Watching Brad

[gsdx]

Way to go Bradley Hayes!!!!

That part really had me concerned. I almost went back and deleted the entire scene. I wasn't sure Brad would do that.

 

[gmoney]

Yet another great chapter. Now that winter is over, let's slow the timeline down some. I know, I'm selfish and want this to last. Just a suggestion. I know you know best.

 

[harry113]

Neil !!! What can I say !!!
I entirely agree; This is well good enough for publishing !
Glad you will keep us updated on Ted's family. This is a fantastic story, you have had us all with our hearts in our mouths so many times.
Thanks for explaining the Africaaner connection, I was wondering !!!
You certainly did your homework on that. I love the bits where you explore the difference in words & meanings on either side of the pond ..... very funny !!!
Peace & Love

Harry

 

[pkacrotjs]

Neil!!!!! {{hugs}} I've been away for several weeks, so I've been trying to get caught up on JUB in general, and your writings in particular. It seems so insufficient to say 'thank you', but from the bottom of my heart I hope you can accept my (our) deep thanks. Your stories are amazing, and continue to make me laugh and cry, and be reflective on my own life, which is exactly what good writing should do.

 

[gsdx]

Your stories are amazing, and continue to make me laugh and cry, and be reflective on my own life, which is exactly what good writing should do.

I have received many PMs concerning this. I hadn't realized that this story was having such an effect on so many people until I started reading them. Perhaps it's selfish, but it feels pretty good.

Thanks.

 

[dlf0001]

I'm almost inclined to read your "space" story, but, I am not much of a science fiction fan... However, I have enjoyed your 2 current stories and agree with many of the praises posted thus far. <I am ashamed to admit my complaining many chapters ago almost caused you to quit the story.> I'm glad you ignored me and continued on.. I love the story.

 

[gsdx]

I'm almost inclined to read your "space" story, but, I am not much of a science fiction fan...

Thanks.

I have several other stories here in the Archives:

Best Buddies Play Hard
Nicely Packed, Bag Boy

And my Stargate SG-1 story and its sequel. (It's sort of Sci-Fi, but not a lot. If you've seen the programme, they involve a love affair between Dr. Daniel Jackson and Jonas Quinn. All the Stargate characters are there.)

Stargate SG-1 - Last Mission
Stargate SG-1 The Sequel - Aftermath

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part LIX​

March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. For the most part, that's true. Not this year, though. March was an extension of Winter. A hanger-on of cold weather and fleeting snow. Where there should have been flowers and green leaves, there was only the dull, grey and brown of pre-season ennui. It did little to heighten winter-weary moods.

Granted, there was no need to bundle up the boys anymore into their snow suits. We could put on their coats and, on colder days, a pair of mitts, but there was nothing seriously threatening with the weather. It was simply chilly and cool. Spring would be a long time coming this year.

Bernice was excited about her new landscaping. Until now, she had only narrow, straight gardens running the full length of the house. With his new computer program, Brad had scanned in a photo of the Hayes' home and had designed new gardens for his mother. She had only three requests: a swing set like Lindsay had, bird baths, perhaps a fountain, and flowers that would attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

With his newly-acquired product pricing list, Brad designed a rock garden with patches of plants and small trees and bushes. I had to admit, it looked truly amazing and imaginative and one had the impression of walking along a pebbled beach with mini-gardens spread throughout. Three bird baths were arranged within them and a bark chip ‘clearing' would hold the swinging garden bench. The entire garden would be as low-maintenance as possible.

Even John was drawn in by it and was eager to see it come to fruition. Brad didn't include the cost of his labour in his quote, though. That he would leave up to his Mom and Dad.

By the time March Break began, most of the upper ground frost was gone and Brad could begin the task of turning his parent's mundane front yard into a beautiful garden. Mags didn't help him yet. Brad would do all the digging himself, peeling off the layers of sod and digging out the old gardens. Mags could help with the planting.

He began working the Saturday morning at the beginning of the Break. I helped him, as did Lindsay and the twins. Lindsay did what she could while still keeping herself clean, but the boys dug right in and got as dirty as they possibly could. Boys like doing that sort of stuff. If it means they can get dirty without being punished, they're all for it. Even Bernice and John came out and did what they could, despite Brad's objections.

Brad worked his ass off, doing as much as the rest of us combined. We were still dressing in coats and gloves, but Brad was stripped down to jeans and a T-shirt, and still he worked up a bit of a sweat. If he kept up this energy and excitement, I could see Baie Dankie Landscaping becoming a very successful business for him. He'd already been talking to Bill and had registered the company and internet domain. My lawyer, Al, helped with all the legalities and contracts. Brad was making his dreams come true.

With everyone's help, though, he had the entire layout prepared by Sunday evening. The rocks and pebbles, soil, and bark chips were on order and would be delivered early the next week. The plants would wait until later in May when it was warm enough to plant them safely without fear of them freezing.

Sunday night, after the twins had gone to bed, I phoned Mom and Dad and asked if they felt up to some company for the next weekend. Mom's only concern was the sleeping arrangements. There wasn't enough space in Lindsay's room for another bed. I told her not to worry. The boys could sleep with me and Brad in the guestroom. The bed was certainly large enough. We would be arriving Thursday night and returning Sunday afternoon.

Brad worked hard the next few days. The ground cover had been delivered Monday afternoon and he had spent Monday evening moving the larger rocks into place around the garden spots to make simple borders. On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, he shifted barrow loads of pebble stones and dumped and raked them into place and moved most of the pile of topsoil into the garden spots. The rest would remain covered under a tarpaulin until needed during planting. The bark chips also remained in their plastic bags until later.

Baie Dankie Landscaping was on its way.

* * * * *

Lindsay knew about the trip to Grandma's and Grandpa's and promised to keep it secret, but we didn't tell the boys until Thursday morning. As planned, I arrived home Thursday afternoon after work. All the suitcases were packed and Brad had the twins bathed and dressed in their pyjamas. They would undoubtedly be asleep before we got to Crystal Beach. We would stop on the way for dinner at McDonald's or Burger King.

By five-forty-five Thursday evening, we were dressed, the van was loaded, the house was locked up with the alarm system set, and we were on our way. The kids wanted Kentucky Fried Chicken for supper, so I found one in Mississauga. The twins thought it was so neat that they could eat in the restaurant in their pyjamas.

As expected, they were sound asleep long before we got to Crystal Beach. They hadn't had much of a nap that afternoon. They woke up when we took them out of the van and they sleepily received their hugs and kisses from Ouma and Oupa. That was it for them, though. We got them inside and Brad and I undressed them. Brad and Dad unloaded the van as I took the twins to the bathroom for their final pee of the night, carried them into the guestroom, and put them into bed on the right side. Before they fell asleep, though, Mom brought in their suitcase and retrieved their Teddy bears for her grandsons. Moments later, they were sound asleep again.

As we stood there looking down at them, Mom asked, "Teddy, are you certain it's proper for you to be sleeping with them?"

"Mom," I said, "you never said anything whenever Lindsay slept with me here when I was straight. Please don't judge me with the boys now that I'm not."

