Date: Mon, 28 Jun 2021 19:55:51 +0000 (UTC) From: Albert Collins Subject: You were there - part 46 Disclaimer: This is a romantic love story about love between young adolescent boys. There are some explicit sex scenes in the story but they are not the main focus of the story. So if you are looking for a story with a lot of explicit sex action, you are in the wrong place. If you like to read a sappy romantic tory with occasional kinky sex scenes, then please sit back and enjoy! Thanks again to all those who wrote with comments, encouragement and feedback! Of course, as usual, comments and constructive criticism are welcome! albert.c87@yahoo.com ************************ You were there -- Part 46 When Diego woke up on Saturday morning, he was spooned with Luke, both of them still naked. Diego smiled silently. It felt wonderful. He stroked Luke's back gently. Their young dicks were pressed together, mashed against each other. So-o-o good. Diego felt Luke beginning to stir and wake up. In a moment Luke opened his eyes. Those amazing beautiful green eyes. "Good morning," Diego smiled at Luke brightly. "Good morning, babe," Luke yawned and stretched his body and arms like a cat. Diego got closer and planted a long sweet kiss on Luke's lips. "Mmm, thank you!" Luke laughed, coming back for air. "What was that for?" "Just for being you," Diego replied simply. Diego rolled onto his back and Luke turned on his side and nestled next to Diego, grinning at him happily. Luke slowly moved his hand down along Diego's chest and stomach, caressing him lightly, and cupped Diego's semi-soft brown dick. "I really love it when you touch me ... there," Diego whispered. "Oh, yeah?" Luke's eyes twinkled playfully. "Why do like it?" He squeezed the head of Diego's penis between his fingers gently. "Because it means you want me," Diego replied bashfully. "Oh, my god, Diego, are you kidding me?!" Luke's voice suddenly turned heavy. "I can't live without you," Luke uttered. He released Diego's dick and sat bow-legged next to Diego. "I need you. Like air. Maybe even more than that." Luke smiled at Diego affectionately and put his hand on Diego's tummy gently. "I mean I know that you love me," Diego smiled back. "I get that. I meant that you want me." Diego turned red and looked slightly away. "You mean like for sex?" Luke chuckled and Diego blushed even harder. "Shit, dude, now I know you're kidding me! Diego, babe, where is this coming from?" "I donno," Diego admitted still looking away somewhat guiltily. "I mean you're so-o-o beautiful. And me? I'm still not sure sometimes why you'd want me. A scrawny monkey with gargoyle ears." "Shit, Diego, now I know you're just pulling my leg!" Luke slapped the bed in annoyance. "Have you seen yourself in a mirror?" "I don't like mirrors," Diego whispered awkwardly. "What?" Luke frowned uncomprehendingly. "It doesn't matter, I'll tell you some other time," Diego deflected. "And my dick ...," Diego looked at his by now mostly deflected dick lying flat against his tummy. "It's so small, isn't it?" He gave Luke a quick embarrassed glance and looked away. "Oh, my fucking god!" Luke grabbed his forehead. "Diego, babe, look at me, please!" Luke gently turned Diego's chin towards him with his finger. "First off, it's not small," Luke delicately patted Diego's dick, "it's perfectly normal size for guys our age. Trust me, I've seen enough dicks in the showers after PE, I know what I'm talking about. And we're both still growing. It'll get bigger." Luke smiled at Diego and kissed Diego's lips softly. Diego smiled back shyly. "Second, do you remember what I said when I first saw it? Your dick, I mean?" Luke asked. "Umm, you said something like you've never seen anything so beautiful," Diego chuckled. "I thought you were joking." "I meant every word!" Luke affirmed emphatically. "Okay, maybe you're not freakishly humongous - and thank god for that - but you've got such ... delicate curves around here." Luke giggled as he fondled Diego's penis gently. "I mean ... So many guys's dicks are chunky or got these ugly bulbous heads or veins everywhere. But