Date: Sun, 9 Oct 2011 10:36:45 -0700 (PDT) From: Joe Collins Subject: Cabin by the Lake Chapter 8 If this story is prohibited in your area, you are underage or gay sex offends you, then please leave. If you are looking for hard core sex, you won't find it here. This story is fictional and so are the characters. However, the setting is a real and is located in Central Oregon. It does sit on the edge of the Three Sisters Wilderness Area. Please feel free to email me and be sure to include the title in the subject line. Thanks, Randy for all your help. It is greatly appreciated! Now just sit back and enjoy! The Cabin by the Lake Chapter 8 Kyle and Dennis got out of bed at 6 am, went into the kitchen, and started getting breakfast organized. Loretta had designed the kitchen so that she could handle a large number of guests staying at the bread and breakfast.. Dennis and Kyle had the use of all Loretta's recipes which would make their job much easier. She had a scrambled egg omelet that was absolutely unbelievable and easy to make. It was so easy that all that had to be done, was mix it up, put it in a large pan, and bake in the oven for an hour. Dennis decided to use egg substitutes instead of real eggs. Dennis poured the eggs into a large commercial mixing bowl, added garlic powder, salt, pepper sliced olives, diced cooked ham, chopped tomatoes, chopped green peppers, finely chopped onions, cubed cheddar cheese and milk. He mixed all the ingredients together and poured the mixture into a large baking pan and put it the oven. Meanwhile, Kyle had the coffee perking and was mixing some sour dough pancake batter. Dennis made sour dough biscuits. Kyle made some sausage gravy. They cooked sausage, bacon, and ham. They put everything in the warming oven until it was time to be served. Now all they had to do was wait about 15 minutes for the hungry crowd to arrive. While they were waiting, they poured the hotcakes on the grill so that they would be nice and fresh. One of the father's asked if he could bless the food. "Of course," Kyle said. "That is something we do before every meal." After the prayer, Dennis lined out the agenda of the day's activities. Kyle and Dennis would cook the Christmas feast and have it ready around 2:00. Jim would take the group on a hike using snowshoes after breakfast and return by dinner time.. After the feast, it would playing in the snow. The guests could make snowmen, snow forts, snow angels, or whatever anyone wanted to do. No snowballing unless all parties agreed, Naps would be allowed if so desired by anyone. Everyone would be on their own to create their own evening meal from the leftovers. Then it would be off to the game room for the rest of the evening. "Dennis and I have breakfast all ready to serve. We are just going to put it on the counter and every one can help themselves. Take all you want. We made enough to serve a group three times this size. There is only one rule, 'If you take it, you eat it". There are too many hungry people in the world to waste food. Give us 5 minutes and then it is pig-out time," announced Kyle. "Kyle, this food is absolutely fabulous. Did Dennis cook all this by himself?" asked his mother. "No, Mom. He and I share the cooking responsibilities. During the summer, Dennis and I take groups out and we do all the cooking. The bed and breakfast cook, Loretta, trained us and is sharing her recipes with us," said Kyle beaming with pride. "Kyle, I can't get over how you have changed. It is so hard to believe. You know how many pieces of burned toast I have to suffer through when you were home. This breakfast was made for kings. I am proud of you son. I know you are very, very happy," said his Dad. "Thanks, Dad. Do you see that young man over there talking with the teen-age boys. He took me in when I was ready to crawl into a hole and lose myself. He taught me a lot about myself. First of all, he told me that I had to believe in myself and overcome my short comings. I had to do it all by myself and no one could do it for me. Of course, he would be there to give me a gentle shove if and when I started to slip. He, also told me I could stay here as long as I wanted, but that I couldn't have a free ride. I had to pull my own weight. So look at me Dad! I am the happiest guy in the whole world! I love what I am doing and what I have become." Kyle said beaming with pride. "Kyle, we know you are. Your dad and I are amazed at the transformation that has taken place within you. We were very concerned about what was going to happen to you. However, we don't have to worry any more. Love you, Son, and the man that you have become," Jennie said with tears in her eyes. "Keep it up. Happiness looks good on you. You wear it well. Love you!" John said. "You know the greatest thing that Dennis has taught me is I am not the center of my own little universe. There are lots of people in my world now. When I make them happy, I am making myself even happier. I know that I was a spoiled, self-centered brat but not anymore. I now have a purpose and direction in my life." Kyle said with tears rolling down his cheeks. "Dennis may be just a teenager but his well adjusted attitude, his concerned, caring for his fellow man, and his level headedness' arefar beyond his age. In other words, he is shining example for us all. I would guess he is over there guiding the teenagers down the right path. He lives what he preaches. He is truly a knight in shinning armor." "Kyle, do you think that your relationship with Dennis will lead to a romantic and serious involvement?" Jennie asked. "Mom, who knows. Right now we are just friends even though we share the same bed. However, at some time in the future, that could all change. The only thing I know for sure is that we will always be the best of friends. So to answer your question, I honestly don't know," Kyle said in all sincerity. "Kyle, all I can say, is be honest with yourself and with Dennis. Talk your problems out and never go to bed mad. Your mom and I operate under the same principals. You have our love, our blessings, and our support," said John. "Thanks Dad! I would say that you and Mom had better change clothes and get ready to go snowshoeing. It appears that Dennis