A New Life for Jordan ch 27

A New Life for Jordan

By: Rob Warr

An 'ah ha' moment

Chapter Twenty Seven

On a rainy Tuesday evening at a truck stop in the Panhandle of Oklahoma, John Cramer sat in a booth eating his chicken fried steak and watching the other patrons come and go. Some he recognized as fellow truckers, but there were a few families dispersed here and there, and the occasional loner that defied categorizing.

One of the latter was a young man who appeared to be in his late teens or early twenties, but no older. He had long dark hair and a brooding look, wore disheveled clothing, and carried an Army green backpack, which he seemed to be keeping a watchful eye on.

He'd ordered the $4.99 cheeseburger special, John noted, for he too had ordered that menu choice a few times. The boy, (he couldn't help but think of him as a boy) ate slowly and laid his burger down between each bite, as if he were trying to make the meal last as long as possible.

John knew his type, he'd seen a hundred other kids just like him over the years. Most likely a runaway or a drifter, fleeing something or heading toward it, it was all the same. They were all the same, but he couldn't help but feel a kinship toward his kind. The world was a hard place, and sometimes it took distancing yourself from your old life to figure out where you fit into the scheme of things.

He'd felt that need once, and when he was barely 18, he'd left the only home he'd ever known, and he and two other friends had gone on a cross country road trip. Unfortunately, they'd run out of money in Vegas and had to call their parents for help, and that ended their trip. Once their parents sent the money, they gassed up the car and drove back home.

Shortly afterwards, his two buddies had enlisted in the service, and John began helping his uncle who was an over-the-road driver. He'd fallen in love with trucking, and as soon as he was old enough to get his CDL, he went to work driving for his uncle. He continued to live at home and saved his money, and with that small nest egg, he'd bought his first truck, a small van. He'd ran hotshot deliveries all over the area and made enough money to buy a bigger truck, and so on and so on, till he'd finally bought his first big rig.

He smiled when he thought about how proud he'd been of that ten year old Mack truck, but best of all, was knowing that he'd bought it himself through his own hard work. Shortly after that, he'd met Brenda, and the rest, as they say, was history. They'd only dated a few months before he popped the question, and she'd said yes immediately. They were married that December in the little church her folks attended, and they began their life together.

He remembered how proud he'd been when Rusty was born, and he couldn't help but smile. Across the room, the long haired boy saw his smile and wondered if that smile was for him. Maybe the man wanted some company, he thought. Then he sighed, was he really that desperate this soon in the game? He turned to stare out the window then, at the rain and the darkness, and sighed. Anything beat being cold, wet, and hungry he supposed.

John noticed the boy was watching him now and he blushed, then his thoughts went back to his own son once again. He frowned thinking about how upset he'd been when he discovered Rusty's gay porn on his laptop, then the revelation that Rusty was gay. He knew he'd over-reacted, but damn it, it was just so hard to accept that his son was a pervert. He knew part of it was because of what had happened to him as a boy, but there was more to it than that. The Church said it was wrong, God said it was wrong, most people said it was wrong.

In a small town like Salina there were no secrets, and by now he figured every man, woman, and child in town knew his son's secret. And what was worse, his whole family would be disgraced. Fortunately, since he owned his own rig, he didn't have a boss to answer to, and so far he'd gotten no flack from the companies he dealt with.

He'd agreed to go to therapy, but so far he'd only managed to go to a couple sessions, but the one thing he'd discovered in those sessions was, that he was not alone. There were a lot of parents struggling with their son's or daughter's sexuality, and some had worse things to deal with than he did. For instance, the father who's 16 year old daughter had moved in with her 30 year old female lover and refused to come home until her father accepted that she was a lesbian. The guy had considered calling the police, but the girl threatened to tell the police that he'd molested her, and even though he said it was total bullshit, John wondered if there wasn't some truth in that, and perhaps the reason his daughter had turned out as she had.

It seemed all the parents had one thing in common, they all wondered where they'd gone wrong, and what they could have done differently to keep their kids from going so far astray. Even though the accepted answer to that was: nothing, and that most kids were just born that way, John supposed it would take some time for him and the others to come around to that way of thinking, if ever.

And then there was Warren to consider. At first he'd worried that Rusty might be doing things with his little brother, but after talking with both of them, he was pretty sure that hadn't happened. Still, he worried about what Warren might think about all this, and knowing how close he and Rusty were, that he might take his side, and perhaps be influenced to lean that way sexually just as support for his brother.

Of course, the therapists said that was nonsense, that either Warren was straight or gay, and no amount of influence could change that, but John still worried. He knew he wasn't helping the situation any by staying away, but he just needed time to think, and time to figure out what to do and what to say. When he was home, he tried to be pleasant to the boy, and had even relaxed some of the rules he'd laid down, but he still felt uncomfortable around his oldest son, and thus the long runs.

He suspected that Rusty had a boyfriend, this boy named Nate, but he wasn't about to ask any questions about that situation. What little he knew was courtesy of his wife, and he didn't question her either. Sometimes he missed his old life, especially his wife, but until he could figure this thing with Rusty out, he felt staying away was the best course of action.

Suddenly, John's thoughts were interrupted by the waitress, Trudy, who John knew from past visits.

"You gonna want some dessert hon?" Trudy asked, snapping her gum as usual.

