Butterflies Fly Free - 20. Chapter 20 - A Close Call

The second day of camping was pretty much a repeat of our first, except for the fact that after lunch we went and played volleyball with some of the other campers, instead of taking another hike. It was quite an enjoyable experience and we had a great deal of fun doing it. Jason and Albert played on one team, while Colt and I joined the other, but Bert’s height played a major factor in the outcome. His side won two out of the three games and, of course, that led to Bert strutting around as if he had just won the Olympics.

After dinner, we played horseshoes again, and just as we had the day before, Colt and I beat the other pair two games to one, much to Albert’s dismay. They had jumped out to the early lead by winning the first game, and it was obvious to all of us that Bert wanted to win badly. I suspected he wanted to add this to their earlier volleyball victory, so it would give him an edge over us in the overall competitions, but that was not about to happen. When they lost the second game, I could see Bert’s intensity grow, but when they also lost the final game, I actually thought Bert’s head was going to explode. This was especially true since it was Colt who had scored the winning points again.

Over the remainder of the day, there were no actual run-ins between Colt and Bert, at least none that I saw or Colt told me about, so I thought this might be a small, positive sign. Colt didn’t see it quite the same way, even though I encouraged him to keep trying.

That night the boys started telling stories as we sat around the campfire and I think they were actually trying to scare each other by coming up with the spookiest story they could think of. I’m not sure if any of their stories had much of an effect on the others, because the only thing I noticed was that Colt snuggled tightly against me later that night, long after the stories ended, but he also didn’t mention about doing anything sexual either.

The third day started off normally too and then about mid-morning the boys decided they wanted to take another dip in the pond. They wanted me to join them, but I wasn’t quite ready to go swimming yet, because I was hoping to play another game of volleyball first. Even though I wasn’t interested, I still let the boys have their way and they took off for the pond. Once they left to go swimming, I decided to see if I might be able to finagle my way into someone else’s volleyball game for a while.

The boys started off with Jason and Colt doing some cannonballs off of the small cliff, although Bert wouldn’t join them. Instead, he walked to a lower section where he could wade out into the pond instead and then he just swam as the others dived off of the bank. At one point, Jason began looking around and checking the area out more closely when he noticed something out of the ordinary.

“Hey, what’s that up there?” he asked Colt, while pointing at a limb on one of the trees, which was on the same little rise they’d been diving off of.

“It looks like a rope of some kind,” Colt answered. “Someone must have tied it around the tree limb for some reason, although I don’t know what. It doesn’t look very sturdy and appears to be a nylon tent rope, but it does look like it’s fairly long, because there seems to be a lot more coiled up in the crook of the tree limb above it.”

“I’m going to climb up and untie it,” Jason announced. “Maybe then I’ll be able to figure out what it’s doing there.”

“Someone probably just had an extra piece of rope and tied it to the tree for the hell of it,” Bert announced as he sneaked up behind them, because he’d come over to see what the other two were talking about. “Just leave it be.”

“No, I’m going to get it down,” Jason insisted, as he began climbing the tree.

He got to the rope easily, but had a little trouble untying it. After working on it for about five minutes, it came free and the boys quickly discovered why it was there. The other end of the rope was tied to a thicker rope, which had been coiled up and placed on a branch higher up. When Jason pulled on the thinner rope, the thicker one fell down and hung out over the water, like one of the vines Tarzan might swing on.

“Damn, someone put it here so they could swing out over the pond,” Jason announced, pleased with his discovery. “This small rope is just so they can pull the bigger one back, so they can use it again. That was pretty smart, the way they hid it like that.”

“Yeah, and who else but you would have climbed up to untie it and check it out?” Colt teased.

Jason took his comment as a compliment and began to beam.

“Let’s use it,” Jason urged. “It will be a blast to swing out over the water and then drop into the pond.”

“I’m game if you are,” Colt announced, which was exactly what Jason wanted to hear.

