This is all fantasy fiction. None of the events are real.
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Edited by Andrew Thomas
This story is an original work of fiction ©Copyright 2022 Tux - Please do not copy or post without permission.
Hey guys it's Tux and I can't express the joy that I have that you all love reading my story. I wasn't really sure in the beginning but working with Andrew, he built my confidence and I wrote my story down. I'm so excited to keep writing the story and bringing you more emotional connection, drama, and victories for young AJ and Zack. After writing so far into the story, I've become very attached to AJ and Zack, more than I thought I was going to be able to, and I look forward to sharing the rest of his story with you.
I appreciate all the emails, suggestions, offers, and support that I get and for those who haven't emailed yet and are waiting or don't feel comfortable or safe emailing let me, let me express my gratitude for reading my story and tell you a little bit about my story. I've been reading nifty for many years about two months ago I just decided to start emailing people and let them know how much I appreciate their stories. I got replies almost instantly. The responses were supportive, encouraging, and some even held spoilers. I struck up a friendship with Andrew and it grew with my confidence and now Andrew is my most trusted editor. I cannot do this without him. Other authors like Lucas and Eric Murphy offer advice and support with my stories and it means the world to me. So, take a leap email an author and tell them how you feel, did you like the story did you not like it, all opinions matter to the author. Do you have suggestions on where you think the story could go, all suggestions interest the author. So take that leap and email your favorite author, you can change his day for the better, and might even influence or change the story. Thank you to all those that were supportive to me and I can't wait to show you the rest of... Counting.
Standing in the horse barn, looking at the door, and freezing my ass off is making me feel stupid. I decide I'm acting like a child, and I reach for the door to open it and the thought that Parker might still be out there halts my hand. I pull it back hesitantly, wondering if I should take that chance and what will I say if he's standing there like before. `Hi, I normally stand in the snow in my socks. It's quite invigorating.'
"I'm being a dumbass," I say out loud to myself, and I reach for the door. Suddenly, causing me to stumble back and fall on my ass, the door opens, and Jack walks through it.
"Yes, you are," he says. He has my coat and my boots in one hand, and he offers me his other, helping me to my feet. "What's wrong, Zeke?"
"Nothing," I say all bravo, "What makes you think something's wrong?" Standing up, I reach for my ribs at the sharp pain that Jack inflicts from pulling me to my feet. They are better than they were three weeks ago, but they still bite me occasionally.
"Ribs?"
"Just a little tender is all; I'm fine. Thanks for my coat and boots. I'm not sure how I forgot them?"
"You forgot them, okay, if that's what you're going with," Jack says as he plans on playing along with my little game. He walks over to a hay bale, takes a very audible seat, and pats the space left to his right. I zip up my coat and figure I have to tie my boots anyway, so I take a seat. Then he says something I thought I'd never hear my uncle say, "So, that Parker sure is a looker, huh?"
"Dad!?" There it was. It was out there before I could take it back. I'm so caught up in Parker that my mind is slipping. "Sorry, my mind isn't working. I don't know what is wrong with me?"
Jack put his arm around me and says, "Never be sorry for calling me, dad. It's an honor to be thought of that way, but what's most important is that you feel comfortable calling me dad, if not, Jack will do."
I give him a nod because if I open my mouth, I'm sure something dumb will come out. Uncomfortable silence surrounds us, and I'm not even aware of it. All I can think about are those perfect hazel eyes and those god-like curls flawlessly dangling in his eyes. His skin looked so smooth, and his hands so soft. My eyes fall on my hands, and I see the dirty nails and skin. The putrid aroma begins to alert my nose that I can't let him see and smell me like this again.
Jumping to my feet, I announce, "I have to get cleaned up!"
"Before your chores? I was going to suggest that Parker do them with you so you could..."
"What! No, he can't see me like this! I stink, and I'm all dirty!"
Jack laughs at me and nods his head in understanding, saying, "Okay, after your shower."
"Pssst."
