Robert and Johnny-The rest of the story Ch 30

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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

Spring turned to summer and our lives went on. Gerald and Sherry had settled into their new lives, but they still kept in touch and we often went out for dinner together or just hung out. Sherry was very sweet and she had accepted Johnny's and my relationship without batting an eye. I think all in all, women are more understanding because they are very romantic, and who doesn't love a good romance?

After Mikey's and Joe's visit, we didn't see quite as much of them, as they were busy playing baseball and hanging around with their other buddies. We did managed to make a few of Mikey's games, and he was absolutely amazing, and I'm not just saying that cause I'm his big brother.

He was fast as lightning and seemed to know who was where, and what was going on every minute of the game. He played first or shortstop most of the time, but never grumbled if he was sent to any other position. His coach told my dad that if he had more players like Mikey, that not only would his job be easier, but that he was sure they could win the district championship.

"Hey sport," I said from behind the dugout fence after Mikey had just come back from his turn at bat.

"Oh hi," he said, upbeat as always, even though he'd been tagged out at first base, he'd given it his best, hitting a ball down the first base line.

"Nice hit," I said, and Johnny agreed.

"Yeah, a little more oomph and I'd have made it," he said grinning.

"Next time, bro, next time," I said lacing my fingers through his as they poked through the fence.

"Hey, Mikey..." one of his teammates called, "nice one."

"Thanks, Dillon," Mikey said giving the kid a big smile, a smile that did not go unnoticed by Johnny and me.

The way Mikey's eyes lit up made me wonder, was he crushing on this boy? I made a quick appraisal of the boy, and I could definitely see what Mikey might see in him. He was blond, blue eyed, with a cute face, and a very nice body. His striped uniform pants showed off a nice bubble butt, and his arms and legs looked muscular and strong. But most of all he came across as friendly and polite, and seemed to have a special interest in Mikey as well.

"Who's this?" I chuckled, "You been holding out on us?"

"Aww, Robby...he's just one of the players..." Mikey said, but he was blushing.

"And a cute one," Johnny said softly, "and he seems to like you."

"We hardly know each other, just from practice and playing ball..."

"But you'd like to know him better, wouldn't you?"

"Maybe," Mikey said grinning.

Then it was time for the boys to take the field again, leaving Johnny and me to ponder over what had just happened. Back in our lawn chairs, courtesy of mom and dad, we couldn't really discuss Mikey's situation for fear my folks would overhear. But there was no doubt it would be a hot topic later when we were alone.

Mikey's team, the Dodgers, won 5-4, and not to brag, but Mikey hit the winning run, and was swept up by his teammates as he slid into home. Dirty from head to toe and grinning wide, Mikey allowed his teammates to congratulate him, and I noticed that Dillon's hand seemed to remain on Mikey's behind a bit longer than was necessary. On top of that, Mikey seemed to be aware of it, and for an instant he and Dillon locked eyes, and I nudged Johnny to make sure he was seeing what I saw.

Soon, Baseball Boy was headed our way and I was the first to intercept him, picking him up and swinging him around as we both giggled.

"Great job, bro," I said sitting him down and patting his shoulders.

"You did so good," Mom said giving him a kiss on the forehead, "eww, you're sweaty."

"Mom, what did you expect?" Mikey said shaking his head, "it's hard work out there," he added, and we all laughed.

"I think this deserves a special treat," Dad said, how about a parfait from DQ?"

Mikey cheered, and we all loaded up in the Bug Bus to save time, then headed to the DQ. Mikey was hungry too, and asked for fries, which Johnny and I helped him eat. I insisted on paying, but dad was faster than me and I let him win this one.

Back at mom and dad's, Mikey went in to shower and change, and soon he was back looking like a million bucks. He was growing up right before our eyes and was becoming a handsome, well rounded young man. He was smart, funny, athletic, and very personable. In fact, Mikey seemed to make friends easily, regardless of their age or situation, and I wondered why then he was so shy around this boy Dillon.

Later, when we had Mikey alone in the backyard, I tried to be as diplomatic as possible as I brought up the subject of Dillon.

"This boy, Dillon. Is he your age?"

"Yep, and we're gonna be going to 7th grade together next year."

"Nice, is he new to town or something, or from one of the other grade schools?"

"He's new, just moved here after school let out. He was lucky they let him join the team, even though it was late in the season. That was cause Billy Hammond broke his arm riding his bike and had to drop out."

"He seems very nice," Johnny said, "he seemed genuine when he complimented your hit, and he was right there when you hit that homer."

"Yeah," Mikey said, ruffing up Snoopy's fur, then kissing the top of his head.