Jason volunteered to go first, so he took a firm grip on the rope. He then raced forward, jumped off the embankment and glided out over the water, before he let go. He then plummeted into the pond and quickly sank below the surface of the water. He reappeared a few seconds later, laughing hysterically, and then he swam back to the shore, dragging the thinner cord behind him.

“Man that was wicked,” he enthused, as he walked back up the bank to join the others.

Colt then eagerly took the rope from him, so he could go next. After pulling the larger rope back to a point where he could reach it, he took a firm grip on it, raced forward and leaped into the air. He sailed out over the water, like a circus performer on a trapeze, and just before the rope began to swing back toward shore, he released his grasp and dropped into their liquid playground below. When he resurfaced a few seconds later, he was laughing wildly and totally thrilled with the experience. He hurriedly swam back to shore, tugging the rope with him, and then he climbed up the embankment again, so he could reach the starting point, where the others were waiting. Hesitantly, he held the rope out and offered it to Albert next.

“Here, it’s your turn now,” he added, while trying to be polite.

Albert, however, didn’t really want to do this, but he wasn’t about to wimp out in front of Colt and Jason. The last thing he wanted to happen was to look like a pussy in front of the other pair, so he reached out and literally ripped the rope out of Colt’s hand. Albert then pulled the larger rope to him and got a good hold on it, but he took a second to glare at Colt first, before glancing over at Jason, and then hurtled himself off of the bank. He swung out over the pond and let go, which caused his body to drop into the water and he quickly sank below the surface. When he came up again, he was flailing about and smacking the water frantically.

“Look at him goofing around,” Jason quipped, amused by Bert’s antics.

“He’s not joking around,” Colt announced. “I think he’s in trouble.”

Having taken a Junior Lifeguard course, Colt recognized that Albert was frantically fighting to keep his head above water. Without waiting to see what was going to happen next, Colt leaped into the pond, swam up behind Albert and quietly spoke to him as he did so.

“Bert, I’m here to help you,” he told him, as he placed his arm under Albert’s arm and around his chest. “Just relax and I’ll help you get back to shore.”

Fortunately, Albert did exactly what Colt told him or he might have taken them both to the bottom of the pond. Colt then used every bit of knowledge he could remember from the course he’d taken just the year before and gently dragged Bert’s limp body back toward the bank. Jason waded out to meet them and helped to pull Bert onto the grass.

“Are you all right,” Jason asked Bert, but he only got a weak nod in response.

“Jason, will you go get Leo and bring him back here?” Colt asked. “I want him to check Bert over, before he starts moving about.”

Jason’s only response was a quick nod, before he started pulling his shorts and shoes on. As soon as he finished doing that, he ran toward the campsite to fetch me.

“Why did you do it?” Albert asked Colt, once Jason had disappeared.

“Do what?” Colt shot back, defensively.

He thought Albert was trying to blame him for this mishap, because he had handed Bert the rope and put him on the spot.

“Why did you save me?” Bert clarified, but his words baffled Colt momentarily.

“Because you were in trouble and needed help,” Colt replied, instinctively.

“You could have just let me drown,” Bert told him, “and then you could have had Jason all to yourself.”

Colt was even more shocked by Albert’s latest statement and couldn’t believe Albert could even think like that.

“Bert, I told you before, this isn’t some kind of a competition,” Colt explained. “I did what I needed to do, without thinking about whether you liked me or not. I had hoped we could be friends, but even if that doesn’t happen, I would never let you drown.”

Bert studied Colt’s face and then looked down at the ground next, almost as if he couldn’t force himself to make eye contact with Colt.

“I’d have let you drown,” Bert continued, in a hushed tone, “if it had been the other way around.”

This hurt Colt’s feelings, but he also realized Bert might really mean what he was saying, although he hoped not.

“You say that now,” Colt responded, “but if it had actually happened to me instead, you might have saved me too.”

