Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2014 19:30:48 -0500 From: Eff Del Subject: Flights of Angels-Chapter 4 Flights of Angels-Chapter 4 By Eff Del The pleasure of waking up in your own bed finding yourself snuggled against someone that you love cannot possibly be overstated. It was one of those rare mornings that found me stirring into wakefulness while he still slept. He was pressed against me in what had become his normal sleeping position since the very first night we had shared a bed together...one leg thrown across my hip and one arm thrown across my chest. For once my bladder wasn't demanding that I rise from bed immediately and so, I lay there looking at him watching his gentle deep breathing and listening to the cute little 'not quite snoring' noises that he made. The sheet which had covered us both as we'd snuggled ourselves to sleep last night had become kicked and pulled down as we'd slept so that it rested barely covering the lower part of the crack of his wonderful little ass. I considered silently that this would have made a magnificent photograph if I could have left the bed without disturbing him and IF I had a camera handy. I quietly admonished myself for not following through on a resolution I'd made weeks age to keep a camera near-by at all times. As I watched him, his big beautiful eyes slowly opened. His nose crinkled and his brow furrowed as he grudgingly emerged into awareness. Those stunning blue/gree orbs focused on mine for a few brief moments as his face was fixed in that look of confusion that is worn by all the newly awakened. He blinked twice and performed a large, slow and silent yawn before rewarding me with a wide grin. He slid over and was soon sitting on my abdomen, his legs straddling me on either side. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked down at me and spoke his morning greeting; "Mornin' Dad! Did you sleep as good as I did? Ain't it great to be back in our room in our own bed?" Stifling my own yawn, I arched an eyebrow at him. "ISN'T it great to be back in our own room?" I said correcting him. "That's what I said; 'ain't it great to be back in our own room'!" Typically, he was wiggling as he sat perched on me. Shaking my head in mock exasperation, I reached up and placed my index finger at the tip of his nose. "The problem young man, is that I never know when you're fooling me or not. "He raised his eyebrows and opened his eyes wide while at the same time affecting his very best 'butter would melt in his mouth' expression. "Me Dad? Foolin...ME?" and he couldn't keep in the giggle he was trying to squelch. "Yes you...you....IMP!" I pulled him down to me and kissed him and then rolling over I began to tickle him in the ribs. In seconds he was howling with laughter and gasping for breath at the same time. His arms and legs were flailing wildly and he twisted his torso in a vain attempt to escape my onslaught "STOP! Dad! Dad stop! I haven't gone pee yet! You're gonna' make me wet the bed! STOP!" I threw him across my shoulder and marched him swiftly into the bathroom. As we stood at the bowl side by side emptying our bladders, he was huffing and puffing trying his best to appear outraged. Looking down into the bowl he muttered; "You just wait til I'm as big as you are. It ain't fair." And he looked up at me with his best angry face. This lasted exactly two seconds. He managed to mutter; "Well, it AIN'T!" before he burst out laughing. I bent over and kissed the top of his head. He took my hand and pulling me along he said; "Come on...our shower. Our GREAT WONDERFUL shower! It's been soooo long Dad!"" ***************************************** I was sitting at the table watching him and wondering just how he was able to eat breakfast, wiggle in his chair and talk a mile a minute as he gave Martha an account of our ten days in the mountains. We'd arrived back at Joyous Gaurde late last night after having dropped each of the other six boys home. This was the first time he and Martha had seen each other in a while and the re-union was spectacular. Having grown up at the NEST since he was four years old, Sean had been raised without any female influence (that he could remember). Despite this, there had been an instinctive bond between him and Martha that had been formed the first instant that they'd met and at times like this, they were in a world all together their own and no one else including me really mattered. It was 'Sean and Martha time' and it was very special. I listened with amusement to him tell the story as she sat smiling while he spoke. I chuckled inwardly as his story unfolded. While Sean didn't have a dishonest bone in his body and was completely without deceit, he was not exempt from exaggeration especially if it made a story more interesting. In that regard, he was like every other little boy that ever lived. Martha made the occasional comment or agreeable noise to keep his narrative flowing, and now and then, she reached across the table and patted his arm or hand in encouragement as he continued his rapid discourse between mouthfuls of egg and toast. Finally she rose from her chair and walked over kissing him tenderly on his cheek. "Sean, it sounds like you all had a wonderful time and I'm so happy for you but Darlin' I'm also so happy that you're home for a while. Now excuse me dear because I've