Snoopy too was growing up, and was no longer a pup, but Mikey loved that dog as much as he loved us. Since dogs lives were so much shorter than we humans, I dreaded the day when Snoopy would move on to Doggie Heaven, but I hoped that would be a long time from now.

"So...do you like this boy?" I said casually.

"Well, sure...he's pretty nice," Mikey said, sounding confused, then I saw a glimmer of understanding in his eyes and he added, "Oh, you mean...like do I have a crush on him or something?"

"Yes, thank you," I said gratefully, "I'm not trying to be nosy, but I noticed he seemed to be watching you a lot..."

"To answer your question..." Mikey began, "I don't know what a crush feels like, really. I just know that I like seeing him, and talking to him, and when we...umm, touch each other, like pats and stuff, I feel all tingly inside."

Johnny laughed, "You may not know what a crush feels like, but you've just described it to a tee."

"Oh, well...then I guess I have one on Dillon," Mikey said wrinkling his cute nose, "but I don't know what to do about it."

"Well, for starters, just be his friend. Maybe invite him over after a game or practice or something. I know mom and dad won't mind. That way you two can get to know one another, find out what you have in common, and if he's into you like you're into him, you'll soon figure it out."

"I guess," Mikey sighed, "but I'm worried...about Joe."

"Oh, why's that?"

"I mean, he's my cousin and like my best friend. I don't want him to feel bad cause I have a new friend."

"I understand," I said nodding, "but you can have more than one friend. Look at Johnny and me, we have lots of friends, and none of them are jealous of the others."

"I guess I can try it," Mikey said looking serious, "but what if we become boyfriends or something, what happens to Joe then?"

"Whoa, I think you're moving a little fast here. Just get to know Dillon first and I bet it will all work itself out."

"Yeah," Mikey said smiling now, "I love his eyes," he said then blushed.

"Ha ha, yeah, and that blond hair. He's a cutie all right. Perfect for my little bro."

Eventually, dad called us to dinner, and for the time being we put Mikey's love life on hold. We enjoyed the rest of our visit, then swung by to say hi to Caleb and Tony, but granny was already in bed.

We only stayed a few minutes, then hit the road and were in bed before 11 o'clock. We both had work the next morning, and we didn't even have sex that night, however, we did do some major snuggling.

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

About a week later, mom called and was filling us in on the latest news. I was happy, but not surprised to hear that Mikey had a new friend, Dillon, and that he had slept over Saturday night. Mom approved of the new boy, saying he was a very nice, polite boy, but I couldn't help but wonder if he and Mikey did more than sleep.

Dad got another raise and Mom was thinking about new carpeting for the house, but dad suggested they just have the old ones cleaned. I knew in the end that dad would eventually come around to mom's way of thinking, but he always felt the need to protest any major expenditure.

We talked for maybe a half hour, then mom said Mikey wanted to talk to me and she handed him the phone. I was pleased to hear his soft sweet voice, and I missed him immediately.

After our initial greetings, Mikey whispered in the phone, "You were right. We're friends now, but I can't tell you everything right now. Maybe I can come and visit again and we can talk more."

"Sure thing, buddy. Just let me know when you're free," I chuckled.

The rest of the conversation was about baseball, Snoopy, and of course the ongoing conflict over the carpet. Mikey said he didn't see what the big fuss was, and suggested tearing out the carpet completely and just having a wooden floor.

Eventually, we ran out of things to say and Mikey handed the phone back to mom and we said our goodbyes. I had a warm glowing feeling as I hung up the phone, and when Johnny got home I filled him in on the latest news from home.

Two weeks later, we attended the first of two baseball tournaments that Mikey's team were entered in. Tensions were high, but Mikey's team had done quite well this season, and everyone was confident they could beat the other teams they were assigned to play.

In the dugout, I noticed that Mikey and Dillon now sat side by side on the bench as they listened to the coach's last minute speech, then I heard the boys cheer as all hands joined for a victory cry.

The game was a good one, with the score kept tied till the fifth inning, when Dillon managed to get on base with a line drive that bounced off the first baseman's foot, then went flying to right field.

The first baseman and right fielder recovered quickly enough to field the ball, but by then Dillon was on first, grinning and slapping hands with the first base coach.

No one scored in the 6th, so The Dodgers won it, by one run. You'd have thought those boys, and their parents had won the lottery the way they carried on, but I'll admit, Johnny and I were right there in the thick of them.

After all the congratulating was done, the coach gathered the boys together for a victory talk and reminder of the next game at 4pm, as if they might forget. Of course, if they had lost this game there would have been no 4 o'clock game, so I guess it made sense to remind them.

When the meeting broke up here came Mikey, only this time he wasn't alone. Tagging along beside him and looking a little shy, was the blond cutie, Dillon, who Mikey had professed to have a crush on.

