Date: Fri, 4 Jan 2019 06:15:21 +0000
From: Douglas DD <thehakaanen@hotmail.com>
Subject: Aiden 2 Chapter 62

Welcome back. Aiden and Keegan, his blood father, continue to have their
conflicts. Can two other people in Keegan's life start to set him straight?

Please donate to the Nifty archive. Help keep this source of stories alive.

Thanks for those of who write. I received some great emails from readers
over the holidays. Thehakaanen@yahoo.com

Douglas

CHAPTER 62
AN EVENTFUL OCTOBER

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6

<Aiden>

"How did it go?" Phil asked after Aiden climbed into the back seat of the
Honda Accord.

"He's an asswaffle, just like I said," Aiden sulked.

"A total asswaffle?" Larry asked.

"Beyond a total asswaffle. He's an anus face."

 "He must have had his good moments," Phil said as Larry drove the car out
of its parking spot. The two men looked at each other with a slight smile
– they had to admire Aiden's originality in calling Keegan an `anus
face'.  They did speculate, however, if middle school might already be
teaching him some new terminology.

"Anybody who doesn't like Horace is a total asswaffle no matter what he
does."

"You knew Horace might be a problem when you decided to take him."

"Oh, so that makes it my fault?" Aiden retorted "All he had to do was say,
`Nice Donkey' or some shit like that. But instead he calls me a sissy for
wanting to have Horace with me, and I ain't no SISSY!" When Aiden lost his
temper all rules of grammar were left behind in the dust.

"I take it you decided to turn down any further requests for a visitation,"
Larry surmised.

"I invited him to the Cobra's game at Lacey," Aiden stated as if his doing
that was a forgone conclusion.

"No shit?" Phil asked in surprise.

"Yeah, no shit. I mean everybody should get a couple of extra chances,
right?"

"Even after he royally pissed you off?"

Larry gave Phil a look that hinted that he might want to tone down his
language.

"It's not the first time he's done that. But, he didn't spank my butt and
he didn't get me drunk, and he did buy the pizza, so there."

"Any plans for doing something with him later if he comes to the game?"

"Nope. I just said he could come and watch. If he wants to do more he's
going have to call me. I asked him to come to the game, but I'm not going
to ask anything else. Now it's his turn. He's the one who went to court to
see me, right?

"You're a smart dude, son, and don't you forget it," Phil grinned.

"Oh, I know I'm smart. It's just sometimes I have to let people like Keegan
the sperm donor know."

"Which you feel you did with your father, I take it."

"Yep, I sure did." Aiden flashed his impish smirk. "And he won't even have
Horace to complain about."

"True," Larry said. "You never take him to games."

"Yeah, but that's only because they charge a gimungous fortune to bring a
donkey to a game. It's not fair."

"Most of the places don't charge for him attending."

"See, I told you they charge way too much. Of course, if my allowance was
bigger, I might be able to afford to take him."

"Well, that might be something to consider I suppose," Larry grinned.

Aiden was right—he was smart and all he had to do was to let people
know.

<Keegan>

The long drive home to Seattle helped Keegan calm down a little. He decided
to stop off at Natalie's apartment and then get himself a bottle of vodka
and some tonic water to make some simple, but stiff drinks.

"How did it go?" Natalie asked after they kissed. Keegan told her the
entire story right down to where an eleven-year-boy had all but grabbed him
by the balls.

"It sounds to me like you fathered a son as clever as you are," Natalie
chuckled. "You do have a way of manipulating people, you know."

"Yeah, you've told me enough times. But come on, he's a little kid,
Natalie. How am I ever going to get custody if I can't even get on his good
side?"

"Maybe that's your problem."

"What?"

"You want more than you can get instead of making the best with what you
have. Right off the bat, it backfired, because your little son saw right
through you."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the letter he wrote you—the one about you working to
be a dad."

"That piece of bullshit you mean? He said for me not to even think about
him living with me. That's not what I want—I want him in my custody."

"Maybe not, but that's what he wants and that's what he's going to get. He
worships his two dads and you're never going to change that. If I were you,
I'd read that letter over until you have it memorized. He did what he said
he would do—he met with you and I bet he didn't want to. But, he did it
anyway. Now it's your turn to be a dad."

Keegan shook his head angrily. "I don't have that piece of crap any
more. It was all bullshit, anyway. He's just a little kid. How the fuck
does he know what he wants?"

