Robert and Johnny-The rest of the story Ch 31

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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 summer was almost magical as we experienced life through the eyes of our little brother, as well as Bill and Peter. No, we hadn't forgotten about them, and we often included them in our weekend activities, sometimes with Mikey.

Both Peter and Bill had grown some, and Bill seemed to be more communicative and lucid these days. I had always suspected that a part of Bill's problem was his shyness and lack of self esteem, brought on largely by bullying. Of course, Peter had done his best to protect his older brother, but there was no way he could be with him every minute of every day, especially while they were in school.

On a hot Sunday afternoon in late July, we took the boys swimming at McClure pool, which was an Olympic-sized pool in a nice park on the south east side of town.

Both boys were excellent swimmers and Johnny and I let them have free rein as we hovered in the shallow end, floating and talking. We were both very pleased at the progress Bill was making and couldn't help but notice that there had been changes in his body as well.

The skinny boy had begun to put on some muscle, and shirtless he was quite the sight to behold. That, combined with his much improved self esteem made him seem like a new boy.

I noticed him staring at a mixed group of kids about his age and I wondered if it was the girls he was interested in, or the boys. I knew he and Peter had messed around, since Bill had as much as admitted it, but I had no idea whether it was serious or just for fun. If Bill liked girls, I thought, his new body and improved personality would go a long way in helping him find one.

We watched as the group finally seemed to notice Bill and Peter, and suddenly one of the girls swam over to where they were treading water and said something, which prompted both boys to nod in agreement. Seconds later they followed the girl back to the group, where I assumed introductions were made.

After that, they talked for a while, then one by one they swam off toward the deep end. I nudged Johnny, but he'd been watching as closely as I had.

"Looks like the boys have made some new friends. I wonder what they're up to?"

"Hmm, don't know, but I think Bill was staring at that girl that seems to be the leader. Maybe she's interested in getting to know him better, too."

"She's a cutie, and he's a fox, so they would certainly be a good match."

"Yeah, I just hope he doesn't slip and go back to stuttering around her. The other kids might make fun of him and ruin everything."

"Well, if we see Peter beating some of them up, then we'll know," Johnny chuckled. Then he added, "They'll be fine, kids have a way of working things out without grownups being involved."

"Yeah, we sure did. We hardly ever got a grownup involved in our messes," I chuckled, "In fact, we tried to keep them out of our business."

"Of course, we're not your typical grownups, we're kid friendly," Johnny said grinning.

"Yes, we are, especially cute-boy friendly."

Eventually, the bunch headed to the diving boards, some the low board, a few the high dive, including Bill and Peter. I watched nervously as Peter climbed the ladder, then without hesitation he made an almost perfect swan dive into the pool.

I hadn't realized I was holding my breath till I felt the need to breathe again, "Wow, that boy has talent," I gushed.

"He's got beautiful form, that's for sure. I wonder if Bill is that good."

"We're about to find out," I said, holding my breath once more as Bill took his place on the board.

Just before Bill jumped, he looked our way, and I swear he locked eyes with me for a moment, and even from that distance I could see the smile on his face. Moments later, he knifed into the water in what can only be described as poetry in motion. Where did these boys learn to dive like that? I wondered.

I was tempted to clap and cheer but didn't want to draw attention to myself or Johnny, so I kept my hands beneath the water. However, I had never been so proud of anyone as those two in my whole life.

The two made quite a splash with their new friends as well, and I thought, any misgivings they might have had concerning Bill were long forgotten when they saw how athletic he was.

Eventually, the boys wandered back to us and I suggested we go get a drink and talk. We sat out for awhile and the boys filled us in on their new friends, Bill's eyes lighting up when he talked about Gabby, the girl who had caught his eye, and who was the leader of the little group. I studied Peter's face to see how he reacted to Bill's interest in the girl, but if he was concerned he wasn't showing it. Maybe he and Bill had discussed this subject before and were agreed that someday they'd both find a girlfriend. After all, they were both normal boys with normal desires and not every boy was gay like me and Johnny.

We finished our drinks and went back in the water, but Gabby and her bunch soon left as a group, though they did stop by to say goodbye. Gabby was not only cute, but seemed to be a very sweet girl, and I definitely approved of her. It was too bad she and Bill lived so far apart, but love knows no boundaries, as they say.