"Pssst, AJ," I hear behind me, coming from the kitchen. Zack and I are showing Parker the soccer game I got for my birthday. I look over at my mom in the kitchen, and she is busy working on some kind of macaroni salad. I shrug it off and look back to see how the game is going, and I hear it again, "PPssst, AJ."
I get up and head into the kitchen and am about to ask mom what she wants when I see Zeke hiding behind the bar. "Hey, I need you to keep Parker distracted so I can get upstairs."
"What? Why?"
"Because I'm all dirty, and I don't want him seeing me like this."
"You're always dirty, and you've made fun of me and Zack..." and I remember that my mom is on the other side of this bar, so I lower my voice, "...having sex. Why should I?"
"I'm sorry, okay, it was mostly to get under Zack's skin anyway. I'd never try to hurt your feelings. Come on, please."
I think it over and never recall Zeke acting like this before, and I wonder if this had to do with him being in love. "Okay, fine." I give him a cheeky smile, and he smiles back, then checks to see if Parker has moved over my shoulder. I check too, then return to my place on the couch.
Parker finishes his turn with the controller, and he hands it to me, "No, that's okay, you play. I play this all the time." Zack gives me an odd look, knowing that I never turn down a chance to play this game, and I return his look with a shoulder shrug. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Zeke hurry up the stairs as quietly as a charging bull can.
"Stop running up the stairs!" mom yells out, and all of us on the couch turn, look to the stairs to see no one, and look at her. She thinks a second or two and then heads back into the kitchen.
Zack gives me a suspicious look, and I shrug again, but this time with a giggle.
"Zack, be a dear and go find your uncle. Tell him that we have a heater down in the horse barn," mom says as she looks at the A.I. panel on the wall that controls the temperature in all the barns.
"Okay," my boyfriend says, and he hops up, tosses me the controller, and goes for his coat. It's not long before he's out the door, and Parker watches him leave. I notice him looking up toward the second floor and give it a look to see what he's looking at. "What'cha see?" I ask with general interest.
"Huh, nothing. Just looking... at the staircase. Very cool," he says, blushing. I'm starting to think this Parker kid is weird. "So, the twin that was sitting next to me, what's his name?"
"Zack was on the couch, and Zeke is in the shower, give it time, and you'll start seeing the clues. They're identical but there are clues like: Zeke is more adult and tough. Zack is more childlike and caring."
"Caring like... when he kissed you?" Oops, he saw us outside kissing, I bet.
"Umm," I begin to answer and squirm in my seat. "I love my brothers very much, but Zack and I... are close," I tell Parker, not sure what I should be telling him or not.
"Oh, okay," he responds, and we play the game for a little while. My nerves begin to calm down when he says. "I'm gay too."
Oh my gosh, that's a relief. I didn't feel like hiding my relationship at home. Wait, he's gay? "You are?"
"Yup, I've been out of the closet, as it were, for a couple of years now. That's why we had to move. Kids and even some teachers were not very accepting of me when they found out I was gay. I wasn't even allowed to be in the locker room with the other boys. I had to be early or stay later just to shower and change clothes.
"Wow, that sounds terrible. Well, you don't have to worry about it at our school. The whole school knows that Zack and I are gay, and they're fine with it. The `Lunch Table Boys' all accepted me almost immediately after finding out I was gay. I don't know how long they knew the twins were gay."
"Sooo, both twins are gay?"
"Yeah, but Zeke doesn't act like it very much. He will say things and tease me about it sometimes, like this morning he said he and I would have to have sex later, he's such a kidder," I say with a little laugh.
The doorknob to the garage begins to wiggle and then pops open slowly and with an extreme amount of effort. Lana's butt pokes through first, then the rest of her. She has her arms full of groceries. "Oh my god, never again. That was a suicide run." I see her notice me as I look over the back of the couch. "Hey, little bro, come help me with the groceries, and bring your new friend."
