At Todd's
Tuesday, June 29
The house was old and huge. Dating back to the 1890's, it at one
time was the showplace of Algo Hermoso. A hundred years tend to take its
toll on a home with the hot blistering summers and harsh frigid winters
that roll over the plains of Kansas. Huge oak trees sheltered the house
from the fiercest sun during the summers. Three stories tall, the house
was a conglomeration of styles and additions. A verandah extended along
three sides of old house. That's where Todd awaited the arrival of Bart
and Will. This was taking some getting used to. Now when he said 'Bart
and Will', it meant so much more than twenty-four hours ago. Talk about
shaking up your life. Just then, Will and Bart pull up on their 10
speeds. Dressed for the hot weather, Will was in a loose fitting light
blue tank top, black gym shorts, and sneakers, Bart had on a white
T-shirt emblazoned with a huge KC in red and gold. He was wearing red
shorts besides his sneakers and was carrying his ubiquitous backpack.
Todd yells to them to come over where he's sitting, "Will! Bart! over
here, I'm lousy on crutches. Don't want to move around if I don't have
ta."
As if on cue, Todd's Grams shows up carrying a tray of iced sweet
tea with lemon. "TK, now you take it easy. I figured I'd make you and
your friends some refreshments before I head off with your mother. How
do you do Will? How do you do Bart?" In a town, this size you knew most
people. "I really want to thank the two of you and Bart's brother, Zack,
for all the help you were yesterday with TK. He and Shelley told us all
about it." Will, Bart, and Todd glanced back and forth, Will started
snickering under his breathe while Bart and Todd were trying not to
smile too much. "TK, I left a halfa dozen sandwiches in the fridge.
There's another picture of tea, and one of lemonade, too." Smiling she
looks at threesome. "Now you boys behave. Don't get into too much
trouble."
"Have a good day, Mrs. King" Will said, while Bart said, "Thanks,
Mrs. King'. Todd smiled up at her and said, "You take it easy yourself,
Grams. Don't let mom go crazy." Then his grandmother walked over to the
driveway where his mom was waiting in the car, Todd can hear his mom
faintly yell out, "You boys have a good time, And TK, you take care."
As they pull away, Todd's grandmother looked at the boys on the
front porch and for a brief instant, she could see her own boys there.
Todd looked so much like Gray and Ken it made her eyes watery. Her
boys... When they finally drove away, she had a sad smile still on her
face.
Todd is bursting with curiosity, "OK guys, Are you going or what?"
Will starts, "Look out Kansas City - the Club is on it's way!!! My
parents said it was okay."
Bart jumped in, "Yeah, Zack convinced them with shit like your
family wanted to thank us and crap. How he'd watch out so we didn't get
into any trouble? Can that guy lie with a straight face on. Anyway,
we're going. TK, it is guaranteed to be a blast!"
"Did you guys get word to Ted's boyfriend" Will interjects "Gary",
Todd continues, "Yeah, Gary, yet , I mean about bringing me and all?"
"Bart said he was gonna send Ted and Gary an e-mail last night."
Will answered.
Bart responded with, "Yeah, I sent it last night, and early this
morning I got a message from Ted. He asked if we could be at my house
tomorrow between 2 and 3. He said he was going to call, wants to talk to
this shithead" as he pointed at Will. "Can't imagine why."
Bart continued, "Then just before we came here. I got mail from
Gary saying that HE was going to call at 3:15."
"TK, too bad about the crutches and shit, otherwise you could come
over too." Will added. Then looking at Todd a little uneasily, "It was
all right, wasn't it to let my brother know about you?"
Looking at Will and then Bart, Todd said, "Of course you idiot, If
I can tell Zack, then Bart can tell your gay brother. ... You know I'm
still getting used to this. Did you notice how your day seems a little
easier? I've been thinking about telling Grams and my mom, not til after
the 'road trip' of course, but I feel bad about them not knowing."
"If you do, be careful. You know what happened with Ted., and he
thought he could tell my mom and dad." Will said. This sobered up the
group for a while. Each thinking about what WOULD happen if they told
their parent's.
Eventually, Bart started, "Hey TK, do you have a TV and VCR in your
room?" "Yeah? Why?" Todd said.
"Well then, we brought you a tape to watch when you get a chance."
Bart fished out the copy of 'Beautiful Thing' that was really Ted's.
"Just don't let anyone find it." Todd - "Is it porno or something?"
"Nah, it's just a great movie." We've both seen it a couple times,
now.
Will added, "Just watch it and you'll understand."
"OK, Can one of you take it up to my room? It's upstairs, 2nd
bedroom on the right. There's this big 'Matrix' poster behind the bed,
you can't miss. Just put it under the pillow for now." Bart grabbed it
and went to put in Todd's room. Then Todd said to Will, "Let's go in.
Shelley set up the playstation for us before she left. How about
bringing the tray?"
They met Bart going in, and they all headed to the TV room.
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back to "stray e-mail, part one"