00 - Palm Springs Family - Prolog

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This story is the copyrighted property of the author, Keith.A 2022, all rights reserved, and no copying or posting to any other service, device or person, in any form, is permitted without the author's written consent. I am reachable at OOMMpsf@tenpct.com, short for OutOfMyMind.

THIS IS A WORK OF PURE FICTION, involving sensitive and controversial topics including loving consensual non-violent sexual acts between men with men, boys with boys, and boys with men in some cases. If this offends you, then you shouldn't read this story! If for any reason it's illegal or disturbing for you to read this material, then PLEASE DON'T.

This story will never involve abuse or cruelty, but this story does involve boys that have been deeply hurt by the loss of their loved ones and uncertainty about their lives and futures. It will be a slow, sometimes teary, beginning and a deep dive into their hopes and their fears, especially in the beginning.

This story is, at heart, a sappy sometimes teary love story... between all these people. But, what I originally saw as being a minimal-sex, "Coming of Age" story has turned into something that I totally didn't imagine... and certainly never imagined writing.

There is surprisingly way more sex... and surprisingly imaginative sex at that. Youthful exuberance? Sorry?

I had no intentions of ever writing a story involving kinky sex, and certainly never a story involving sex between minors and adults... and for that I honestly apologize. It seems the boys do have their own story to figure out... and tell.

What follows is fiction! There are certainly some aspects of this story I would never condone in real life.

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Luke: Hello everyone, I'm a somewhat older Luke than you'll meet in the early part of our dad's story, and I'm here with my boyfriend, partner and soulmate Steve.

No kid ever expects to lose their parents and siblings and end up in some orphanage or group home. But we did. This is the story about our lives, or at least our lives after we're told that two gay men are coming to meet and possibly adopt us, and just as importantly, about our love for each other.

Steve: Hi everyone, I'm Steve... Luke's boyfriend, lover, partner and soulmate.

When I was brought to the group home where we met and fell in love, I was pretty broken. I'd been in a car wreck where my parents and little sister were killed... which I witnessed, and had horrible memories and nightmares about for a long time.

Luke: If you are or were ever a boy living with a mom and dad and maybe a sister who were killed, try to imagine what you'd think if you know you're gay, in a group home and suddenly are told that two gay men want to talk to you about being their sons. We honestly didn't know what to think.

Steve: We were old enough to know we're gay. We were old enough when we lost our parents and sister to know that being gay isn't considered `normal' by a lot of people. We were old enough to know that the normal parental reaction to sex is to yell and scream and forbid it.

Luke: But neither of us had any idea of what it would mean to live with two gay dads and Michael in a family where being gay is perfectly normal, and in a home where sex isn't considered dirty or immoral.

Steve: I had a pretty good middle-class upbringing and life... until suddenly I had none. Luckily Mr. Frank, the owner and director of the group home for boys where I was taken, was wise enough and kind enough to put me in a room with the most incredible loving good-hearted person I've ever known... Luke. He's also sexy as hell, but that's beside the point... for now. He literally saved me.

After my family was killed I wanted nothing except to curl up in a ball and die. Luke would hold me for hours and just let me cry. He slept with me, fully clothed, for many nights... just holding me while I cried myself to sleep... or tried. But he never gave up on me. He's the only reason I'm here today.

Luke: I loved Steve as soon as I saw him, and saw how hurt he was. I knew I had to do everything I could to `save' Steve, because it was the only way I could save myself. This is the story of our journey from the group home, and it was actually an amazingly caring group home, to being adopted by the three most amazing, loving men we've ever known, or could imagine... who just happen to be gay.

It's also a story about how our... and especially my... expectations were in conflict with how life would be in a home where `gay' is normal, and not ever anything to be ashamed or guilty about.

And it's certainly a love story about us and our dads and Michael and others, who you will meet soon enough.

Steve: Luke's right, this is a love story about us, Luke and I... our dads, Michael and a few others, but we won't spoil the story for you. We have all lost so much in our lives, and this is about us trying to have a normal life... again. And about how losing our parents and sister affected us in ways we never imagined... it's always there, in the backs of our minds. And about how our expectations collide with our new reality.

Luke: And we'll admit, our reactions to that kind of liberating freedom were... complicated. It made us spend a lot of teary time questioning pretty much everything, at least in the beginning. But, it never made us question our love for each other.

