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

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

Chapter 10
 

As soon as they stepped inside Rick’s condo, Stu said, “Can I use your bathroom? I really gotta go.”

“Of course. Down the hall, second door on your left.”

Todd turned to Rick and said, “I’m sorry, Rick. I know we kinda planned on having some fun in bed when we got back but ... well ... I guess I can’t do that with Stu here.”

“I understand,” Rick said.

“But I hate to disappoint you after all you’ve done for me ... for both of us.”

“Don’t worry about it,” Rick said with a smile. “I’m absolutely delighted that you’ve found someone your age. You’ll make a great couple.”

“But what about you?” Todd said with obvious concern.

“I’ll be fine!” Rick said. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I have a friend. I met him the other day. We immediately liked each other and became, shall we say, VERY good friends. It seems the stars were aligned just right for both of us this week.”

“Are you saying...?”

“Yes,” Rick interrupted.

“That’s simply marvelous!” Todd cried out and seized Rick in a hug. They held each other in an affectionate embrace for a while. Stu returned from the bathroom to see them with arms locked around each other. “Hey!” he exclaimed. “I caught you. Making love when my back was turned.”

Rick and Todd laughed and Todd said, “Come over here! Join the party.” Stu hesitated. “Come on!” Todd encouraged and held out a beckoning hand. When Stu was within reach, Rick and Todd both pulled him in a loving if somewhat suffocating hug. Stu melted into their arms, once again overcome by the unqualified love he was getting.

When they broke their hug, Todd put on a very serious expression and said to Stu, “If we’re going to be lovers, I think there’s something you ought to know about me and Rick.” Rick froze, fearing that Todd would reveal what they had done together. Todd continued, “I love this man. I can love more than one person, can’t I?” Todd paused for effect, enjoying Stu’s startled reaction and Rick’s look of panic. Todd changed his expression from serious to a smile and said, “I love him as an uncle who is kind, understanding, and fun to be with. But the real love of my life is you, Stu. Don’t ever doubt that I’ll be faithful to you.” Rick collapsed with relief into a chair. Todd smiled down at him, knowing the thoughts that had raced through the man’s mind. “What you saw was an uncle-nephew kind of hug. That’s different than the hug I’m going to give you right now.”

They hugged, kissed, and even ground their crotches together, not caring one iota that Rick was watching.

“Hey, you two love birds!” Rick called out. “I’ve got to go grocery shopping. I’ll be gone for at least an hour. I’ll bring home something for supper. Would you mind staying here while I’m gone? Can you keep yourselves occupied while I’m gone?”

“I think we can find something to do,” Todd grinned. “And thanks!”

Rick spent twice as long as necessary to shop for groceries and even then hesitated to return home because he wasn’t sure just how much time the two love-struck teens would need to satisfy their needs. While he was gone, Todd and Stu had a quick 69 in the living room and then decided to shower together. Being young and horny, they sucked each other to another climax as the hot water streamed across their naked bodies.

Rick came home to find clothes strewn on the floor next to the sofa and heard the shower running. He smiled, genuinely happy that the two young men had found each other and that he had played a small part in allowing them to cement their bond. He busied himself in the kitchen, putting away the groceries and cooking dinner. While he fussed over the preparation of the meal, he reflected on his time with Todd -- from their first meeting at the pool when he felt Todd’s pain; through their developing acquaintance in which he felt both responsible and fearful; to that ‘wonderful misfortune’ of being stranded at the fishing lodge that unexpectedly bound them together in erotic delight. Now, he concluded, his role in the young man’s life was minimized if not ended. That made him sad but simultaneously happy that his protégé seemed to have found in Stu exactly what he needed.

Todd and Stu got out of the shower and dried each other off, laughing that their erections returned in the process. “Dammit!” Stu exclaimed. “We left our clothes in the living room. We’d better go get them before Rick comes back.”

They ran down the hall naked and into the living room. Before they could collect their clothes, they saw Rick watching them and smiling. They froze in their tracks and blushed.

“Now there’s a Kodak moment if ever I saw one,” Rick laughed.

