3 Cats and a Boy

 by: Miguel Sanchez

© 2005-2008 by the author

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

I went into the bathroom and lifted the toilet seat and emptied my bladder. I was almost done when Caleb joined me. I got him a tooth brush then we finished our nightly business. I crawled into bed then had Caleb tucked in tight beside me. We kissed each other then drifted off to sleep.

Chapter 4

The next morning Raj made his way inside and I felt him nudge me. I cracked open an eye and looked at him. He saw Caleb on the other side of the bed and he just had to go and check him out. Caleb was still sleeping soundly as Raj managed to get the covers down showing my lover in his naked perfection. The cat leaned forward and smelled Caleb but during the process, his nose landed on the boy’s butt. Caleb rubbed his cheek and Raj moved in closer. I put my hand over to protect his bottom then Raj decided to give Caleb’s cheek a little lick. Caleb’s eyes shot wide open as he felt the sandpaper tongue. He turned over and saw the big white cat standing there. “Rajah get the hell outta here.”

I was laughing at Caleb’s facial expressions. “He was just saying good morning.”

Caleb had to pee and he quickly got up but he had to maneuver around the cat. Caleb’s stiffy was sticking almost straight out when he looked down and saw Raj’s eyes. “Oh no you don’t, that’s mine.”

I was rolling in the bed as Caleb was standing there holding his jewels and staring at Raj. Caleb eased past the big cat just as he turned and put his nose against the crack of Caleb’s ass. My little man finally did his business then came out starting at Raj. “If you want me to feed you, you’d better be good.”

Rajah dropped his head and sulked out of the room. I got up and kissed Caleb as I went into the bathroom. “If you can feed the cats, I’ll get our breakfast going. We have a busy day ahead of us.”

Caleb grabbed his shorts then headed to the garage. I pulled on some shorts then went out to the kitchen to get breakfast going. I normally just had coffee but I did have some microwaveable sausage and some eggs that I could make us a substantial meal. I had the eggs in the pan cooking when Caleb came back in. “Smells good love.”

I’d never had anyone refer to me in that way before so it felt special. “Thanks, I hope you like them.”

I took the eggs off the heat then felt him wrap his arms around me giving me a hug. I fixed the plates and Caleb got us coffee. I looked at him wide eyed. “You drink coffee?”

He set the mugs on the table then kissed me. “I’m 15 baby.”

He was right. Physically he looked 13 but he was 15. “This is going to take a little getting used to love.”

After we ate, I got on the phone and called Jeffery Morris and told him what had happened. “Mike, I’ll be out there in about 30 minutes. I’d like to meet this young man.”

“Sounds good Mr. Morris, just remember to stop and use the intercom so I can open the gate.”

I hung up the phone and found Caleb out back with the cats. He’d let all 3 out and Sultan was giving him a ride on his back. “Caleb, bring them into the office, I need to weigh them.”

He led the three cats into my office where I had a special electronic scale that could weigh up to 1000 pounds. I knew a fully grown tiger could weigh as much as 500 pounds but these cats were in captivity and even though I feed them well, I do watch their diet. Caleb came in with Chaka by his side and got her on the scale. I watched as the numbers rolled and finally stopped at 386 pounds. “Is that a good weight for her?”

I pulled her chart and made the notation in it. “Yeah it is kiddo. Take a look at this photo.”

I had taken photos of them when they first arrived. “Shit, they look so skinny. Is that Rajah?”

I nodded my head as the white cat came over at hearing his name mention. “This was when he was about 6 months old. Cute little guy wasn’t he?”

Rajah came over and butted me against my knee to get my attention. “Yeah, you’re still cute Raj but if you try to nurse on Caleb’s dick you and him are gonna fight.”

He looked up at Caleb when I said that like he understood exactly what I was saying. Caleb got Chaka off the scale and Raj took her place. He weighed in at 348 pounds which wasn’t bad for a juvenile male. He didn’t want to move but I got him off. “Sultan, come here and discipline your kid.”

Sultan calmly walked over and glared at Rajah. Rajah was in one of his moods and just sat there. Well, that was until Sultan bopped him once across the hind flank. Raj got the message and moved so I could weigh Sultan. Sultan was a full grown male and stood taller than me. He took some prodding to get on the scale but when he did I was surprised to see he was 512 pounds. Caleb led Sultan to the door. I looked around for Rajah then I heard a loud splash. Caleb ran out to the pool and there he was cooling off. “Mike, Rajah’s in the pool.”