yours, Diego, is so nice and slender and straight, with this ... shapely beautiful head, like an arrow." Luke winked at Diego and Diego blushed slightly. "And it got me right through my heart!" Luke grinned toothily and pointed to his heart. Diego's naked honey-colored body blushed harder. "Really, babe, your dick, it's like a work of art!" Luke continued. "In fact, I often think that I should draw it. Or maybe even sculpt it." "Don't you dare!" Diego playfully moved Luke's hand away. "No, really," Luke persisted with a wicked grin as he picked up Diego's dick again and slowly run his finger along its underside, eliciting a soft giggle from Diego. "You've got some kinda ... curvature here or something, Diego, babe. Using your own words, it's so-o-o beautiful!" Luke giggled, leaned down and kissed the tip of Diego's dick which has now hardened up and was beginning to leak. "I really should ... immortalize this kinda perfection, you know, for posterity," Luke giggled again and licked the head of Diego's penis, lapping up freshly formed juice. "Please stop," Diego asked with smile, his eyes shining brightly and his young naked body beginning to glow. "You really want me to stop?" Luke teased. "No," Diego whispered, still grinning. "See, Diego," Luke continued to caress the soft moist skin of Diego's balls with his fingertips. "Like I said, I really should draw this ... piece of elf-boy perfection." Luke giggled again. "But if you don't want me to, maybe I should draw the rest of you. Like all those sketches I made of pieces of your face when I drew your mom, remember?" "Yeah?" Diego shifted slightly. "Well, I still got them somewhere," Luke continued. "But those sketches, they were pretty quick and rough. I wanna do some parts of you in detail. Like your hand, your knee, your elbow, your neck." "My elbow?" Diego chuckled. "And what's so special about my neck?" "You mean apart from the fact that it drives me completely crazy and makes me wanna do this?" Luke grinned mischievously and buried his face in the front of Diego's neck, licking and kissing it madly. "Okay, okay, I give!" Diego kicked his feet wildly as he sank his fingers in Luke's hair. "Seriously, Diego, babe," Luke relented, lifting his face, "your neck it's like ... I donno. I mean it's a shame that you don't want to use a mirror or I'd show you. You've got this ... super graceful line here, like a swan." Luke slowly traced Diego's neck with his finger. "And this dimple you've got, it's so damn cute!" Luke leaned down again and stuck his tongue in Diego's jugular notch, causing Diego to giggle manically. "Luke, please!" Diego pleaded. "Delicious!" Luke declared, taking mercy on Diego again. "And then, Diego, it's the way you move it," Luke continued more earnestly. "Not just your neck. Your whole body. Fluid. Graceful. And maybe ... a little slower than the rest of us. It's like ... Shit, I don't know how to describe it!" Luke laughed nervously. "Magical!" Luke gently run his finger along Diego's clavicle bone. "See, Diego, when I call you elf-prince and stuff, I'm only joking half the time, probably less than that even. The other times I still feel that I've gotta pinch myself that I got so lucky as to be with you. And to touch something so beautiful and sexy as your ... beautiful elf-boy parts." Luke's hand moved towards Diego's crotch and cupped his dick and balls. Luke grinned at Diego with a gentle green fire building up in his eyes. "But there's also something else," Luke added in a more earnest tone as he moved his hand away. "Yeah?" Diego looked up at Luke quizzically with a note of disappointment in his voice. "See, Diego, I told you I knew that I was gay probably since I was about 8 or 9," Luke propped his chin with his wrist. "And I always loved it. Still, there are times, now at school and before when I was a street kid, when all the faggot jokes and stuff still get to me." "I know, Luke, I'm sorry," Diego interjected, taking Luke's hand. "Wait, Diego, just listen," Luke frowned a little. "What I mean is, yeah, those faggot jokes still get on my nerves sometimes. But then, when I am with