Parker pauses the game, and we head that way into the kitchen, dodging mom and Lana as they go through the bags. The trunk is open on her little blue Mustang. I have Parker load me up with five bags, and he takes the last two. Some laughter is exchanged between us as I fight for balance and complain that I can't see where I'm going. We banter back and forth as I struggle to get to the door. Without warning, Zeke rushes through it, almost knocking me down; thankfully, Parker catches me with his knee.
"Hey, watch it!" I say trying to stay upright.
Because of the shifting of the bags in my arms covering my face, I don't see whom Zeke is talking to when he says, "Do you need help with those?" But when he reaches past me and takes one of Parker's, I just couldn't believe it. They both walk into the kitchen in some kind of trance. Something tells me this is going to be annoying if I don't speed it along. Those two need to be boyfriends soon.
My mom sees me coming through the door and says, with a surprised voice, "Oh honey, I don't understand why you boys do this. Let me help you."
Mom helps with the bags in my arms, putting them on the table with the other two that Zeke and Parker carried in. "It's supposed to be a game, mom. One of us takes as many as we can carry to see how many you can balance..." the last part I yell out towards Zeke and Parker who have retreated to the sofa. "...but your brothers are supposed to help you if you can't see where you're going!" Zeke never takes his eyes off Parker as he takes my seat and my controller.
"Well, it sounds like a silly game, AJ. I don't want you playing it anymore."
Lana joins me at the bar, and I climb up on my stool. "Looks like there is another hen in the chicken coop," she says and tosses me a fresh orange. We watch the two lovebirds for a while. They aren't talking to each other or anything really but playing the game badly. From my seat, I think Zeke is trying to lose and Parker is trying to check out Zeke's dick without him knowing it. I should never have told him the twins were gay. Parker spends a lot of time staring at Zeke's groin. Wait, aren't those jeans the ones that have holes in the knees and crotch? Those are too tight for Zeke. Mom was going to cut them up and sew them so I could use them in the swimming hole. She does not know we swim naked.
He walks in front of me back to the couch, and seeing his little butt in front of me helps me forget how tight these pants are. They're very uncomfortable, and my hard-on is threatening to explode out of my already ripped crotch like that alien in... well, the movie: Alien. I think I've been hard ever since I locked eyes with Parker. I worked it over thoroughly in the shower and cummed twice, but it doesn't seem to mind.
"You smell good, err I mean, what kind of body wash do you use?" Parker asks with the sweetest, gentlest voice.
"Oh, ah, we use Sports Blast," I answer back, a little taken aback by the question. Not that I didn't like it; I just wasn't expecting it. Not wanting to be a conversation killer, I say, "You smell nice too." Fuck, I sound like an idiot.
He giggles, and for a minute, I think he sounds just like AJ when he laughs. Is that why I can't take my eyes off him? Is that why I want to tear off his clothes and let him fuck me on the couch. Fuck me... wow, that is my first thought, and I'm a top. I rarely bottom. "I use Deep Clean, but I also use Axe Body Spray and Deodorant." His face squinches up like he's trying to figure out why he told me what kind of deodorant he uses, it's cute.
"Hey, love birds! Chores let's get a move on it," Jack says, standing in the kitchen. I didn't even hear him come in with Hoss.
"Jack!?" I yell as if he just told the biggest secret of my life to everyone.
"No complaining, the horses eat before you two," says Hoss as if has been living here for years.
Parker and I jump up and get our coats and boots on, to the sound of AJ and my brother laughing. I'm sure he is feeling as uncomfortable as I am as we hurry out the back door into the cold Montana weather.
Fighting the wind, it takes both of us to shut the barn door. Well, to be honest, I probably could do it, but if I did, then I wouldn't get an excuse to rub against Parker. His body is solid, and I can feel it's well-built and forged by farm work like my own. He's slim like me and a few inches taller, but I just haven't hit my major growth spurt yet. I can't wait to be as big as Jack.
The door shuts and we stand back trying to act like we weren't rubbing all over each other. He stands up quickly and steps away from me like he knows I was copping a feel. "I umm..."