"You're right, dear," she said sincerely. "I'm very sorry. I should never have said anything." She looked back down at the boys again. "You know, your Father won't say anything, but he hasn't stopped talking about his grandsons since we came back from Christmas. I don't think there's anyone he knows who hasn't had their photos shoved in their faces and been forced to listen to his endless stories about them." She looked at me as Brad carried our suitcases into the bedroom. "He's very proud of you, dear, and you've made him happier than I have seen him since Lindsay was born. We're both very proud of you." She kissed my cheek.

"Thanks, Mom," I said.

She turned then to Brad, who was now standing beside us. "And you, dear. We're very proud of you as well. And don't concern yourself with Jan. When he calls you ‘Son', he means it." She kissed his cheek. "Well, then," she continued. "I bought some coffee and a new coffee maker for you. Would you like me to put on a pot?"

Brad answered before I could. "Maybe tomorrow. Tonight I think we'll have tea with you."

Mom smiled. "Excellent choice. My coffee is just about as bad as your tea."

"Hey," Brad chuckled, "I thought my tea tasted pretty good."

"It does, Brad," Mom said, "but it's just ‘pretty good'. You don't elevate it enough."

"There, you see? If I knew what I was doing when I elevated it, I might be able to do it right."

"Well, dear," she said with a wink, "it certainly doesn't mean holding the teapot higher in the air whilst stirring it." She kissed his cheek again to let him know she was joking with him. "Now, you boys get yourselves unpacked. Tea will be ready in a few minutes. Properly elevated, I assure you."

She left us to our quiet laughter and unpacking.

* * * * *

We were sitting at the kitchen table. Lindsay sat in Dad's lap this time, dunking her Peek Freens into a glass of milk. Dad was looking at me intently and then at Brad. Brad was sitting closer to him and Dad finally reached out to him, took Brad's ear in his fingers, and looked at the stud more closely.

He let Brad's ear go and sat back. "Please do not stick those things anywhere else on your face," he said quietly. "It is a good face. It requires no further decoration." Then he looked at me and shook his head.

"Daddy said I could get my ear pierced when I'm thirteen if I want to," Lindsay said.

Dad hugged her and kissed her cheek. "Yours is a very pretty ear, my Sonskyn. One decoration will make it even prettier," he said. "But only one."

Lindsay wiped cookie crumbs from her lips and kissed Dad back. "One is all I want, Grandpa."

"Then one you may have."

Brad went to the guestroom and brought out the photos of his parents' new gardens, including ‘before' pictures and regular progress photos throughout the transformation. He also had the final computerized image.

"Oh, my," Mom gasped. "This is going to be so beautiful."

Brad reached across the table to point with his finger. "This entire portion surrounding the swing bench is filled with plants like Lavender, Cosmos, and Columbine among others which attract butterflies and hummingbirds. This section beside the door is an entire rock garden with Alyssum, English Daisies, Forget-Me-Nots and Portulaca. Mom wants the Portulaca just because she likes the name."

"Do you know the Latin name for Columbine?" Dad asked off-handedly.

"Aquilegia," Brad replied.

"Alyssum?"

"Lobularia maritima."

"Cosmos?"

"Cosmos," Brad replied.

Dad nodded, obviously impressed.

"Is he right?" I asked.

Dad shrugged. "How should I know? I don't even know what they look like in English."

Brad burst out laughing and the rest of us followed suit. Even Dad had a mischievous grin on his face.

"What's this?" Mom asked after the laughter died down, pointing to a collection of flowers with a large blank spot.

"I couldn't do that on the computer program," Brad explained. "Dad has an old, rusty, green wheelbarrow in the shed that he's had for years. I'm going fill it with soil as full as I can, then tip it on its side and let the dirt spill out. The wheelbarrow will stay where it is. Wherever the soil falls, I'll plant Pansies. They're Mom's favourite flowers, and it will look like a wheelbarrow full of Pansies tipped over."

"How very clever," Mom said.

"Not really. I saw it in a picture once, but they used a bathtub instead of a wheelbarrow."

"Still, dear, it's very clever."

"Very clever indeed," Dad added.

"Big deal," Lindsay said as she dunked another cookie. "He saw it in a picture."

* * * * *

I wasn't sure what to expect when we went to bed that night. Of course, we kept our underwear on. I suppose I should have bought pyjamas for us, but I hadn't worn PJs since I was twelve years old and, frankly, it never crossed my mind to buy them.

We closed the door enough to allow some sort of privacy while we slept and we were as careful as could be getting into bed. Brad got in first and I slipped in beside him. No sooner had we settled in beside each other when movement came from the other side of the bed. A moment later, Justin was climbing over Brad and curling up between us. His head and arm came to rest on my chest and my arm came around his back, cuddling both him and his Teddy bear. Moments later, Jeremy crawled between us and Brad had the other twin nestled into him. Brad pulled the blankets over all of us and, somehow, we managed a goodnight kiss. We did our best to fall asleep without holding each other.

I was awakened in the morning by an urgent little hand knocking on my chest. I opened my eyes to a little boy looking down at me.

"Daddy," Justin said urgently, "I have to go pee."

"Okay," I said. "Let me get dressed."

"No, Daddy! Now!"

"Me, too, Daddy," Jeremy said from beside me.

I grabbed Justin in my arm and got out of bed. Jeremy was already standing and ready to jump in my other arm. I headed out into the hall dressed only in my briefs and walked quickly toward the bathroom. Mom was walking toward me. "Sorry, Mom," I apologized. "No time to get dressed."

"Breakfast is ready," she said as she stepped out of the way to let me pass.

"Thanks," I said as I entered the bathroom which, fortunately, was empty. I kicked the door closed behind me and set the boys on the floor and stepped back until they were finished. Then, one by one, I lifted them up so they could wash their hands.

After sending the boys off toward Ouma and the kitchen, I went back to the guestroom to get dressed. Brad was already dressed.

"Shameless," he smiled as he looked down my body, then drew me into my good morning hug and kiss. "Love you," he said softly.

"Love you, too, Brad," I said back. "Now, I think I should put some pants on."

"Damn. Hiding all the goodies." He kissed me again before pushing me back and holding me by the arms. "Do you have any idea how sexy and beautiful you are, Ted?" he said quietly.

"Control yourself, Tiger," I said. "Don't want Junior rising to the surface any more than he already is." I couldn't help myself. As I hugged and kissed Brad again, my hand moved into his crotch and I cupped it around him. He still felt as good as he always did.

"I love you, Ted," Brad whispered, "but you'd better stop."

I did. Brad helped me get dressed. For some reason, he insisted on putting on my clean underwear and pants himself, and then we went out for breakfast. The kids were already eating their cereals and Mom had breakfast made for the rest of us, including a fresh pot of coffee.

Dad asked the question half-way through our morning meal.

"What is the housing market like up your way, Son?"

My hand froze halfway between my plate of scrambled eggs and my mouth. I looked at him. He just kept eating. I glanced at Mom and she smiled a small smile and nodded gently. I looked back at Dad.

"Are you serious?"

Dad didn't even look at me as he responded. "Of course I'm serious, Son. I do not waste my breath asking questions for which I do not wish to know the answers."

"Well. . ." I said, still stymied. I looked at Mom again.

"A management position is coming available in the Whitby shop," she explained. "Your Father has been offered the position."