you, when we make love, it feels so amazing, so beautiful, so fucking incredible. And I think to myself. Fuck you, you stupid fucking fucktards! You know fucking nothing!" Luke slapped the bed with his fist. "That's what being gay is really like! I am making love to the sexiest, sweetest, most beautiful boy in the world. And you all can go fuck yourselves! Do you get what I'm saying, Diego, babe?" Luke peered at Diego with a half-embarassed smile. "Wow," Diego reached out with his hand and stroked Luke's cheek gently. "Yeah, I get it. Thanks, Luke." "Oh, no, you're not getting off that easy!" Luke jumped on top of Diego and tackled him. "Get off me, you big brute!" Diego laughed, kicking his feet. "You're mine, remember," Luke pinned Diego's hands to the sides and brought his face to Diego's. "And I want you, elf-boy," Luke whispered in Diego's ear. "I want that beautiful elf-boy weapon inside me right now!" "Luke, you're sure?" Diego's eyes widened. "It's time to get up." "It's time for something to get up all right," Luke chuckled as he reached behind him and gave Diego's dick a good pull. "You're so bad!" Diego giggled as his dick quickly hardened. "Can't help it," Luke shrugged with a grin. "I want you!" Luke got the green ointment bottle from the nightstand next to his bed and spread some of it over Diego's dick. He then straddled Diego's torso, facing Diego, and slowly lowered himself onto Diego's boy tool. Diego exhaled sharply. He could never get used to being inside Luke. It always transported him ... somewhere else. Diego felt the sleek powerful heat of Luke's innards envelop his boyhood, pulling him further in. This heat, Luke's heat, slowly spread through Diego's entire body, from the toes of his feet to the hair on his head. Time slowed and stood almost still. Diego touched Luke's thighs, gripping his torso. So smooth. So muscular. So strong. So beautiful. He raised his glance to Luke's face. Luke was smiling, so happy, so loving, so playful. So wonderful. Diego's chest expanded, and he almost couldn't breathe. He was dimly aware that his hips and pelvis were thrusting up and down. Diego reached with his hand and took hold of Luke's long erect penis that had been flopping up and down on Diego's tummy. Luke said something but Diego didn't hear him. Diego held Luke's dick in his palm. He felt Luke's power, his energy, his youth, his heat and desire pulse in his hand. It was amazing. Diego looked up at Luke's face again. Luke's eyes shone back at him as two bright green stars, so full of joy, playfulness, and love. Diego reached forward and touched Luke's chest. Hot, slick with delicious sweat, satin smooth, pliant lean muscles moving underneath the silky skin. Diego knew that it was all his. It was all for him. His glance shifted to Luke's face again. Luke's happy joyous loving smile, growing wider. He saw that Luke also knew. Diego's hands moved to caress Luke's abs and chest. So lovely. Unbelievably beautiful. Luke leaned forward and Diego grabbed him urgently pulling him closer. The boys' sleek sweat-covered chests met. Then their lips. Mmmm-mmph!!! A mutual explosion followed as the boys remained locked in a tight embrace. "We need to work on getting more stamina," Luke breathed out in Diego's shoulder slowly. Luke gradually lifted his head and Diego head his face with both hands. "That's okay," Diego chuckled softly. "It also means that you want me." "Oh, you!" Luke collapsed on Diego in laughter as Diego held him and caressed the sides of Luke's torso gently. Luke slowly rolled off Diego and settled next to him, laying on the side, supporting his chin on his wrist and smiling at Diego warmly. Diego reached and started fondling Luke's dick gently. Luke wiggled his pelvis to give Diego better access. "Does that mean that you want me?" he asked Diego with a cheeky grin. "Whadya think?" Diego smiled back. Luke leaned in and kissed Diego's nose. He then rolled onto his back and folded his hands behind his head. "I think, elfy," Luke replied slowly, "that you can have any part of my that you want. Any time you want." Diego nestled next to