His face is as blushed as mine feels and he looks very uncomfortable when we both say at the same time, "I didn't mean to touch you like that."
And then again, "Sorry." Then we both break out in laughter.
"This normally only happens with my brother," I tell him as I turn and head to get the feed for the horses.
"Right, twins. Is it weird being twins? I mean I know he looks like you, exactly like you, but does he act like you too?"
Coming out of the supply corner with a bucket of feed and a horse brush, I say, "Weird... maybe for other people, but for us, it's normal. We are rated at 99.5% identical, but act the same, no, definitely not. He's more childish. I've spent my whole life being an adult. Sometimes, I wish I can be the little boy." I toss the brush to him and flash a smile. "Wow, that was a lot, sorry. You can brush them while I feed them." We move from horse to horse while I introduce them and get them ready for the night.
Mom has the table looking amazing. With browns and oranges, special plates, and glasses that she only uses during Thanksgiving, and she is even using placemats that have leaves and pumpkins printed on them. Between stealing kisses when we think that no one is watching and playing soccer/football on the PS5, we whisper back and forth about Parker and Zeke.
"Do you see how they look at each other?"
"Yeah, I thought Zeke was going to forget his name."
I giggle at Zack's last comment and score a goal. "Parker sure is cute, though. You don't think he's cuter than me, do you?"
Zack gives me a look of deep thought, and I elbow his ribs, "Of course you're cuter. You will always be my boy," and he kisses me.
Mom walks up to the window, overlooking the barns. "It doesn't take this long to do the evening chores. I wonder what Zeke and Parker are doing?" She wonders out loud.
"Probably each other," I say under my breath and start giggling at the thought of it. Zack joins in the laughing, but mom doesn't think it's funny.
"AJ, since you think it's so funny, please go outside and see what they're doing."
"Awe mom!" I protest.
"Go, mister. Zack, go wash up and hurry back so you can help me and your father with the food," she says with that look that all kids know that says, `the argument is over,' so I stand up in a huff and go get my coat and boots on.
Getting outside, I hurry as much as I can in the snow to the horse barn, it's the closest, and put all my strength into the door. I heave the door, but it only opens a couple of inches. Well shit. It's enough for me to look around inside, and if they're not inside then I'll head to the next barn. Aaaaand they're not in there. Forcing the door shut, I put my hands in my pockets and head to the next barn. Ahead of me, I can see them coming out of the equipment barn.
I giggle to myself hiding behind the horse barn and making as many snowballs as I can. I wait and wait, trying to do my best not to freeze to death laughing. I can hear them faintly at first, then loud enough to be right on top of me. So, I count the seconds for my master reveal.
"AH-HA!" I shout.
Parker and Zeke duck and dodge the snowball assault. I laugh and giggle until I realize that I've run out of snowballs. Taking off for the house, I beg for mercy, "No, no, don't hit me!"
"We're going to get you, little bro!"
Snowballs fly over my shoulder and strike me in the back as I run toward the back porch. Electricity shoots up my spine, causing me to fall into the snow. The sounds seem to blur, making me lose track of what is going on around me. Suddenly I can hear Parker laugh, "Come on, AJ, get up." I feel his strong hands under my arms, and he lifts me to my feet. We watch Zeke run past us, giving us the finger. Then I realize that I'm freezing everywhere except for the warm feeling coming from my crotch. Parker eggs me on, and we throw as many snowballs at Zeke as we can, two of which connect on his ass and leg. He acts as if we shot him with a cannon, and he falls into a snow pile, shouting out loud.
"Go AJ, go, hurry," Parker yells and lightly pushes me towards the house. I trudge my way back up to the door with one thing on my mind and stumble inside. Kicking off my boots and tossing my coat on the floor, I rush toward my room to get out of these wet clothes before mom sees them.
"AJ, honey, jacket!"
Halfway up the stairs, I hear Zack say, "Don't worry, mom, I got it."
