String Bean Chapter 1 © 2019
By David Lee
Dubbed "string bean" by his army buddies, because of his long lean body, PFC Ethan Bean attempts to reacclimate to civilian life and recover from PTSD in the pastoral setting of a rural Iowa community.
While this is a stand-alone story, I recommend reading Rollo before this one. It will provide a better background of the characters involved. https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/highschool/rollo
Ethan smiled as he patted his large, furry companion. The Saint Bernard took up must of the sofa, sprawling across it with his head on Ethan's lap.
"You're such a good boy, Roly. I just love you to death."
Seeming to understand English, the animal snuggled closer to Ethan's abdomen.
"I'm cravin' a cigarette, so that means it's time for you and me to go for a run," Ethan continued. Let's see if Starboy wants to romp in the pasture with us."
Ethan donned a light jacket before exiting the trailer. Roly ran ahead of him, bolting through the pet door into the stable. He seemed to understand that they were going to take the colt with them. Anytime Ethan mentioned the horse's name, Roly's ears perked up and his tail wagged. Starboy was one of his favorite playmates.
A few minutes later, the young man and his animal buddies were chasing around the fenced grazing area in the autumn sunshine. It was Ethan's day off, but he'd stayed at the acreage as he often did. It had become his sanctuary, and he hadn't yet made any close friends outside of its boundaries.
Next weekend, he would venture farther from home because Jordan and Jackson had invited him to visit them at the university. That would be a big step for him. He knew he would have to adjust to life in the outside world sooner or later. This could be a trial run.
With the exercise, his craving for nicotine was held at bay. He was proud of his accomplishment. From the time he'd come to live at the acreage, he'd gone cold-turkey and hadn't lit another cigarette. He'd had some nightmares because of his PTSD but those were also subsiding. He credited his faithful animal companion for his peace of mind.
Of course, John and Laura were there for him, as Jordan and Jackson had been before they'd left for school. Spending a weekend with them was going to be a treat.
On Monday, Ethan received a text from someone he'd been close to during his deployment in Syria. Lyman Henderson and he had seen each other through rough patches in their lives but had drifted apart after Ethan was sent home on a medical discharge. Part of this separation was because Ethan's counselor thought it best for him not to have constant reminders of the war. Of course, he was now living with his former commander, but that was deemed different since the two were both state-side and out of the conflict. Lyman, on the other hand, was still in the thick of it.
Ethan was hesitant to read his friends text, but at the same time, he had to. He was torn like a person is when trying not to look at the victim of a bloody accident, and not being able to tear his eyes away at the same time.
He poured himself a glass of cold water. He would have enjoyed a beer but rarely to imbibed in anything that might become addictive. Then he settled back on the sofa with Roly at his feet as he opened the text.
"Hey Ethan,
"My tour of duty has ended, and I'm being discharged to come home soon. However, home' isn't receptive to a faggot' soldier. Is there any possibility that I could stay with you for a week or so until I can get my bearings? I'll gladly help with food and rent. I don't need much – a roof over my head and a safe place to sleep will seem like heaven after being here. I promise I won't try to turn you gay.
"My best to you and the Colonel,
"Lyman."
Ethan wiped the tears from his eyes as he formulated his response.
Roly immediately sensed the change in his mood, rubbing his big head against Ethan's shins.
"You know me better than any human," Ethan said as he scratched behind Roly's ears. "Hang in with me, buddy. I hope I'm doing the right thing. I want Lyman here in the worst way. He's bound to be fragile emotionally too. What if I screw him and me both up? Should I tell him to come?"
The big dog looked into Ethan's eyes as if he were pondering the question. Then, he licked Ethan's hand and made a soft noise. Ethan took his response as a "yes."
The next week went rapidly for Ethan. It was so busy that he didn't have time to stress over his visit to Iowa State, or second-guess what he'd written to Lyman. That was true of the daylight hours, but less so of the night.
On Thursday, in the wee hours, he had a nightmare. In it, he saw Lyman lying in a pool of blood by a landmine. It was so real that he cried out. Roly roused him gently with a low growl, and then licked his sweaty face.
"Thanks, boy," Ethan mumbled as he fell back to sleep snuggled against his canine friend.
In the morning, Ethan was relieved to see a text from Lyman that the latter was in Georgia and would be heading to Iowa within the week. Thank God, Ethan's dream hadn't been an omen.
The trip to Ames was kind of like an adventure. Ethan would be driving the pickup with the name of the stable and the email address on both doors. As an employee, he was covered on its insurance and he didn't mind being seen in a company vehicle. Laura had offered her sedan and Jordan had said he could drive his jeep, which the guys had chosen to leave at home. However, Ethan liked the pickup best, and he was still apprehensive about being in a military-type vehicle. His counselor recommended that he go with his gut-feeling but try to slowly adapt to the jeep if he wanted to. Since it was bright yellow, it looked a lot different from the ones he'd driven abroad.
Laura packed a snack for Ethan to eat at a rest area on the trip. She was sensitive to his phobia about being in crowded places and felt it was something she could do to help him. He appreciated the gesture, especially when he found she had included an apple and her delicious brownies. He might be a full-fledged adult now, but he didn't mind being mothered.
