Tommy and Tanner Chapter 83
Warning:
This story contains scenes of love and sexual interaction between males of similar age. If the reading or possessing this material is illegal in your country, state, province, county, municipality, etc., please leave this site immediately and do not proceed further. If you are under the legal age to read this, please do not do so. It is not my intention to offend anyone or to get you in trouble.
The author retains the copyright, and any other rights, to this original story. You may not publish it or any part of it without explicit authorization from me.
This is not my first attempt at writing fiction. My longer stories on Nifty include: "Always and Forever" (March 25, 2004), "Jacob and Jacques" (May 30, 2004), "Zeke" (August 29, 2005), "Tales from Bentonville" (November 16, 2008), and "Second Chance" (September 24, 2010) under "High School" and "Someone to Watch over Me" under "Beginnings" in the gay male section. There are a few short stories also: "Brad and Alan's Canoe Trip" (April 22, 2004 under "Camping", "Of Angels and Dragons" (November 8, 2008) under "Camping", "A Christmas Tale" (December 22, 2009) under "High School", "Brazil Affair" (October 1, 2010) under "Beginnings," "Seth's Gift" (October 10, 2010) under the Science Fiction/Fantasy category, and "A Technological Christmas" (December 23, 2011) under "Beginnings."
I am listed on Nifty under the category of "Prolific Net Authors" which will make it easier for you to access earlier stories. Some of these stories are also posted at: www.storylover.us along with those of other writers that may interest you.
My only reward for contributing to Nifty is your emails. Please write if you like the story. Please include the name of the story in the title of your email because my email service sometimes puts them in the "spam" file.
Thanks and hugs to Tom and David (boxerdude) who edit for me so that there are fewer mistakes! They not only proof-read, but make other valuable suggestions.
Finally, David has a site that is hosting a number of authors. It's at: www.saberpeak.com. My first story, "Always and Forever," is posted there.
David (dlee169@hotmail.com)
Tommy and Tanner, Chapter 83
On Tuesday there was a special assembly in the gym to recognize participants in winter sports. The wrestling, swimming, and basketball teams were all introduced and each group was honored for their achievements thus far. The cheerleaders did a dance routine, and almost everyone took part in a new cheer they taught the crowd.
As those fun things were winding down, the band played a piece of quieting music to segue into what Dr. Moore had planned.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like your thoughtful participation in the rest of today's program. You've all been taught proper manners for cultural events like choirs, orchestra, theater, and the like. I would like to see that same decorum for the next few minutes. I can see by the applause you gave the band that you know how to act. What is coming next may be a surprise to you, but it is one which has deep significance and I hope you will treat the speakers as you'd wish to be treated."
As she was speaking, three boys came in from the nearest hall door. A soft, collective gasp came from the audience as they saw that Quentin Hames led the trio which included Barry and Larry.
Quentin took the microphone and cleared his throat.
"I'm here to publically say that I'm sorry for my bad judgment and to beg your forgiveness. I cannot tell you how many times I've wished I could take back what I did in October. I'm sure I've caused nightmares for some of you and I really didn't intend to.
I didn't want to live anymore and I thought the easiest way to die would be to have a policeman shoot me. I had considered an overdose of pills or jumping in front of a commuter train, but I figured a bullet would be quicker. I never thought about my actions causing pain for others.
I know...(sob) that I can't expect you to forget..."
Quentin couldn't finish his sentence because of being overcome with emotion. The entire gym was dead still for several seconds. Then Ava stood and began to applaud. Tommy, Tanner, Andy, and Devin followed suit. Other's joined them and soon almost everyone was standing.
Quentin's sobs turned from tears of remorse to tears of thanksgiving. They flowed like Niagara Falls when Barry, and then Larry, hugged him.
After Quentin sat down, all eyes turned expectantly to Barry who spoke next.
"I'm here to publically ask Quentin and some of the rest of you to forgive me. He's already done so in private, and I thank him for it. He's a great kid and I've been a real, a-hole!"
