Companions All by Will B

Cousins All
by: Will B
(© 2007 by the Author)
Advisor: E Walk

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

Jason and Nicky: You have found love with each other

and now together you soar on eagle’s wings in endless space.

We miss you, we miss your love and your wit

May peace and light fill your days.

From Chapter 18: We left Al and Mark enjoying their new apartment and especially their new bed.

Chapter 19

Van Hunter, brother of Troy, was 42 and tall and slender like his brother. His wife Dotty was 40, and was not as tall as her husband, but she was very attractive. They had two sons: Bob, 16, and Bill, a year younger, 15. The boys were well on their way to becoming two good-looking young men.

Bob was wearing a blue tee shirt that showed off his broad shoulders, and nicely defined chest and abs. He had on jeans, socks, and loafers.

Bill was wearing a red tee shirt and Bermuda shorts. One could see the beginnings of a nice bulge just where nice bulges should be.

“Good to see you again, Van and Dotty,” Richard said, “And who are these two good looking guys? Surely not Bob and Bill? Why the last time I saw them they were much shorter and much dirtier. They had been having their own ‘archaeological dig’ in the back yard.”

“They say they want to follow my career and dig up old bones,” Van said with some pride.

“Now, Dad,” Bob said, “last year we wanted to dig for dinosaur bones, but we’ve decided to dig for something better—gold!”

“Yeah,” said Bill, “We’re going to discover the seven cities of Cibola, or maybe the lost city of El Dorado!”

There was more chitchat, and finally everybody got settled in comfortable chairs, and, with a serious tone, Van said, “Troy and Richard, Dotty and I are going to South America for two weeks. There is a recently discovered Inca temple in Peru that we are going to explore.”

“Because it’s dangerous, because you haven’t had your shots yet, and because . . . your father and I are making this into a . . . second honeymoon,” Dotty said (almost blushing as she said the last part).

“Anyhow,” Van continued, “We really appreciate you taking care of the guys for two weeks. Troy, here are copies of their birth certificates, notarized statements appointing you their guardian while we’re out of the country, and copies of our wills. The originals have been deposited with our lawyer.”

“You’ve thought of everything, bro,” Troy said. “Now this is the plan we’ve come up with. Richard and I are due some vacation time, and we are taking the next two weeks off. During the first week, we are going to take the boys sightseeing in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and the second week we are taking them to a cabin at a lake. We’ve rented it for a week, but the owners want to sell, and we are thinking of buying it. We’ll do some swimming and fishing, and just plain relaxing.”

“I think I can afford to take my nephews shopping for anything they might need,” Troy said.

Troy and Van went to bring the boys’ luggage in from the car. Van ruffled his sons’ hair and told them to be good. Dotty hugged them and told them to be good. Van and Dotty went out to the car, but at the last minute Van turned back and gave each of his sons a hug.

“Bye!” “Have fun.” “We’ll be good.” “We’ll take care of them, don’t worry.” These remarks were heard as Van and Dotty drove off.

“OK, guys, let’s get your stuff put in your room, and then we’re going out for supper and a movie,” Troy said. ”What’s wrong, Bill?”

“Oh, nothing. It’s just that our Dad doesn’t usually hug us. I wish he’d. . . . that he’d . . . do it more often. He’s such a great Dad, and Mom, too. I mean she’s a great Mom too.”

Troy said, “Let’s get your clothes and stuff put away, and then we’ll go out for that supper and movie.

The two granddads had planned well for this evening. They had two gas grills and were cooking steaks, burgers, and hot dogs. They had called a rental shop and arranged for a number of tables and folding chairs to be delivered.

Pete and Joe came out of their house each carrying two large bowls of salad. They were followed by Mack and Buddy who were carrying a variety of salad dressings.

Matt and Gary came carrying cases of sodas. They left and returned, carrying cases of beer. Then they went back into their house again and brought out several bottles of wine.

At 5:10 Jack and Peggy Johnson and their daughter Sarah arrived in Jack’s car. They had brought Nellie Taylor with them. The two Johnsons were carrying potato chips and cans of salted nuts. As Nellie Taylor got out of the car, she asked Buddy to help her carry two cake boxes to the tables. She had asked Jack and Peggy to stop at the Lombardis’ store where she had bought two large chocolate cakes.