Colt said it this way because he really wanted to give Albert the benefit of the doubt. He didn’t want to think the worst about him, even though he felt Bert might actually be that desperate.

“No, I wouldn’t have,” Bert admitted. “First of all, I’m not a strong enough swimmer to be able to do that, but I would have also realized it was a good way to get you away from Jason, without being blamed for it.”

Albert looked down at the ground again, almost as if he was embarrassed by his own admission. Colt, on the other hand, thought for a few seconds before he said anything else.

“Bert, I don’t hate you and I’m not trying to get Jason to stop being your friend,” he explained. “I was really hoping we could also become friends, but seeing that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, I’d settle for just not being enemies.”

Albert studied Colt for a short time, while trying to figure out if he could believe what he’d just heard. It was also happened to be the precise moment I returned with Jason.

“Let me check you over,” I stated, as I moved next to Albert.

I was glad to be here now, because Jason almost hadn’t been able to find me. You see, I wasn’t at the campsite when he returned, but luckily I was just returning to the area shortly after he got there. I must admit my timing was pretty good, but it was purely by chance and only happened because no one was playing volleyball at the time, I also went to check out the horseshoe pits, but no one was there either, so I decided to practice by myself for a while. When no one else showed up, I decided to go back to my tent and rest for a while, and I was nearly there when I saw Jason frantically running from my tent to his. I yelled out to him as I raced in his direction, because I wanted to find out what he was up to. As soon as he saw me, he hurriedly told me what had happened, so I raced to the pond with him.

I quickly checked Bert over and relied on my first aid background to make sure he was all right. It didn’t take long for me to realize that Albert’s biggest injury was a bruised ego and shaken nerves, because I couldn’t find any bruises and it didn’t seem as if he’d swallowed any water. Obviously, Colt had reacted quickly enough when he realized Albert was in trouble that Bert didn’t actually begin to drown, and due to that lucky break, I didn’t think Bert would suffer any additional complications.

After questioning Albert about what had happened, I got his view of everything that had taken place. Once he dropped from the rope, he didn’t realize that he’d gone further underwater than he’d suspected, so when he didn’t come to the surface as quickly as he thought he should, he began to panic. He might still have been all right without Colt’s intervention at that point, but then again he might have been frightened enough to have continued his frantic reaction, tired himself out and drowned. As to how the other scenarios might have turned out, we’ll never know, but we were all just thankful that Albert was all right. Happily, we helped him up and the boys collected the rest of their clothing, so we could return to our campsite. I think we were all ready to take a short breather after that.

Once everyone stopped talking about what had happened at the pond, I began fixing lunch. After we finished eating, we all decided to just take it easy until dinnertime, and seeing the boys were going to rest for a while, I concluded it would be the perfect time to run out and refill the coolers with ice. Before I left though, I asked each of them if they wanted to go with me, but no one did, so I prepared to do this by myself. Before I left, however, I made everyone promise to stay away from the pond until I returned and they said they would. Since I trusted they would keep their word, and because I also figured Albert wouldn’t try to pick another fight with Colt as long as Jason was there, I left to run my errand.

As soon as I drove away, Albert went over to talk to Colt.

“Thanks,” he said softly.

“For what?” Colt asked, slightly confused by this sudden change in Bert’s attitude.

“For saving me, you idiot,” Bert teased, since he was surprised that Colt didn’t seem to know what he was referring to.

“Oh, that,” Colt replied. “I told you earlier it was nothing.”

“It was to me,” Bert explained, “and I didn’t actually thank you before, so I wanted to do it now.”

“Ok, you’re welcome,” Colt answered, figuring that would be the end of their conversation, but it wasn’t.

“I’m sorry I’ve also been acting like such an ass,” Albert admitted, “and I’d like to make it up to you. I told Jason before I came over here that I was willing for all of us to be friends now, if you’re still willing to do that.”

Colt was stunned speechless by Albert’s offer and didn’t immediately respond. Albert thought Colt’s silence meant he wasn’t willing to agree to his proposal, so he turned around and started to walk away.

