the gym and I gave Vic the keys back and said thanks. He said to wipe my mouth it was covered in lipstick. Matt picked us up and we drove Melanie home. We had a long slow good night kiss outside her front door. I went with Matt to the mall to do my Christmas shopping. I picked out a gold locket for Melanie. For Brad I got one of those fancy French cooking pots, some shirts and some special soaps he liked and for Matt an Irish wool cap, a fishermen's knit sweater and a bottle of his favorite cologne. On Sunday we went to the Christmas tree farm. Brad explained we walked around the farm and when we saw the one we wanted we cut it down. We found a tree we liked and Matt handed me the hand saw and said you do the honors. I cut it down and we loaded the tree on the car roof and drove home. We set up the tree in the living room and Brad brought down boxes. Inside the boxes were lights and ornaments. We strung white lights around the tree and started unwrapping the tissue paper which held the ornaments. We were putting up the decorations and Brad had Christmas music playing on the stereo. The last thing we did was put a white angel on the top. Brad then handed me a wrapped box and said open it. I opened it and inside there was a gold basketball ornament and on it was inscribed Jake's First Christmas. Bard said "you are now officially part of our Christmas." I was touched by the gift and hung it on the tree. Matt went in to his study and closed the door. I was sitting on the couch looking at the tree and listening to the Christmas music. Brad came in with two mugs of hot chocolate with marshmallows. He said be careful its hot. "Brad clinked his mug to mine and said "here's to our first Christmas together." I don't know what is was but I was so overwhelmed tears were forming in my eyes. Brad said, "What's the matter Jake?" I said to him "I just can't tell you enough how happy I am." "Both of you have been so good to me." "I don't know if I deserve all both of you have done for me." Brad said to me, " Let me tell you how we found out about you." "Your case worker Angela and I went to college together and she told me about this boy she had in her care who she thought could turn his life around if he was given a chance." We met and she showed me your file. I read it over and said to her what can I do. Angela asked would Matt and I consider being foster parents to the boy." "I think the two of you could really make a difference in this boy's life." She said "she could set up a meeting with all four us and see what happens." I told her I needed to talk to Matt. When I got home Matt and I were having dinner and I told him I needed to discuss something with him. By my serious somber tone Matt knew this was not going to be the usual dinner conversation. He said to me "What's up babe?" I told him I met with Angela down at the homeless shelter for boys and she had this boy she thinks could really turn his life around if he was given a chance. Angela gave me your file and I showed it to Matt. Matt read it over and said "so what can we do?' Angela thinks we would be good foster parents to the boy. Matt said "you're kidding." I told him I think we can really be a good influence and help this boy. Angela wants to have a meeting with the four of us to see if it would work. What do you say. Matt said "I don't have a problem meeting." "But are you really ready to change your life and be a foster parent?" "What do we know about raising a teenager?" I said to him "I have a good feeling about this in my gut and Angela thinks we can really do some good for this boy." Matt said "Ok." "Set up the meeting." I said to Matt "I told Angela you would be on board." "I know deep down below that tough Wall Street demeanor beats the heart of a man who cares." "Let's not get carried away and see what happens at the meeting." Matt was calling his attorney Clinton Evrett who successfully defended Matt against trumped up charges by the SEC. "Hello Clinton, this is Matt McNulty how are you. Clinton replied so good to hear from you Matt. "You're not in trouble with the SEC again are you." "You know how much I love beating those Ivy League government pricks in court." Matt said no it's not the SEC it's something else." Clinton said `I'm all ears." Brad and I are the foster parents of this teenage boy and I want you to draw up adoption papers. Brad and I want to adopt the boy. "What?" "Did I hear you right." "You and Brad want to adopt a child." Matt said "yes we do." "I'm stunned." "I mean I'm not surprised about Brad wanting to adopt because you know if he could he'd give birth to a brood for you." "But you?" "Matt McNulty the all business, tough as nails, shark of Wall Street." I would have never thought that you had any paternal yearnings whatsoever." "Is this Brad's idea?" "Is he forcing you to do this?" "No." "I want this as much as Brad." "Well this kid must be something else for you to turn your life upside down like