Shelter Kid
By: Jon Stewart
(© 2021 by the author)

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

jstewart@tickiestories.us

Chapter 27

Just then there was a knock at the door. An older couple carrying a fresh baked chocolate cake. Billy went to get the door. "Mom, it's our downstairs neighbors."

"Well, invite them in, Billy."

"We're the Jenkins; my wife Emma and I'm Frank. Since we live in the same house, we thought we could bring you a little welcome gift. I hope you like chocolate cake."

Billy piped up "Yes sir, it's my favorite. We haven't had it in a long time; want me to get some plates, mom?"

The older folks laughed at Billy's enthusiasm. Emma said to Frank "See, Frank, chocolate is way better than vanilla."

Billy said "You are so right, Mrs. Jenkins"

Frank said "Well, I do like vanilla myself, but since the cake is for you folks, Emma, you did good picking chocolate."

Annie put up some coffee and cut the cake and introduced herself, Pops, and Billy, who Mrs. Jenkins fell in love with when he asked for a second piece of cake. Billy told them that part of their agreement was that he would help out around the place and if they needed any help to call him. He told Mr. Jenkins sometimes he might not know how to do stuff and asked if they could team up. Mr. Jenkins could be the brains and he would be the hands. Mr. Jenkins liked that idea and told him he had a couple projects in mind that he would probably ask for Billy's help. Pops, sitting in the corner, smiled to himself.

The Jenkins only stayed a half hour. Annie thanked them for the coming up to say hello and complimented Emma on the cake. Billy said it was the best chocolate cake he ever had and asked if he could do some work for them and get paid in chocolate cake.

Frank grumbled "What's wrong with vanilla?"

Pops not to be left out, sided with Frank, but all could see, Emma had already decided that another chocolate cake was in order. Billy had won her heart.

Billy said, just as they were leaving, "Now if you need help with anything, you please call me."

"Well, what about pay, boy." Frank asked.

"Hopefully you'll smile after I'm done and that will be all I need."

Frank was flabbergasted and said, "That's mighty decent of you, son, but I have always been fair with whoever helped me, and I'll be fair with you."

Billy said, "Thank you, sir, who could ask for more than that."

Going forward Billy always took care of the Jenkins, carrying packages, taking out their garbage, getting things down from high cupboards. Rarely did he take any of Frank’s money; but he never refused Emma's chocolate cake. Once Frank tried to get something from the top shelf for Emma and fell off a chair and broke his hip. When Billy heard, he came in to see Frank. "Mr. Jenkins, can we have a man to man talk?"

"Why of course Billy," Frank responded thinking it was going to be a birds and bees conversation.

"Mr. Jenkins, are we friends?"

"Yes, of course, Billy"

"Then friends let friends help them, don't they?"

Frank now knew where this was going, but he had to let it play out. "Yes, I’d say that is true."

"So, I have to ask you since we are friends, why you didn't wait and ask me to get that dish out of that cupboard for Emma?"

"Stupid pride, I guess, Billy. You know nobody likes to think they are incapable of doing what they did so easily just a few years ago." With tears in his eyes, Frank said "I'll call you next time."

Billy hugged the old timer and said "Remember we are a team. You are the brains, and I am the hands." From that day forward Billy made it a point to ask Mr. Jenkins several times a week about how to do something around the house. Even when he knew how to do it, he asked.

 He talked to Pops about Mr. Jenkins. "You know, Billy, people have to feel useful. More than that they have to be useful. When young people, like you, are doing stuff for us old timers, we don't feel useful and there is little reason to go on living."

Billy carried those words with him for the rest of his life.

Frank for his part, always appreciated Billy, and from that day forward thought of him as his very best young friend. After Billy and his mom had been in the apartment for the first year Mr. Ackers came by and talked about raising the rent. Billy was upset, because he had done everything Mr. Ackers had asked and some extra. Mr. Ackers told Billy to treat the house like it was his own and he did. For his part, Mr. Ackers had other problems. Mrs. Ackers had taken sick, and her medicines were very expensive.

Mr. Jenkins overheard some of the conversation and confronted Mr. Ackers. "Don't you do that to that boy and his mom, Ted? He is a God-send to Emma and me."

"Frank, the rent they are paying is way under the market's fair value. My wife is very sick; her medicines are expensive. Should I raise your rent instead?"

