Nights in White Satin

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Cody would go to Nehru, and the two of them would do what they would do. But Cody was his lover, their lover, and he couldn’t imagine him never coming to them again.

Did you mean to write "Cody would go to Russell, ..." ?

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Gosh.
What beautiful love scenes.

I especially love the one between Gilead and Mark.

I will be sorry to say goodbye to these characters.

- - - - - - - - - - -

One thing, though: I don't think Sharonda will tolerate Anigel's shoplifting the way Chayne did.

 

[ChrisGibson]

Did you mean to write "Cody would go to Russell, ..." ?

I don't really know.

 

[ChrisGibson]

Gosh.
What beautiful love scenes.

I especially love the one between Gilead and Mark.

I will be sorry to say goodbye to these characters.

- - - - - - - - - - -

One thing, though: I don't think Sharonda will tolerate Anigel's shoplifting the way Chayne did.

I Chayne more than tolerated it. He praised it. think Sharonda is capable of tolerating a lot. She is a Wynn. I would say: we'll see..... But we won't.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

I would say: we'll see..... But we won't.

 

[ChrisGibson]

AND NOW OUR SHORT CONCLUSION.....

They were quiet a long time. There was no point in saying anything, or even in moving. At last, Rob touched him, and Chayne squeezed himself, still feeling Rob inside of him, thinking how Rob surely must still feel him too. Their bodies drew together…









The fire was crackling slowly, and though the heat was on, they were glowing in the radiating heat of the fireplace.

“Chayne,” Rob whispered after a while, “what are you thinking?”

“I am thinking that I have never been so happy as I am with you right now.”

He rested his head on Rob’s chest and said, “I don’t think I would ever have made a fire until you came.”

Rob laughed as he pulled the covers higher over them.

“Well, you didn’t really make this one, did you?”

Chayne laughed and then groaned as he went to his knees and said, “I have to piss! I would love to lay here forever, but I have to piss.”

“I could bring a bed pan that way we’d never have to leave.”

“Piss filled bed pans and the heat of a roaring fire,” Chayne said. “There’s an air freshener in that.”

“You have the most beautiful ass I’ve ever seen,” Rob commented reclining on his elbow. “It’s like a chocolate caramel apple.”

“You keep saying that and my feet’ll never touch the ground again.”

“Good,” Rob said as Chayne went into the little bathroom, leaving the door open. “Why should your feet ever touch the ground?”

Chayne peed and flushed the toilet, he ran his hands through the water and said, “Speaking of caramel apples—”

“Yeah,” Rob called, “I want the last of that cider.”

Chayne went into the kitchen and put the cider back on the stove. He rifled through the mail, hunting for that small royalty check, but now he called: “Rob?”

A moment later, naked as Chayne, his blond hair sticking up, Rob came into the kitchen and Chayne showed him the letter.













Lab Corp

1155 E Paris Ave SE #200,

Grand Rapids, MI

49546



“What the hell is this?”

“Those are…” Rob began and then shifted from foot to foot, scratching the back of his neck. “Those are the test results. For Russell and Cody.”

“But we just saw the test results from…”

“Yes,” Rob said. “But no.”

“You lied. You made a fake report.”

“I did.” Rob said.

The cider was boiling and Rob reached over and turned if off, and Chayne loved the back of him, his small round ass, his thighs, his angel feet, his sticky up hair.

“They read the actual one,” Rob continued. “But I made a fake one.”

“You were going to make them not related no matter what?” Chayne realized.

“And what if I was?” Rob said, suddenly full of heat. “They were miserable, and it’s not like it matters. It wasn’t helping anything for them to find out they were related. It wasn’t really wasn’t helping anyone.”

“No one’s arguing with you. I’m not. I don’t think I am at least.” Chayne shook his head. “It was ingenious really.”

“I steamed it open,” Rob said. “Why chance it? I hated being a liar and a deceiver, but more than that, I hated keeping them apart.”

Rob turned around, opened the cupboard and pulled out two cups and then began filling them both with steaming cider.

“I never planned to hide the truth from you, Chayne,” Rob said in a softer voice. “Or else that letter wouldn’t even be there. I decided to do what I thought was right, and I assumed you would agree.”

“Do you think you could have sat on that secret forever?” Chayne asked.

“Could you have?”

“We would have tried. I’m just glad—”

“That we don’t have to. Yeah.”

Rob handed Chayne his mug, and he took his own, taking the envelope with him. Chayne followed Rob back into the living room where they sat drinking cider

At last Chayne looked at the flimsy envelope and said, “I can’t take this another goddamned minute.”

Rob nodded manfully.

“Alright, my love,” he said, and set his mug down and handed Chayne the envelope, waiting for him to open it.

Chayne leaned forward, and gently he placed the envelope into the fire. He sat back down beside Rob, and Rob leaned into him, pressing his head against Chayne’s chest.

“We found our miseries and our happiness on our terms,” Chayne said, kissing Rob on the top of his head while he caressed his long arm.

“Now they’re off to do the same.”


THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH ME ON THIS JOURNEY. THOUGH I STILL HAVEN'T GOTTEN TO RESPOND TO MAIL, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONVERSATIONS WE'RE ABOUT TO HAVE. THE NEXT STORY POSTED WILL BE CREATION, THE LAST BOOK IN THE LAKE CYCLE

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

That was ingenious. And sweet.

Thank you.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

That said ...

The way the last part reads, the envelope from Lab Corp. is still sealed (or-re-sealed). So we don't know whether or not Rob really did give Russell and Cody the actual result of the test.

And I think Chayne knows that; otherwise, I don't think he would have said, “I can’t take this another goddamned minute.”

What couldn't Chayne take? If the result is really the same on the fake and the real letters, there's no suspense not to be able to take.

But if they don't know the actual result for certain, but they do want Russell and Cody to be together, the only thing to do would be to burn the report, wouldn't it?

Thing is, would Rob lie to Chayne about this, about having given Russell and Cody the actual result, even now? It feels (and I emphasize feels) unlikely to me, but I can't be sure.

Neither can Chayne. And perhaps that's part of what he can't take for another goddamned minute.


And so the truth goes up in flames -- for the sake of love.


And, at some point, we have another story, set circa 2018 -- with Russell and Cody still in touch, still extremely fond of each other but probably not still coupled -- when the two of them both happen to sign up for 23 and Me.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

That said ...

The way the last part reads, the envelope from Lab Corp. is still sealed (or-re-sealed). So we don't know whether or not Rob really did give Russell and Cody the actual result of the test.

And I think Chayne knows that; otherwise, I don't think he would have said, “I can’t take this another goddamned minute.”

What couldn't Chayne take? If the result is really the same on the fake and the real letters, there's no suspense not to be able to take.

But if they don't know the actual result for certain, but they do want Russell and Cody to be together, the only thing to do would be to burn the report, wouldn't it?

Thing is, would Rob lie to Chayne about this, about having given Russell and Cody the actual result, even now? It feels (and I emphasize feels) unlikely to me, but I can't be sure.

Neither can Chayne. And perhaps that's part of what he can't take for another goddamned minute.


And so the truth goes up in flames -- for the sake of love.


And, at some point, we have another story, set circa 2018 -- with Russell and Cody still in touch, still extremely fond of each other but probably not still coupled -- when the two of them both happen to sign up for 23 and Me.

Wait a sec. I see that I had not focused on this phrase:

“Alright, my love,” he said, and set his mug down and handed Chayne the envelope, waiting for him to open it.​

So they both know that this --

“They read the actual one,” Rob continued. “But I made a fake one.”​

-- is not true, or, at least, not necessarily true.

I guess the rest of what I wrote still holds, though it does seem a bit odd for Chayne not to let on (either to Rob or, via the narration, to readers) that he knows "They read the actual one" may not be true.

 

[ChrisGibson]

Now it's up. And sparking conversation. Well, at least one conversation

 

[ChrisGibson]

Wait a sec. I see that I had not focused on this phrase:

“Alright, my love,” he said, and set his mug down and handed Chayne the envelope, waiting for him to open it.​

So they both know that this --

“They read the actual one,” Rob continued. “But I made a fake one.”​

-- is not true, or, at least, not necessarily true.

I guess the rest of what I wrote still holds, though it does seem a bit odd for Chayne not to let on (either to Rob or, via the narration, to readers) that he knows "They read the actual one" may not be true.

So, I'm debating to post a reply here, or just PM you. But I think I'll PM you.

 

[CharmedFan28]

That was a wonderful ending! I think it’s sweet that Rob wanted Cody and Russell to be happy so badly that he faked the results. It doesn’t really matter in the end but it was nice of him. Excellent writing and I will miss this story.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Seems to me that now's a good time to ask some questions that have lingered in my mind about the characters.

For one: Where are Mark's parents? Seems like the only time their existence has been hinted at was the time Mark and Gil were at Mark's house because the parents were gone for the weekend. When Gil, at the end, said that Mark could spend every night at Gil's until they leave for college, Mark didn't even seem to think of his parents, and I couldn't help wondering if they would even notice that he wasn't at home.

One wonders -- or thinks -- the same thing about Jason's parents, who built him an entire wing where they don't have to run into each other.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

I noticed that, at the final union of Cody and Russell, the account of the sex seemed to communicate Cody's experience of it. I couldn't help but wonder how Russell experienced that sex.

I presume that you didn't tell us how Russell experienced it because he didn't tell you. But if he did, or does, please pass it along to us.

 

[ChrisGibson]

That was a wonderful ending! I think it’s sweet that Rob wanted Cody and Russell to be happy so badly that he faked the results. It doesn’t really matter in the end but it was nice of him. Excellent writing and I will miss this story.

Well, now I know that I have some serious cleaning to do. Rob does fake the results. but they end up getting the real ones. Well.... I don't know, maybe one day I'll change the ending again.

 

[ChrisGibson]

Seems to me that now's a good time to ask some questions that have lingered in my mind about the characters.

