Robert and Johnny-The rest of the story Ch 3

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Robert and Johnny
The rest of the story
(Part three of the trilogy began in My 11th Summer, then Tween to Teen)
By: Kewl Dad

That night with the seven of us was an exception, and not the rule as we went forward. In fact we were finding less and less time to get together as a group as our school activities took up more of our time.

Johnny had delved into his art with renewed enthusiasm, and exploring new mediums, including sculpture. Was there nothing that my talented lover couldn't do well if he put his mind to it? If there was, we hadn't found it yet.

The art department was rather large and had a number of talented staff as well as student helpers, and Johnny soon found himself immersed in that world. I wasn't jealous, nor did I have much time to worry about what Johnny was up to, for I had a full plate myself.

I was taking a creative writing course, as well as the requisite English, Math, and so forth needed to complete my education, and I had volunteered for several committees on campus involved in equality and student affairs.

We'd seen Rick around the campus a few times and always stopped to say hi, but we'd only seen Sam in passing. We were too busy to worry about them though, and when we did get a spare moment we preferred to spend it alone or with Tony and Caleb.

In Vietnam the war went on, but closer to home we were suddenly aware of student protests and the growing distrust of Nixon and our government in general. There were a few protests on campus, but they were tame compared to the ones in big cities from coast to coast.

The year before, May 4, 1970, four unarmed students at Kent State, Ohio were shot and killed, and 9 others wounded by National Guard troops brought in to quell the protest. The Kent State Riot as it would come to be known, inspired many anti-war protest songs, but none as emotional as Crosby Stills and Nash's, Ohio. (Click link to hear it)

Released in 1971, it could be heard all over campus and was one of our favorite songs. Of course we loved anything by that band, and music was a big part of our lives back then. The music of the 70s was the soundtrack of our lives, and protest songs a sad reminder that life wasn't always rosy.

Vietnam and the war protests made us keenly aware of just how fragile life was, and that we weren't kids anymore, sheltered from life. Our friend Gerald was still in basic training, but we feared what would happen to him once he was finished and shipped off to God only knew where.

However, his letters were upbeat and hopeful and he seemed to be adjusting well. I missed him a lot, we all did, but he was doing what he wanted to do, and so were we...we just had different ideas about what made a good life.

I often wondered, if Gerald had had the resources to go to college if he would have still been so gungho to go off to war? I wished I could have saved him that potential fate, but all I could do was try to support his decision and be there for him, even if only from afar.

"We got a letter from Gerald today," Johnny said when we met back at the house after a long day.

"Good, I was beginning to worry about him. Anything new?"

"I haven't read it yet, I thought we could read it together...after dinner. I'm starved."

"Okay, what sounds good?" I said digging in the fridge, "we have left over pizza, left over roast, or left over fried chicken," I chuckled.

"Pile it all out here, I'll eat anything. I'll light the oven and we can warm up the pizza and roast, but the chicken is fine cold."

"Okay, I'm gonna go take a quick shower then, wanna join me?"

"Heck yeah," he said grinning, "when have I ever passed up a chance to see you naked?"

"If you play your cards right, you might just score," I teased, knowing full well he was already guaranteed some action.

"I'll wash your back for you, anything you want," he said taking my hand and leading me to our bathroom.

We undressed quickly, pausing long enough to share a long wet kiss, and by the time we stepped into the shower we were fully erect. Johnny snuggled up to my behind and reached around me to pull me into a hug, meshing his hardness into the crack of my ass.

No matter how many times we made love, every time was wonderful, and I hoped it would always be so. I pulled his hands down to my throbbing cock and he got the message, pulling back my foreskin and slowly masturbating me as he rubbed against my butt.

"I love you so much," Johnny said nuzzling my neck, "I can't believe how lucky I am to have you."

"Umm...I'm the lucky one Johnny boy," I said pulling his head to me and managing a kiss on the lips.

"Think we'll still be in love when we're 60?" he chuckled, "think we'll still be together?"

"Yes, and yes. I'm not letting you go, ever...and I will love you forever. You're part of me. I couldn't live without you...and if you try to leave me I'll kill you in your sleep," I joked.

"I'll keep that in mind, but seriously, I can't imagine my life without you in it," he said sounding very emotional, "We've been through so much, the good, the bad, but mostly it's been great. We had a rough spell, but we got our shit together and fixed things. I was a jerk sometimes, but you still loved me, and for that...I am so thankful."

He spun me around then, and we embraced and kissed again as the water cascaded over our naked bodies. We ground our cocks together with an urgency that soon had us breathlessly heading toward release.

"I love you so much," I cried out as we began to come, together, wetting each other with our sticky seed.

When the moment had passed and our heads had cleared some, we kissed again, then washed each other lovingly, finishing just in time before the water turned cold.

We dried off and slipped on shorts and a tee, not bothering with underwear, and returned to the kitchen and finished heating up our dinner. Just as we were sitting down to eat, Caleb and Tony showed up, and after grabbing a drink, they sat down with us.

"Perfect timing guys," I chuckled, "did you smell the food way over on campus?"

"Huh, oh no...we were gonna suggest we go out for burgers, but this is great," Caleb said grabbing a chicken leg, "I'm so glad all of us know how to cook. It sure helps to have some home cooking, and not have to eat out all the time."

"Yeah, not to mention cheaper," Tony added, "so what's new guys?"

"We got a letter from Gerald today, but we haven't opened it yet. We can read it after dinner, it's really for all of us. He said to share, he doesn't have time to write each of us individually."

"Yeah, I hope he's doing okay. The war is bullshit," Caleb said angrily, "I think they should make those fat bureaucrats in Washington go fight right beside the kids they are sending over there to die. They feed them to the war like they were just machines, expendable, and not human at all. Not some mother's son, or someone's brother, or someone's lover. Man, I hate this country sometimes for the shit the politicians pull."

Obviously Caleb was very passionate about his political beliefs, and was present at most of the rallies held on campus. Although we agreed with most of what he had to say, we weren't as motivated to participate as he was, but he never faulted us for it.

