Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2021 18:24:22 +0000 From: entirelyawesome Subject: Short Story "The Bastard Boy" Author's Note: The following is a work of fiction and belongs to the author and should not be re-posted or reproduced without his permission. This story revolves around the relationship between two underage boys. Their relationship is non-sexual in nature, however, I believe it may be some you will enjoy. "The Bastard Boy" Scene: Period piece, Ireland, mid-afternoon, children playing in the background; Collin O'Connor (age 8) approaching Michael Donnelly (age 12) near a group of other boys; all characters speak with thick Irish accents "Michael...can I speak to ya?" Collin asked in a small voice, looking worriedly at the group of boys, all a bit older than him. "Whatcha want O'Connor?" Michael replied with a stern look, sounding slightly annoyed. "Can I speak to ya...in private?" "Whatever you have to say to me, you can say it here...in front of the lads." "Please, Michael...it's private." Michael looked to the small group, "Go on without me, I'll catch up with ya later," he turned back to Collin, becoming genuinely irritated by the boy, "Here I am, whatcha want?" Collin waited until the other boys were out of earshot then spoke cautiously, "Yesterday, I heard your dad talking to me mother, he said...he's my father. That makes us brothers...you and me." "Whatcha on about, O'Connor...?" Michael asked, exasperated. "It's true, I heard him tell it to me mum, he's my da..." "Quit yer lyin' Collin!" Michael grabbed the small boy by his arm and squeezed it, "You shut your filthy mouth about me dad! Take it back...you take it back or I'll hit ya!" "Ow Michael! You're hurtin' me," Collin began to cry. "Take it back!" "It's true Michael...I ain't lyin'! Tears of pain rolled down Collin's cheeks, "I heard him...I heard him say it...!" Michael slapped smaller boy's face as hard as he could then threw him to the ground. "You're a liar! Don't you talk about my dad! He's not your father...and we're not brothers!" Collin lay on the ground crying, holding his face in his small hands while Michael marched away shaking with anger. *** Scene: Late-afternoon, outside the Donnelly family farmhouse "Mum, I need to speak to dad," Michael said to his mother upon returning home. "He's out back in the garden. What's the matter, boy?" "Sorry mum, I need to speak to dad," he replied, walking toward the rear of the house to find his father. "Dad, can I speak to ya?" Michael said, approaching his father. Miles Donnelly paused with his shovel to wipe the sweat from his brow, "Aye, I'm right here. Whatcha want, boy?" "I got inna a fight today, Dad...I'm sorry." "Who ya been fightin'?" "That Collin O'Connor boy," Michael grew angry again just mentioning the name. "Whatcha fightin' him for? He's just a wee boy." "I know, Dad...and I'm sorry. But he was tellin' lies aboutcha. He was sayin' you're his father...and I got angry." Miles looked at his son with a reserved expression, "Look, you can't be fightin' Collin." "I know, Dad, sorry." "Did ya tell ya mother?" "No sir, I wanted to speak to ya first." Miles looked at his boy for a moment then spoke quietly, "I didn't want ya to find out this way. I wanted to wait 'til you were older, so ya could understand." "Understand? What?" "Collin, he's my son...and your baby brother." Stunned, Michael tried to process what his father had just told him. Collin couldn't be his brother--he's the bastard boy of that Maggie O'Connor whore, all the kids knew it. "What are ya tellin' me, Dad...? He's me brother...? "Ya heard me right, son. I can't tell it more plain. Collin is my boy, same as you." Michael tried to speak, but the words wouldn't come. He looked at his father, shock and disbelief masked his face. Slowly, he began to understand what he was hearing. Collin O'Connor, the boy everyone picked on and called names--was his little brother. Reality swam back into focus, Michael's confusion was replaced with immense shame for how he had treated the small boy. The impact of his recent actions hit him with an emotional force he had not anticipated. "Why, why didn't ya tell me, Dad?" Michael spoke nearing tears, "why didn't ya tell me Collin was my brother?" "Cause you were too young...and I didn't want to hurt your mother." Fat tears rolled down Michael's face, he spoke with a shaky voice, "You...you don't understand, Dad...I've been horrible to him! I bullied him...I called him a liar...and...I hit him!" Michael's thoughts went to the years of torment the young boy must had suffered because of being raised in a shabby, one-room hovel alone with his mother. His father had always told him, "...family looks after one another." He felt heart-sick knowing the brother he had always wanted had been treated so badly by the other kids--and himself. "Poor wee Collin..." he stammered, beginning to sob, "he ain't never hurt nobody...and he's my baby brother. Why...h-how could ya you do it, Dad? He hadda grow up without ya...and without me! And he needed ya, Dad...he needed ya...and I needed him!" Michael's voice finally broke, he could no longer speak, his body shaking from crying. "I know, boy..." Miles spoke softly, walking to his son and hugging him tightly. "It ain't right what I did...keepin' it from ya. But what's done is done...and I'm sorry. But now that ya know, it's time to put right what we done wrong, you and me. I need to speak