The Fremont Saga
by: E Walk
(© 2009 by the Author)
 

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...

Chapter 2 

Tanner’s Story

When Timmy went to answer the phone, I looked at Tanner, “Tanner, all I know about you is that you think you’re gay, and that you are a heck of a football player.  Why don’t you fill in the details, so I have some idea what to expect?”

Tanner shrugged his shoulders, “Brian, where would you like me to start?”

“Well for starters, why are you under the control of the Children’s Protection Agency?  I don’t even know how old you are or if your sophomore or junior, since I don’t think you’re a freshman or a senior.”

Timmy interrupted the conversation, “Uncle John is bringing his brothers, so they can play.  He’s going to be here in fifteen minutes.”

Dad came into the kitchen, “Brian, you’ll need to stay and take care of Timmy and John’s brothers.  Your Mother has a meeting, and I don’t know where the girls are.  They took off as soon as you said you guys would do the dishes.  Tanner, it looks as if it will be you and me going to get you some new duds and whatever else you need, since you’re our foster son, at least for the time being.”

Timmy looked at Dad, “Daddy what’s a foster son?”

I could see Dad searching for the right words, “A foster son is a boy or a young man whom your Mother and I are responsible for, but haven’t adopted, like we did you.”

Timmy was standing there; it was obvious that he was trying to figure out what Dad had said.  “Daddy, I don’t understand what the difference is.  Take Tanner to the judge and get him adopted, too.”

Fortunately the conversation was interrupted by the arrival of John with his two brothers.  John came into the kitchen, “Hi Mr. Benson, I’ll be back in an hour.  Robbie and I need to go to the library and do some research.  Tanner, you will be at football practice tomorrow, or we’ll come hunt you down.”

It was as if everyone deserted me.  I had all my school work done, so I took my oils and easel outside to do a picture while I watched Timmy and John’s two brothers in the front yard.  I was sitting there trying to decide what to paint.  The landscape wasn’t anything that people would be interested in, and the three boys were running around so there was no way I could get an interesting painting out of that.  I was just about to give up when I saw a neighborhood boy coming down the street walking his dog.

I yelled, “Ritchie, bring your dog and come pose for me.  I want to see if I can make it seem as if Tux were alive.”

Ritchie and his dog, Tuxedo, approached the house, “Brian, what do you want us to do?  Tux won’t sit still for very long.  He likes to sniff for rabbits and squirrels.”

I posed Ritchie and Tux and moved my easel so that the evening sun was behind them as Richie sat against the porch pillar and was scratching Tux on his back.  Tux seemed to know that he was supposed to sit still, as if he was posing.

Timmy and the two Waters boys were watching me as I was starting to fill in the outline that I had drawn.  Ritchie’s Dad, Mr. Fillmore, came up the sidewalk, “Ritchie, you shouldn’t be bothering Brian.  Your Grandparents are at the house and want to take you for ice cream at the Dairy Queen.”

I turned to Mr. Fillmore, “Ritchie wasn't bothering me.  He and Tuxedo were posing for me.”

Ritchie’s Dad looked at the canvas to see what I had done so far.  He grinned, “I’ll be interested to see what the finished product looks like.  Sorry, I need to take your models home, but Ritchie’s Grandparents don’t get into town very often, especially during the summer when they’re busy on the farm.”

“That’s okay, Mr. Fillmore, I’ll let Ritchie know when the painting is finished and you can come for the public unveiling.”

I guess I should describe Ritchie to you.  He’s twelve years old and has flaming orange hair that always looks as he has been in a tornado.  His face is covered with freckles as are his arms and legs.  Tuxedo has the markings that make seem as if he is wearing a Tuxedo with a white shirt and black bow tie.  One of Tux’s parents must have been a Labrador retriever.

I was working on the painting when John and Robbie pulled up in front of the house.  John and Robbie looked at what I was doing.  John asked, “Who’s the victim this time?”

“Ritchie Fillmore and his dog, Tuxedo.”

Robbie laughed, “I know Richie and his family.  I’ve babysat for them several times.  It will be interesting to see what you can do with his unruly hair.”

John called his brothers, “Come on, guys, we need to get you home so you don’t get grounded.  Timmy, maybe you can come to our house next time.  I’ll see you guys in the morning.”

Tanner and Dad arrived as I was getting ready to put my art supplies away.  Tanner came to talk to me, “Brian, your Dad is relentless.  He bought me things that I have never had before.  I’ve never had designer clothes in my life.  Come help me unload the car.”

“I’ll be right there to help.  Let me put the easel and supplies in the house, first.”