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Friday, June 15 - About 1PM

In a Chartered Plane near Stafford, NH

I was suddenly brought out of my brain fog... or whatever it was. Happily lost in `denial' maybe. Could make a bad pun, but hardly the time or place.

"Good afternoon gentlemen... This is the captain. We have begun our descent into Strafford, New Hampshire. The weather is clear, 72 degrees Fahrenheit, 22 degrees Celsius, slight breeze from the East. Looks like a very nice New England day. The local time is 1:05 PM. We expect to have you safely on the ground in about 30 minutes. Thank you for flying with us today. Steward, please prepare for landing."

Looking at the faces of my two traveling companions, you would never know this is something we had decided we wanted to do over two years ago, and had seriously planned for over the last year or so. And we are really excited to finally be at this point. Or at least, we all SAY we are... excited!

I think at this moment each of us is having one of those `WTF were we thinking' moments. I'm personally wondering if this will be the biggest mistake of my life. Of our lives. What will it do to our relationship? What will it do to `us'? Can we really do this and not regret it? And what about the others who will be involved? The ones whose future will depend on us. Are our `good intentions' enough to risk this? To risk this being a disaster for THEM? Damn this is hard!

Alex and I look up at each other. He looks more concerned, and unhappy, at the moment than I've seen him over most things over the years. We've been together about 12 years at this point. We met our last week of college. Michael has been with us about 6 years at this point. Alex and I are both thirty-four years old, and Michael is 24.

We knew it was something we wanted to do. Something that we honestly need to do.

Truth be told, I pushed for it a lot more than Alex or Michael. But that's the way Alex is, and Michael too.

Alex is about a million times more laid-back and rational about things than I am. He never loses his patience, or raises his voice about anything. Even me! If he ever takes exception to something, it's usually about something stupid that I've lost my patience over. And it's usually to tell me to `calm down'. Nicely. Calmly. That's just the way he is.

This is going to be BAD!

Michael looks deep in thought and a little less ready to freak out than Alex or I am... Kevin. I'm Kevin. That's not surprising because Michael ultimately can choose to walk away if he wishes, although he would be giving up a lot if he did. And so would we... if he does. If we actually go through with this, we can't just walk away! Ever!

Michael hesitates a moment, looking more than a little distracted, then unbuckles his seatbelt and starts moving around the small cabin to pick up cups and glasses and magazines. At least he has something to do to help get his mind off of the situation.

Alex & I stow our iPads. We both chug the last of our vodka tonic. We only had two on this last leg of the trip, a little liquid courage. It wasn't nearly enough.

I turn back to the window trying to remember exactly how happy and excited I really am... and why. I AM excited. I AM happy. And when I imagine our futures, I always see amazing things. But, at the moment, I would say the best description of our future is `Who The Fuck knows'.

I think about my own fucked up beginnings - my totally dysfunctional family, how poor we were, and certainly how lacking my own life was when it came to money and relationships with my family. I think about how incredibly unlikely it is that I, or we, would ever be in this position.

I don't think my interest in this is because of my messed up family or childhood. But, if it's not related to that, then I have no explanation of why it's always been something I've wanted to do.

And honestly, I certainly didn't escape my own upbringing unscathed. I just hope it's not so much damage that it will doom this. But, this story is not about our past... It's about our future... All of our futures.

And while it's easy to say it's something I/we wanted to do, the truth is - it wasn't that simple. There was a lot of pushback. There was a lot of self-doubt. Obviously still is.

I honestly talked myself out of even considering this for years. Many years! I avoided any possibility of ever being in a position where I could be accused of anything improper with any child. I would never be alone with a child... for my entire adult life up to this point. It was something that I was never willing to even risk... not because I'm a pedophile, I'm definitely not. It was always a fear of being accused of something I didn't do. Being around `kids' was something that I was always afraid to do, and now that we're doing it... I'm terrified!

You see, we're on the way to Green Path Group Home to take the final steps to become parents. Assuming it goes well - Dads... Gay Dads. Or Alex and I at least will be - Michael's role is still a little bit unclear at the moment. But not even Michael will escape the fallout if this goes badly.

Fuck!

Oh, and note to self! Gotta clean up my language... even if it's only in my head... most of the time.

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Friday, June 15 1:20PM

After minutes lost somewhere in my thoughts, I look down at the pile of papers on my lap...

