The Reluctant Mentor
By: Morris Henderson
(© 2009-2010 by the author)
 

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Chapter 9
 

Todd snuggled up to Stu and shook him gently to wake him. “Good morning,” he said. “Time to rise and shine. Mom’s fixing breakfast. We have time to get dressed although I wish we could stay like this for a lot longer.”

Stu grinned and said, “So do I. Maybe for a week or so.”

While the two teens dressed, Todd said, “I was planning on going hiking today with Rick. Would you like to come along or would you rather I not go? I won’t go if you don’t want to.”

“I think you should go, Todd. I know how much you enjoy being with him. I’ll be all right. I can hang out somewhere until you get back.”

“That was not one of your choices! We both go hiking or we both stay here. Which will it be?”

“You don’t think Rick will mind me tagging along?”

“No. In fact, he said he’d like to meet you when I told him what a good friend you were.”

Stu hesitated and said, “Okay, if you’re sure it’s all right.”

“Okay then. We’ll go hiking,” Todd said enthusiastically. “I’ll phone Rick and tell him.”

Breakfast was a unique treat for Stu. At home, he usually grabbed a Pop Tart but Mrs. Peterson had fixed French toast, a slice of ham, a small bowl of fruit, and a tall glass of milk. He thanked her but she brushed it off saying, “Glad to do it. Glad to have you here. Eat and enjoy.”

Todd’s Dad came in and sat down to eat. “Good morning, boys,” he said brightly. “Sleep well?”

“Very well,” Todd replied.

“Well,” his Dad said, “I was a little concerned when I heard one of you yell. Was there a problem?”

Both boys blushed, fidgeted, and looked down at their breakfast plate. Thinking quickly, Todd said, “Just a bad dream; that’s all.”

Tom and Ann Peterson grinned at each other, confident that their son and his guest had enjoyed themselves.

“So what’s the plan for the day?” Todd’s mother asked. “Are you still going hiking with Rick or should I have lunch ready?”

“We’ll go hiking,” Todd answered. “I need to call Rick first, though, to make sure Stu can come along.”

Rick answered Todd’s call and readily agreed to the request. Had it not been for his night with Stan and the promise of more similar visits, Rick would have been disappointed. He had been looking forward to some private time in bed with Todd after the hike. Now, however, he didn’t mind. In fact, he was pleased that Todd had a friend to invite.

The boys left for the short walk to Rick’s condo just before ten. On the way, Todd stopped and said, “Wait a minute, Stu. I need to tell you something.”

“And that is?” Stu replied curiously.

“Rick knows you’re my best friend but he doesn’t know you’re gay. Hell, I didn’t know until yesterday. He does know that I’m gay. And let me tell you something weird. He’s been straight all his life but he understands how a gay feels. We’ve talked about it a lot. He doesn’t judge or condemn; he just listens and gives some really good advice. He’s a cool dude! He’s been a huge help to me putting up with the ridicule from kids at school. He’s stressed the need for me to find someone my own age ... someone to live with and love. I think I may have found that someone -- you. So here’s what I’d like to do if it’s all right with you. I’d like to tell him that you’re gay like me and that we’re boyfriends,”

“I’m not so sure that’s a good idea, Todd.”

“I would never suggest it if I didn’t think some good would come of it. Like I said, he understands guys like you and me. And I think he can give you ... give US ... some good advice. One more thing: you can trust him. He won’t tell anybody about your being gay or about us being boyfriends.”

“Okay,” Stu said. “If you’re sure about that.”

“Absolutely sure!” Todd said emphatically. “There’s one more thing I need to ask you. He knows nothing about your father or your home life. Maybe it’s a problem you and I will have to solve by ourselves. But maybe he can help. What do you think? Should we tell him or not?”

“NO!” Stu exclaimed. “It’s embarrassing to have a mean, bigot for a father. I’d just as soon not tell strangers about it.”

“Okay. All we’ll say is that you’re spending the weekend with me.”

Rick answered his door bell and invited the two teens in. Todd handled the introductions and Rick said, “It’s a great pleasure to meet you, Stu. Todd has told me what a good friend you are and any friend of his is a friend of mine.”

Todd said, “He’s more than a good friend, Rick.” Putting his arm around Stu’s waist, he continued, “We’re boyfriends now.”

After a moment of surprise, Rick asked, “Does that mean...?

Todd interrupted. “Yes, it does.”

Rick gushed, “That’s wonderful! I’m very happy for you both. I guess this makes our hike today almost a family outing ... with me tagging along, of course.”

