Date: Thu, 31 Aug 2000 17:25:04 -0500 From: fsw99 Subject: Chapter 20 of One Big Happy Family Legal Notice: The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality. Don't read this story if: **You're not 18 or over, **If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live, **Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex. The author retains copyright to this story. Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's permission is a violation of that copyright. Legal action will be taken against violators. E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: fsw99@mindspring.com. Chapter Twenty "Phill, do you think your parents would let you spend the night with us tonight? If you could, I could call Isaiah and see if he could also spend the night before Stan gets to his house. We could practice as long as we wanted that way," Robbie asked. "I don't know, since it is our first night in our new house. I could ask them, though," Phill answered. "I'll be right back," he said as he ran out the door. He was back in no time. "My parents didn't really like the idea, but they agreed, as long as it is alright with Stan." "He won't care at all. He just added two more boys to his family this morning. One or two more won't make any difference to him. Let me call Isaiah real quick before Stan has already picked him up," Robbie said. Robbie didn't have any idea that we would take several minutes longer to get to Isaiah's than normal, so Isaiah was already packed when we arrived. "Stan, Robbie called while you were on your way here. He wants you to call him before we leave," Isaiah said as he reached my car. I had my cell phone in the car, so I called like I had been asked. My house wasn't but five minutes away, and I didn't see why Robbie needed to talk to me so bad. But as I have said before, Robbie has had me wrapped around his little finger for a long time, so I called. And Robbie was right, what was two more boys spending the night. How was I going to sleep all five of them, anyway? At least Isaiah already had all of his clothes ready. *************************** "We haven't heard from Robbie in several days now. I wonder how the band is coming along?" Matt said. "I don't know. I was wondering the same thing. Maybe we ought to send them an e-mail and try to talk to them over ICQ tonight and find out," Mike answered. "That is a good idea. Maybe we could go down and visit them this weekend. We haven't done that in a long time and once school starts, we won't have as much time as we do now," Matt said. "Fine with me. Stan said we could come visit any time we wanted too the last time we were there. They have plenty of room for us. Let's boot the puter and send it before we have to go to work," Mike said. ***************************** "Wow. I have never heard any group that sounds like this. I really like Styx. Their music is really complicated, though. Can you guys really play any of these songs?" Phill asked. "We sound pretty good on about half of them. We are also trying to learn some from Boston, too. Have you ever heard of them?" Robbie asked. "No, I don't think so. Let's play a couple by them. If they are half as good as the Styx Greatest Hits CD, I will like them too. What is the name of their CD?" Phill asked. "It is just called Boston. They recorded it in their basement on a 12 track recorder before they even signed a record contract. The leader of the band is named Tom Shultz. He plays keyboards and lead guitar and has a master's degree in electrical engineering from Harvard. He is really a genius, and he did all of the mixing of the songs himself. It is a great CD. I think you will like it, too," Robbie said, as he put it on. After they had played several of the songs, Phill really liked Boston just as much as he did Styx. Just as `Long Time` was finishing, the other three boys and Stan walked down the steps to the basement. "All right, you are finally back. Isaiah, this is Phill. He just moved in next door today. He also plays lead guitar. Phill, Isaiah plays keyboards and also is our lead singer," Robbie said. "Hi, Phill. We really do need another guitar player. I hope you are really good," Isaiah said. "I promise to try my best. I have been playing for four years. The music you are playing is pretty complicated, though. I am going to have to listen to it many times before I think I will be able to play it," Phill said. "Did you hear us playing `Long Time` when you walked into the house? I really love that song," Robbie said. "I could hear it playing three blocks away," I kidded. "Come on, Stan. We didn't have it that loud. My poor little stereo could possibly be heard outside the house. You really need to buy me a new one, you know," Robbie kidded. "Hey, if I have to feed all five of you all of the time, I may have to write my books twice as fast as I do now just to keep up. I think you getting a new stereo may have to wait for a while," I kidded. "What do you think of my old music, Phill? I have seen Boston three times and Styx twice. The guys have kind of stolen both of my CD's. I don't think I