Several people snickered and Dr. Moore raised an eyebrow, shaking her head.
"I need to apologize to Dr. Moore for my suggestive language, but she knows what I'm saying is true. I bullied Quentin until he couldn't take it anymore. I nearly caused the death of an innocent guy because of my behavior. If he had died, it would have been the same as if I'd pushed him in front of a train or pulled the trigger on a cop's gun. I didn't like myself at all and I took it out on him and others.
Well, I've changed and I hope to make the world a better place by helping little kids and all like I'm doing through the program Ava Carson started. I recommend it! If you're heading down the road I was, I hope you'll turn around before it's too late. Thank you for your time."
Barry also received a standing ovation from the students and faculty. Dr. Moore didn't hide the fact that she was moved, as she dabbed the corners of her eyes with a tissue.
Finally Larry took the mike.
"What he said," he grinned, pointing to Barry.
Laughter rippled through the audience. It was the bit of comic relief that was needed after all the strong emotion of the last few minutes.
"Seriously, I was a lot like Barry. I did mean things to Quentin and some of the rest of you because I thought I could feel better if you felt worse, but it doesn't work that way. I wish I could take everything back, but in reality I can't. Whenever an unkind remark comes out of your mouth, it's out there. You don't get a do-over. I hope we'll all remember that and make this school and the world a kinder place to live in. Thanks."
As the third round of thunderous applause ended, Dr. Moore took the mike.
"I commend these young men for having the, uh..., shall I say, guts to stand up in front of all of you. I think Barry could come up with another term, but I'll leave that to your imaginations."
Another, longer ripple of laughter passed through the gym.
"I'm proud of them and I'm proud of all of you for listening with empathy and respect. This is a great school and a great student body. In a minute I'd like the band to play the fight song as you proceed to your classes. We'll follow one-hour delay schedule. You are dismissed."
As the band played, the student body began to flow out of the gym. Many students gave the boys a thumbs-up or tried, if they were close enough, to give them high-fives or dap knuckles.
Sgt. Quinn smiled at the scene. He was on security duty and had escorted Quentin to the gym to protect Quentin in case some misguided student should attempt to harm him, and to reassure parents that their children weren't in any danger from Quentin. It was always possible that someone would complain, and the board members had agreed to Dr. Moore's plan with the stipulation that an officer be present.
Judge Lawrence also smiled as he discreetly slipped out of the back where he'd been quietly observing, half-hidden by the bleachers.
The three speakers smiled too, and weren't embarrassed to be embraced by their principal. They hugged her in return. No one's eyes were completely dry, including Sgt. Quinn's.
It came as no big surprise to Susan Moore that Oliver asked her out to dinner the following Friday evening. She was surprised that he included Quentin in the invitation. She quickly accepted for herself, but said she couldn't make a commitment for her foster son until she'd cleared it with him.
Standing in the kitchen that evening before dinner, Quentin's grin grew wider and wider as she told him of the plan.
"I'm sure I have something pressing on Friday and I'm sure he's not particularly interested in having ME join him for dinner."
"He specifically included you, Buddy," Susan assured him.
"Yeah, sure. He did that because he knows you hate to leave me on my own too much of the time. I was hoping to go to the wrestling tourney over at Wash. Tuck said he checked with his dad and they would let me go with the team as long as I was always near one of the coaches. Tuck also invited me to an overnight afterward at his house with some of the guys if you'll allow me to go."
"Are you inventing this to keep from having dinner with the Judge and me?"
"No, Ma'am! I've been obsessing over how to bring it up. I didn't know if you'd want me out mixing with the kids from school, and I don't want you to be angry with me..."
"Son, you can't live in fear of upsetting me! Always feel free to ask me anything. If I don't think it's wise, I'll tell you, but I want you to have a normal life!" Susan said as she hugged the boy.
Big tears streamed down Quentin's face as he returned her hug.
"I wish you were my real mom."
"I'm workin' on it, Buddy; I'm workin' on it."