Tony was eager to follow Caleb wherever he went, and as a minority, he knew all about injustice and oppression. He'd made quite a name for himself already on campus as a leader among the other black students, and I saw great things ahead for him, that is: if he didn't meet the same end that so many of his race did at the hands of the white men.

When we'd finished eating, I opened Gerald's letter and read it aloud as we sat there before our empty plates and platters. As were his other letters, this one was upbeat but even more so because of a certain event that took place recently.

He and a couple of his buddies had been granted a weekend pass, and evidently they had a very fun time in town. Gerald bragged that they had found a couple of girls eager to spend some time with them, and that they had swapped around and had a lot of sex.

He said the other guys, Ted and Jack, surprised him by being open to some sexy man on man fun too, and even after the girls were worn out the three of them had continued to drink and fool around.

"Wow, Gerald seems to be having a wild time," Caleb said, "that surprises me about the other two guys, but then I guess when you're starved for sex, any body looks good."

"I think most guys are open for some fun as long as they don't have to answer for it later. I'm sure they knew their secret was safe with Gerald, and as for the girls, they'll probably never see them again," I said.

"Yeah, well...I'm glad he's having fun, but God I hope he doesn't wind up in Nam. Boys are dying by the thousands over there while that jackass Nixon calls anyone who opposes this senseless war, commies."

"Down Caleb," Johnny joked, "remember this, Gerald wanted to join, he wanted to serve his country. He wasn't drafted and he wasn't forced. He's there because that's his dream, I just hope he doesn't wind up in a pine box like the others."

The rest of the letter was the usual stuff, although he did say he had tested for aviation school and was waiting to hear back. We all said a silent prayer that he would qualify, for his chances of surviving the war would be greatly increased if he was a pilot.

We cleared the table and Caleb and Tony volunteered to do the dishes since we'd "cooked" and we gladly accepted their offer. I had a short story to finish, but first I just wanted to relax with Johnny in front of the boob tube.

I sat on the couch and cradled Johnny's head in my lap as I ran my fingers through his hair. I looked down after a while and noticed his eyes were closed. I smiled when I saw his beautiful countenance and leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, and he smiled in his sleep. He still looked like an angel when he slept, as if sleep somehow added to his beauty. He was my sleeping angel, and I loved holding him and watching over him.

When the other two came in, they smiled too when they saw my sleeping angel, and neither spoke as they settled into the two chairs flanking the couch.

I don't know how long we remained like that, me cradling my lover's sleeping form, but eventually he awoke. Stretching like a cat, he looked up at me and smiled, love in his eyes, and then pulled me down for a kiss.

"I love you," he murmured.

"I love you too. You have any homework babe?"

"Nope, not really. You?"

"A little. I have to finish this paper I started earlier."

"Oh,what kind of paper?" he asked sitting up.

"Actually a short story."

"Oh, can I read it when you're done?"

"Of course," I said smiling, "I value your opinion."

"So far everything you've written has been excellent. You do with words what I struggle to do with my art, express myself."

"You do a much better job of that than I do," I chuckled.

He shrugged, "I try, but your stories just come alive and pull me in. I bet you're gonna be a famous writer someday."

"And you'll be a famous artist, and we'll live happily ever after," I chuckled.

"Yes," he agreed, "why don't you grab the typewriter, and I'll grab us a drink, and I'll keep you company while you write?"

**************************

The Tuesday before Thanksgiving, we loaded up the Bug Bus and headed home to spend the holiday with our folks, and we were all eager and excited about the long weekend ahead.

We'd gotten another letter from Gerald and it was good news. He'd been accepted for aviation school, but he confessed that he thought the only reason he'd been chosen was because they didn't have that many candidates to choose from. He'd worked hard though, and I knew for a fact that he was smart enough to do anything he put his mind to, and this was something he wanted really bad.

I wrote back, wishing him luck and enclosed a Thanksgiving card and 50 bucks. I knew he didn't make much as a soldier and I wanted him to have money for a decent meal or whatever.

We hit the road around noon that Tuesday, classes were out till the following Monday, and arrived shortly after one o'clock. We drove to Caleb's house to drop the brothers off, but we went inside with them to say hello to his granny.

As always, she gave us hugs and insisted on feeding us, and as we sat at the table eating her delicious oatmeal cookies and drinking milk we caught up on each other's lives. For a woman in her late 60s she was in remarkably good health, and was very active. I attributed part of that to her running around with our moms and keeping busy. My mom said she was a lot of fun to be with and always eager to go when they showed up.

We finally managed to break away, and after another round of hugs we were off. Mom and Mikey met us at the door with hugs and kisses, but dad was still at work. Mikey had grown since we'd last seen him, and he had a million things to tell us as we settled in on the couch with him between Johnny and me.

He held our hands as he chattered away and was just so cute that I couldn't help but lean down and kiss him on the cheek. He smiled up at me and said in his sweet little voice, "Are you gonna kiss Johnny now?"

This was the first time he'd actually acknowledged that Johnny and I might do such a thing, but after looking over at mom for her approval, I leaned in and kissed Johnny chastely on the lips.

Mikey giggled and then kissed us both on the cheek and went back to his story about him and Snoopy, his dog. When dad got home he hugged us warmly and patted us on the back.

"College must be agreeing with you boys, you look fit and happy."

"We love it, but it's nice to be home," I confessed, "I miss this old town, and mostly the people in it."

As the folks filled us in on what had been happening around town, we learned that Ronnie, our little friend who had been Johnny's neighbor, had been in a car wreck that killed his mother.

"Nooo," I said feeling like the bottom had dropped out of my stomach, "Is he okay?"

"He was in the hospital for a few days, but he was just a little banged up, his poor mother went through the windshield and died at the scene," mom said looking sad.

"Where is he staying?"

"He's living with his grandma now, over on Rowe street. I think it would be nice if you boys went to see him while you're in town."