got to inventory the cupboard and the pantry...tomorrow is big shopping day you know. I'll see you later at lunch time." "See you later Mrs. Edwards!" he said with a smile as she turned and left us alone. "Now, little man," I said "As we talked about last night, I've got a meeting with Walter and Uncle Phil today and I've asked Doctor Swaim to attend as well. I know you've got two projects you can work on without him and you've got a book to read as well. John said he'd be happy to come over later on and play '8 ball' with you in the game room and keep an eye on you if you want to hang around the pool. If you do hang around the pool remember...wear one of your swim suits. John isn't used to looking at little 12 year old nudies." He broke into a big smile and gestured at me with his fork. "Hey Dad, remember I never went naked swimming until you brought me here." at this he flashed an evil little boy grin. "You're the bad influence on me...I always been such a gooood boy!" I got up and walked around to him hugging his neck and mussing his hair. "All good boys need bad influences every now and then little man...just to make them interesting. I love you, have fun...I'll see you this afternoon sometime." "Love you too Dad. See ya later!" ************************************************ As I entered the big new conference room, I noticed they were all seated waiting for me. With a nod and a smile to them, I took my seat in the big leather chair at the head of the table. "Good morning guys. It's nice to see this big table filling up. I've asked Doctor Swaim to join us this morning because everything we're going to discuss here will affect Sean either directly or indirectly and I'll not have us taking one step that could injure him or affect him adversely. No one in the world understands the boy emotionally better than the professor and as most of you know, he isn't shy when it comes to expressing his opinions." The big man smiled and Walter made no attempt to hide a loud chuckle. " Well then, I guess our first order of business today is to discuss the project you've been working on Barry. I understand from Walter and Phil that you've been a bit creative." Barry acknowledged what I'd just said with a smile and a nod. He was a good looking young man perhaps a few years older than I was. His dark brown hair was naturally waving to the extent that it gave the illusion of having been only casually brushed of combed. His hazel eyes glittered with humor and intelligence. I knew from meeting him in the past that he was tall and well-built though not overly muscled. His voice was a pleasant baritone with a very slight hint of a southern accent. "Thank you Mr. Tucker. If I might direct everyone's attention to the screen on the wall, I think a few illustrations may help me explain my proposal more easily." "Before you begin Barry, I need to make one thing very clear to you." He looked at me with a slightly concerned expression. "If you are good enough and talented enough to be sitting here at this table, then you certainly don't need to be calling me 'Mr. Tucker'. I'm Eric to everyone around this table and I'm certainly Eric to you...got it?" He actually blushed but quickly regained his composure and responded; "Sure...err...thank you uh...Eric." He stood up and walked over to the screen on the wall with a control for the ceiling mounted projector in his hand. "Now, my understanding of this project was that we want to conceive and then put into effect an explanation for your relatively sudden adoption of young Sean. One that would override any of the less than noble motivations usually would or could be associated with the relationship between the many errr...'clients' of the Academy and the individual boys that they choose to uh...associate with." I could see that he was uncomfortable with the language regarding the actual secondary function of the Nesswell-Turnbridge Academy but I decided to let him wiggle with it a bit and therefore I just nodded in affirmation of his opening statement. "After a quick examination of some basic facts, the solution struck me as relatively simple and it hinges around a long relationship between two remarkable women; your Mother and Sean's Grandmother." I was puzzled and I said so; "Barry, I think you're mistaken here. To the best of my knowledge those two never met and more likely than not, probably didn't even know of each other's existence." Barry glanced over at Walter, Uncle Phil and Richard and the four of them exchanged big knowing smiles. It was Walter who intervened; "Eric, some wise fellow once fellow once wrote that it's the winners who write the history books. One of the advantages of great wealth and power is having the resources to retell the past for your own purposes and convenience. Our friend Barry here is a master at 'factual revisionism'...he's an 'historical repairman' par excellence. Barry, tell this poor man the story." "Thanks Walter. Now Mr. Tuck....err Eric....it is a well-known fact that among her many other wonderful attributes, your Mother was very interested in and involved with the arts. Sixteen years ago in March, she attended a week long seminar in Denver." He clicked the control and the image of a program for a Fine Arts seminar appeared on the screen Barry pointed to a part of the program. "One of the speakers on the first day was