At 5:15 Paul and Sally Smith arrived carrying cartons of ice cream. The two granddads, Al and Steve, just looked and smiled at the happy gathering of family and friends. This would be some party!

“Matt, would you go and call Al and Mark and tell them we’re about ready to eat?” Al, Sr., asked.

When the two guests of honor arrived, everyone greeted them with applause, and then with handshakes (from the men) and hugs (from the women and the granddads).

Al had a flash of inspiration. “I’m going to ask the newest member of the family to ask the blessing.” He turned to Mark’s mother and said, “Would you, please?”

Nellie was momentarily taken aback, but was very pleased at being welcomed into the family group so readily.

“Of course, Al,” she said. “May we bow our heads? Almighty God, we thank you for the family gathered here and for the love which knows no bounds. We thank you for the food, and ever keep us grateful for all the blessings you have bestowed on us. In His name, we ask this. Amen.”

Everyone went through the line at the grills and piled their plates high with the protein of their choice. Mack and Buddy saw to it that Sally, Nellie, Peggy, and Sarah had the salads and drinks of their choice.

For a while there was more chewing than chatting, but finally everyone was full, and people kept saying, I couldn’t eat another thing. No, sirree, I am stuffed. No, not another bite, please!

But when Nellie and Sally brought out the chocolate cakes and ice cream, a miracle occurred! An absolute miracle! Everyone who had said they couldn’t touch another thing, found they could maybe manage “Oh, just a small piece of cake, and just a dab of ice cream—oh well, a little more, if you insist!”

That group, who a few minutes ago, had been sated, satisfied, and stuffed, somehow, by some magical force, managed to demolish two chocolate cakes and almost all of the ice cream!

“We don’t mind,” Jim said. “Steve and I went to Towson University, or Towson State as it was then. We were good friends, and spent a lot of time together.”

“Yeah,” Steve said. “We were developing feelings for each other, beyond the feelings of ordinary friendship. Neither one of us realized the other was attracted to him, and we were both afraid to admit how we felt.”

“The funny thing was,” Jim added, “we might never have revealed our feelings to each other, if it hadn’t been for Steve’s job on the Tower Light, the student newspaper. At dinner one day he said he couldn’t hang out that night as he had an assignment.”

Jim paused, and then went on. “I told him, that was OK by me, as I had something to do, also. I didn’t want to tell him I was going to the meeting of the Gay, Lesbian, and Transsexual Society. A speaker was going to talk on the dangers of AIDS, and I wanted to hear what he had to say.”

Steve took up the story. “I had been asked by the editor of the paper to cover the meeting and report on the speakers remarks. You can imagine my surprise when I walked in and saw Jim sitting there. I went and sat down next to him, and said ‘Hi, guy.’ Jim almost choked on the coke he had been drinking.”

“What are you doing here, I asked,” said Jim. “I mean I know it’s a free country, but what . . . why . . . “

“My editor asked me to cover this talk, but I have to say that I might have come anyhow, as I think it’s something we all need to know about.”

After the speech was over, Jim said, “Steve, I think we need to talk. Can you come back to my dorm room? My roommate’s away, and we won’t be disturbed.”

“Steve came back to my room,” Jim cotinued, “and when we were comfortable, I started, ‘Steve, I value your friendship, but I have to confess something that you might not like to hear, and it may ruin our friendship, but . . . I have to say it.’”

Steve said, “Jim, I think I can guess what you’re going to say, and believe me, it won’t ruin our friendship—or at least I hope it won’t. You see, my dear friend, I am attracted to you physically, emotionally, spiritually, and . . . Jim Smith, are you crying?”

“Yes, Steve Johnson, I am. I’m crying because I have the same feelings for you. I love you, and I’ve loved you for a long time.”

Jim and Steve looked at each other and smiled, and then looked at Mack and Buddy. “That’s the story of how we met, and the rest as they say, ‘is history’.”