Todd was first to regain his senses and stammered, “I hope you don’t mind that we used your shower.”

“Not at all,” Rick said, still laughing. “Although most people undress in the bathroom when they shower.”

“Well ... we ... ah ...” Todd stumbled over his words.

Stu, however, said assertively, “We did what you expected us to do! Isn’t that why you left?” He began picking up his clothes but paused to say, “Thanks. You’re terrific!”

“You’re pretty impressive yourself,” Rick said as he cast an exaggerated gaze at Stu’s crotch.”

“Look but don’t touch the merchandise, Mister,” Stu grinned as he shook his cock at Rick. “This belongs to Todd and nobody else.”

All three were laughing uproariously as Todd and Stu scampered back to the bathroom with their clothes.


The teens arrived at Todd’s home just as his mother was clearing the table from dinner. They greeted the pair warmly and asked about the hiking excursion.

“It was a blast!” Todd gushed. “Weather was perfect. We had a lot of fun.”

“I’m glad,” his mother said.

Stu, having agreed to live with the Petersons, to explain the reason to Todd’s parents, and to seek their permission, was extremely nervous in spite of Todd’s assurances that his parents would welcome him.

“Mom,” Todd said, “Stu and I would like to talk to you and Dad.”

“From the way you ask, son, I gather that it’s rather serious.”

“It is. Where’s Dad?”

“In the study. But he’s not doing anything that can’t be interrupted. Go get him and I’ll meet you in the living room.”

Tom Peterson entered the living room where the others were chatting and waiting for him. “What’s up?” he asked cheerily and sat down next to his wife.

“I’ve got a huge favor to ask.” Todd began. “Would it be all right with you if Stu stayed here for a while? Before you answer, let me explain why. I told you that Stu had some family problems. Well, it’s a very serious problem.” Stu sat quietly, dreading the impending disclosure of his fight with his Dad and fearing that Todd’s parents would not allow him to stay. “It seems that Stu’s dad found out Thursday night that he’s gay. He flew into a rage and beat him up. I’m scared that it will happen again if he goes home. So I was hoping that you would let him live here for a while.”

Tom and Ann Peterson were both shocked at the news -- not that Stu was gay because they suspected that but that a father would physically attack his son. “Of course,” Ann said. Turning to Stu, she said, “You’re welcome to stay here, especially if it will keep you safe.”

Tom voiced his agreement. “As far as I’m concerned, Stu, you can call this home. We’d be delighted to have you stay as long as you like. But I have some questions. Did your father throw you out of the house?”

“No, sir,” Stu replied quietly. “I went to school yesterday but I was afraid to go home. That’s when Todd invited me to stay the weekend.”

“Would you say the attack was brutal?”

“I don’t know if I’d call it that. He hit me a lot but didn’t break any bones.”

“Has he done that sort of thing before?”

“Only when he was drunk. But when he’s drunk, I can get away from him.”

“Then there’s a history of abuse?”

“Hey!” Stu objected. “He’s basically a good man. Most of the time he’s a good father. It’s just that sometimes he gets angry at me.”

“I didn’t mean to say he’s a bad man, Stu. I’m just trying to determine if there is a pattern -- one that would qualify for prosecution in court.”

“NO!” Stu screamed. “I don’t want that!”

“Okay,” Tom said thoughtfully. “Does he know where you’re staying this weekend?”

“No. But honestly, I don’t think he cares. He’s probably glad that his queer fag son left.”

“One more question, Stu. How old are you?”

“Seventeen.” Stu paused and said, “Why do you ask?”

“Because it’s relevant. Legally, when you’re eighteen, you can voluntarily leave home. As it is, your father -- if he wants to be vindictive -- could charge us with kidnapping for keeping you here.”

“I’ll be eighteen next month,” Stu said.

“Good,” Tom replied. “Here’s what I suggest we do. One, tell your father you are staying with us as a guest. And that we’re happy to have you here. Two, we should contact the police to see if a missing persons report has been filed. Whether it has or hasn’t, we should explain to them why you’re no longer at home.”