Tanner and I were unloading Dad’s car when, another car pulled up.  Ron Woodruff approached us, “Hi guys.  Tanner, what are you doing here?  I didn’t know that you knew the artiste.”

“Knock it off, Ron.  Tanner is going to be living with us.  How come you weren‘t in art class, today?”

Ron pointed his finger at me, “Don’t blame me.  It’s your fault.  Mother was so taken with your exhibit when we went on Saturday, that we had to stay and go back again yesterday.  We just got home about an hour ago.  Mr. Johnson gave me this envelope to bring to you, and a Mr. Kelly told me I was to break your arms so you couldn’t cause him to have to work so hard.”

“Brian, I’m really confused as to how you got the things that were here when I saw you Thursday night, and the paintings of Timmy, so they were able to be on display when we went back to see the exhibit yesterday.  Even if you had sent them via air freight, it would be a physical impossibility to get the things to England and have them matted and framed by yesterday.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “I guess the connections went as scheduled.  Kelly and Shelby must have had their entire staff working around the clock.”

Ron wasn’t through, “There was a bidding war for the paintings of Timmy.  The portrait of John and Robbie sold for an incredible amount.  Even the mosaic that you had made of things in nature and the pencil work of the tree sold for ridiculous amounts.”

“Don’t be surprised if my Mother comes to talk to you.  She has a bunch of questions about your subjects.  She was very surprised that you could work in all the mediums so well.  She wants to know why there weren’t watercolor paintings in the show?”

“Ron, watercolors are not one of favorite things to work with.”

Ron shook his head, “Brian, I know that you do beautiful work with watercolors.  Remember, I’ve seen them in art class.”

“Guys, I need to get Timmy ready for bed.  Tanner, take the tags off your clothes, and we’ll wash them as soon as I get Timmy settled.”

I handed the envelope that Ron had given me to Dad as I went to collect Timmy. 

Timmy and I went to the bedroom and Timmy asked, “Dad Brian, is Tanner going to sleep with us?”

“Timmy, I don’t know.  Let’s take a shower, so I can shampoo and condition your hair.”

While Timmy and I were in the shower, he looked at me, “Dad Brian, we need to be careful how we talk when Tanner’s around just like with Lauren and Morgan, right?”

“Yes, Timmy, I’m afraid we do.”

When I had Timmy settled, I went to the kitchen and was surprised to see that Ron was still here and was helping Tanner.  I had to ask, “I take it you know each other well?”

Tanner turned to look at me, “Brian, Ron and I went to grade school together.  I’ve seen him around the high school, but we don’t have any classes together.  We were just talking about what happened this morning when I broke the elephant’s nose, and how I wound up living here with you and your family for the time being.”

I looked at the guys, “Ron, do you have time to stay and talk for a short time?”

Ron shook his head no, “I really need to get home, or I’ll get my ass grounded.  I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

After Ron had gone to his car, I turned to Tanner, “Do want to sleep with Timmy and me, or in my brother’s bedroom?”

“I thought your brother graduated.  Does he still live here?”

I chuckled, “He still lives here, but he goes to college in New York.”

“Brian, I promise I’ll keep my dick in my briefs if I sleep with you and Timmy.  I’ll try very hard not to let Timmy see me in all my glory.”

I laughed, “You can let Timmy see you in all of your glory, as you call it.  He won’t have a problem with it, as long as you don’t try to make him do anything.  I think you'd better tell me your story so we can get that out of the way, and you can get on with the rest of your life.  Let’s go to the bedroom where we can talk in private.  Why don’t you finish your laundry.  I need to talk to Dad.  I’ll  join you shortly.”

“Brian, I don’t know which bedroom is yours.  I haven’t been upstairs yet.”

I smacked my head, “I guess I’m getting Alzheimer’s already.  Just think, I’ll be the first fifteen year old to ever have the dreaded disease.  Finish your laundry, and I’ll be right back.”

I went to talk to Dad, “Dad, did you get a chance to look at what Mr. Johnson sent?”

“Yes, Brian, I did.  I’m going to put the envelope in the safe.  You probably should ask Chris and John to come by tomorrow night and pick up their checks.  You and I need to sit down and discuss what’s going to happen to the money you’ve received.  I’ll meet you at three this morning and go over everything that we need to do.  Now go get Tanner settled, he’s a very confused young man.  Have you had a chance to talk to him privately?”

I shook my head no, “Not really, he’s decided that he’s going to sleep with Timmy and me and he has promised to keep his penis under wraps.  I know he thinks he’s gay, and that’s about all I know.”