I knew what my next project was for the compound. I was going to have to get a pool of some kind they can use when they need to cool off. By the time I got around to the deck, I heard another splash. “Caleb, did you forget we have company coming?”

He was riding on Rajah’s back as the cat paddled around in the water. “Can’t I talk to him from out here?”

I held up his shorts and laughed. “I don’t think you’re dressed for the occasion.”

Caleb got the cat out of the pool then I got him a towel. After drying off I heard the buzz of the intercom. “Go put your undies and tee shirt on son. Mr. Morris is going to ask a lot of questions but please trust him. He works for me so he’s going to do what I ask of him.”

I buzzed Mr. Morris in then came inside as Caleb jumped into my arms. “Mike, I’m scared now. I don’t wanna leave you.”

I gave him a quick kiss then looked him in the eyes. “I’m worried too but Mr. Morris is one of the best lawyers I know and he handles all my legal matters. Can you put the cats up? He hasn’t met them since I’ve gotten them.”

“OK Mike,” Caleb said with a little trepidation.

I heard Mr. Morris’ car drive up and Caleb came running in. “Easy now kiddo. Let’s go and meet him.”

We walked outside and as he was pulling up by the garage. “Hi Mike, it’s been a while since I’ve been out here.”

I walked over and shook his hand. “How are you sir?”

“Will you stop with the formalities Mike?” Jeff said squeezing my hand.

I had to shake the feeling back in it when he let go. “OK Jeff, you win.”

Just then Sultan let his presence be known. “Holy shit Mike.”

I had to laugh but knew he hadn’t seen my babies. “Come on over here. I want you to meet my babies.”

We walked over to the cage and Caleb was already rubbing Sultan’s head. “That cat will tear him apart Mike.”

I shook my head. “No he won’t Jeff. This is one thing I need to tell you about but first, this is Sultan. I got him, a female and her cub about 18 months ago.”

I went inside the pen and soon I had all the cats around me. “This white male is Rajah. He was about 6 months old and all three were undernourished. Caleb and I weighed them today and they’re about where they should be.”

Jeff was shaking his head. “If someone else did this I’d say they were crazy but I know you’ve always had a love for the big cats. Now, what is this about Caleb I need to look into?”

I saw my love staring at Jeff and I thought he was going to run so I quickly got out of the cat’s pen. I took him by the hand then looked at Jeff. “Come on inside and we’ll talk.”

I almost had to pull Caleb inside. “Mike, I can’t. He’s gonna call the cops and I’m going to be taken away.”

Jeff walked up behind Caleb and put his hand on the boy’s shoulder. I thought he was going to jump out of his skin. “Caleb, I’m not going to let that happen if there is anything I have to say about it. Now, let’s sit down so you can tell me all about this.”

We all sat down and Caleb was glued to my side. Caleb told Jeff exactly what he told me. Jeff was busy taking notes and when Caleb stopped talking, Jeff had some questions. “Caleb, you said it was a spur of the moment thing when you had to move.”

Caleb nodded his head. “Yes sir. My Mom woke me up and said to get dressed because we had to leave cause my step father got a new job.”

I took over at that point. “Jeff, there are a few little things Caleb didn’t say.”

Jeff looked at us and Caleb tried to bolt. I quickly wrapped my arms around him pulling him onto my lap. “Lemme go Mike. That’s no one’s business.”

I looked at my love right in the eyes. “Stop it Caleb, do you think you’re the only gay person in the world?”

“It’s no one’s business,” he spat as the tears came down his face.

Jeff scooted over and rubbed the boys shoulder. “You’re right son, it’s no ones business. I bet Mike didn’t tell you about the man that owned this house before he inherited it, did he?”

Caleb looked at me then over to Jeff. With everything that had happened over the past 24 hours, I hadn’t had the chance to tell Caleb about James. “No sir, he hasn’t.”

“Well son, Mike’s benefactor was a single man who was gay. Yes, Mike, I knew this but there is one thing else you never knew about James. He also fostered several boys who had gotten into minor scrapes with the law and helped them turn their lives around. I know the majority of people don’t handle gay people all that well. Did you have a boyfriend?”

Caleb shook his head. “No sir, not a boyfriend as in someone my age.”

Jeff nodded his head. “I see. Do you think your parents found out about this person?”