“I don’t want the police involved!” Stu exclaimed, next to tears.

“I understand that,” Tom said reassuringly. “Telling the police is just a precaution. The purpose is just to get on record that you left voluntarily and that you don’t want to press charges against your father. That will help you if your father tries to get you back home. None of us want that. We want you to be safe. And we’ll do everything we can to make sure you are.”

“I’m sorry, Mr. Peterson ... for causing you so much trouble.”

Stu was on the verge of crying, which he fought to avoid. Todd recognized his boyfriend’s anguish and put an arm around his shoulder, saying, “It’s going to be all right, Stu.”

The relief over being accepted into the Peterson household and the gentle and significant gesture from Todd demolished Stu’s self-control. He laid his head on Todd’s shoulder and sobbed. By the time he was able to restore his composure, everyone in the room had moist eyes.

“Stu,” Todd’s father said quietly. “Welcome to the Peterson family. You’ll be treated here as our second son ... or would it be better to say son-in-law?”

Stu starred at the man, unable to comprehend that he knew about his affection for Todd. Then he glanced at Todd, who looked equally astonished.

“It’s quite all right,” Todd’s mother said. “We’re pleased that you two found each other.”

The next day, Stu phoned his father to say he would not be home. The man didn’t ask why. He didn’t ask where Stu was of if he was okay. He just growled, “Good! I don’t want your queer ass in my house anyway!”

“Dad! I just wanted to let you know that...” Stu stopped talking and starred at the phone’s receiver for a minute. “He hung up on me,” he mumbled more to himself than to Todd who was by his side.

Todd hugged Stu who said, “I love him, Todd, even though he got mean sometimes.”

Todd could think of no words to comfort his dejected boyfriend. All he could do was hold him tightly ... and that’s just what Stu needed.

After school on Monday when Stu’s father was at work, the two teens collected the rest of his belongings from his house. It was an emotionally wrenching task for Stu but he marshaled every ounce of courage he could to make the final break from his former life. Todd was somber, sensing his friend’s pain and almost cried several times.

That evening when Todd’s father came home, Todd asked him to go into the study where they could talk in private. “Stu’s hurting, Dad. Hurting bad. What can I do or say to make his hurt go away?”

Mr. Peterson though for a moment and said, “The best thing right now, son, is to be there for him. And I don’t mean be WITH him; I mean be there FOR him. Let him grieve. Get him to talk about his feelings. He has to get it out of his system. It will hurt for a long time but it will hurt less if he’s allowed to grieve. Maybe the best thing you can do is to listen -- not just hear but listen. Remind him that Mom and I are on his side. He’s lost a father but he has a family here as long as he wants it. Most of all, he has you. I rather suspect that’s what he has to be absolutely sure of. After dinner, you two go off to your room. I’m sure your instincts will guide you. Trust them because I’m confident you’ll do the right thing.”

“Thanks, Dad. I’ll try,” Todd said as they got up to leave. Todd went to his room to talk to Stu; his Dad went into the kitchen to help prepare dinner.

When the teens were called for dinner, they went into the dining room and were surprised that there were only two place settings on the table.

Todd’s mother pulled Stu into a hug and said, “We’re glad you’re here, son, as the newest member of the family. We thought that you boys might like to dine alone tonight so I fixed two plates for you on the kitchen counter. Take them to your room to eat. We’ll see you in the morning. Okay?”

Todd and Stu talked into the morning hours before getting ready for bed. Stu, at various times, expressed both love and hatred of his father. He remembered the good times and the bad, many of which he related to Todd. He even remembered his mother fondly and admitted that he couldn’t blame her for running off. There were a few laughs through the extended conversation and a few tears. They didn’t have sex that night but they made love by clinging tightly together and reassuring each other of their devotion.

It was several days before Stu was willing to go to the police station where he insisted to the interviewing officer that there be no charges filed against his dad. The Sergeant wanted his own form of justice, especially for a man that would beat his son, but ultimately yielded to Stu’s argument.

To be continued...

Posted:01/29/10