Dad stood and hugged me, “Bri, you are a piece of art in yourself.  We’ll talk more tomorrow night.”

I kissed Dad, “Dad, I love you and Mom.  I hope I don’t let you down.”

I went and collected Tanner, and we took his clothes to the bedroom.  I opened the drawers and there wasn’t any more space since Timmy’s and my things were in the dressers.  I took him through the bathroom to Ben’s room.  The drawers in the dressers were empty as was the closet.  I looked at Tanner and started, “I guess you can use this room for your jack off sessions or when you bring someone home.  We’ll have to install a light so Timmy and me won’t intrude on what you’re doing.”

Tanner frowned, “Brian, you’re making me feel guilty.”

I pushed Tanner on the bed, “Look, I’m not trying to lay a guilt trip on you.  I want to know why you’re here.  I want the whole story, and I want the truth and nothing but the truth.”

Tanner had a funny look, “Your Dad said that you were a mean one.  Now I can see why he said that.”

“Tanner, we don’t have time to talk about my being mean.  Get your clothes off and take a shower so you can tell me why you’re here.”

Tanner threw up his hands, “Why do I need to take a shower?  We had one after we finished football practice.”

I folded my arms, “Look, Mr. Tailor, I saw how fast you ducked into and out of the shower after football practice.  Get your clothes off so you can get clean and take care of the heavy load that is sitting there ready to erupt.  Leave the shower door open so I can watch to make sure you’re doing it right.  Besides, you were trying on clothes and who knows who had tried them on before you.”

“Get in the shower and start talking.”

“Brian, can we please talk after I’m out of the shower?”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting in Ben’s room when you’re finished.”

When Tanner entered the room, I got a good look at his body and it was a very nice body, indeed.  I had a sudden weird thought, ‘I wonder if I could convince Tanner and Ron to pose naked for me and pretend as if they were kissing.  They’d probably get erections and the painting would be rated XXX.’

After Tanner put on some briefs he sat down beside me on the settee that was in Ben’s room.  He obviously had been thinking about what he was going to tell me, while he was in the shower, because when he started, there wasn’t any time for me to even ask a question.

“Brian, I’m sixteen years old.  My Father, who was a single parent, kicked me out of the house a little over a year ago when he caught my older brother trying to insert his dick into my butt.  Dad started screaming at us and asking us what the hell we were doing.  My brother, who Dad thought could do no wrong, put on an act like you’ve never seen.”

“He jumped up from lying on top of me, ‘Dad, Tanner asked me to fuck him.’   That was a bunch of crock.  Justin had come into my room and pushed me on the bed and crawled on top of me and told me that he was going to show me what a real man could do.  I guess it was my fault because I had been giving him blow jobs anytime he wanted, after I turned 15.”

I stopped Tanner, “Where's the s.o.b. now?”

Tanner looked confused, “Who, my Dad or Justin?”

“Your brother.”

Tanner shrugged his shoulders, “I’m guessing the prick is in Ithaca, New York.  Dad, wanted him to go to Cornell, since that was where Dad had gone to college.  Dad was really upset when Justin didn’t get a scholarship because it was going to be so expensive.  But he felt that his precious Justin was worth the expense.”

“Tanner, I assume that your brother’s name is Justin Tailor?”

Tanner shook his head, “No, his name is Justin Butcher.  He’s not really my brother.  He’s a step brother.  Dad had been married before and his wife, who was Justin’s mother, died.  He married my Mother when I was four,  but he never really liked me.  It didn’t really surface until my Mother died three years ago.  After my Mother died, it was as if I became a servant to him and Justin, somewhat like Cinderella.”

I was stunned, “Tanner, do my Dad and Mother know all of this?”

Tanner nodded in the affirmative.  “I laid it on the line to your parents and Mr. Tillison this afternoon, so they would know all about me.”

Our conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Timmy, “Dad Brian, aren’t you and Tanner going to come to bed?”

I picked Timmy up, “Yes, Timmy, we were just coming to keep you from falling out of bed.  I’ll put you in bed, and we’ll be there as soon as we brush our teeth.”

As Tanner and I were brushing our teeth, he asked, “Brian, why does Timmy keep referring to you as Dad Brian?”

“Tanner, that’s a long story.  We don’t have time for it tonight.  Now let’s get some sleep.”

To be continued...

Editor's Notes: Ah we get some information about Tanner. I like him, and I think he is going to be a very nice young man.

I think he and Ron might make a nice couple, but then I don't know how Ron would feel about that.  I really want to read more about this situation.  I hope it won't be too long before we get the next chapter.

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher

Posted: 12/11/09