"Mom, dad, can Dillon come with us, his mom had to go to work," Mikey said hopefully.

"Well, of course, but I should really talk to Dillon's mom first," my mom said, caught off guard, but ready for anything.

"She's over there," Dillon said pointing, and a nice looking woman who appeared to be in her late 30s, also with blond hair, gave him a wave and started their way.

After introductions were made, the details were worked out, including Dillon sleeping over, since the boys had a 1 o'clock game the following day. I could see Mikey was on cloud nine, not only getting to have Dillon come home with him, but to have him sleep over as well. I'd definitely have to get Mikey alone for a little talk later.

We stopped at DQ and the boys had a sundae, while the rest of us settled for soft drinks. No one was really hungry since we'd eaten a late breakfast and had popcorn and peanuts at the ballgame, and we planned on having dinner after the game, probably KFC.

As soon as we got to my folks' house, my house, Mikey and Dillon went off to Mikey's room and the four of us sat down in the living room to talk. At first we talked about the game, our jobs, and life in general, but eventually the discussion turned to Dillon.

"I've never seen Mikey take to another boy the way he has to Dillon," mom said, "not that I'm complaining, Dillon is a very nice boy, very polite, and never a bother."

I wanted so badly to tell her what was really going on, but it wasn't my story to tell, and I respected Mikey's privacy, just as he respected mine. Instead, I just agreed with mom, and reminded her of how many friends I'd had over the years, and that we were still close.

"I hope Mikey has friends like that," I said wistfully, "friends are important when you're growing up, and even when you finally become a man."

Dad chuckled, "Yes, but often when a man gets married, his family becomes his new best friends and you lose touch with those old friends."

"Oh, dear, you still have friends. What about Walt from work, or Dennis?"

"I didn't mean I don't have any friends, but so many of my old pals have either died or moved away to make lives of their own. I'm glad most of Robert's friends are still close by."

"Me too," Johnny said, giving my hand a squeeze, "and we may not be married, but we'll never forget our old pals."

Dad looked thoughtful for a moment, then seemed to squirm a bit before finally saying what was on his mind, "I was wondering, since you and Johnny know more about this stuff than we do...well, I mean...do you think Mikey and Dillon are more than friends?" he was blushing profusely by the time he'd finished, but I was proud of him for having the nerve to ask that question.

"Well, let me ask you this, if they were, would it make a difference?" I said, side stepping the issue a little.

"No, of course not, but it would be nice to know what's going on with the two," dad said.

"Dad, I know how close you and Mikey are, just like we are, and if you need to talk to him about this, I'm sure he'll be honest with you, but it's not my story to tell."

Dad nodded, "Yes, I guess you're right. Bro code and all," he chuckled, "but I think it's too soon to go to him about it. We'll just wait and see, right dear?" he said patting mom's hand.

"I'm not going to worry about it, dear, until they give me something to worry about. I think they're just two boys who discovered they have a lot in common, and they've become friends so fast because they're thrown together so much, what with baseball and all."

"You may be right," dad said, "anyway, I'm not gonna lose any sleep over it," he chuckled.

"He's young," I said, "and just figuring things out. Johnny and I try to set a good example for him, but I know for a fact that he pretty much knows what goes on behind closed doors," I added, giving mom a worried look, but she just smiled, "so...if he's a little curious about that stuff, don't be too surprised. He knows to be discreet though, so I don't think you'd ever know if he did do anything. I'm sorry if I'm being too honest here, but since you asked, and since we're all adults here," I said grinning at the last part.

Dad laughed, "And brutally honest. I don't suppose it's that much different than when I was a boy myself," he said glancing at mom, "but of course once I discovered girls, I left all that behind."

"And Mikey probably will too," I said, hoping I was right, but knowing we'd accept him either way.

"Yes, I think so too," mom said, "goodness, look at the time," she said getting up, "I'm going to go freshen up a bit before we go to the other game. Would anyone like something else to drink...?"

Unfortunately, Mikey's team lost their second game, but it was a double elimination, so they'd be playing the loser of the next game on Sunday. Despite having lost, Mikey seemed upbeat, and he and Dillon were clowning around once the coach released them.

The boys were tired after playing two games, but mom wouldn't let them rest till they had showered and changed. I was sure the two would have rather showered together, but there was no way they'd do that with mom and dad so close. Instead, Mikey let Dillon go first and he visited with Johnny and me in his room while he waited.

"So...you and Dillon, huh?" I chuckled, "just so you know, mom and dad are onto you," I teased.

"What...um, do you mean?" Mikey said looking a bit panicky.

"Oh, just that they've noticed how close you two have become...so quickly."

"But it's cool," Johnny interjected, "don't sweat it, they're not upset or anything."

"We haven't, umm, done anything," Mikey said biting his bottom lip and looking shy.