Natalie gave Keegan a smile that told him he was fucked. "I made a copy of
it and I just happen to have that copy. It seems to me that little kid of
yours knows exactly what he wants. I sometimes think Drake should read that
letter. Talk about a kid who doesn't know what he wants, he's it. Anyway,
it's time for you to get to work—DAD!"

"Give it to me and I'll look at it tomorrow. Tonight, I'm getting
drunk. I've done my fucking six months of sobriety."

"First, you're getting a copy, just to be on the safe side. Second, there's
a good meeting in Wallingford tonight."

"You can be a real bitch sometimes."

"Nobody said you have to stay here and take it. But I'm going to say one
more thing before you go and mess yourself up. My nephew, for reasons that
are beyond me, really looks up to you. He hasn't touched a drink or toked
weed since you quit. I know you might not care about that, but I thought
I'd tell you." Keegan thought about the time he had spent with Drake lately
and realized it had been so very different than what had gone on between
them when they first met.

Later that night as Keegan lay next to Natalie in her bed, their bodies
sweating from exertion, he had to admit that the AA meeting they went to
had been a good meeting. Funny thing was, the topic was about expectations
and how unmet expectations often led to resentments which often led to
drinking. It just so happened it was exactly what he needed to hear.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9

Monday evening had been a disappointing one for the Cobras. They picked up
their first loss of the season, and to make it worse, the team they lost to
was the Kentburg Monarchs. The Monarchs dominated the game from the start
and built up a 3-0 lead at the half. While Coach Bill got his team to turn
things around, they still ended up with a 4-2 loss.

Now they had to play Lacey on Saturday and the Grizzlies were still
undefeated, while the Cobras and the Monarchs each had one loss. Saturday
also marked the half-way point of the season—from there they would be
playing everybody in the league a second time.

Aiden wasn't usually one to linger on losses for long. Marty and his dads
had told him the best thing he could do after a disappointing loss was to
move on and prepare for the next contest. As Aiden saw it, it was easier
said than done, but he was getting better at accepting a loss, although it
usually took at least a good night's sleep to get over it.

When he got up Tuesday morning he still felt a little down about the
loss. But, after a shower and a good breakfast, his spirits perked back
up. Once he saw his friends in school, he was all but over the game, which
was also true of his classmates who were on the team.

"Are you guys going to be at the meeting tonight?" Aiden asked his friends
when they sat down to lunch. Aiden was referring to the October general
meeting of the Mayfield Baseball Club.

"I plan to be there with my dad," Gordy replied. "He wants to get active in
the club and so do I."

"Same with me," Trent told them. "It will be me and my dad and my
brother. They're already active and I want to be, too. Jackson says it's
part of being a Mayfield baseball player." Trent's older brother Jackson,
who was a sophomore, was serving his second term on the board. His father,
James, was elected to replace Phil, whose three-year term had run out. It
was the first time a father and son had served on the club's board at the
same time. "Miles is going with us," Trent added.

Miles grinned and nodded. He and Trent had become close friends. "So is my
brother John," Miles noted. "He says he doesn't want me outdoing him. Bryce
wasn't sure if he was going to come." John and Bryce played on the
fourteen-and-under team.

"I'm going with my mom," Mason announced. "Can you believe my mom is going
to a baseball meeting? She says moms need to get active. Does that sound
like my mom?" Everyone agreed that it did not sound like her. "I don't
think it does either—I think she's been taken over by aliens."

Muddy wouldn't commit himself to going. Brody wasn't sure if he was
going. Even though he didn't play on a Club team, he could attend a
meeting, he just couldn't vote.

Students served on the board a year at a time and could be reelected for
another term until they graduated. Adults served a three-year term and
could only serve one term. One of the three adult terms ran out each
year. Any player who actively played on a Club team the spring or summer
before was automatically a member of the Club and could run for office in
the first election after the membership started. Elections were held in May
of each year, unless a special election was needed to fill an opening.

That evening the Yard Goats were well-represented at the meeting. Larry and
Phil noted that the Goats had more players at the meeting than any other
summer team, including the high school age teams. Aiden, Trent, Gordy,
Miles, Mason, Muddy, Yonder, and Jared were at the meeting. So were Lance,
Lenny, and Kalie. Kalie came with her mother while Lenny and Lance rode
their bikes to the meeting.