am going to get them back any time soon." "I really like them a lot, Stan. I had never heard of either group before today, but I do like them," Phill said. "Well, you can borrow them for a while. You need to listen to the songs that the guys are learning about three or four times each, and you will start to pick up the guitar parts. Just play rhythm guitar to start with. Robbie has learned all the solos. Once you start to really learn the songs, I am sure Robbie will let you play some of the solos, too. If you hold him down and threaten to break his arm, that is," I kidded. "Thanks again, Stan. You are really on a roll today, aren't you?" Robbie kidded back. "OK, I'll ease up on you. Sorry, I just can't help myself sometimes. Why don't you guys play something before I have to go upstairs and start to work," I said. "Good idea. Before we start, Robbie said that once I heard the kind of music you play, I could ask you if we could play some of The Police's songs. I really love their music," Phill said. "Uh! The Police really SUCK!!" Paul said. "Paul, I thought you agreed to try and be a lot nicer to everyone from now on," Ed said. "I am. I promised, didn't I? I wasn't trying to be mean to Phill. I just really hate the Police," Paul answered. "OK, just try to be a little nicer in the way you say things to people. To be honest, I really don't like the Police either," Ed said. "Look, Phill, we have just met, but I have to agree with Ed. Really, I also agree with Paul, unfortunately," Isaiah said. "You don't like them either?" Phill said to Robbie and me. Robbie didn't say anything, he just shook his head no with a sad look on his face. Phill looked over to me, and I said, "Sorry, Phill, I think it is a consensus. Five votes for The Police Suck!!" Everyone burst out laughing, even Phill. "OK, I promise not to bring them back up again. You could at least have let me get settled in next door before you hurt my feelings, you know," he kidded. "Phill, we really aren't trying to hurt your feelings. If there are some songs from other British bands that you want us to see if we want to play, I am sure we would give them a try," Paul said. "Thanks, Paul. What British groups do you think are better than The Police?" Phill asked. "Well, any of them, I guess," Paul said. "So you think The Police are the worst British band ever?" Phill asked with a smile on his face. "Hey, you are turning my words around. I was trying to be nice, like Ed said to be, and your feelings are still going to be hurt," Paul answered, grinning himself. "Yeah, Paul doesn't usually need any help to hurt anyone's feelings. He does it really well on his own," Ed said. Paul looked up at me and grinned. "Sometimes a guy just can't seem to win, you know, Stan?" "Don't worry about it Paul. At least you tried," I answered. "Why don't you guys play something and convince Phill that what you are playing is better than The Police. I think that would be a good way to do it." And so, the boys did just that. They started playing `Come Sail Away` and `Don't Let It End` by Styx and `More Than a Feeling` and `Long Time` by Boston and by the end of the day, they had Phill convinced that The Police really did suck in comparison. (That hasn't happened in real life yet, but I am still working on Phill - hehehehe) **************************** The boys practiced for several hours until everyone was tired, even Paul. Phill was really starting to pick up the rhythm guitar parts of some songs, and the rest of the band knew they had found their missing member. "Phill, you are really good. All of us want you in the band," Isaiah said. "Thanks. Like I said before, I will try my best," Phill answered. "Phill, we can practice some of the dual guitar pieces when the rest of the guys aren't here. I can't wait to hear us play the songs the way they are supposed to be played," Robbie said enthusiastically. "Hey guys, dinner is ready," I yelled down the stairs. "OK, we will be right up," Robbie said. What do you feed five hungry boys? I took the easy way out. I ordered pizza and chicken wings. Chicken wings for me, pizza for the guys. Three large pizzas seemed like a lot, but all three disappeared quickly. Boys that age must have a hollow leg. ***************************** Before bed, Robbie dialed into the internet and found the e-mail from Matt and Mike. He quickly got out of e-mail and started up ICQ and M&M were already on line like they are most nights. Hey guys, Matt and Mike are on ICQ. Come into the office and let's talk to them over ICQ," Robbie said. Soon, all five boys were surrounding the 17 inch screen. "Who are Matt and Mike?" Phill asked. "They are our band managers. It is a long story. I will tell you all about it later, OK?" Robbie said, wondering how he could really explain ANY of their story to Phill. "Hi guys. I got your e-mail," Robbie wrote. "Hi. We were just wondering how the band is doing," Matt wrote. Mike really didn't like to type as much as Matt, so Matt did almost all of the typing but both of them decided what to say. "We have just found a new guitarist named Phill. All