Date: Fri, 1 Dec 2023 02:00:00 -0700 From: John Henry Subject: Growing Up Ry Chapter 17 (Gay/Incest) DONATION: Nifty is a not-for-profit organization that heavily relies on our donations to keep the site free and accessible. Your donations pay for web hosting fees and other day-to-day activities for the wonderful staff of editors/publishers. You can donate on the website at http://donate.nifty.org/ Every little bit counts. DISCLAIMER: This story is a work of fiction, and contains explicit, sexual content involving adults over the age of 21 and minors under the age of 18, with scenes of incest involving step-parents/step-children, and sibilings. If viewing this material is illegal where you live, OR you're a minor under the age of 18, please stop reading this. If you're not sure about this legatilty, please stop reading until you have looked into your own, local laws. Any likeness or similarity between persons, places, products or concepts are purely coincidental. If you would like to leave any positive feedback, please let me know. Thank you. Chapter 17 Ry sat in a booth waiting for the next interview to start. Marcus had arranged for several potential hires to come in before the dinner rush, which actually annoyed him, since he wasn't management and needed to make sure his kitchen staff were doing their jobs. However, it just wasn't how Marcus did things. As the head Chef, it was Ry's job to hire, supervise and fire those who worked in the back. Sure, that might work for the likes of a professional chef, but Ry was just a head cook in a greasy spoon. The first three people he talked to weren't going to get hired. The first guy had been through eight jobs in three months, yet somehow, expected to be hired. The second was a woman who was nice enough but her schedule wasn't flexible enough, as she had young kids at home; she was actually hoping for a waitress position. The second guy seemed to be on drugs and actively using. Food service usually brought out the bottom of the barrel, especially for kitchen work. Only the truly desperate wanted to do dishes and bus tables for next to nothing wages. "Sorry I'm late," the third guy said, as he took a seat. He was tall-ish, handsome with a few tattoos. He was well built and had a friendly enough smile. "Traffic is pretty bad on McKenna, so I had to take a detour." "No problem," Ry said, looking at the man's application and resume. They exchanged pleasantries and Ry asked, "So, tell me about your experience?" "Well," the man replied, rolling up his sleeves and exposing more tattoos, "I've worked in food service most of my life, mostly as a cook. With work coming hard to find, I'm willing to start at the bottom and earn my way up. I've worked in large, industrial kitchens in Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas. I'm used to working quickly and making sure everything is done as efficiently as possible, while maintaining quality, even if it means just having clean dishes and tables." "I see," Ry said, taking notes. "Do you have a problem with authority?" "None," the man replied. "I was in the military for over 10 years; Army. If you can't respect authority there, you won't make it very long." "Is the military where you got most of your kitchen experience?" "Absolutely," he replied. "Well, I wouldn't necessarily say most, but it was the most consistent. The other jobs I mentioned were general seasonal or the place closed down, having been bought by a large corporation that downsized us." "Sorry to hear that." "Corporate America, am I right?" "I guess so," Ry said. He liked the guy. He seemed friendly, polite, respectful, not to mention a military vet, which would mean a tax break for the restaurant. "Do you have a criminal background?" "Aside from a few parking tickets, my record is as clean as a whistle." "Nice," Ry said, making another note. "How soon can you start, Mr. Bennett?" "Please, call me David, and I can start as soon as I fill-out the paperwork." "I still have a couple more interviews to do, but I can say, you're definitely on my list of potentials." "Great! How soon might I get a call?" "Within the next day or two, depending on who all shows up. The owner still has to do background checks." "Alright, sounds good," Rollo said as he stood. "Again, it's nice to meet you...?" "You can call me Ry." "Like the bread?" "Except without the E on the end, yeah." They shook hands and Rollo made to leave when a teenager approached, looking distraught. "Ry, I need to talk." "Charlie, I'm in the middle of interviews...." "Please! I think I fucked up," Charlie pleaded. Ry turned to Roll and said, "I have nothing further and will give you a call, either way." "Okay. I hope everything is alright." "I'm sure it is. If you'll excuse us," Ry said, pulling Charlie off to the side, watching Rollo leave the restaurant. Once he was sure nobody else was around he asked, "What's wrong? What happened?" Charlie told Ry everything, including what he said to their dad. As he confessed, he started to cry heavily. Although he meant every word he said, he never once meant to say them out loud. Charlie just couldn't hold it in any longer. Ry pulled Charlie into his arms and held his baby brother. "I'm sorry that happened, Charlie. I really am. It couldn't have