"Only if there's some of that delicious apple pie left," John said, giving the waitress his best smile.

"I think I can rustle up a piece, just for you," she said winking, and being her usual flirtatious self.

"Hey, Trudy...I was wondering," John said, suddenly wondering what the hell he was doing, but continuing anyway, "that kid over there...with the dark hair...what's his story?" John knew if anyone would know it would be Trudy, who made it a point of knowing everything about everyone that she came into contact with.

"Poor thing, barely had enough for his hamburger. I actually spotted him a quarter, and I had Mel throw in a few more fries. Says he's from Texas, headed to Tulsa. My guess is he's running away from something or someone."

"Thanks Trudy," John said, wishing he'd kept his mouth shut, "Hey, one more thing..."

The boy looked up when Trudy brought the huge slice of apple pie with a scoop of ice cream on it to his table, and when she explained that someone else had paid for it, he looked around to see who that person might have been.

He glanced toward the guy he'd caught smiling earlier, but he seemed to be in a world of his own, gazing out the window and paying him no attention. Still, he couldn't help but notice that he too had a piece of pie ala mode on his table, and that was enough to confirm his suspicions.

He wanted to thank the guy, but if the guy really wanted to be anonymous like the waitress had said, then he supposed he should just be grateful for the food and keep quiet. The pie was delicious, and he hadn't had ice cream in a long time. Even on a cold rainy day like this, ice cream was a welcome treat.

He ate the dessert slowly, taking a sip or two of the soft drink that had come with the cheeseburger special, and tried not to think about what came next. It was too dark and too wet to attempt hitchhiking, but he knew he couldn't stay at the truck stop much longer before someone noticed him and ran him off.

He'd already taken advantage of the free showers for truckers and put on his last change of clothes, so at least he didn't stink. But going out in the rain again would ruin that, he thought miserably. He glanced out the window once again, and suddenly he felt as if the entire weight of the world was upon his shoulders.

John had been covertly watching the boy for the last few minutes as he slowly ate his pie and contemplated what, if anything to do about the boy. He didn't often take on riders, but it wasn't like it was illegal, and he certainly didn't have any sinister motive for contemplating it. He knew some of his fellow truckers often picked up young hitch hikers, boys or girls, and offered them money or a ride for sexual favors, but he considered that sick and immoral and tried not to think about it.

Still, if someone saw him giving this kid a ride, they might think the same thing about him, and that gave him pause. But...after all, we're going in the same direction, John thought. I'm heading out tomorrow morning and going straight through to Tulsa, then home, why not give the kid a lift? He thought he could use the company, and the miles would go by much faster with someone to talk to. Of course, the kid might turn him down, fearing he was one of those predatory truckers, but he still felt he had to try.

The kid had just finished his pie and was considering his next move when he noticed the guy across the room motion the waitress over. She came over with his check, and he paid in cash, then handed her some money and she touched his shoulder and was all smiles as she thanked him and walked away.

Immediately, the man got up, but instead of heading to the exit, he walked over to the boy's booth and slid in across from him. The boy didn't know what to do or say at first, but he finally decided politeness was always the best course of action.

"Uh, hi...thanks for the pie," the boy said in a voice deep enough to satisfy John that he wasn't just a kid.

"Guess that was pretty obvious, huh?" John laughed, "I can't stand to see anyone go hungry. I know what hunger feels like," he added, then looked out across the dining room, trying to decide how best to go on.

The kid didn't know how to react to John's speech, so he just kept quiet, hoping the man would go on, or explain himself without his prompting him to do so.

"I hear you're headed to Tulsa, that right?"

"Yes sir," the boy said, a little surprised that he knew that already.

"Trudy told me," John chuckled, "ain't much that gal don't know."

"Oh, yeah...she seems nice," the kid said, still clueless as to where this was headed.

"She's great, been coming here for years and she's the one constant. She always seats me at one of her tables and gives me the best service anyone could ask for. I'm just glad my wife don't know about her, not that anything is going on, but you know how women are?" John laughed.

"No sir, not really. I grew up with just me and my dad, so I never really had a woman around."

"But you must've dated a few, right?" John said, then immediately wished he could take those words back.

"Nah, not really," the kid said blushing, not bothering to explain further.

"Well, I guess you're wondering what I'm doing over here...bothering you and all..."

"It's okay," the kid said.

"I'm John, by the way, John Cramer," John said offering his hand to shake.

The boy clumsily took John's hand and they shook. John noticed the boy's hand was cold as ice, and looking him over, he noticed that he seemed to be trembling a little.

"Jed, my name is Jed," the kid said, not adding a last name.

"Well, Jed...as you've no doubt figured out, I'm a trucker, and it just so happens I'm headed to Tulsa tomorrow morning. And though I usually don't do this, I'd be willing to give you a ride to Tulsa."

"Oh, really?" Jed said, contemplating what that might mean, "You know I don't have any money, right?" Jed said then, feeling John out a bit.

"I figured," John chuckled, "but you don't look like you eat much. I reckon I can spot you breakfast tomorrow, maybe lunch, then we'll roll into Tulsa about dinner time. You got folks there, a place to go?"

"Sort of," Jed said, not elaborating.

"I know this is going to be a stupid question, but I gotta ask it anyway. Do you have a place to stay tonight?"