We stayed a bit longer, but the boys were getting hungry and we'd promised them pizza, which was a treat they seldom got at home. We took them to Ken's Pizza on 15th and Sheridan, and ordered two pizzas, one pepperoni and one sausage, black olive, and onion, which was my favorite. Any leftover pizza would go home with the boys, but I knew they both had hearty appetites.

We ordered a pitcher of Pepsi as well, and were sipping our drinks and talking when Bill brought up Gabby again.

"Gabby really likes me," he said blushing.

"Oh, and do you like her too?" I said grinning.

"Yeah, she's nice, and pretty too. She has a nice smile," he said looking starry eyed.

"Too bad you two don't live closer," I said, hoping I didn't dampen his enthusiasm.

Bill sighed, "Well...she doesn't live that...that far," he said tripping over his words a little.

"Really, so she doesn't live near McClure Park?"

"Nope, she lives in Brookside," Peter offered, looking bored.

"Brookside, that's not far from you at all," I said, "wow, homes in Brookside are pretty fancy though. Is this girl rich?"

"Nah, she lives in South Brookside, not in those...those fancy houses," Bill explained.

"Ah, okay. So...did you guys make plans to meet again or something?"

"Yeah, we're gonna meet at the river park tomorrow, at 41st Street."

Wow, I thought, Bill is gonna hook up with a girl. I wonder how Peter feels about that? Glancing at Peter, I was again greeted by that bored look. Well, at least he wasn't stressing on Bill's date or looking jealous, but who knew what he was really feeling inside?

"That's great," I said smiling.

Our pizza arrived about then and we were busy with that for awhile, then when the conversation resumed, it quickly turned to other subjects. We told the boys about Mikey's ball tournament and his new friend, Dillon, though I didn't go into any details about the true nature of their friendship.

We finished our pizza and got a box for the leftovers, and we were on our way to our apartment so we could all shower and change into street clothes. We had the boys till nine, and we planned on keeping them entertained the whole time.

After showering and getting dressed, we met in the living room and mapped out our next move. It was Sunday and a lot of stores and attractions closed early, but there was always something to do.

It was Johnny who suggested Putt Putt Golf, and the boys enthusiastically approved. There was a nice course on Memorial, and after grabbing a drink of water we headed to the Bug Bus and were on our way.

The boys loved Putt Putt Golf, and it was one of our go-to pastimes when they visited. Bill was very good, and usually beat us, but this time it was Peter who scored a victory. He seemed very proud, and Johnny and I made a big deal of his win, and even Bill congratulated him. Bill was a good winner, and a good loser, and a gentler soul I'd never met.

After Putt Putt, we were in the mood for ice cream, and as luck would have it there was a DQ just up the street. Johnny and I had milkshakes, but the boys had banana splits and gobbled down every bite of them.

I had to smile when I saw the boys enjoying little treats like this, for I knew that they didn't get to indulge often. Their mom drew a welfare check on each of them and they lived in Section 8 housing. If not for the food stamps and our occasional help, I knew they might go to bed hungry some nights. That was why we often had the whole family over for dinner or took them out to eat. At first their mom seemed too proud to accept our help, but as we got to know her and the rest of the family better, she finally relented.

"I wish we didn't have to go home," Bill sighed as he wiped chocolate sauce off his face.

"Well, if Johnny and I didn't have to work tomorrow you could stay the night," I said sympathetically.

"I mean, nev...never," Bill said stuttering a little as he often did when nervous or upset.

I reached out and patted him then and he swarmed into me giving me a ferocious hug.

"I...I love you," Bill said suddenly, then he blushed and pulled away, "I'm...I'm sorry."

"Never be sorry for expressing your feelings," I said pulling him back into the hug, "I love you too, both of you, and Johnny feels the same way, right babe?"

"Absolutely, you're like our little brothers," Johnny said tousling Peter's unkempt hair.

Bill nodded, "Thanks, big brother," he added grinning.

The moment passed and we finished our treats and headed to the Bug Bus. The air was still warm, but there was a slight breeze and the scent of the city filled our senses. It was different living here in a bigger city, but Johnny and I had come to embrace the differences, and now considered Tulsa our second home.