Jeffrey Bednarzyk, the president, opened the meeting on time at 7:30. This
was the first general meeting of the Mayfield Baseball Club since
June. Jeffrey knew there were some new members and parents at the meeting,
so he introduced the board: Mark Elder, junior, vice-president; Duncan
Elder, junior, secretary; Mitch Fleming, senior, treasurer; Jackson
Hallion, sophomore, second year board member; David Fitzgerald, sophomore,
board member; Sammy Bednarzyk, freshman, board member; and Anthony
Jefferson, sophomore, board member.

Larry had been at the election meeting and was surprised at the number of
offices that were filled by underclassmen. The only seniors were Jeffrey
and Mitch. The board president was required to be a senior. While the
treasurer wasn't required to be a senior, he was required to have served at
least one year on the board in another capacity. Mitch had been a board
member the year before. Larry was really pleased to note that Mitch and
Anthony, the only two African-Americans in the Club, had both been elected
to a board position.

Jeffrey then introduced the three adult board members: Ben Cook, third year
member; Dennis Simmons, second year member; and James Hallion, newly
elected first year member. Finally, George Bednarzyk, the club
administrator, and Seth McCall, the club CEO, were introduced. Their
positions were not elected positions. They were volunteers who were
appointed to their positions by the board, just like the Club's coaches
were. While they attended the board meetings, they were not voting members.

Aiden and his friends tried to look interested in the reading of the
minutes, the treasurer's report, the administrative reports, and the first
of two special committee reports. They were genuinely interested in the
second report, however. They had a good idea of what was coming, but were
unsure of the details. Aiden tried to pick his dads' brains, but they said
they knew as little as he did.

The report that interested them was the Coaches' Committee report. Jackson
Hallion, who was the chair of the committee presented the report. He had
only one thing to report and that was the resignation of Connor Lewis as a
Club coach. While Connor had hinted he would be resigning, the boys were
hoping he would change his mind. But, since they knew the reason for his
resignation they also knew that there would be almost no way he would
change his mind.

"Connor will be attending Western Washington University. So, for obvious
reasons he won't be able to come back to coach," Jackson said. "In his
letter he wrote, `I will miss my Yard Goat boys. They made every minute of
coaching totally worthwhile."

After Jackson finished he said Coach Sanders wanted to say a few
things. Larry got up and complimented Connor for being an asset to Mayfield
baseball from the time he was a rather wild boy in middle school to his
being a key member of a High School State Champion baseball team, to
becoming a dedicated coach in the same organization he helped found. "He
was the kind of person who helped make the Mayfield program the best in the
state," Larry finished.

Coach Scott Andrews stood up and reminded his players and the Club members
that he planned on returning in the spring and would be looking for a
co-coach or an assistant coach to recommend to the board after the first of
the year. Since the makeup of the next year's teams hadn't been determined
yet, Scott didn't know if he would be coaching the core of the Yard Goats
again.

The rest of the meeting consisted of old business and a bit of new
business, most of which Aiden could follow and some of which made no sense
to him. By the end of the meeting it was all boring. Yet, Aiden wasn't
turned off by the idea of coming back for future meetings. As Jeffrey
closed the meeting with a reminder that the next general meeting would be
January 8, Aiden knew that being on the board and helping keep the Club
great was something he looked forward to doing.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12

<Aiden>

"This weekend is going to be so whacked," Miles said at the lunch table.

"I know what you mean," Gordy said.

"You're the one who's doing a sleepover at a girl's house," Mason said. "No
way you can call your weekend whacked."

"I'm just sleeping over at her house, not with her," Gordy protested. "I'll
be with her cousin, Ian."

"Oh, so you're sleeping with a boy are you?" Miles teased.

"We all sleep with our friends."

"We do?" Mason asked as if Gordy had just revealed that they actually sleep
with space aliens.

"I know you do," Aiden said.

"You better know, since I'm sleeping with you tonight," Mason giggled.

After lunch, Aiden and Gordy sat next to each other on a bench in the main
foyer watching the ping pong and foosball games. They had intended to wait
in line for a ping pong table, but Gordy told Aiden he needed to talk to
him.

Aiden asked Gordy what he needed to talk about, but Gordy sat quietly
watching the games for a couple of minutes. Aiden couldn't remember his
friend looking so nervous, so he kept quiet as well, letting him answer in
his own time.