"Yes, we will," I assured them, "gosh...his mom was a sweet lady. I remember the first time I met her. She was worried me and Johnny were going to pick on her boy like everyone else, but when she realized we were on his side she really warmed up to us."

"Yes, she was a nice woman. Ronnie took her death pretty hard. She was all he had. He and Jacob are good friends, and I guess Jake has been spending a lot of time with him.

"Yeah, good old Jake," I said fondly, "I'd like to see him and his brothers too while we're here."

We had supper at my folks then drove over to Johnny's and visited with his folks before Johnny brought me back home. We'd decided one night apart wouldn't hurt us and that way we could visit with our families without being preoccupied with each other.

It felt weird not to have Johnny right by my side, but Mikey kept me entertained, and I certainly wasn't lacking for affection as long as that kid was around. In fact, my kid brother seemed almost overly affectionate around me and Johnny, and I wondered if it had anything to do with his knowing that Johnny and I were in love. Was it possible we might be influencing Mikey that way? Would he grow up to like boys just because his big brother did? But then again, he was only six and too young to know what he liked yet. I hoped for his sake, and for mom and dad's that he liked girls, got married and gave them some grand kids and me some nieces and nephews. Gosh, just thinking about that made me smile, but that was a long ways off, if it happened, and if there was anything my relationship with Johnny had taught me it was: to live in the present.

At bedtime it seemed strange to lay down alone, but I wasn't alone for long. I'd just started to doze when I heard my door open and soft footsteps coming my way. I smiled when I realized who it was, and seconds later a small warm body snuggled in beside me. A soft butterfly kiss on my cheek sealed the deal, and we snuggled down and were both soon fast asleep.

"Did you have a visitor last night?" Dad chuckled as we sat down at the breakfast table.

"Yes, a little puppy dog crawled into bed with me and snuggled up and fell asleep," I laughed.

"It was me," Mikey giggled, "I like shreeping with my brudder."

"He has missed you so much," mom said, "he asks everyday when you're coming home to visit. I hope you boys will spend a lot of time with him these next few days."

"Don't worry mom, we'll take him everywhere with us," I said reaching over to ruffle Mikey's shaggy blond locks.

"Stop it Robby," Mikey giggled, "don't mess my hair up."

We all laughed at that, for his hair looked like he'd combed it with a egg beater. But shaggy and messy, or his hair neatly combed, my little brother was a knockout, and no one could resist his charm.

"Gosh, I'd forgotten how good your pancakes are," I gushed as I shoveled in another bite of the light fluffy goodness.

"I could give you the recipe, but then you'd have nothing to look forward to when you came home," she teased.

"Ah mom, that's not true. You know I love coming back to see you and pop and this rotten little kid here," I said tickling Mikey's ribs.

"Stop it," Mikey giggled as he jumped down and attacked me.

"Michael, leave your big brother alone and eat your breakfast," mom scolded, "and Robert, stop tickling your little brother."

"Yes ma'am," I laughed, and I thought just how lucky I was to have a great family like mine. A family that accepted Johnny's and my relationship and loved us despite it. And Mikey, what can I say about Mikey. No big brother was ever prouder or loved his little brother as much as I did, and I knew Johnny felt the same way. After losing his sister in that car wreck years ago, he'd had a void in his life that Mikey had filled. Even though he and his sister hadn't always gotten along, they'd still loved each other, and her loss still affected Johnny to this day.

After breakfast I offered to help mom clear and do the dishes and it gave us a chance to talk. Dad was off work till Monday and he and Mikey were spending some quality time together while mom and I cleaned up.

"So, how have you been mom?"

"I couldn't be happier. Oh, I miss you and Johnny being here everyday, tromping through and being your noisy selves," she chuckled, "but Mikey and your father keep me busy and happy. I really enjoy spending time with Caleb's grandmother too. She's such a fun old lady," she added chuckling.

"She thinks the world of you and Johnny's mom, and when she talks about Mikey her eyes light up."

"Oh yes, she spoils that boy every chance she gets. He thinks he has another grandma now."

I think at this point that I should mention my own grandparents, which I have neglected to talk about. Grandma and grandpa Warren lived nearby, but we didn't see them all that much. It wasn't that we didn't love them or want to spend time with them, but they weren't quite as sociable as we were. We visited them on holidays and special occasions, but didn't spend as much time with them as perhaps we should have.

Mom's folks lived out of state, and I'd only seen them three or four times during my short life. They were stern religious people and we knew they would not be accepting of Johnny and I as lovers, so needless to say we weren't anxious to visit them.

"I think Tony really misses his granny," I chuckled, "he's always saying things like, boy granny sure makes the best cookies," I laughed, "he really loves that old lady."

"Yes, Tony is a good boy. How is he doing at school?"

"He's doing great. He's earned a lot of respect as a leader of other students. I could see him being a politician or something some day."

"Well, we could use some new blood. I'd certainly vote for him."

We talked the whole time we worked, and soon we all caught up, and the dishes washed and in the dish rack. By then Mikey was raring to go, and I called Johnny to see if he was free yet.

Johnny arrived about fifteen minutes later, and after saying hello to my folks, we gathered up Mikey and we were off. I'd promised Mikey he could go with us everywhere we went, and keeping that promise was an easy one. Both Johnny and I loved having him tag along, and sometimes we imagined that he was our son and not just our little brother. It was a dream we'd discussed often, to have a family of our own, but this was the 70s, and a gay couple adopting a child was impossible. Heck, just being gay was illegal in some states, and a love like mine and Johnny's could get us killed in some places.

Mikey rode between us on the bench seat up front, and I always made sure he was buckled up. This was years before booster seats, but we did the best we could with what we had, and Johnny drove extra carefully with Mikey on board.

Our first stop was Ronnie's grandma's house, and though Johnny and I were a little apprehensive, we knew this was something we needed to do. Ronnie was our friend, and we'd both thought a great deal of his mother, and we wanted to do what we could to comfort him.