I rounded the lower stairs (twenty-five steps), then my set of stairs (Twenty-seven steps). No wait... that's not right. There are not twenty-seven steps. I turn and look at the steps with my legs squeezed together and want to just go in my room to get out of these pee pants, but something tells me I must make sure the count is not twenty-seven. I hear mom yelling up the stairs about why I'm upstairs, but Zack says he's coming to check on me. He's going to find out. He's going to know I peed my pants again, but the stairs. I hurry down the stairs and start to count them again.
"Okay, twenty-three," I sigh, "that's right." Entering my bedroom, I slam my door and begin to strip my clothes off counting the balusters on my wall (forty-six balusters). I run to the dresser to get clean underwear, but the sound of the door opening, and Zack's voice stop me. I turn around to face him and shamefully cover my crotch.
"What's got into you, why are you naked?" I stand still, look humiliated, and begin to cry. It doesn't take him long to smell my pants, which sit on the floor at his feet, inside-out. At first, he looks cross, and then Dexter tells us that mom wants to know if AJ is okay.
"Please don't tell..." I whimper and start crying harder.
He nods and tells Dexter to tell mom that I'm all wet from playing in the snow. He walks over and hugs me, then wipes my tears away. "You can tell me later what happened. Let's get you cleaned up and dressed. We'll be sitting down for supper soon, and you smell like piss."
Coming down the stairs after one of Zack's famous sponge baths I feel much better and even have a little bounce in my step. Zeke and Zack lock eyes, and then his eyebrows go up as if he understands. The twin thing is getting annoying. It feels like I'm being left out of an important conversation.
"Is there something wrong," asks Parker. "I didn't hurt you outside during the snowball fight, did I?"
Before anyone can say anything, Zeke speaks up, "No, he's fine. His clothes got wet when he fell in the snow, is all." Then Zeke gives me a wink, and I smile at Zack.
"Come on, come on then. Take your seats. Jack, at the head of the table. Hoss is on the other end. Lana and boys in your chairs, Parker, you can sit next to Zeke," my mother instructs.
We shuffle about, trying to get in the correct chairs, and after a few misses causing a few giggles, we all get in our correct places. All the fixings lay out on the table: green beans, rolls, cream corn, stuffing with and without oysters, deviled eggs, and red, orange, and yellow stuff. Don't ask me what the stuff is, I have no idea. The orange stuff smells good, but don't ask me what it is.
"Before we bring out the turkey," Mom says loud enough for all of us to hear. "I want to go around the table and say what it is that we feel most thankful for. I'll go first, and we'll go clockwise around the table. The beginning months were incredibly hard on this family, and I didn't think we could ever say that we could move past it, but here we are. I'm thankful for three families acting as one and for AJ, Zack, and Zeke sitting with us safe and sound today, Jack."
Jack stands up, towering over the rest of us sitting down. "I'm thankful for the safety of all my boys, despite their best efforts." This earns him a laugh from everyone and the blushing of cheeks from all of us boys. "Seriously though, I'm thankful for new friends becoming like family and for the possibilities that lay before us for our future."
The twin next to me stands up and begins, "For those that still can't tell us apart, I'm Zeke," he said with the biggest smile on his face. Parker looks at the twin sitting next to him, giggling, as the standing one continues, "Just kidding." Mom gives Zack's arm a little push as she laughs, saying he had her for a moment. Not me, I would know my lover anywhere. "Sorry, I had to try. Anyway, I'm thankful for friends that become like family and for my eyes to be open to seeing my soulmate in the back of an SUV moving well over the speed limit." Everyone laughs, and mom swears she wasn't driving that fast. Zack waits for the laughter to die down and continues, "AJ, I love you with every bit of my soul and can't wait to put that ring on your finger."
