Chapter 4

Copyright / Disclaimer

Copyright 2001, Duke Price

This story contains descriptions of sexual acts between boys of similar ages. If this is not to your tastes or is not legal in your locality, please leave now! The story and its associated characters are entirely fictional and any resemblance to people, living or otherwise, is purely coincidental. Please bare in mind when you read this, that this story takes place in the early 70's. That was a time before HIV/AIDS. If you are going to engage in sex, remember to please be safe!

Like every other author out in cyberland, I would love to hear what you think of my story. My email address is priceduke@netscape.net

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We were finally allowed to go into Dad's. After talking to Dad for a short while Dad said. "Jill you look exhausted. I want you and Paula to go home. Johnny will stay here and keep me company." Mom kissed him and then the two of them went home. I could tell that he was still a little drowsy from the IV conscious sedation that he had received during the heart cath. I sat down and thought I'd take a little nap, but dad had other ideas.

"Johnny!"

I jumped to my feet and said. "Yeah Dad!"

It's good to see ya! I'm still having pain but I guess Miky ruled out angina. He thinks I may have cholelithiasis. I hope they figure out what's causing my pain soon because I'm getting really bored with it! What time is it?"

"It's 10pm."

"Hey, you made good time getting here! You thought the old man was going to bite the big one?"

"Dad, they haven't determine whether or not you have much time left to live."

"Hehehehe, hohohoho!" Dad did a belly laugh. "Son…stop…you shouldn't make me laugh! I might pop something down in my groin."

"What, you might pop a bone?"

He looked away from me and sighed. "Son, it's good to see ya again! I've missed ya!" His bottom lip quivered.

"I've missed you too dad. Mom and Miky reminded me that I need to come home more often."

He frowned. "Watch those two! They're always plotting something and that THING usually includes me! They come up with damnedest things for me to do. For Christmas they got me a personal trainer at the health club! I think they are planning my early demise!"

I smiled at him.

"Miky visits us quite often since his parents died. I think he considers us his parents now. He looks after us and he's always asking about you. What the hell happened between you and him?"

"Dad, some people just go there separate ways."

"I think it's you that moved on to a life that excludes us." Looking irritated.

"I'm not sure now is good time to talk about this."

"When will it ever be the right time, son! I don't know how many more years I have left in me. There are things we need to talk about."

"Like what?"

"First off, why haven't you been coming to visit us? The last couple of years we've seen you only twice."

"It's because I've been so busy with work. I told mom that I feel like my life is one big blur. I can't keep up with my practice. I'm buried in paperwork."

"Oh! You'll be buried all right! You'll be 6 feet under if you keep that pace up!"

"Mom and I keep thinking that maybe something else is going on. We're not sure what it might be. Are you and Paula getting along?"

"We get along."

"You don't sound very convincing boy!" Dad sometimes reminds me Burl Ives. He's a big man with white hair and can be quite intimidating.

"I love Paula and I know she loves me."

"Yes, I can see the love in her eyes but I don't see the fire in your eyes. There's something missing. That's one fine looking woman!"

"I know Dad! Can we talk about something else?"

"Sure thing son! We'll talk about Miky. He's a good-looking young man and no wife! What's with that anyway! A nice man like that should have a wife!"

"I don't know Dad, you'd have to ask him."

"Bull! I think he loves YOU! I've seen it in his eyes since you were boys! It's the only explanation! I'm always walking in on him and Jill talking and I hear your name. What really makes me angry is that they quit talking when I enter the room! What do they think I am…STUPID!"

"DAD,dad! What I think is that versed has made you loony tunes!" I said chuckling.

"Yeah and I hope I don't remember this conversation! I'm not kidding John! I'm serious about him! A long time ago I once overheard your Grandpa talking to Grandma about you two being an item. I made them think that I didn't hear them." I was beginning to shake inside as he insisted on continuing this conversation. God I hope he doesn't remember any of this. For those of you who are not in the medical field, Versed is used for IV conscious sedation and has an amnesiac effect. It sometimes takes a while to wear off.

