A Helping Hand
By: DL
(© 2008 by the Author)
The author retains all rights. No reproductions are
allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
dl@tickiestories.us
Chapter 24
It was funny standing in the doorway of my bedroom,
to see Juan’s reaction to Julian’s announcement to his Mum: ‘this is my
boyfriend Juan’ – his face turned a vivid crimson as his lover’s unanticipated
announcement was assimilated by his brain. I couldn’t help myself and laughed
out loud, causing Juan, Julian and Stella to look my way and me to emulate Juan
in flushing bright red as they did so.
“Sorry, guys; it just amused me to see Juan go beet red” I volunteered,
shamefacedly. Julian broke the silence caused by my inappropriate outburst of
laughter by breaking into a laugh himself. Juan looked at his lover, lying there
laughing and swiftly put a stop to that by leaning over and passionately kissing
Julian on his mouth – Julian quickly stopped laughing and lost very little time
in returning Juan’s attentions with equal ardour.
I stepped up behind Stella and gently touched her right arm, causing her to turn
towards me. I beckoned her towards the door and as she joined me by it, I said
“Looking at the pair of them now, do you still think they’re not in love with
each other?” Stella turned back towards the boys and after nearly thirty
seconds, turned back to me and said “No, that was a spontaneous show of emotion
and I can’t deny the evidence of my own eyes: Julian loves his boy.”
I ushered her out the door, murmuring “Let’s give them a little time together to
put this afternoon’s unpleasantness behind them.” And mentally cursed my
stupidity as Stella flushed a bright crimson at my reference to her reaction to
Julian’s revelation of his feelings towards Juan and his sexuality. “I’m sorry,
I didn’t mean to upset you with that remark; it just came out badly.” Stella
smiled and nodded as I closed the bedroom door and gestured her towards the
lounge.
Once more back in the lounge, Stella settled herself again on the bed/settee and
I asked “Would you like another coffee while we wait for the boys to surface?”
Stella looked at me quizzically as I said this, and realising she didn’t really
understand me, I said “We’ll give them 15 minutes to get themselves together.”
She nodded at this and said “Sure, a coffee would be fine.” I carried on through
to the kitchen, switched the kettle on again and used the phone extension in the
kitchen to dial my private number in my bedroom. The phone only rang a couple of
times before a hesitant voice – clearly a Spaniard! – answered “Yes?” I grinned
as I replied “Juan, you and Julian have got 15 minutes together and then I want
you both in the lounge, you understand?” There was a short silence before Juan
replied “But Dave ...” and I interrupted him with “No buts, Juan and put Julian
on.” Juan mumbled something, and I heard some creaking and scuffling and then
Julian spoke:”Yeah, Dave?” I smiled at the sound of a much improved Julian – he
was much more himself at last – and said “Julian, like I told Juan you’ve got 15
minutes to cuddle and so on, but remember your promise, and then I want you both
to come down to the lounge; understood?” Julian groaned resignedly “Yeah, Dave,
understood.” And there was a click as he hung up.
I replaced the handset and moving over to the boiled kettle, made Stella another
coffee and made myself one as well [and yes, I did use my Camp coffee for
mine!] before returning to the lounge with both cups on a tray. Stella gave me
an old-fashioned look as I handed her cup of coffee to her: “Did I hear you
talking to the boys on the phone?” she asked and I could do nothing but blush
and nod my affirmation.
Stella didn’t pursue the matter any further and we sat and drank our respective
coffees in silence. We’d both finished our drinks long before the fifteen
minutes I had stipulated to the boys was up, and we both sat quietly: neither of
us knew what to say to break the silence.
The 2Js were good: the hall door opened not long after the allotted time had
elapsed and Julian appeared, leading Juan by his right hand – both boys were
barefoot and dressed only in pyjamas: an obvious statement for Julian’s Mum!
I stood up from my seat at the opposite end of the bed/settee from Stella and
motioned the boys over as I retreated to the far side of the dining table.
Julian protectively shepherded Juan to the seat I’d vacated and then sat down
between his Mum and Juan – after settling himself, I had to smile as he wrapped
his right arm round Juan’s shoulders and leant against him as he turned
defiantly towards his Mum and I.
Stella started the ball rolling: “Julian, dear, you’ve already made your point,
and I accept what you said about your being in love with this boy” Julian
quickly interrupted “His name’s Juan, Mum, not ‘this boy’ so please try and
remember it.” Stella had the grace to colour under her son’s admonition and
swiftly conceded defeat. “Yes, dear, I’m sorry, but I’ll try very hard to
remember Juan’s name, all right? But what I was saying was that you’ve already
made your point and you might have put some clothes on instead of coming down
here in your pyjamas.” Julian grinned wickedly as she said this and laughed as
he replied, “Well, you’ve got Juan to thank for that as I wasn’t going to put
anything on at all, but he insisted!” [Stella coloured up brightly as the full
import of Julian’s mischievous remark sank in!]