this." "He is." "Well I can draw up the papers but the boy if he is over 16 must agree to the adoption and sign the papers." "Understood." "Can you have the papers ready before Christmas" "Not a problem." "I also want to talk to you about setting up a trust for the boy as well." You're going all out for this boy aren't you Matt?" Yes. I guess I am. On Christmas eve Melanie agreed to meet at her house in the afternoon to exchange gifts. Brad said he would drive me over. I got to Melanie's house and Melanie said we had the whole house to ourselves. My brother is at a friend's house and mom and dad are at the company Christmas party. I had my small gift box in my hand as Melanie walked me to the living room. We sat down on the couch and I handed her the gift box. She opened it up and said it was beautiful. On the back of the locket I inscribed our two initials. She put it around her neck and was beaming. She handed me a big box and when I opened it, it was a cream colored Irish fishermen's knit sweater. When I took off my shirt to try on the sweater Melanie stopped me. She then told me to take off my T-shirt. I was sitting there bare chested and Melaine took off her sweater and she was topless. I made a play for Melaine's breast and began kissing them. After a few minutes Melanie said let's go upstairs. We went up to her bedroom and she closed and locked the door. She unbuttoned my jeans and pulled them down. I finished removing them and tossed them to side. I took off my underwear and I was standing there with a raging boner. She took off her pants and pulled off her panties. There we were the two of us naked. We walked over to the bed kissing one another and when we were on the bed Melaine was under me. I was rock hard and wanted to move my dick inside her. She said if I had any protection and I said I did. I got up from the bed went to my pants and took the condom that was in my wallet. I slipped on the condom like Uncle Matt showed me and then I entered Melanie. I was slowly moving in and out and Melaine was releasing soft moans with each time I went in. I didn't last long and I felt my cum fill the condom. I got off of Melanie and took the condom off and put in the waste paper basket. I rolled over next to Meliane held her tight and told her I loved her. Melanie said she loved me too. We continued kissing before we got up and got dressed. Matt was coming to get me at 5 and it was already 4:45. We went downstairs waiting for Matt. Matt arrived and before I went to the car I gave Melanie a deep passionate kiss and squeezed her cheeks. I told her I loved her and got in the car. When I got in the car Matt asked if Melanie liked the locket and I said she loved it. I was wearing the sweater that Melanie gave me and told Matt this was my gift. He said it looked good on me. I had this self-satisfied grin on my face just sitting there thinking about the afternoon. Melanie and I made love and I felt great. Matt noticed my demeanor and asked if there was anything I wanted to discuss. With a shit eating grin on my face I said No. We got home and Brad was finishing dinner. He told me to rest up because we were all going to Midnight Mass. Brad said I go to church with Matt two times a year. Christmas and Easter. I don't want him alone on the two most important days on the Christian calendar. I said ok. After dinner we sat around in the living room watching "It's A Wonderful Life." At around 11:30 we got in the car and headed to church. The three of us entered the church and sat in the pew. Matt kneeled down prayed then sat back in the pew. I noticed that people were looking at us and whispering. This unnerved me and asked Brad do you see what I see. He said he did and told me to ignore it. Matt went up to receive communion and I was intrigued by the whole ritual of the mass. When we were leaving one of the parishioners said in a voice deliberately loud that it could be heard "It is an abomination for a man to lay down with another man." Matt had a quick retort saying "He who is without sin cast the first stone." Matt shook hands with the parish priest Father Cleary a white haired elderly man. Father Cleary wished us a Merry Christmas and thanked Matt for his generous donation for the new organ. When we got out of church Brad looked at Matt "how much did you give these hypocrites?" "I don't get you." "These people hate us yet you still come here and give them money." "Is this some sort of Catholic guilt thing." "Think you can buy there acceptance." Matt turned to Brad and said "you just don't understand." Brad was shaking his head and said "you got that damn straight." This was Matt. When he said he was going to live life on his terms he meant it. If he wanted to be a practicing Catholic he did it. He didn't care what they said or thought. This was how Matt was born and raised and he wasn't going to give it up. It was just another of those things that made Matt stand out as an absolute