"So tell me. Is it true? Were you two an item?"

"Dad I can't believe we are having this conversation and if it were true…I wouldn't be telling you!"

"You're not denying it! It must be true!"

"I think I'm going to ask your doctor to examine your head while you are here! I think you are exhibiting signs of organic brain syndrome! I'm going to leave so you can get some rest."

"No! Don't go! I'm sorry! I shouldn't pry into your private life! I only want you to be happy!"

"Dad, what the hell brought this up?" For once he was quiet and I thought he was going to go to sleep when his eyes appeared to get heavy.

Then all of a sudden his eyes popped open and said. "I found a letter a few days ago when I was trying to fix your old dresser drawer. I found it taped under your dresser drawer." My blood went cold! My legs felt weak and I sat down in the chair.

"Johnny, it was a letter from Miky proclaiming his love for you and I'm not talking brotherly love. So were you lovers?"

I couldn't reply. I just sat there dumbfounded.

"Thinking back, you two were inseparable. You were always goo goo eyeing each other. I thought you two were just being goofy, but after reading that letter and putting two and two together…it all adds up."

I sat there staring into space thinking...I can't believe this shit is happening. "OK Dad! You want the truth! Your suspicions are correct! WE WERE LOVERS!"

"Hey, what's all of the yelling about! I turned to see Michael peaking through the door with a look of concern in his eyes.

I looked at Dad and then back at Michael and said. "Ask him!" Michael moved to the side as I stormed out the door.

"John! John!" I could hear Michael calling me. I didn't look back and just kept walking.

I ran to my car only to remember that Paula had the keys. "Damn it!" I yelled.

I turned to head back to find a phone only to be gazing into the most beautiful eyes I had ever seen but quickly looked down at the pavement.

"John, what's wrong?" Looking very worried.

"Didn't you ask Dad?"

"No! He's asleep!"

I rested up against the car with my arms folded as the tears started rolling down my face.

"John please tell me what's wrong. Is it something serious?" He said with concern in his voice. He put his hand on my shoulder and I shrugged it off. So he just stood there and looked at me.

"Paula has the keys to the car! Can you give me a lift?"

"I'd love to!"

As we were driving to my parent's home I blurted out. "He knows!"

"Knows? Knows what?"

"Dad knows about us!"

"SHIT!" Michael slammed his foot on the brakes as car came to a screeching halt. "HE KNOWS ABOUT US?"

By this time I was rocking my self in the car trying to find comfort any way I could. We sat there stopped in the road not saying anything. Michael was staring out the window with a shocked look on his face.

"How did he find out?"

"He found your old love letter that was taped under my dresser drawer."

He slowly smiled and said. "You kept it?"

"God damn it! Did you hear what I said? Dad found the letter!"

"You kept my letter." Hmm! He didn't lose the grin and looked as if he was reminiscing the past.

"Michael! Do you understand the gravity of this! They know! Well at least Dad knows. He didn't say if Mom knows."

"Oh…I understand. I can't believe you kept my letter!"

"Yeah well get over it! I would never have gotten rid of…" I didn't finish my sentence.

"GO ON!"

Getting frustrated. "I would never throw away a letter that means so much to me! You were proclaiming your love to me. It was…well…it was beautiful!"

Michael started driving again. Finally he pulled into a driveway. I looked around. "This is my place."

"Wow! Nice!"

Looking sad. "Well…when you don't have a family you can afford a home like this." Come on! Let's go in!" With some reservation, I got out of the car and followed him to the door.

The house was a huge brick home. We walked into the house and he turned on the lights. The floors were made of white marble and they reflected the light that was streaming down from the chandeliers over head.

"Let me take your coat." I walked over to look at a huge painting that looked familiar. "Make yourself comfortable!" He yelled as walked into the other room. "Care for a drink?"

"Sure!" I stood there mesmerized by this work of art.

