Date: Mon, 19 Jun 2023 16:00:29 -0400 From: Lee Wilson Subject: Look But Don't Look - Epilogue Look, But Don't Look, Look This story is an original work of gay fiction, none of the people or events are real. If you enjoy this or the other stories here, why not donate to keep the fun alive? Donate here: https://donate.nifty.org/ The gang: Virgil Caine - 14 Sam Lassiter - 13 Bobby Lassiter - 11 Scott Willis - 13 Tim Thomason - 11 Art Lamonica - 12 Seth Milton - 12 Other supporting characters: Allison Willis - 10 Steven Lassiter - 17 Tommy Thomason - 16 Winston Carter - 16 Pete Willis - 17 EPILOGUE Steven I'm thinking that after dad has his hearing with the feds, he might get moved to a federal facility, who knows where. Since he's still reasonably local, if I want to go confront him, now is the time. This weekend I'll take a trip to the jail to visit him. The drive to Forest State Penitentiary isn't a short one, almost 90 minutes, but this is a one-time deal so I can handle it. Saturday rolls around and I visit the prison. After going through what seems like 75 levels of security, I'm finally waiting in the visitor's area. I almost don't recognize him when he walks into the room. He's lost a lot of weight and has bruises on his face. Well, he did it to himself by his actions. "Steven. Oh, it's great to see you." He won't think that after I start talking. "Yeah. I wasn't sure I was going to do this, but I decided to anyway. Firstly, Sam and Bobby asked me to tell you they hate you. Me, hate doesn't quite fit. Disgusted that you're my father is more accurate. You've fucked up our lives in addition to fucking up your own. We're lucky your mother decided to sell her house and move in with us, otherwise we'd be uprooted at least if not homeless. I see you've been beaten. Good, you deserve every punch, bruise, broken bone, whatever, that you get. I can hardly stand to look at you, but I needed to get this off my chest. I'll let you respond, but don't expect much beyond that." "I'm so sorry I did this. I understand your disgust. I'm disgusted with myself. This place is horrible. I'm actually hoping they send me to a federal facility in a couple weeks. I know I won't last long here." It takes all my willpower to not reply 'good' but I succeed. "I'm sorry that's the case, but you only have yourself to blame. I've said what I wanted to." I stand up to leave. "Wait. One minute. I know I did this to myself. Can you tell your brothers I still love them, and apologize to Sam for me? I love you and your mother too." "I will. Goodbye. Take care of yourself." I turn around and walk out the door. Phil I thought if one of my sons would still be somewhat civil it'd be Steven. But he is so bitter it hurts. I can't change what happened, but I've lost everything. An occasional visit even from Steven would have made all the difference in the world. Now what do I have to look forward to? Constant beatings, getting raped almost every day. My life went from perfectly fine to a smouldering pile of shit in the blink of an eye. Please feds, send me somewhere else!!! Steven Back at home, I grab Sam and Bobby to give them dad's message. I know they won't care what it is but I told him I would tell them, so... "How was your visit with the butthead?" "Short Bobby. I said what I had to say. He was all apologetic, but I had to wonder if he's sorry for what he did to us or if he's sorry for himself. Anyway, I'm pretty sure you don't want to hear it, but I told him I'd pass on the message. He said he still loves all of us and he specifically asked me to apologize for him to you Sam." "You're right I don't want to hear it. Fuck him and his apology. You did what you said you would. Now, he doesn't exist for me." "Me neither." "I hear you guys. Like I said, I told him I'd pass on the message. We never have to talk about him again." That statement quickly turns out not to be true. Wednesday afternoon of that week the doorbell rings. Maureen answers the door. "Yes? Can I help you?" "Hello ma'am. I'm Robert Fulham from the PA Department of Corrections. Can I come in and talk to you for a few minutes? Preferably with your sons as well?" "This is about Phil?" "Yes. May I come in?" "Sure, sorry. We can sit in the living room. The boys have pretty much disowned their father. I have too, but I'll be courteous and listen to what you have to say. I can share anything necessary with them after school. Phil's mother lives with us now, is this something she should hear as well?" "I would have to say so, yes." "OK, I'll be back in just one minute..." Maureen gets Maggie and tells her there's a gentleman here to tell them something about Phil. They both return to the living room and sit down. "Maureen, Maggie, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but Phil was beaten badly yesterday. Apparently he intentionally threatened and insulted one of the leaders of the unofficial gangs present in the prison. He didn't survive the incident. I'm sorry, but Phil is dead." Maureen and Maggie