Gordy finally broke his silence. "I'm scared."

"Of what?" Aiden wondered why it was when his friends were afraid of
something he was the person they always seemed to want to talk to. He
thought it was like him wanting to talk to Marty when he was afraid of
something. But then he realized it was different—Marty was an older
friend, a big bro, while the friends who wanted to talk to him were friends
his own age.

"Of tomorrow."

"You've never been afraid of playing a big game before."

"No, not that. Of staying overnight at Kalie's."

"Hey, Ian's cool," Aiden reminded him. "It will be fun. And you'll be up
early going horseback riding."

Gordy let out a long sigh. "But you know how things get weird in that back
house and how, well, me and Kalie like to make out."

"Yeah."

"What if she wants me to sleep with her?"

A seventh grader came up to them and asked if they were waiting in
line. When they said no, he went to a ping pong table that had just opened
with a friend. Aiden then answered Gordy's question. "So, sleep with her or
don't sleep with her. Whatever you do it's gonna be wrong anyway." That was
something Marty had told Aiden a couple of times when he asked him for
advice. Whatever he decided might have consequences, so do what he thought
was right and be ready for whatever happened.

"That's a lame answer," Gordy groused.

"No it isn't. Marty says shit like that to me all the time. It sounds lame,
but it really isn't. Think about it.  If she asks and you say no, she might
get mad at you. If you say yes, then you might be mad at yourself."

"Well, I can't sleep with her because she's a girl, so it would be wrong. I
mean what if we go too far or something?"

"Have you ever gone too far with me or some other friend?"

"No, but that's because none of us want to go up anybody's butt because
it's so gross. But Kalie is a girl and what if she wants to try it?"

"You could go but not spend the night," Aiden suggested.

"I wish I could spend tomorrow night with you. At least we like sleeping
together and you're my best friend and I'm so scared and confused."

"Gordy, I'm gonna tell you something else Marty tells me. Just go have fun
and do the right thing. If doing the right thing makes somebody else mad,
tough shit, because how they feel about you doing the right thing is none
of your business."

"I think that makes sense," Gordy said. He shrugged his shoulders. "I
dunno, Aiden, what I need is a big bro like you have."

The conversation came to an end when the bell rang.

On the bus ride home after school, Aiden sat next to Kalie. He was
surprised when she confessed to being nervous about Gordy staying
overnight, even though he would be sleeping with Ian in the back house and
she would be sleeping with Gretchen in her own bedroom.

This time Aiden let out a long sigh. He wondered if this was what soap
operas were all about. His pop sometimes talked about all the drama going
on at the high school between the sexes. Aiden was starting to learn that
it wasn't any different in middle school. It made him happy he didn't care
for girls.

"So, just don't go to the back house. Stay in your house."

"But I might want to make out with Gordy."

"Do it before you go to bed." Aiden felt ready to scream. While Kalie and
Gordy were his friends, none of this was any of his business.

"He's going to be naked at night. I just know it."

Aiden stared out of the window. The bus was passing the entrance to the
State Park. That meant he was almost home. He picked up his backpack,
gathered his wits, and stood up as the bus stopped. "Have fun," was all he
could think of saying, even though it sounded like nobody was going to have
fun, at least until they got on top of a horse.

That night Aiden and Mason engaged in some good old fashioned messing
around. It was a session with kissing, cock sucking, butt kissing by Mason,
three orgasms for Mason, two for Aiden, and no worries or guilt. For each
of them it was just plain fun for two boys who had grown into best friends.

<Keegan>

Keegan unlocked the door to his apartment just before six in the
evening. He had ferried a loaded container from the Port of Seattle
container terminal north to Edmonds and then returned with an empty
container. Traffic both ways had been terrible and he was dead tired. He
planned on showering and then going out for a bite to eat.

He wondered why the light in the living room was on, and when he saw the
reason his cranky mood turned into a full-fledged bad mood. "What the fuck
are you doing here, Drake?"

"Well, hello to you too, Uncle Keegan," the fourteen-year-old groused.

"I thought I took your key away from you."

"Shit, don't be so happy to see me. Did you think I only had one key made?"

Keegan plopped onto the couch, sitting next to the good-looking teen. "Just
tell me why you're here. I thought your mom was actually going to be home
this weekend."