Jed almost laughed, of course he didn't have a place to stay, wasn't that obvious? Shaking his head, Jed kept his cool however, "No sir. I...I really don't know what I'm going to do."

"Well, I was just about to go across the lot there to the Motel 6. I can get a double room for the night instead of a single, and that problem is solved. But first, I need to know one more thing."

Oh no, here it comes, Jed thought, am I willing to put out as payment for the room, the food, and the ride?

"What's that John?" the boy said, ready to accept his fate if he must.

"How old are you?"

Jed relaxed a bit, but he still wasn't completely sure of John's motives for asking that question. Maybe he just wanted to make sure he was legal in case someone should decide to press the issue, or maybe he like em young and hoped Jed was still a young teen.

"Nineteen," Jed said without blinking.

"Oh yeah, what year were you born?"

"1999, wanna see my ID?" Jed said without missing a beat.

"Nah, I guess I can trust you."

"You won't get in trouble cause I'm a minor if that's what you're worried about," Jed said with a frown.

"One more question, you're not wanted by the cops anywhere are you?"

"No, nothing like that," Jed said evenly.

"Okay, well...what say we get out of here and go get us a room?"

Fortunately, the rain had let up for the moment, but they still found themselves dodging puddles on their way across the asphalt parking lot. The Motel 6 sat on the far edge of the parking lot, a two story structure with rooms featuring outside entrances.

John had stayed here a few times before over the years, and found it was a clean and reasonably priced establishment, which suited his limited needs just fine. However, this was his first time sharing a room with anyone, and he couldn't help but feel a bit anxious as he stepped up to the desk. Jed had chosen to remain a respectful distance behind him and was watching John with interest. Gone was the cock sure confident man who'd confronted him in the diner, and he wondered once again what the man's true intentions were.

"I'd like a room with two beds," John said once the desk clerk appeared from the back.

"Yes sir, how many nights will you be staying?" the young black man asked politely.

"Just one, I'm a trucker, headed to Tulsa tomorrow," he said, suddenly feeling the need to explain himself, something he'd never felt necessary before.

" All right sir, I'll just need an ID and a major credit card," the man said after typing in something on his computer.

The whole process was over quickly, and after thanking the desk clerk, John took the small envelope with the key cards inside and turned to see Jed watching him expectantly.

"Ready?" John asked stupidly, for lack of anything else to say.

"Yeah, um...when you are," Jed said nervously. Was this it, was he about to find out exactly what this man wanted from him?

Once outside, John was silent as he led Jed to the stairs and to the second floor walkway. Their room was #224, and near the end of the run. John used one of the cards to open the door, then held the door for Jed, who stepped in and looked around. Well, at least there really were two beds, he thought, but that didn't mean the man wouldn't want some sort of payment for the ride to Tulsa. Maybe the double beds were just for appearance, and he expected Jed to share his bed while he did...well...that was best not to think about.

John too had showered and changed at the truck stop and was ready to relax before bedtime. He switched on the TV and found a movie on HBO, then settled onto his bed and began watching it. Far from making Jed feel better, John's apparent disinterest in him only made him more anxious. When would he make his move? Was he just biding his time? Would he wait till lights out to make his true motives known?

"You okay?" John said, noting that Jed was still standing, looking a bit overwhelmed.

"Yeah...yeah...fine," Jed said, finally going over to sit on the bed.

"We gotta roll out pretty early, but I need to unwind a bit before I get some sleep."

"Oh, okay," Jed said, "what...um time will we be leaving?"

"I figured we'd have breakfast around 7, then head out right after, that suit you?"

"Yes sir, that's fine."

"Will you stop with the sir stuff?" John laughed, "You sound like my kids. Just call me John."

"Yes..si...uh, John. You, um have kids?"

"Yeah, two boys...Warren is 10, and my oldest, Rusty is...14, I reckon, almost 15."

"That's nice, and you said you have a wife...?"

"Yes, sweetest little woman you'd ever want to meet. Don't know why, or how she's put up with me all these years, but somehow she has."

"So, do you live in Tulsa, or just passing through?"

"I live near there. About an hour's drive, over on the lake. Town called Salina."

"I know the area," Jed said, near Grand Lake, right?"

"Yes, right on the lake. In fact, we can see the lake if you climb on the roof," John chuckled.

"Oh, that must be nice," Jed said gnawing on a fingernail.

"You seem kind of nervous," John chuckled, "you're not afraid of me are you?"

"No si...I mean, John. Just thinking about things, that's all."

"Hmm...okay, well if you're worried about my wanting more than just your companionship, you can rest easily. I'm not bent that way," he said looking serious.

"Oh, no...I...wasn't...well, I mean...maybe a little," Jed admitted.

"Look, Son. I'm 100% straight, and besides, I wouldn't cheat on my wife. Never have, never will, and let me tell you, there have been tons of opportunities. Trudy back there at the truck stop, for instance. She came on to me first time we met, but I finally managed to convince her I was true to my wife, and now we're just friends."

"That's nice, that you're faithful to your wife and all," Jed said, the relief in his voice quite obvious now.

"So, you can check me off your list of things to worry about and concentrate on what's really wrong in your life. And before you say anything, let me assure you I'm not gonna meddle in your affairs, I'm just gonna give you a ride, that's all. That doesn't mean I won't listen if you decide to share your woes, and I might even be able to offer some advice, but that's your call."