"Look familiar?" I jumped! Damn! Do you always do that?" I turned to him and he handed me a vodka gimlet. "You remembered!" That was my favorite drink. My hand touched his and it made me quiver. I turned back to the painting getting lost in it.

"I remember this picture! It's a replica of my grandmother's photograph of you and me lying side by side in a wheat field." We both were shirtless with bib overalls on. I had my hands behind my head with one leg crossed over the other. We were both bare foot with big grins on our faces. I had a sprig wheat in the corner of my mouth looking up into the sky and Michael was looking at me. Photography was one of grandmas' favorite hobbies and she used to like to take photos of the two of us.

"It's beautiful Michael! Those were good times!" I turned to look at him and he had a tear coming down one side of his cheek.

"What's the matter Michael?"

"Oh nothing!" As he walked to a photograph next to the sofa. He picked it up. It was a photo of him and I. I had just graduated from high school and I was in my cap and gown. I was holding on to my cap to keep the wind from blowing it away. Michael had his arm around me and we were smiling at the camera looking triumphant. I was finally out of high school!

"I should have never have left you behind at the university! I was so excited to start my practice in Boston that I didn't think of what might happen! I should have known that you would get lonely!" He put the picture down and sat on the sofa.

"I've gone over this a million times in my head. I finally came to the conclusion that it was for the best. It would have been selfish of me to have prevented you from having a wife and children. I always knew that that was something you wanted. I couldn't and I won't stand in the way of that." He was sniffling and the tears were coming down his cheeks. I knelt next to him and put my hand on his shoulder as he sniffled. I began to weep and I placed my forehead on his shoulder. He put his hand on the back of my neck.

Michael's shirt was saturated with my tears and we stayed like that for quite some time.

I pulled away from Michael and lifted his chin gently with my hand. His puffy blood shot eyes told the story. I had hurt him deeply. "Michael I am so sorry…"

"SHhhhh! Don't say it. It wasn't meant to be…you and I. I need to get you back home. It's getting very late and Paula must be getting worried." I looked at my watch. It's 2 am!

"You're right! I need to get back!"

Michael stopped the car in front of my parent's home and I said. "It was great seeing you again! Thanks for the ride!"

"John?"

"Yeah?"

"Take care buddy! Come visit on better circumstances. We…I miss you!"

"I miss you too Michael!" I shut the car door and ran into the house. Something told me that he hadn't left and I peered out the window. My gut feeling was correct he hadn't driven off. What the heck is he doing out there? After a few minutes had passed Michael finally drove away. I went into my bedroom to find Paula fast asleep. I carefully crawled into bed and laid awake wondering what life would have been like with Michael.

The following day the three of us went back to the hospital and they were preparing Dad for a endoscopic cholecystectomy. "Hi Dad! So they found gallstones?"

"Yeah, I guess I'll be around a few more years to chase your mom around the house."

"Well good for you Dad. Sorry Mom!

"Dad why do have to embarrass me in front of the kids!"

"Hell! They're adults now! I can say what ever I want to say!" I was laughing and Paula's face was a bright pink.

After Dad got out of recovery we said our good byes and hopped on the plane.

Paula was still giving me the silent treatment. Finally she said. "What the hell is going on? I don't know how to read you John! Are you ever going to tell me about your relationship with Miky?"

"What?"

"Don't play dumb with me. I can always tell when you are trying to hide something and when I saw the two of you together, I could see it written all over your face! You were uncomfortable as hell with me seeing the both of you together. Especially when he was hugging you!"

"Paula, don't ask for something that you don't want to hear."

"Oh…I want to hear everything! If we are to survive as a couple we can't be hiding things from each other! I need to know what's going through your head! I need to know where I stand and if you want to continue to be married you will tell me!"

I turned the autopilot on, took a deep breath and sat back in my seat.

"You want to hear everything. Hmm. I guess that's only fair. OK…I'll tell you everything. I was in the 5^th grade when I met Michael….

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