About five miles from his destination, he sent texts to both Jordan and Jackson to alert them of his arrival. The guys were waiting for him in the driveway in front of their dorm when he pulled in.
Ethan knew this was truly his extended family when both guys hugged him like a brother.
They took him up to see their room before showing off the campus. Their room wasn't huge, but they had made it into a very functional place, kind of like the tiny houses featured on the `net. Both had lofted beds, so the floor space was almost doubled. Under one loft was a futon. Under the other, there was a bar-fridge with a small microwave on top of it. Next to those was a cupboard to hold dishes and flatware as well as dorm staples like Ramen noodles, microwave popcorn, and other easy-to-fix snacks and meals. It was almost like a tiny apartment.
Ethan was impressed. He also liked the campus tour. Since he hoped to get his BS degree in the future, he thought it was a good idea to check the place out. In all likelihood, he'd go to the University of Iowa in Iowa City instead of Iowa State since it was closer to the acreage. He didn't have the financial resources to provide the options the younger guys had.
Ethan's whole day went well. He enjoyed being around the college kids. Even the size and noise of the crowd in the cafeteria didn't affect him adversely as he'd feared it might. Perhaps it would have been different on a weeknight, but a certain percentage of students either went home for the weekend or ate out for a change of scenery. Whatever the reason, the smaller number of diners was great for letting him adapt.
After their meal had settled, they strolled over to the rec center for a moderate workout and time to relax in the steam room. Ethan had packed gym clothes and a towel for the occasion. Again, he felt right at home in the facility.
When it was time for bed, Ethan slept on the futon.
Sunday was pretty laid-back. They guys played Frisbee Golf in the late morning and Ethan left shortly after lunch. He felt more relaxed around strangers than he had in several months. His therapist would be pleased when he told her about it at his next session.
Ethan stood anxiously as Lyman exited the secure area at the Eastern Iowa Airport. Lyman's thick black hair was beginning to grow out from the high and tight military cut. He also had a day's growth of beard. He looked good, albeit a bit gaunt. His countenance brightened immediately upon seeing his friend.
The two came together in a rib-crushing embrace. Both had tears in their eyes as they backed off to assess one another.
"You're a sight for sore eyes," Lyman grinned. "You can't believe how good it is to be with you. I know I sound needy, and the truth is that I am!"
"Right back at ya," Ethan said. "It'll be great to have someone around who understands.
"Um, do you have a lot of luggage?"
"Just a big duffle bag. My parents let me know there was no reason to go there at all because they'd given away everything I had."
"We'll get you fixed up. I don't think I have anything but sweats that might fit you. I'm too long and lean."
"Does that make me short and fat?" Lyman teased.
"You don't have an ounce of fat on you, but you are built stockier than I am.
"I'll show you the way to baggage claim; it's not far.
"Are you tired and hungry? I know that's a dumb question after you've spent time in airports waiting for connections, and they don't feed you more than a little bag of pretzels on planes anyway.
"It's almost 6:00 PM, so we'll stop at El Paraiso on the way, if you still like Mexican. They have great margaritas and we're both old enough to drink."
"That sound wonderful! I may have to find an ATM `cause I'm a little short on cash."
"Nope. This is on the Colonel. His wife would have made a welcome-home dinner if she weren't out of town, so we're supposed to go there tonight on his dime."
"That's really great of him."
"He's a good man, and he has a soft spot for us strays," Ethan nodded.
"You weren't kidding about the drinks," Lyman exclaimed. "These chips are made on-site too. This is a treat!"
"It's the first drink I've had in months. I don't keep alcohol at my place because I don't want to become addicted to anything. Did you notice that I'm not smoking?"
"Wow! Good for you. I never started, but I've heard it's a bitch to quit."
"It's not so bad if you can stimulate your endorphins from exercise. I ran with the boys until they went off to college. Now it's my two animal companions – a big dog and a young colt."
"You've got a regular `dog and pony show' going," Lyman quipped.
"Yeah, that's what it is. It's gonna be nice having another guy in the mix."
"Even a messed-up queer?"
"You can't be worse that I am. We can be the odd couple."
"Yup," Lyman smiled, wanly, wishing the "couple" part could be a reality someday.
"Here's to two recovering military misfits – war casualties in our own way," Ethan raised his glass.
"Cheers," Lyman added, as their glasses clinked.
Lyman awoke with a start as the pickup pulled into the driveway of the acreage. He hadn't realized he'd drifted off. A long day of travel coupled with a full belly and a little alcohol had sent him to dreamland shortly after they'd left the restaurant.
"Rise and shine," Ethan said. "We need to touch bases with `Captain Jack' before we get you settled. I promise we won't stay long."
John's welcome was as effusive as Ethan's had been. He hugged Lyman more like a long-lost friend than a former underling. His embrace gave the young man a sense of hope.
The men exchanged pleasantries, but the meeting was short. John could tell that Lyman needed his rest.
As the young men headed for Ethan's quarters, they were approached by Roly who considered himself the official welcoming committee.