Caleb shrugged his shoulders. “Well, they knew I cut his lawn. Sometimes I’d come home clean after taking a shower over at Glen’s house.”

Jeff started writing this information down. “Caleb, I need your address and the address of your friend.”

I felt Caleb get tense so I wrapped my arms around him tighter. “Why?”

Jeff looked at me. “Mike, this is going to run into some money.”

I shook my head. “I don’t care Jeff. I don’t like the idea of someone tossing their child out like an old piece of trash.”

Jeff turned his attention back to Caleb. “Son, I’m going to send one of my Private Investigators over to your place and to your friend’s place. The biggest thing is to find out if your friend is still alright. I find it strange that out of the blue you’re told to get up and you’re leaving. Normally parents tell their children this sort of thing so they have a chance to say goodbye to friends and things like that.”

Caleb looked worried now. “Do you think my step father could have hurt Glen?”

Jeff shook his head. “I don’t know son but it could explain why your parents took off like they did then put you out.”

Caleb’s disposition did a 180 just then. “If he hurt Glen I’ll kill him.”

Jeff shook his head. “No you don’t son, he’s not worth it. Right now no one knows anything about Glen. Would you happen to have his phone number?”

Caleb shook his head. “No I don’t, I never needed it. Any time I wanted to, I could go over there.”

Jeff finally stopped writing then he looked at us. “Caleb I take it you want to stay here with Mike.”

Caleb nodded his head. “Yeah, I would, I like it here. I really like Mike and I love the cats.”

“Yeah Jeff, I do want to foster him. He deserves a better life then being dumped.”

“Alright then, I will need to contact Social Services.”

Caleb started wiggling on my lap trying to get away. “Noooooooooooo, they’ll take me away. Lemme go Mike, damn it!”

Jeff put his hand on the boy’s shoulder but he was wiggling so much he shook it off. I was getting a little angry with him and his antics. I picked him up and spun him around so I could see his face. “Now stop it right now and listen.”

“Fuck off!

I was surprised at his outburst. I quit restraining him and just looked at him stunned. “Alright.”

I just sat there and fought back the tears that were trying to fall. Caleb sat there looking at me but I closed my eyes trying to fight the pain in my heart. I lost the battle with my tears. As I wiped my eyes, I could tell Caleb wasn’t on my lap. I opened them and he was standing looking at the ground. Those two words hurt and he knew it. I finally broke down and started crying. I guess my crying was more than Caleb could take as I felt him back on my lap with his arms around my neck. “Oh Mike, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that. Please don’t cry, I love you.”

I cried into his shoulder but couldn’t bring myself to hold him. I looked at him through the tears. “Why?”

He was crying now and shaking his head. “I’m scared Mike. I love you and I don’t wanna ever leave you. I’m sorry I said that, please forgive me.”

I finally gave in and wrapped my arms around him rubbing his hair. “I love you kiddo and I told you you’re going to have to trust us.”

Jeff put his hand on Caleb’s shoulder again but this time he didn’t shake it off. “You have to learn to listen son. Didn’t I tell you about the man that used to live here?”

He gently nodded his head. “Yeah.”

“Well, who do you think helped James become a foster parent?”

“I dunno.”

Jeff got this weird look on his face. “I did and I know a few people with Social Services so I’m pretty sure we can get Mike here set up as a foster parent.”

Caleb sat up. “Really, you mean that?”

Jeff nodded his head. “I’m pretty sure son. Now, I think I should call and talk with them.”

I set Caleb on his feet then got Jeff the phone. I watched as he punched some numbers then waited. “I need to speak to Robert Hampton please, Jeffery Morris calling.”

I watched as Jeff waited then I could tell someone was talking with him. “Robert, I’m going to put this call on speaker.”

Jeff pushed the speaker button then everyone could hear the man on the other end. “OK Jeff, what’s going on?”

Jeff sat back and started explaining. “I have the benefactor of our mutual friend James Cromwell here and he’s found a boy who’s been abandoned by his Mother and Step Father.”

“Did you say abandoned?”

Jeff nodded his head. “That’s right Robert. He was abandoned about 5 miles from the house and it’s about 150 miles from his home.”

“Alright Jeff, I’ll be out as soon as I can. Will you be there?”

“I can be,” Jeff replied. “How long will it take for you to get here?”

It was almost 11. “I have a hearing in 30 minutes. It will last about 45 minutes then I’ll be out. I’d say 2 hours.”