"You've called me `Buddy' several times recently. Gavin warned me about that?"
"What are you talking about?"
"He said I was as good as in the family if you called me the same pet name you used for him."
"Uh, what's going on? Has he really talked to you? Are you two conspiring against me?"
"He called last night while you were at the board meeting. I told him I'd give you a message, but he said he wanted to have a man to man talk with me. I was really scared about what he might say, but he acted just like I think big brothers are supposed to act. He gave me his email address and we've written a few times today. By the way, he's in Germany now, so there's about a six or seven hour time difference."
"This IS a conspiracy! I'm so pleased you two talked. He must really be okay with your being here then."
"Yeah, like I said, it's like I've got a big brother."
Susan and "Buddy" prepared their meal together. Quentin had proven to be a quick-study in following recipes and Susan had found herself enjoying cooking again. When she'd been alone, she'd taken little pleasure in making something more elaborate than a frozen TV dinner. Preparing special foods to educate the palate of her foster son was becoming a gratifying pastime.
They were in the process of clearing the table after a delicious meal of chicken Marsala, when the phone rang. Gavin was on the other end of the line.
Quentin went to his room so that mother and son could talk privately. A part of him wanted to eavesdrop, but he knew it wouldn't be polite. Despite what Susan had said, he didn't want to upset her. He wasn't worried about her reactions like he had been around his mother, when he'd walked on eggshells to avoid being struck for some minor infraction. Here it was out of respect for a lady he knew cared a great deal about his wellbeing.
Presently there was a rap on his door and he opened it. Susan handed the cordless phone to him.
"Gavin will tell you everything we've said that applies to you. Talk as long as you want, but I'd like one more word with him before you hang up."
With that, she left the two alone to continue getting acquainted.
Quentin felt like he was a free man, well a free boy at least, as he sat with Tucker at the wrestling invitational. Since it was at Washington High, he wouldn't see many people who knew him, other than the guys on the Cougar team. They had all been apprised of the possibility he'd join them and they'd been given a chance to vote on it. To the man, they'd said it was okay after Tuck made a good case for including him.
While wresting wasn't his favorite spectator sport, Quentin did enjoy watching the Coolidge boys dominate their matches. They weren't hard on the eyes either. All seemed to have great muscles. He'd like his body to look like that someday. He was mulling over how he could best work out and was lost in thought when Barry came over to sit by him.
"Is this seat taken?"
"No, please sit down. It's great to see you! You're not on the team, are you?"
"Nah, I came to see Tuck whip his opponent's ass, or was it to ogle all the boys in their singlets?" he joked.
"You're just jealous of how I fill mine out in the crotch," Tuck teased.
"Tucker you might not want to talk to others like you do to your brothers," Tark admonished.
"It's no problem, Coach T," Barry said. "Your sons are becoming like brothers to me, just like Quentin is. It's really fun to have good buds. I can't believe how lighter and brighter the world is when I don't have a chip on my shoulder."
All personal conversation ceased as they cheered for Jared. He pinned his man in record time. He was on fire tonight!
"Tucker, you were awesome on the mat tonight," Quentin enthused as he rode home with his host. "You've got `nads!"
"Please, it's `Tuck' to my friends. So you noticed how my singlet shows off my balls."
"It's just a figure of speech, but your wrestling uniform doesn't leave a lot to the imagination."
"Yeah, I don't mind showing off what I have, I guess. But you're the one with `nads! If it had been me up there speaking in front of the whole school, I'd probably have fainted! That takes balls!"
"I wussed out and didn't make it quite to the end."
"No, you didn't wuss. You'd said what you needed to and it was heavy, man! I've never seen that many students completely quiet in my life. I think you did more than the whole anti-bullying program has at getting through to kids."
"Thanks, and thanks for inviting me. I've never been on a sleepover."
"Seriously, not even when you were a little kid?"
"Seriously, uh, what all do you do?"
"Well, usually we play a few video games and you're supposed to let your host win. In this case that would be me, of course. Then everyone runs around naked, doing summersaults, cartwheels and the like."
