The Mentor, Chapter 7
Travis had just finished his diary entry when his cell phone rang. He smiled when he saw it was Sawyer.
"Hey,"
"Hey."
"So, what's up?"
"You can probably guess what's up because I'm lying here naked, thinking about you."
"Cool! I'll lock my door and join you," Travis replied.
"I want to ask you if you'll be my boyfriend. I kinda got cold feet while we were together. It's easier to do when I can't see your reaction."
"Yeah, I'll be your boyfriend. Did you seriously think I wouldn't?"
"I s'pose not, but I'm not sure we should tell it around school just yet."
"Okay. Do you want me to go back in the closet?"
"Nah, I think we should be ourselves and let people come to their own conclusions instead of, like, broadcasting it," Sawyer suggested.
"I'm cool with that. They'll probably figure us out anyway."
"Yeah, that's what I was thinking."
"Um, I've been wondering how you figured me out so quickly. I've acted like a gay-basher most of the time I've been here," Travis said.
"Okay, I'll tell you, but I hope you won't be mad at me and want to break up when you know what I did."
"How could I be mad at you? I'm crazy about you!"
"I hope you'll feel the same way when I'm done. Um, I sorta perved on you last week in the locker room. You know the day when you were horny?"
"You might have to be more specific. I'm horny a lot!" Travis giggled.
"Yeah, I know. It was the day you tried to get into a circle-jerk with Vin and his boyfriend, what's-his-name."
"Oh, Caen."
"Yeah. I was hiding behind the empty boxes the new gym mats came in and listening to what you said. After they sorta told you to bug-off, I stayed down low and peeked into the shower. I played with my dick while you were jacking, and I popped my load at the same time you did. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry; that's really hot!"
"Wow! I feel a lot better now. Do you want to face-time since we're both naked and horny?"
"Yeah!"
Not long after, Travis had another entry to make in his diary.
On Monday, Travis practically bounced into Aidan's classroom. It was the happiest he'd appeared since the term began. Aidan smiled at his exuberance, hoping it wasn't just a manic phase of his rollercoaster emotions.
After class, he stayed a few minutes to talk.
"I have a friend who'd like to join our karate club. He trained for a while when he was 10 but lost interest when his best friend moved. I think he could catch up pretty quick."
"Of course, he's welcome. We aren't like an elite group. I'm sure guys with higher-level skills would be pleased to help him."
"Good! I'll text him to come in now if you have a minute."
"Sure," Aidan smiled.
Sawyer must have been waiting right around the corner when he received Travis's message because he appeared almost instantly.
The minute the boy entered the door, Aidan was certain he knew the reason why Travis was in a great mood. Both kids glowed like a pair of high-intensity headlamps.
Perhaps Travis had found a soulmate, or at least a playmate.
At the next meeting of the karate club, Sawyer showed up in gym clothes along with Travis who was in his gi. Sawyer's mom had balked at the idea of spending money on a new uniform before she was sure he'd stick with it this time.
He was shy, initially, but soon lost his hesitancy when Vin became his instructor. Before the session ended, Sawyer had recalled a lot of his previous knowledge in the sport. Vin high-fived him after they had bowed to each other.
Travis was proud of his new boyfriend. Not only was he cute, but he was coordinated.
When they left for the day, they headed for Travis's house where they were going to "study" together until dinner time. It's likely that adolescent anatomy was their main scholarly pursuit.
"I've been approached about being the faculty sponsor for a new gay/straight club Vin and Caen are trying to organize," Neil mentioned over dinner. "I think it's important for gay kids to feel like they're a part of something. Sorta like they've found their tribe. I know they get that kind of comraderie from karate, but I feel there should be other places for them to mingle with like-minded students."
"I know I'm not your mentor anymore, so I guess I shouldn't open my mouth and give you advice. You'd be the ideal person to work with them, but have you considered how it will add to your work schedule?" Aidan responded.
"You'll always be my mentor even though it's not official now. You're more experienced, and I appreciate your guidance. I think I can do it without getting stressed out. I'm pretty sure you were their first choice. They began by asking me if I thought you'd do it. I kind of ran interference for you knowing you're taking more graduate hours to finish your MA. When I mentioned how busy you were, they started working on me."
"That's sweet of you," Aidan smiled. "You know karate has eaten into my spare time, and I appreciate your help with it. Will you have to give up being my assistant?"
"Nope. I'll keep it up. If I do, I'm hoping you'll help me with the gay/straight alliance sometimes too. Several factors mean we'll have fewer responsibilities than we thought we would last spring.