I stand up before Zack sits down, and I hug my boyfriend. While I hold his hand, I look around the table at the faces of the people that have seen me at my worst and who have pulled me out of the darkness. "I umm," I stammer a little and feel a single tear being its trail down my cheek. "I don't really know what to say. It's hard to count what I'm thankful for the most. I'm thankful for friends that become like family and for being alive. Dyeing was not fun, and I have my boyfriend to thank for saving my life time and time again. I'm thankful for all the doctors who never gave up on me. But I'm also thankful for dad for reading me a story at night when I ask for one and mom for treating me like a normal boy. I know I should be way more careful, but where is the fun in that." The other boys agree with that statement, even Parker, but mom doesn't look convinced. "Zeke, thank you for being there protecting me from bullies and sharing all your friends with me making a network of boys that I consider my brothers, and last but not least. I'm thankful that Lana is finally treating me like a brother." Those that don't know our past, laugh. Lana, mom, and I do not.
Zeke needs some coaxing out of his chair by mom and me pushing him to stand. His face is colored a nice shade of embarrassment as he stands reluctantly, "Well I guess if AJ can do this, I can. I'm thankful for new friends becoming family, but what I'm most thankful for is AJ coming to save my ass..." his eyes shift to mom and the two of them share a serious stare. Zeke quickly corrects his language. "Sorry ma'am, old habits, AJ coming to save me from that insane Bobby Ton. I thought I was a goner. You protect me as much as I you little bro." He gives me a fist bump and continues, "And I'm extremely thankful for Uncle Jack, dad, for taking in two little six-year-old twins that were more than a handful. You've always been there for us no matter the trouble we get into. I know our dad is gone, but I'm super thankful that you are our dad now." Jack stands up and both twins hurry to him and embrace him tightly. As corny as it sounds, we all clap.
Parker and his dad are next, but they both say pretty much the same thing. They are thankful for a safe trip and for meeting new friends. But Parker did add this little bit that none of us were expecting, "I'm thankful for being in a new school where I don't have to hide who I am. When I was forced out of the closet, it caused a lot of problems in the small, redneck city we lived in. AJ tells me that he and the twins are out as gay at school, and everyone is cool with it. For once, I'm very excited and thankful for acceptance."
Lana is next, and she stands up and picks up her glass. Tapping on it with her spoon, she gains everyone's attention and motions for them to pick up their glasses. "I'll keep this brief because the food is getting cold. I'm thankful for friends that become like family and my boyfriend, Kota. I'm most thankful to Zack," Zacks looks a little uncomfortable, not knowing where she is going with this. I grip his hand a little tighter, and he smiles at me, then she continues, "You brought my little brother out of his shell. You gave him life and gave us all time to get to know him. He's so much younger than me, I've honestly not known how to act around him. He was quiet, annoying, and delicate, and you showed us that he is so much more. You and your brother have changed AJ, and through AJ, us." Lana holds up her glass and says, "Thank you."
Then dad leaves the table and comes back in carrying the turkey. It's magnificently golden, with potatoes and carrots surrounding the huge bird. The smell overtakes everyone at the table, and "oo's" and "aahhs" come from the people sitting around it. My mouth waters as light meat and dark meat are separated from the bird and offered to the rest of the family. After that, it's time to pass the dish in front of you after you try at least a little of everything. Smiling and the occasional giggle at someone being funny, mostly me, can be heard for the next couple of hours as we eat and enjoy each other's company. It was a great day, and after apple and pumpkin pie for everyone, extra whip cream for dad and Hoss, he-hee. We all sat down to watch Home Alone. We've always watched it after we're done eating for as long as I can remember. All in all, I grade it as one of the best Thanksgiving days I've ever had.
These stories have inspired my work:
| The Boys of East Harbor - Michael | Gay: Young Friends | https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/the-boys-of-east-harbor-michael/ |
| Transitions Daily Life | Gay: Adult/Youth | https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/transitions-daily-life/ |
| Transitions | Gay: Adult/Youth | https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gayadult-youth/transitions/ |
| Andrew's Misplaced Trust | Gay: Adult/Youth | https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/andrews-misplaced-trust/ |