Chapter 9

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May 29, 2001

Written By: Justin Case

Edited By: Ed

Spanish Edit By: Julio

Disclaimer: This story is about gay love. It contains sexually graphic language, and you must be of legal age to read it. The tale is fiction, and any similarities to actual people, places, and events are coincidental. This work is the creation of the writer, it is his sole property. If you copy it, you must give him credit, and ask for his permission. The writer, his editors, and the publishers of this story accept no responsibility for the actions of the reader. ©2001JCPCo

SoapBox:Hello, my faithful, it is me again. I hope you aren't too disappointed with the second delay of this story. My Spanish Editor has had a schedule change, and I will be working around it, so the postings to this story may not be as timely as they have been. I do hope you understand.

If you'd like to send me your thoughts, the address is still the same, Justin69SK@aol.com and I love hearing from you all. I am still looking for a few more first time writers to post on http://Justinscorner.homestead.com my web site. If you are interested, please send me your work for consideration. You can find the submission guidelines at the bottom of the Dear Justin page, a special link to them is located on the front page.

Take care, talk to you all soon.

Just,

Justin

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A few days later, life on the island began to flurry with activity, as the annual Summer Ball was going to be held, at the Country Club. I have to admit, it wasn't exactly my cup of tea. I dreamt about going with Danny, I just didn't know how to approach my parents. Ordinarily, I couldn't have cared less about the darn thing, but this year, for the first time I had a real desire to go.

I remember I was in Peron's, picking up a few things for the house, Charles had asked me to, since I was going into town. I was standing in the fresh produce section, and noticed Tom, as he bent over a crate of lettuce, his pants falling down so his crack was showing. Oh, the things you have to see. For some unknown reason, Tom's ass crack drew my eyes like a magnet. I couldn't shake the image, no matter how hard I tried, all my mind pictured was this older gentleman's hairy ass.

"James, how are you? I haven't seen you in a dog's age," Tom casually said, as he stood up and pulled his trousers up.

"Good, Tom." I knew he was going to share some gossip with me, by the look in his eyes behind his spectacles.

He slowly sauntered toward me, a head of lettuce in his hand, one of his shirt-tails coming out of the front of his pants. His bald head seemed to gleam under the fluorescent lights of the store. He seemed to be kneading the cellophane wrapped, green leafed ball in his hands, as he stood close to me. He lowered his head, so he could talk privately with me. All I could see was that ugly nose of his, like the crack of his ass, it too drew my focus in.

"I hear the Spics are your new neighbors, you better keep your doors locked. Their maid was in this morning, buying up a bunch of stuff, looks like they're going to have some sort of party," he confided in me, his voice soft, just above a whisper and sounding full of knowledge.

"Really? You don't say," I said to him, tearing my eyes from his pitted nose, and directing my attention to the peaches we stood beside.

"Oh yeah, she bought up two carts of party type stuff. Paid cash too, we're having it checked to make sure it isn't counterfeit." Tom rambled on, putting his face closer to my ear.

I slowly edged away from him, "Well, maybe they'll invite us," I said, then began feeling the various peaches for some ripe ones.

"Would you go?" he asked, his voice showing some concern.

"Actually, Tom, I think I would. I've met Danny, he's the son. I find him to be quite fascinating too, and quite frankly, I think you should be ashamed of yourself."

"Look, kiddo, I've lived in the big city, I know what these people are like. You have no idea," Tom defended his ignorance.

"Is that right? Well, let me ask you this, how many did you know? Really know, Tom? How many Spanish-speaking friends did you have?"

The plump grocery store clerk stood next to me, his face twisting and contorting, but no words came forth. I could see his hands as he gripped at the lettuce he held onto.

"That's what I thought," I bravely said, as I turned with two peaches in my hand, and walked away.

I couldn't shake my anger. I knew that just a few short weeks ago, I thought like Tom, and that's what pissed me off the most. 'What is it that makes our minds focus on the ugly?' I pondered, as I collected up the few things Charles had asked me t o. I held a small red basket with a handle draped over my left arm as I walked up and down the market aisles deep in thought, and brooding over what Tom had said.

It was bad enough I was gay, but now I loved a Puerto Rican, and that was sure to add more complications to my life. What the hell makes people think the way they do? Why is it that things they don't understand, or are afraid of, they hate? I reasoned with myself that I was just as much a man as the next, and so was Danny. Even I thought of my sexuality in negative terms, because of what people say, people who don't know even what they are talking about. I began to contemplate the fact, that Danny also thought of his nationality in less than positive terms.

I got out of the grocery store as quickly as I could. I practically ran to my car, I flung open the driver's door and threw the bag of groceries in the passenger seat. I drove all the way home without seeing the road. The next thing I knew, I was getting out of my Porsche in front of our mansion.

"Charles, Charles," I called out, as I walked through the front hall toward the dining room.