Jed nodded and finally stretched out on the bed still clothed, although he had removed his shoes and jacket earlier. For a few minutes he tried to watch the movie, but he found it hard to concentrate and his eyes just didn't seem to want to stay open. He finally gave up, and soon he was snoring softly.

John looked over at the boy and chuckled. In sleep his features were much softer, and John realized he was a good looking young man. He couldn't help but think about his own boys once again, then he sighed. But for the grace of God this could have been Rusty hitch-hiking across the country, and he might not have been lucky enough to pull a ride with a stranger who wasn't looking for more than a thank you for his help.

He loved his sons, that had never been a question, but he had just been so blind-sided by Rusty's being gay, that he hadn't been thinking straight. He regretted smashing his laptop, and worse, making him feel as if he had to leave home. He'd always been impulsive, but fortunately his wife was just the opposite, and soon talked him down from whatever ledge he'd climbed up on. But this time had been a bit different. She'd made it quite clear that if he didn't change his way of thinking and let Rusty come back home, she would take both boys and move in with her mother.

Though he doubted she would have made good her threat, it made him realize just how unreasonable he was being. Moving Rusty to the attic might have been a bit extreme, but he justified it by explaining that as a teenager Rusty needed more privacy.

His thoughts had consumed him for so long that he'd lost track of the movie, and finally decided to turn off the TV and get some sleep himself. Jed was still snoring softly atop the covers, and he considered waking him, suggesting he undress and get under the covers, but he finally decided to just let him be. After all, this was probably the most comfortable place he'd slept in a while.

John used the bathroom and stripped down to his underwear, then climbed into bed, and though it took a while for his mind to stop swirling around, he finally fell asleep. He dreamed of his wife that night, and when he awoke the next morning, he was reminded again just how much he missed her. He yawned as he threw his legs over the bed, noticing for the first time that Jed was missing. The noise of the toilet flushing soon explained his absence and by the time he returned John was fully dressed again.

"Morning," John said cheerfully. Well, as cheerfully as he could be before his first cup of coffee.

"Morning," Jed said trying not to stare at John's state of undress. For an old guy, he thought, he really has a nice body.

"Sleep okay?"

"Yeah, really good," Jed said, retrieving his shoes and sitting down on his bed to put them on.

"I'm gonna pee and get dressed and we'll grab some breakfast. Already fueled up yesterday, so we'll be good to go as soon as we eat."

Jed simply nodded, avoiding looking at John as he got up to walk the short distance to the bathroom, but at the last minute he raised his eyes and caught sight of John's retreating figure, and once again was taken with how nice his body was. What a butt, he thought, then blushed.

John regretted not bringing his shave kit and toothbrush, but decided he could grab it and make quick work of his beard and brush his teeth in the truck stop bathroom. He even had a spare toothbrush he could give Jed.

By the time the two reached the truck stop diner, the lot was booming with activity, and needless to say the diner itself was quite busy. They were lucky enough to inherit a booth by the front window as the diners who occupied it were just leaving. A young waitress named Brenda rushed over and bused the table, and John and Jed slipped in across from each other.

"The trucker's special is the way to go," John said, not bothering to look at the menu. It's two eggs, hash browns, bacon or sausage, and two flap jacks or biscuits and gravy."

"That's fine," Jed said, "whatever you're having is fine."

The waitress returned a few minutes later and John ordered for both, coffee for himself, and Jed had milk. Wasn't that just like a youngster, John chuckled to himself. Old enough to be a man, but still clinging to boyhood things.

The food came quickly, and they dug into it immediately, engaging in small talk, but nothing serious. The rain had stopped and the sun was out, and it promised to be a decent day for traveling. John was relieved, he hated driving in the rain, especially when he had to watch out for crazy drivers who had no idea how to drive on a slick road.

After breakfast, John shaved in the truck stop bathroom, and they both brushed their teeth before hitting the road. The morning rush had already begun, but the cars thinned out as they got further down the road, and John was able to maintain a good speed.

As they drove, John offered small talk but tried to steer clear of any sensitive subjects. At first Jed said little, concentrating on the road ahead and appearing to be deep in thought. But little by little he began to loosen up and join in the conversation.

"So...ever been to Oklahoma before?" John asked, thinking that was a safe enough question for now.

"Yeah, a few times. My uncle lives in Oklahoma," Jed said leaving it at that.

"Ah, is that where you're headed, your uncle's place?"

"Nah, he lives in Durant," Jed said, not explaining further.

"Ah, okay," John clucked.

There was silence for a while as John tried to figure out how to restart the conversation and perhaps learn something of value, but it was Jed who spoke first.

"I have friends in Tulsa," he said as if he suddenly felt the need to explain.

"Ah, okay. Nice city, we go there a lot...or used to," John said, then sighing remembering how much his two boys had enjoyed going to the big city.

"Why don't you go anymore?"

"What, oh...well...lately I've been working a lot..."

"It must be hard being away all the time," Jed said staring out the window.

"Yeah, but I keep busy..." John said, "it's the nights that are rough. During the day I'm busy driving and don't have much time to think about things, but it's those nights, laid over in some small town, that really get to me."

"I don't mind being alone myself," Jed said wistfully.

"Really? At your age I figured you'd have lots of friends and be having the time of your life."