The house was small but well kept, and there was a beat up old Chevy sitting out front. I had butterflies in my stomach as we climbed out of the Bug Bus, but even before we could make it to the front door, Ronnie was standing in the open door and peering out at us.

As we got closer he finally recognized us and gave us a feeble hello, "Hey you two, what are you doing?" he said stepping out to meet us.

He still looked young and skinny and frail, more so no doubt because of the trauma he'd been through, and my heart went out to him.

"We came to see you," I said moving in to hug him.

He melted into me and I heard him sob once before he pulled away, "Come on in," he said, "granny is asleep, but we can talk if we're quiet."

"How have you been?" Johnny asked as we followed him inside.

"Still a little sore," he said shrugging, "but I'm okay."

"We were really sorry to hear about your mom," I said rubbing his back gently, "she was a nice lady."

He nodded, unable to speak, and motioned for us to sit down. All this time Mikey had kept quiet, but suddenly he climbed into Ronnie's lap and pulled him down for a kiss on the cheek, "Sowry about your mommy," he said in a sad little voice.

That was all it took to cause Ronnie to break down, and for the next few minutes the three of us touched and rubbed and comforted him as best we could. Eventually his tears dried up and he wiped at his eyes and gave Mikey a big hug.

"Thanks Mikey," he said kissing him on the cheek, "you're a neat kid."

"He sure is," I said grinning, "we promised him he could hang out with us while we were in town. We have till Sunday, classes resume on Monday."

"How's college?" he asked, and for a while we talked about campus life and gave him some relief from his sorrow.

His grandma woke up after a while, and after being introduced, she offered us something to drink, which we politely declined. We'd promised to take Mikey for ice cream and we'd invited Ronnie along and he eagerly accepted.

At Dairy Queen, we went inside and placed our order, found a booth and sat down, Ronnie and Mikey on one side, and me and Johnny on the other. Ronnie looked pale, but he seemed in better spirits as we enjoyed our treat.

"Mom said you and Jake were hanging out a lot," I said after a while.

"Yeah, he's been great," Ronnie said, "he went to the funeral with me, and I don't think I could have made it through it without him."

"He's a good kid," Johnny said, "we should all get together while we're home."

"Me too," Mikey insisted as he spooned some chocolate sauce into his mouth.

I laughed, we'd promised, but I was hoping we could slip away for a little while, just in case Jake and Ronnie were up for some sexy fun.

"Mom said you were working at Safeway (grocery store), but she hadn't seen you there since the accident."

"Yeah, they gave me some time off. I'm starting back Monday. They've been really nice to me."

"That's good, you deserve it," I assured him, "so, what's Jake up to?"'

"Jake's working at Sharpe's," Ronnie laughed, "he has to wear a tie and dress up. I make fun of him all the time," he said, laughing for the first time since we'd reconnected. Sharpe's was a department store in downtown Pryor, and both our families shopped there a lot.

"Aww...that sounds like him. I bet he fits right in," I laughed.

"Yeah, I think he might wind up as assistant manager when he graduates next May."

"Oh man, that's great," Johnny said, "we should go buy something from him before we go back."

"Yeah, how about Friday we do that?" I suggested, "We can get an early start on our Christmas shopping. I want to get dad a new Pendleton shirt, he loves those things. Pendelton shirts were warm wool shirts that Sharpe's always sold out of each year. They were pricey, but of excellent quality and lasted many years. My Dad loved them, and all winter long you'd see him wearing one when he wasn't at work.

We finished our ice cream and decided to just drive around and talk some more. Then around five we dropped Ronnie off and headed to my house to check in, but not before we promised Ronnie we'd see him again on Friday.

Tomorrow was Thanksgiving and our two families were gathering at Johnny's house for dinner around one o'clock. I'd already promised Johnny I'd spend the night, but we would hang out with Mikey as promised till he went to sleep.

My mom was fixing her delicious meatloaf for dinner, so there was no doubt where we were eating that night. Both of us loved her meatloaf and never passed up a chance to enjoy it.

Mikey dragged us outside to play with Snoopy and we all had a good time. It was little times like this that reminded me of my childhood and kept me grounded. I loved Johnny, and I loved my new life, but there would always be a place in my heart for my family and the simple fun life I'd lived as a kid.

Around eight o'clock, mom told Mikey it was time for his bath and he insisted that Johnny help him. We'd done this many times before and no one thought anything about it. After gathering up his bath toys, Mikey stripped off his clothes and I was surprised to see just how much he'd grown. He was no longer a skinny little kid, and was starting to fill out nicely. His legs and arms were well developed from running around and playing hard, and despite it being winter, he had a nice tan on his arms and face.

His little dinker was cute, hanging there above his little ball sack with its two peanut sized orbs inside. His cute little behind was pink and healthy looking, and I couldn't help but laugh when he reached back to scratch it before climbing in the tub.

I washed his hair and rinsed it, then began on his body, starting with his little feet. They were so cute, and I couldn't resist nibbling at his little toes causing him to giggle.

Johnny sat on the toilet watching us with a smile on his face and I wondered if he was thinking what I was, that this is how it would be if we had a little one of our own.

Once I had Mikey clean from head to toe, I sat down between Johnny's legs and watched Mikey play with his boats and army men. He made noises like explosions and caused tidal waves to swamp his boats, and watching him brought back a wave of nostalgia. Once it had been me in that tub, playing with my toys, and more often than not Johnny was right there with me.

"Remember when we used to bathe together in this tub?"

Johnny chuckled, "I was just thinking about that. We didn't start showering till that year Roger moved here. We were what, eleven or twelve?"

"Eleven," I said remembering that year very well. It was the year we discovered boy sex and fell in love, "how can you forget that?" I whispered, hoping Mikey wasn't listening.

"Oh yeah," he said grinning, "those were some good times."

"The best," I sighed, "someday I'm going to write about that time in our lives."

"Well, you better make sure our folks don't see it," he chuckled.