"Yeah, her and about twenty assholes and total bitches. They started coming
a couple of hours ago and went right to work guzzling booze, smoking pot,
and snorting coke. That's not a place for a good kid like me."

Keegan relaxed a little as he started to realize that Drake was a kid in
trouble, not a kid coming into his place unwanted to create trouble. "Since
when are you a good kid?"

"Since you and me quit boozing and toking. I guess those assholes figured I
was there to get fucked up with them. I mean my mom always took me to Aunt
Natalie's and then partied somewhere else. This is her first one at our
place—I guess because we moved into that fucking house with Arnold."
Keegan knew that Arnold was Drake's mother's latest boyfriend.

"I said I don't do that shit, and this one dude said he heard otherwise
from his friend's son. That dude and I used to get fucked up together all
the time, not to mention fuck together, and I guess he told that asshole. A
guy can't have any secrets no more."

"Yeah, I remember you talking about him."

"So the guy grabs my crotch and says he heard I like getting it on with men
and I said to let go of my dick and that he was a total dick wad.

"Drake stopped for air and then continued on. "He says my friend told him I
like to get it on with men and he and my friend were fuck buddies, so it
was cool if him and me were too. So then he unzips my jeans and sticks his
hand right inside of my undies so I whack him on his face and got the fuck
out of there and come over here `cuz you're closer than Aunt Natalie and
cuz you're my uncle."

"Would you have hung around if the asshole hadn't tried to molest you?"

"Fuck no, `cuz just before then a guy showed up with heroin and needles and
shit. I knew my mom was a druggie, but I had no idea she was into that
shit. The thing is, I never told you or Aunt Natalie, but a couple of times
I got high with my mom and the only time I ever snorted coke was with her
when I was thirteen. That was totally fucked up."

Keegan thought that, all things considered, Drake was handling things
well. A few months ago Drake might have stayed and gotten thoroughly fucked
up with his mother's friends, and probably would have ended up molested by
somebody. Instead, he grabbed his coat and left. And now here he was, his
usual saucy self.

"I'm hungry," Drake said in a subdued voice.

"Me, too," Keegan said. "But, I need to shower first." Just listening to
Drake talk made him feel dirty all over.

He started to rise from the couch, but before he could, Drake scooted over
and draped himself over Keegan, placing his head on the man's chest. "I
never told you or Aunt Natalie how fucked my mom is and my home is. It
didn't matter `cuz I got fucked up all the time anyway, even with you
guys." Drake's voice was still quiet and was also muffled some by Keegan's
chest.

"But then, you guys quit getting messed up and I did too and I was, like,
feeling better and doing better in school and just, I don't know, just
wishing you were my dad and wishing you loved me and..."

Drake couldn't talk any more. He shook with sobs and Keegan felt his shirt
getting wet as the boy cried into his chest. "Please love me, Keegan, I
want somebody to love me, please."

As Keegan held the young teen and patted his head and cooed about how
things would get better, he remembered when he was fourteen. He remembered
getting drunk with his father. He remembered wishing his father loved him
like a normal father so he could talk to him. He remembered wishing there
was a man in his life he could love and trust.

Sitting on his couch, holding a fourteen-year-old boy as he cried on his
chest, Keegan realized that he was that man for Drake. Somehow, without
knowing how it had happened, he had become the man whom Drake loved and
trusted.

"I'm sorry," Drake said as he tried to regain his composure.

"Nothing to be sorry for, kid. Nothing. I'm proud of what you did
today. When I was fourteen I would have stayed and done everything I could
have done."

"Including horse and sex?"

"Get me fucked up enough, I probably would have."

Drake sniffled in some snot. "Let's eat."

"I really got to shower first."

Drake stayed on the couch while Keegan showered. More often than not he
would have jerked off while waiting, but this wasn't one of those
times. After Keegan dressed, he drove Drake to an Italian restaurant he
liked.

As they ate, Drake asked if he could spend the night and was happy when
Keegan quickly agreed. "Can I sleep in your bed with you?"

"As long as you're not naked."

"I know the drill. I mean, you know I want sex with you, and you know I
know it probably ain't gonna happen. But a boy can dream, right?"

"Sometimes you're just fucking weird," Keegan laughed. "Do you want to go
to a soccer game with me tomorrow morning?"

"Who's playing, your son?"

"That is correct."

"It's gonna be cold and maybe raining but I don't care. I just want to be
with you. Besides, like I said, your son is fucking hot."

