The Boy by The Lake - 5. Chapter 5

“Do you know that boy over there? He keeps looking at you.” Toby started to laugh. He ran over and gave Ron a hug. A few other kids, patted them on the back as they passed. A couple of girls stopped and talked for a few minutes. You knew what they were saying, ‘where were you’.

Toby stopped at his locker, took out the books he needed, then we left the school. “Ron, do we have to stop at your house for anything?”

“Do you mind, I need to get clothes for the week-end and school on Monday.” That answer one of my questions, Ron will be staying until Monday morning.

I was glad we had gone shopping, the boys no sooner entered the house when they hit the refrigerator, glasses of milk and cookies were on the menu. I reheated a cup of coffee from this morning’s left overs.

“Boys, I know it’s only Friday but if you get to your homework, you’ll have more time to visit this weekend. Ron, I’ll show you a bedroom you can use when you’re here.” I noticed the look on his face when I said that. I’m sure he was hoping to sleep with Toby and I’m also sure he’ll end up sleeping with Toby, at least for part of the night.

“Uncle Jeff, can we use the office to do our homework?”

“As soon as I get a chance, I’ll remove my wife’s personal items and you can use that room as your office.”

The next morning I was tempted to ask if Toby had a visitor during the night but I didn’t. Knocking on his door, Toby are you walking with me this morning?”

“Not this morning, I was up late last night doing my homework.” I was tempted to knock on Ron’s bedroom door, but I didn’t. I dressed for my walk and began my morning trek to the lake. As I neared my bench, I noticed someone sitting there.

Approaching, “Good morning, I thought I was the only crazy person who walked at this time of the morning . I’m Jeffrey Madison.”

“Good morning, Richard Ellsworth, I enjoy morning walks, clears the mind.”

“Yes, it does. Is this your first time walking to the park?”

“Yes, we just moved here from Florida. My firm is opening an office here. Problem is my children don’t like the cold.”

“They’ll get use to it. We all do.”

We sat there in quiet when I saw the first streak of the sun rising. “In a few minutes you’ll see one of the greatest sights nature has to offer. I come here just for this moment.” We sat in silence as the sun rose, it never fails to produce a brilliant display of color as the sun breaks the horizon.

“That is beautiful.”

“Yes, well I need to get back home and start breakfast. I hope to see you tomorrow morning.” We said goodbye, I left to go home to begin breakfast.

Arriving home, the boys were still sleeping. I started the coffee and waited to see what the boys would want for breakfast. I didn’t have to wait long. The aroma of the coffee must have awaken them. They came down in their robes, still looking sleepy. I got a sleepy hug from Toby, I think he has fully accepted me as his uncle. I hugged him back.

“Morning boys, what would you like for breakfast? Toby, are you awake enough to make your coffee and perhaps one for Ron.”

Toby looked at Ron, “Cereal will be fine.” He went and got out a box of cereal, two bowls, two glasses and two coffee cups. I set out the milk, orange juice and a small bowl of cut up fruit. I made toast for myself.

They were quiet as they proceeded to fix their breakfast. “How much of your homework were you able to get done last night?”

“I finished all of mine and then helped Toby with his. He was still working on it when I went to bed.”

“I have about another 4 hours to finish up with what I missed and then about 2 hours to finish the current assignments. I’ll start on that as soon as I wake up.”

“Why don’t you relax this morning and start back on your homework after lunch.” I saw he was too tired to continue and what would take him one hour will end up taking him two to three hours.

I sat at the table with them while they ate. I noticed the sly looks they gave each other and I knew they spent some time together in bed last night. Teenager hormones cannot be arrested.

“After lunch and if you’re caught up with your homework, what say we go to the movies and then have dinner at a restaurant.”

Toby looked at me as if to say, ‘can we decided later’. I guess he was still tired from staying up late last night. I chuckled to myself, although no fault of his, one must pay for their unfortunate circumstances. I was glad Ron was helping him, even if the teachers would think it was cheating. “Go back to bed, I'll call you when lunch is ready.”

While they went back to bed, I began to remove Clair’s personal belongings from her office. I wasn’t sure what to do with them, so I took them to my room. What I couldn’t place in the room, I put away in a closet drawer.

“Toby, how did you end up here?” Ron was snuggled against Toby and didn’t understand how Toby came to stay with Uncle Jeff. He rationalized why he wasn’t home, he was there when the men came to get his things.

“After my dad told me to leave, I didn’t know what to do. I had a few dollars and that was it. The first night I stayed in an all night laundry. When I went there the second night, the owner came in and told me I couldn’t stay there. I had no place to stay. I didn’t know what to do, I already made up my mind I wasn’t going to sell my body to live. I went to the lake, which is close by and contemplated jumping in and ending it all. I was about to do it when Uncle Jeff came up to me. I think he knew what I was thinking. He placed this fur coat around me and led me to a bench by the lake. I was crying and I was scared. He walked me to his home, sat me in front of the fireplace, made a coffee for me. He fixed breakfast, I know he knew I hadn't eaten. I had the biggest plate of scrambled eggs I had even seen. When I was finished eating, he led me to this bedroom and told me I could stay here. At first I was scared, I still thought he brought me here for sex. He told me to take a hot shower and put my clothes outside of the door. I did that, then I was so tired, I went to bed. He came into the room and I thought this was it, but he placed another blanket on the bed and left. When I woke, I put the robe on and went downstairs. He fixed chicken soup and sandwiches. He gave me my clothes, I knew then that sex was not on his mind. I had found a home.”

Ron thought about what Toby was saying. He realized how close he came to losing the guy he loved. “You know what’s on my mind?” Ron decided that he wasn't going to lose Toby if he could help it.

“Yes,” what followed wasn’t sleep. It started with a kiss and that kiss was going to head south. Neither boy had done anything beyond kissing, but now that Ron realized how close he came to losing Toby, he was ready to go further. What started as a simple kiss became a lot more.

Cuddling both boys fell asleep. They were awaken by Jeff calling them to lunch. Showering together took a little longer as there were new toys to play with.