is telling the others the same thing." "Kyle, the other women and I would like to help with dinner," Jennie said. "Mom, we appreciate your offer. You are all on vacation now and this is one time for all of you just to sit back and be pampered. Thank you! This is Dennis' and my time to give a little back. So just go and enjoy yourselves." Jim, Dennis and Kyle helped get snowshoes on everyone and gave them some brief instructions on how to use them. Now the group was just practicing walking and standing upright on their snowshoes and were soon ready to their hike. "Hey, gang! All you have to remember is walk bow legged and don't try to back up. If you do you will probably fall on you butt. Turn by walking in a circle. So go and have fun. Dinner will be ready about 2:00. Bye-Bye," said Dennis. Kyle and Dennis put three large elk roasts in the ovens to cook. They had decided on elk roast instead of the tenderloin steaks. While they peeling potatoes and getting lettuce chopped for salad and all the other dinner preparations, they had lots of time to talk. Kyle told Dennis about his conservation with his mom and dad. "Kyle, you won't believe this but Dad and I had the same talk and came to the same conclusions. I told the women the same that you told your mother. Kyle, I like the advice that your dad gave you. Let`s make a pack right now to follow it." "Dennis, I feel the same way and I agree with you and I promise to follow it. I am very serious about what I told mom about our relationship. I meant everything I said." "Kyle, I couldn't agree more. We are friends for life and will be there to help the other over the rough spots and to catch each other should one of us fall. Let's not shake hands but seal this with a kiss." They moved together, threw their arms around each other and kissed for a long time. All the dinner preparations were now completed. All that was left to do was wait for the food to finish cooking. The boys had some time to kill. They decided to get on the computers and get their next class assignments. They planned on doing a little of the assigned work so that they would not have a lot of catching up to do after the holidays. Finally, the food was cooked and the snowshoe crowd arrived, tired, and ready for some food and a nice long time to recuperate . Kyle and Dennis had the table all set and was just waiting for everyone to get out of their snow cloths and come to the table. Soon everyone was sitting in the living room waiting. "Come and get it!" shouted Dennis and Kyle, together. Kyle and Dennis were a little embarrassed for not serving the traditional Christmas dinner. However, they had prepared a feast suitable to serve the President. They received no complaints and the praise was almost over-whelming. What looked like a huge mountain of food was soon reduced to a small hill which would used for snacks later that evening. "Kyle and Dennis, I think you did yourselves proud with this meal. I want you to know that it was certainly appreciated." Everyone stood and clapped. The man continued with his speech. "What started out to be a very bleak and sad Christmas has turned out to be the most unique and most enjoyable. This is one Christmas that we'll remember always. Thank You! Thank you! Thank you!" Again crowd stood but they weren't satisfied with just clapping, they were whooping and stomping their feet. The people in Bend should have been able to hear their excitement. That night after the evening snacks, the guests headed for the game room. Kyle and Dennis told them that they would join them soon. They were going to clean a little and then come down. Jim decide to stay and help the boys. "Guys, I have been doing a lot of thinking about my trip. I have decided that I don't want to do it alone. This could be a long and boring time with no one to talk with and to share in the fun. I think I am going to call my Aunt Sara and Uncle Jeff, Mom's brother, in the morning and invite them to go with me. They are the only aunt and uncle that I have left and they have always been my favorites. They have moved into a private retirement center and all their nieces and nephews have left the area." "I am still going on the trip, only I'll be traveling with loved ones and won't be all alone. They have always worked very hard during their lives and never had a vacation. They are getting up in years and if I don't do it now, I don't know how much longer they would be able to take a vacation." "Dad, I think that is a marvelous idea. I may just pack a suitcase and go with you," said Kyle. "Not without me. I am going with you," responded Dennis. "No, you can't. Someone has to stay and run this place! I think maybe I will just have to stay and boss you around a bit and tell you how to run this operation," chucked Kyle. "Dad, we want you to have the best. Just take lots of pictures and keep a diary to share with us when you return." "Dad, you have a marvelous plan. Kyle and I knew that we couldn't go with you. I really think you need some time off and having Aunt Sara and Uncle Jeff go with you will probably be the best medicine you could take. Have fun!" said Dennis hugging his Dad. Jim called his aunt and uncle and they were delighted to go with him. Neither of them had ever flown in a plane before and were afraid to try to do it on their own. Jim could just feel the excitement and fear in their voices. He soothed their fears by telling them that he would fly to Texas and they could leave from there. The rest of the week was spent just having fun and building memories. Skis, sleds, ice skates, snowshoes, and snowmobiles were in constant use. The guests could choose whatever activity they wanted to undertake. The Clarks each had a digital camera and became the `official photographers'. They promised to have copies made for every one. Soon it was time to load the snowcats and head for the parking lot. Mrs. Clark called her office to make sure the activity bus would be there to pick them up. Dennis contacted a tour agency in Bend and told them what he wanted. They began putting a package together and would meet with him later and make the final arrangements. Both Terry and Loretta called to make sure that the boys would pick them up. TBC