Luke with his head on Luke's chest and placed his hand on Luke's boyhood again, caressing it lightly. "Sounds good," Diego kissed Luke's sweat-covered peck and smiled at Luke happily. "Sounds good." The boys spent another half an hour in bed before finally getting up. Earlier that week Frank took Yasha to a doctor in town who replaced the cast for Yasha's foot they gave him at the hospital by a special waterproof cast. That Saturday afternoon Frank drove all the kids to one of the public swimming pools in the area where everybody, including Yasha, could enjoy a swim. Luke also really wanted to bring along Roxie but Frank explained that the pool had a firm no pets policy, and that in any case it was doubtful that Roxie would enjoy swimming. Most of the drive to the pool was occupied by the discussion among the kids of whether cats like to swim. Secretly, Diego agreed with Frank but he mostly kept quiet during the conversation. Diego was glad that the topic shifted to the subject far removed from Wade's visit and from the drama of Courtney's party and its consequences. The rest of the weekend passed mostly quietly and uneventfully. Diego contemplated suggesting to Luke to come to visit the church service with him on Sunday but decided to postpone it. In the morning on Monday Luke and Diego steeled themselves for the coming conversation with Courtney and Shanna. Diego had the choir practice that day and the boys knew that there was no way of avoiding the confrontation. Diego still wanted to tell Courtney that he and Luke were gay, and Luke was still feeling apprehensive about it. At lunch Luke, Diego and Archie were sitting at their usual table. The atmosphere was somber and there wasn't much talking. In a few minutes Samantha approached the table. She did not have a tray with her and was just carrying a bottle of Diet Coke. "Who died?" Sam inquired with a chuckle, observing the boys' long faces. "Oh, hi, Sam, please sit down," Diego greeted her. Sam sat next to Luke. "Sam, this is our friend Archie," Diego introduced Archie. "He is in our grade." "H-hi," Archie waved at Sam. "Charmed," Sam waved back. "To answer your original question," Luke spoke, "today might be mine and Diego's funeral." "Oh?" Sam raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, Diego decided to follow your idea," Luke explained. "He's gonna talk to Courtney at the choir practice today. And tell her about us. That we are, you know ... boyfriends." "Wow, ballsy," Sam commented. "Good for you, Diego!" She smiled at Diego approvingly while sipping her coke. "Me and Luke are gonna talk to Courtney together," Diego clarified. "I hope it'll go all right." "I'm still having doubts about this," Luke admitted. "Your half-sister, Sam, can be a real ..." "Step-sister, Luke, step-sister," Sam corrected, "please pay attention! Yeah, I know she can be a real bitch but I think it'll be okay. Courtney is bitchy but she's not stupid." "I hope you're right," Luke sighed. "Anyway, we're talking to her today." "Okay, guys, good luck! May the force be with you. You're gonna need it," Sam got up and left the table. "Wow, t-that was Sam?" Archie said with a dreamy look. "She's so c-cool!" "Yeah, that's Sam," Luke confirmed, "she's all right, although her sister is ... Wait, Archie, dude, do you like Sam?" Luke grinned and his eyes twinkled playfully. "Sorry, w-what?" Archie tried to back off, blushing slightly. "Dude, you totally like Sam!" Luke wrapped his arm around Archie's shoulder as Archie blushed harder. "Hey, man, I think it's great! And yeah, Sam is really cool. You'll have to watch out for Ritchie, though." Archie gave Diego a questioning look. "Ritchie sorta has a bit of a crush on Sam too," Diego explained. "But I don't think it's serious." "B-but she's in eighth's g-grade, r-right?" Archie frowned. "I can't even g-get g-girls in my grade to talk to me." He looked down ruefully into the table. "That doesn't matter," Diego countered. "You know what the first thing she told me at that party at Courtney's? That she likes boys who read books. That's you, Archie!" "T-the first thing?" Archie