"Since Jared's grandmother and aunt are taking over the role of parenting him, we won't be expected to have him here for every holiday or make the trip to Ames for Parents' Day. I'm sure he'll want to be here with Gabe part of Christmas. However, Gabe's parents seem happy to have him stay with them.
"My loans are close enough to being paid off that I'm not going to work at Penney's during the pre-Christmas shopping rush.
"As far as classes are concerned, I have enough experience now, so I'm not obsessing over lesson plans all weekend. On top of that, I don't have to prepare all my meals and clean everything by myself now that I'm living with you."
"I see you've thought it all through. As long as you've done so, and you're not afraid you might be labeled `gay' by taking it on, I say go for it, with my blessing."
"Aren't you concerned about picking up that label by association?"
"Nope. Our principal and close colleagues already know about our orientation and relationship, so why should I care? Marie has probably broadcast it to everyone at school anyway. I'm hoping you'll be my husband within the year."
"You know I'm with you on that!"
Neal's decision to sponsor the new club was met with elation by the guys who were trying to get it organized. Now that they had him, there was no reason not to get it up and running soon.
They hoped to kick it off by having a dance, but they weren't sure how they could get one scheduled on the activities calendar before next term. Just when they figured it wasn't going to happen, they lucked out because the foreign language club, which had originally reserved a date for a Halloween dance-event, was giving up on it. Infighting had caused the organization to collapse. The student council was relieved to have someone else take it over. They were in the midst of planning the homecoming festivities and didn't need an additional responsibility.
The fledgling club was overjoyed with the opportunity to make its presence on campus known through a popular fall activity. They began planning immediately.
Vin and Caen became the driving force behind getting the organization up and running. Vin's adoptive parents, Carol and Hollis Barton, were happy to lend a hand where they could. Vin knew he could always count on them.
An unexpected source of help came from Travis and Sawyer. Vin was surprised that Travis's dad and Sawyer's mom were willing to get involved too.
He was even more amazed at Travis's desire to become part of the effort, after his initial homophobic attitude followed by his attempt to engage in a circle jerk. Perhaps the kid was trying to atone for some of his earlier erratic behaviors.
A week before the Halloween dance was to take place, the theater department would be staging a children's play that the director had written around "The Great Pumpkin" of Charlie Brown fame. He contacted the guys who were organizing the dance and suggested they all work together to make props which could serve double duty in the theater production, and also as decoration for the dance.
Because of a push to add more college-prep courses, the school district had cut the theater construction classes which had traditionally produced scenery and props. Now, he had to rely on parents of the cast members to volunteer their services. With everyone's busy schedule, it was difficult to pull off. The kids from the gay/straight alliance saw this as an opportunity to gain some positive recognition, as well as to ensure they had quality decorations for the dance. The cooperative effort would benefit everyone.
Mr. Davis, the art teacher, got involved too. He helped the kids make a framework of wood and chicken wire to serve as the base of a huge pumpkin. Using discarded bed sheets from the hospital, along with a mixture of wallpaper paste and Elmer's glue, the kids created something light-weight and more durable than papier-mache. Combining cardboard and some papier-mache, they constructed tombstones as well. At the dance, those could serve as backdrops for photos.
The piece-de-resistance was a "bat mobile." That is, a large moving sculpture with bats hanging from it that would be hung above the stage, initially, and hang in the center of the small gym for the dance. With a blue gel over a spotlight, it would take on an eerie appearance.
Homecoming happened in the middle of the month. A number of the kids from the newly forming alliance went to the dance. Some hadn't planned to go, originally, but went to "spy out the land" to see how things were organized and to check out the disc-jockey since the same guy was booked for Halloween.
Besides learning some valuable details, they had a lot of fun.
The week before the Halloween Dance, the weather turned unusually warm. Travis figured Wednesday might be one of the few last good days to ride his bike, so he headed off to school on it. By the time he got halfway there, the weather changed dramatically as a cold-front moved in. It began to rain before he got to his destination.
That, in itself, would have been bad enough without what happened next. A few blocks from the school, a car came roaring around him, cutting him off so closely that he veered toward the shoulder. He lost control on loose gravel and went into the ditch. It wasn't deep, but it was already muddy.
Several vehicles hurried past, but a pickup driven by a junior pulled to the side of the road with its flashers going. A strong young 17-year-old came around to help. The two of them quickly hoisted the bike over the tailgate.
"You'd better get in from my door and climb over the console. I'm too close to the edge for you to get in the passenger side."
"Thanks!" Travis exclaimed. "You're an angel!"
"A devil, more likely," his rescuer mumbled.
"Seriously, you're a lifesaver."
"Just don't tell it around and ruin my reputation."
