Comedy of Errors

Chapter 8

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Written By: Justin Case

Edited By: Ed

Spanish By: Julio

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May 22, 2001

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Disclaimer: This story is about the love between two males, it deals with everyday societal problems faced by many. While it is fiction, this tale is based on reality; any similarity to real life is purposeful and coincidental. This material contains sexual encounters described in most graphic manner; you must be of legal age to read it. The author, his editors, and the publishers accept no responsibility for the actions of the readers. ©2001JCPCo

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SoapBox: Well, I guess some of you have noticed I am slightly late with this chapter. Yep, I missed my weekly posting deadline. Do you forgive me? I hope so. I have been so busy with my outside-the-net life that I just couldn't seem to find the time to write.

My friends, I want to say something to you all, something that has been on my mind these last few days. You see, we all need to accept the challenge that life gives us. The trials and tribulations of our lives, while seemingly difficult, are growing experiences. It is often easier to hide from our dilemmas, or hope they will mysteriously go away. The true test of one's self is how we handle our problems. Many times, I just want to throw the covers over my head and remain in bed. I just want to stay in the comfort of my solitude. Instead, I write about my feelings, I release them to the world. It is here that I find my contentment, here with you. I want to thank the many of you who write me and let me know the words are not in vain. These are not my words, but they are all of our words, I merely put them together. If you'd like to write me, the address is Justin69SK@aol.com Thanks for listening. As always, Just, Justin

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The winds had begun to stir, and the sky was darkening, as we walked through the Vásquez's rear manicured lawn toward my home. I watched as the early summer breeze caused Danny's yellow shirt to ripple against his body. I saw the clouds as they changed their shapes and merged together. The maple leaves, on the huge tree that stood between our two yards, bared their backs to us. I could smell the thunderstorm that was about to unleash its rains on Nantucket.

As we crossed my back yard, the skies opened up and poured down the rains. Gigantic raindrops pelted us as we began to make a run for the back door to my house. I felt the sharp pains on my face as the drops were whipped upon me by the winds. I looked at Danny, his shirt was soaked, and I could see his dark skin beneath the wet cloth. His drenched black hair clung to his forehead, stranded and curled. His eyes flashed me a glance; I saw fear in them. I grabbed for his hand and pulled him toward the house. I reached for the doorknob, as I opened the door the wind gusted and blew it out of my hand, it smashed against the house. I yanked Danny into the porch. We stood there for a few moments, both of us were breathing heavy; both of us were soaking wet. I looked into his charcoal eyes; they were full of terror.

A bright white flash, followed by the loud crackling of thunder, shook the windows on the porch. Danny was trembling. I continued to hold onto his hand. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't know what he was so afraid of.

"Are you all right?" I quietly asked him.

"Yes, I don't like thunder and lightning, since I was a young boy," Danny expressed, his voice shaking.

I said nothing, but I wondered how he had come to know his fears. He was afraid of the ocean, and now I find out he is petrified of thunderstorms. I couldn't imagine being so afraid of either. I thought about how he had grown to be seventeen and still held fears of a young child. All I could imagine was that his life had been somewhat sheltered since the time of his mother's illness. I figured it would be up to me to show him how to overcome his fears. I felt a strong desire to be his companion as we stood on my porch and the thunder and lightning roared above us. It was like I had found a purpose to our friendship, one that I could cherish.

"Come on, let's go inside and get dried off," I said with confidence in my voice, as I ushered him into the kitchen.

"God, you boys look like something the cat dragged in. You better get out of those wet things before you catch your death of pneumonia," Charles said, as he stood near the counter in our kitchen.

"Yeah, come on, Danny, I have some dry things you can wear." I nodded at Charles as I walked my friend toward the back stairway door.

"Don't worry, I imagine I'll have to hold off on lunch, your parents will probably be coming home soon. They certainly can't be playing tennis in this weather," Charles called after us, as we climbed the narrow stairway up to the second floor.

"That's OK, we just ate a big breakfast. Just send for us when my folks arrive, we'll be in my room." I shouted down the service stairs toward the kitchen.

"I am a big baby. You must think so little of me," Danny said, as I closed the door behind us, his eyes looking at my bedroom floor.

"Not at all. I don't think that at all," I responded, my voice full of tenderness, as I began to unbutton his yellow shirt.

"I don't know why I am so afraid. Like a little boy, I want to hide under the bed." Danny's voice was trembling; his body was visibly shaking. I continued to help undress him.