Dr. Karen Harris, well known authority on medieval French art and Sean's future grandmother. As you can see, she presented a lecture on the murals and frescos of the early Romanesque cathedral of Saint Savin sur Gartempe and the frescoes decorating the 9th century Baptistery at Poitiers. Your Mother; Alice Tucker, was fascinated not just by the subject, but by the personality of the lecturer. They met for lunch the next day and by the end of the week they had developed a strong friendship. While they only met again once or twice a year at similar seminars, they carried out regular correspondence over the course of the years. They shared each other's pleasure with their children...your mother wrote extensively about you and Kyle and Dr. Harris...Karen... shared her joy in her daughter's dedication to medicine, her love for and eventual marriage to Doctor Douglas and the subsequent birth of her grandson; Sean. There was a heartbreaking series of letters concerning the hospital bombing in Uganda and the deaths of Sean's parents followed by increasingly up- beat correspondence as Karen took on the responsibility of raising the boy. It was about a year after she had begun raising little Sean that she wrote to your Mother talking about her concern regarding her ability to see the task to completion. She admitted to being troubled over her age and her health. She was worried over the fact that if something were to happen to her, Sean had no other living relatives. Being a lifelong academic and artist, she knew she hadn't lived what could be called a healthy lifestyle. She was still smoking at the age of 67. After several exchanges of letters, your mother suggested that Karen draw up papers naming your parents as legal guardians should something happen to her. These papers were drawn up but Karen (typically) never told anyone about them. Her copy was kept with her personal documents and your mother kept her copy filed away. Your mother was on a three month tour of Europe when Karen Harris suffered a heart attack and died. By the time your mother found out, the Academy had already taken custody of baby Sean but there was no record of this. With no other relatives to be concerned, the child was just whisked away which by the way, is typical when a child winds up in the care of Nesswell-Turnbridge. Your mother began an attempt to locate Sean but the waters were very muddied and then, shortly after she'd begun her search, she was diagnosed with breast cancer which you'll remember Eric, was a harrowing two years for her and your family. When she'd finally been pronounced cured, with your father's help she began to search for the child again. Sadly, shortly after that, the tragic accident that took the lives of your mother, father and brother occurred. You'll pardon me for reminding you that you took their deaths very badly and lived a rather unproductive life for almost four years. It was shortly after your return to sanity (if you'll forgive my terminology) that you discovered the documents, learned of Sean's existence and your parent's' intentions regarding him. Using the information your parents had accumulated, it was relatively easy to locate the boy at Nesswell-Turnbridge and to consequently secure his custody. After six months of the boy living here as your ward, a mutual affection formed between you and you decided that since neither of you had any additional family, you would adopt him rather than just remain his custodial guardian." I shook my head in disbelief. "Well Barry. That's some story and it's very logical but, when all is said and done, it's just a story isn't it?" He smiled and walked around the table taking his original seat. He opened up his brief case and pulled out a thick folder. "Eric, the moment you give me the OK, it becomes reality. It becomes so real that no one will ever be able to disprove one thing. It becomes so real that in a year or so, you'll be telling that story to Sean as if it were the gospel." Richard reached over and slapped him on the back. "The Gospel according to Barry." The four of them laughed, but Barry leaned across the table and spoke. "Seriously Eric, with varying degrees of sophistication, this sort of thing has been going on for as long as there has been organized civilization. The ancient Egyptians and later the Romans were pros at writing people into and out of history. They actually destroyed and re-built massive monuments just to accomplish this sometimes and at other times, they carved new faces on public sculpture just to credit a new person with some achievement. The Soviets Union brought this practice to new levels of technical skill and they typically added or eliminated people from important historical photographs...long before there was a PHOTOSHOP I might add. They reprinted books, magazines and newspapers just to establish historical back-up for revisions in history. Hell Eric, even the Boy Scouts of America "disappeared "one of their early founders; Ernest T. Seaton who actually wrote the original 'Handbook for Boys' and worked in England with Baden Powell to set up the original Boy Scout organization...it's almost as if he never participated in getting those groups set up at all. What I'm getting at, is that history is altered and manipulated all the time it's just that we; the Skuggor, can do it at a level that has never