“Bert, wait,” Colt called after him. “I wasn’t saying ‘no.’ but I just wasn’t ready for your offer either, that’s all. I’d really love to have us be friends and think it would be great.”

Since Jason knew what was going to happen, he had moved closer so he could eavesdrop on their conversation. As soon as Colt and Albert agreed to be friends, he came over and hugged each of them, because he finally had what he wanted. His two best friends were now friends too.

After I drove back to our campsite and parked the car, I was totally amazed to see the three boys laughing, joking and having a good time with each other. I didn’t say anything at that point, since I didn’t want to risk reversing their progress, but later that evening Colt filled me in about what had happened. I nearly cheered when I heard how things had worked out while I was gone and was thrilled that this trip had proved to be the healing potion the boys had needed.

The rest of the camping trip was wonderful and we had a great deal of fun. The boys even made me promise to take them all again, whenever and as often as we could manage to get away.

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The rest of the summer went smoothly and the boys continued to help Colt work on his basketball skills, when he wasn’t busy with his lawn care service. Colt actually made a great deal of money that summer and gave a major chunk of it to me. Without telling him what I was going to do with it, I put it all into a savings account for him, even though it was in my name. I couldn’t do otherwise, because I’d need his signature to put it in his name and realized he’d probably balk at the idea, but I still planned to give the money back to him later.

Colt turned 18 a month and a half after school started, so I held a big party for him. All of his friends showed up and we had a cookout, but we also went over to the basketball court so they could play a game. I was impressed by the number of friends Colt had made in a little over a year and everyone seemed to enjoy being with us, including the boys that weren’t also basketball players, and I think each of them had a really great time at Colt’s party.

That fall, the boys started applying to colleges too, so Colt and I spent several days discussing which institutions he should consider. Once we had that figured out, he sent out applications to seven different colleges and universities.

That winter, Colt made the basketball team and they actually did quite well. They didn’t win the championship, but they did finish with only two losses and I loved going to the games and cheering for the team, seeing I knew almost every boy personally. It was also nice that many of them would come up to me after the game and ask for my view on how they’d played. It enjoyed helping them in this way and it even helped me to feel as if I was part of the team too.

The holidays were really fantastic, because both Jason and Albert stayed over at our place as often as they could. In fact, we had the whole basketball team over on New Year’s Eve and I threw a huge party for them. There wasn’t any alcohol involved, but everyone seemed to have a great time – even the boys that had brought a date with them. All the partygoers stayed overnight and we allowed the girls to use three bedrooms, while the guys, including myself, slept in sleeping bags on the living room and dining room floor.

After taking their dates home the next morning, most of the boys returned and spent the rest of the day at my place too. Some eventually went home in the late afternoon, but the rest stayed and watched the bowl games with us and only went home after the last game had ended.

The rest of Colt’s senior year went by in a blur. He also made the baseball team in the spring and played second base, along side of Jason, who was the shortstop, and Bert, who played first base. We did manage to go on another camping trip, for an extended weekend over their spring break, but their baseball schedule prevented us from doing more than that. However, the boys were satisfied and we had another wonderful trip.

I was very proud of Colt when he graduated and Jason’s parents threw a huge graduation party at their house for all three boys – Jason, Colt and Albert. I guess Jason must have laid one hell of a guilt trip on his parents to get them to do it, but he pulled it off. It was a big catered event and I finally got to meet Arnold and Patricia Katz, but there were tons of other people in attendance as well, which meant each of the boys received numerous graduation gifts.

Once the party ended, the Katzes asked Albert, his parents, Colt and me to stay for a while longer. We were all confused as to why they were doing this, but that didn’t last for long. We had our answer when Arnold Katz addressed us, once everyone else had gone.