Mom and Dad? Moving to the top of the Golden Horseshoe? This was the only place they lived after they moved here from Dartmouth. This was our home. It was my home!

"But. . . but this is our house," I objected. "I grew up here. You can't sell it."

"And now you are grown up, my Sondskyn, and this house is too small," Dad said. "There is not even enough room for your family to sleep here. Besides," he said, looking at the kids, "it is too far away from our grandchildren. I wish to be closer to them."

The kids looked up at him. Justin asked, "Are you coming to live with us, Oupa?"

"Closer, my Sonskyn," Dad said. He'd taken to calling both the twins ‘sunshine', too. It saved him the trouble of looking for the scar.

Mom spoke again. "We were thinking of a smaller community to move into. Courtice, perhaps, or Bowmanville."

"Not near the zoo, though," Dad added. "If I wish to smell jungle animals, I will safari in Africa."

Brad giggled.

"Um," I stammered. "Well, um."

"I'll check the internet later," Brad offered. "We brought the laptop."

"You can buy houses on that?" Mom asked.

"No, I don't think so," Brad replied, "but you should be able to see what's available. Get an idea of prices at least. Check out agents and such."

"That would be nice," Dad said. "Thank you, Son."

I was still too stunned at the news to add anything to the conversation except the occasional single-syllable exclamations.

To Be Continued​

 

[gmoney]

Once again, awesome chapter. Thank you.

 

[sheep]

Thanks, Neil.
You must have known not to emotionally supercharge this instalment on a holiday weekend when I can't go to buy more Kleenex!

 

[mushka]

As ever, this new chapter was absolutely amazing. It was worth waiting one week to read all the chapters I missed. Kudos, Neil.

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part LX​

Friday was really quite nice. Warmer and sunny. A beautiful day for a trip to Niagara Falls. The kids didn't know where we were going until we got there. From Crystal Beach, the Falls are but a hop, skip, and jump. About thirty kliks or thereabouts. Twenty minutes in the van and we were there. Dad had taken the day off to spend it with his grandkids.

Brad knew where we were going, as did Mom and Dad. I suspect Lindsay had an idea, especially when I pulled onto the QEW. She knew that wasn't the way to St. Catherines.

I found a parking space behind the Comfort Inn, near the Dino Park Mini Golf and half-way between the Skylon Tower and Clifton Hill. The roar of the Falls was amazingly loud, and the twins were mesmerized by the great plumes of mist rising from the river. They were also mesmerized by the huge Ferris Wheel, the Niagara SkyWheel, spinning almost directly in front of us. At fifty-three metres high, the thing was awesome to see.

"I'm not sure I could do that," Brad said as he craned his head back to look up. He shook his head. "No, I'm pretty sure I couldn't do that."

I knelt down in front of the twins as we all stood by the van and put a hand on each of their shoulders. "I want you to listen very carefully. No matter what you see or where you want to go, I don't want either of you to run off without us, okay? If you're walking, I want you to hold our hands all the time. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Daddy," Justin said.

"Do you remember what to do if you're not holding our hands?"

"Hold your pants," Jeremy said proudly.

"That's right," I smiled. "If there's something you want to see or do, tell us and we'll take you, but please don't run off by yourselves. You can get lost and we might not be able to find you again. Promise?"

"We promise," Justin said as he drew a cross over his heart with his finger.

"Good," I said as I hugged them.

"What's that noise?" Jeremy asked.

I smiled. "That's what we're going to see right now. Do either of you have to go to the bathroom?"

They shook their heads ‘no'.

"Okay, good. If you have to go, tell me so I can find a bathroom. Don't wait too long."

"We will," Justin promised.

I stood up again and took Justin's hand. Brad took Jeremy's and Lindsay walked between Mom and Dad, holding one hand each. We walked to the Jolly Cut. The Skylon Tower was just beyond it. We stopped and Brad looked up at it. "I bet you'd get a heck of a view from up there." He turned to me. "Maybe we could go up later." After the CN Tower in Toronto and one look at the SkyWheel, the Skylon would be a walk in the park for Brad.

Speaking of parks, we headed toward the river, walking through Queen Victoria Park. It was too early and too cold for the gardens, but the park was lovely just the same and Brad was busy snapping pictures and getting ideas. The Niagara Parks Commission did an excellent job of keeping the area beautiful, and there were great patches of nature spread throughout the concrete and pavement.

As we drew nearer the Niagara Parkway and the river, Justin held up his arms to be picked up, so I did. Brad, of course, had to pick up Jeremy as well. The boys were entranced by the thundering roar, their eyes anxiously searching for the source. We crossed the Parkway and then we were standing at the rails at the top of the Niagara Gorge. To our right were the Horseshoe Falls.

The twins eyes were opened almost as wide as their mouths and they sucked in deep breaths of air in amazement as they scanned the view in front of them. We stood there for a few minutes, looking. Brad handed Mom the camera and she took several good photos of us and the boys. For Lindsay, the Falls were ‘old news', but, for the twins - well, I felt a renewed excitement about the Falls that I hadn't felt in a long time.

We began walking along the river toward the Falls. The twins were laughing now and bouncing up and down in our arms and taking great pleasure in wiping the cold mist from both their own faces and from mine and Brad's as well. A few months ago, I had been here, walking along the same route with the man I love. I had seen the Falls through his eyes, and now I was seeing them through the eyes of two four-year-old boys. My feet barely touched the ground. My happiness kept me afloat.

Even in March, the crowds were impressive. Plenty of people milling about and enjoying the weather and the Falls. We continued walking until we were standing right at the brink of the Horseshoe Falls where the water flows over and plummets fifty-two metres to the Maid of the Mist pool and the Niagara Gorge below. The twins' screeches of excitement could barely be heard above the thunderous roar and the vast billows of mist rose high into the air. Sadly, there were no rainbows. We were on the wrong side of the falls for that. We would have to wait until the afternoon to see those.

The boys were clinging to us with one arm and pointing with the other at things only a child's eyes would see. Jeremy spied the rusted barge stranded less than a kilometre from the falls where it has been for almost one-hundred years. If you ever go to Niagara Falls, you must go with a child. You will see things you would never see otherwise.

We rode the People Mover back to Clifton Hill. That's where we would spend most of the day. Clifton Hill is an amazing place, and there are always new things to see and do. Of course, the old stand-bys like the Guinness World Records museum or Ripley's Believe It or Not museum were still there and full of fun and exciting stuff, but there were so many new things available as well, and all aimed at the child in all of us.

The first place we stopped, near the bottom of Clifton Hill, just off the Parkway, was the Great Canadian Midway. The SkyWheel, right behind the indoor Midway building, towered above us. I'd never been in the Midway before. The place was gigantic and filled with hundreds of arcade games of every sort. It didn't cost anything to go in, but all the games ran on tokens, which were twenty dollars for seventy tokens. The good part was that you could win tickets in each game and trade them in for prizes.

I bought two sets of tokens and gave forty of them to Dad. He and Mom went off with Lindsay so she could play the games she wanted to play. There weren't a whole lot of people in there, so it wouldn't be difficult to find each other again. Brad got into the fun as much as the twins and bought his own set of tokens. He was good at them and racked up a whole pile of tickets.