to your mother and tell her the truth. You need to go find Collin and tell him you're sorry." Michael buried his face in his father's chest and managed to force his weak voice, "I can't do it...I can't face him, not after what I done. The things I said about him and his mother...I-I'm too ashamed...I can't do it, Dad...please don't make me..." His body shook as he cried and pleaded. "Yes, you can, Michael. He's your brother...you can manage it. Go on, get going." Miles watched his son walk away slowly in tears toward the village just as the first few drops of rain began to fall. He then slowly turned and walked to the house to have a very unpleasant conversation with his wife. *** Scene: Inside a clean but poorly furnished wooden cabin Maggie O'Connor placed another log into the fireplace while listening to the rain and thunder outside the cabin. She pushed a strand of her long auburn hair away from her pretty face when she realized someone was knocking at the only door to the cabin. The knocking was just loud enough to be heard over the noise of the rainstorm. Opening the door, she found Miles Donnelly's boy standing there, drenched by the rain. "Michael, you'll catch yer death. Come inside." "Thank you, Miss," Michael said looking miserable, entering the cabin dripping wet, shivering from the cold. He saw he was making a puddle, "I'm sorry about your floor." "Aye, don't mind the mess. Here, dry yourself," she handed him a clean rag. Michael wiped his face then saw Collin, asleep, curled up in a ball on a wood-frame bed near the fireplace. "I come to see Collin, Miss. Can I speak to him?" Michael sounded pitiful. "Collin's been in bed all day, crying...said some of the boys been mean to him." "Aye, Miss...it was me. I come to tell him I'm sorry." "Go on then, wake him up." Near tears again, Michael stepped to the bed then he shook the small boy awake. Collin opened his eyes slowly but was fully awake when he realized who had woken him. "Michael...you're here." Michael's voice trembled when he spoke, "Collin...I talked to me dad. He told me...he told me you're my brother. And I swear to ya, I didn't know! I come to tell ya I'm sorry. I'm sorry for calling you a liar...and for hittin' ya. I'm your brother...and I shoulda been lookin' after ya, but I didn't...and I'm so sorry, Collin...," fresh tears rolled down his face, "can ya ever forgive me?" Collin took his hand and said, "Don't cry, Michael. It didn't hurt so much." The little boy's words and his sweet face was more than Michael could bear, he trembled with sorrow, openly weeping for what he had done. "So, your father finally told ya?" Maggie said, compassion in her voice. "Aye, Miss," Michael stammered between sobs. "Would you like to stay...and visit with your brother?" "Yes, please." "Right then, outta them wet clothes. You're drenched to the bone. I'll set `em by the fire to dry and find ya somethin' to wear." "Thank you, Miss." Michael realized just how cold he was as he undressed and handed his soaked clothes to Maggie who hung them over a chair near the fireplace. "...and them underpants too, go on, ain't nothing I ain't seen before," Maggie handed Michael an oversized sleeping gown, "...this shirt belonged to your father." Michael removed his damp underwear and gave them to Maggie. Other than his mother, Michael had never been naked in front of a woman before--he quickly pulled the gown over his head and let the bottom of the shirt fall almost to the floor. "Now, you get in them covers," she said, "you too, Collin...keep him warm." Michael got into the bed and pulled the blanket over himself and Collin. He put his arms around the little boy and hugged him close, feeling the warmth coming from his small body. "Collin, I swear to ya...I ain't never gonna hit ya again. And from now on, I'm gonna look after ya...for the rest of our lives, I promise...'cause you're my baby brother...and...I love ya." Collin looked into his big brother's teary eyes and began to cry. For the first time in his young life, he cried--just because he was happy. *** Scene: The following morning inside the cabin Maggie was pouring hot water over a used tea bag when she heard her name being called from outside of the cabin. "Maggie!" When she opened the door her eyes stung from the bright sunlight and found Miles Donnelly standing outside. "Is my boy here?" "Which one?" Maggie replied with a shy grin. "Michael, he didn't come home. I sent him here yesterday." "Aye, he's here. Come inside." Miles walked through the low doorway and found Michael and Collin snuggled together, still asleep. "He's a good lad, that one," Maggie said, "he was beside himself with grief for what he'd done to Collin." "Aye, he's a fine boy. They both are." Maggie poured a second cup of tea for Miles using the same tea bag then both sat down by the fire. "So, did you speak to Mrs. Donnelly about young Collin?" Maggie inquired with curious look. "Aye." "She angry?" "Aye, but we'll manage it." "I'm happy you sent Michael to Collin. He needs his brother." Miles looked at his boys sleeping together quietly, wrapped in each other's arms. He sipped his tea and smiled. The End Your feedback is greatly appreciated --> entirelyawesome@protonmail.com Other stories by this author: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/young-friends/night-swimming/night-swimming-1 Generous donations support this amazing platform for readers like you http://donate.nifty.org/