“Besides” Julian continued, “I couldn’t see the point of getting dressed as I’m
staying here, so we’ll just be going back to bed once we’ve cleared the air.” I
thought this statement deserved some qualification, so I quickly broke in “Going
back to separate beds, you mean Julian?” Julian looked reproachfully at me as he
said “You’re not going to make us do that are you Dave?” Despite his mournful
look [mirrored by Juan] I replied in the affirmative “Yep, I am, we made a deal
and it stands as far as I’m concerned.” Stella looked on mystified as Julian
continued to protest “But Dave,” and I heartlessly cut him off “No buts, a
deal’s a deal – or else I can run you home with your Mum in a little while.” At
this threat Julian started to reply but was restrained by a suddenly aroused
young Spaniard: “Don’t be stupid Julian; its only tonight. And you know Dave’ll
do it if you don’t agree.”
Stella had been watching the proceedings with undisguised interest and as Juan
had succeeded in quietening Julian she took the opportunity to elicit the cause
of the unrest. “What’s the problem, and what’s only for tonight?” she asked. I
felt that there was really no alternative but to explain clearly, so I did so:
“I promised Julian and Juan that they would be allowed to share a bedroom and
sleep together once my new bedroom furniture is delivered – which should be
tomorrow – in return for a promise from both of them that they wouldn’t engage
in any sexual activity before Juan’s eighteenth birthday, next year.”
Stella took this in quietly, and Julian sensing that some outburst of parental
disapproval was coming, took it upon himself to forestall it: “Come on Mum, you
know that I keep my word: you’ve taken advantage of that in the past; you know
that once I promise I’ll do something, that I will.” Stella relented and nodded,
smiling as she said, “Yes, dear; that’s true enough; the hard bit is usually
getting you to promise in the first place!”
I took this as capitulation by both sides, and said “So, Julian, you’re staying
here tonight and sleeping out here?” Julian groaned quietly in
resignation and then rather more sharply as Juan viciously elbowed him in the
side! “OK, OK, I know what was agreed” Julian conceded as he cast a nervous look
over his shoulder at his boyfriend.
“Well, boys, I guess we’d better spell out a few things so that everyone knows
what’s going on.” I said and then, turning to Stella, I said “Julian and Juan as
you now know have my permission to sleep together here, and I guess that Julian
– judging by recent events – isn’t likely to want to be separated from Juan more
than he has to, so what are your thoughts? Would you like him to spend some time
– say weekends – at yours, and if so, are you prepared to allow Juan to stay
with him?” Both Julian and Juan’s eyes had widened as I had said this, and both
turned towards Stella to see what her reaction was going to be.
Stella, to her credit, didn’t take long to make up her mind and managed to say
it without any undue hesitation, confounding both boys [and, truth be told, me
as well] “I’d like to keep in touch with Julian, certainly, and as you say, it
seems unlikely that Julian will come home without Juan, so I’ll have to accept
that; I just don’t want any public embarrassments” sensing where she was headed
and that she was uncomfortable with it, I broke in again “There won’t be any
public demonstrations of affection, or indeed any untoward sexual activity, as
they both know that the promise they gave me was a total one – not just under my
roof – don’t you boys?” The 2Js both nodded their understanding and acquiescence
to my statement and Stella looked a little relieved.
“Juan as you can see, still bears the signs of his recent unfortunate experience
with his father and the traveller kids after his Dad threw him out. So you know,
Juan has to go back to the doctor on Thursday and some time the following week I
have tentatively agreed with his Dad that he’ll be allowed to see his brother
and his Dad and I will sort out the legalities regarding Juan until he comes of
age.”
Stella looked at Juan and then at me, and then asked “So are you going to become
Juan’s guardian?” I looked at Juan who nodded as I said, “If Juan is comfortable
with that, then yes; its not for long but its necessary that Juan has an adult
to act for him in some things and his father has firmly indicated that he’s not
willing to do so any more.”
Stella looked at Juan again and then returned to me “So you have no problem with
Juan having a relationship with Julian?” she asked. I smiled, as I replied “None
whatever; I think that as long as Juan’s happy and knows his own mind, that
whatever form any relationship he enters into is his business and not something
to concern anyone else as long as its legal – and that’s why I made both the
boys promise they wouldn’t engage in any sexual activity until Juan’s legally an
adult on his eighteenth birthday.”
“Well, I think I can accept that; particularly as Julian hasn’t let me down in
the past when he’s promised something.” Stella acknowledged.
“Well, as I’ve agreed to take Julian to and from work, I’ll call in the week and
arrange to stop by to talk things through once everyone’s adjusted to the
situation – I guess I’d better run you home now though.” I said. Stella nodded
her acceptance, and shortly thereafter we set out, leaving the 2Js to
themselves; I was pleased to see that Stella hugged and kissed her son goodbye
and that she managed to give Juan a hug as well – Julian was so pleased by that!
To be continued.
Author’s note:
Its been a difficult time for me personally so far this year, and I had to force
myself to write this chapter to honour the pledge I made to mark Ryan’s birth
and death.
At
the same time, I have to say that this year has been marred by the tragic deaths
of several
people I knew and cared about – I refer of course to Jonathan Davis and Hank
Snow. May you both [and Nicky] rest in peace and know that you are sorely missed
by those left behind; God Bless you all also.
Feedback always welcome: dl@tickiestories.us
Posted: 03/14/08