"Ted, if it has to be, it has to be. That boy and his mother have worked their butts off to build a life and now you are going to destroy it. Did you tell him to clean your gutters; probably not but he did. Did you tell him to pull the snow off the roof so you wouldn't get ice dams and a damaged roof? Probably not but he did. He was out there, hands freezing with the cold metal snow rake without gloves. I had to go out and give him a pair of mine. This is not you, Ted. I know you."

"So, you are saying to raise your rent instead."

"I have a friend who is a pharmacist. Get me a list of your medicines and maybe we can work something out. Just slow down, I know your Mary would not agree to this."

Mr. Jenkins’ friend did lower the price of the medicines for Mrs. Ackers and got it covered by their insurance. Mr. Jenkins was elated when he told Mr. Ackers. Mr. Ackers relented on the rent increase. "You tell them for me, Frank. You tell them I apologize and explain what you did for them and me."

Mr. Jenkins explained the situation to Billy and Annie. Billy was very sad when hearing about Mrs. Ackers. He said he would have to go over and visit her after school. Annie thanked Mr. Jenkins for intervening on their behalf.

"Well, I think Mr. Ackers was just terribly upset and not thinking right, out of worry for his wife. It's not the kind of thing that he would normally do. Billy, that is a fine charitable thought you had to visit Mrs. Ackers. I would call first to see when a good time would be."

Billy got a hold of Josh to go to the Ackers with him. It would help making conversation and it was the two of them that first met the Ackers. They called; Mr. Ackers was a little embarrassed by the rental issue. Billy said right away he understood about the rent thing; he was just so happy that he and his mom would be able to stay in his apartment and that Mr. Jenkins was able to help with Mrs. Ackers' medicine. They made a plan to visit after school on Friday. Mr. Ackers was really taken aback by Billy and Josh. It was rare indeed that in today's world, young people bothered to visit sick senior citizens like his wife or him. He did appreciate it.

When he answered the door for Billy and Josh, he apologized for not having cookies for them. Mrs. Ackers was propped up in an easy chair in the living room. They discussed Mrs. Ackers illness. She had leukemia. There were drugs for it now and it wasn't nearly as fatal as it once was. They also talked about what the boys were doing in school. Finally, Billy said he sure did miss Mrs. Ackers cookies. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Billy, I just didn't have the strength to make them."

Billy said, "If she would be the brains, Josh and I can be the hands and together, we will make the cookies."

Well, Mrs. Ackers certainly did perk up at that; talking about her illness had her a little in the dumps. If they made cookies, they would have something to offer folks if they stopped by. "It would be good to do something useful, she told Mr. Ackers."

So, they moved into the kitchen. Mr. Ackers got out her cookbook. Mrs. Ackers was now at the kitchen table with a shawl around her. Mr. Ackers helped get out the ingredients. The boys mixed and rolled out the dough; chatting away, Billy teasing Josh on his cookie making skills and Josh teasing back; they got flower all over their faces. Mrs. Ackers teasing both of them said "They were the sloppiest bakers that ever entered her kitchen.” There was a good bit of laughter from the "cookie crew" which is what they had named themselves. The boys made sure they cleaned up as they had made a little bit of a mess. When the first batch came out of the oven, the verdict was not bad, actually pretty good; not quite up to Mrs. Ackers standards, but nevertheless good. The boys both took a half dozen to take home and left a dozen or so. Mrs. Ackers was a little tried but in much better spirits. She asked them to come back soon. The boys said they would, and both gave her a kiss on the cheek and asked if they could make cookies when they came back. Mr. Ackers shook their hands and thanked them for the visit. He also vowed to himself that Billy and Annie would never have to worry about rent again, as long as he was alive.

Billy walked with Josh back to Pops' house. "That sure was a good idea of yours to make the cookies. Where did you get that thing about the brains and the hands?" Josh asked.

"Where do ya think? Pops, of course. When he was helping us setting up the apartment, he said he would be the brains and I would be the hands. Yeah, making cookies worked out pretty well. Maybe we should go into the baking business."

"I don't think so, you'll eat all the profits." Josh said giving Billy a gentle shove.

"The cookies are real good, Josh. People like cookies." Billy said as he took another bite from one. "Jeez, I sure do hope Mrs. Ackers is gonna be alright."

Josh put his arm around his best friend and gave him a little peck on the cheek.

"What was that for, bi-sexy boy? Not that I'm complaining,"

"Just for you being you, Billy. You care so much for people."