Of course, the city was all Bill and Peter had ever known, and that gave me a great idea.

"Hey, I said as we pulled out, "how would you two like to go back to Pryor with us next week? Mikey has one more game, and Johnny and I could sleep over at his house, and you two could have my room. Mikey would love to have the company."

"Can we...really?" Bill said excitedly.

"That would be fun," Peter said perking up, "I bet mom will let us."

"I think so too, in fact, we'll ask her when we take you two home. That way you'll have all week to fret about it," I teased.

"Gee, thanks," Bill said grinning, "but I guess, I...I'd rather know now than at the last minute."

"She'll say yes, she always does. She trusts you guys," Peter effused.

"Well, she's not wrong to trust us, and we would never do anything to destroy that trust," I assured them.

We grabbed a burger and fries at a drive-through and ate in the Bug Bus, then drove around till time to take the boys home, but instead of dropping them off as usual, Johnny and I accompanied them to the door. When their mom opened the door she looked at us with a worried look, "What have they done now?" she sighed.

"Nothing bad," I chuckled, "we just wanted to talk to you about next weekend..."

It didn't take much to convince their mom to let them make the trip, though she did seem concerned about how much it was costing us.

"It's costing us practically nothing. My mom always cooks enough for an army, and the only other expenditure would be snacks at the ballgame. So, it's really a cheap trip. We were going anyway, so we can't count the gas."

"Well, okay, but you boys better behave. Robert, you make them behave, even if you have to whup them," she said with a grin.

She knew we'd never take a hand to either boy and that our influence on them had been so positive that she seldom had to correct their behavior at home.

We'd had a great day, and when we got home we showered, hopped into bed, and ended it as usual, making love. Man, life was great and just getting better by the day.

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

On Tuesday, I'd just gotten home from work when the phone rang. Johnny, hearing me arrive and the phone ringing, came from the back of the apartment then, just as I picked up the phone.

"Hello, yeah...oh, hi, what's new? Is Sherry pregnant yet?" I teased. It was a running gag between us, and I hoped that some day the answer would be yes.

"What!! Really! Tomorrow, oh my God! How exciting. Yes, we can make it...yeah, we know the way. Oh man, this is so exciting," I said, eying Johnny, who was on pins and needles wanting to know what the heck we were talking about.

"Lam is coming tomorrow," I said covering the mouthpiece and giving Johnny a heads up.

"Man! That's great news," Johnny said excitedly.

I finished my call and turned to Johnny and gave him a big smile, "Party tomorrow at Sherry's folks' house on the lake. Just close family and a few friends, of which we are the closest of course," I chuckled.

"Oh, man...I just hope it's not too much for the poor kid. Maybe it would have been better if they'd waited a few days..."

"That's why they kept the group small, if you can call a dozen people small," I said, "Anyway, he might as well get used to the madness, cause he is going to be the center of attention from now on."

"That's true. I'm just glad all that hard work has finally paid off. I bet Gerald is walking on air."

"I can't help wonder though," I said, my smile fading, "if Lam will still have some of those same feelings he had for Gerald. The ones that caused him to run away in the first place?"

"I'm sure they've discussed all this on Gerald's trips to visit him in the orphanage," Johnny reasoned.

"Yeah, you're right, I'm just worrying for nothing. Anyway, I'm just happy the kid is finally getting a break. That war was hell for a lot of people, and a lot of innocent kids on both sides suffered."

"Yeah, well...how was your day?" Johnny said, changing the subject.

"Great, better now. What say we go out for dinner? I feel like celebrating," I said pulling him in for a hug and a kiss.

"Fine by me, I wasn't looking forward to cooking anyway. Tonight was my night," he said grinning.

"Well, you can cook tomorrow night instead," I joked, "how does Taco Bueno sound?"

"Great. Anyway, tomorrow night is the party for Lam, so neither of us has to cook," Johnny said sticking out his tongue.

"Good point," Now, let's go eat, I'm starved."

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

"This looks like more than a dozen," Johnny said as we parked along the drive leading up to Sherry's folks' lake house.

"Who knows how many of the cars belong to her folks," I teased, "they have money out the asshole."

"Hmm, interesting image. Like a slot machine, only an ass. I like that."