"I want you to call your aunt when we get back to my place and tell her
what happened tonight and where we're going tomorrow."

Drake nodded. "Ok, I will. And thanks."

That night Keegan and Drake wore underpants and t-shirts to bed. Keegan
insisted. He had a pretty good idea of what Drake was going to do, and he
didn't think this was the time to say no. It didn't take Keegan long to be
proven right as Drake snuggled up to him as soon as they put the covers
over themselves. Keegan was surprised, however, that Drake fell asleep
within a couple of minutes of the lights going out.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13

<Aiden>

After Aiden and Mason awoke to Aiden's 6:45 alarm, they showered together
and went down to breakfast naked. When confronted by Phil, Aiden pleaded it
would help him and Mason if they could stay naked until it was time to put
their soccer uniforms on. Since Phil didn't want to disturb the fragile
mentality of two pubescent boys before one of the biggest games of the
season, he decided to go with the flow.

"We'll let it slide...this time," he said as Larry entered the dining room
from the kitchen.

"Let what slide?" Larry asked. Then he saw the state of undress of the boys
and simply said, "Yeah, sure, this time."

Aiden and Mason had agreed beforehand that if they'd sprouted wood they
would have at least put their uniform tops on. As Aiden said they would,
the boys stayed naked as long as they could.

They were ready to go at 8:15. They would be taking the Honda Odyssey and
picking up the twins on the way. Their mother would be at the Lacey field
in time for the game but agreed to let Lance and Lenny ride to the site
with their friends, knowing how their sister would bug them on the way if
they all rode together. "We will be riding home as a family," she
emphasized. The twins were happy to get what they wanted and conceded the
ride home.

They arrived at the Lacey sports complex ten minutes early. A game was
being played on the field the Cobras would be playing on, but there was an
area set aside for teams playing the next game to use for warmup
drills. While the weather was cold and gray, the drizzle that had been
falling most of the morning had quit a half hour ago—at least for the
time being.

Before the game got underway, Aiden checked where his dads were. He looked
around for Keegan and didn't see him, not that he was looking very hard.

<Keegan>

"Where the fuck is it I turn?" Keegan snarled at Drake, who was manning the
GPS on his phone.

"Damn, calm down dude, I'll get you there. You really should get a GPS for
this piece o' shit truck," Drake said. He'd been in a sunny mood since
Keegan woke him up, which upset Keegan even more. He didn't like being
grumpy alone and wished Drake would be his sassy teenaged self.

"Turn right at the light," Drake ordered. "The complex should be on the
left." He looked to his right and smiled. "Hey, I see the light poles. I
think we're all but there."

"Yeah, about five minutes before game time."

"Beats the fuck out of being five minutes after game time," the teen
grinned. "I'm not the one who set the starting time, and my expert GPS work
got us here, right?"

Keegan made the turn at the light and then went left into the parking
lot. He found a parking slot and pulled his pickup into it. He looked at
Drake and placed his right hand on the boy's left shoulder. "You done good,
Drake. Sorry for being a grump."

"Whoa, did my Uncle Keegan just apologize for acting like an asswaffle?"

"I've been told apologizing is supposed to be good for the soul or some
such bullshit," Keegan said as they got out of the truck.

"See, I was right," Drake said. "I was right about if you and me showered
together we'd make it on time. We did and we made it."

"I don't know why I let you talk me into that one."

"Because you knew I was right. And who did it hurt? I mean I didn't even
pop a woody—it was like two guys showering in a locker room."

"You're something else, kid."

"You know you love me."

"Yeah, whatever." The funny thing, Keegan thought, as they looked for a
spot to watch the game, is I think I just might love the kid—he's really
grown on me, especially since he quit getting fucked up.

Keegan had told Drake that they would stand on the opposing team's side. He
didn't want to have to deal with his brother and brother-in-law. He just
wanted to watch the game and watch his son play and not have to deal with
their bullshit. Drake had called him a pussy for the decision, but it was
said in fun.

Keegan had no problem picking out the blond head of Aiden. He noted that
his son wore number 17.

"Damn, Uncle Keegan, Aiden is the hottest kid on the field, and it ain't
even close."

"Quit perving on my son!" Keegan grinned.

"Somebody has to. You know what I said is true."