I nodded my head to Jeff. “Alright Robert, we’ll see you here then. Oh, stop at the gate and use the intercom then we’ll open it.”

Jeff hung up the phone and Caleb looked nervous. “Are you sure he’s gonna let me stay here?”

I looked at my little lover and hugged him. “Right now son, this is the best place for you.”

Jeff interrupted me. “Caleb, Robert is a good case worker. There are just too many unanswered questions right now. Mike, I’m going back to my office and get a PI out checking out these addresses. I hope I can have some answers by the time I get back out here. I’ll see you back here in a couple of hours.”

We walked Jeff out to his car then watched as he drove off. I opened the gate for him then we went inside the house. “Mike, aren’t you going to close the gate?”

I giggled. “Don’t worry, after he goes through it, there is a sensor he’ll drive through and then the gate will close automatically.”

I fixed us some lunch then it was time to get Caleb some clothes. “Come on kiddo, we have a few things to do before Jeff and Robert get here.”

Caleb and I went out to the garage and got into the Yukon. We took off heading for town. I had to get on the highway to get into town. “Mike, can you stop at the rest area?”

I nodded my head and a few minutes later, we were pulling in. I parked the truck and watched as Caleb walked around. I came up behind him putting my hand on his shoulders. “Looking for something in particular son?”

He didn’t answer me. He just kept looking around then walked over to a small picnic area. He looked around then went over to the parking area near some heavy brush. I followed him as he walked around. “Mike when I got up, I packed my back pack with some special things. I was just hoping they tossed it out when they took off.”

We looked around for another few minutes then Caleb just gave up and walked back to the Yukon. We went to the mall and hit some of the major stores. First stop was The Gap. I found a pair of jeans that looked like they would fit when we headed over to the changing room. Caleb looked at me when I stopped to wait outside as if to say please come with me. I went in and he shucked his shorts and put on the jeans. They looked very good on him. After he took them off, I looked at his briefs so I could find the size. When we came out, we had fun getting him his clothes. When we got to the checkout, the lady was giving us some strange looks. Caleb looked up at me and I just shrugged my shoulder. She looked at him again and Caleb almost lost it. “Hey lady, just what is your problem?”

“I beg you pardon,” she said with a snooty tone. “Mister, you should teach that brat of yours some manners.”

Now that pissed me off. “I’ll have you know that my son has very good manners unlike you who repeatedly stared at us both.”

I left the check out area then walked back into the store. It took me a couple of minutes but I managed to find the store manager. “Excuse me sir but I think you should have a talk with your cashier. I find it very rude and offensive being glared at as if we were unworthy of shopping here. I also take personal offense that she called my son a brat.”

We walked up to the check out area and I saw her having a go at Caleb. “Look brat, there’s no way that guy, whoever he is, can afford this.”

The manager stopped dead in his tracks when he heard this. He walked around a display and came up where she couldn’t see him as she berated my love. “Miss Fletcher, please explain your behavior this instant.”

The look that came across her face was like that of someone who had just seen a ghost. “Ah it’s nothing really sir.”

He didn’t look impressed by her answer. “Is it store policy to berate our customers? Do we refer to children as brats here?”

She started shaking here head. “I never said that.”

I thought Caleb was going to bust a blood vessel when he heard that. “I don’t like to be lied to Ms. Fletcher. I heard exactly what you said. You told that young man you knew there was no way this gentleman could afford his purchase. Now, please explain yourself this instant.”

She just stood there with her mouth hanging open not saying a word. I walked up and looked at her. “Lady, I don’t know just what your problem is but I will say this. I could buy this store here if I so desired. I’ll never get anything I can’t pay for.”

The manager stepped around her to the register then stared at the woman. “You report to my office now and wait for me.”

He finished ringing up our purchases then I handed him my credit card. I signed the receipt then started to leave. The manager quickly came from behind the register. “Please accept my apology Mr. Hollander. I hope you won’t let this incident deter you from shopping here again. I assure you, she will be dealt with.”

We had to get going and there was still one more stop we had to make. “I accept your apology sir. I do hope this never happens again.”

Caleb and I hurried to put the packages in the Yukon then got back inside so I could get Caleb a computer. I debated on either a laptop or a PC. I was worried that if he were to take it to school, it might get stolen. Caleb and I looked around then settled on a PC. I picked up a wireless router and a card for Caleb’s so he and I could both share my broad band. I got those boxes loaded then headed back for home.

To be continued...

Posted: 07/11/08