There were all sorts of noisy and colourful arcade games and hundreds of skill-testing games. The twins did pretty well for their part, and enjoyed the games they played. Jeremy, in particular, liked the claw hook games where you maneuver a crane over small toys and try to pick one up. He stopped playing when he managed to snag a small airplane (with my help) that he wanted. Justin enjoyed that bowling game where you roll balls up a ramp and they flip up and land in bulls eye rings for points. Brad excelled at the shooting games and scored major tickets with those.

The twins had been true to their promise. If neither I nor Brad were touching them, they were holding onto one of us. Even as they played their games, we would stand behind them with our hand on their shoulder. I refused to let the boys out of my sight.

In the end, Brad had won enough tickets that, when added to the twins' tickets, the boys could trade their shares in for a small stuffed toy. All that money to get a few toys which would have cost a couple of bucks at Zellers. But all the fun and excitement and laughs had been worth the price.

The boys were still picking out their prizes when Dad and Mom and Lindsay showed up. Lindsay traded her tickets in for a necklace and bracelet set. From there, we went to the Ghost Blasters ride. The boys were too short to ride by themselves, so Brad and I had to ride along with them in the two-person cars. It was fun, actually, and Justin had a ball. The cars took us through a haunted house and the twins could shoot at ghosts with laser pistols. No prizes or anything. Just the thrill of blasting a few ghosts. I got a big hug out of that ride worthy of a second ride.

We also went on one of the thrill rides there, the ones where a movie played and the large car you sat in moved about, up and down, tilting and tossing us, in cadence with the movie. Again, the boys were too small, so Mom and Dad sat with them in the special car which didn't move. Brad and I sat with Lindsay. Still, we had fun and Mom and Dad particularly enjoyed the screams of delight from the twins. They enjoyed that even more than the movie.

By the time we left the Midway, it was early afternoon. We crossed Clifton Hill to the Rainforest Café. Now, there's a restaurant. You walk through a volcano eight storeys high to get in! True to its name, it was like walking into a rainforest, complete with cascading waterfalls, jungle forests, and animated animals. The highlight, though, was a huge shark tank. Mom, Dad, and Lindsay had already found a table for us before we managed to get the boys away from the sharks.

It had been a busy and exciting morning, though, and, even before we finished our dinners, Justin crawled into my lap and Jeremy crawled into Brad's. Minutes later, they were sound asleep.

We finished our lunch and sat around, relaxing our feet, and enjoying a nice hot drink. Brad and I had coffee, of course, and Lindsay had hot chocolate. Mom and Dad suffered through an ‘abominable' cup of tea. Before we left, Dad went to use the washroom and Mom took Lindsay. When they returned, we traded off the twins so Brad and I could avail ourselves of the facilities as well.

We didn't bother dressing the boys. As Brad and I held them, Mom and Dad wrapped their coats over them and tucked them in at the sides. We'd dress them properly when they woke up. Dad insisted on paying for our lunch.

Lindsay wanted to see the Ripley's museum again, so that's where we went. It was near the top of Clifton Hill and not far from where we'd parked, so we had come almost full circle.

The twins finally woke up as we toured the museum. It still amazed me that the boys would fall asleep and wake up at the same time. There was a mind link which we might never understand, but it was there. Just as they could talk to each other without speaking, so could they think what the other was thinking. When Justin fell asleep, so did his brother, and when Justin woke up, so did Jeremy. It was strangely eerie. Unfortunately, that also extended to going to the bathroom. When one had to go, so did the other.

We left Mom, Dad, and Lindsay in search of a washroom. We found one easily enough. For some reason, Brad walked up to an empty urinal, opened Jeremy's pants, held him out in front of the urinal, and let Jeremy pee like the big boys. Jeremy giggled the whole time. I, of course, had to do the same for Justin. Going pee would never be the same. After that day, they didn't want to use the stalls anymore. Mind you, some of the other gentlemen around us thought it quite amusing.

The next stop was the Galaxy Golf, an indoor, black light, glow-in-the-dark, mini-putt space- aged golf course. Brad and I didn't really play. We simply stood behind the boys and guided their hands on the putters. Mom and Dad and Lindsay followed behind us.

Tim Horton's was right beside the Galaxy Golf, so I grabbed a box of Timbits and a few apple fritters before we headed off for the van. Unfortunately, that meant that we had to walk past the SkyWheel, and the twins and Lindsay wanted to ride it.

Brad looked up at it and already that look of sheer terror began to fill his face and he began to turn pale. "I can't do that, Ted," he said softly, almost ashamed.

"I can't, either," Mom said.

"That's okay," I told them. "I'll take the kids."

"I'll go with you, Son," Dad said and he took Jeremy from Brad's arms. He looked at Brad and smiled. "So, you are not Superman after all. That is good." I often wonder if Dad realizes how wise he really is.

The SkyWheel was huge, and looked even bigger as we boarded. There were forty-two gondolas on it, and each car could hold six people. We had a car to ourselves. On busy days, it could load and unload six gondolas at a time.

Dad and I held the boys at first, but they soon wanted down so they could run back and forth from window to window. There was no fear in them, but Lindsay held my hand the entire ride. For almost fourteen minutes, we went round and round, up and down. The view was quite spectacular in every direction. The boys wanted to go again, but, at ten bucks a head, one ride was quite enough. We didn't get to the Skylon Tower that day.

Jeremy went to Brad again, of course, and, after checking to make sure no-one had to go to the bathroom, we all climbed into the van. Mom and Dad joined Lindsay on the bench seat in back and Justin and Jeremy climbed into their car seats. Jeremy never complained about not being able to sit beside the window. Justin always had that privilege.

We didn't see any rainbows that day.

We stopped at Kentucky Fried Chicken to pick up supper. Dad paid. Mom would never say anything, but I knew she was tired and wasn't looking forward to cooking supper for seven people. KFC was just the ticket.

* * * * *

The days were getting longer and it was still light outside when the boys fell asleep in our laps. We'd already eaten and were settled in the livingroom talking and having after-dinner tea. Brad had helped Mom clean up after dinner and was now sitting beside me with Jeremy asleep against him. It was early for them to be asleep, but I wasn't surprised. I was almost ready for bed myself. We let them sleep until eight o'clock and I decided it was time to put them to bed. There would be no baths for them tonight.

I stood up with Justin and Brad rose to his feet, but so did Dad. He reached for Jeremy. "May I?" he asked.

"Um, sure," Brad said, and handed Jeremy over.

Dad followed me to the bathroom. I was used to this routine now, and so were the kids. With my free hand, I undid Justin's jeans and pulled them and his underwear down, then I set him on the toilet, balancing him there. "Justin," I called softly. He stirred slightly and his eyes slitted open. "Go pee, Son," I said as I tugged off his pants, underwear and socks. That was all the encouragement he needed and he started to pee as he fell asleep again. Like I said, they were used to the routine and needed only the ‘go ahead' from me.

When I picked him up again, I asked Dad if he wanted me to help him with Jeremy. "We are ready," he said. He set Jeremy on the toilet and called to him, "Jeremy, go pee, my Sonskyn." As I had done, Dad pulled off Jeremy's clothes and handed them to me.

Soon we were in the bedroom, sitting on the bed together and changing the twins into their pyjamas. "I used to do this for you when you were a boy, my Sonskyn," Dad said. "It is a pleasure now to do it for my grandson."

