Date: Mon, 25 Mar 2024 01:00:00 -0700 From: John Henry Subject: Wish You Were My Dad Chapter 25 (Gay/Adult Youth) DONATION: Nifty is a not-for-profit organization that heavily relies on our donations to keep the site free and accessible. Your donations pay for web hosting fees and other day-to-day activities for the wonderful staff of editors/publishers. You can donate on the website at http://donate.nifty.org/ Every little bit helps. DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, and contains explicit sexual content involving adults over the age of 21 and minors under the age of 18. If viewing this material is illegal where you live, OR you're a minor under the age of 18, please stop reading this. If you're not sure about the legality, please stop reading until you have looked into your own, local laws. Any likeness or similarity between persons, places, products or concepts are purely coincidental. NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: As of mid-August 2023, I have been using a new email address. Please contact me (copy and paste) at NIFTYJHENRY1988.2@GMAIL.COM. If you've sent me an email prior to mid-August, please forward them to me, since I've lost access to my previous account. All future submissions will also be from this account. Chapter 25 I was numb. That's all I can really remember. Everything else came in a blur or from a distance with a muffled sound, but I couldn't feel anything. I know that Officer Rafferty helped me stand and brought me to his car, where he sat me in the front seat. My memory tells me that there was a crowd of people gathered around, but I think that was more my brain trying to fill in the blanks than what actually occurred. The next thing I remember is waking up in a bed I was vaguely familiar with, in a room that wasn't mine. I was at the Rafferty's house, in their son's room. My brain went blank again with my next memory being in the living room, with Don (Officer Rafferty) and Susan (his wife) explaining that I was going to be staying with them until CPS could find a place for me that was more permanent. I don't know when, but at some point I was sent back to school. I think I was on autopilot, but I don't remember a lot. I know there was homework I doubt I did, course work I fucked off, and classes I'm not sure I actually attended. What few friends I had tried being supportive but most stopped talking to me. I'm guessing they dropped off because I had. The only time reality seemed to come back was when I was with Grandma, who was also devastated. Most of the time, we just sat in silence, glad for the company. Sometimes, we'd try to talk about Mom, but one or both of us would end up crying the rest of the time. As the months went by, Mom's passing settled it, firming my grip on reality. The first moment that nearly put me back in my walking coma was the sentencing hearing for the piece of shit who made me an orphan. I was given the opportunity to say something to the judge before sentencing. The prosecutor said to keep it brief and civil. It was neither. Don and Susan, being my temporary guardians, went with me. I got to the podium, looked the son of a bitch in the face and said, "I hope you get raped and slowly bleed to death from your asshole." The judge asked me to watch my language then made the mistake of letting me continue. "I was told to say something about forgiveness, but I'll never forgive you. There is no forgiving you. If I could take your life right now, I would without a second thought, and I would make it the slowest and most painful death you can imagine. "I even did some research. There was a lawyer who tortured a guy by chopping off the kid's limbs and fed them back to him. Too bad that lawyer wasn't around today, but that still seems too quick of a death for you." The judge banged his hammer and said, "I know you're hurting, young man, but I will only ask one more time that you watch what you say, here." "Fuck you," I said. "It wasn't your mom he killed. It was MY mom. My only parent. I have no aunt, uncles, brothers, sisters, or cousins. My grandfather is dead, my grandmother is barely alive, and my birth father is some random guy who raped my mother at a party. I only had my mother, and she's gone because this piece of shit, motherfucker killed her. I was told I'd get a chance to tell him what kind of impact he had on my life, like he fucking cares. None of you care. This is just a show to you. There's no justice for my mother or any of the others he killed. He's getting a deal to get less time, but I have to live with this for the rest of my life. And you sit there, trying to tell me that I can't tell him how I feel or how exactly him killing my mom has affected me? Fuck you! Fuck all of you!" I turned to my mom's killer and said, as the judge was calling for order. "If I ever see you again, I'll do to you what Will Parker did to that guy but worse," and I walked out. Needless to say, I was put in therapy after that. Don told me later that the judge sentenced the guy to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The deal had included parole after 25 years, but the judge rejected the deal, and said it was in everyone's best interest if the guy was never released. Months went by and I fell into a routine with Rafferties. CPS came by occasionally, claiming to find another foster family, but Don and Susan wouldn't hear of it. Eventually, I met their son, Brad, who came home for the summer. He was nice, but we had nothing in common. Don tried getting us to hang out, but it was too awkward and forced. I was sent to summer school due to my grades. I was the only kid from my middle school there. Everyone else was from high school or just about to graduate. "Hey, Buddy," Don said. "We need to have a talk." "What did I do?" I asked reflexively. Don gave me a hug and said, "You didn't do anything, but we do have some...news." "Did something happen to Grandma?" I asked as tears started to form at the corners of my eyes. "No, no, but it does have to do with your grandmother. Her lawyer came by today and said that she's signed over her parental rights to someone who wants to adopt you." "Who is it?" I was shaking. Was there a distant cousin I