"James, I'm in the kitchen," his English accented burly voice drifted through the room.

I pushed open the swinging door, and stormed into the kitchen, I hastily placed the brown bag on the counter top and fixed my gaze on the tall butler. I felt the blood rush to my head, and my lips quiver, as I stood  in the kitchen, with the man that I had learned to trust with all my secrets.

"What's got your shorts all knotted up now, James?" Charles asked, as he began to take the various items out of the paper bag.

"What am I going to do, Charles? I mean, I love Danny. How am I going to be happy with him, when so many people already hate gays, not to mention the fact that he's Puerto Rican?" I heard my voice, as it began to choke up.

"Hmm, I see, James. It seems as though you yourself have had a change of heart. Wasn't it just two weeks ago when you were spouting off about the horrible people that were invading our pristine island?" he asked, his voice sounding supportive, but it had a stern sound to it.

"Yes, I know. I didn't know any better, but now I do," I nervously admitted.

"All I can say, James, is that it has been my experience with people that most have to feel superior. It comes from man's desire to feel important, most actually don't feel worthy, so they put on airs, if you will. Then others are just ignorant, they don't know any better. However, there are some, while perhaps only a minority, that are true men. These are the people that know love, and they accept themselves, so they can accept others too," Charles stated.

I stood in the kitchen, absorbing the message that Charles had delivered to me. My dark brown eyes began to fill with tears, as I thought about how much I loved Danny, and how hard it was going to be with my father.

"Charles, do you think it would be wise of me to ask Danny to the ball?" I managed to squeeze out, without crying yet.

"James, first you need to ask him; second, if he says yes, take him, you owe no one explanations for what you do. I would trust you to use your head, be discreet, in other words," Charles said, as he looked into my eyes.

"I just don't know how to tell my father." The tears began to flow down my cheeks, and my voice shook, as I said it.

"James, just tell him the truth. He knows about you, I would have thought, that was the hardest and most courageous thing you have ever done in your short life," he said, and then he put his hands on my upper arms, and grasped them.

"Oh, Charles, you're right. I'm just scared." My sobbing began to lessen, and I quietly walked to the back staircase, so I could go to my room.

"James, I was going to make some tuna salad, would you like me to bring up a sandwich? I made some chocolate mousse," he said soothingly.

"That would nice, Charles, thanks," I softly called over my shoulder, as I climbed the stairs.

I sat on my bed and decided to call Stevie, it had been a few days since I had seen him. I missed him, he was my best friend, and lately I had been spending all my time with Danny. He wasn't home, so I left a message for him. I walked over to my window seat, and held the cordless phone in my hand as I stared out at Buzzard's Bay.

The summer sun was bright, as it danced on the green waves. I sat there frozen, my eyes fixed on the steel blue sky with wisps of cotton white clouds. I watched as the gulls in the distance gracefully flew along the horizon of the sea. I heard the crashing of the rolling waves along the beach, and the cries of the birds as they searched for food. I could smell the ocean's salt in the air, as it floated into my bedroom window.

I thought about my love, I pictured my young friend, and wanted him beside me. I wanted to hold him in my arms, I needed to feel the comfort of his tender body. I turned my eyes to the dial pad, and punched his number. I held the phone to my ear, and listened to the rings. I slowly let out a long breath.

"Hello?" I heard the maid on the other end.

"Yes, it's James. May I speak to Danny, please?"

"Uno momento," Maria replied.

"Hello, James?" I heard his familiar voice.

"Hey, what are you doing?" I asked him.

"Nothing. Where have you been all morning? I thought you must be mad at me," Danny said, sounding a little nervous.

"No, why would you think that? I had to do a little shopping for Charles, that's all," I told him.

"James, my family is coming to visit this weekend, all my aunts and uncles, all my cousins and my grandparents will be here. I would like you to come, bring your parents too," he sputtered, as the words rushed out of his lips.

"I'll ask them, but you can count on me. What day, and what time?"

"Oh, James, this is a big party. We start Friday night and party all weekend long," Danny explained, sounding rather embarrassed.

"I see, sounds great. Um, there's just one thing. Saturday night is the annual Summer Ball at the club, I wanted you to go with me. Would you?" I hesitated, but finally blurted it out.

"Oh yes my love, nothing would make me prouder than to be your escort to the ball. I love you so much for asking me." Danny answered me in Spanish, I noticed that when he was uneasy he would speak in Spanish, and not even realize it.

"Danny, what did you say? I hope you said yes." I chuckled a little, while I asked him to translate.

"I'm sorry, I said yes. Thank you for asking me, I will be very proud to be your escort."

"Cool, what are you doing now?" I asked him, and heard that beep in my phone, the one that let me know I had another call coming in, "Danny, can you hang on a minute? I have another call," I said, and clicked over.

"Hello," I said into the phone.