been easy, but at least you got it out there." "That's the problem," Charlie said, pulling away and looking in his brother's beautiful hazel eyes. "It was way too easy. I didn't even think about it before I said it. Everything I had been feeling and thinking over the last four years just fell out of my mouth. Hell, even Billy didn't couldn't say anything." "I'm surprised by that. That little bitch never shuts the fuck up." Charlie chuckled. "I think Billy and I kinda made up, well, before I blew up at Dad. Who knows now? You know what Billy is when it comes to Dad." "Don't I, though," Ry said, mirthlessly. Ry was happy that Charlie got closer to closure with their brother and father, but Ry couldn't see any hope on his part by telling what he knew. "Does Mom know you're here?" "I sent her a text after I left Billy's. Trevor is going to give me a ride home as soon as I message him." "Alright," Ry said, looking around, "how about you sit at the counter, and I'll have someone bring you some food and shake? You collect yourself before texting Trevor." "Thanks," Charlie said. He looked around, didn't see anyone, then gave Ry a quick peck on the lips. "I love you." "I love you, too," Ry said, before heading to the kitchen. Unfortunately, somebody was watching. Trevor got to the diner just after five. Business was starting to pick up, and Ry didn't have time to say goodbye, let alone have a conversation. Ry sent home dinner for Charlie and Ronda, however. "So," Trevor said, walking to his car with Charlie, "sounds like you had a less than productive meeting with your dad." "I figured Billy told you," Charlie said shamefully, as he got into the car. "Yeah, he sent me a text as soon as his shock wore off. Your dad isn't doing so well, since you asked." "I didn't," Charlie replied. "Clearly." Trevor never liked being "bad cop," but sometimes he had to be. "Have I ever been a dick to you, Charlie?" "What? No! Never." "Do you know why?" "Because you're awesome, and you don't go out of your way to hurt people." "No--well, yes---but no. I'm not a dick to you because I love you, I care about you, and I only want what's best for you--" "--I love you, too--" "--Boy, interrupt me again, I will pull this car over a whoop your ass, and don't think I'm playing." Charlie had never seen Trevor get mad and hoped to never see it again. "You have given me more than enough reason to hate you. You're a junky, a thief and a liar. I also know a whole lot more than you think I do." Trevor paused to let that last sentence sink it. "Your father is fucking in the head because of what happened to him. Yes, it isn't the same as what has happened to you, but some people aren't as strong as you. Some people can't cope seeing someone get their 'brains blown out' no matter how much they had it coming. What Justin did to you was vile and revolting, but so is what happened to Justin after Will got his hands on him. "The entire time you were missing, including when Justin kidnapped you, your dad and brother were worried sick. Your dad didn't just think of Brenda. He was far more concerned about you! Will told your dad to not look for you, because it was being taken care of. It still didn't stop him and Billy from looking all over the county for your ass. "Then, the last time you ran away, your dad felt so bad for how he talked to you, he started cutting himself. He was terrified that he drove you into the arms of another Justin. He demanded the meeting so he could see for himself that you were alive and well, because Will had him fucking in the head, with the blind trust bullshit. You, Ry, Ronda and Billy may not want to hear that but it's true! Your dad can't trust anyone, because your other "father figure" fucked with is head and in ways you're not ready to hear." Charlie had started to cry long before Trevor finished. He had felt guilty the second he walked out the door. He didn't know half of what Trevor was saying, though a part of him kinda did. It was odd that there was a conflict in Will's story about being in the hospital before his dad and brothers, though Will had sworn he wasn't. Trevor pulled over into a parking lot. He unbuckled his seat belt and turned towards Charlie. "You don't have to forgive your dad, though I think you should try. Brenda manipulated him in ways that Justin manipulated you. At the very least, you need to apologize to him. Do you know what empathy is?" Charlie shook his head. "Not really. "It's the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes, to see things from their point of view. You and your dad have a lot in common; a lot more than you think you do. Try seeing things from his side before you start judging him. You weren't the easiest kid to deal with after Justin, so imagine what it might be like for your dad. You have the advantage of youth to heal your wounds. Your dad isn't so lucky." "Can you take me to see him?" Charlie felt very small and insecure. "Not today. You've done a lot of damage and opened old wounds that took months and years to stitch up." "I'm really sorry," Charlie cried. "I know you are," Trevor said, pulling Charlie into a hug. "You need help and rehab will be a good start." Once Charlie was calmed down enough, Trevor drove Charlie home. ***Coming Soon, Chapter 18***