Date: Tue, 14 Jun 2022 03:14:56 -0400 From: Eric Murphey Subject: Transitions Daily Life Chapter 1 (Gay adult youth) I havent gotten an email about Transitions for some time. A reader Eric emailed me and said basically. Hey slacker I miss Eric and the boys do something about it. OK it wasn like that at all. He was very kind and complimentary in his email and asked if and when I would continue the story. I have been working on one for the holidays Christmas and Hannuka but this idea hit me and like him I have missed Eric and the boys. This story is just the daily life of Eric and the boys. Zero is very busy at this time so any editing errors are all mine and completely mine. I hope you enjoy the story and allow the boys back into your hearts.I have enjoyed not writing. But I missed it a lot. Im not sure how often I will post but I am sure it will be at least once a week. Im not going to specify a day yet. But in time may. So here is the first part. I hope you like it. Also I Have been reading a couple amazing stories you should check out. Wes is always coming about with something brilliant. His new story with a co writer rob the scribe is called uncaged is amazing so far so heck that out and Twelve year old Tyler By Ryan White is also an amazing story. Its a storyline I have never seen before and its really great. Anyway enough about me and stuff lets get to Eric and the boys. Transitions Daily Life Chapter 1 From the odd mind of Eric Murphey Eric turns off the TV to head upstairs to tuck in the boys. He could sense something is up with Tran but every time he tried to talk to him he would put him off. Well he is determined to find out whats going on with him. He goes to Joeys room first. "Morning sunshine." Eric says with humor in his voice. "Daaaaad its bedtime." "I know, I'm just messing." Joey hops up into his bed and covers up. "Joey do you know whats bothering Tran?" Joey thinks for a second scrunching up his face as he does. He shakes his head no. "No dad but he does seem a little off." "That's what I was thinking. So how are you doing buddy?" "I'm real good dad. I'm so glad that the school is almost over." "Im glad that the concerts arent all over the world this year. Just in North America." "I liked going around the world. It was fun most of the time. Especially trying to figure out ways to trick you." "You boys sure did that." Eric says smiling remembering everything they did. Then the plane crash and visiting Eric on the farm. "It was an adventure wasn't it?" "Sure was. I hope this time leave out the plane crash." "You and me both buddy." Eric says running his fingers through Joeys hair. "Dad?" "Yeah buddy?" "I know that you think I'm too young. But can I get a phone? I already know everything you are going to say. You've said it like a million times already. That I'm only 10. If I need a phone I can always use yours. But dad its just..." "Everyone else has one?" "Yeah." He says sadly, and soft. "I don't know Joey. Its a kind of hard for me you know." "Why is me getting a phone hard for you?" Joey asks perplexed. "Well, I guess its selfish of me in a way. I guess its that you are growing up and wanting more adult things to do. I just don't want you boys to ever grow up. I know its stupid. But I just think everything is so perfect now. I don't want it to change. But that's stupid of me. I know you boys want to grow up and that you need to grow up and become independent of me. But its real hard buddy. First its a phone. Next a car and then college then a house, and family of your own." "Dad its just a phone for now. The other stuff is a long ways away." "I know it seems that way. But the days are constantly ticking away. I suppose it would be of some use for you boys to all have phones. I hate it but alright. Tomorrow after school we will go get you boys some phones." Joey grins ear to ear. Happy as a lark. Eric feels like his life its the beginning of the end of the boys childhood. He knows he wants them to grow up and be successful at whatever they choose to do with their lives. But its hard letting go a little each day. Joey sees the sadness in Erics eyes and hugs him and kisses his cheek. "I love you dad. I'm only 10 we got lots of years together." Eric smiles. "Yeah we do don't we?" "Sure and lots more adventures I bet." "With you boys I am sure of that." "Now get to sleep." Eric says tucking the covers around Joeys now laid down body. Eric kisses him on the forehead. "Sleep well and dream of puppies and rainbows." "Can we get a puppy too?" Joey asks half serious half joking. "No." Eric immediately responds. No thought to the response. Just no. Eric walks over to Alejandro room and sees him at his desk. He admires him in his sleeping pants and no shirt. His little feet swinging back and forth under him. He is getting a bit taller. But the doctor said he will always be a short because of his lack of food in his younger years. Thankfully there is no lack of it now. "Come on buddy time for bed." Alejandro looks over his shoulder at Eric and smiles. "Hi Poppi." Eric cant help but smile back at his sweet little guy. The first love of his life. Now he has three loves. He is so grateful to Alejandro for coming into his life. Though he wishes it was under better circumstances. But, he is here now and happy. He watches as the little brown hand reaches up and pulls off the number 2,007 and reveal 2,006. Then he races across his room to his bed. Now a normal boy its a few steps. But Alejandro's room is 20 feet by 40 feet. So 800 sq ft. Just as Joeys is. Tran opted for the smaller room and chose to keep it that way if he wanted or even wants Eric told him he will combine rooms as he did for the other two boys. But Tran likes the little room he says. He says the other boys rooms are too big. So Eric gave Tran another bedroom for his office so his desk doesn't take up half his room. Eric watches and smiles as Alejandro