"Aww Josh you're so ... I don't know ... sensitive. You know some day you are gonna have to decide."

"Decide what?"

"Have you told Jenny you think you might be bi sexy?"

"Uh, no."

"You'll pick her."

"What makes you say that? Maybe I want to be a bigamist and marry both of you."

"You're funny."

"What?”

"You'll marry her because she can give you babies. I can't."

"Think so?"

"Know so. I can give you great sex, but there is more to life than sex. But I'm here for ya until that day comes because I love you and the sex."

"Billy, when did you get so smart?'

"I don't know, maybe I always was. Maybe some of that genius brain of yours rubbed off when I swallowed your cum. Can I suck you off and get even smarter?"

Josh laughed "Only if we can do 69 together and I can get some of your smarts."

"Hey, I have an idea."

"What?"

"What about we use smarts as code for sex or cum. So, if I said I wish I had your smarts. Only you'll know what I mean."

"Jeez, you are a genius. Great idea ... if I said `want to study after school we can both get smarter' ... we'll have to work on it some, so others don't think something's up with us always talking about being smart."

"Ok, let's try it on Pops."

"He'll know; he knows everything us guys will do. But I'm game if you are."

As they walked in the house. Pops was reading the news on Facebook. He asked where they had been, and they told the story of Mr. & Mrs. Ackers and making cookies and Billy's fixed rent problem. Then Billy said "Pops, Josh is so smart I wish I had his smarts."

Pops said, "You are plenty smart enough, Billy."

Josh started to laugh but he got his line out. "Want to go study Billy? We can both get smarter."

The boys were smiling ear to ear. Pops took one look and said "Hey, if you guys want to go make out, go on upstairs and do it, and stop talking in silly code."

Billy and Josh nearly fell over from the laughing. Josh tried to say it three times before he got it out. "See ... see, I … I told you it wouldn't work ... work on him." Pops joined in the laughter now and gave them both a kiss on the forehead. The boys headed upstairs. Pops called after them "That was very nice of you, Billy, to visit Mrs. Ackers, and you too, Josh for going with him. I'm very proud of both of you."

Pops didn't hand out compliments often. When he did it was because someone had done something exceptional. The boys stopped on the stairs and turned to Pops and said "thank you" in unison as they often did. Billy said, “It was just the right thing to do, Pops."

"I'm glad you did it. Was Mrs. Ackers happy?"

"I think so, Pops. She was smiling and talking a whole bunch when we left, and Mr. Ackers had a much better expression too. He said thank you for coming a bunch of times and asked us back. He apologized over and over about the rent." Billy replied.

The boys continued upstairs. Pops called Annie and told her Billy was there. He then complimented her on having such a caring boy. Annie was surprised by Pops. He rarely gave compliments, but he must think Billy had done something special. Pops then asked if she would come directly by after work and let the 4 of them have a pizza diner together. Annie, tired from work, readily agreed.

Once in his bedroom Josh closed the door and gave Billy a deep, passionate kiss. Billy returned the kiss and their tongues dueled with each other. They pushed the beds together and made love to each other, slow and sensual. Lightly touching each other slowly undressing, caressing, and kissing every part of the other, sometimes Billy would coo from Josh's touch other times Josh would moan at Billy's touch. They let themselves feel the love each had for the other. They left their hard boners to leak precum, each one delaying the climax of the other because they did not want their love to ever end. What had in the past been a 15-minute loving, pleasuring session was now going on an hour. Josh whispered in Billy's ear "I want you so much; I want your cum. I need to taste and swallow the essence of you, to always have it in me. Billy wanted the same and asked Josh to "feed him his love juice so he would always have him in him." They went to a 69 position and licked and lapped at each other's boy-hood, savoring the tasty precum; its salty and slippery taste. Then they each engulfed the other’s cock sucking the cum from it. They felt their cocks grow in their mouths. They felt it twitch with its own dance to give life and finally they exploded volley, after volley, after volley into each other. More cum than they had ever produced came spilling out of them. Shot after shot, it seemed to never end. When it did, they were moved to be together and kissed each other with cum all over their faces, smiling and loving what they had done together. They licked each other clean. Barely could they stop hugging and kissing the other. Josh would stop and then Billy would grab Josh and start again. Billy would stop and Josh would grab Billy and start again. Finally, Pops called up "Josh, you have a phone call. Derrick from St. Francis."

"One second, Pops I'll be right down." Josh threw on some clothes as did Billy. Josh raced down the stairs leaving Billy to straighten and put back the beds.

