Topeka
Monday July 19th @ 10:00 AM
It was only 10 AM, but the day was already filled, they had torn
down the camp just after daylight. He and TK had got the tent they were
using put away. They kept bumping into each other or brushing against
the other. Bill thought about the night before, how they kissed and how
for the first time he touched someone, and what it felt like when he was
touched in turn. Neither was able to wait, just the feel of the other,
literally made them explode. Bill thought TK was so cute when he started
apologizing. Then he thought of the long kiss he used to keep him quiet.
When they got to Ted and Gary's place. Bart and Will were just
getting out of the shower, and Zack kept complaining that "We're running
late." Gary had gotten some bagels and muffins the day before in
anticipation of just such a situation. So, while they waited, they had a
mini breakfast. The cool part for Bill was when all of a sudden, CJ
stopped over to say good bye. CJ was never an early riser and for him to
be out of bed at 6:30 was almost unheard off.
CJ led Bill to the back porch and said, "Bill, It has been
great
having you here. ...I just want you to know, if you ever need someone
to talk to you can call me anytime. ... I know that all this is new to
you. .... Hey, quit the long face. ... It'll be alright." CJ then
grabbed Bill, pulling him into a bear hug. "It'll be alright, you'll
see." When he let go, he reached into his pocket and gave Bill a piece
of paper. "This has my e-mail address, home phone, and work phone
numbers, I want you to stay in touch, you hear?"
It wasn't long before they were ready to go. There were kisses
and
hugs for everyone from everyone. A last round of Gary and Ted thanking
everyone who came and helped make the party special. There was a special
moment between Ted and Will. Ted teary eyed gave his brother a desperate
kind of hug just holding him tight, before he said "Tell mom and Jenny
thanks, and give them my love. ... You know how I feel about all you.
..." He couldn't say anything else, then Will whispered, "I love you,
Ted." and he held on to his brother like his whole world depended on it.
They were a little more somber when they got into the van. Will
just stared out of the window, not saying anything, trying not to cry.
Bart sat next to him holding Will's hand in his own, knowing that this
was no time for words. TK had his arm over Bill's shoulders not knowing
what to say either. What had started out as joke about blind dates,
didn't seem so funny right then and there. Bill was beginning to feel
depressed now, it didn't seem fair that he had finally found someone
that was special, and then they were going to opposite ends of the
world. Besides, he was the only one not going home really. He was going
to his refuge, to a life that he had never had.
As he started pulling away, Zack said. "Well, boys and
girls, It's
time to leave the Emerald City, and travel back to find Dorothy."
Shelley then put on a blues tape by the Staple Sisters that they had
picked up at the festival. Some how the blues seemed right just then.
The trip back to Bill's aunt's house eventually lightened up.
Will
and Bart would start whispering back and forth chuckling about this and
that. Zack and Shelley were talking about their plans for the week. The
only thing that would bother Shelley, was when she would glance back and
look at TK, he had this little lost boy look on his face. Bill had
fallen asleep with his head on TK's shoulder and TK was almost
absentmindedly caressing Bill's hair.
Zack had TK wake up Bill as the approached the Wanamaker Road
turn
off on to highway 75. Bill, who seemed in a better mood after his short
nap, told them how to get to his Aunt's home just off of 11th Street on
Ashworth Road. When they pulled into the driveway, Bill saw his Aunt
Jean coming out of the door with his cousins, Jon and Gina. His aunt
called out, "Come on, Come on. I just got breakfast ready, there's food
for all of you." As they all piled out of the van, Bill turned to TK and
said, "Stay with me".
When they were all standing there, Bill turns to his Aunt and
cousins, making introductions, "Aunt Jean, I'd like you to meet some of
my friends, This is Zack and Shelley, and this is Zack's brother, Bart
and Will." "And this must be TK." his aunt said, "CJ said you made a
good friend while you were there. Now I'm Aunt Jean to the whole
neighborhood, and these are my son Jon and my daughter Gina. Now all of
you into the house, we got piles of food just waiting for you."
"Jon, Gina, make sure they fill their plates, I want to talk
to
Bill for a second." She said as she ushered the rest into the house,.
TK wasn't sure what he should do. Bill had motioned to him to stay, but
he wasn't sure if his aunt wanted to be alone with Bill. When she saw
that he was still there and saw the puzzled look on his face, she said,
"You can stay if you want, TK. ... Bill I just want you to know that
you'll be living with your Uncle Cris and me. The day you left, I called
your cousins, Ryan and Jon, and we went to your parent's house and
collected all of your things. You're going to have CJ's old room. Over
the last week, they all helped set everything up for you, Even Claire
came over to hook up your computer."
"I had always wanted six kids, and now I do. A friend of
Ryan's, a
lawyer, has started to work on transferring your guardianship to me and
your uncle." She looked at him sadly, not wanting to say how quickly his
parents had signed the papers giving away their own son. "As far as,
we're concerned, you are our son now, and this is your home." It was all
too much for Bill, he started to cry, wrapping his arms around his aunt,
"Thank you, Aunt Jean. I'm so sorry for being such a bother to you."
"Now you hush up, You never have been, nor ever will be a bother to us.
... ... Now come on in, growing boys need their food." "I think I just
want to stay out here for a moment." "Well, just for a moment, you
coming TK?" TK looks at Bill, and shakes his head, "I think I'll stay
out here with Bill for awhile."
They sit on the porch swing, as TK watches 'Aunt Jean' go into
the
house, "You know Bill, your Aunt and Uncle must be really great people."
"I know. She's the greatest, so's Uncle Cris, ... I just can't figure
out my mom and dad. ... You know I'm going miss you don't you?" "Same
here, ... I'm not supposed to say anything to anyone, Bart made me
promise, but Will's birthday is August 5th, and I was hoping you might
come over and help us celebrate it. It's not gonna be anything fancy,
just his close friends having a cook-out, but it would be alot more fun
... if you could make it." "I'll try."
After a few more minutes, they join the others at their second
breakfast of the morning. They finally get ready to leave, as Zack has
been conspicuously looking at his watch every couple of minutes. There
is another round of hugs and kisses to go around. The only awkward
moment, came at the end, when TK and Bill hugged each other, TK had
given Bill a quick peck on the cheek. Bill instead, held TK tighter and
kissed him hard. It lasted a few seconds, then they broke apart, Bill
whispers to TK, "Listen, you better not get any more practice til you
see me."
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back to "stray e-mail, part one"