launches himself onto his bed. "Oh miho I love you so much." Eric says to him. "I love you too Poppi." He says reaching around Eric neck and hugging him. Eric quickly returns the embrace and rubs his sons back. Alejandro likes long hugs. Sometimes up to a couple minutes. He likes the feeling of the love that he feels when they hug. Eric has learned to accept it and love it too. Of course a hug from any of his boys for as long as they want is always a welcomed gift. So knowing this could be a while he asks him. "Alejandro do you know whats bothering Tran?" Alejandro hugs a little tighter. "No Poppi and I asked. I did. But he said he has to think 'bout some stuff." "Any idea what?" "No sir. I wish I did. Hes been upset like two weeks now." Two weeks Eric thinks mad at himself he just caught it today. "Yeah it has been a while I was just hoping he confided in one of you boys. So I can help him with whatever it is." "Prolly couldn't tell you if I did know. You know brothers secret and all." Eric sighs. "Yeah I understand. I don't really like it but I understand you boys have to have some secrets." "Your a real good dad, poppi but sometimes us boys just got to talk to each other and see what they think. Its not that we don't love you...." "I know buddy. Its just sometimes you need to know what your peers think. Not your old dad." Eric says tickling his sides. Making Alejandro go into fits of laughter letting him go and half trying to get away and half trying to stay loving the attention. Eric slows down and stops after a minute and he lifts up his son and puts him in his bed and tucks the covers around him. "I have been meaning to ask. I noticed them a few days ago and keep forgetting. What are the numbers for?" Alejandro smiles. "That's how many days until I'm 16 and can start working at our McDonald's. Eric feels the big rock in his stomach again at the thought of them growing up. Does every parent feel like this he wonders? "You can start working at 14. Just limited hours." "Cool can I?" "For one thing its a long way off yet. Second that would be not be my decision but Chris'." "Couldn't you just tell him to hire me?" "I could but I wont do it. Its his store to run and hire how and who he wants. I wouldn't do that to him." "I understand." He says looking down and dejected. "But, I am pretty sure he would hire you. I mean your smart and a good worker. He will see that and not because you are my son. But because you are Alejandro Murphey. Who just happens to be my son." "So he wouldn't just hire me cuz I'm your son?" "If you were a little trouble maker do you think he would hire you?" "Prolly not." "Your damn straight he wouldn't. I trained him to be a good manager to accept his people and hire who he feels would fit in the best and do a good job. Why do you want a job anyway?" "Cuz Poppi its what you did." He says with total seriousness in his voice. Eric is touched deeply by this. "I'm truly homered you think that. But you don't have to do it because I did. You are going to do lots of things I have never done. Like go to college. Get married to Miss Cindy Lou Who. Have your own children you raise from babies. I cant wait to see them and spoil them like I do their daddy." "Poppiiii I'm only 10. I don't want babies yet." Alejandro says exasperated. "I know its a long way of for sure. Oh by the way. I think you should know that Joey has finally chipped away the last bit of rock and you boys are getting phones tomorrow after school." "Cool. He said you would. Just didn't think it would be until we got married." Alejandro says giggling at Joeys joke. He would say. Here you go son on this great day when you get married here's a phone. This would make Tran and Alejandro laugh hard. "Oh he said that did he?" Eric says acting surprised hiding his smile. "Yep. Sure did."Alejandro says still giggling. "Well, his timing was a few years off." He says allowing the smile to come to his face. "I love you buddy. Sleep well and dream of puppies and rainbows." "Can we get a puppy too?" "No." Eric responds very quickly. He kisses Alejandro's forehead and runs his fingers through his hair. He then goes to Trans room. Tran is reading a sci fi book he found in Eric's library. Its the Restaurant at the end of the Universe series by Douglas Adams. "Just a second Ba." Eric sits on the edge of the bed as Tran finishes the last two pages of the chapter. He puts a playing card in the book to mark the page, then sits it on the nightstand. All his boys are like that. None of them will turn a corner on a book. Eric doesn't think twice about it. He heard once its showing disrespect to the author but he cant see how. "So how are you?" "Good." "HM." Is all Eric says to this. Tran sighs. "I can go to the garage and get pliers and start pulling out your toe nails until you tell me." Usually Tran would have laughed at this. Instead he gives a blank stare to Eric. "Alright. I understand its something you have to think through yourself. I would really love to help you. Do you want me to make an appointment with your therapist. Maybe having someone not in your home might be able to help?" "No Ba. Its just....." He starts and stops. Eric doesn't say a word and just wraps his arms around the boy well, young man really at 14 now. He feels Tran crying. Not hard just a soft cry. "Its OK whatever it is. I love you no matter what. Always and forever. I hope you know that." "I do Ba."Tran says sniffing. "Good because if you an only remember one thing that is what I want you to always remember. You are my special boy. You are Super boy who beats cancer that no one thought he could beat. You are a loving boy who found friends in the hospital and continue to Skype with them. I wish so may things for you and sadness is never one of them. Sometimes it helps to talk about it. I wont force the issue. But, I do wish you would trust me to help if I can." Tran gently pulls away