replied skeptically. "Well, maybe the second or the third thing," Diego admitted. "The point is, you do have a chance. You should definitely talk to Sam." "Yeah!" Luke hugged Archie's shoulder harder and grinned wider. "Ok-kay, Luke, you can st-top smiling now," Archie commented. "Sorry, man, I can't!" Luke chuckled. "In fact, I could just about kiss your cheek right now!" "Please d-don't!" Archie laughed. "All right, all right, Luke, please give Archie some peace," Diego intervened and Luke finally relented, letting go of Archie. "Anyway, we still have our own problem to deal with today. Remember Courtney and Shanna?" "Oh, shit!" Luke's tone turned somber. "Well, that certainly killed the mood." "M-maybe you should've k-kissed me while you had t-the chance," Archie chuckled. "Sorry, Archie, the moment has passed," Luke shook his head. Just then Ritchie approached the table holding his lunch. "Hi, guys! What did I miss?" Ritchie greeted them. "Too long to explain," Luke replied, making space for Ritchie. "But Sam was here a moment ago." "Shit, I missed her?" Ritchie exclaimed in disappointment. "Yep," Diego confirmed. "Sometimes you gotta act fast." He gave Archie a smile and a wink causing Archie to blush and look down into the table. - After the classes were over Luke and Diego proceeded with some trepidation to the auditorium where Diego's choir practice was supposed to take place. At the entrance they saw a group of girls including Courtney and Shanna chatting with each other. Luke tugged Diego's arm: "Oh, boy!" "It'll be okay," Diego reassured. The boys slowly approached the group. The girls stopped talking, and Courtney and Shanna stepped forward. "Luke, Diego," Courtney glared at the boys sternly, "I think you owe us an explanation. Diego felt Luke tense up and he squeezed Luke's palm reassuringly. Luke started to step forward but Diego pulled him back. "Yes, we do," Diego replied quietly. "Courtney, Shanna, I'm sorry about what happened. But you see, there's something you don't know about me and Luke. We're not just roommates." Diego took Luke's hand and looked up at him affectionately. "We are boyfriends." A few moments of shocked silence followed. "Oh, my god, that's so cute!" Courtney exclaimed clapping her hands. "I mean it sucks that two such hotties are off the market, but you guys are absolutely adorable together!" "Umm, thanks," Diego replied uncertainly. "Damn, that's just my luck," Shanna grumbled, "I have a crush on a hot guy and he's a fag." "Shanna, don't be horrid!" Courtney slapped Shanna's hand. "We don't use that kind of language." "Sorry," Shanna gave a half-hearted scowl. "But you know, guys, if you ever want to ... experiment with girls, all you gotta do is ask. I heard some gay boys still do that." Shanna smiled at Diego and Luke coquettishly. "Oh, Shanna, you're so bad!" Courtney slapped Shanna's hand playfully. Diego felt Luke tensing up again next to him. "Umm, thanks Shanna, but we are good," Diego declined politely. "So, are you guys coming ... coming out?" Courtney inquired. "Well," Luke spoke for the first time, "we were planning to, eventually, but not so quickly. I really wanted Diego to make some friends first." "Oh, my god, that's so adorable!" Courtney clapped her hands again. "Of course, we won't say anything, will we, Shanna? It's such a delicious secret!" "Well ...," Shanna made a pouty face. "I guess ..." "Thank you, girls, really, thanks a lot," Diego replied sincerely. "From both of us!" Lukę nodded silently. "Wonderful!" Shanna exclaimed, grinning widely. "Diego, darling, I'll see you in a bit at the practice. Luke, honey, you do look good enough to eat! Mmm, you smell good too. Oh, well, we can't have everything, can we? Later, boys!" With that Courtney and Shanna disappeared. "Oooo-oof," Luke exhaled heavily. "See, it wasn't so bad," Diego commented. "You're kidding, right?" Luke rolled his eyes. "I don't know how we survived that. And Shanna she really is something!" "Yeah, but come on, Luke, you know that it could have gone a lot worse, right?" Diego smiled and gently tapped Luke's shoulder. "Yeah, I