"Oh, I'll wait till we're old and grey before I do," I assured him, "I'll have lots to write about by then," I added laughing.

"Are you about ready to get out buddy?"

"Okay, but will you read me a tory and tuck me in brudder?"

"Absolutely little guy," I said helping him stand. With Johnny's help, we got him dried off and dressed in his jammies, and while I cleaned up the tub, Johnny threw him over his shoulder and carried him off to kiss mom and dad goodnight.

In his room we tucked the little love bandit into bed and Johnny sat on one side and me on the other. I wove a story of adventure and fun, making it up as I went, and soon Mikey's eyes were closed and he was snoring softly.

I leaned down and kissed him gently and he smiled. Johnny kissed him next, eliciting another smile from him, then we crept out of the room and closed the door gently. In the hall I leaned against the wall and pulled Johnny into a kiss.

"I love you so much," I whispered, "thank you for being so sweet to my little brother."

"Hey, he's my little brother too," Johnny said, "I love that little guy."

"I know," I said hugging him to me, "come on, let's go say goodnight to mom and dad."

At Johnny's, we found his dad watching TV while his mom was doing some prep work in the kitchen for tomorrow's dinner. She was almost as good a cook as my mom, and with both of them working on tomorrow's dinner, it was sure to be a hit.

In addition to our two families, Tony, Caleb, and their granny were also invited, and they were in charge of dessert. I could hardly wait to taste some of Caleb's granny's raisin pie. She was also bringing sweet potato pie, pecan pie, German Chocolate cake, and her delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I figured she must've been baking all week, and I wasn't far from wrong.

"Whatcha cooking ma?" Johnny said, giving his mom a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"Cranberries. I almost forgot them," she chuckled.

"I thought cranberry sauce came in a can," Johnny said staring into the pan of bubbling popping berries.

"It can, but I like fresh ones best. They're easy to make, just boil them and add sugar. I put extra sugar in mine, because that takes some of the tartness out of them."

"Cool, I can't wait till tomorrow. How many turkeys are we having?"

"Three, I'm cooking one, Robert's mom is cooking two."

"I can eat a whole one myself," Johnny teased, "I love turkey."

"You are a turkey," I chuckled, "can I have a glass of milk mom?" She was like a second mom to me and she loved being addressed as such, and it just came natural for me.

"Of course son. You should know by now you are welcome to anything in this house. You're family."

"Thanks, want some brother?" I laughed, referring to Johnny.

"Yeah, but I need something to go with it. I'll grab some cookies and we can take our snack to my room."

"Are you boys going to bed soon?"

"Yeah, we'll eat our snack then probably hit the hay. I'm beat."

"All right, goodnight boys," she said getting a hug from both of us.

We told Mr. Williams goodnight as we passed through the living room, then bounded up the stairs and into Johnny's room. Nothing had changed since our last time there, and I felt as much at home here as I did in my own room.

"We sat on the bed and drank our milk and ate our cookies, and when we were through, Johnny suggested we take a shower. Since he had his own bathroom, it was no big deal for us to shower together, but we didn't mess around this time.

However, once we got into Johnny's bed the fun began. We started slowly, kissing and making out like two newlyweds, then progressed to a vigorous 69 for our first orgasm.

Once we'd rested, we got into some serious love making, parting each other's juicy behinds and pounding away till we shot inside. Afterwards we lay in each other's arms and rested, dozing for a while before waking and jerking each other off for our third orgasm of the night. Needless to say we were exhausted after that, and fell into a deep sleep and didn't wake till morning.

Around 11 the next morning, my folks showed up and shortly afterwards Caleb, Tony, and Granny. Mikey stuck to Caleb's granny like glue, and I was actually a little jealous. I mean, usually he would have been following me and Johnny around like a puppy. However, when I saw how happy it made the old woman, and how much she doted on him, I couldn't begrudge her his attention.

The four of us teens went outside to get some fresh air and we told them about Ronnie and his mom. Caleb and Tony really didn't know Ronnie's mom, but they were friends with Ronnie, and insisted on joining us when we met up with him on Friday.

"I wonder if he and his grandma are having a Thanksgiving dinner?" Caleb said frowning.

"I don't know," I confessed. Then I had a brilliant idea, "I wonder if they'd like to join us. I'm sure our folks wouldn't care," I said elbowing Johnny.

"That's a great idea, but let's run it past the adults first," Johnny said.

Of course there was absolutely no objection by anyone to inviting the two, and Johnny and I were elected to go offer the invitation. When we arrived at Ronnie's house, the old beat up Chevy was still parked out front, and Ronnie was outside sitting on the porch.

He stood as we climbed out and met us half way, where we exchanged hugs and greetings again.

"I didn't expect to see you guys till tomorrow, what's up?"

"We've come to invite you and your granny to come to Johnny's house for Thanksgiving dinner. Our families, and Caleb and Tony and their granny are all there, and well...we thought if you guys didn't have any plans, you'd be welcome to join us."

"That's really nice of you, but I don't know...we were just gonna have a TV dinner..."

I laughed, "A TV dinner, man we have turkey and dressing, and yams, and cranberries and a ton of food, but best of all, you'd have us. Come on, at least ask your grandma, maybe she'd enjoy getting out for a while."

"Well, I could ask I guess," he said smiling, and I knew he really wanted to go. He just needed some coaxing.

Fortunately, his grandma saw the invitation for what it was, a chance for Ronnie to get out of the house and forget his sorrow for a while, and she practically strong armed him into agreeing.

We waited out front while his grandma changed into what she said was something more presentable, and soon we were on our way back to Johnny's house. The two grannies already knew each other from having met a the senior center, and they chatted like they were old friends.

Mikey, seeing that his granny was preoccupied with this new arrival, gravitated to our group once again and we were glad to have him back. Mikey was especially sweet to Ronnie, and I was so proud of my little brother. Not only was he a loving gentle soul, he was very empathetic and had a calming, soothing effect on people.