“Can’t have that,” Todd said. “We’ll just have to make you an honorary uncle.”

Rick laughed and then pulled both boys into an embrace. “I’m honored to be your uncle. And I wish you both happiness.”

Stu had been silent since entering Rick’s condo. He was still overwhelmed by Todd’s parents’ acceptance of him into their home and could hardly believe Rick’s warm welcome and unqualified approval of being Todd’s boyfriend.

“Okay, my two new nephews, are we ready to venture out into the wilderness?”

Todd asked to sit in the back seat with Stu on the drive to the mountains and before he could explain why, Rick said, “Sure” and added with a grin and a wink, “just behave yourselves back there. Okay?” Todd laughed but Stu blushed.

Half way up the canyon, Stu had said very little. To encourage him to talk and as a cautionary measure, Rick asked, “Stu, I assume your parents gave you permission to go hiking.”

Stu looked at Todd who shrugged his shoulders as if to say, what you say is up to you.

“Well, sir,” Stu said. “My mom ran off a couple of years ago. It’s just me and my Dad. And he doesn’t care.”

Rick sensed that there was a lot more to the story but it was prudent to change the subject and not to pry. “Have you been hiking before?”

“No, sir.” Stu replied.

“Let’s get two things straight, Stu. First of all, I’m not a sir. To you and Todd, I’m just another guy. A little older, perhaps, but just a guy. With a name. You’d make me happy if you called me Rick. Will you do that for me?”

“Yes, sir ... I mean, yes, Rick.”

“Great! Now the second thing. I don’t bite. I don’t even growl. So don’t be afraid of saying what you think around me. Todd told me that’s one of the reasons he admires you -- that you’re honest about what you think and feel. I admire that also. Let me give an example. Suppose you thought something I said was stupid. Would I be upset if you said so? Absolutely not. I would admire you for being honest. Especially because sometimes I say stupid things. So never ... NEVER ... hold back. Oh, and one more thing. I made a promise to Todd and I’ll make the same promise to you. Whatever we talk about is between us and nobody else. I promise you that I won’t go tattling about what you say. Fair enough?”

“Yes, sir ... ahh ... Rick. Dammit! I can’t get used to calling an old man by his first name!”

“Good for you!” Rick nearly shouted. “You said what was on your mind. Thanks. But here’s a piece of my mind in return. “I want you to call me Rick. If we’re going to be friends, I can’t be a sir. And I really hope we can be friends. Not, by the way, ‘boyfriends’ like you and Todd. That’s something special between just you two. But I’d like to be an ordinary friend.”

Todd was grinning as he grabbed Stu’s hand and squeezed it. “What did I tell you?” he whispered to his boyfriend.

“I heard that!” Rick called back. “Just what have you been saying about me?”

“That you’re a cool dude,” Todd shot back and added with a laugh, “For an old man, that is.”

All three then broke out in laughter. It was the moment that broke the ice. Stu was far more relaxed and outgoing from that point on.

Rick parked the car at the base of a towering hill. He grabbed a back pack filled with water, energy bars for a snack, and a first-aid kit. As he slung it over his shoulders, Todd said, “You don’t have to show off, old man. Let one of us carry it.”

Rick lunged at Todd, threw him to the ground, straddled his waist, and pinned his arms above his head. Snarling, he said, “Listen, whipper-snapper. We got rid of that ‘sir’ shit. Now let’s get rid of the ‘old man’ shit.” Having previously found Todd’s ticklish spots, Rick proceeded to bring him to uncontrollable laughter.”

“Stop! Stop! Back off!” Todd pleaded while Stu roared with laughter.

Rick stood up. “That oughta teach you,” he gloated.

“Geez, Rick, you almost made me pee my pants.”

“Go find a tree to water, then,” Rick snapped. Turning to Stu, he said, “You, too, if you hafta. But go in opposite directions. I don’t want to wait here while you two find something better to do than hike.”

Todd scampered off into the woods to relieve himself but Stu just stood there, unable to believe what he had heard Rick say. Rick put his hands on his hips, looked Stu in the eye, and said, “Well, do you have to pee or not?”

Stu didn’t answer for a moment but then said, “I can’t fuckin believe you, Rick. I can understand you accepting that I’m gay and Todd’s boyfriend but you joke about it like it’s the most natural thing in the world.”

“It is natural, Stu. The majority of men like women. What’s unnatural is the bigotry of the majority against men who like men. Homosexuality is just as natural as a black skin or an ethnic heritage or, for that matter, a political affiliation. Unfortunately, minorities have always been dominated and sometimes persecuted. More unfortunate is that gays are subjected to an especially severe persecution. But you know that, don’t you. You’ve seen the way Todd is treated at school.”

