Chapter 15
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Written By: Justin Case
Edited By: Ed
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October 4, 2001
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Disclaimer: This story contains sexually graphic language and should be viewed by persons of legal age. If you continue to view this material, you may go blind. You also accept responsibility for your actions if you further peruse this tale of pure wit. This story is about two young boys that fall in love with each other, it is fiction. As much as you'd like it to be about you, it isn't. If you think this fine assortment and variety of words that the writer has assembled and selected is about you, or someone you know, it is pure coincidence. The writer, his editor, and the publisher wish you luck in all your endeavors. ©JCPCo2001
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SoapBox®: Hello, to all of you out there in Netsville. Thanks for keeping it real for me. I love all the letters and messages, I really do. My good friends, this is the last chapter of Luke's Secret Art. Yep, I am ending the trilogy. I want to tell you all it has been fun examining the three major facts of life (death, love, and taxes) in the `Secret' triple book set, and how secrets interplay in our lives. If you haven't read the other two books that went along with this one (`books,' I use the term loosely), fear not. You can find `Michael's Secret Love' and `Guy's Secret', the other stories that complete the trilogy, in my bookshelf. Go to my website, http://Justinscorner.homestead.com, you'll find them there with all my other work.
Oh, and don't worry, Luke and Travis will be moving. That's right, you heard it first here. Check out chapter 11 of `Comedy of Errors' in my library, also at my site. Or, you can start `Comedy...' on http://Nifty.Org, go to the gay high school section of thearchives; chapter 7 is the most current chapter there, so you won't have to be overwhelmed with too much reading. You can just catch up. It's OK.
For the real die-hard reader, guess what? Cassandra Tacano, the bitch on wheels, has also moved. She's now appearing in `Intertwined,' my very latest. That is found in my library and the gay relationship section of the Nifty archives. It's now (at the time of this writing) in its fourth chapter.
Well, thanks for keeping in touch, and for those of you who want to write me; the addy is Justin69SK@aol.com, I answer all my mail. Now, on with the story. As always, but not forever, Just Justin <>
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Travis and I have been an item going on two years now. This Christmas, we'll celebrate our second year as a couple. Can you believe it? I can.
Oh, lots has happened to me since I was fifteen. The first thing was, I met Travis that wonderful day back in December 1999. I even grew a couple of inches, and now stand at five foot seven. I don't have to worry about my height anymore. I am so happy about that; I was worried that I'd be short and small forever. I've even gained some weight and definition. I weigh just under one hundred and twenty pounds, and even got some of my father's muscular tone.
I miss my dad, I really do. I often wonder what it would be like to share my life with him. I also think about how little we did together as I got into my teenage years. The funny thing is, as I look back on it now, most of the reason that my father and I didn't share more time his last few years, was because I chose not to.
While he was busy with the firm, I didn't make any effort to keep in touch with him. Instead, I felt sorry for myself, and resented him. It's too late to go back and change it now, so I don't dwell. I guess the thing I'll never understand is why he was selling my artwork and hiding the money. That is probably something I will never know.
I think the worst experience I've had was the IRS auction of our family home and furnishings. It broke my mother's spirit. Let me tell you, the IRS is a heartless bunch, they had the federal marshals conduct the sale. It was cold, and impersonal. We witnessed all our belongings and treasures being sold to the highest bidder. I learned one thing from all of that, things are things, but family and friends can't be replaced.
We came out of it. My mother and I moved in with my grandmother. Helga stayed on with us; she works for my grandmother. My grandmother had put all her property into my mother's name when she turned seventy. She told us that if the property had been transferred at least three years, no one could come after it if she had to go into a nursing home. The other thing was, if it had been in someone else's name three years before her death, no inheritance tax would be due upon her demise. That's my grandmother for you; she's now seventy-four.
I finished school a year early too. I guess I am glad I went to Sacred Heart, if I'd been in a public school it would have been almost unheard of, graduating early. I had a lot of time on my hands, since we were a few hours out of Boston. I only saw Travis on long weekends or school vacations. I threw myself into my art, and school.
Travis is doing well, he's sold many of his works, and has made quite a name for himself. This past summer we spent together at the Cape, selling his work and enjoying each other. Life is great!
The last several weeks have been very hectic. Travis and I are moving to Nantucket today. We have all our things packed, and are ready to go. I remember a few weeks ago, while the two of us were on the Cape in the cottage we had rented for the summer. Here's what happened:
I woke in the morning, like I had every morning lately, Travis by my side. I listened to the early morning traffic sounds out on Route 44, as the tourists began their busy day.
"Hey, Buddy," his voice rumbled as he shook the sleep from it.