To accommodate the horde of people, Mr. Williams had set up a folding table and chairs next to the dining table, and even with the two new arrivals we had plenty of room.

Once we were all seated, my mom suggested that we go around the table and tell something we were thankful for. She started it off with the usual, family and friends, and we went around the table. When it came Ronnie's turn I saw his lip quiver, and I was afraid he was going to break down again, but after taking a deep breath he managed to go on.

"I am thankful for my friends Robert and Johnny. Until yesterday I never realized what great guys they are. They really care about other people, and they really pulled me out of a hole when they came to visit me yesterday. And I'm thankful for Mikey, who's hug helped to heal my broken heart."

We were all a little teary-eyed by then, but the rest of us managed to continue. When lastly it was Mikey's turn, the little guy turned our sorrow into laughter.

"I am thankful for Noopie, my dog, my mommy and daddy, and the two bestest big brothers in the whoooole world, Robert and Johnny."

We all clapped, and Mikey made a little bow and we all roared with laughter. When the laughter died down, Mr. Williams said grace and we dug in.

The laughter and conversation that day did more to heal Ronnie than any words of comfort anyone could utter, and he told us later that after that day he had a new outlook on life. He and Jake became closer as a result of his healing, and though I don't know if they ever got as close as Johnny and I did, they remained close friends for many years after that.

Once we were all stuffed we scattered, leaving the old folks to gossip while we youngsters played about in the back yard. Despite being full of turkey, Mikey kept us hopping as he ran around and engaged all of us in his play.

The afternoon was warm and sunny, as is often the case in Oklahoma that time of year, and before long we were tired and sweating. We piled down on the brown grass and Mikey made the rounds, going from lap to lap, and sharing his love and grace. He put a smile on everyone's face that he came into contact with, and I was oh so proud of him, as was Johnny.

I lay back, my head in Johnny's lap, and stared up at the fluffy clouds in the sky and sighed contentedly. What better life could one have than to be surrounded by the people you loved and cherished?

"You two look so happy," Ronnie noted, "I guess I always knew you liked each other in a special way, even when I was just a little kid. But you guys were always good to me, you just don't know what a difference you made in my life."

"We just genuinely like you. You are our friend, and we watched out for you. That's how it works," I said softly, "You're a good person and you deserve a good life. I know things are tough right now, but don't give up. Your mom loved you very much, and she would want you to be happy."

"I know, I'll always miss her, but I'm better, thanks to you guys."

"We're all here for you if you need us," Johnny said for all of us, and the others echoed his sentiments.

"Thanks, I'm glad you invited us here today, but if it hadn't been for granny, I probably would have said no. She loves me as much as my mom did, and she's been worried about me. I know now that I need to move on for her sake as much as mine."

"Yeah, she's a nice lady," I said, "and she seems to be having a good time," I chuckled.

"Oh yeah, she sure took to my granny," Caleb laughed, "I didn't know they knew each other already. I think the two will be hanging out even more now, along with you guys' moms."

"Hey, I forgot to tell you, Caleb and Tony are going to come with us tomorrow. Did you call Jake?" I said, changing the subject.

"Yeah, what time are we going?"

"I was thinking after lunch, is that okay?"

"Yeah, I'll call him later and tell him we're coming."

We visited some more, and when we were all hungry again we dined on leftovers, and ate more dessert. We sent food home with Ronnie and his granny, and divided up the rest between our families.

We drove Ronnie and his granny home around 8 o'clock, then we drove around our old town. Caleb and Tony had moved the second row seat after we'd dropped off Ronnie and his granny, and we laughed and chatted as we relived our younger days.

We finally dropped Caleb and Tony off around 10 and headed to my house. My folks had taken Caleb's granny home, and she greeted the boys at the door and waved to us before we drove off.

At my house, only my mom was still up, and we tiptoed in to Mikey's room to kiss him goodnight before heading to my room for an uninhibited night of fun.

********************

Friday was overcast and cooler, but still decent weather for November. We slept late and had lunch around 11, turkey sandwiches and yams, and more leftover dessert, before heading out to pick up the others.

Ronnie seemed in good spirits as we picked him up last, and after exchanging greeting with everyone, he slid in the rear seat for the short trip downtown.

Mikey was raring to go as we piled out of the Bug Bus and grabbed both Johnny's and my hand and drug us toward the door of Sharpe's. He'd been there many times with mom, and all his clothes came from there, and he knew all the clerks by name, and they doted on him when he visited.

"Verlieeeee," he said once through the door when he saw his favorite lady clerk.

"Mikey!!!" she said scooping him up as he ran to her, "Oh my, you're getting so big," she said sitting him on the counter.

"Hello everyone," she said to our group as we approached, "my you boys are looking so handsome. Ronnie honey, I was so sorry to hear about your mama," she said sadly.

"Thanks, everyone has been really nice. I appreciate that."

"What are you guys doing here?" a familiar voice said from the back of the store.

"We came to do some shopping and see our good friend Jake," I said rushing back to embrace him.

If he was embarrassed he didn't let on, and accepted a hug from Johnny and Ronnie as well. Caleb and Tony settled for a handshake and a slap on the shoulder, and Mikey from his perch on the counter waved at him enthusiastically.

"Hi Mikey," Jake said, "gosh he's grown some since I last saw him."

"Yeah, I told mom, quit feeding him so much," I joked, "he's in first grade now," I sighed, "where has the time gone?"

"I bet he's the smartest one in class," Anna Mae, another clerk said joining us and getting a hug from my little brother, "He's such a handsome young man."

"He's gonna be a real heart breaker I bet," Verlie teased.

"We left Mikey with the ladies while we visited with Jake, and I had him show me their Pendelton shirts while we were talking. I found a nice blue and yellow one, and decided to add some of dad's favorite socks, Cloud Nine, to the purchase.