"Hi Derrick, what's up? How are you guys doing out at St. Francis?"

"Hi Josh, just waiting for you and Jesse to get us in that ball game we discussed."

"You got your team together."

"Yeah sure, you ready for your beating."

"Derrick, buddy, we haven't lost a game in 2 years. You sure you want to mess with us?"

"Well, you ain't played any real New York competition."

"Derrick, both Jesse and I are transplanted New Yorkers, and when we played in the city, we never lost neither. You sure you want to challenge us?"

"Well actually, the real reason for the call is we wanted to talk to you about stuff for the homeless. But if we get you over here, I'm gonna beat your butt in B-Ball."

"What kind of stuff for the homeless?"

"There is an abandoned building a couple blocks from the church. Father Rick thinks it would be great project to fix it up for the homeless folks we met."

"Wow, that's a big deal."

"Yeah, that's why we want your input. Father Rick says he knows people who could help and there are folks in the church who could help, but nobody knows the homeless folks and organization better than you. Our youth group would love to work on it; we can clean up the trash and get the place decent with help from some of the trades people in the parish."

Josh was beside himself; this was something he always wanted to do. Get people out of the shelter and into their own homes. Jesse's plan flashed through his mind. He had goose bumps running down his spine.

"Wow, Derrick, it is something I really, really want to do. I have some other people who had plans to do something like that as well. I am so excited. I gotta tell you Derrick, this is as good as sex, and I just had the best sex of my life. What do I have to do ... count me in and I'm sure I can get others to help as well?”

"Well, slow down there, bud. This is a clean, wholesome project and it's not to be messed up with perverted sex." Derrick teased. "Father Rick said the first step would be to have an exploratory meeting, bring as many folks as possible together, who could bring input and advise how to do this."

"OK, when is the meeting?"

"A week from next Tuesday at 6:00 in the church; there'll be youth group members there to show you where to go. The Ladies Auxiliary will be there to put together a light dinner since it'll be supper hour. We need to get a count."

"Ok, let me call you back and see who all I can get to go. I can contact Luke, the shelter director, and my friend Jesse and his dad, who has an engineering and construction company, Billy of course, and Pops. Can we bring girl friends?"

 "I guess so. The more the merrier."

"OK, I'll get back to you Monday. Maybe we can set up that basketball game as a charity event, that way when you lose it'll be for a good cause."

"Yeah sure, St Francis was the CYO champs of all of Queens; we ain't afraid of nobody."

"Well, we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let's get the homes for the homeless organized first. But I gotta warn you, we were NJ state champs."

"See that's why Father Rick had me call. Already you have a name for us. I like it, `Homes for the Homeless.' Get back to me Monday. See ya."

"See ya, Derrick, and thanks for calling me. This is something I have always wanted to do."

"Pops, Pops." Josh yelled. Billy came running downstairs; Pops in from the kitchen. "Pops, St. Francis wants to build a home for the homeless. Isn't that great, they want me to help."

"Yes, it is Josh, really good news. But before you do anything ... ohh Jeeze, you too Billy? Go wash that crusty stuff off your faces. It may be a badge of honor for you guys, but I'll bet it would be a upsetment for Annie. She should be here in a few minutes. I asked her to share pizza with us for dinner. Josh, your shirt is on inside out as well; fix it."

The boys looked at each other and laughed. Then both charged Pops and kissed his cheek one on one side: the other on the other. "Get, get up those stairs, the both of you." Pops half yelled with a big smile on his face as he gave Josh a gentle swat in his butt. The boys flew up the stairs and into the bathroom and scrubbed the dried cum off their faces, still laughing about it. Billy said "It would have been real trouble if my mom had seen it. We are so lucky to have Pops."

Dinner was great with the pizza and the wine. Pops had 2 glasses, the boys each had 1 and ½, and Annie, who had yet to drive home with Billy, only one. The conversation was all about Mrs. Ackers and cookies and the home for the homeless. Billy gave his mom a cookie and she complimented the bakers. Billy gave Josh a playful shove and said "See, we should go into the baking business." They all laughed, but poor Billy was serious. All too soon 9:00 o'clock came around, and Annie said they had to get on home and thanked Pops for a most enjoyable dinner and evening. Billy hugged Josh and Pops; Josh and Pops kissed Annie as they said their goodbyes.

To be continued...

Posted: 02/04/2022