Stu, for all of his independence and faux macho manner, began to tear up. “Gawd, Rick,” he said. “I wish my Dad was like you.”

“Come here, Stu,” Rick said holding out his arms.

Stu couldn’t resist the invitation, fell into a hug, and hugged back. “All I can add, Stu, is that I hope you two can support and defend each other. And that you will learn to love each other and be happy together.”

Just then, Todd came back out of the woods and saw Rick and Stu embracing each other. He called out, “Hey, you two! No making love just because I left you alone.”

Rick frowned at Todd and shook his head while continuing to hold tightly to Stu. Todd stopped in his tracks, unsure of what was going on. Rick whispered in Todd’s ear, “Your boyfriend is back. He’s the one you should be hugging.”

Stu broke the hug, wiped his eyes with the back of his hand, and looked up at Rick to say, “Todd was right, Rick. You’re a helluva cool dude.”

“For an old man?” asked Rick.

“NO! I’ve seen what you do to somebody that calls you an old man.”

“Just remember that!” Rick joked. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going off to pee. You can tell Todd why we were hugging if you want but I promised you that I wouldn’t. And I won’t.”

Rick beckoned Todd to come over and then walked away toward the woods. He really didn’t have to pee but he wanted to give the two teens a few minutes of private time.

“What was all that about?” Todd asked his boyfriend.

“Nothing much,” Stu said. “Just the most loving and encouraging thing I’ve ever heard an adult say. It made me feel good about myself. And about us. He’s one in a million, Todd. Everything you said about him was an understatement.”

Todd was pleased with what Stu said but it aroused his curiosity about what Rick had told him. “I suppose he made you promise not to tell me what he said.”

“No. Although he promised not to tell.” Stu then related a summary of what Rick had said.

“I could have guessed that,” Todd said. “It’s so like him. But thanks for telling me.”

It took almost two hours for the trio to reach the top of the hill laughing and joking all the way. They sat and rested at the top. Rick broke out the fruit and snack bars to eat while they enjoyed a spectacular view of the valley. At one point, Rick asked Stu, “I forgot to ask. When do you have to be home?”

“Never, I hope!” Stu replied without thinking.

Rick was stunned but something told him that he ought not to ask why Stu was so forceful.

Todd tried to limit the damage by saying, “Stu’s staying with me for the weekend so he doesn’t have to be home at any special time today.”

“Okay,” Rick said. “I just didn’t want to get in trouble with your Dad.”

Stu studied Rick for a moment while deciding whether to explain his comment. His expression soured and he spoke defiantly. “You said you wanted me to say what’s on my mind so get ready for a horror story. Dad found out that I’m gay Thursday night. He went fuckin ballistic. He screamed every insult he could at me. He beat the livin’ shit out of me to ‘teach me a lesson.’ I learned a lesson, all right -- that he can be mean and cruel and vicious even when he’s sober. The next day at school, Todd made me tell him what happened. I only told him because he’s the one person in the world I could talk to. Todd took me home with him for the weekend to avoid my Dad. That’s why I don’t want to go home, why I’m scared to go home. But I guess I’ll have to tomorrow night or Monday.”

A heavy silence hung over them as each grappled with the problem. Then Rick said, “You don’t have to. You can stay with me for a while. I have a spare bedroom and...”

Todd interrupted. “No, Rick. If he stays anywhere, it’ll be with me. I’m certain my parents will agree if they know why.”

Rick thought just a moment and said, “You’re right. You two need each other now. And I’m sure your parents would be glad to help.”

“I can’t do that, guys,” Stu objected. “I can’t just barge into your lives because my Dad is on my case.”

Todd held both of Stu’s hands, got within inches of his face, and said, “You’ve already barged into my life, Stu. And brought me more happiness that I ever expected. I want you in my life. I want to be part of your life. Let me be a part of your life, Stu. Let me help you. Please.”

Stu fought valiantly to control his emotions and hold back the tears. Ignoring Rick’s presence, Stu embraced his boyfriend and said, “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love you.”

Rick’s eyes were moist as he witnessed the two young lovers emotionally bond. He was genuinely happy for them both although it was tempered by Stu’s unhappy and unhealthy home life. Walking quietly a few yards away and turning his back on the young lovers, he gave them a measure of privacy to seal their commitment to each other.
 

To be continued...

Posted:01/22/10