Tuck kept a straight face through the teasing, but gave in to his grin when Quentin's eyes got big as saucers.
"I'm giving you a ration of crap! Sorry about that. We do dance nude by the campfire at our uncle's acreage sometimes. You'll have to join us out there next summer. It's a lot of fun being naked, even for us straight boys."
Bobby, Jared, Austin, and Troy arrived shortly after Tuck got home with Quentin, and the party began. Tommy and Tanner came home a half hour later to join in after their swim meet. Everyone had something to celebrate.
Quentin felt kind of out of place to begin with. These boys all knew each other well and teased a lot. However, it didn't take them long to draw him into the group. He loved it! He only wished it could have happened before he got into trouble.
Susan's date was actually that. Upon finding it would be only the two of them, Oliver had made reservations at a place a bit tonier than where he'd have taken a high school aged boy. It was in downtown Chicago and he'd hired a car with a driver so they could relax and converse without any concern about traffic.
They started with drinks in the posh lounge and progressed to the elegant dining room. Susan was impressed with all the touches - crystal chandeliers, linen, fine china, and sterling silver. When she was handed a menu with no prices on it, she knew this was probably even more expensive than she'd guessed.
"If you like lobster, it's one of their specialties. Their steaks are also delicious. Please order whatever you like. I'm having lobster, with baked potato and a salad with house dressing."
"That sounds delicious! I'll have the same," Susan smiled.
Oliver ordered a fine white wine to complement their meal. He had excellent taste in food and drink.
Their conversation revolved mainly around them. Quentin's name came up only once when Oliver expressed how wonderful it was that Susan allowed him to speak to the whole school.
"We need to take him to dinner when he doesn't have other plans," Oliver said. "This establishment might be a bit overwhelming for a high school student, but I think we might work up to it sometime in the future, assuming you'd be open to that."
"I think it would be lovely," she graciously answered.
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Torrance were well settled in their duplex before the new university term began. They had spent two overnights in Middleton after their honeymoon – one with her parents and the other with his family. Both looked relaxed and radiant. Being legally wed made them more comfortable around their parents in a way. They felt free to make love wherever they were staying.
They had already entertained in their own home as well. They had worked together preparing dinner for Drake and Chris. The two seemed to love the food and the visit. Melody decided right then that she would make it a point to have the guys over at least once a month for something home-cooked. They were great company and loyal friends.
Chas had come by to see their place too. He apologized for Mindy's rude behavior in baling out of the wedding. He said he'd repeatedly told her that Melody and Tim had no idea he was cheating. She still didn't believe anything he said.
His new girlfriend was planning to transfer to UCLA in the fall and he was considering going to the coast with her. He liked the idea of a more temperate climate without the cold winters and hot, humid summers of the Midwest. And, he seemed head over heels in love, or perhaps lust.
Tim could tell that Chas was set on going, and he knew in his heart that they would probably lose contact eventually unless something changed. That was life, like it or not.
Melody and Tim were also guests of their neighbors one night in the last week before the new term. The six guys in the other half of the duplex invited them over for a party. Some of the guys had girlfriends and they also invited a few other female friends, so Melody didn't get stuck in an all-guy gathering. It was a rather quiet affair with lots of things to nibble on and two kinds of punch – one with a bit of alcohol and the other without. The guys were either very much into having a good time without getting smashed, or they were trying to impress the landlords' relatives. Either way, it worked for the newlyweds.
About the time of the state swim meet, Tanner's request for the nullifications of his adoption came up before Judge Lawrence. He met briefly with the concerned parties and granted it. The boys were elated because they had feared it would take forever to come up. They had the feeling that some guardian angel must be looking out for their interests. They didn't know that they actually had one in this instance. Sometime later, they would discover that being on good terms with the judge's lady friend can't hurt. In his opinion, greasing the wheels of justice a bit didn't amount to perverting it.