five of us are here now," Robbie said. "Great. Hi Phill. I hope you are as good as the rest of the band. We are trying to find you some jobs around here at our college, but they all want a demo tape of you playing. Is there any way you could record yourself playing?" Matt asked. "I don't know. I will have to ask Stan if he can find out. I have no idea how much that would cost," Robbie said. "We really aren't ready yet anyway. Phill has to learn all the songs before we could do that." "OK, we are just trying to start to earn our percentage. It would be a long drive, but if you get some references, it might open up a lot of doors for you. We have a big house, and you could stay with us overnight when you played, if it ever works out. All of us just kind of crash on the floor sometimes," Matt said. "Thanks for trying to help. I will let you know about the demo tape, OK?" Robbie asked. "Ok with us. We have to go. It is time for us to talk to Peter and Scott, and we just saw them sign on. Later, OK?" Matt wrote. "Sure. Bye," Robbie wrote. ***************************** "Stan, we just talked to Matt and Mike. They are trying to get us some jobs around their college and they said we need a demo tape. Do you have any idea how much that would cost?" Robbie asked. "I have no idea. I can make some calls and find out. You aren't ready for that though, are you?" "No, we have to practice with Phill for several more weeks before we could be ready for something like that. We would want to be as good as we could possibly be before we spent any money. Speaking of the demo tape, could you loan us a little money to make the tape if we pay you back?" Robbie asked, with a slight smile on his face. I knew when he asked about the tape that the money question was coming. I just didn't know when. I know you are tired of hearing this. Little finger. Twisted. Me. Fuck it. "Sure, Robbie, you know I will. I really think you guys could make some really good spending money with your band. You are really good right now, and another month of practicing, you might be great. Let me make some calls, OK?" It was kind of tired, so I excused myself and got out fresh sheets and pillows and made up the pull out bed in the basement. I walked back in the den and said, "It is getting kind of late, guys. How are we going to work the sleeping arrangements? I made up the bed in the basement." "Isaiah can sleep with me in my room," Ed said quickly. I had expected that. I had noticed that Ed and Isaiah had been getting really friendly lately. "Phill and I can sleep on the bed in the basement," Robbie said, blushing slightly. That I hadn't expected. This would be the first night Robbie and I hadn't slept together since he moved in here, at least when he was sleeping here. I knew we really couldn't afford to do that with Phill in the house, but it still kind of hurt. I tried not to show it, but a couple of the boys noticed. "Well, it is getting kind of late, so why don't we all turn in? That way, we can all get a good nights sleep and you can start practicing first thing in the morning. Once Phill gets up to speed, we will talk about the demo tape. You will enjoy playing lots more if you start seeing some money coming in," I said. They all agreed and everyone started for their respective bedrooms. I made sure the front door was locked and turned out the lights and headed to my own bedroom. When I got there, Paul was sitting on my bed, waiting on me. "Hi Paul. Is there anything you need?" "No, everything is fine. I just wanted to say how sorry I am about my slip up earlier today and how my attitude has been towards you and everyone else. I am really going to try to improve my attitude and I won't slip up again, I promise," he said, as he came up and hugged me. "Who is this kid?" I thought to myself. "This certainly can't be Paul." "That's OK, Paul, nothing happened with your slip up, and all I ask is for you to try and be the best person you can be. I don't expect you or Ed to be perfect, just be yourself, all right?" I asked, as I returned the hug. "I understand," he said, breaking the hug. "Thanks. You have been so good to us. Would you like me to sleep in here with you tonight and keep you company? Everyone else has someone to sleep with but you and I," he said. Sleep in here? What did he mean? "No Paul, I think it is better if you sleep in your own room. Don't you want to try out your new bed?" I asked, letting him go. "Well, I guess so. You want to come in while I get ready for bed?" he asked. Huh? "No, I think you are plenty big enough to do that yourself. I think I am just going to lay here and read a few minutes and then go to bed." Paul just stared at me like he didn't understand what I meant. I was really puzzled at his reaction. "OK, well goodnight then," he said, as he walked out of the room. I went over and shut my door after he had entered his own bedroom. I just kind of shook my head. I had no idea what he had on his mind. At least his attitude was lots better. I still knew I had a way to go before I understood Paul. Comments can be sent to fsw99@mindspring.com