While we were shopping, the ladies had taken Mikey around to visit the other clerks including an older lady named Opel that was probably in her late 70s. She'd never had any kids of her own, and she and her husband lived a quiet life. Working allowed her to get out and be among other people, even if she didn't need the money, and she was very friendly and outgoing. Mikey loved the old lady, in fact, Mikey seemed to like old ladies in general. I guess even at his young age, Mikey had empathy for those who needed it most. Opal died when Mikey was ten, and he insisted that mom take him to the funeral, and of course all of us went along as well.

We finally made our purchases, and as Jake walked us to the door, we invited him to join us after work to hang out and get some dinner. He said he got off at five, and if we could pick him up that would save his mom a trip to get him. We agreed to that, and wished everyone goodbye and were on our way.

While we were downtown, we couldn't resist visiting all our old haunts, saying hello to the clerks and managers that we'd come to know over the years, and doing a little shopping in the process. At Western Auto, Ron, the manager, greeted us and commented on how grown up we all looked. What is it with adults? I wondered, did they think we'd be kids forever. Well, that didn't sound so bad looking back, but time had a way of moving on, people aged and grew, and all that was left of our childhood were the memories.

"Remember that bike your mom and dad bought you when you were 12 or so?" Ron laughed, "you were in here at least twice a week looking at it. I was almost sad when they finally picked it up."

"Well, maybe you can sell them one for this little guy someday," I said referring to Mikey."

"I'd be happy to, but I bet that one of yours is still in good shape. You strike me as the kind of boy who takes care of his things."

"Well, actually we gave it to this kid down the street that didn't have one," I confessed, "but it was in great shape."

"That was very kind of you. Well, when Mikey is ready for a bike, we'll fix him up," he laughed.

"I want a bihickle," Mikey said looking up then, finally aware we were talking about him, and we all laughed.

We went by the house to check in with mom and dad and drop Mikey off around four. I expected Mikey to throw a big fit at being left behind this once, but as it turned out he had a visitor, his cousin Joe, and he was happy to stay at home and play with his little buddy.

Jake was waiting for us out front when we pulled to the curb, his tie in his hand and his top button unbuttoned. He looked handsome all dressed up, and I could see the man he would become, even if he was still just technically a kid. He'd be graduating in May, and it sounded like he already had a plan for his life, working for Sharpe's.

It was good in a way that some of the old gang remained behind, because over the years it would make our visits home more enjoyable and keep us grounded, no matter where else we roamed.

Since it was a special occasion, I suggested Thomas' Restaurant and everyone agreed. Furthermore, Johnny and I insisted on paying, and though there was some mild resistance at first, everyone gave in eventually. I figured Ronnie and Jake didn't have much money, and though the food was modestly priced there, it might have been a strain on them.

At first, the two old friends were looking at the least expensive items on the menu, but Johnny suggested we all get steaks, and they seemed happy to have the decision made for them.

The waitress brought salad, bread, and our drinks, and we visited while we ate our "rabbit food", as Johnny liked to call it. Jake talked enthusiastically about his job and the prospects of becoming assistant manager when he graduated, and we all agreed that he would do well in that position.

Ronnie seemed more lively and animated than he'd been when we first visited him on Wednesday, and I decided being with his friends was the best medicine for what ailed him. It would take time to get over his mom's death, but with good friends and his grandma at his side he'd do just fine.

Our steaks finally came, along with a baked potato and more rolls, and the conversation lagged as we dived into our food. I liked my steak well done, which most chefs hate, but this one was cooked to perfection, as were the others' who had ordered medium well done.

"This is good," Tony said between bites, "not as good as granny's, but good."

"Yeah, granny can cook anything better than any restaurant," Caleb agreed, except Mexican food. She won't even try," he chuckled, "she says it takes too many spices and too much work."

"Yeah, but she likes eating it when we take her out," Tony laughed.

"Yeah, we should bring her here sometime," Tony said, "I hope she's not too lonely today." Tony was as close to the old woman as Caleb was, and saw her as his savior. She'd taken him in and given him a home, an orphan, a black boy, and called him her own. He loved that old lady and worried about her, but she was a tough old gal and just kept on going despite her years. She'd made many friends at the senior center, and of course she had our moms, who took her shopping, and out to eat, and to the beauty shop once a month, and they always had a good time.

"My granny and your granny can hang out," Ronnie suggested, "I didn't know they knew each other till the other day. I guess they met at the senior center. Granny loves going there and playing bingo and gossiping with the other old ladies."

"Yeah, I guess old folks don't need as much excitement as we younguns do," I said, imitating an old man.

"Yeah, well...our life isn't quite as exciting these days, but we sure had plenty of that when we were younger," Johnny said, and that brought on a number of recollections of the good old days.

It was fun visiting with our old friends, but there were two other friends we still needed to look up while we were home, Donnie and Walter. We'd already made plans to hang out with them the next day, since they had the weekend off.

Donnie was still living at home for the time being, but Walter had moved in with two other guys in a house on the north side. I was anxious to see if the two were still fooling around or if they'd moved on to girls, and to see what if any plans they had for their relationship.

We took our time that evening, eating slowly, and the waitress refilled our glasses and we sat sipping tea and talking long after we'd finished. We passed on dessert, and shortly after 6 we finally pried ourselves from our chairs. I paid the check, but Caleb and Tony insisted on leaving the tip, and both laid a five dollar bill on the table. Ten bucks is a decent tip even today, but in 1971 it was a small fortune, however our waitress deserved every penny of it.

We all told her goodbye as we left and she returned it enthusiastically. I wished I could have seen her face when she discovered her tip, but I was sure her smile would fill a room.

"What now?" I said once we were in the Bug.

"Let's go bowling," Caleb said suddenly.

"I haven't been bowling in years," I said, "yeah, bowling sounds fun. How bout it guys, you up for some bowling?"

Everyone agreed that sounded fun, and we headed to the bowling alley, which was located just past the Sonic at the east end of town. It was still a little early, and we got two lanes side by side and played three to a lane. That split Tony and Caleb up, and Johnny and I got Tony. Tony was a very good bowler, and wound up beating both of us by a strike.