"You used to change me for bed?"

"Oh, yes," Dad said and a smile of remembrance curled his lips. "It was one of the joys of fatherhood." He looked up at me as he worked. "I did not have much time to be a father to you, Theodore," he said quietly. "That is my one regret of fatherhood."

My hands had stopped moving as I watched Dad work.

"I spent too many hours working to provide for my family. There was not enough time to spend with you." With deft and caring hands, Dad pulled on Jeremy's pyjama bottoms and lifted him to pull off his sweater and T-shirt. "Some nights, I worked very late. You were asleep and in bed when I came home. I would lie in your bed and I would watch you sleep. I would put my hand on your chest and feel you breathe. Occasionally, I would fall asleep as well and I would wake up with your head asleep here, on my shoulder. It is too bad that things must change as your children grow up. Those moments should never be lost to anyone."

I knew Dad didn't mean that he still wanted to change me and put me to bed. I knew he meant that children - especially boys - grow apart from their fathers as they grow up. It's sad, but it's one of society's dictates. Grow up and be a man. Do manly things. Don't be a daddy's boy. Unfortunately, loving your father as you did as a child is not a manly thing to do, nor is it proper for a father to love his son as he did when his son was a boy.

The stupid thing is, at that moment, I would have loved nothing more than for my father to change me and put me to bed and then lie beside me with his hand on my chest as I slept. Society steals so many special gifts from people without realizing it.

I looked into Dad's face as he did up the buttons on Jeremy's pyjama tops and I imagined that was how he must have smiled when he changed me so many years ago.

"I love you, Dad," I said impulsively.

His eyes looked up at me without raising his head. "And I love you, too, my Sonskyn." He finished dressing Jeremy, then stood up and picked Jeremy up in his arms. Jeremy's arm fell over his shoulder and his cheek fell against Dads other shoulder. Dad hugged him gently with one hand on Jeremy's back. "Which side?" he asked.

"The other side," I told him. "Jeremy goes in first." When he hesitated, I smiled at him. "You have Jeremy."

"I assume the inside bear is his?"

I nodded. As I picked up Justin, Dad circled the bed and laid Jeremy near the middle, picking up his Teddy and setting it in his arms. Jeremy clutched it to himself. I set Justin beside him, facing his brother and handing him his own Teddy. Even in their sleep, they rolled together, their foreheads touching and their arms over each other.

"Do they always sleep in this manner?" Dad asked.

"Always," I said. "Except last night. We've never slept in the same bed before and Justin came over and slept on me and Jeremy slept on Brad."

Dad's arm came around my shoulder and he pulled me close to him. "As you did with me, my Sonskyn," he said, and he kissed my hair. My arm went around his waist. We looked down at the twins for a time, sharing this moment together. Then Dad said softly, "This is why I wish to move. I shall miss this house, but I miss my family more. However, if you do not wish me to move closer. . ."

I pulled Dad around and settled into his arms. His left arm rounded my back while his right hand held my head against his shoulder. I don't know why I did that. I just wanted to. I think I needed to. Even at my age, it was still nice to be held by him. It had been far too long for us. As Dad had said, these moments should never be lost to anyone.

* * * * *

We were sitting in the livingroom. Brad was tinkering on the laptop, doing some real estate research. Mom and Dad, sitting in their favourite chairs, were sipping their tea and I was sipping my coffee. Brad's mug sat on the coffee table. He sat beside me on the sofa.

Mom and Dad were talking about the move and I was thinking about having them living closer to us. Most children grow up and move away to get away from their parents. I moved away because of my job. I had met Connie, got married, and then Lindsay was born. My life was here now. Still, the house where you grow up is always special. I had dreams of inheriting it and moving back and I would grow old here. And now they wanted to sell it and move closer to their grandchildren.

I had always enjoyed the visits - coming home again. There would be no more of that. It saddened me. Someone once said - Tom Wolfe, I think - "You can't go home again." Perhaps he was right. You can't.

I thought about it, and, the more I thought, the more I. . .

I reached out to Brad's hand and lifted it from the keyboard. "Turn it off," I said.

"But. . ." he objected.

"Shut it down, Brad."

He did as I asked and closed down the laptop.

I looked at Dad.

"Take the job, Dad," I said. "Sell this house and move in with us. Forget about looking for a new house yet. Concentrate on selling this one. We'll put the stuff you don't need in PODS storage That way, you can take your time to find the house you want."

"That is very generous of you, Son, but. . ."

"Think about it, Dad," I told him. "It won't take you long to sell this house. People gobble them up around here. And at the price you'll get for it, you can buy a house twice the size in Bowmanville for half the price."

"We do not wish to be any trouble, Son," Dad continued.

"Dad," I said seriously, "I'm just finding you again after all these years. I want to keep looking." I realized suddenly how sappy I was sounding. I changed tactics. "Besides, it will only be for a month or two, and, if it makes you feel better, I'll charge you room and board. I'll even get my agent to call you when I get back home and get him out looking for houses for you. Mom? Tell him."

Before she could respond, Dad looked at me, his eyes watching mine carefully, studying me and sizing up the validity of my words. Then he turned to Brad. "And how do you feel about this?" he asked.

Brad shrugged his shoulders. "Hey," he said, "if you can put up with me and three screaming kids. . ."

Dad smiled. "Three screaming kids I can put up with. But can you put up with us?"

"I kinda have to if you're going to teach me everything you know about English Country Gardens."

Dad laughed. "Ah ha, my Sonskyn," he said. "The truth emerges at last. He is marrying you only to get to my knowledge."

"I have to marry your son," Brad said without skipping a beat. "You're already taken."

We all laughed then. Brad tried not to. He failed.

"We will discuss it," Dad said finally after the laughter died down.

But then I began to think again.

* * * * *

"Ted?" Brad said with considerable concern in his voice. He could tell my mind wasn't into it. We were standing beside the bed, dressed only in our briefs, and hugging kissing each other goodnight. There would be none once we got into bed. Brad stopped the kiss to ask his question. "What's wrong?"

I looked deeply into his eyes, hating what I knew I had to tell him. I took a deep breath and said quietly, "We have to call off the wedding."

To Be Continued​

(A word of Warning: As I was proofing this last night, I rewrote the ending with this cliffhanger. I had tried to work it into a future chapter and I couldn't make it fit in properly without rewriting two full chapters. It works better here. Unfortunately, it means I have to rewrite a portion of the next chapter to incorporate Brad's reaction and the solution. I'll try to do that today, but, if I can't get it done the way I want it, I'll wait to post the next chapter on Thursday. Sorry for any inconvenience and/or chewed fingernails. - Neil)

 

[harry113]

Oh Dear, Come on Ted !!!
Can't you just imagine that big family wedding with the whole family ready made ...... There just HAS to be a solution to whatever problem you have thought up.
Just go for it !!!!

Thanks again Neil, Take your time to get it feeling right .... We all love you !!

Harry

 

[gsdx]

There just HAS to be a solution to whatever problem you have thought up.
Just go for it !!!!

I didn't think it up. Ted did. But he thought it up in a place where I couldn't make it work. There wasn't a solution available. I almost deleted it, but I liked the idea, so I moved it back a bit.