“Over the past month,” he began, “Jason has forced his mother and I to have many lengthy discussions with him. During those talks, he has pointed out many things to us, the most important of which were how we failed him as parents and how each of you has filled that void for him. After talking this over in great detail, the three of us have decided we want to reward you for your kindness. Therefore, we wish to give both Albert and Colt a very special graduation gift.”

All of us were shocked by this announcement, but Jason was grinning like a Cheshire cat.

“Although Albert has known Jason longer, Jason thought we should still offer the same gift to each of you. Therefore, on behalf of my family, I’d like to present you both with this token of our appreciation.”

He then handed each of the boys a card and urged him to open it. Inside, both boys found a lovely graduation card and an American Express Gold Card with two names on it, Arnold Katz and their own.

“You are to use those cards to pay for all of your college expenses,” he announced, “and that includes transportation, meals and entertainment, as well as tuition and books. I expect each of you to either mail or fax me your grades at the end of each semester, and as long as you don’t drop out or flunk out of school, my family will continue to pay your entire undergraduate educational expenses.”

Anyone who looked around the room at that point would have noticed five mouths hanging open and they would have belonged to Albert, his mother and father, Colt and me. We were all having difficulty believing our ears, as Jason rushed over hug his two friends. After he broke his enthusiastic and energetic embrace, he confirmed what they had just heard.

“See, I told you I’d pay you both back,” he announced.

Suddenly, each of us came out of our temporary stupor and began to object about receiving such a generous gift. However, all three Katzes stood firm with their offer, and seeing we weren’t about to change their minds, we all thanked them profusely and accepted their gift graciously. A short time later, Colt and I begged their leave and then made our way home.

We continued to see the Katzes on many occasions after that, although I can’t say we ever really became friends. We did, however, remain friendly and they always went out of their way each time to thank me for everything I’d done for their son.

I spent most of that summer helping Colt prepare, both emotionally and by getting his things together to go away to college, which was the culmination of a long, drawn-out process. It had all begun back in the fall, when I helped him choose which colleges he would apply to, and then after his acceptance letters came back, we had to decide which of those he would actually attend, since three different colleges had accepted him. Never, during the entire process, did we let the fact that Arnold Katz was paying for it determine which college Colt would select.

One of the institutions willing to admit him was the local college and Colt really wanted to go there, so he could stay close to me. I, however, didn’t feel it offered an academic program that would meet his needs and goals. He was also accepted to two other colleges, both of which were located several hours away from where we lived, but each of those institutions had an outstanding program in his intended major. Colt didn’t want to go that far away from me, but after debating the pros and cons of each school, I finally convinced him that it was in his best interest to choose one of those schools instead. I promised I’d come to visit him when I could and that we’d bring him home for the holidays and longer breaks, so it wouldn’t be that bad. I knew he didn’t want to leave me, but I had to push him out of the nest and let him fly on his own for a while.

Colt’s four years of college weren’t easy on either of us, but I had to trust Colt and believe that our love was strong enough to see us through our separation. If I hadn’t been able to do this, my paranoia could have easily consumed me and made it impossible to survive.

During this same period, I also remained in communication with Albert and Jason. Each of them would text and email me, but they would also IM or Skype me whenever they saw me online. Jason also phoned me from time to time as well, so he and I spoke much more often than I did with Albert, but I kind of expected that. All three boys would make sure to get together when they were home and they spent a great deal of time at our house, although they would also go to Jason and Albert’s houses as well.

Ultimately, we all made it through those four years and all three boys graduated from their respective institutions. I was bursting with pride as I sat at Colt’s commencement and watched him receive his degree. After the ceremony concluded, Colt and I began loading his belongings into my car, so we could haul everything back home.

On the ride back, Colt assured me that he had been absolutely faithful while he was away, even though I never asked him that question. He told me he had looked a little, because there were so many good-looking guys wandering all over campus, but he was never tempted to be with anyone else, except as friends. I happily accepted his word for it, even though it probably wouldn’t have mattered to me if he had messed around a bit.