guess ...," Luke conceded. "Man, it's like I said before, the trouble with girls is that you can't kick them in the nuts!" They both burst into laughter. The choir practice passed rather peacefully although Luke was still feeling jumpy and nervous as he observed it from his seat. But everything did seem normal and eventually Luke started to relax a bit. This being Archie's first day back at school after being sick, his dad had already picked him up and drove him back home. Luke and Diego set out walking towards Green Oaks without him again. As they were getting closer to Trigger's house, Luke tugged on Diego's arm: "What do you think is gonna happen today? I mean with Trigger and this guy Norman?" "I donno," Diego considered. "But we stick to the plan. If we see Norman again, we just nod to him, say 'hi' and walk by." "Okay," Luke agreed with a note of doubt in his voice. In about a block the boys reached the fence of Trigger's house. Unusually, they didn't hear Trigger's bark greeting them but they saw Norman standing at the porch of the house. Diego felt Luke squeeze his hand nervously. "Hello, Mr Norman," Diego said calmly. "Hi," Luke nodded in his stead. Norman frowned and displayed a small annoyed scowl. He then turned around and went back inside the house. The boys walked by. "Shit!" Luke hissed when they were half a block a way. "Did you see how he glared at us? I don't think it's working." "We just need to give him time," Diego replied quietly. "He used to be a good guy. He just needs to remember it." "I donno, Diego," Lukę answered skeptically. "And what about Trigger? We didn't even get to see him!" "We'll try to see him next time," Diego countered. "Fuck, I really hope it works!" Luke kicked the ground with his toe in frustration. "It will," Diego affirmed with stubborn confidence. Luke shook his head again but didn't argue. When they reached Archie's house, the boys stopped by and filled Archie in on how their talk with Courtney and Shanna went and what just happened with Trigger and Norman. Archie was bored being stuck at home all this time and after a long conversation with his dad over the phone he got the permission to visit Luke and Diego at Green Oaks that afternoon. As Luke, Diego and Archie approached the main entrance to Green Oaks, they saw Emily getting out of her car. "Ms Emily!" Luke run towards her excitedly. "I didn't know you were coming today!" "I wanted it to be a surprise," she smiled, giving Luke a hug. "Ms Emily, this is our friend, Archie, from school," Luke waved at Archie. "Archie, this is Ms Emily. She does pottering with us. She's the best!" "Thank you, Luke!" Emily laughed tousling Luke's hair. "Nice to meet you, Archie, sweetie." "Hello," Archie waved at Emily. "Archie, man, now that Ms Emily is here, you gotta come to the workshop to do some pottering with us! It's gonna be great!" Luke pulled Archie by the hand. "Ok-kay," Archie followed Luke. As Archie and Luke disappeared along the footpath ahead, Emily and Diego followed them more slowly. "Speaking of surprises, Diego, dear," Emily spoke gently, "the one that we talked about earlier has finally arrived. I have it here with me." "Oh, my god, Ms Emily, are you serious!" Diego stopped in his tracks. "Yes," Emily chuckled, "it's right here." She patted her bag. "Now you just have to decide where and how to give it to Luke." As they walked towards the barnyard down the hill, Diego and Emily discussed Diego's surprise for Luke and figured out a good place to hide it in the workshop for the time being. At the workshop Luke enthusiastically started showing Archie how the pottering wheel worked while Emily sat in the back of the room and started painting and glazing some of the previously made pieces. Archie watched in fascination as Luke expertly worked the pottering wheel and produced several imaginative pieces for Ms Emily's shop. Diego, who has gotten quite good at pottering himself, was only too happy to sit back and let Luke take the lead. It always gave him a great kick not only to watch Luke work but to see how happy Luke was doing that. "Wow, that w-was