"Nope, not me. Never had that many friends," then muttering under his breath he added, "my dad made sure of that."

John digested that a moment before commenting. This was getting dangerously close to his own situation with Rusty. Not that he ever tried to keep Rusty from having friends, but he could see some similarities in their situations. Then he suddenly had one of those "ah ha" moments. Was it possible that Jed was running away from the same sort of situation Rusty found himself in? He shivered for a moment, thinking about how things might have turned out with Rusty if he hadn't been lucky enough to run across those two boys at the campgrounds.

At first he'd resented the Kellys' interference, but at least he didn't have to deal with Rusty's situation for a while. Eventually, he'd actually felt grateful for the Kellys' help, but in time he realized it was his responsibility to care for his son and not leave it up to strangers, no matter how well-intentioned they were.

"So, I guess you and your dad...had a parting of ways?" John said at last, trying not to sound too intrusive.

"You could say that," Jed laughed sadly, "he died."

"Oh, I'm sorry," John said glancing at the boy, surprised by the cold look on his face.

"Don't be, he was a terrible person. No one cared when he died, not even his own mother."

"What about your mother?"

"Died when I was seven or eight, breast cancer. It happened fast. One day it seemed like she was fine, and a week later she was so sick she couldn't even stand up."

This time John did see sorrow in the boy's face, and it was obvious he'd loved his mother, even if he couldn't say the same for his father.

"So, you just decided to pick up and leave...after your dad died?"

"Yeah, didn't really have a choice. I had no money, no job, and the house was rented. I stayed till they kicked me out, then slept at friends' houses till they got tired of me freeloading."

"And that's how you wound up on the road, headed to Tulsa," John said, summing it all up.

"Yeah," Jed sighed, "shitty plan, huh?"

"Well, it worked out okay in the end...I guess," John laughed, "so far so good."

"Yeah, I guess," Jed said suddenly sounding tired.

"You can crawl in the back and stretch out if you'd like," John said, noting the boy's fatigue.

"Nah, I'm fine, but thanks. And thanks for the ride...and the food...and all."

John nodded, "You still think I have sinister motives?" he chuckled.

"What? No...well, maybe I did last night, but I was wrong. Sorry if I acted like I didn't trust you."

"You were right not to. Don't trust anyone, not till you get to know them. I'm not gonna lie, a lot of my fellow truckers go for that kind of stuff, and a young guy like you would be very popular. That's one reason I decided to give you a ride. I figured if I didn't, you might wind up that way."

"That way?" Oh...OH!" Jed blushed.

"Yeah, the road is a lonely place, and some guys are always looking for some company. That's why the lot lizards do so well," John chuckled.

"Lot lizards?" Jed said, not understanding the term.

"Guys and gals that roam the lots at truck stops offering their services for a fee," John chuckled, "some are young runaways, younger than you even, and it can be a dangerous place for them."

"I'd never..." Jed began, but the truth was, that's exactly what he'd intended to do if John had been so inclined.

"Never say never, sometimes even well-intentioned people wind up doing things out of desperation, but you were spared that...this time," John added with a chuckle.

"Thanks...for that too," Jed said managing a grin. Despite John's rough demeanor, Jed was finding the man easy to like. He was a no-nonsense kind of guy, a real man's man, and Jed wished his father had been half the man this one was.

But no, his dad had been a lazy, good for nothing drunk who beat Jed often as a boy. As Jed had gotten older and stronger, his dad had realized beating him was no longer an option, so he'd turned to verbal abuse.

Jed's solution to that problem was to stay gone as much as possible, and that was when he met Chet. Chet was older, Jed had just turned 16 and Chet was 19, but despite their age differences they'd gotten along well right from the beginning.

Chet had his own apartment, a second floor walk up downtown, and he worked at the hardware store just down the street. His grandpa actually owned the store, and Chet had been working there since he was old enough to reach over the counter. Chet loved the store and his grandpa, and even though he'd hoped to go to college and get a degree and a good job, somehow he'd wound up inheriting the store.

It didn't make him rich, but it paid the bills, and Chet chose to live a spartan lifestyle, which worked well, considering his situation. They met one day in April. Jed had been out wandering around as he often did, and just happened to notice the store. He couldn't recall ever seeing it before, and out of curiosity he went inside.

The moment he entered his whole life changed, for there behind the counter, wearing the widest friendliest smile, was the most beautiful boy/man he'd ever seen.

"Hello, welcome to Bridges Hardware," Chet said, looking the boy over and thinking pretty much along the same lines as Jed, that he'd never seen a more beautiful boy. Call it love at first sight, call it karma, or whatever, but after that first meeting the two became almost inseparable.

Chet's apartment was a home away from home for Jed, who spent as little time at his own home as possible these days. His dad was constantly after him to get a job, but with no car, little money, and a wardrobe that had seen better days, Jed found it hard to find one, despite applying all over town.

It was only when Chet offered him a job at the hardware store that Jed's life began to change for the better. It didn't pay much, but it was a start, and the bonus was, he got to spend more time with his crush, Chet. Of course, he couldn't tell Chet he had a major crush on him, and he had no hope that he would ever feel the same way about him, but just being near him was enough to make Jed happy.