How can two boys' lives possibly be explained in a few sheets of paper and several bad photos of them. How can anyone hope to capture the fears and hopes of a child in just a few words on a page. Ripped out of the only home they'd ever known. Shoved into `the system' like a piece of meat. Hell, treated like a piece of meat... not like a child that's scared shitless about what's going to happen to them.

That's kinda like a flashback to my own life, but at least I was `shoved' to a grandmother that loved me with all her heart, and who was willing to sacrifice everything she had for my future. And although she had almost nothing to give, she gave it all.

And at least neither of my parents ever succeeded in actually killing the other one, despite many drunken efforts to do so... unlike Luke's father.

What must these boys be thinking? We know they were told we're coming to talk to them. Get to know them. See if they `fit' into our lives... and seeing if we `fit' for them. I know Mr. Frank, the facility owner, has told them we're gay.

Even though we know they're boyfriends, what must they be thinking? Are they thinking these two gay men are coming to... what... see if they're `cute' enough... oh damn. What must they think?

And they are cute... very cute, although at the moment that's the farthest from any of our minds... Luke is a tall blond who loves being outdoors, and it shows in his tall muscular build. At least we think so, based on a couple bad pictures. Steve is a little less muscular, but a very nice looking boy... a big contrast to Luke, as he is tall also, but has dark hair and eyes. He looks a little like Michael actually.

And this whole `interview' thing sucks. It seems like some horror segment from `Game of Thrones' or something... I couldn't stand to watch any of that, but the whole idea of lining kids up to have their fates decided... to see if someone would take pity on them... would rescue them... would get them `out' of where they are... would give them at least a chance at life... and family.

This sucks!

But what's the alternative? Give up? Go Home? Do nothing?

Going home would be easier... damn would it be easier. Just reading the stories of these two boys makes me break down in tears... All three of us.

This is not going to be easy!

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Friday Afternoon About 1:30 PM

Green Path Group Home

Luke and Steve are lying out in the grass in the area bordering a lake on the group home property. Steve's lying sideways, with his head on Luke's lap.

They've already done the whole `coming out' thing, here and at school. They're tired of acting like they aren't boyfriends. And, despite their worries it's gone pretty well... There are a couple assholes at school who still harass them some, but nothing too bad. Just some name calling so far. And their actual friends at school act like it makes no difference. As it shouldn't. And everybody in the Group Home has been great... including Mr. Frank and JoAnne, the owners.

There's a big friendly resident black dog, `Moose', lying next to them - rolled over on his back with Luke mindlessly rubbing his stomach with one hand, and gently rubbing Steve's stomach with the other. Sometimes he moves his hand and runs it thru Steve's beautiful dark brown hair... while looking into his big brown eyes... and trying to think of something to say to make all this better... easier. And trying really hard not to cry... anymore.

There's a rowboat here also, but today nobody really feels like rowing anywhere. Normally they love to row across the little lake to their favorite tree... and just hang out and enjoy the natural beauty and quiet.

Hearing their names being called, they both sit up and turn around to see Diego and Daniel coming toward them.

Even though they're about ten months younger than Luke and Steve, normally the site of the two gorgeous Latino twins would certainly bring a smile to their faces... and calm their nerves... although other body parts would sometimes experience a very different reaction. But they're both careful to never let the younger boys know that that happens.

And even though Daniel and Diego know Luke and Steve are gay and boyfriends, they have their own reasons for not discussing the issue too much.

Nobody looks happy! It all feels wrong. It feels fucked up. It feels scary. It feels like a disaster. What are we going to do? Run away? That wouldn't help and they know it.

Luke after all is here because he had `run away' from home, and gotten caught. Gawd what a mess that had been... and Luke had been seriously molested and hurt at the group home he was first taken to. But at least now his worthless and dangerous `father' isn't a problem anymore. Thanks to the cops shooting him, after HE killed Luke's mother.

Steve had had it better... until his parents and little sister were killed in a car accident. His parents had been well-enough off, but with no relatives who would even consider taking him in, he's here too. He went instantly from a good middle-class life... to none. Stuck here.

Steve arrived a couple months later than Luke. He was traumatized... from the loss of his parents and sister, and having terrifying memories and dreams of the accident, remembering his sister's face as the car crash killed her and their parents.

Mr. Frank had put him in the same room with Luke... He knew that Steve would need companionship and friendship and that Luke would provide it. The only thing that saved his sanity and his life is that Luke has been amazing. He immediately befriended him, which wasn't easy, since all Steve did was curl up in bed, cry and want to die.

