Welcome back! Okay, so the last chapter was kind short. I'll make it up to you this time, as we attend a concert performance by Dylan Cruz, one of the hottest country stars in the world. And even he has a little surprise for us.
This story deals with adult themes, primarily same-gender sexual relations. Such relations have their basis in love and commitment, rather than sex for the sake of sex alone. In some cases they will use protection; at other times they will not. You and I should always use protection because we do not live in the world of fiction.
If you are offended the idea of homosexuality or if you are under the age of consent or if you reside in an area where such things are considered illegal or immoral, then you should seek entertainment elsewhere.
Comments may be directed to the author at thornado5@netscape.net
This story is copyright 2004 by Mike Williams. All rights reserved. Thou shalt not steal.
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A Thousand Rainbows by Mike Williams
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Low clouds had rolled in during the early morning hours. It was nearly noon when Brian, Bjorn and the boys returned home from church and a late breakfast. And the rain that had greeted the village of Bridgewater that Sunday morning had not let up.
As they pulled into the driveway, Todd could see an envelope attached to the front door. He retrieved it while Brian parked the minivan in the garage and the rest of the family made themselves comfortable in the family room for an afternoon of football. The envelope was addressed to Brian and Bjorn, but they didn't recognize the handwriting. Brian opened it, pulled out the card and read it aloud.
"Dear Brian, Bjorn, Jason, Josh, Will, Sarah and Todd,
"We just wanted to thank you again for your hospitality on Thanksgiving Day.
Holidays like this can be difficult on people with no family, and all of you made us
feel like family. We couldn't have asked for a nicer place to be.
"To show our appreciation we would be honored to have you as our guests tonight
at the Dylan Cruz concert in Eugene. Enclosed are tickets for all of you.
"Again, thanks for everything, and we're looking forward to seeing you tonight.
"Regards, Dylan and Sean"
Todd stood close by Brian. He got a look at the tickets, and his mouth dropped open.
"These tickets are front row, center ... the best seats in the house!" Todd exclaimed.
Brian looked to Bjorn as if asking what to do. "It is a school night. We wouldn't be home until maybe midnight."
Bjorn nodded and looked to the twins. "What's your first class tomorrow morning?"
"Algebra," Jason said.
"8:45," Josh added.
Bjorn looked back to his partner. "Well, it's not exactly first thing in the morning. I think we can spare it."
"Todd would never forgive us," Brian said.
All the while Todd had been holding his breath, hoping for that answer. "Yes! Thank you!" He hugged both his uncles enthusiastically, then turned to his half-brothers. "We are gonna have the best time."
"Provided," Brian warned, "they have all their homework done."
"I can help with that," Todd said.
"Thanks for the offer, Todd," Jason said. "But you've got your own homework to do."
"And our dads are gonna make sure we do it for ourselves," Josh added.
"So," Brian said, "we're agreed. Homework, then football game, if there's time. Then we get cleaned up and head to Eugene for the concert tonight."
And the boys dashed up the spiral staircase, eager to get their homework out of the way in time to catch part of a football game.
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Dylan Cruz' concerts were not known for their fireworks or theatrics. Rather, his stage shows always had a more intimate feel to them; he wanted his audience to focus on the music. His devotion to the pure sound of un-electrified music showed in both his recordings and his stage shows. The acoustic instruments played by his backup band were equipped with small pickup microphones and wireless transmitters to keep the stage free of clutter. With the exception of the drummer he and the members of his touring band were able to move freely about the stage and the amphitheater.
They concluded the last song of the evening, and the audience was wild with their applause, eager for an encore. When the stage was dark, an unseen stagehand placed a single microphone on a stand in the center of the stage, then disappeared into the shadows.
When the stage lights came back up, the audience also saw that two guitars were waiting on stands placed near the microphone. Dylan walked back to the center of the stage, alone, to the enthusiastic applause from the audience, and took the wireless microphone. He held up both hands to quiet the audience.
"Thank you. Thank you all very much for coming out here tonight. Well, this is the last stop on this tour. And we have had a great time, traveling all over the country and seeing people and places that most people will probably never get to see. And we always look forward to playing here in Eugene ... not because it's the last stop on the tour and we all get to go home after tonight ..."