"That's cool, when the time is right, you'll know it," I assured him.

"Yeah, maybe tonight...I don't know," Mikey said, then blushed.

"Well, save some energy for your game tomorrow," I teased.

"Oh, we will," Mikey said grinning.

We were interrupted by Dillon returning, wearing nothing but a towel wrapped around his middle.

"I just remembered, I don't have any clean clothes," the boy said, blushing deeply.

"I'm sure Mikey has something that will fit you," I said jumping up to dig through his dresser.

I found a pair of shorts with elastic, then grabbed a pair of Mikey's Hanes briefs, while Mikey pulled a shirt from his closet for Dillon to wear.

"These should work," I said handing the clothes to Dillon. We'll get out of here so you can get dressed," I added, giving the parts of the boy I could see a good looking over.

I pulled Johnny into my old room and shut the door and pushed him against it and kissed him deeply.

"Wow, what was that for?"

"Cause I love you," I said, "and being in my room, where we did it so many times, always gets me horny."

"That, and the fact that Dillon was 3/4 naked back there," he laughed.

"Well, he is cute...and sexy. I can definitely see why our little bro is attracted to him."

"Yeah, I wonder if he got all the way naked once we left."

"I'd bet on it. I mean, Mikey hasn't come out of there yet, so he must've stayed to watch Dillon get dressed," I chuckled.

However, a few minutes later we heard Mikey's bedroom door open, then footsteps and another door closing, so we guessed it was Mikey's turn at the bathroom. We lingered in my room a few more minutes, but with mom and dad in the living room we weren't about to do more than kissing.

Eventually, we wandered back into the hall, and we noticed Mikey's bedroom door was open and Dillon was sitting on the bed reading a comic book. He looked great in the clothes we'd picked out for him, and when we passed he looked up and smiled, making him even cuter than before.

"Looking good, buddy," I said stopping in the doorway.

"Thanks," Dillon said blushing.

"If you decide you want to go outside, I think Mikey has some sandals that will probably fit you."

"Oh, okay, but we'll probably just stay inside, where it's cool," he said grinning.

"Okay, see you in a bit," I said leading Johnny away, "we're gonna grab something to drink. You want anything?"

"Nah, I'm good," the boy said giving us that smile again.

Johnny and I grabbed a glass of iced tea and joined mom and dad in the living room, where they were watching something on TV and chatting.

"Oh, there you boys are. Did those two get showered?"

"Yeah, we loaned Dillon some of Mikey's clothes, so he wouldn't have to put his dirty uniform back on."

"Oh dear, I hadn't thought of that. Well, I'll launder their uniforms so they'll be clean for tomorrow's game."

"What's for dinner?" Johnny said looking like a hungry pup.

"I don't know, whatever you can scrounge up," mom teased.

"How about Robert and I treat all of us to dinner out?" Johnny suggested, "then no one has to cook."

"Oh, you don't have to do that..." mom said, "I was just teasing, I can whip something up."

"No, I think that's a great idea," I said, "I'm sure the boys will love it too. We'll just have to find Dillon some shoes to wear," I chuckled.

As it turned out, Mikey's old Keds fit Dillon just fine, and soon we were on our way to the little cafe mom and dad loved so much. Well, truth is, we all loved it. I especially liked their Swiss steak, but that night I got catfish instead, though I did swap some of my fish for Johnny's Swiss steak. The boys had cheeseburgers and fries, while mom had a huge salad with roasted chicken, and dad had the chicken fried steak.

Fortunately, the cafe had a corner booth that held all of us, but just barely. Mikey was pressed close against me on one side, Johnny on the other, with Dillon next to Mikey, and my folks occupying the other side of the round table.

We talked about everything from baseball to Gerald and his new bride, but the boys tuned most of it out and giggled and carried on like kids usually do. They were very cute together, but I somehow sensed that their relationship was more like that of brothers than lovers. Maybe Dillon wasn't quite into Mikey as much as he was into him, I worried. If that was true, tonight could be disastrous, so I decided that I had better have one more talk with Mikey before they headed to bed.

We'd taken the Bug Bus to the cafe, and when Johnny suggested we drive around for a while, dad directed him to a couple of sites where changes were being made in our sleepy little town. On the surface the town might look the same, but subtle changes were taking place in multiple places in the name of progress, I supposed, but I wasn't sure I liked those changes.

We finally made it back to my house about ten, and the boys immediately headed off to brush their teeth and get ready for bed. I decided it was now or never, so once Mikey was finished in the bathroom I pulled him into my old room to talk.

"What's up?" he asked, looking surprised.

"I think we should talk about Dillon, and about tonight."

"Why, what's wrong?" Mikey said worriedly.