Once we arrived at the house, we got Colt settled into our room again, but this time there was no need for him to keep any of his things in the other bedroom, since we didn’t have to keep up pretenses any longer. Those who counted the most already knew we were lovers and we were pleased that hardly any of them objected to this. Since we also had the extra space now, we moved the computer into Colt’s old bedroom and turned it into an office, but we both benefited from that change.

A short time after the boys graduated, Jason’s parents included him in their business ventures. As soon as he could, he hired Albert and Colt to work for him. In time, both boys grew and developed in their positions, so Albert eventually took over the daily operations of the commercial properties, while Colt worked his way up to run the Real Estate office. Colt had such a way with people that it made him a natural for that job, even though it wasn’t what he originally intended to do after college. Jason had also offered me a position within his operation, but I decided to stay where I was. I told him that if things didn’t work out with my current company, then I’d reconsider his offer later, but for now I was happy where I was.

Jason and Albert both eventually married and had families of their own. Each of them blossomed in their new roles and became very caring and loving husbands, wonderful fathers and great providers. However, neither of them let their pursuit of wealth diminish the time they spent with their wives and children. Colt and I became Uncle Colt and Uncle Leo to both boys’ families and we spent many holidays together.

One other thing happened and it was something I would never have imagined possible, not even in my wildest dreams – Colt and I became parents as well. The clout of Katz Incorporated helped to make this possible and Colt’s position within the organization afforded him an outstanding reputation in the community. This allowed Colt and I to adopt a pair of brothers, who were eight and eleven when they came to live with us. The boys had waited three years in foster care to find a loving home and Colt and I were happy to provide it for them. Due to the fact that Colt never needed the savings account I had started for him to pay for college, we decided to use the monies from his lawn care business, which he worked every summer during his last to years of high school and his four years of college, to start a college fund for our two sons. We added to it regularly after that, so the boys would be well provided for, should something happen to either of us.

Every summer, Albert, Jason, Colt and I managed to take our families camping together at our favorite campsite. When their wives and daughters join us, we couldn’t skinny-dip in the old pond, but we did spend a lot of time frolicking in the water. However, when it’s just us guys, all hell breaks loose. It took our sons some time seeing the rest of us naked before they were willing to try it too, but we never pushed them into doing it. We did, however, insist that they never mention what we did to anyone else. Eventually, all of the boys decided to do this on their own, because they thought it looked like fun. Once they started, they never again hesitated to join us, au naturel, whenever we all went to the pond together.

Colt, Jason and Albert also love to tell stories about our days there before the various families came along, and the tale about how Colt saved Albert has grown to legendary status. It hardly resembles the truth any longer and the trio now uses that near tragedy to warn their own children about the dangers of the pond and the need to follow the strict safety precautions that have been established for them.

When Jason’s parents decided to retire and get out of the family business, Jason bumped Albert and Colt up to the corporate office and the three of them have split the responsibilities equally. They have also expanded and improved their operation, without allowing the job to consume their entire lives. It is nice to see them be able to balance the demands of both work and family.

Throughout the years, I have often looked back at two events in Colt’s and my time together. One was that fateful day when he first came into my life and I will be forever grateful that we each took the chances we did back then or none of this would have ever happened. The second was the day Colt left for college and when I began to question whether I had done the right thing by making him go so far away from home. In the long run, it worked out for both of us and was exactly what we each needed to have happen. I’d let my butterfly spread his wings and take flight, while not knowing for sure if he’d come back to me or not. He, on the other hand, had put his fears aside that I’d find someone else after he’d gone away. Instead, he studied hard and learned that he still wanted to be with me. We had both placed our faith in our love for each other and he eventually fluttered back into my waiting arms.

Although many things have changed over time, one thing has always remained the same, and that is our commitment to each other. Even though we’ve had our share of minor problems, like all couples do, we’ve spent many, many wonderful years together – growing, sharing and learning to love each other even more deeply. I only hope that someday everyone can find a butterfly as wonderful as my own.

THE END.