I laughed, "Brown money."

"Eww, strike that image."

Gerald must've been watching for us because suddenly he appeared in the doorway and met us halfway as we headed toward the house.

"Hey guys, glad you could come. Lam will be here in about an hour. I wanted to pick him up myself, but instead Pastor Grey is picking him up. They've met a few times over the last few months and he and Lam are close."

"Great, then we're not too late," I said, "I had to work till 4:30, then shower, and the traffic was awful coming this way."

"It's fine, come inside and meet everyone. There are snacks and drinks, and later we'll have a buffet style dinner."

We'd met Sherry's folks of course, but the rest of those present were new to us. After quick introductions, Gerald led us to the snack table and offered us a beer.

"So...gonna be a dad...finally," I chuckled, "I was hoping Johnny and I would beat you to the punch."

"Sorry man, but when your time comes, I'll be right there for you guys, with advice and warnings," he chuckled.

"I sort of feel like we have two sons already," Johnny said, then reminded Gerald about Bill and Peter.

"Yeah, that's cool. I'm sure their mom appreciates the good influence you guys no doubt exert over him," Gerald said smiling.

"Yeah, she pretty much goes along with whatever we suggest," I said, then told him about next weekend.

"That's great. Hey, you know, at some point I want to take Lam to Pryor to meet his other grandma, and your folks."

"Don't forget Uncle Caleb and Uncle Tony," I said grinning.

"Oh, yeah...and granny will go nuts over him," Gerald laughed.

"Got that right. She'll fatten him up with her sweet treats in no time flat."

"Gerald, honey," Sherry said coming up behind us and taking Gerald's arm, "can you come help daddy get one of the tables set up? He's having a hard time with it."

"Sure, guys, enjoy, I'll see ya in a bit."

We wandered out onto a deck overlooking the lake, and in the distance there was a sailboat and a number of small craft plying the waters.

"I could get used to this," Johnny said leaning on the railing.

"Someday, when you're famous we'll get us a lake house and spend our evenings watching the sunset and making out," I teased.

"Huh, could be a long time if we wait for me to be famous. Maybe you'll write the great American novel and beat me to the punch."

"You've already made a name for yourself in several galleries, and your work sells consistently, so...I'd lay odds on you succeeding first."

"We'll see," Johnny said covering my hand with his.

We stood there for a long time gazing out at the lake, envisioning what lay ahead for us, but I think both of us knew that no matter where we were or the circumstances, as long as we were together, that was all that mattered.

"I'm back guys. Pastor Grey called, they're on their way. They should be here in a bout 30 minutes," Gerald said surprising us.

"We were just enjoying the view," I said smiling, "so...what's the plan? Are we gonna jump out at him and scare the crap out of him, or what?" I teased.

"Personally, I plan on meeting him at the car and giving him a big hug, the rest can stand in line," Gerald said grinning.

"I just hope it's not too much for the poor kid," Johnny said, once again voicing his concerns.

"He's expecting it. We didn't want him to be blindsided, so it's no secret what's waiting for him...his new family and friends."

"Well, that sounds fine then," Johnny agreed, "can't wait to meet my new nephew," he added grinning.

Pastor Grey made excellent time and arrived a full five minutes early. Gerald, Johnny, and I were waiting on the front porch, and when the Reverend drove up we headed that way.

A second later the passenger door opened and Lam took a minute to get out. His newest prosthetic leg was so much better than those he'd had in the past, but it still took some getting used to.

"Lam!!" Gerald cried out through tears as he rushed the boy, helping him to stand in the process.

"Gerald, I missed you," Lam said in perfect English.

"I missed you too. I want you to meet two of my best friends in the whole world. Lam, this is Robert, and this is Johnny. Guys, meet my new son, Lam."

"Hello," Lam said looking shy, but I was having no part of that. He was my new Nephew, and I felt as if I already knew him from all the times Gerald had talked about him.

Moving forward, I pulled him away from Gerald and gave him a big hug too. He looked uncertain at first, then melted into me and smiled. Next was Johnny, who explained why we were so friendly.

"See, Gerald is like our brother, so that means we're gonna sort of be your uncles," Johnny said gently, "and we're very huggy guys," he added with a chuckle, "but you'll get used to that, cause you're gonna get lots of hugs now that you're one of us."