"Well, I know you guys have had sleepovers before, but nothing happened, right?"

"Right, but we talked...about stuff," Mikey said blushing.

"Ah, okay. So...you think he feels the same way you do, and that he wants to...um, do more than talk?"

"Well, sure...I guess," Mikey said, sounding uncertain now.

"Well, I guess what I'm suggesting is, take it slow and make sure first. Maybe let him lead."

"Why are you telling me this, did he say something to you and Johnny?"

"No, definitely not. It's just a feeling I have from watching the way he reacts to you. But...I could be wrong. All I'm saying is, go slow and look for any signs that he's not comfortable with more than what you've already done."

"Oh, well...okay, I will," Mikey agreed, "is that all?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to rain on your parade, but I just don't want either you or Dillon to get hurt or embarrassed if things don't go the way you planned."

"Okay, now I don't know what to do," Mikey sighed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin it for you. I'm sure you'll figure it all out. You're a smart kid."

"I thought a kid was a goat," Mikey laughed, recovering quickly.

"Baaaa, oh wait, that's a sheep," I laughed, "well, whatever, you better go check on Dillon, he's probably panicking right now."

"Nah, he's probably in my room. Thanks Robby," he said, then throwing his arms around my neck he kissed my cheek," I love you...sooo much."

"I love you too, buddy," I said returning his hug and kiss, "now, go find Dillon and have some fun," I said turning him around and swatting him on his cute little butt.

"Ouch, okay...night, see ya in the morning," he said happily as he practically danced out the door.

I rose to follow him and found him giving Johnny a goodnight hug in the hallway. Next, he found mom and dad and gave them their hugs, then trotted off to his bedroom. Turning from the open door, Mikey gave us a big smile, then closed the door and we didn't see him again till morning.

"So...did the two of you have a good talk?"

"Come on to my bedroom and I'll tell you all about it..."

All the talk about Mikey's potential love life had Johnny and me hot and horny and we made love twice that night. Of course we waited till we were sure my folks were asleep, but we could still hear an occasional sound coming from Mikey's room next door.

It wasn't moaning or anything like that, more like soft whispering and perhaps the bed jiggling, but that didn't necessarily mean sex. They could had been wrestling for all we knew. Still, it was enough to light the fires of our imagination and Johnny and I went at it like rabbits, giving no thought to the fact that Mikey and Dillon might be able to hear us as easily as we heard them.

After the second time, I got up to wash up a bit and pee and I noticed it was quiet next door. Whatever had gone on, if anything, was apparently over and the boys were sleeping. I wondered, did they snuggle up in sleep like Johnny and I usually did? And I just couldn't resist tiptoeing to Mikey's room to check.

Slowly I opened the door just wide enough to peer inside Mikey's bedroom. It took my eyes a moment to adjust to the near darkness, the only light in the room coming in through the window, and from a small nightlight near the door.

At first I wasn't sure what I was seeing, then once my eyes had focused I could clearly see the outlines of the two boys' bodies beneath the covers. The only part of them exposed were their heads from the neck up, but even with so little showing I could tell that they were spooned up together. Mikey was the big spoon, and Dillon the little spoon, and they looked very comfortable, not to mention so cute it hurt.

I smiled as I closed the door and headed back to my room, only to bump into Johnny, who was headed to the bathroom.

"Hey," he whispered, "they asleep?"

"Yeah, come here," I said grinning, as I led him to Mikey's door and allowed him to see what I had seen.

Once the door was closed again he steered me to the bathroom so we could talk without whispering.

"Oh my God, they are just adorable," Johnny said, looking near tears, "You know, I kinda hope they didn't have sex. It would be just so neat if they took it really slow and just snuggled and kissed and stuff before doing all that sex stuff."

"Yeah, unlike us, who jumped into the sex first," I teased, "but at least it all worked out for us."

"I didn't mean there was anything wrong with the way we did things," he said as he drained his bladder at the toilet.

"I know, and I also understand what you're saying about Mikey. We both want him to be an innocent little boy for a while longer, and he still is, whether he has sex or not. He's still the same sweet, loving little boy we all know and love. He's still our little bro, and we'll be there for him every step of the way."

"I know," Johnny said, finishing up and going over to wash his hands and face, "it's just that seeing them laying there like that was so sweet. I remember we used to do that, way before we ever met Roger or had sex."

"Yeah, we were always very intimate with one another, even before we began to explore the sexual side of things. I seem to remember kissing each other...on the cheek, of course. The lips didn't enter into it till later," I chuckled.

"Yeah, butterfly kisses," Johnny chuckled, "well, shall we head back to bed? I'm ready to do some snuggling myself."

"Me too, lover," I said as I led Johnny back to my room.