wiz-zardly," Archie complimented as Luke put a newly made elegant water pitcher on the shelf. "Thanks, Archie, man, thanks," Luke wiped the sweat from his forehead. "But I think it's now your turn to try." Luke got up and motioned to Archie towards the seat by the wheel. "Oh, n-no!" Archie protested vigorously. "N-not today. I'm just here t-to watch!" "Archie, are you sure?" Diego prodded him gently. "It's not that hard. And Luke is a good teacher." "Come on, buddy!" Luke smiled brightly and patted the seat. "N-no, guys," Archie repeated. "N-not today." "Well, if you're sure," Luke replied with disappointment, "how about I make something for you then?" "Sounds g-good," Archie smiled with relief. "What should we make?" Luke wondered. "Maybe something musical?" Diego suggested. "Sure, great idea, Diego!" Luke's eyes lit up. "I got it: We'll make Archie a whistle!" "A whistle?" Archie mused. "Yeah," Luke confirmed. "A ... turtle-shaped whistle." He grinned at Diego and they both giggled. "W-what, you g-guys got a thing ab-bout turtles?" Archie asked, sensing that he was missing something. "Yeah, we kinda do," Luke admitted. "Okay, Archie, man, watch Mr Wizard work!" "Ok-kay, Mr Wiz-zard," Archie smiled. "Go at it!" Luke stepped away from the pottering wheel and sat at the nearby table. "You're not gonna use the wheel?" Diego inquired. "Nah, not for something that small," Luke explained. "Just my hands, baby!" Luke lifted his hands and grinned at Diego at Archie. "All right, first we make a bowl for the body," Luke picked a lump of clay and quickly molded it into and open bowl shape. "Then we make a pancake for the bottom," Luke continued explaining as he worked. Diego perched on a stool nearby carefully observing Luke and listening to his explanations. It always amazed Diego how much Luke knew about pottering and how much Diego was always learning from him. Diego looked at Luke's hands deftly manipulating the clay and smiled. He so loved watching Luke's hands. He remembered that it was one of the things that made him fall in love with Luke. Diego smiled wider and Luke lifted his face and grinned back at him happily. Luke placed the bowl piece on the clay pancake and proceeded to cut a round shape with a needle tool from the pancake. He then got a plastic bottle with a semi-liquid clay slit and used it to attach the two pieces together and smooth the edged. "All righty, now we've got us a nice hollow turtle shell," Luke declared with satisfaction. "Yeah, it already looks a bit like a turtle," Diego remarked in amazement. "Of course it does!" Luke sat up. "But we're not done yet!" Luke took a small piece of clay, made it into a cube and attached it to the shell. "A head?" Archie asked. "More like a neck," Luke clarified. He picked a flat wooden popsicle stick and stuck it inside the bowl through the neck bit. He then used another stick and a needle tool again to mark a spot at the bottom of the shell a little below the neck and then cut a hole there. "That's what's gonna make it whistle," Luke explained as he smoothed the edges of the hole. "And now we've got ourselves a basic working whistle," Luke commented as he removed the stick from the bowl. "I think!" He put the opening at the neck to his lips and blew. A loud whistling noise sounded. "It w-works!" Archie's eyes opened wide. "Yep!" Luke grinned at Archie and Diego with satisfaction. "Everything all right over there, boys?" Emily called from the back of the room. "Yeah, we're all good, Ms Emily," Luke reassured. "Just testing a new whistle I made for Archie!" Luke proceeded to carve the back of the shell to give it a more realistic turtle-like shape. He then made a separate turtle head on a longish elegantly curved neck and carefully attached it to the short neck piece. He blew through the head to make sure that the whistle still worked. Luke then added four paws and a short tail. "Whadaya think?" he looked at Archie and Diego questioningly. "Wiz-zardly," Archie repeated his previous assessment. "Yeah," Luke smiled broadly and wiped off the sweat from his forehead with the back of his head. Luke worked a