For one: Where are Mark's parents? Seems like the only time their existence has been hinted at was the time Mark and Gil were at Mark's house because the parents were gone for the weekend. When Gil, at the end, said that Mark could spend every night at Gil's until they leave for college, Mark didn't even seem to think of his parents, and I couldn't help wondering if they would even notice that he wasn't at home.

One wonders -- or thinks -- the same thing about Jason's parents, who built him an entire wing where they don't have to run into each other.

Jason's parents first because they are easiest. It is only talked about once or twice that as well off as Patti and Thom are, Jason's parents are richer and they are people who practice benign neglect. Whilei ti s exagerrating to sa Jason has an entire wing. He does have a large two room suite that hangs off of the main house nd can be approached without ever running into parents. I actually believe this is simply so that the parents don't have to deal with all the things that happen to a growing adolescent, sex, drugs, If it happnes away from them, they can ignore it. I remember my parents beig incredibly incurious and have had the change to check with other people around me age. It was a bit like growing up as one of the Peanuts gang.

Mark's parents.... are of no interest to me. I smply can't write about the minutiae of every character. We now one is Jewish and one is Catholic. We know he has a sister. We know tey are there for im after the car crash. We know that Gilead stays with Mark some tme. We know that Brad knows them because they come from the same neighborhood. There are a few other things I know about them that just could not make it into this story. I don't think of them as neglectful, but they are not doting, and they trust Mark's independence. Presumably before Gilead he spent a lot of time at home with them, so they are probably glad he found someone. How much they understand the relationship their son has with Gil? Again, who can say?

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Jason's parents first because they are easiest. ... [etc.]

Yes, this all makes sense. Thanks very much.

And speaking of Peanuts, I still love Brad's comparison of himself to Charlie Brown, and that when his parents speak, all he hears is "Waw waw waw waw waw."

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Next question (and yes, this is projecting into the future): Anigel can be both a nun and a psychologist, can't she?

I think Patti is right that Ani would make one hell of a psychologist.

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

It just this minute occurs to me how entertaining it could be if Faye, Chayne, and Brad all took teaching jobs at Barrelon while Nehru, Gilead, Mark, Anigel, Russell, and Cody (hey, if Barrelon gives out scholarships like candy, why shouldn't Cody go there, too?) were all students there. And if Barrelon has graduate programs, Flipper can be doing an M.A. there, too.

On the other hand, I suppose that would simply be moving the same entire story an hour north ...

And I leave out Ralph and Jason. I mean, Anigel said that Barrelon will taken anybody, but there are limits ...

 

[LoveMyPeppermill]

Well, now that I've slept on it, I think I might as well take this gambit to its logical conclusion.

Patti decides she wants more steady income than she gets in private practice, she doesn't want to teach, but everybody's going up to Barrelon anyway, so she takes a job as staff psychologist for the students.

Thom, because he's devastatingly handsome and can charm money out of rich women, becomes a VP in the development office. Years later, he will be fired from that job because Anne's ex-husband and baby brother post a photo of that nude portrait of Thom on Instagram and it will go viral, and absolutely no one will believe that Thom didn't pose for it. Instagram users all over the world will compliment Thom's ass. (In embarrassment, Russell will attempt to drop the Lewis name and go by Russell Fenian; it won't work because Rob will tell everybody.)

Jackie becomes the Barrelon University art department's artist-in-residence. John will be a stay-at-home dad but will feel emasculated; at some point, in frustration, he will yell at Russell and Russell will punch him again. Russell's social stock at Barrelon will soar.

Lynn decides she wants to get a master's at Barrelon, so Thom finds Bill a job as an Assistant Vice Provost for admissions.

(Niall will get a scholarship to the school and young artists' program at Houston Ballet, and the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes will drive him so nuts that he leaves the program early to take a corps position at the Royal Danish Ballet. He will love Copenhagen and the hot blondes there. Meanwhile, Sonia will feel dejected and resentful that she ends up stuck at Grand Rapids Ballet -- until she ends up following company artistic director Patricia Barker to Wellington when she takes the directorship of the Royal New Zealand Ballet. That part about Patricia Barker is actually true; also true is that Barker's husband, who was appointed the company's ballet master, will get fired for bullying.)

Marissa will get one patron-who-has-no-idea-what-the-fuck-she's-looking-for too many, quit the Geschichte Falls Library, and become a staff librarian at Barrelon, where the students are at least a bit less clueless.

Hale will bring the baby along and take on the business manager duties for the rapidly rising Chili Comet Sundae. He'll park the baby with John, who will end up starting what becomes the most popular day care center in town. The faculty will all ask Jackie where she found such a treasure of a husband. (On one particular day, the professors dropping off their kids will all wonder why John has a black eye. Patti will say, "Don't even ask.")

And finally, our story gets its truly terrifying villainess when Dena Dwyer is appointed Barrelon University's Associate Provost for Human Resources.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Chris, you now have your storylines for seasons two and three of the series.