True to our word, we snuggled up and soon were fast asleep. Sex never entered our minds, and for that brief period of time we were as innocent as the two boys spooning next door.

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

"Morning, guys," I said as Johnny and I joined the others at breakfast.

"Good morning, boys," mom said, "I was beginning to think you were going to sleep all day."

"Sorry, we were really out of it," I said blushing, "mmm, something smells good," I said, hoping to change the subject.

"It's pan-fried potatoes and onions. I was just about to take them up. Everything else is ready to serve. Sit down and I'll dish everything up."

Mom had outdone herself that morning. In addition to the potatoes, there was bacon, scrambled eggs, and fresh baked biscuits.

Mikey and Dillon seemed to be in good spirits and ate a hearty breakfast, but I didn't know if it was because they'd expended a lot of energy last night in bed, or if it was just because they were growing boys. I wanted to know, yet I didn't. However, if Mikey didn't volunteer, I wasn't planning on asking.

Since we were eating late, and Mikey's game was at 1 o'clock, we planned on snacking at the game then having an early dinner. Now, how to kill the next couple of hours.

Mikey solved that problem, however, as he lured me and Johnny into the backyard for some four cornered catch, and then some batting practice. Both Mikey and Dillon were very athletic, and I had no doubt they could excel at any sport they tried out for. However, they'd both chose baseball and were very passionate about it.

Mikey also enjoyed tennis, perhaps because I'd taught him the game when he was barely big enough to hold the racket, and we still played occasionally. Tennis was one of those games that requires great hand-eye coordination and was excellent for honing the skills Mikey used in baseball.

After the last ball went over the back fence and into the alley, I suggested we go back to playing catch, but Mikey had a better idea.

"Let's go to the park and use the field there. It has a backstop to catch the ball."

Rather than drive the short distance to the park, we decided to walk, and that gave us a chance to talk some more and get better acquainted with our new friend, Dillon.

We learned that Dillon lived with his mother, who worked at Grand Valley Hospital, and that his dad lived in Texas, and that he only saw him a couple times a year. Dillon was an only child, however, he had a step brother, the son of his dad's new wife, who was a year older than him.

"Yeah, Thomas is okay. We get along pretty good," Dillon said sounding thoughtful, "it's not his fault mom and dad got a divorce, so I don't blame him."

"That's a very mature attitude to have," I said laying a hand on Dillon's neck and squeezing gently, "I bet he was a little nervous when he first met you."

"Yeah, I guess, so was I," Dillon confessed, "I was worried he'd be a bully or hate me cause I took dad away from him when he visited."

"How about Thomas' mom, do you get along okay with her?" Johnny asked then.

I could feel Dillon tense up a little and I could hear in his voice the conflict he felt, "I guess, we don't talk much. She's nice enough though."

"I can see where it might be hard for you to accept that your dad has another family now, but it sounds like you're keeping an open mind," I said patting his shoulder.

"I try," Dillon sighed, "but sometimes it's really hard not to get mad at him, my dad, I mean. I thought he was supposed to love us forever," he said, his voice cracking a little with emotion.

"I'm sure he still does," I said, stopping to bend down so I'd be at eye level with the boy. The others had stopped as well, and Mikey was leaning against Johnny, pulling his arms tight around him as if he was the one needing comfort.

"I know, I know," Dillon sighed, "but it's not the same having him live somewhere else. I wish, I wish...things were like they used to be when mom and dad lived together, when we were a real family."

"I can only imagine how that feels," I confessed, "I've always had my family, and Johnny's family for that matter, and now Johnny is my family." I waited for that to sink in, then continued, "someday you'll meet someone and fall in love and you'll understand better. And don't be surprised if the first time doesn't work out, but I guarantee this, you will never forget the first time. Your dad may love someone else now, but I know in my heart that he will never forget that first love with your mom, and that he will never stop loving you."

Dillon nodded and wiped a tear from his cheek, "I'm okay now," he said sniffing back a few tears, "is it much further?"

"Nope, we're almost there," I said straightening up once more, "ahead on the left, race you guys," I said grinning, and the four of us took off running.

As expected, the boys beat us old folk, and it wasn't because we let them. We might be in prime physical shape, but we lacked their youthful energy and stamina.

As luck would have it, there was an impromptu game going on at the ball diamond, but it didn't take much convincing for the other kids to let us join. By mutual consent, Johnny became pitcher, and I became catcher, and for a while we just let the boys take turns batting.

Besides Mikey and Dillon, there were four boys and two girls, all within a year or so of each other. I don't remember all their names, but one of the girls, Judy, could really hit that ball. She never missed a pitch, even stepping out of the box to reach the wild pitches. I hoped she got the opportunity to use her talent at some point, but back then there was a stigma about girls playing on teams with boys. Of course, that all changed as folks became more enlightened.

