The General’s Son
by: E Walk

(Copyright 2007 by the Author)
 

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

 

Chapter 13
Life Beyond High School

Chip and Tim worked at the base gym with Tip and Ty for the month before they had to report to the Academy. I made sure they got cell phones and placed severe restrictions on when they could use them.

The guys left for the Academy in July and I had to report to school at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, the first of August. I had to clear out the house and put the furniture in storage. Once school began, the first chance Chip and I had to get together was in D.C. for Christmas and then a few days at the farm with my parents, my brother and his wife and the twins.

In May I was graduated and assigned to the Air Force Academy as the advisor to the Corp of Cadets. I bought a house some distance from the base so Tina and Elena could live with me, and still drive back and forth to school. Chip, Tim, Scott and Alex would be able to come and visit whenever they were free, since it was a five-bedroom house.

The three remaining years at the Academy went by quickly for everyone, with people always coming and going. In the guys’ senior year, Chip was chosen to be the Commandant of the Corps and Tim was his assistant. Both guys were scheduled to go to pilot training. Chip won the NCAA tennis singles title. Just before he was to be commissioned, someone picked up on the fact that he was partially color blind which kept him from going to flight training.

I was selected below the zone for Lieutenant Commander and would be going to the Air War College in August. I sold the house at a modest profit. Ironically enough, Chip was assigned to Maxwell Air Force base as the Commander’s executive officer.

It turned out that he and I had adjacent suites in the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters. In March, Chip was selected to go to Squadron Officers’ School. He was graduated two days before me, and we were both being reassigned to Washington, D. C. Chip was going to be assigned to the Air Force Chief of Staff’s Office. I was being assigned to be the Executive officer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Neither of us had any idea why we had gotten these assignments; but at least we would be together, so we really didn’t care.

The day after we were notified of our assignments, the President announced that Air Force General Richard Miller was being appointed to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, and General Brian Young would succeed him as the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Chip and I made plans to go the farm until the 20^th of June. We advised everyone of our plans and my brother Ben and his wife Anita asked if we would look after the boys, who were now seven, while they took a cruise in the Mediterranean for ten days with Anita’s parents.

I made sure that they had completed all of the paperwork needed to enable me to fully take care of the guys if something should happen. We all arrived at the farm about the same time. The twins’ parents and grandparents went to Omaha to begin their trip. They had just arrived in Athens, Greece when there was an explosion on the aircraft. All 300 people on board were killed instantly.

My family was notified the next day. It took most of the next two weeks to get all of the paperwork taken care of. Everyone agreed that I should be the boys’ foster-parent/guardian. I sent Chip to Washington to find a suitable place for the four of us to live.

Right after the memorial service, my father had a heart attack and died. That complicated my life, but Tina and I made the funeral arrangements and had everything from my parent’s new house moved to Washington. That way Tony and Betsy could have full time help and they could live in the parents’ house.

Chip had found a farmhouse in Maryland with twenty-five acres. It was expensive, but would accommodate the mass of people who would be moving in or visiting and we would have some land to have some horses.

After the reading of all the legal papers, the twins were going to be very wealthy in their own right. My mother wasn’t far behind. She decided to live with Chip and me, so she could help take care of the twins.

Alex and Tina were assigned to Edwards AF Base after he graduated from pilot training. He was going to be testing new airplanes.

Tip had graduated at the top of his class at Creighton and was admitted into the medical program. Ty had graduated with honors from UNL. After being named an all American for two consecutive years, he was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the draft in the number two position. He received a huge bonus when he signed. The first thing he did was make sure that Tip would be able to complete medical school without any loans. He invested his money wisely and he refused to have an agent work for him.

He turned into an outstanding professional football player. He not only returned kickoffs and punts, he was the starting safety and eventually wound up playing on the offense as a wide receiver. He became known as the Iron Man. He became a perpetual all-pro. In his tenth year, the Chiefs finally won the Championship. Ty had been voted the MVP of the Super Bowl game and also the NFL Player of the Year. Everyone thought for sure that he would go on for another five years.

He had gotten married right after he had turned pro. His wife was an extremely beautiful lady. They had four children in rapid succession. Ty had attended law school and gotten his law degree, passed the bar exam and was certified to practice in Kansas, Missouri, Iowa and Nebraska.