Travis grinned, assuming the older boy was joking.
Harry Hardic had been serious. His father and grandfather wouldn't expect him to do an act of kindness for a small-boned sophomore boy who might very well be a "fairy." His Uncle Barry, who had been a holy terror in a nearby high school, would likely threaten him with great bodily harm if he were to find out.
Harry had been indecisive about stopping to help. If he'd been a cartoon character, there would have been a cherub on one shoulder and a demon on the other, both trying to convince him to follow their opposing advice. This time, the angel had won.
Young Master Hardic wasn't sure why he'd gone against family tradition. Maybe it was his mother's influence. Maybe he wouldn't go down the same path as the other males in his family.
Several times during the rest of the morning, Harry found himself sort of zoning out, replaying the scene. He kept seeing the look of admiration on the face of the boy he'd helped. It was a new experience to have someone look up to him. It felt kinda good.
He wasn't the only one distracted by the early morning event. Travis had a few flash-backs. It had been scary going into the ditch, not knowing how badly he might be injured, or the toll it could take on his bike. He, and his vehicle, had come out relatively unscathed. Then, this nice young hunk had stopped to give him aid. Travis wasn't going to lust over someone who wasn't his boyfriend, and who was likely straight as the proverbial arrow. Yet, it was difficult not to have some feelings of hero worship. He shared his elation with several others during the day, and he would confide in his diary later.
Dr. Dickinson had overheard part of what Travis told Sawyer. It made her smile to learn that a potential bully had done a good deed. Perhaps the reforms she'd put in place, after Caleb Barton's beating a couple of years before, were bearing fruit. She took the opportunity to compliment Harry when she saw him in the hall after school.
(When he saw the principal coming his way, Harry wondered what he was in for. She'd probably rag on him for something! He'd had a few minor run-ins with her last year.)
"Harry, I'm proud of you for what you did this morning. Acts like that make this school a better place."
"Um, I sorta did it without thinking. I hope it doesn't get spread around." He studied the floor.
"Don't worry, I won't say anything in front of the boys who would tease you. I know a guy has a reputation to uphold. Would it be okay if I tell your mother?"
"Yeah, I guess, as long as it's not my father you tell."
"Understood."
Harry gave her a slight grin before he went on his way. Maybe she had a better sense of reality than he'd given her credit for.
Sara Dickinson pondered the exchange she'd just had. Harry was basically a decent kid, and certainly worth saving. His "default mode" appeared to be "kindness," because in his words, he "did it without thinking." On the other hand, he was concerned about how his father would react to his good deed. That was truly sad! She wondered how many kids acted out in antisocial ways because of parental influence.
When Harry came home, his mother gave him a hug. It was a gesture she'd not made often in recent years.
"Dr. Dickinson called me," she said. "It was cool to get a good message from her instead of like last year."
"We won't talk about it at supper, right?"
"It'll be our secret."
Harry gave a sigh of relief as he returned his mother's embrace.
When Harry had been in the upper elementary grades, he'd taken a lot of flak about his name. By the time he was in high school, he'd punched out a few kids who had called him a hairy, hard dick. However, by then, he didn't mind the nickname all that much. He was proud of his "third leg" because he thought it looked like a weapon emerging from a nest of dark pubes when it was erect.
During his middle school years, he'd earned the reputation of being a tough little punk, something his grandfather, father, and Uncle Barry had encouraged. It was a quality the males in his clan expected and he'd always accepted it as the way things were meant to be. However, he was beginning to think for himself. That could be dangerous.
Lots of kids had been looking forward to the annual Halloween event and had planned costumes ahead of time. Many of them didn't give a hoot which organization was sponsoring it, if it was a fun time.
Vin and Caen had reserved superhero costumes from a local shop which carried all sorts of theatrical supplies. Their main decision was what kind of underwear, if any, they would have on underneath the skin-tight outfits.
Travis and Sawyer hadn't originally thought they would be attending the dance, so they were scrambling for something to wear. Sawyer's mother told them that dressing as pirates would be their simplest option. She chauffeured them to the Goodwill store and helped them find old things which could be made to look ragged. They found one play-sword but had to go to the theatrical shop to rent a second one.
By the time she had used a bit of makeup on their faces to create scars and bruises, they made quite respectable pirates, or disrespectable ones as their roles demanded.
Author's notes: Thanks to Jim W, JLF, Tim T, Walter S, Ray M, Wayne, Tony C, John L, Joe W, Johnathan R, Bill T, Ott H, Bill K, 13 Gordon, Marty H, and Tom A for your emails this week.
Thanks to David and Tom for editing.
Thanks to Nifty for providing this free venue.
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David