Ronnie was a poor bowler, but he had fun anyway, and Jake wasn't much better. Needless to say, Caleb won their first match, but the two seemed to improve as the evening went on.

There was one troubling incident however, two burly looking cowboys on the lane next to ours kept giving Tony dirty looks and whispering to each other. I couldn't hear what they were saying, but I was sure it had something to do with Tony's color, and I finally had all I could take.

"You have something to say, say it! Don't whisper like a couple of little school girls sharing gossip," I said glaring at the two.

Everyone had frozen when I began speaking and the two guys looked at each other before one of them spoke.

"We don't like niggers in here. That plain enough."

"I don't see any niggers," I said looking around, "what I see is a handsome young black man, and he's just as welcome here as anyone. You got a problem with that, I suggest you take it up with the manager."

"Used to be his kind would be run out of town, now they're living everywhere they want. Disgusting," he said spitting.

Johnny, the hot head that he is, dropped his bowling ball and was headed their way, and only my outstretched arm stopped him.

"Johnny, don't waste your time on these two. They're just too ignorant shit kickers, and they always will be. The world is changing but they're still stuck in the past, with their old prejudices and ignorant ideas."

"Who you calling ignorant?" the other cowboy said balling up his fists.

Things were getting out of control, and though there was six of us and only two of them, I didn't relish a fist fight. I was a lover, not a fighter, but I had a big mouth, and I might have to cash the check I'd just written with it.

Fortunately, someone had overheard the whole thing and came to our rescue.

"What's the problem here?" Gene Rudd said in his no nonsense voice. Mr. Rudd was the Fire Chief and lived across the street from us on Taylor Street. He'd always been nice to us boys, and had accepted Tony into our midst without batting an eye.

"Problem is, him!" one of the guys said pointing a finger at Tony, who had yet to utter a word.

"Me?" Tony laughed, "you two big old guys afraid of little old me?"

"We ain't afraid of nobody, we just don't like your kind in here."

"Then I suggest you go somewhere else," Mr. Rudd suggested, "you know, I happen to be very good friends with the Police Chief and the Sheriff. One call and they'd be glad to sort this problem out. Should I call them?"

"We was just leaving," one of the guys said grabbing the other by the arm, "it smells in here all of a sudden."

"Maybe you shit your britches," Ronnie said, totally out of character, and we were all laughing so hard we could hardly stand as the two cowboys made their exit.

When I got my laughter under control I thanked Mr. Rudd, and we visited for a while and got caught up on our lives. He finally wished us a good evening and left. Why he was there at that moment we needed him most, I had no idea, but I was thankful that we'd been good to him all those years and he to us. It had certainly paid off that night.

We finished our bowling and drove to the DQ for ice cream afterwards and sat in the Bus and ate as we continued our reliving of our "glory days" till way past nine o'clock.

Reluctantly we drove the others home, and headed to Johnny's house for the night. We were splitting our time between the two houses and tonight was Johnny's turn to host me.

We found his folks playing a board game, and they offered to let us play, so we started a new game and played till way past ten o'clock. The old folks gave in first and went off to bed, and Johnny and I played one more game before taking a shower and heading to his room.

As I looked around at the familiar surroundings I smiled. Here, where we'd spent so many wonderful hours in and out of bed, learning and growing and enjoying life. This was actually Johnny's third room, while I'd only had the one, but each held memories that were dear to us.

All Johnny's art, except for a few pictures still on his bedroom wall, were in our house in Tahlequah now, but the ones that remained reminded me that Johnny was not only a wonderful loving person but also very gifted.

"It smells like you in here," I said as we settled into bed.

"Is that good or bad?" Johnny chuckled.

"Good, I love your scent. It reminds me of how much I love you."

"Well, I like your scent too," he said sniffing me like a hound dog."

"Silly boy, I want you to make love to me, and I want to come with you inside me," I said feeling very emotional.

"You okay?" he whispered.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just... I mean...the world is so hard sometimes and I know we're lucky to have each other. Promise me you'll always be there," I said as tears started to fall.

"What's brought this on?" he said soothingly, "I love you and I'm not going anywhere. You'd have to run me off. I'm yours forever."

I nodded, "And I'm yours, now...make love to me Johnny Williams."

"It would be my pleasure, Robert Warren," he said grinning.

He covered my body with kisses, from head to toe and back again, exciting me to the point that I finally begged him to enter me. Using the lotion we always kept near the bed for lubrication, Johnny gently entered me as he pushed my legs high to expose my love button.

As many times as we'd made love, it still seemed that each time was better than the previous one. We fit together just right it seemed, and I could almost feel his pleasure along with my own as he worked his magic.

His cock was like a steel rod wrapped in velvet as he gently made love to my eager quivering body. Leaning down, he kissed me gently on the lips and our eyes met.

I felt such love for him at that moment and the tears once again threatened my vision. I muttered my love for him, and he returned the platitudes, then with a final thrust, he cried out and began to come inside me. Only then did I grab my hard aching cock, and with four or five strokes I joined him in bliss.

My cum splattered his chest, then dripped down to my stomach before I was finally spent. I was exhausted, but happy, sated and at peace with the world. In love, and ready for whatever came next. I knew in my heart that Johnny and I were meant to be together, and nothing except death could ever separate us, but our lives had just begun, and death seemed far, far away.

I cleaned up as best I could and we slept. There were nights when once was not enough, but that night our orgasms had been so intense that there was no need for more. We slept deeply and well, and once again, all seemed right with the world.

End Chapter 3

Next chapter: Robert and Johnny visit with their old friends Donnie and Walter.

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Send all comments to: kewl_dad1@hotmail.com I welcome all feedback and promise a timely reply.

                        3-24-21

Kewl Dad

College life begins for the boys and they are learning as much about life as they are from their text books and lectures.

**A special thanks to my buddy Michael in NY for his much appreciated help with editing, story ideas, and illustrations. Please send your prayers his way for his upcoming surgery to go well.**

I have updated my story list if you see any missing please let me know.