At the half, the game was tied at 0-0. It was apparent that the two teams
were evenly matched and were playing at the peak of their skills in the big
game. Keegan didn't care much for soccer, but even so, he was getting
caught up in the tenseness of the game. For a contest where no one had
scored, the action had been pretty exciting and he often found himself
cheering. He was glad he and Drake had stationed themselves away from where
most of the Cobra parents were.

Keegan was surprised at the athleticism his son displayed on the
field. Even though he looked like a skinny runt, he was obviously smooth on
the soccer pitch. He looked like he knew what he was doing and was good at
what he was doing. He combined quickness and speed with a high skill level
and sound fundamentals.

It was then that Keegan understood the problem he'd had in relating to
Aiden at their lunch meeting. He had still thought of Aiden as the immature
little seven-year-old that he had last had contact with. When he had walked
into the pizza parlor toting the stuffed donkey, he confirmed the
impression Keegan had already formed in his mind. The result was he saw his
son as a sissy, a pussy, a little preteen who needed a stuffed animal to
feel secure and who had more than once needed to get his ass whupped just
to wake him up to the world.

Instead, the boy who walked into the pizza parlor with his talisman was an
assertive, intelligent boy, who was displaying not only athleticism in
front of him, but also obvious leadership abilities. What he saw on the
soccer field had awakened him. He understood that he was going to have to
change his tactics. He was never going to gain custody of his son, because
he wasn't worthy of caring for him. Aiden had shown him that as a fact of
life not only on the soccer pitch, but in the pizza parlor. Custody was out
as a strategy. His new strategy would have to be to get the most quality
time he could with his son. He had visitation rights. He was now going to
have to do whatever he could to keep and expand those rights before his son
decided he never wanted to be with his father again.

"Damn, that Aiden is good. I bet he gets a score in the second half," Drake
shouted, jerking Keegan from his thoughts. "And that goalie is really
good—he's made some kickass saves." Drake was referring to Lance. "And
that number 21 looks just like him," he said referring to Lenny.

Larry and Phil had seen Keegan across the field. At the half they discussed
going over to say hello but decided not to. "He knows which side belongs to
the Cobras," Larry said. "The message is pretty clear and I plan to leave
him alone, just like he wants."

At the 42-minute mark, Aiden easily dispossessed a Grizzlies defender and
then sent a flawless cross into the path of Yonder Sanchez, who struck a
perfectly placed ball past the outstretched arms of the diving
goalkeeper. The Cobras had taken a 1-0 lead over the Grizzlies. That ended
up being the final score. The win gave the Cobras sole possession of first
place since they had scored the most goals of the teams they were tied
with. It was a nice rebound after their disappointing loss to Kentburg on
Monday.

As the players took part in the ritual handshake at midfield, Aiden saw his
father standing on the Grizzlies' side of the field. He was with a boy
Aiden didn't recognize at first. After going through the conga line, he
went over to say hello to his father. He was so surprised to learn Keegan
was actually at his game he hadn't had time to concoct an excuse for not
going over to see him.

Keegan was surprised to see Aiden sauntering his way. After the way their
meeting had gone the week before, he wouldn't have been surprised if his
son decided to ignore him. When Drake saw Aiden coming their way, he got an
instant hard-on. Nothing he had seen changed his mind about Aiden being the
sexiest looking boy playing in the game.

"Hello, father," Aiden said stiffly.

Keegan turned and looked down at Aiden. "Hey. Great win. You looked good
out there—that was a great pass you made for the goal."

"I looked good for a sissy, you mean."

Aiden looked at his father, expecting a rebuke. Instead, Keegan surprised
him by getting down on one knee and looking directly into his eyes. "I
apologize for that, son," Keegan said with quiet sincerity. "I was wrong to
say that. I was wrong about your stuffed...no, about your talisman as
well. I understand you were nervous and frightened and you needed what your
donkey friend had to offer you." Aiden wondered if this was the same man he
remembered from when he had been a little kid, and if this was the same man
who had been mean and rude during their lunch the week before.

"I hope someday you can forgive me. For now, I just want you to know that I
am beginning to realize how wrong I've been about so many things." Keegan
couldn't help but wonder what strange force was possessing him. This was
the second time in one day he'd found himself apologizing to a boy, of all
things, regarding his behavior. Maybe making amends truly was good for the
soul, he thought.

Keegan stood up. He was tempted to ruffle his son's hair, but decided this
wasn't the time, especially since it was already sweaty and messy. Instead
he introduced Drake to Aiden.

