Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 17:22:41 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: Son of a Preacher Man - chapter 10

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
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permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken
against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this
chapter.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

            *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

Son of a Preacher Man - by BW (Young-Friends).    Copyright 2000 by billwstories
Chapter 10 - Return to the Promised Land.         January 2000

The next morning I ran into Peter's mother and she asked if we could talk.
When I agreed, she took me into the living room, where we could continue in
privacy.

"Zach, did you get a chance to listen to the song?"

"Yes, ma'am.  I listened to it, over and over last night."

"And what did you think of it?"

"It was a very nice song."

"But what do you think it was saying?"

I thought for a minute before responding.  "I think that it means that love
can be many things.  It can be a feeling and it can be longing or a desire.
It also says that love can be hurtful and it can also be wonderful.  But
there's more than just that.  I think it also means that to give or receive
love, you have to work at it, nurture it, and trust the ones you love to
make your love grow."

"I'd say that that is a pretty fair synopsis.  Do you know what that means
for you?"

"It means that I should talk things over and try to work things out with my
dad, but I've tried that.  My dad won't give in and I can't make the
promise that he wants me to make.  I've felt the joys of love and now I'm
suffering the pain.  I only hope my dad and I live long enough to grow back
into that love and that we can reach some sort of common ground to mend our
disagreement."

"Well, I guess you don't need me any more," she announced, as she started
to leave the room.  She stopped in the doorway and turned toward me, once
more.  "I just want to tell you one more thing.  I know your parents love
you very much and, given some time, I'm sure that you can all find a
compromise solution that you can live with.  Remember, Zach, time heals all
wounds and, eventually, you and your parents will either come to grips with
this problem or learn to forget about the irritant that caused this pain.
Things will work themselves out, Zach, so don't you give up hope.  Trust in
the Lord and seek his advice and, in time, the solution will present itself
to you.  Have faith, Zach, and you will find an answer."

"Thanks, Mrs. Anderson, you've been a big help.  I only hope my dad and I
will get to that point you talk about.  It's just too hard to keep going,
knowing my father is upset with me.  I want his love and I think that he
wants mine.  I'll keep trying to talk to him and, maybe someday, we can get
things back to normal."

Mrs. Anderson kissed me on the forehead and gave me a hug, but I don't
think she could ever realize how much her gift and pep talk did to lift my
spirits.  Whether she knew it or not, she gave me the hope that our broken
fences might still have a chance to be mended.  That evening, I began to
pray each night that God would show me the way to be reunited with and
welcomed by my parents.

In the meantime, the three of us buddies went back to work on the farm and
we spent all of our free time in various leisure activities, including sex.
I got to see my first real movie, in a theater, and I started to listen to
Ryan's music, with him and Peter.  Suddenly, a whole new world was opened
up to me and I realized how much I had missed because of my father's
restrictions.  The more I learned from Ryan and Peter, the more I
discovered how suffocating my father's protective love had been.  He never
let me grow up on my own or participate in any decisions concerning my
life.  Everything I did, thought, and was allowed to participate in, was
dictated by my father's moral and spiritual code.  This was fine while I
was small but, once I reached the point where I could think and rationalize
on my own, I should have been given some voice in matters concerning me.
This never happened and now I was estranged from two of the people I loved
the most.

I was willing to make some concessions to their beliefs, but the only
choice my father left me with was to become celibate and live in virtual
solitude.  I couldn't trust myself to control my emotions, if I were to be
around other young males, so I knew the only way I could accomplish what my
father requested would be to isolate myself completely, physically,
mentally, and emotionally from all other guys.  Subconsciously, I
determined that I would rather have Ryan and Peter's love over that of my
parents, so I accepted my share of the blame at not being able to resolve
my dilemma.  I was preparing to forgo my parents' acceptance and forge my
own future.  From this time forward, I would make my own choices, choices
that would lead me into the world of adulthood.  Now, I had one finally
decision to make.

There were only three more weeks until the end of summer and I still had to
decide whether I should go back and live at Peter's house, remaining
physically near my parents, or stay with Ryan's family and remain with my
heart's desire.  I remained in constant contact with both boys, discussing
my options and the consequences of each decision, but I was still agonizing
over the alternatives.  The summer was nearly over and I still hadn't made
my final choice.  After grappling with my possibilities, I finally decided
on staying with Ryan.  I explained my decision to both of my friends and
waited for their reactions.  Peter hugged me and told me how much he'd miss
me, but he said that he understood my reasons for making this decision.  He
said he would have done as I was doing.  He also told us that he would be
saving his money, so he could buy his tickets to return over Christmas and
the following summer, so we could all be reunited again, if only briefly.
Ryan and I also promised to e-mail him, from the school or the local
library, and we told him that we'd let him know the colleges we were
leaning toward applying to.  It was a very emotional evening, but we all
felt relieved that the decision had been made and that the tension, caused
by my having to decide, was now behind us.

We spent our last few days working and trying to load Peter up with enough
sexual attention to keep him satisfied until Christmas.  There were only
two days left before his return trip, when we arrived home from work to
discover a surprise.

"Dad?  What are you doing here?"

"Zechariah, I would like to speak with you, in private, if you don't mind?"

"Sure, let's go for a walk."  My heart was racing, trying to decide what
brought my dad all the way here and what possibilities that it might offer.
I could feel my heart beating in my eardrums, as that vital organ had
switched into overdrive and excitedly pumped blood throughout my body.  As
we walked, I silently prayed that this nightmare might soon be coming to an
end.  Dad and I walked quite a way down the road before he spoke.