been possible before. If you check your library downstairs, you'll find on the shelves four first editions of three of Karen's books affectionately signed to your mother. If you look through your mother's papers you'll find every letter she ever received from Karen and in the box of Karen's papers you've just recently received from the Academy aft you adopted Sean, you'll find all of your mother's letters to her. In both collections you'll find snapshots of the two of them together and as part of groups 'taken' during the seminars that they attended together. Within 20 minutes of your approval, all computer records and legal documents concerning Sean will change to comply with our revised history. No 'expert' in the world will ever be able to determine that any of our documents, photographs or legal records are not 100 percent authentic. If your Mother and Karen were alive today and examined the letters we've created, they would swear it was their handwriting. In essence Eric, if you agree, in 20 minutes or less, the entire story I've related to you will cease to be a fiction I created and will become fact in every provable and verifiable sense of the word." "Wow!" I shook my head in astonishment. "It would be a ridiculous understatement to say that I'm impressed. What do you think Professor?" The big man turned to me and replied; "It's more than perfect. Not only will this protect your relationship with Sean from any possible aspersions, it will actually give Sean a sense of history and belonging in his adoptive family that precedes his birth. It's actually a wonderful gift for the boy." "Well then Barry, as Captain Picard on Star Trek used to say, 'make it so'" Barry smiled, nodded and began to type something on his lap top. After about five minutes he looked up at us and smiled; "Done" he said and he held his hands up like a magician who had just made an object disappear. "I knew you'd like this." Walter said. "I've had all the letters both women exchanged as well as the photographs and other documents put into folders and placed on the credenza in your study. I thought you might like to look at them." I smiled at him. "Now Walter don't try and confuse me. My Mother and Sean's Grandmother didn't REALLY write to each other...the letters and photos are ..." "They are what they are and 'REALLY 'is just a word Eric." He answered my uncompleted question. "As time passes, Barry's version...OUR version of reality will seem like it was always the truth. You'll see." "Now then, if we're finished with that remarkable bit of business Eric, can we discuss a matter of personnel?" It was Uncle Phil who spoke and his smile was as big as Walter's. "If you'll remember, you sent Walt and I up north to meet with a young man that you thought we might find interest." "I remember that of course Phil and I've been expecting your report today honest." I said returning the smile. "Well, let me tell you, this kid Chris Hanuchek is remarkable. Walt and I each met with him separately and then a couple of times together. He's as sharp as a tack. Walt says he reminds him of me when we were young. Any how we think your instincts were right. I'll tell you my only problem with him. He's switching his major from pre-law to business which means two to three more years at the university. Eric, I'd like for us to get ahold of him now before some professor screws up his way of thinking....ooops...no offense meant to you Professor Swaim. We need to get him now if we can Eric and teach him how WE do business." I had no doubt about the honesty and earnestness in what he was saying and I could see Walter's agreement written all over him. "Well Phil, right now all the young man is thinking about is his degree when we need him to be thinking about his future. All of us here know that a degree is just a piece of paper and it's something we can buy if need be. Let's get him down here and we'll wine and dine him so to speak. I can easily guarantee his degree if that's all it's going to take. Let me make a couple of phone calls this evening and if all goes as I suspect it will, I'll fly you up on the jet to bring him down here Phil. I'll call Captain Lucas and make certain you have a great flight attendant...no not you Barry. Your flight attendant days are over for good." Everyone but the Professor (who wasn't in on the joke) laughed. "Let's tentatively plan on meeting with Chris on Wednesday. I agree with you guys...if we want him and we can get him...let's get him now!" "There's one more thing that I'd like to discuss today and it's another reason I really wanted Professor Swaim here." I told them about the confusing statement Sean had made concerning his feelings about the nest and I expressed concern that we didn't know nearly enough about the internal culture of the organization to consider how we were going to move against it. "It would be useful if I could have a series of informal discussions with one or more of the Nestlings...preferably older boys who were actively involved in the 'extracurricular' activities of that organization." Doc Swaim said. It suddenly occurred to me that I had the answer to this little dilemma. "Doc, clear your schedule starting this weekend. It just so happens that I've brought out the contract on one of those young men for the duration of his residence. I'll arrange to pick him up on