In a surprise announcement after the championship game, Ty announced his retirement. He simply said, “It is time to move on with the next phase of my life. I need to take care of my family.”

His wife filed for divorce, and Ty didn’t contest. He insisted that he have complete custody of the children and she could have the house and furnishings and the BMW. He would get everything else, since he had proof that she had been having affairs with other players. She simply wasn’t ready to settle down and be a housewife.

I guess I need to also tell you about Tip. He had gotten his medical degree and became a certified obstetrician. Ty had convinced him to come to the Kansas City area and had even found a practice that he could join. Tip had been working for almost two years when Ty pulled his surprise announcement.

Ty’s four children were always at Uncle Tip’s condo because he had an indoor pool that they could swim in. The two boys and two girls thought that Uncle Tip walked on water. They especially liked it when Uncle Troy, Uncle Chip, Luke and Peter were visiting, because they received so much attention.

Ty and the children moved into the four-bedroom condo with Tip temporarily, until the dust could settle.

They had only been living together for about two weeks when one night Tip was in bed and there was a knock on the door. Tip told the visitor to come in. Ty came in and sat on the bed. He seemed a little uptight.

Tip asked, “Ty, what's wrong? Something is bothering you. Spit it out.”

Ty hesitated but finally asked. “Tip, have you ever been in love? Since I know that you are gay, have you ever truly been in love with another guy?”

Tip was taken back by the question. He thought for a minute and answered, “Ty, I don’t know. There have been three people in my life that I would dearly loved to have made love with, but they were not eligible. Tyler, I am going to tell you something you will probably not believe. I am a 32 year old virgin for all intents and purposes. I have had some encounters, but always pulled away because it did not feel right.”

“Tip, thank you for telling me. I have only had sex with one other person and that was my ex-wife. At first, I thought it was the real love; but after Bobby was born I began to realize that everything was not what it seemed. We continued to have sex, but I always pretended that she was someone else and it always turned out to be the same person.” Ty stopped.

Ty lay down beside Tip and he had tears in his eyes. “Tip, this is very hard for me to say, but I think I have always been in love with you since we started to live at Grandma Maggie’s house and I was too dumb to realize it.”

Tip started to laugh, “Ty, you weren’t too dumb. You were too macho and not ready to face reality. Let me tell though that you are the third person I also wanted to be with. I used to lie in bed at night when we first started to live together and shared the bedroom wishing you were holding me. When you masturbated at night, I so wanted to be the one servicing you rather than your hand. Even when we finally had separate bedrooms, I would lie in bed and listen for the bedsprings. When I heard them, I wanted to be helping you make the bed move.

Ty started to really laugh. “You sure do have a way with words.”

The bedroom door was open and Bobby, Ty’s nine year old son, came in. “Is Daddy laughing or crying? It sounds like laughing. It has been a long time since Daddy laughed like that.”

Tip looked at Bobby and asked, “Bobby, what are you up for?”

“I want to ask Dad who was going to take care of us tomorrow, since we don’t have school and he wasn’t in his room. I was worried until I heard him laughing. So Dad, who is taking care of us?”

“I will be taking you to Jenny’s house in the morning, since I have meetings I need to go to," Ty answered.

“Dad, do we have to go there? I don’t like her brother and sister. They keep bossing us around and won’t let us do anything.”

Tip said, “Maybe we could have Jenny come here and at least you could swim. Then you can take everyone to lunch at the pizza place across the street.”

“But Uncle Tip, I don’t have enough money," Bobby complained.

Tip picked up his wallet from the stand and took out two twenty dollar bills and stuck them into Bobby’s briefs. “Hey all you have to do is take your clothes off and pay the bill. Now come on, I need to get you back to bed.”

Tip picked Bobby up and carried him back to his room. He kissed Bobby as he was tucking him in.

Bobby said, “Uncle Tip, you and Daddy are both beautiful. You will be nice to him won’t you?”

“Bobby how much did you hear of what we said?” Tip asked Bobby.

Bobby said, “I was listening at the door, and I know that you love each other. Please don’t forget about the four of us. We all need you both. Uncle Tip, will I ever be as big as you and Dad down here," Bobby asked as he touched Tip’s briefs.

“Son, I am sure that you will be just as big or bigger, but right now we need to get to sleep. I love you Bobby.” Tip kissed Bobby and was about to leave when Billy the four-year-old son asked.

“What about me Uncle Tip, don’t you love me?”