Little did he know that Chet not only felt the same way about Jed, but that he had come out to his family when he was only 16, and had even had a boyfriend until recently. The boyfriend, Donny, had gone off to college, and they'd decided a long distance romance just wasn't fair to either of them. It had been hard at first, but the more time that passed, the more Chet realized they'd made the right decision. Then Jed came along, and bingo...he'd all but forgotten about his old flame.

It all came to a head one night when Jed showed up unexpectedly nursing a black eye and busted lip. At first Chet couldn't get Jed to tell him what happened, but eventually the story came out. In a drunken rage, his dad had attacked Jed while he slept, therefore getting the advantage, and before Jed could react, he'd gotten a black eye and busted lip. He'd been tempted to return the favor, blow for blow, but instead he packed what little stuff he had and went to the only person he thought might help him, Chet.

Chet welcomed him with open arms, literally, and hugged his friend tightly, treated his wounds, then put him in his bed. Jed was too tired and sore to resist, and was just starting to doze off when Chet climbed in beside him. Jed smiled and sighed contentedly, feeling as if a dream had come true. Here he was in bed with the boy he'd fallen so hard for, and if it took getting beat up to make that happen, he was glad for his dad's brutal assault.

That night they shared more than a bed. They shared their deepest darkest secrets, fears, and joys, and somewhere along the way, they found the courage to confess their true feelings for one another. That was the beginning of a new era of their relationship, and a happy one at that.

Unfortunately, the happiness didn't last. Though they genuinely cared for one another, after a while they began to realize that what they'd felt in the beginning was more of an infatuation than a fairy tale love story, and they began to drift apart.

Considering they were living in the same apartment, and sharing a bed, it was difficult to adjust, and eventually Jed decided to move back home. His dad had joined AA and was two weeks sober, and Jed promised to do everything in his power to help him succeed this time. They'd even formed a sort of awkward truce, and though they weren't as close as a father and son should be, they managed to coexist for a time.

Jed found a job at a fast food restaurant, and he seldom saw Chet after that. He'd heard that Chet had gotten back together with his ex, and though it still hurt a little, he wished them both well. Chet would always have a special place in his heart, for he had been his first. First love, first sex, and he'd lost his virginity to him.

Everything seemed to be going fine until a month or so ago. It began with is father falling off the wagon and getting stone cold drunk, and ended with his father crashing his old Ford pickup truck into a bridge. He'd died instantly, they said, but Jed doubted he was feeling much pain anyway, considering his blood alcohol level.

At first, Jed didn't know how to react. He supposed he really wasn't surprised that his father would go out that way, especially considering all the times he'd driven with him in the car, so drunk he could barely walk. He wanted to feel sad, to feel a loss, but try as hard as he might, the only emotion he could dredge up was disgust. Disgust the his father had wasted his life, drinking and hating, and then anger set in as he realized just how unfair it was that he'd never had the kind of father other kids had.

Fortunately, his father had the presence of mind to pre-pay for his cremation, so Jed didn't have to deal with any details or be out any expense. There was no wake, no funeral, and even though he'd notified what few living relatives they had, none had offered more than their somewhat insincere sounding condolences.

He'd scattered the ashes in the river where his father often fished for catfish, and returned home, ready to get on with the next chapter of his life. Then, he'd lost his job, through no fault of his own, and the rest was all downhill from there. He'd remained in the rental house till he'd finally been evicted, then packed up what little he could carry and hit the road. With no real destination in mind, he picked one at random, and started out for Tulsa.

**********************************

"Your dad, what did he die of?" John said, shaking Jed out of his thoughts.

"Stupidity," Jed said acidly, "he got drunk and drove his pickup into a bridge."

"Oh, I'm sorry," John said sincerely.

"Don't be, I'm not," Jed said sounding near tears.

"Come on, you must've had some feelings for him," John said, feeling he needed to explore this area some more.

"Maybe, once...when I was younger, but ever since...well...let's just say the last few years have been a living hell."

"I'm sorry for that then," John said, "my home life may not always be perfect, but I like to think we're a happy family, most of the time." Except when I act like a fool, he thought bitterly.

"Your kids are lucky then," Jed said, wiping at his eyes, then turning away and staring out the window.

There was an uncomfortable silence for a while, then John tried again.

"There really isn't anyone in Tulsa, is there?"

Jed turned to stare a John, trying to decide whether to keep up the charade or go with the truth. John was easy to talk to, and so far he hadn't been the least bit judgemental, but he wondered if that same would be true if he knew the whole truth.

"Not really, maybe," Jed said, not committing to more than that.

John chuckled, "Maybe? Are you looking for work?"

"Yeah," Jed said eying John curiously, "there weren't many opportunities back home. I thought maybe in a big city like Tulsa I could find a decent job."

"What kind of work have you done?" John asked, surprising Jed with this new line of questioning.

"Uh, well...I worked at a friend's hardware store for a couple years, then I worked at a fast food place...till I got fired for something I didn't even do."

"At the hardware store, did you unload trucks or move freight?"

"Yeah, once a week we got a truck and we unloaded it and put the stuff on the shelf. I actually liked that part of the job a lot. It was good exercise, and I didn't have to deal with the customers so much. I'm not really good with people, in case you haven't noticed."

"We have that in common," John chuckled, "that's why driving a truck is the perfect job for me. Sure, it gets lonely on the road sometimes, but I really love my job."