Buddy held Mack’s hand, and said, “ That is so beautiful. I think I . . .. , ” and Buddy’s eyes filled with tears. “Mack, do you have a tissue?”

“Buddy, in all the years I've known you, you've never had a handkerchief when you’ve needed one, " Mack said.

“Oh, Mack, how you do run on!” said Buddy in his best impersonation of Vivian Leigh as ‘Scarlett O’Hara.’”

There was quite a bit of laughter, and then Jim said, “Actors in Milford Avenue! Why howevah did they get in?”

“Great balls of fire, Aunt Pittipat, don’t you start now!” said Steve.

There was still more laughter, and then the two Als, the two Steves, and Jack got out their guitars and started singing, ‘Home on the Range,’ ‘Happy Trails to You,’ and other old favorites. Soon everyone was singing along.

Al, Sr., said, “OK, listen up, everybody. We’ve been asked to do a concert at the Veteran’s Hospital at Fort Howard, on August 20. That’s a month from now. Can we be ready to do a program?’

Al went on, “I thought we’d do some patriotic songs, to show these men how much we appreciate the sacrifices they’ve made.”

Suggestions came thick and fast: ‘You’re a Grand Old Flag,’ ‘This Land is Your Land, This Land Is My Land,’ ‘God Bless America,’ ‘I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,’ were just some of them. Al nodded and wrote each one down.

“We’ll work out a final program. Steve and I are inviting everybody, ladies too, to a get together at The Cabin. I think we’ll do it July 30. Does that suit everyone?” There were cheers and clapping, but one or two guys thought, ‘Uh-oh! Ladies invited. Guess that means no skinny-dipping. We’ll have to wear swim suits. Oh well!’

Nellie came up to Al, and said, “I’d like to make a suggestion. I think Young Al and Mark and I could do . . . “ She whispered the name of a song in Al’s ear.

“That’s great, Nellie. We’ll put that in the program. Can you come up to the Cabin on July 30? I’m sure Jack and Peggy would be glad to bring you,” Al said.

Finally the party was over; it was time to call it a day. Everyone went home to bed, tired but happy.

Buddy had taken his shower, and when Mack came out of the shower, he saw his partner lying buck naked on the bed, face down, with two pillows under his mid-section, raising his butt-cheeks into the air.

“O-o-o-o-h-h-h-h-h! U-u-u-u-u-h-h-h!” said Buddy, pretending to be very uncomfortable as he bucked up and down and writhed sideways on the bed..

“O-o-o-h-h-h! I have this fire in my ‘back passage.’ Please, Mr. Fireman, use your magnificent hose to put the fire out. O-o-o-o-h-h-h-h! Please.”

“Fear not, my good fellow, here I come to save the day!” Mack reassured his lover. After all, he couldn’t let Mack suffer with that burning in his ‘back passage,’ could he?

Later that night, at Richard and Troy’s house, Bob and Bill were in their room getting ready for the night. Both boys were just wearing jockey shorts. Their legs were covered by fine dark hairs, their chests were smooth, but beginning to show definition; Bob was beginning to have some hair in his armpits.

“I don’t know. I just miss Mom and Dad. I mean Uncle Troy and Uncle Richard are great, but . . . .” Bill began to sniffle.

“Hey, bro, cheer up. I know what will make you feel better; do you feel like playing ‘The Game’? I’ll let you go first,” Bob said as he put his arms around his brother.

“Well, . . . well, OK, but you know, I really don’t care which of us goes first! It’s fun either way,” Bill said.

Bob put his hands on the waist band of Bill’s jockey shorts and began to . . .

Author’s notes: Your demented author humbly begs the pardon of his readers for interjecting lines from an old song and several lines and characters from an even older movie. And ten points extra credit to anyone who can tell me the circumstances under which one character in that old movie said “ Doctor Meade, is it true that they have mirrors . . .?”

Comma Terminator’s remarks: I can hardly wait to see what our illustrious author accused me of in the next chapter. I need to understand the rules of the game that Bill and Bob are about to play. You don’t suppose it something like pool or billiards where you shoot something into a pocket, do you?