A solution is available now, but, unfortunately, we had a long series of severe thunderstorms go through this afternoon with many power outages. I lost virtually an entire afternoon of writing time. I'm trying to make up for it now that the sun is shining again, but it still means rewriting 2 chapters, and I'm not at all certain you'll even have the solution by then.

I'll try to have it ready for tomorrow morning, but no promises.

 

[gsdx]

Update - Sorry, guys. I got myself into a bit of a pickle with this one. I'm making progress, but the solution got me into another pickle and I'm busy trying to sort that out now.

I will be posting the next chapter tomorrow (Thursday).

Why, oh why, do I get myself into these messes?

 

[harry113]

Hi Neil, you took me out of context ( or maybe I wasn't clear! )
My comment was aimed at Ted !!!!
I'm quite sure you, Neil, will find a solution, but Ted seems to get himself in real deep from time to time.
Take your time mate, I'm sure the wait will be worth it.

Harry

 

[Kyanimal]

Neil, Dude!

I have NO DOUBT, that whatever predicaments Ted, and Brad, may present, in their own ways, that YOU will be able to "cope", and, gently, "lead" them in the "right" directions!

In a way, I think I "understand" what it must be like "dealing" with them. But ... lacking Your tremendous talent ... I can really only "Imagine" what it must be like to have "these guys" living in Your head! I can not express, in mere words, how envious I am, of your ability, to bring these "characters" into fruition!

I'm definitely looking forward to Tomorrow! And ... the other "Tomorrows" to follow!!

THANK YOU, Neil!!!

Keep smilin'!!
Chaz

 

[gsdx]

Hi Neil, you took me out of context ( or maybe I wasn't clear! )
My comment was aimed at Ted !!!!

Harry

I understood your comment. I was just trying to explain that I couldn't make a solution happen where Ted said it. There simply wasn't enough time for it (i.e. during the visit). So, I had to move it back two chapters.

Of course, during the solution, as I've said, Ted stuck his other foot in his mouth and now he's trying to pull his ass out of the fire again.

I must admit, though. It's turned out to be quite the writing challenge. The toughest I've been face with throughout the entire story.

 

[gsdx]

WATCHING BRAD
Part LXI​

"What?" Brad said as he grabbed my arms. "Call off the wedding?"

"Shhh! Keep it down!" I whispered harshly as I looked to the twins. They didn't stir.

"Why?" Brad whispered urgently.

"Things will be different now," I explained. "Mom and Dad are going to be more involved in our lives. They're going to know everything we do. I don't know if I can live like that."

"Gee-sus, Murphy, Ted!" Brad said. "This is our future you're talking about. You can't make a decision like that without me."

"I already have," I said with finality. I broke away from Brad's grasp and he let me go. I sat on the side of the bed. Brad stood looking at me for a long time, but I couldn't look at him. He sat beside me.

"We have to talk about this," he said.

"There's nothing to talk about. I've made my decision."

"Daddy?" a small, sleepy voice said quietly.

I looked over my shoulder. Justin was getting to his knees and crawling over to me, his Teddy's arm clutched in his small hand. I twisted around and picked him up, setting him astraddle my lap. With his Teddy in one arm and my arms around him, Justin laid his head against my chest and fell asleep again. Jeremy was soon in the same position on Brad's lap.

I gently stroked the side of Justin's head and kissed his hair, and then I hugged him lightly.

"Ted," Brad whispered again, "we have to talk."

"I'm finished talking, Brad."

"Fine," he said. "Then shut up and listen. You have no right to make a decision like this without me. No right at all. What you do with your house is one thing. What you do with my life is another."

"It's your house, too, Brad."

"No, Ted, it's not. Until I say ‘I do', it's not my house. I just live there. But damn it, haven't you given any thought to my feelings?" I shivered at the sound of the pain in his voice.

I remained silent, staring ahead of me at the floor. I suddenly realized I hadn't.

"You can't do this, Ted," Brad continued. "Not without me. It's not fair." He paused, waiting. I said nothing. Brad said, "Do you know what's going to happen if you call off the wedding?"

I looked at Brad. "Life will go on," I told him.

"Your parents won't move, that's what."

"Sure they will," I said.

"No, they won't! Your parents don't want to impose. As soon as you tell they you're calling off the wedding, you're telling them they're imposing. You can't tell them to move in one day and to stay the hell away the next. And that's exactly what you'd be doing."

I looked down to the boy sleeping against my chest. I gave him another small hug and kiss. I thought for several minutes, my lips pressed against Justin's hair. What was I doing to my family?

"Ted, look at me."

I didn't move, afraid of what I might see in Brad's face. I was already terrified by what I heard in his voice.

"Look at me!" he whispered loudly and earnestly.

I turned my head to him and my eyes found his. The anguish I saw terrified me even more.

"I love you, Ted. I want to marry you. I want to become Mr. Bradley de Villiers-Hayes and spend the rest of my life with you. We decided to get marrie together. You can't call it off by yourself just because you're afraid of your Dad."

"I'm not afraid of him," I said.

"Yes, you are. When they're here and we're there, we're a world apart. We can live our own lives. We can be who we want to be and do what we want to do. When they move, they're going to become a big part of our lives. You said so yourself! Your father will be watching us and knowing everything we do, and that scares the shit out of you!"

Jeremy stirred, his head lifting off Brad's chest and looking up. "Brad?"

"It's okay, Jeremy," he said softly and soothingly. "It's okay. Go back to sleep." Brad stroked Jeremy's hair delicately until his head came to rest on Brad's chest again. "Shhhh," she whispered in a lullaby hush. "It's okay, Jeremy. Go to sleep."

Jeremy settled down quickly and Brad's eyes found mine again. "It's okay for you to be gay when they live so far away, but it's not okay when they live down the street."

"That's not the reason," I said.

"Then tell me what is."

I couldn't tell him because I couldn't think of another one. I looked away to the carpet once more.

"If you don't want to marry me, fine. Just say so. But don't screw up my life by making decisions that concern all of us just because you're chicken. You don't have the right to do that. You don't have the right to make my decisions for me."

I began to think all over again. Brad had been right, as usual. For someone so young, he knew me better than I did myself. But did I really fear Dad? Since I'd moved away all those years ago, we had become virtual strangers to each other. The twins had brought us together again and now we were finding each other once more.

I had found a father who I loved very much and was just learning how to tell him that. But he was finding a son he never knew. He was finding a son who was gay - a son in love with another man, and they were to be married. We would become a family. We would live together and eat together and sleep together and love each other. . . and Dad would be right there to see it all. Dad would be part of my life - not just an occasional visitor on holiday weekends.

Not only was Dad's son a faggot, he was a cradle robber as well. Gee-sus, Murphy! Brad was still in school! He was barely legal! What do other people think about that? How does that make my parents feel?

We would be under Dad's watchful eye all the time. Our lives wouldn't be our own. Would we be free to live our lives the way we wanted? I wasn't sure we would be.

And that frightened me.

I turned my head back to him. He was still looking at me, still caressing Jeremy's hair. "What am I supposed to do, Brad?" I asked finally.