"It sounds great. Maybe I should learn to drive a truck," Jed said gnawing on a fingernail.

"You could start like I did," John said, formulating a plan in his head. One he hadn't even considered till this very minute.

"How's that?" Jed asked curiously.

"I started by helping my Uncle Jack load and unload his truck. Then when I got old enough I got my CDL and he let me drive for him. I saved my money and bought my own truck, a van actually, and began doing my own local deliveries. Eventually, I saved enough to buy a bigger truck, then a bigger one, and finally my first big rig. That was a while ago, but the great thing is...I did it all on my own. No one helped me, well except my uncle. I fell in love with the freedom over-the-road trucking gave me, and I've been pretty successful. This rig is my fifth truck since I began and it's only two years old."

"It's nice. So, you have that sleeper in the back. I was wondering, why did you rent a motel room last night?"

"Oh, well...sleeping in the truck is okay when there's no other alternative, but if there's a motel nearby, I always rent a room."

Jed nodded, not knowing what to say next.

"You know, to get a job you're gonna need a valid ID, and maybe even a birth certificate," John reminded him.

"Yeah, I know...I have all that...in a zip lock bag in my backpack to keep them dry," Jed said patting his backpack, which lay at his feet.

"And if someone was to do a background check, would they find anything bad? Any arrests, warrants, that kind of stuff?"

"No," Jed chuckled, "never even got a speeding ticket before, not that I ever drove that much."

John was quiet for a few more miles, then he sighed and began again, "What I was wondering was: would you be interested in coming to work for me?"

"What?" Jed said, his jaw dropping in shock, "you mean...driving a truck?"

"Well, no...not till you got your CDL, but you could help with loading and unloading. Most times the receiver does that, but occasionally I have to help, and having a second person would make the process go a lot faster. The faster I can get a load off the truck, and a new one on, the faster I can get back on the road."

"Why...why would you want to give me a job.? We just met," Jed said incredulously.

"Why not?" You look healthy enough, and strong enough, and you need a job. Only problem is: you might not like living in a small town like Salina, not that we'd spend that much time there. We'd be on the road anywhere from 3 to 5 days a week."

"I grew up in a small town, trust me, I'm used to small town life," Jed said easily, "But where would I stay?"

"Well, we can figure something out," John said, already formulating a plan in his mind.

"Are you sure about this?" Jed said, still shocked at such an offer.

"Look, I'm an easy-going, no-nonsense kind of guy. If you're interested I'm willing to give it a try. If it doesn't work out, I'll take you to Tulsa like you planned. How does that sound?"

"Can I think about it?" Jed said, his head swirling with thoughts.

"Of course, we still have a few hours till we reach Tulsa. I know that's not much time to make a decision like this, but it seems you don't have a lot of options at this point."

"Yeah, I guess not," Jed said looking out the window again.

Jed wondered again about John's motives, but so far the man had been nothing but honest and up front with him, and he'd found him easy to talk to. In fact, so easy to talk to, that several times Jed had even considered telling him everything. But he was almost sure that to do so would end any chance of John's helping him, in fact he might just stop the truck and kick him out. But then again, why did anyone need to know about that part of his life? If he liked girls he wouldn't feel the need to go around telling everyone, so why should he need to tell the world he liked boys? His sexuality didn't define him, he was more than that. He was a good person, a hard worker, honest, and decent. He sighed, did John or anyone else really need to know his secret? Someone had once told him that the only people who needed to know he was gay, were the guys he might be interested in dating. In the end, he decided John didn't need to know everything about him, anymore than he needed to know everything about John.

Despite having already made up his mind, Jed kept quiet until they stopped for lunch in Tulsa. At a large Denny's at a truck stop just off Highway 244, Jed fidgeted with his napkin as he sipped his soda and thought how best to begin, but it was John who spoke first.

"Any closer to making a decision, no pressure, but as soon as we're finished with lunch I want to head home, with or without you."

"Are you sure it will be okay with your family?" Jed said, worrying that maybe John hadn't thought things out any better than he had.

"Well, to say the least, but they will be surprised, but if you're worried you won't be welcome, well don't. Let me tell you a little story about my son Rusty..."

The food came and still John continued to tell the story of how he'd discovered gay porn on his oldest son's laptop and everything that had happened since. Jed had been eating slowly, mesmerized by John's voice and astonished that his story was so similar to Rusty's. Yeah, his dad hadn't exactly kicked him out, but he'd made his life a living hell once his secret was out, and right up till the day he'd died, they'd been at odds over Jed's being gay.

"I didn't react very well to the news that my son was...well, different," John said blushing.

"It sounds like you did the right thing though, in the end," Jed said, still reeling from this latest bit of news, "I mean, letting him come back home and all..."

John sighed, "I still have a long way to go, but I'm getting there. In fact, I'm actually looking forward to being home and seeing my family, including my son Rusty."

"What do you think they will think about, um...you know, me, and the job and all?"

"Well, they may be surprised, but I don't expect any problems. My wife understands that I run my business my way, and she's never questioned my decisions before. As far as the boys go, they're both easy going and friendly. I think you three will get along fine."

"Well...if you're sure, then...yeah...I'd like to give it a try. Anything beats sleeping under a bridge," Jed chuckled.