"Okay, thanks," Lam said grinning, "Gerald talks about you a lot, so I feel like I already know you."

"You must be tired," Gerald said placing an arm around the boy, "let's go in and meet the others, then you can have something to eat and drink and rest a while."

Sherry and her folks were next to greet Lam as he entered the house, and as promised, Lam got more hugs, plus a kiss from the females. I could tell the boy was pleased, but he was blushing too, no doubt from all the attention. Before today he'd been one of many in the orphanage, and now he was the star attraction in a place so new and wondrous he was having trouble taking it all in.

After more introductions, which left Lam looking confused and exhausted, Gerald finally led him to the couch, while Sherry fixed him a plate of snacks and got him a drink.

He seemed relieved to be out of the limelight for a moment, and slowly nibbled at his food and sipped his drink as we all sat around and watched. It occurred to me that he must feel like an animal in a cage, and I nudged Johnny and then led him back to the deck to talk in private.

"Poor kid, it's like he's on display for everyone's amusement," I said, "I don't think this party was that good of an idea. I think you were right, they should've waited till he'd been here a while and got used to things."

"Yeah, well...too late now. I wonder what their plans are for tonight, if they'll be staying here or going back to their apartment?"

"I dunno, at least the others will be going home after dinner, I hope."

"I feel bad for the kid, but happy for Gerald and Sherry. They're gonna make great parents."

"I think so too. Come on, let's grab another beer..."

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

Luckily, after the buffet, the others began to leave, a few at a time, till we were the only guests left. Gerald insisted that we stay, and after the others were gone, he and Lam, Johnny and I took a walk down the path leading to the lake.

There were several outside yard lights, as well as one at the small dock on the lake, and the moon was almost full with thousands of stars twinkling overhead.

"So, Lam, how do you like America so far?" I asked as we walked along.

"It is very nice. I like it fine, this place reminds me of home, lots of trees and water. The orphanage was not so nice though."

"Your English is very good," Johnny commented, "did you learn that at the orphanage?"

"Yes, the teachers there were very...umm, harsh, and made us learn our lessons...good...um, well," he said, seeming to be having a little trouble choosing the right words.

"Well, trust me, it will get better as you interact with us Okies," I chuckled, "and you'll learn lots of new words, like howdy and y'all."

Gerald and Johnny laughed, but Lam seemed confused till I explained about local dialect.

"Ah, yes...it is that way in Vietnam too. Some words are different in different places. I hope I will learn soon."

"No rush," Gerald said placing a hand on Lam's shoulder, "just take it slow, son. You have a while before school starts again, but you never really stop learning, do you?"

"No, I am learning always," he said smiling up at Gerald, love clearly showing in his dark eyes.

We walked along the shore and chatted as all around us the sounds and smells of nature permeated the air. Lam seemed at home here in the woods, near the water, and I wondered how he would adapt to the concrete and asphalt of the city. Well, it wasn't like there weren't parks and playgrounds in the city, and certainly plenty of attractions like the river parks and the zoo. He'd be fine, I finally decided. What was important was that he had a family now, and friends, and that he was loved and wanted.

We stayed till just after nine, and by the time we left, Lam was beginning to show some jet lag. The little family was spending the night, Gerald and Sherry in the guest room, and Lam in a room her folks had especially decorated for Lam when he came to visit, which they insisted he do often. They might be affluent, but they seemed like genuinely nice people and they had certainly opened their arms to Gerald, and now to Lam.

On the way home, neither of us spoke for quite a while, and it was Johnny who finally broke the silence.

"Seeing them together, that made me want a kid even more," he said softly.

"I know what you mean, but I'm just so happy for them, and...I feel like we'll be a part of Lam's new life as well."

"Yeah, he's a cool kiddo. We'll have to introduce him to Bill and Peter. I bet the three will get along just fine."

"Yeah, speaking of those two, I sort of feel parental toward them, so I guess I should just be happy with what we have. Anyway, it's not like we're alone or unloved," I chuckled, "we have Mikey and Joe too."

"And Snoopy, don't forget Snoopy," Johnny reminded me, and we both cracked up laughing.