wasn't aware of? Mom was an only child but neither of my grandparents were. Or what if my birth father finally came back into the picture and demanded custody? "I don't have any names or details, but there's a custody hearing this Friday. Apparently, it's been in the works since your mom passed ." I couldn't talk or move. Don held me until I calmed down. I was reminded of Dylan, whom I hadn't thought of since Mom died. I cried from the loss of my parents, even if Dylan wasn't my actual father. I went to my room and opened my phone. I stopped trying to contact Dylan months ago, but decided to try one more time. "Hi," I started. "I don't know if you heard, but Mom died. I'm living with a cop and his wife. I'm safe here, but I'm being adopted by someone I don't know. I'm scared and I miss you so much. I wish you'd call or text. I really need you." I sent the text but got no reply. It was then that I deleted Dylan's number from my phone. The hearing for custody occurred in mid-August. It was a hot summer day, but I still had to wear a suit. Don, Susan and I met Grandma out front. They were pleasant to her, but I could tell that they weren't happy with what she was doing. I wasn't sure how I felt. I had tried getting answers from her to no avail. The Courtroom was sparse. I was told that it was a closed hearing, since it was a private matter. I didn't care. I was trying to keep my nerves down as I scanned the gallery, looking for a familiar face, which I didn't. There was a nurse from the facility, Grandma's lawyer, Don and Susan. I was certain that the nurse and lawyer weren't going to be adopting me. "All rise," the Court Clerk called out as she introduced the judge. "Please be seated," Judge Easton said, as she flipped open a file. "I believe we're here to finalize the adoption of the minor, Michael Davidson, age 14. Is that correct, Counsel?" "It is, Your Honor," Grandma's lawyer said. "All the documents have been signed and notarized." Judge Easton looked around, saw Don and Susan, and asked, "Are you the prospective parents? I was under the impression we were dealing with a single parent." "The Rafferties are not the named party, Your Honor. That would be--" "Sorry, I'm late," Dylan said as he walked into the courtroom. My heart nearly exploded. "There was an issue at my daughter's daycare. I tried calling but couldn't get through." I began to cry immediately and ran to him. I didn't care what anyone said or how I felt before. I was still madly in love with him. "Order in the Court," Judge Easton called out, though half-heartedly. "Are you the Petitioner, Mr. Miller?" "Yes, Your Honor. I'm Dylan Miller." "Thank you for joining us. Mr. Parker, if you'd continue?" "Thank you, Your Honor," Grandma's attorney said. "As I was saying, Mr. Miller and my client, Mrs. Davidson, have signed all the necessary documents for Mr. Miller to officially adopt Michael Davidson." "Mrs. Davidson, are you sure you wish to sign over all parental and custodial rights to Mr. Miller?" "Yes, Your Honor," Grandma said. "I have spent many months since my daughter's death talking to Dylan about this. Given my age and inability to take care of my grandson, I trust that Dylan will care for and love Michael as he does for his own child. They developed a tight bond over the last year, and I can't think of anyone else I trust more." "Very well," Judge Easton said, taking down some notes. "Mr. Miller, are you capable of taking care of Michael? He may be 14, but that's still four years worth of commitment you can't take back." "I understand, Your Honor, and I gladly accept full responsibility for Mikey. I wouldn't want it any other way." "Glad to hear that. So, Michael, how do you feel about this, as if we couldn't already guess?" I hadn't stopped crying or holding Dylan. Nothing else mattered. "Hey, Buddy," Dylan whispered. "You need to talk to the judge, okay?" He gently removed me from his person and turned me around. "Is Dylan really going to be my dad?" I sobbed. "Do you want him to be?" The judge asked. "Yes." "Then I guess I have no other choice. I hereby approve this petition for adoption." The judge signed some of the documents and dismissed everyone. "Ready to go home?" My dad asked. "I love you, Daddy," I cried and clung to him again. "I love you, too, Mikey," he said, and I heard his voice break. Dad talked to the Raffertys and thanked them for taking care of me. They made arrangements for my stuff to be picked up. I hugged Grandma and promised to visit her soon. "You remember your promise," Grandma said to Dad as we were leaving. "Yes, Ma'am, I do." There was something in his voice that changed, but I couldn't figure what it was exactly. "Good. I'll see you both and Tiffany on Sunday." With that, Grandma was boarded into a van and taken back to the nursing home. Dad and I held hands the entire drive through town. I couldn't believe what was happening. It felt like a dream. I hadn't been that happy since before Mom died. I felt guilty for it, as well. My happiness was only because Mom was dead. I had spent years in therapy dealing with it. We made our way past Washington High School to a small house. The front yard was fenced with a large oak tree shading the lawn and house. Dad pulled into the driveway, then into the garage. I slid out of the driver's side, so I wouldn't have to let go of Dad's hand. He led me into the house and showed me around. It was a nice three-bedroom, with a huge backyard. Tiffany's was the first room, which was on the right and across the hall from the bathroom. Dad's room was down the hall and on the left. "And this is your room," he said, opening the door on the right, across the hall from his room. The walls were painted a dark blue. There was my bed and all my belongings that weren't at Don and Susan's. I had a desk and a new computer. On the nightstand was a picture of Mom, which made me cry, again. Dad wrapped his arms around me, kissed my cheek, and said, "Welcome home, Son." I turned my head and kissed his soft lips. ***The End*** ***Michael's story will continue....*** Don't forget that I have a new email address, and to forward any emails you may have already sent me. My new address is: niftyjhenry1988.2@gmail.com