"How's it hanging?" Stevie's voice rang in my ears.

"Good, where you been? I called you a little while ago."

"No, that's why I'm calling you back. I've been down to the casino in Connecticut with Ellis, shit, he lost a bundle. I've been chilling with him while you been hanging with your new love. I see where I rate." Stevie's voice rattled off.

`Shit,' I thought to myself, how was I going to tell him now, that I had Danny on the other line and not hurt his obviously already pained feelings? I stood up from the window seat, and finally came up with a solution.

"Hang on a quick minute, I got someone on the other line, I'll be right back, Buddy," I prattled off, not giving him an option, as I switched back to Danny.

"Hey, so you hungry? Come on over, I miss you," I told my lover.

 "I'm so hungry for you my love, I want to eat you, I want to taste your sweet lips on mine. I want to drink your hot juices. I will be there as quickly as I can, so I can hold your soft body in my arms." Danny's gentle voice filled my ears with his native tongue.

"Is that a yes?" I laughed, my spirits had definitely been lifted.

"Yes, I will be there as quickly as I can. I am starving for you, my love."

"I love you, Danny," I said as I clicked back over to Stevie.

"Sorry about that, Buddy, I'm back though. So Ellis lost a ton of money, huh?" I asked Stevie.

"Hell, yeah. He's addicted, I never saw nothing like it. His eyes got all glassy the minute we walked into the joint. He was like a zombie, I had to practically drag his ass out sometime early this morning, about four thirty. Shit, we just got home a little while ago, we stayed in the hotel down there, it was on the house. Hell, with all the fucking money he spends, they should have given us each a blowjob or something," Stevie reported his thoughts.

"Wow, I didn't know he was into gambling," I said, a little surprised to hear it.

"He's fucking rated. Can you believe that? So, what you doing? Can I come over or what?" he asked me, and I could detect the uncertainty in his voice.

"Sure, come on over, I'll have Charles make you some lunch. Danny's on his way over too, maybe we can do something together. I'd love to hang out with you, Buddy," I told him, with the most sincerity in my voice I could muster.

"Really, I won't be like no third wheel, will I?"

"Come on, Stevie. You know me better than that."

"Cool, I'll be right over."

I hung the phone up, and figured I better let Charles know they were coming for lunch. I hoped he had enough tuna salad. I leapt down the stairway into the kitchen, and almost fell when I hit the bottom step. I saw Charles working at the island counter in the kitchen on my lunch and began to feel a little guilty.

"Let me guess, you have Danny coming for lunch," the towering man at the counter bellowed.

"UH, well, actually, I have Danny and Stevie coming for lunch. I hope it's OK," I confessed.

"Are the three of you boys going to devise the plot to end the world?" Charles quipped.

"No, we're just going to hang out, probably head into town to check out that new movie."

I heard the chimes of our doorbell just as I finished talking. I headed for the front door, I hoped it was Danny. I wanted to have a few minutes with him before Stevie came. I reached for the doorknob and opened it slowly. I looked into the charcoal black eyes of my Spanish lover.

Happy it was who I had hoped it would be, I leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the lips, as I pulled him into our home. I could smell his cologne, as the air rushed past our bodies from the closing of the door. It was a faint and sweet aroma that clung to my nostrils. I embraced his body in my arms, as we stood in the foyer. He fixed his eyes onto mine, and turned his head a little to the side, then he closed his dark eyes, and kissed me long and passionately.

"I love you more each time I see you. I want you the rest of my life to walk by my side. Your beauty is beyond comparison. I thank God every night before I sleep, for you to me, and every morning when I first open my eyes." Danny whispered in Spanish as he released me from our kiss..

"Ooo, you take my breath away," I gasped. I took his soft hand in mine as I led him to the kitchen. I explained to him that Stevie was coming over, and hoped we could find something to do together.

"How's he been? I haven't seen him since the last time we went to the club," Danny wondered aloud.

"I don't really know either, I've been with you. I guess he's doing good. He told me he's been chumming around with Ellis. I know that must be tough for him, we never really liked Ellis," I explained.

A little while later Stevie joined us. We had a great time. The three of us chilled in my room and ate lunch. We talked about the ball. Actually, it was Stevie that came up with the plan. I had forgotten all about the night that we introduced Danny as my cousin. I couldn't wait, it was going to be hilarious. I would finally get to see Ellis and his gang brought down a peg or two. We all laughed as we schemed together.

We decided to check out the movies, we all wanted to see that new one that was out. We talked about our plan some more in the car on the way to the theater. It was certainly going to be a night to remember.

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Well, my good friends, what do you think the three are up to? You'll just have to stay tuned for the upcoming events.

Thanks for taking the journey with me.

Thank you, Ed, for your editing, and thank you, Julio, for the Spanish.

As always, but not forever.

Just,

Justin