"I think it takes a real man to admit his fears," I confessed my thoughts to him.

He looked down at me, as I knelt before him, removing his shorts. His eyes had filled with tears. My heart sank in my chest, as I tried to figure out how to make him understand and release his fears. It seemed so simple to me, but I knew that my experiences were not his. How could I make him see his fears were unfounded? How could I make him believe it?

I slowly stood up and began taking my own wet clothes off. When I had taken my clothes off, we both stood there naked, he was trembling, and I was cold. I took the wet things to my bathroom; I felt his eyes on me as I walked across the carpeted floor. I didn't look back at him. I hung the wet things on a rack in my bathroom, and put a large towel on the floor beneath them.

My mind wandered, I wondered about his fears. I knew that at one point in my life I had them too. Hell, I was still afraid of the dark at times. I had long ago grown out of my fears of the ocean and thunderstorms. In a way, it rather seemed silly that he still clung to them. I knew though, it wasn't silly to him. I just didn't know how to make him see it the way I did. Then I pondered if I had to. I mean, what harm did his fears cause other than embarrassment?

I walked back into my bedroom, Danny hadn't moved from where I had left him. I went to him; I put my arms around him. I kissed him gently on the cheek. I felt his body as it shivered in my arms. I felt his warm breath on my face. I just held him in my arms; our bodies were still damp from the rain. I didn't say anything; I didn't know what to say.

"I don't know why I get so scared. I know it's probably stupid of me, it's just something I can't seem to help. My heart begins to pound, my head gets dizzy, and my stomach ties itself in knots," Danny told me, his eyes cast toward the floor, as if filled with shame.

"I don't know what to say. All I can tell you is that sometimes I get frightened in the dark. I guess we all have fears. Why should your fears be any more dumber than mine?" I reasoned.

"I guess. I know that if you weren't there I would have froze-up, I wouldn't have been able to move." Danny continued telling me of his fears.

"Why don't we lie down in my bed? We can get under the covers together and hold onto one another," I asked him, as I moved toward my bed, clenching onto his hand.

The softness of the cotton sheets enveloped my body, I could only imagine he felt the warmth and comfort of the bedding too. I stroked the wet bangs on his forehead, as he placed his head onto one of the pillows. I nuzzled my face into the crook of his shoulder and pulled the blankets over our naked bodies. I could feel the strong heartbeat from his smooth dark chest, against the side of my body. I used my other hand to pull his buttocks closer to me. I felt his arms as they embraced me.

"Te amo. Más de lo que mis palabras pueden expresar. Supe desde el momento en que te vi, que eras el único para mí. Que eras el que Dios me mandó del cielo, y que seríamos el uno para el otro. Sólo espero que te sientas de la misma manera," he spoke in Spanish.

"I love you, Danny. I don't know what you just said, but it sounded beautiful," I whispered to him as we held each other in our arms.

"I said I love you. I love you more than I can say. I feel like we are meant to be. You are my gift from God. I just pray you feel the same way," Danny explained.

"I do. I have never had these feelings before. I know we have just met, but I feel like I want to be with you forever," I confided in him.

"We will be," he quietly told me, he sounded so sure.

I moved my face so I could kiss him. I pulled the back of his head toward my own, and placed my lips on his. I wanted to be with him forever, but I couldn't help but wonder if his parents knew about him, the way mine knew about me. I realized we hadn't talked about that. I kissed him deeper as I tried to erase my doubts.

Almost as if on cue, Danny said, "I will tell my Mommy how much happiness you are bringing me, as soon as they return from Boston. I will need my parents' blessing."

I kissed him again. My eyes filled with tears of joy. I was so happy. Suddenly, my joy was shattered as I remembered how my parents felt about Puerto Ricans. I began to think about how they would react to my loving Danny. I knew that my father was going to be ugly about it. I also knew that my mother would follow his lead. I felt the fear as it swelled in my mind; the reality of my love was going to cause great hardship in the Winslow household. I clung onto Danny and kept my thoughts to myself.

I began to feel exhausted, as we lay next to each other, naked under my blankets. I slowly and gently ran my fingers up and down his back. I heard his breathing shallow as he began to doze. The warmth of his body next to mine gave me a great comfort, as I worried about how I would tell my parents. I fell asleep in his arms.

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Well, my friends, there you have it. Until the next chapter, we'll just have to wonder where the road will lead. I hope you like this story.

Thanks, Ed, for the fine editing. Thank you, Julio, for the Spanish editing too.

As always, but not forever,

Just,

Justin