bit longer adding fine detail to the whistle. He finally put the figurine on the table and stood up. Archie extended his hand towards the whistle but Luke stopped him: "Oh, no, you don't!" "I don't get it now?" Archie asked in disappointment. "No, buddy, not yet," Luke replied. "First, we gotta dry it in the kiln. And then I'm gonna paint and glaze it. That's when you'll get it." "Wow, ok-kay," Archie nodded. "Thanks, Luke! It looks super. Sounds super too!" "You're welcome, buddy!" Luke beamed at Archie. Diego felt his chest swell with pride and he had to restrain himself not to jump into Luke's arms right then and there. The boys finished up at the workshop and took a quick boat ride around the pond. But they still had some homework to do and Archie's dad picked him up and drove him home. - The next day after school the three friends were walking back together as usual. As they approached Trigger's house, Luke realized that something looked different. "W-whoa, what's that?" Archie pointed. "Shit, I can't believe it!" Luke exclaimed. "That fucking bastard Norman built an extra fence!" "No! Trigger!" Diego cried in anguish and run towards Trigger's fence. Behind the metal rod-fence there was a new solid wooden fence about seven feet high. "Trigger!" Diego cried out again. They heard a familiar bark from the other side. "Hey, Trigger, buddy, we're here!" Luke called. "I brought you something, boy!" Luke pulled out a piece of chicken he saved from lunch from his school bag and tossed it over the fence. They could hear Trigger start eating it. "Trigger!" Diego sat down on the ground and grabbed his head with his hands. "Shit, t-that's mean," Archie commented, surveying the fence. Luke sat on the ground next to Diego and hugged his shoulder. "It's my fault," Diego whispered. "I did this." Diego gazed at Luke with tears quickly filling his warm brown eyes. "No you didn't." Luke replied and nuzzled Diego's cheek gently. "And it ain't your fault. It's that psycho, Norman. I told you, sometimes guys like that, they are too far gone. I'm so sorry, babe." Luke kissed Diego's cheek softly. "Luke's r-right, Diego," Archie spoke, stepping closer to them. "The g-guy is a wacko." "I thought it would work," Diego was crying quietly. "I was so sure I could get through to Norman. I was so sure ..." "I know, babe, I know," Luke kissed Diego's tera-streaked face again. "I fucking sucks." "I should never have tried," Diego uttered bitterly. "Don't say that!" Luke squeezed Diego's arm. "Don't you say that, elf-boy! You heart's in the right place. Unlike that fucking Grinch Norman's. I'm glad you tried." Luke gave Diego a reassuring smile. "Come on, dude," Luke rubbed Diego's shoulder and pulled him up by the arm. "But Trigger," Diego looked back at the fence dejectedly as he stood up. "What're we gonna do about Trigger now? My dumb plan failed." "Well," Luke considered. "Diego, your plan was good, and I say it's still good. I say we keep at it." "W-what?" Archie exclaimed incredulously. "Come on, Luke, you can't be serious," Diego seconded Archie. "After what Norman just did. That's just ... crazy." "Yeah, so what?" Luke replied resolutely. "The guy may be a fucking Grinch but he still got a heart somewhere in there. Eventually he's got to remember that. I say we keep saying hello to him. And wait to see what happens." "And Trigger?" Diego looked at Luke anxiously. "Trigger has got to wait too," Luke glanced at the fence. "I hope he'll understand." "This is crazy," Diego smiled weakly and wiped off his tears. "Yeah, well, maybe it is and maybe it isn't," Luke smiled back. "But we're gonna try it anyway!" "Thanks, Luke," Diego chuckled and gave Luke a more hopeful glance. Archie observed the scene with bemusement. The boys shouted goodbye to Trigger and set out along the path walk. "You g-guys really are ok-kay," Archie observed, correcting his glasses, as he watched Luke and Diego walk holding hands together. "Archie, boy," Luke replied with a grin, "we really need to get you to talk to Sam!" All three of them laughed light-heartedly as they neared Archie's house. ********