"Nothing," he replied. "They know what they're walking into. They know that our family won't be like every other family on the block. They know they'll be getting a son-in-law who is deeply in love with their son. They know what we do together behind our bedroom door. They may not like it, but they don't care. If they did, they wouldn't be turning their backs on their old lives here and starting up new ones with us. They know what they're up against and they're willing to take that chance. And so am I."

I breathed in a large, ragged breath of air and let it out again slowly.

"We'll talk tomorrow," Brad continued. "All four of us. We're all involved in this, Ted. We all have to make this decision together."

The pause that followed was long and silent. "Okay," I said with a nod. "We'll talk. But I won't make any promises."

Despite my exhaustion, both physical and emotional, I stayed awake for a long time, thinking. My fingertips stroked Justin's hair as his head lay against my shoulder. Brad slept beside me with Jeremy curled up against him.

For several hours, I lay there, staring up into the dark and caressing my little boy as he slept. I thought about what Brad had said to me. There was one thing that lingered in a corner of my mind, just out of reach of my memory. I tried to bring it back, but it was stuck there - just out of sight - and it wouldn't budge.

Brad had said I was afraid of Dad. I had told him I wasn't, but he'd been right. I was afraid of him. But that wasn't quite right somehow, and that thing Brad said peeked out for a split second and whispered to me, but not loud enough for me to hear. I listened harder, but it didn't speak again and slipped away from me again.

It wasn't quite right. I was afraid of Dad, but, at the same time, I wasn't. I could handle him. I had proved that a long time ago on the day he had met Brad. I had stood up for the man I loved and our lives had changed. So, if I wasn't afraid of him, why was I so afraid now?

I had the home and family I wanted. I had a beautiful daughter who I adored and two gorgeous sons who I couldn't live without now, and I had the kindest, most gentle and loving man I know to share my bed at night. I didn't know how my family looked to other people. I didn't care. It was what I wanted. And then I remembered.

That thing Brad had said jumped out at me and screamed in my ears.

* * * * *

I felt a bit better when I woke up the next morning, especially with tiny knuckles knocking on my bare chest again. "Daddy," a shrill little voice called out to me, "wake up!"

My eyes opened to a sweet, small, smiling, blond-haired angel leaning over me, and the angel looked exactly like my Justin.

"Hi, Daddy." His smile washed away all the cobwebs of my sleepy mind.

"Good morning, Justin," I said, blinking to clear the sleep from my eyes. "Do you have to go to the bathroom?"

"I can wait," he said.

"Then why did you wake me up?"

"Because you were asleep."

Made sense to me. I smiled at my baby and said, "Gimme a kiss." I puckered my lips and Justin puckered his and he smacked them against mine.

"Can we go back to Nygafalls today?"

"Not today," I told him. "We'll come back again sometime, though, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," he said as he hugged me and gave me another kiss on the cheek.

A moment later, Jeremy was climbing over his brother and myself to get his own hug and kiss. A moment after that, Brad's face appeared above me as well.

"Morning, Pops," he said as he bent down to kiss me.

"Morning, Tiger," I replied and gave him a kiss of my own.

I don't know why we came up with those nicknames for each other. I'm not even sure when. I know it was after one of our love-making sessions and we were lying there together, recovering. I'd commented on what a tiger Brad was and he'd replied, "You're not so bad yourself, Pops."

The names have stuck ever since.

I rolled to the side of the bed and set the boys on the floor. "Get your robes," I told them.

"Could you grab mine, Ted?" Brad asked. "I have a bit of a problem."

I had the same problem, but I'm not quite as obvious as Brad. "I'll close the door if you want to take care of it."

"No, it's okay. I just need to cover it up."

I leaned over him and gave him another kiss. "I'll take care of it for you when we get home tomorrow. . . if you can wait that long."

"I'll be looking forward to it," he said as he kissed me again.

The boys pulled on their robes and I sent them off to the bathroom, now that they knew where it was. Of course, they left the bedroom door wide open. I stood up and went to the door to push it closed. Brad was getting out of bed as I turned around. I went to him and took him in my arms and pressed myself against him in a warm, tender hug. His hug was equally warm and tender. We kissed each other for a long time.

"You know, Ted?" Brad said when we leaned back to talk to each other. Our bodies were still pressed together and I was enjoying the feel of his hard cock against my stomach. "Every night," he continued, "I go to bed thinking I can't love you more than I already do. And then I wake up every morning and realize I was wrong."

"And every night, I go to bed thinking you can't look any more beautiful than you do, and when I wake up, I realize I'm right most of the time."

"What!?" Brad said with a chuckle.

"Well, let's face it, Tiger," I said. "You get some serious bed head going on some mornings, and all that dried up little boy snot isn't all that attractive." I scratched at his chest with my fingernail.

"You should talk," he replied as he tugged at the matted hairs on my chest. Brad took my hand in his and pressed it to his own chest. "You never complain when it's something else that's dried on there."

I smiled at him. "That's when you're most beautiful," I said.

Brad showed me his chipped-tooth smile before pulling me into a bear hug and resting his chin on my shoulder. He whispered into my ear, "I love you so fuckin' much, Ted."

"I love you, too, Babe," I said.

He pushed away from me. "You sound like you're feeling better this morning."

"A bit," I answered. "Sorry about last night. I was being selfish. This isn't all about me anymore. It's all about us. Both of us. All of us."

"We'll make it work, Ted," Brad said. He kissed me again. "We'll talk it out and it will all be okay. You'll see."

I hoped to hell he was right this time, too.

* * * * *

After breakfast, we all got dressed, piled into the van, and headed to the Canadian Tire store in Fort Erie. Dad wanted to buy the boys new bicycles. I offered to help pay for them, but Dad can be pretty stubborn at times. Wonder where he gets that from? The boys were going crazy with excitement. They'd never had a bicycle before, let alone ride one. One more thing for Brad to teach them.

Of course, the boys wanted identical bikes and there weren't two of any of them. We found one they both liked and was small enough for them. We'd have to adjust the seat, though. I didn't relish the idea of driving all the way into St. Catherines to look for another one, and the boys didn't want to wait until we got home so I could shop around. I told them they'd each have to pick one, but not the same one.

They started crying.

I squatted down in front of them, taking one of their arms each in one hand. I put on my best ‘stern father' face. "Now listen," I said. "Stop crying right now or we forget the bikes and go back to Oupa's and pack up and go home right now." They stopped crying instantly. "That's better. Now, if you want Oupa to buy you a bicycle today, you can each pick one of these, but you can't have the same one. Sorry, but that's the way it is."

Before I could get a response out of the twins, a voice said, "May I help you?"

I stood up to face the young salesman. He wore glasses and his hairline was heading north. He looked about the same age as I. "No," I told him. "The twins just wanted the same bike."

"Which one?" he asked.

I pointed to the small, black bike with the fat tires.

The salesman grabbed the identification tag off the bike. "I'll check out back," he said and left us alone.

"Teddy?" Mom said. "Did you see these?"

We looked toward the spot where she and Lindsay stood. There was a stand of tiny bicycle license plates with embossed names. Brad moved forward. "Oh, cool," he said. "Do they have both names here?"

"Yes," Mom said. "And Lindsay's name as well."

"They are not good," Dad said.

"Why?" I asked. "They'll know which bike is theirs."