Luke cared for him. He held him. He let him cry... sometimes long into the night, the entire time snuggled up against him, fully clothed. Trying to comfort him. But NEVER doing anything inappropriate... He never pushed. He never initiated anything.

He had fallen in love with Steve the first time he looked deeply into his amazing sad bottomless eyes, but he knew that Steve had too many other things to deal with in the beginning.

Their first kiss was initiated by Steve... not Luke.

Thanks to Luke never giving up, Steve has slowly recovered. He has slowly decided that Luke makes living worthwhile again. And it didn't take either of them long to come to the realization that there was something else incredible happening between them.

Steve had pretty much decided about a year earlier that he likes boys much more than girls, as had Luke, but... now what? Will they be separated? Will they ever see each other again?

They know from Mr. Frank that the two men coming to meet them say they want to adopt both of them... but will they? Will they change their mind? Will they look at the two boys and not like them? Will they still want them? What happens if they only want one of them? What happens if the boys don't like the men coming?

They want to be excited and hope this will work out, but are scared to death that it won't.

"I will NOT leave Luke! I will NOT! No matter what," Steve thinks to himself, while trying NOT to break down crying... again.

The twins, Diego and Daniel, have had it worse in many ways. Their lives have never been close to easy. Although they were both born in the US, their parents had not been. They had been `undocumented immigrants', which meant they were always on the run. Always trying to stay so far below the radar that they would never be caught. That was certainly not a good life for any of them.

They never had anything much. Staying in school was never easy. They're behind. They never knew when they would have to try to get away in the middle of the night, depending on what immigration was doing in the area. They only had things they absolutely had to have... nothing too big to take with them when they had to move with zero notice.

They had not even gotten much of an explanation of what happened to their parents. Only that they were `gone' and wouldn't be coming back.

It had been a horrible, terrifying ordeal for all the boys when they each found out they were officially orphans. Being literally pushed around by angry overworked adults who just told them to pack what little they have in garbage bags and keep moving.

Nobody was friendly in the least. Nobody really answered any of the questions they had - like what was going to happen to them. All their belongings aren't many. It all felt horrible and overwhelming and like the end of their world.

It was. Their world would never be the same again.

As much as Luke and Steve are terrified of being split up, the twins are absolutely horrified at that prospect.

The twins are close. They're very close... much closer than just brothers... closer even than a lot of twins. And now they're probably going to lose Luke and Steve... forever.

Luke had told them somebody is coming to talk to them about possibly being adopted. Damn! They have gotten very close during their almost seven months together. Diego and Daniel are trying very hard to be excited for them. It isn't a done deal yet, but the two people coming are seriously considering adopting both of the boys, so at least THEY will be able to be together. Maybe.

The people coming even know Luke and Steve are gay and boyfriends, according to them. But the weird thing is - it's two MEN! Two gay men! Thinking about adopting the two boys... that's just weird.

Diego and Daniel come over holding hands and plop down on the ground beside Moose and Luke. They figure they can get away with holding hands around the place... they're twins and everybody here knows things have been hard for them. It's been hard for all the boys here, of course.

They stare at each other for a long few seconds. Nobody dares to say anything. They've all been crying on and off for the past couple days... since `the news' had been shared. Damn. This is almost as hard as losing their parents.

Things just never STOP. Things are always changing... it's SOOOOO exhausting.

They all happen to look up as they hear a small plane come over... it's low enough that it must be landing nearby. That's not really unusual. There's apparently a small airport near town that small planes use, not that any of them have ever seen it.

Had the boys known it at the time they would certainly have paid more attention to the plane that's bringing the people that will ultimately change their lives... beyond all recognition.

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- Barring unforeseen circumstances I intend to bring this story to a conclusion. I hope to post a new chapter about every week, assuming that's not too often for The Archiver at Nifty.

- Full Disclosure: The original idea for this story came from a story I read and loved on Nifty that hasn't been updated since NOV 2021. I started wondering what would happen to two gay boyfriends in a group home, scared to death that they'll be separated at any moment, who find out that two gay men are coming to talk to them about being adopted. A little of two of the boys' background and situation in a group home are borrowed from the other story, but otherwise this story has no connection to that or any other story, nor is it intended to be a continuation of that story in any way.

Thanks and I hope you enjoy

Keith

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Next: 01 - Palm Springs Family - The Meeting