enigma. When we got home we went upstairs and got changed. We came back downstairs and to sit in the living room. Brad had the television on and the Yule Log was playing. Brad went to the kitchen and came back with three glasses of Crème de Menthe over crushed ice. Bard said he needed this after mass. Matt said Cheers and we all clinked our glasses. I already put the gifts I had for Brad and Matt under the tree. Matt said "I hope you didn't spend too much on us." I joked that the big boxes had small items in them. Brad said that "Santa Claus would be brining me my gifts if I was a good boy." I looked at Brad and said "Santa Clause wouldn't be a big red haired man and his dark haired elf?" Matt and Brad laughed. After we finished our drinks we said good night and went upstairs. When I was upstairs in my room, I heard the attic stair case being pulled down. I heard Brad say take these will you. They were there a few minutes before Brad said that's everything." I yelled out to them "is that Santa Claus." Neither of them said a word. Brad was knocking on my door at 8 am saying come on get up it's Christmas morn. I rubbed my eyes and went downstairs. When I got to the living room the tree was encircled with gifts. There were all of these big boxes and Brad said we start with the stockings first. We opened the gifts in our stockings. I got a collection of small cologne bottles in a box. Matt said he wanted to have Brad open this gift first. Matt handed him a small box. Brad shook the box and said "what is it?" Matt didn't say a word and Brad tore into the box. It was a set of car keys. Matt led us all out to the garage where there was a black Mercedes Benz with a big red bow on the roof. Matt said in a deep voice "Merry Christmas baby." Brad was stunned and started screaming. He looked at Matt and said this is too much. You shouldn't have. Matt looked at him and said you want me to take it back. Brad said not on your life. But my gift pales in comparison to what I got you. Matt pulled Brad in close and said I like giving you big gifts. Brad retorted I hope I get that other big gift tonight. We went back in to living room Matt and Brad finished opening their gifts. Matt said he loved the cap and sweater. Brad promised to cook great meals with the pot and said he couldn't wait to try on the shirts. Brad started putting all of these boxes around me and said they are all for you. I started opening the boxes that Brad handed to me one by one. There was a down coat, shirts for school, construction boots, designer jeans, then he said here is the big gift. I opened the remaining boxes and it was speakers, headphones, a turntable, and a receiver. It was a complete stereo set. There was also a subscription to one of those mail order record clubs. I was so excited looking at the stereo and where I would put it in my room. I asked if we could hook it up. Matt said in just a moment there is one more gift Brad and I want to give you. Matt handed me a thin box. I opened it and inside was a manila folder. I knew something was up because Brad looked like a cat ready to pounce. I said "What's this?" Matt said to open the folder and carefully read the papers inside." I took the papers and read them over. I thought I read them wrong. I said "Are these what I think they are?" "Are they adoption papers?" "You two want to adopt me?" Brad said "nothing would make us happier then to have your stay here permanently as our son." "But only if you want to." "All you need to do is sign." I started laughing and tears started to roll down my cheeks "If I want to!" "Are you kidding me?" "I want nothing more then to stay here with you two." "Where do I sign?" "I said I love you both so much and I don't know how I could ever repay you for all you've done for me." Brad started sobbing with a big smile on his face. I hugged Brad and when I hugged Matt he said "We are legally and officially a family" I said to both of them that this is the greatest Christmas ever. We formed a group hug and held each other tight. All three of us were crying tears of joy as we held each other tight. I never felt so loved. Thinking back on it no other Christmas compared to that day when Matt and Brad wanted to adopt me and give me a home, a family. Something I never even thought I would have when I was in the shelter. As I sat there holding Matt's hand by his bedside the thought of losing him was devastating. My husband Jeffrey was sitting in a chair next to me. I knew that if it wasn't for Matt and Brad I would never truly understand the deep love two men could share with one another. My loving relationship with my husband Jeffrey was a direct result of what I learned living with these two men. One was already gone and the other was not long for this world. I drifted off and started thinking of all they had given to me and all that they taught me. The first major life lesson I would learn from them happened not long after that Christmas day.