In light of their new status as non-brothers, they told their extended family that they wanted to become domestic partners close to Valentine's Day. They decided to do it the Saturday before so they could celebrate their union at the Valentine's Day dance put on by the Gay/Straight Alliance the following Friday night.
The signing of documents didn't amount to a ceremony but most of their extended family came with them, as did Andy and Devin and Hank and Toby. When the formalities were taken care of, they all went to the Torrance residence for a catered lunch.
Valentine's Day fell on a Thursday, but since it was a school night, the party had been scheduled for Friday. It wasn't a big deal because it was mostly an excuse to have a festive atmosphere, food, and fun.
The disc jockey played a mix of current tunes, sticking to the ones that were easiest to dance to. Before he took his break, he made an announcement.
"Hey, guys and gals, are we having fun yet?"
"Yeah," they responded.
"I can't hear you."
"YEAH!"
"Cool! I'm gonna take a little break after this next number so you can fill up your plates and glasses and chill with your buds. Before I do, I want to wish a happy anniversary to Tommy and Tanner Torrance! Tomorrow, they'll be celebrating their first week as partners. Let's give them a round of applause."
Tommy and Tanner blushed as he asked them to stand and receive recognition from their peers.
"I've had several suggestions for a song to play in their honor, from "I Was Born this Way" to "What Makes You Beautiful" and a few others. But, I'm going for an oldie from my grandparents' generation. It's easy to slow-dance to and Grandma says Elvis is still The King. So here it is. Let's let the new couple have the floor to themselves for a few minutes and when it's done, I'll start it over so everyone can join in. For you, guys, here's `Love Me Tender' by Elvis Presley."
Although they blushed a bit at being singled out, Tommy and Tanner loved being able to celebrate in this way with their friends at school. Dr. Moore would likely catch some flak for "promoting a gay agenda" as a result, but wasn't the GSA about equality and freedom?
After a minute or so, Tommy invited Ava to be his partner and Tanner borrowed Tara from Tuck. That was a signal for everyone to join in. Andy and Devin cut in and Ava invited Barry out on the floor while Tara chose Tuck, of course.
True to his word, the disc jockey played it a second time. This time, Tommy and Tanner danced together for the whole song. No one disturbed them.
In the state swimming finals, the Coolidge team really kicked ass. The relay team of Tommy, Tanner, Andy, and Devin set a new state record. They also did well in individual competitions, taking first or second place in several events. They were thrilled to be able to excel in their senior year.
But, they couldn't rest on their laurels because spring track and field training would begin as soon as weather permitted. In fact, they'd immediately be working at weight training for that, just as they had been all winter for swimming.
The question of what to do with Troy was a complicated one. Austin's parents were eager to adopt him, but backed off after the boys explained to them the problems Tommy and Tanner had faced when they wanted to become legal partners.
"They were younger and hadn't realized they were in love," Austin said. "We're boyfriends already."
"Yeah, and what if we broke up?" Troy added. "It's not like I'd ever want to, but people do change. If we were brothers, we'd be really in a mess."
There was no objection from Troy's parents to give over guardianship to Mr. and Mrs. Baxter, but Troy's paternal grandmother from Kansas wanted custody. Her minister knew of a camp where Troy could be "cured of his gay addiction."
At the hearing, Troy was given a chance to make the choice of where he wanted to be placed. His grandmother, who'd flown in for it, pushed to have him go with her. However, she was unsuccessful in making her case, especially when she got on her soapbox about how gays were taking over the country and recruiting others to be like them. The judge could barely keep a straight face when he ruled in Troy's favor.
Author's notes: Thanks to the following who emailed this week: Walter Sz, Rutabaga, Jim C, Paul R, Bill T, JTR, Daniel L, Lisa T, Harry T, Tom A, Roger L, JJ, Wayne, Jim W, Paul F, Walt S, Ken G (A&F), Danny A, and Trish R.
Please remember all those hurt or killed in recent attacks on our embassies. I abhor the violence, and disagree with those who would stir up anger. Extremists in any religion, including mine, are scary!
Peace and love,
David