from Eric and looks him in the eyes. "Ba I'm gay." "Yes and we have talked about this a few times. Whats changed?" He looks down and starts talking. "Ba I decided to not like go out until I went to college. You know because well its high school. So I always told girls and stuff I was too busy preparing to go to college. So I didn't want to date. Because people as you tell us love stereotypes they figure I'm Asian it makes sense. Well, this guy asked me out." He stops there. "About what two weeks ago?" He sighs. "Yeah." "What did you tell him?" "Well, first I was so scared anyone knew I was gay. I was like I'm not gay. He was like you so are I see how you look at me. I did look Ba. But, I didn't think he noticed. He is like one of like 5 guys at school that say they are gay." He stops. "So then what happened?" Eric says excited at the story of Trans possible romantic life beginning. "I was like I'm not gay right? He is like oh you so are. Wait I said that already. So he says to me that he doesn't think anyone else knows because he has good gaydar. I'm like what? So he explains it to me. I never heard of such a thing before. But so anyway he um well he kissed me right on the mouth. I was like wow he kisses good. But I realized we were in school in the library and I pulled away. But I really wanted that kiss to like keep going on forever and ever." Tran says looking off into space as he thinks of it. "I take it you like him." "Gosh yeah Ba. He is smart and way super cute. He is just so something I don't know what he is but I like it a lot." "So whats the problem then?" "Ba you are always telling us to be true to ourselves right?" "Absolutely." "See Ba I think that if I date him I should be open about it. I think if I hid it then I wouldn't be being true to myself." "I think I see what your problem is. Do you want to come out at 14 to the school." "To the world really Ba. Remember who my brother is right?" "Yeah you are right about that. I imagine the tabloid would have a field day with that. Joey Murpheys brother is gay. I didn't think of that part of it." He sighs. "That is a tough decision you have. But let me ask you this. Would it affect anyone that loves you?" "Sure it would. Or could I guess people could be mad and hate me and not eat at McDonald's. or not buy Joeys records." "Do you think either of us would care? Do you think we would want the money of people who are so stupid not to see how great you are? Do you think we would love you any less of any of that happened. Which I doubt very much it would. You know what I got an idea. Why don't you invite him over here tomorrow around 6 for supper and we can talk to him about how it was for him when he came out at school. It will be the same for you but on a much larger scale. So then you can make a better informed decision as to how you would like to pursue this. Because no matter what you decide your brothers and I are behind you 100%." "I know Ba. I will think about asking him over tomorrow." Eric hugs Tran and tucks him in kissing his forehead. "Sleep well and dream of puppies and rainbows." "Can we get a puppy." Eric looks at him and is thinking this may be a conspiracy or it may be a coincidence. He isn't sure which. "HM. Lets get phones tomorrow first." "Cool we are getting phones then a puppy." Eric looks at him his brows furrowed and walks out of the room. When he gets to his room he closes the door to the double doors that is open and strips in front of the closet and goes to take a shower. He lets the water cascade over him and thinks about Trans problem. It is a tuffy that's for sure. He knows its better for gay boys in school now then when he was in high school. There was one boy that admitted to being gay and they treated him like shit. Eric thinks of him and wishes he would have done something for him. Be his friend or something. But he had Joy, Mr Brown and McDonald's. to keep him busy. Maybe he should have made time for him. Looking back he knows he should have. The poor guy was probably miserable and needed someone. Eric thinks man I was a piece of shit. Guy right in front of me and I didn't do anything. Well that will never happen again. He decides it was due to immaturity that he was how he was. H was never mean to him. He just didn't try to be his friend. He knows he cant change the past. But is always trying to improve how he is in the now. He thinks he is doing a pretty good job of it. Being a good example to the boys. He gets done in the shower and dries off and slips on a robe because its a little chilly in the house being a little damp yet. He goes to the little sitting area in his room and turns on the TV and pulls up a video of him and Alejandro on vacation in the Virgin Islands when it was just them at first. Eric grins as he watches Alejandro race into the surf giggling and laughing. Being just a happy boy. You can see the light bruising still on his body from the abuse he suffered for years. But you can see the worry and stress dissipate with each giggle. With every hug and every meal as well. Eric watches videos of Tran in the hospital playing with his train and little friend. Mathew, Eric thinks his name was. Cute and happy boy he was. Tran told him a little while back he was in remission and his dad was working a lot now so they can get a house in the country for them. His dad thinks the fresh vegetables will be better for him then what they get in the store. He watches videos of Joey singing and of all of them bowling and having a great time laughing and picking on each other. Eric turns off the TV after a couple of hours of just thinking of the fun they have had. He thinks his favorite is when they are sledding. All of them freeing and trying to act like they aren't because they are having such fun. Cheeks all rosy and eyes watery from the cold wind. Eric climbs into bed and thinks. Should we get a dog? Then falls promptly to sleep.