"And so will everyone else, Son. Imagine them riding their bikes in the neighbourhood and a stranger follows them in a car and calls out, ‘Hey, Justin. Jeremy. Your father wants me to take you home.'"

I looked at the twins and then at the license tags. "I hadn't thought of that," I said.

"Never let anyone see their names," Dad said as he walked to a nearby wall and picked up a package each of blue and green pin striping. "If you wish them to have their own cycles, use this." He brought the packets to me.

"Thanks, Dad," I said. "I really should have thought of that."

Dad just smiled at me. "You are not Superman, either. Now, we must find helmets and pads."

"They have hockey helmets and pads at home," I offered.

"Are they certified for cycles?"

"I don't know." I turned to Brad. He was still looking at the license plates. "Brad? Do you know if the helmets are certified for bicycles?"

Brad merely shrugged.

"That is good enough for me," Dad said. He called the twins over and took them by the hands and led them to the rack and started trying helmets on them.

A few moments later, a different young man approached us, smiling politely. He was more Brad's age and equally attractive and polite. I was still standing near the bike rack. "Hello," he said. "I'm James. You're looking for another bike?"

I have to describe James here. It's important a bit later on in the story. James was short, his curly, sand-coloured hair barely reaching as high as Brad's shoulders, and Brad is a bit shorter than I am. He had a mature but boyish face without a hint of facial fuzz. It didn't even look as if he had to shave. He had a small, pug nose and brown, penetrating eyes. He was surprisingly powerfully built. Not chunky. Just well put together. He filled out his clothes very well.

"Yes," I said, "this one." I put my hand on the handlebars.

"I know," he said. He bent over it to examine it more closely. My eyes strayed quickly to his ass and away again. He stood up straight and looked back at me and smiled. "I have a midnight blue and a black one back there. I wanted to make sure I got the right one. Give me an hour or so and I'll put it together for you."

"We can do it," I told him.

"It's all part of the service, Sir," he smiled. He glanced at the pin stripe tape in my hand. "Is that for the bikes?"

I nodded. "One colour for each," I said. "It's for the twins." I nodded in their direction.

"Give me another half hour and I'll pimp them out for you."

"Don't tell me that's part of the service, too."

He smiled the brightest, friendliest smile. "Putting them together is my job. Pimping them out is my hobby. Can you spring for a silver as well?"

"Sure," I told him. "Dad? Can you grab a silver tape, please?" He did and gave it to Jeremy to bring it to me. "Thank you, Jeremy."

James took it and the other tapes from me. "Maybe you should put blue and green tape on their foreheads so you can tell them apart," he said, still smiling.

"I don't need the tape," I smiled back.

"Of course you don't," James said, blushing slightly as he checked his watch. "Look. I should be done about noon. Just ask for me."

"James, right?"

"That's me. And don't worry about the pin striping. I'm a great believer in ‘less is more'."

"Thank you."

"My pleasure."

* * * * *

Just before noon, we were back at Canadian Tire and asking for James. He came out with that smile still plastered on his face and wheeling identical, shiny-black bicycles with identical pin striping, except one had blue and silver and the other had green and silver. The cross bar and frame were striped on both sides with a coloured band and a silver band on either side of the coloured band. Both sides of the bike mirrored each other, and both bikes' patterns were identical. The back fender featured a coloured star burst pattern with a double band of striping radiating out of it.

The boys were awestruck and stood there with their mouths agape and their eyes wide. Justin, of course, went immediately to the blue. Jeremy went to the green. They knew their colours.

James held the bikes upright for them. Jeremy simply placed his hand on the handlebar and looked at his bike as we all watched. Justin ran his fingers over the metal and tape. His fingers caressed the seat and reflectors and lights. He looked up at James. "Thanks, Mister," he said.

James smiled down at him. "My pleasure," he replied. He looked up at me, still smiling his pleasant smile. "I brought a wrench to adjust the seats."

Brad stepped in and replaced James in holding up the bikes as I lifted Jeremy and set him on the seat. Jeremy's hands went immediately to the handles and a delighted smile crossed his face.

"Now," James said to Jeremy, "put this foot. . ." (he tapped Jeremy's right leg) ". . .on this pedal and put the other foot on the floor." Jeremy complied. James looked over the bike at Jeremy's left leg. "Okay, hold on, pal," he said. He grabbed the seat at the front and back and twisted gently back and forth, pulling up as he did so. He checked Jeremy's leg, then did it again. One more check and he tightened the bolts. He stepped back and looked at Jeremy astride the bike. "Handlebar needs to come up a bit," he said and set about adjusting them as well. When he was satisfied, he said, "Okay, that's it. You can lift him off now."

I lifted Jeremy from the bike and set him on the floor as James moved to Justin's bike. I took Jeremy's bike out of Brad's grasp and held it for him. Jeremy helped me.

"Can I sit on mine?" Justin asked.

"You sure can," James said. Justin's arms came up to James, giving him permission to pick him up and set him on the seat. James did so and Justin grabbed the handlebar. James lifted the back wheel off the floor and pushed the pedals into a vertical position. "Okay, pal," he said, "put this foot on the floor and the other one on the pedal." Justin did just that. "Ready?" James asked.

"Yes," Justin replied.

James repeated the adjustments he'd done on Jeremy's bike, then lifted Justin off and set him down before tightening the bolts.

"There you go," he said with a large grin. "Just perfect."

"Thanks, Mister," the twins said.

"You're very welcome, Young Sirs," James smiled. He replaced the wrench into his back pants pocket and reached into his shirt pocket. "Here's the rest of the tape and the tags for the bikes." He held them out to me and I took them. "Enjoy."

"Thank you very much," I told him.

"My pleasure," he said. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have another bike to build." He nodded to us once, waved, and returned to work.

* * * * *

The twins were talking excitedly to each other about their new bikes as I drove back to the house. Lindsay was chatting with Mom and Dad in the back seat and Brad had his hand on my leg as he often did. It wasn't distracting. It was simply the contact which was important to him. On short trips, we'd hold hands, but on long trips, he left both my hands free so I could drive safely. But he liked the contact, and so did I, so he'd put his hand on my leg.

As I drove, my mind strayed back to the store and to James. The image of his butt was still clear in my mind. Now, I told you earlier that James was attractive, and I had obviously found him to be sexy as well. I wouldn't have looked at his ass if I hadn't. I didn't want to have sex with him or anything like that. I had simply found him attractive and I had looked at him that way.

This didn't surprise me. I'd often catch myself looking at other men now. Not as sexual prospects or fantasy material, but simply because I enjoyed looking at them. Brad knew I looked. He'd tease me about it occasionally, but he wasn't concerned. He knew I'd never go beyond looking. Brad never looked beyond me, though.

What really surprised me was that James finally made me understand Bill and Warren. I had often felt bad for Bill, what with Warren being such a flirt around other men. I wasn't a flirt by any stretch of the imagination, but my eyes would stray occasionally from Brad.

Bill and Brad never looked beyond their lovers. Warren and I did, and that was okay. They knew that neither Warren nor I would look beyond our lovers for the love and companionship we cherished. Our eyes may stray, but our hearts belonged to them.

To Be Continued​

 

[ronboy]

It was worth waiting for Neil. Thank you!