"Morning."
"I was just thinking. Do you remember when you said we could move to San Francisco?" he asked, and I hadn't a clue to what he was talking about.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, the night of my art show. We were in the Friendly's parking lot. You said we'd have to move to a community where more people were like us," he explained.
"Oh, yeah, the night I kissed you in public, and you yelled at that old couple."
It all came back to me; I could still picture the woman's face as she looked in disgust at us. I laughed a little, as I remembered Travis shaking his fist in the air as he screamed at them to mind their own business. We must have been a sight.
"How about we move to Provincetown?" he asked, his eyes bore into mine.
"Gee, I don't know, I'm not as brave now as I was then. Could you imagine my mother? How about Nantucket instead, it's not too far from P'town."
I could see my mother if I announced we were moving to Provincetown, she'd say it was fine, but inside she would die a thousand deaths. I guess that years of the blue blood upbringing would never change for her. While she accepted Travis' and my love for each other, let's just say she didn't brag about us to her garden club.
I began to think about the day that we told my mother we were gay. We had sat down at the breakfast table, the one in my grandmother's kitchen. Travis had spent the weekend with us. It was the first weekend that he had come to visit. My grandmother thought it was best to tell my mother, so she sat with us. I don't know if it was for moral support, but she sure did make me feel more comfortable.
My mother was sitting to my right, at the maple table for four, Travis at my left and Grandmother across from me. Mother was staring off into space, her blue-gray eyes looking tired. I watched her as she sipped her coffee, as she set the china cup back onto its saucer I told her. I just came right out and said, "Mother, I have something to tell you. I love Travis, we love each other, and I love you too." It took her a second to realize the impact of my confession. She reached her left hand to my right arm, she held onto it and said, "Luke, love is a gift from God. I can't question it, but I want you to promise me, no matter what, you will always do what makes you happy, and that might mean you need to keep your love private, others wouldn't understand. I love you too." She took her hand from my arm and went back to drinking her coffee. Not another word was spoken.
"Do you mean it, Luke? You'll really move in with me? I don't care if it's Nantucket, or Kalamazoo. Luke, I'd live anywhere as long as it's with you." I saw the tears streaming down his cheeks.
"A poet, now?" I whispered to him, but I don't think he understood.
I held him closely in the bed that morning, and thought about what it was going to be like living together, not just spending a summer together. I wondered if we could make it alone, I also wondered if it really would last forever. As I held his warm body in my arms, all doubts faded. I knew what we had was true love, it was a gift from God, and for us it was meant to be.
I held my mother tightly in my arms as I said, "Good-bye." We both had tears in our eyes.
Travis and I walked down the steps from the back porch of my grandmother's house, hand in hand. The car had long been packed; we even rented a small trailer for what little furniture we both had. I turned and looked over my shoulder and saw my grandmother, Helga, and my mother watching us as we sauntered to our car.
Travis drove, and the ride was quiet. We decided to head into Bean Town, for a little nostalgia, and it was the only way Travis seemed to know. We stopped at `Our' Friendly's for cup of coffee and reminisced about our times in Boston. I watched him as he drank his coffee.
"What, is something hanging off my face?" he teased as we sat in the booth.
I just smiled at him. We finished our coffees and quietly walked out of the restaurant. The sun was out, and it was unseasonably warm for September in New England.
We headed south out of Boston. We meandered our way onto the Southeast Expressway. A six-lane highway, three lanes heading in each direction, often called the Distressway. In the rush hours, you can actually use the breakdown lanes too, legally.
Thankfully, there were no accidents or it could have been a slow ride, it was bad enough with all the construction areas and temporary detours because of the Big Dig. As we crossed the Mass Pike, I knew we were really leaving, but not forever.
I watched the signs as we drove, I had to watch for the split at Route 128 and make sure we stayed to the left. Travis never was any good at paying attention to the signs, so I'm the navigator. I don't mind, I kind of like showing him where to go and how to get there. I like the feeling that I get from his trust in my abilities.
I felt the warmth of the sun as it basked over my legs in the car. I looked to my left and took in the most beautiful sight, Travis. I put my left hand on his thigh, and gently rubbed it. He turned his head briefly, and let me know he loved me. Our lives are just beginning, I just know we'll be happy together.
The End
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I hope you enjoyed reading this tale as much as I did writing it. Don't forget you can keep up with Travis and Luke, in Comedy of Errors.
Thank you all for coming along for the ride. A special thanks to Marty for his geographical descriptions used in this chapter.
Thanks, Ed, for the great job editing this chapter.
As always,
But not forever,
Just,
Justin