"We kinda met back on Fourth of July," Drake said. He held out his fist,
which Aiden bumped. Drake felt a little jolt of electricity as he touched
the cute blond for the first time.

Aiden then remembered where he had seen the teen before. Now he was curious
about how Drake and his father fit together.

"Hey, would you like to join me and Drake for lunch?" Keegan asked
hopefully.

While Keegan had surprised Aiden with his change of attitude, it wasn't
enough to convince him to change his plans. "Sorry, but I'm having lunch
with my dads and some of my teammates."

"Maybe some other time then." Aiden could sense his father's
disappointment.

"You have my phone number. You know you can call and ask and I can say yes
or no."

Keegan nodded and asked Aiden when he played again. "My next game is
Thursday at Mayfield," Aiden told him.

"No way I could make that."

At that point Aiden had to make a decision whether to be an asshole and
tell his father to stay home or whether to give him another chance. Aiden
knew that in the letter he wrote he had said that his father needed to act
like a dad and act like he really cared if he wanted to have any kind of
visits. As much as he didn't want to, Aiden had to admit that his father
had actually acted like he cared when he got on his knee and apologized. He
decided that if his father was trying to do what he'd been asked to do in
the letter, then maybe he should do what he said he would do.

"If you text me your email I'll send you my schedule. But, next Saturday we
play in Harborview. How about if I promise to have lunch if you give me a
ride home after we're done."

Keegan was almost overcome by emotion. Aiden's promise was more than he had
expected—just getting the soccer schedule would have satisfied him for
the time being.

"I have to make sure my dads say it's okay first, though."

Keegan felt his blood heating up. "My understanding is that they can't
decide..."

"No, no," Aiden interrupted. "I mean to make sure that we don't have
anything planned already. Except for that they can't say yes or no." Keegan
nodded that he understood. "And you can bring your friend if you want," he
said as he pointed to Drake.

"Thanks, dude, but I think just you should meet with your dad. If I had a
dad I wanted to get to know that would be what I'd want." Drake's statement
told Aiden a lot about the teen.

"We need to get going," Phil said as he walked up get Aiden. "People are
ready to leave for lunch." He looked at Keegan. "Hi, bro."

"Hey, bro." The two bumped fists. "You're doing a great job with the
kid. Keep it up."

"Thanks."

"Aiden and I have a lunch date after next Saturday's game, if you guys
don't have anything already going on. I'll drive him home after we eat."

Phil looked at Aiden, who grinned and nodded that it was okay. Like Aiden,
Phil wondered what had possessed Keegan. He was actually being civil.

Phil put his arm around Aiden's shoulder as they walked to the parking
lot. "Good job, kiddo."

"Yonder kicked it in."

"I meant with your father. I like to see you're making the attempt to let
him into your life."

"I wasn't going to do that lunch with him, but he was, like, really
different today. I mean, he was nice to me."

"Maybe he learned that you weren't going to back down to him last week and
that for him to get anywhere he was going to have to change his act."

"I dunno. All I know is, I still don't trust him much."

"I don't blame you for that."

When they got to the parking lot, Aiden saw Gordy getting into his parents'
car. "Have fun horseback riding," he told his friend.

"I wish you would come today," Gordy pleaded.

"I'll be there to ride tomorrow," Aiden assured him. "Unless it's raining."

"Great, because that's what it's supposed to do."

"Just hang around Ian. You'll be fine."

Aiden was surprised to find the twins in Larry's Honda. "I thought you
promised to go home with your mom."

"We did," Lenny said. "But, we talked mom into letting us go to lunch with
you and The Three M's." Lenny was referring to Miles, Muddy, and Mason,
which he and Lance had started calling them during soccer practice.

"No, we BEGGED mom to let us," Lance said.

"Well, yeah, and she really said no. But your daddy...I mean your pop told
her to bring the Brat and come to lunch and so she said yes and said we
could ride with you as far as the place we're going to."

"Yonder and Brody will be there, too," Larry told Aiden and the twins.

"Cool," Aiden said. As they left the parking lot, Aiden thought about the
great win by the Cobras, about his father acting weird, and about going to
lunch with his dads and a bunch of his best friends. The weather might have
been gray and cold, but for Aiden life was truly warm and sunny.

Next: Boys Being Boys