There were a few chuckles from the audience.
"Okay, that might be part of it."
A few more chuckles from the audience.
"... But because it's just one of our favorite cities in the world, and you folks are always so nice to us. And we really thank you and the good people at Country 97 Radio, who bring us here every year. So give it up for Country 97; they're all sitting over here in the front row, stage left. Stand up, you guys."
The audience showed its appreciation to the radio station with their applause.
When the cheers subsided, Dylan continued. "And because you all braved the weather and the parking and everything else, I think you deserve one more song. So give yourselves a hand. Yeah!"
Again, the amphitheater was filled with applause.
"But ... but first, I want you all to meet some friends of mine who came all the way from Bridgewater for tonight's show. And they're right down here in the front row, center."
He descended the stage as he spoke to the crowd. "Thanksgiving was just a couple days ago. And, y'know, when you're on the road ... like we've been for the last four or five months ... you don't get to go home for special events like Thanksgiving dinner. But these good people took me in, and we had a Thanksgiving dinner I will remember as long as I live. Why don't you guys stand up?"
Dylan shook their hands and introduced each of them to the crowd. "This guy right here, this guy is Bjorn Larkin, and he makes turkey and cornbread stuffing just the way Mama used to."
Bjorn smiled and waved to the audience, acknowledging their applause.
"And over here is Brian Connor, and there's nobody in the world can make a better apple pie than Brian. Yeah."
Likewise, Brian waved to the crowd. Dylan then stepped between the twins and put his arms around their shoulders. A photographer had appeared and was capturing the images.
"Then there's these two guys ... Jason and Josh Connor. You'll be hearing from these guys real soon because they write some songs I know you'll be hearing on the radio in a couple years."
The twins beamed as the audience gave it up for the boys.
"Now, if this guy hadn't opened the door when I knocked, then I would have gone hungry on Thanksgiving. Give it up for Todd Becker."
Todd removed his cowboy hat and wave it high above his head to the enthusiastic cheers of the crowd.
Dylan noticed two empty seats in the front row. Holding the microphone away, he asked, "Where's your mom and dad?"
"Second honeymoon," Todd replied.
Dylan turned back to face the audience. "Todd's folks couldn't be here tonight. Aww."
They responded. "Aww."
Dylan continued with a cheeky grin. "They're on their second honeymoon. Woo-hoo!"
The audience applauded with whoops and cheers.
When the audience settled down, Dylan moved on. "And finally I want you all to meet a man who is very special to me. We've known each other since we were in school, and he's my very best friend in the whole world. Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Ludwig."
Again the audience acknowledged Dylan's friend with their applause.
Sean held out his hand. But Dylan surprised his friend and gave him a hug right in front of the audience. He held the microphone away and whispered, "I love you, Sean."
"I love you too, Greg," Sean replied.
Before the applause died down, the two men exchanged a few words. Sean looked nervously to the stage before allowing Dylan to lead him up the steps of the stage. Dylan replaced the microphone in its stand, and the two men picked up their guitars.
Dylan stepped forward and spoke to the audience. "It's been about five years since Sean and I sang together. I just hope we remember how."
He and Sean smiled at each other, and a chuckle rolled through the audience.
"The radio plays a love-song
And the music wraps around me
And the words speak of a love
With no beginning and no end
And the autumn leaves kiss the ground like a lover
As the rain gently falls outside my window.
"I look up and I see your face
Your smile, so warm and tender
And I realize there's nowhere else
In the world that I'd rather be
And I thank God every minute for bringing you into my life
As the rain gently falls outside my window.
"Take away my pain
Take away all trace of sorrow
Make me whole again
You take my lonliness away, away.
"The love-song on the radio
The melody goes on and on
And the singer puts into words all the things
I could never bring myself to say
You are everything, the answer to all my hopes and dreams
As the rain gently falls outside my window.
"As the rain gently falls outside my window."
As the last notes echoed through the amphitheater, the audience broke into thunderous applause. Dylan and Sean took their bows, waved to the audience, and walked off the stage together.
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"As The Rain Gently Falls" (Copyright 2004, words and music by Mike Williams)
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to be concluded in Chapter 33