"Then I suggest we finish our breakfast and hit the road, in an hour we'll be pulling into the big town of Salina, Oklahoma, population 1400," John chuckled.

*****************************************

Approximately 60 miles away at Salina Middle School, Nate and Rusty were just finishing their lunch. After throwing away their trash and stowing their trays, they decided to go outside for a bit to get some fresh air.

"My dad is due back today," Rusty said suddenly, "I kinda been missing him, is that weird?"

"No, not at all. He's still your dad and I guess you love him, even if he does act like a jerk sometimes," Nate said grinning.

"Yeah, and Warren really misses him. I guess they were closer than I thought. I know mom is really happy he's coming home," Rusty added.

"Yeah, probably misses that good lovin'," Nate teased.

"Ugh, please. I don't need to be reminded what they do behind closed doors."

"Anymore than they want to know what you do behind closed doors," Nate said seriously, "you know, I think people worry about what other people do way too much. I mean, if you had a girlfriend instead of an awesome boyfriend, I'm sure your folks wouldn't want to hear about what you two have been up to."

"Awesome boyfriend?" Rusty chuckled, "Yeah, I guess I do have an awesome boyfriend."

"You get what I mean, right?" Nate said, not letting it go.

"Yeah, yeah...I get it," Rusty sighed, "I just wish you were gonna be there when he gets home though. I mean, I wish he knew about us and accepted us and...oh, I don't know what I mean," Rusty said, his face dissolving into a frown.

"Maybe someday, baby steps, remember?" Nate said, lifting Rusty's chin with a finger an gazing into his eyes.

"Yeah, baby steps," Rusty said, managing a smile at last.

They went back to class then, and after PE, they showered and got dressed, and Nate offered to walk Rusty home. Rusty eagerly agreed, but suggested that Nate split off at the end of the block rather than go all the way to his house.

They found Warren waiting out front of the elementary school, bubbling over with joy as usual, and even more so since he was looking forward to seeing his dad again. He chattered excitedly about his day at school, including his time with Jesse at lunch and recess, and listening to him helped to cheer Rusty up, or at least make him forget about his problems for the moment.

At the end of Rusty's block, Nate said goodbye to the two, and as soon as he was out of sight, Warren asked his brother why he hadn't come home with them.

"Well, he had to get to his dad's office, and...well, since dad is going to be home I thought it was best if we split up at the corner."

"Oh, yeah...I guess that makes sense," Warren said, troubled that Rusty had to keep Nate a secret from his dad. At least with him and Jesse, no one suspected that they were more than friends, and they didn't have to sneak around or worry about what others thought.

As they approached their house, they could see their dad's tractor, minus the trailer, parked out front, and Rusty's heart began to beat a little faster. Warren however, was happy to see his daddy was home, and began running toward the house, his cries of joy echoing through the neighborhood.

A few minutes later Rusty arrived, and walking in the door he was greeted by a surprise. Sitting at the table with his mom and dad was a young man that he'd never seen before. But the strangest thing of all was that Warren was parked on his dad's lap as if he were a four-year-old once again.

"Hello son," John said from the table, offering his oldest son a smile.

"Hi dad," Rusty said nervously, "Uh, did you have a good run?"

"Yep, I sure did. I might just be able to keep feeding you monkeys if I keep having that kind of luck," he joked, tickling his youngest son and causing him to giggle.

Who was this man? Rusty wondered. Was this really his dad, or had he been replaced by aliens? This was a far cry from the stern disciplinarian Rusty had come to know over the last few years. Then it dawned on him, maybe he was acting this way for the benefit of their company, whoever he was. Well, if that was the case, then Rusty wished the guy could hang around for a while. He sort of liked this new dad he was seeing.

"Oh, by the way, that guy over there is Jed, we met in Guymon. He needed a ride, and well...to make a long story short, I gave him a ride, and...I've talked him into coming to work for me. Before you say anything, I know, I know, I've never had any help before, but I've been thinking about hiring someone for a while now. Jed here just happened to come along at the right time."

"Oh, well...that's great," Rusty said, finally looking the new guy over. He didn't look much older than 18, but he was well built and a little taller than his dad. He was cute too, Rusty couldn't help but think, and kind of sexy in a brooding, quiet sort of way. His clothes looked like they'd seen better days, and he wondered what his story was. His dad said he'd needed a ride, so did that mean he was a drifter, a runaway, or what?

"I know, you must have a million questions, and I'll fill you all in later, over dinner. Right now, we need to figure out where Jed is going to sleep tonight..."

"The couch will be fine..." Jed said blushing.

"We'll figure something out," Mrs. Cramer said, finally speaking up. She was as surprised as Rusty by the appearance of this strange young man, but she trusted her husband's judgement, and if he thought Jed was worth taking a chance on, she was willing to do all she could to make it happen.

Rusty excused himself to his room then, and as soon as he was alone, he pulled out his phone and called Nate. He couldn't wait to tell him the news about the strange new guy and his dad's new and improved attitude.

End Chapter Twenty Seven

Sorry, but I couldn't just leave Rusty and Nate hanging, but I promise I'll get back to Jordy and Seth soon.

Stay safe and stay well. Get vaxed, it really does save lives.

Rob Warr

2-19-2022

Many thanks to my buddy Michael in NY for his invaluable help with editing, story ideas, and pics. But most of all: for his friendship and support.