"Zechariah, I have spent the whole summer rehashing our final discussion
and all the arguments you presented to me before you left.

'Oh, no,' I thought, he's using my proper name again and he's done it
twice.

"I have considered the various points you made that day," he continued,
"and I've done some research on the matter.  I have made some decisions and
I've come to make you an offer."

My heart leapt into my throat.  What offer is he going to make me?  Is he
going to take me back?  My mind raced over the possibilities, but I had to
force myself to focus on his words.

"Zach, I have looked into the psychological studies concerning the origins
of homosexual preferences.  After much reading, I'm beginning to agree with
your assumption that you had no choice in being gay.  I'm willing to live
with that fact."

I stopped in my tracks, turned, and threw my arms around my father's neck.
I believed that he was making the first move toward taking me back.  My
emotions were overtaking me and tears were streaming down my face.  I tried
to control my irregular breathing and force myself not to hyperventilate.

"Zach, there's more."

Suddenly, my heart stopped again, fearing what this more might be.

"I said that I would agree that you didn't have a choice about being gay,
but I still cannot accept the behavior involved with that life style, at
least not in my house."

'What is he saying?' I thought.  'Why did he come here, if he's only going
to tell me that he still can't accept who I am?'  My mind continued to
ponder the meaning of his words, when my father's voice snapped me back to
what he was trying to tell me.

"Zach.  Zach!  You've got to pay attention to what I'm saying."

"I'm sorry, Dad.  I was just considering what you said."

"I know, but I need you to listen carefully."

"I will.  Go ahead and continue."

"As I was saying, I won't allow those activities to take place under my
roof, but I am willing to concede that you have the right to make your own
decisions.  You know my views and what the scriptures say.  You're the one
who will have to live with those choices and pay the consequences, if any,
when Judgment Day arrives. Therefore, I will accept your decisions
concerning how you plan to live your life and I will not question them any
further."

Once more, I wrapped my arms around my father's chest and I started sobbing
once again.  Maybe my prayers had been answered and God was giving me the
solution I had prayed for.  My father placed a hand on each side of my face
and lifted my head, so that we were looking into each other's eyes.

"Zach.  I am willing to let you come back home if you will make me one
small promise."

'Oh, no!  Not the promise, again,' I thought.  'We've already covered this
ground and I told him that I couldn't agree to make that pledge.  To come
so far, only to end up back on square one.'

"Zechariah!  Will you please pay attention?"

"I'm sorry, Dad.  I will."

"It's not what you're thinking.  I'm not going to ask you to make the same
promise I asked of you before."

Suddenly, I felt the air reenter my lungs and I was able to breathe
normally again.  This pronouncement had helped me to shed the one fear that
I dreaded the most, that old request.  I was almost ready to give in to
that demand, but I wasn't sure that the loneliness and misery that would
accompany it was worth the healing effect it would have on the source of
our estrangement.

"What I want you to promise is this, son.  If I let you return to our home,
I want you to promise me that you will honor your mother's and my feelings,
by not doing those things under our roof.  What you do outside our home is
entirely your decision.  If you can promise me that tiny favor, you are
welcome to return to your home and live with your mother and me, for as
long as you desire."

I was so overwhelmed by this comment that my legs gave out and I fell to my
knees.  My dad rushed to my side, offering me his assistance, and I just
started weeping, uncontrollably.  My dad hugged me and kissed me on the
forehead, cradling my body in his soothing arms until I regained my
composure.  Once I was able to restore my cool, I hissed my breathless
reply.

"I promise, Dad, I promise.  Thank you.  Thank you.  I love you so very
much."

"I love you too, son."

With that said, we returned to Ryan's house and we announced our
reconciliation.  Everyone seemed genuinely happy and relieved by our
announcement, and they all hugged us and offered their congratulations.
Mrs. Anderson winked at me, and I knew she was thinking back to our prior
discussion.

I took Ryan and Peter outside, so we could discuss the implications of this
turnabout.

"Rye, you know that I still love you and this won't change a thing."

"I know, Zach, and I'm happy for you.  We can continue, now, as we
originally planned."

"Yes, but Peter and I will still keep in touch, so we can line up our
college choices trilaterally.  We're still going to make our visits and
we're all going to stay together, as we prepare for the rest of our lives.
Being gay, I don't think that anyone will try to pressure me into going to
Bible College any more, so I'll have to choose a new goal.  We will write
and call, to keep in touch, and you will always be part of our lives.  You
shall be my last thought before going to sleep each evening and my first
thought when I awake."

"Same here.  I love you, Zach, and I'm soooooo happy that things worked out
for you."

The three of us shared a group hug and all of us cried heartfelt tears of
joy.  After many weeks of pain and heartache, my ordeal was near an end.
My father stayed with us for the last two days, choosing to return home
with Peter and me.  Dad actually talked to Peter and treated him the same
as he did before Mom caught us together in that compromising position.

Peter and I picked up our final wages, packed our belongings, and rode the
bus with Dad to the airport.  Our flight back was quite enjoyable and we
had pleasant conversations the whole way.  After landing, Dad got his car
out of long-term parking and we drove back home.  We dropped Peter off at
his parents' home and we continued to ours.  When we arrived at our house,
Mom came rushing out to greet us.  She raced over to the passenger's door,
as I got out of the car, and we embraced, cried, and kissed each other.  We
let the other one know that everything was all right now, and things would
be returning to normal.  It was an emotional evening, with lots of tears,
hugs, and kisses, but we were once more a family and safe in the knowledge
and comfort of each other's love.

THE END.

                *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.