"Wow! That's a big animal! Is he dangerous?"
"Your only danger is being licked to death," Ethan laughed. "He'll probably sniff your crotch to see if you're friendly. He tends to embarrass us that way. He only does it to males, and he usually doesn't repeat it once he gets to know you."
"Hey, Big Boy," Lyman offered his hand to sniff. "I hope you and I will be friends."
In response, Roly licked Lyman's hand and then nuzzled his bulge. Satisfied that this was a good guy, the dog fell in step beside them.
"This bedroom is yours for a long as you want it," Ethan pronounced. "As you can see, it's not a tiny trailer. We can share the space without being right on top of one another."
"I don't like to mooch, but I do appreciate having a place to land until I can get on my feet. I'm not broke, so I'll help with expenses. Kevin made me his sole heir. He didn't have a lot of earthly possessions, but he had a good life-insurance policy. I feel kinda guilty about profiting from his death. However, he was my beneficiary if I'd have died first."
"I'm sure he wanted the best for you. You shouldn't feel bad about using it. No doubt, you'll want to keep as much as you can if you're going to complete college."
"Yeah, that's what I hope will be his legacy. I want to make him proud," Lyman bit his lip to keep from crying.
Ethan woke up in the morning at his usual time before the alarm on his cell. He nuked a bowl of instant oatmeal while washing up and getting dressed.
Before he went out to do his morning chores, he wrote a note for Lyman to help himself to coffee, cereal, or whatever when he got up. Then he made a cup of coffee for himself with the Keurig the family had given him for his birthday.
As he was feeding the horses who were in their stalls, John joined him.
"Lyman looks like he's getting along okay," John observed.
"Yeah, he seems alright, but I know he's missing his boyfriend a lot. They were so much in love. What a tragedy; his life snuffed out by a drunk driver!"
"Yes, it is sad, but he's young and he'll move on in time. It's good of you to open up your home for him."
"Hey, I'm just paying forward what you've done for me. I've been so messed up!"
"You're healing nicely too."
"Thanks to Laura and you, I'm gonna make it. Well, I have to thank Jordan, Jackson, Roly, and Starboy too."
"I know the animals have been good for you. I think Lyman will prove to be too. I'd like to give him a job, if he'd like to stay."
"Um, would it help out financially if I'd go part-time? You know, like share the job with him and we could both go to community college."
"We can work out a schedule so you can cover each other's duties, but I'm not thinking of reducing your pay. The possibility of having a second hired hand will serve to solidify a decision I've been in the process of making.
"I've been offered my old job back at Raytheon, you know, what used to be Collins Avionics. I'll get a significant pay-raise and that will give me the capital to make this operation first-rate. I'll also be able to put away more for retirement."
"I'll talk to Lyman when he wakes up. I think he'll be thrilled. It's more than having income, it's like having a home and family. I can't understand his parents' attitude.
"Come to think of it, maybe I can. My mother doesn't care as much about her only son as she does her new husband. Why can't people be like you guys?"
When Ethan returned to the mobile home, he found Lyman in the kitchen, clad in boxers, and looking at the Keurig like it was a foreign object.
"I'm not sure how to deal with this technology," Lyman admitted.
"It's not difficult once you've used it. First, look in the cupboard for the kind of brew you want, and the put the little container in this spot and pull the lever down. Then choose which size of serving you want. Obviously, the smallest will be the strongest. I'm sure you know enough to put a cup under it to catch the coffee."
Lyman soon had his drink and raved about the quality.
Ethan cooked a hearty breakfast for both of them. Having a large morning meal was par for the course, almost like being on a big farm.
Lyman ate it slowly, savoring each bite, as if it were a sacred meal.
When they'd finished, he insisted on cleaning up the kitchen. He wasn't going to sit around and be waited on!
After taking a shower and donning jeans and a flannel shirt which had belonged to John, Lyman was ready to follow Ethan around to see the operation. He skipped shaving because he had the freedom to do as he pleased for the first time in several years.
"Facial hair looks good on you," Ethan remarked. "Mine is to sparse to amount to a beard that's anything but straggly. I envy you."
"You're perfect the way you are. Red hair is my favorite."
Ethan blushed but appreciated the compliment.
The first thing they did was visit Starboy. He trotted up to Ethan like a house-pet. Of course, Roly was there too, and the animals went through some kind of greeting ritual that reminded Lyman of young teen males.
As they inspected the various horses that boarded there, Lyman's eyes lit up. He was impressed with the mounts and with their living conditions.
"This is an awesome operation! You must love it here."
"I do. Would you like to be a regular part of it?"
"It would be great, but I don't want to intrude."
"The Colonel is looking for more help. We discussed it this morning. We could work out a way for both of us to be employed and take some classes at Kirkwood around our duties. Of course, you'd be living with me like we are now. What do you say?"
"I'm not sure. You need to have the freedom of your own place without a stranger to mess things up – like if you want to bring a date home to sleep..."
"Man, you're not a stranger after living in the same barracks, and I don't know many people outside of this property – certainly no one I'd want to sleep with. Please say you'll consider it."