“Billy, I love you double. I think you and your brother and sisters are the best thing that happened since ice cream. I love all four you.” Tip kissed Billy goodnight and pulled the covers over him.

He walked past the two girls’ room and stopped to check on them. He kissed them both on the forehead and whispered I love you. Christa, the older daughter who was eight said, “We love you too, Uncle Tip.”

Tip went back to his room and pulled Ty close, “Brother, we need to be very careful. Our first thoughts must be of the children and help them be capable of succeeding in this world. I would love to make love to you right now, but I think we both need some time to think.”

“No matter what happens, I will always love you but it might be hard. Right now I just want you to lie here next to me and we will discuss where and how we want to proceed, later.”

Ty looked at Tip and said, “Tip, this is exactly why we need to be together. You think things out and I am impulsive and want to take care of everything now. Do you think our children will love us no matter what happens?”

“The children will love us unless we give them a reason not to.” Tip pulled Ty close to him and kissed him on the lips. Ty snuggled back against Tip, and Tip put his right arm around Ty and his hand found the way to Ty’s penis.

The next evening Tip and Ty called Chip and me. Ty said, “Guys, we have something to share with you. We hope you are both sitting down.”

“Wait, before you begin, I have to get something," I said and I went to get a letter. When I came back I said, “Guys, I hope you are both on the line. The last time Chip and I visited with Aunt Maggie before her death, she gave me something to read to you at the appropriate time. I think the time is right.”

Dear Tipton and Tyler,

If you are reading this or hearing it, it means that you are finally realizing what I have known for a long time. I quickly realized that there was something very special in your relationship. I was hoping to see the day that Tyler would realize how he really felt about Tip. I think Tip has always known and that is why he has never had any special friends in a sexual way.

My only concern is for Ty’s children. Since he already has three and there may be more by now. Rita is a lovely lady but she just wasn’t right for you Ty. Your two chemistries didn’t go well together.

I love you both and am glad that this day finally happened. Just remember that the children need to come first. I am sure that between the two of you, you will take care of that problem.

I love you both, and good luck.

Grandma Maggie

Tip and Ty started laughing. “So, how come everyone but us realized that this might happen?”

Chip said, “Some people are just slow learners.”

Chip and I had very little private time between the jobs and the twins’ activities. The amazing thing was that we kept having the right tickets punched and were being fast tracked for promotion and we never left the D. C. area, so we never had to move. I attained the rank of Major General and as soon as I had served my 20 years, I retired from the Air Force and joined a small management-consulting group.

I could work out of the house and was really doing well. I worked for the company for five years until Chip had retired with the rank of Brigadier General. We decided to sell the farm, since the boys were married now, and move back to the Midwest.

The twins had chosen not to go to the Academy. Luke went to Harvard and Peter went to Princeton. Both guys were at the top of their class the entire way through school and were graduated from their respective colleges and they excelled in sports. The grandparents, Chip’s parents, and my mother were proud of the boys, as were we. Luke and Pete had met very wonderful young women and had gotten married. Luke was working in Denver and Peter was working in the Phoenix area. They both had excellent jobs

My mother had gone to live with Tina and Alex so she could help with their four children after the twins were old enough to be self-sufficient. She was still driving around acting like a chauffeur.

Tim and Elena had two children, a son and a daughter. The son, Randy, turned out to be gay and Tim and Elena sent him to Chip and me for help. The two of us helped Randy make some intelligent decisions, and he went on to be a famous composer and entertainer and won many awards.

Alex and Tina’s four children were great examples of the all American kid. No matter what they did, they did their best and had a good time.

Alex and Tim both stayed in the Air Force for 30 years and attained the rank of Lieutenant General.

Scott went through three wives and never advanced beyond Lieutenant Colonel because he had a drinking problem. One morning he was found dead after overdosing on some medications. He had left a note. “Horsemen, I’m sorry. I can’t be like the rest of you. I just don’t have the same drive as the rest of you. I have always been in love with Chip and Troy but there was nothing I could do about it. I loved all of you. I’m sorry I let you down. I just couldn’t make it by myself.”

So ends the story of the Four Horsemen of General’s Row that started in church. Look for several more stories involving some of the people in this story. Maybe it will be about Randy and Billy and perhaps there will be more on the Tip and Ty saga. Who knows?

The End

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Posted: 06/29/07