are speechless for a minute, gathering their thoughts. Maureen, having written Phil off already recovers quicker. "Obviously this is a shock to both of us. Personally I'm not sure how to react. You may not know this but I divorced Phil shortly after he went to jail. I suspect I'll be upset later, but if you know what he did, you'll hopefully understand my callousness." "Yes, I'm aware of his crimes and the divorce. I understand this is a shock to both of you." "What will happen to his body?" "Well, that's one of the things we need to talk about Maggie. Usually we release the body to the family. We'll deliver him to whatever funeral home you wish." "And if we don't want it?" "Marueen, we need to do what is right regardless of what Phil has done." "Whatever. I'll be alright with anything you decide. He stopped being my husband but he'll always be your son." "Do you need to know right now Mr. Fulham?" "No, I can leave my card and you can contact me in the next day or so after you've contacted a funeral home." "I'll have to do that. I recently moved from Winslow and am not familiar with any around here." "Perfectly understandable. Do you have any other questions for me?" "You said he apparently intentionally threatened this gang leader. Does the prison suspect it was some way of essentially committing suicide?" "I have to believe that is the case Maggie. Witnesses indicate the confrontation was unprovoked. The two had never had any interaction previously. We'll perform a complete investigation, but the alleged killer is already serving three life sentences for murder, so there's really not much we can do to him." "Alright. Thank you Mr. Pulham. I'll be in touch tomorrow or Friday." "Thank you Mrs. Lassiter. Again, I'm sorry for your loss." Pulham leaves. After a short while the shock begins to wear off and the two Lassiter women cry and console each other. Shortly thereafter the boys are all home from school and Maureen calls them together to break the news. "I've got something to tell the three of you. It's not going to be pleasant." "What's up mom?" "Well Steven. I got a visit from the Department of Corrections today. Your father died last night after starting a fight." "Oh. Can I go to Virgil's?" "Wait, dad started a fight? He was beat up and frail when I saw him Saturday. He had to know he couldn't win any fight." "The prison believes he did it intentionally with the hope it would result in his death." "Holy shit." "Well, can I?" "I was kind of hoping for a different reaction Sam, but yes. We can talk later if you need to." "I won't need to. I'll be back in time for dinner." Sam leaves. "How about you Bobby? Are you OK?" "I guess. I mean I'm sorry he's dead and all, but I guess I'm not all that upset about it after what he did to us. It might hit me harder later." "Of course. I'm here if you do need to talk about it. Steven, what about you?" "Um. I don't know. I wasn't very nice to him when I visited. I'd hate to believe that drove his decision some. I need to think about this for a while." "I'm here for you as well if you want to talk." "I know. Thanks for telling us, you actually could have left us in the dark and we'd never have known." "No. I couldn't do that." Bobby was already seeing a therapist to deal with his fears from himself getting beat up, so he talked to him to get past his lack of grief. After a while Steven couldn't handle the guilt any more and visited the same therapist as well, thinking he already knew the family's story, it'd be a lot less background he'd need to share. It took a while, but Steven finally dealt with his guilt, recognizing, like he had said to his father himself, that his father did it to himself and deserved whatever was coming to him. Sam, on the other hand, seemed happier than he had in a long while. Maureen hopes that he won't have a bad reaction some time in the future, but all she can do is keep an eye on him. He refused therapy. He and Virgil are still boyfriends. Maggie arranged to have Phil cremated and his ashes spread over a lake in Winslow he used fish in as a younger man. Author's Note I think I will be coming back to revisit the boys' adventures, I kind of miss them and have a few ideas about what I can have them do. I tend to have a couple stories in progress simultaneously, so look for a new one at some point in the not too distant future. I'll provide a link in whatever story is active at the time. If you liked this, check out my other stories on nifty: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/my-roommate-teaches-me https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/high-school-cum-boy/ Thanks to those of you who have sent email. I appreciate the comments, good and bad. Although thankfully, they've all been mostly good. If you're interested in reading anything else I may write in the future, these guys or not, keep an eye on the links section in future posts. Or drop me a line. I love hearing from you guys and I will always answer. https://donate.nifty.org/ LRW