The youngest boy, Josh, also caught my attention however, for a much different reason. He was absolutely adorable. Blond hair, big blue eyes, dimples, and a spattering of freckles across his cute nose gave him an angelic look. He wore overalls, with no shirt or shoes, with one of the straps unbuttoned, revealing his cute smooth chest and part of his tummy.

I nudged Johnny when I first caught sight of the boy, and he smiled, no doubt feeling the same as I did. I kept an eye on him all through the game, and he kept smiling at me as if we shared a secret or something.

When we finally tired of batting practice, we all walked over to the bathrooms to get a drink at the fountain there and I got a chance to see Josh up close and talk to him.

"Are you having fun, buddy?" I said, rubbing the little cutie's mop of blond hair.

His hand shot up and grabbed my hand, but instead of pushing it away, he kept hold of it and just held it as he replied, "Yep, I love baseball, but I'm not that good."

"Well, only way to get better is to practice," I assured him, "you might want to wear shoes next time," I chuckled, "and overalls aren't the best for running either."

"It's all I got, right now. All my other clothes was dirty. My momma is warshin' em today," he said looking serious.

"Ah, I see, well you did okay today. Just keep practicing every chance you get. Hey, how old are you anyway?"

"Six," the little blondie said releasing my hand to show me five fingers and one on his other hand.

"Wow, for a six-year-old you did really good," I praised.

"Did you think I was older?" he said proudly.

"Yeah, at least 7," I lied.

"I won't be 7 till next year, January 14th."

"Did you come here with this gang, or do you live nearby?"

"That girl, the one with the brown hair, that's my sister, Carol. She's best friends with Judy, and they brung me."

"Ah, okay. Does she watch out for you?"

He nodded, then grabbed my hand again and just held it. I sensed he was hungry for affection, and that broke my heart. Did his parents hug him or tell him they loved him, or were they cold and distant, too hung up in their own lives to worry about him and his sister?

Most of the gang were already settled under the shade trees to cool off and I gathered my gang up and we found a tree of our own, Josh, still attached to my hand.

As we sat down, Josh moved right up against me, his sweaty little boy scent filling my nostrils, but it wasn't unpleasant, just earthy and comforting. It reminded me of Mikey's scent, though these days he was usually shower fresh and smelled less of boy and more of soap.

"I see you have a new pal," Johnny chuckled.

"Yes, Josh, this is Johnny, my b...my, friend, and that's Mikey, my little brother, and that's Mikey's friend Dillon."

"Hi," everyone said almost at once, and Josh even managed a little wave.

Suddenly Josh reached down to pull my head down and whispered in my ear, "Can I sit in your lap?" and my heart almost broke in two.

"Of course," I said helping the little boy into my lap, then wrapping my arms tightly around him.

"Don't squarsh me," he giggled, and I proceeded to tickle him till he was breathless.

When I stopped the tickling, he sighed and leaned back against me and pulled my arms tight around him once more. I have known many feelings in my lifetime, but there is none that compares to holding a child like this, knowing that they trust you emphatically, and are so comfortable with you that they do not have a care in the world.

It is amazing to me that so many children want for love and affection from their parents, and how easily those children can fall prey to those who offer it. Of course, my intentions were honorable. I had no sexual interest in this little guy, I just wanted to give him the affection he'd yearned for, and make his day a little brighter. Heck, it made my day a little brighter too.

We didn't talk much as I sat there holding that precious little boy, and I thought about what it would be like to have one of my own to love and protect. Of course, being gay it wasn't likely that would ever happen, but I could dream, and if it ever did happen, I was sure Johnny and I would be the best dads ever.

Eventually, the group began to break up and sadly the girls came to retrieve Josh and take him home. He cried a little and threw himself against me, hugging my neck and kissing my face, but eventually he agreed to go if I'd walk him to the edge of the park. Hand in hand we walked the short distance, then he hugged me once more, and with the girls on either side of him holding his hands, they started up the street.

I watched them walk away, and occasionally Josh would turn his head and nod at me. When they turned the corner and disappeared from sight, I went back to sit with Johnny and the boys.

"Awww, he was so cute," Johnny said, "wow, he really took a shine to you."

"What can I say, little kids love me," I said grinning.

"We should get back," Johnny said then, "the boys have that game in a half hour."

He was right of course, I'd gotten so hung up with Josh that I'd forgotten all about the game, and now we'd have to two time it to get to the house in time to make the game.

Fortunately, mom and dad came to the rescue. Having told them where we were going, it was easy to deduce that we'd lost track of time, and they came looking for us.

It was a tight squeeze, but we managed to get everyone in the car long enough to make it to the house, where we transferred to the Bug Bus for the short trip to the ball field.