Friday and you can have him for as long as you need to pick his brains for information." After the meeting, I wandered down stairs and into my study. The small stack of folders was on the credenza just as Walter had told me they would be. I absently leafed through some of the contents. I recognized my mother's distinctive handwriting even though I knew she hadn't actually written any of these. Quickly glancing at the photographs I couldn't suppress a smile at my mother's face as she gazed at a camera from a place she'd never been posing with people she'd never met. I sighed softly astonished at the power and capabilities I suddenly realized were at my command. Walking over to the little antique cabinet I pulled out a bottle of Glen Fiddich and poured a sizeable dram over two ice cubes in a cut crystal tumbler thinking to myself that this was the first one today. I picked up the telephone to make a couple of calls. Two drinks and six calls later, I had it set up that Uncle Phil would fly out tomorrow and meet Chris at the Oroway Airport about twenty miles from the National Park. I would then fly to Houston on Friday to pick up my NEST boy and bring him back to Joyous Gaurde. I couldn't decide if I should bring Sean with me and decided that I'd tell him what I was doing and leave it up to him. ************************************************************ With a fresh drink in hand, I strolled over across the garden path toward the pool. I could hear the laughter before I'd turned the corner and stepped onto the sunny patio. I watched in smiling pleasure as John would crouch down under water, Sean would stand on his shoulders and then the man would rapidly stand up propelling the small boy like a rocket away only to splash into the water. John was in blue trunks with a bright red flame pattern on one leg his tan muscled body looked as ripped and powerful as he had the first time we'd met when he rescued me in the local Pool Hall. I mused over our long association. John was a sexually straight as any man I knew. He was fully aware of my homosexuality and it was a complete non-issue to him. Sean was wearing a pair of beige trunks with a navy blue slash which made him quite over-dressed comp aired to his normal and preferred swimming attire. Both of them were tanned to a lovely bronze though I knew that John's tan (unlike Sean's) didn't extend below the belt line. They both saw me approach and waving they came to the side of the pool nearest me. "Hi Dad! Why doncha get your suit on and join us?" "Not just now Sean. I think I'm just going to finish this drink and sit here in the sun for a bit and watch you two have fun." "I wish you'd change your mind Eric...this little bugger is wearing me out!" John was laughing as he said it but he did use me as an excuse to climb out of the pool and sit down on one of the near-by lounges. "So little man" I said to Sean who was resting his elbows on the edge of the pool near me. "We've got some company coming. Remember Chris who worked at the Lodge up at the National Park? He's coming tomorrow evening to spend a few days and talk with me and Uncle Phil and Walter." "Neat! I liked Chris. He gave us those great jackets too." "Then, on Friday, I'm flying down to Houston to pay a visit to the NEST. Do you want to come?" "D-Dad...you wouldn't leave me there would you? You promised I never had to go back." "Silly doofus! Of course I wouldn't leave you. You don't belong there anymore you're my son and you belong here. I just thought you might like the plane ride and you could be company for the boy I'll be bringing back for a while." His face dropped and I realized that once again I had frightened him with my words. "Y-you're bringing another boy back? Don't you like me anymore Dad? D-did I do somethin' wrong? I promise I'll be better if you tell me what I did." I jumped up from my chair and knelt down at the edge of the pool grasping his hand. "Sean! It's nothing like that. You've got to stop worrying all the time. I LOVE you! You're PERFECT! This other boy is coming out here to help the Professor with a project that's all. You're the only boy I love...you're my only boy!" He lowered his eyes and in a very soft voice he said; "Sorry Dad." I bent low and kissed the top of his head. "Don't be sorry Sean but please always remember that I love you and I always will". Raising his eyes and smiling he replied; "An I'll always love you too. Dad...if I come with you to Houston, is it OK if I stay in the car while you're inside the NEST?" "Don't worry Sean, you never need to set foot in there again if you don't want to...Now, I've changed my mind. I'm going to get my swim trunks on and join you guys." As I walked to the pool house I was thinking about how complicated Sean's feelings about the NEST seemed to be. Hopefully my young red headed friend would help shed some light on how the Nestlings actually felt about their childhood home. This was turning into a far more complicated little 'war' than I'd imagined...and the first shot hadn't even been fired yet! (To be continued) Next, Chris visits Joyous Gaurde and so does Jack ! Thanks for reading and many thanks to those who have taken the time to write with comments or suggestions. I really enjoy hearing from you and I try to respond to every note. And............don't forget that NIFTY always needs your contributions.