Mikey's team was on fire that day, and he and Dillon were no exception. Both got base hits and scored, and the Dodgers won that one 5-3. I guess you could say Mikey and Dillon's runs won the game, but of course that's just conjecture on my part.

Dinner was a celebration, so we decided to eat out rather than make mom cook. We wound up at Bill's Fish and Chicken, where we had a wonderful time talking as we ate our early dinner.

Afterwards, we headed back to mom and dad's, and while Johnny and I visited with my folks some more, Mikey and Dillon played in the backyard with Snoopy.

Eventually, it was time to head home, and Johnny and I went out the back door so we could say goodbye to the boys. However, when we stepped out onto the back steps, the boys were nowhere in sight, nor was Snoopy.

At first I thought maybe they'd gone around to the front yard, then I heard hushed voices coming from the clubhouse at the back of the yard. Giving Johnny a mischievous wink, I took his arm and led him that way.

I figured the boys were hiding from us and were fully aware we were there, however, I got quite a shock when I discovered what was really going on.

The clubhouse, as we called it, was actually a converted chicken coup, but over the years my gang and I had fixed it up as best we could to make it a decent place to hang out. Unfortunately, we could only do so much with what we had, and it was by no means perfect.

I motioned toward the window, which was about eye level to Johnny and me, noting that it was propped open, no doubt to allow some air to circulate. Rather than being a glass window, it was made of plywood and opened outward where we could prop it up with a stick we kept handy.

As Johnny and I approached the window we heard the whispering once again, as well as the unmistakable sound of Snoopy's snoring. I had never heard a dog snore as loud as that mutt. Even when he was a pup he sounded like a sawmill sawing logs.

I couldn't make out what the two boys were saying, but their hushed conspiratorial tone made me think my original hypothesis that they were hiding from us seem valid. I decided since we had the element of surprise we would surprise them instead of the other way around, but for some reason I hesitated.

Instead I moved to one side of the little window and peered into the semi-dark building, expecting to see the two boys hovering near the door, waiting to spring out at us when we got closer. Instead, I saw two boys, shorts and underwear around their ankles, apparently admiring each other's penis.

Pulling back quickly, I grabbed Johnny and led him back to the house, where I loudly banged the screen door and called out to the boys.

"Mikey, Dillon, we're leaving now. We just wanted to say goodbye," I said loud enough for the boys to hear.

A few seconds later the boys appeared, looking sweaty and red-faced as they headed our way.

"I was just showing Dillon the clubhouse. Snoopy fell asleep," Mikey said, managing much better than I might have under the circumstances.

Of course, Mikey didn't know what I'd seen, and was probably only embarrassed because he almost got caught with his pants down, so to speak.

"Do you have to go...? Mikey whined.

"I'm afraid so. Hey, you had us the whole weekend and we got to see you guys play three games, and you did so good."

"Okay, come on Dillon, let's walk em to the Bug Bus," Mikey said then, snaking an arm around me.

A bark alerted us that Snoopy was awake and he came bounding up as if to tell us he wanted to say goodbye too. After ruffling the dogs fur and patting him, I led the way to the gate and we headed to the driveway.

"Dillon, it was great meeting you," I said, barely able to hold back the grin that threatened to creep across my face, just from knowing what he and Mikey had been up to earlier.

"Yeah, you too. Thanks for...um, coming to the games and playing ball with us."

"You're welcome, it was fun, right Johnny?"

"Yeah, we'll be back for the finals in a couple weeks, so keep practicing hard in the meantime. With any luck you guys can win the championship."

"I hope so," Dillon agreed.

"Well, give me a hug," I said to Mikey, and he swarmed into my arms.

He hugged me fiercely, whispering, "Thank you, and I love you,"

"I love you too, buddy," I said, hugging Mikey back, then snaking an arm around him.

"Hey, what about me?" Johnny said holding out his arms, and Mikey swarmed into them and gave my lover a big hug as well.

"Dillon, you can hug them too, if you want," Mikey said, eying his friend.

"Oh, okay," Dillon said, looking nervous as he approached.

At first he looked unsure, but when I took the lead, he melted into me and hugged me properly, then gave Johnny the same.

"Well, guys...we better hit the road. You two have fun and keep practicing, and we'll see you in a couple weeks," I said, giving Mikey one last hug.

I climbed into the passenger seat while Mikey and Dillon waited for me to get seated, then shut the door.

Johnny was chuckling as he slid in beside me and started the Bug Bus, but it would be a few minutes before we spoke. As we backed out of the driveway, Mikey and Dillon waved, then as I looked back at them, I saw them head towards the backyard once again.

"Okay, the suspense is killing me," Johnny said at the stop sign at the end of the street, "what did you see back there in the clubhouse?"

"Well..." I began.