Part 5
He sat silently in the car as Jason drove to the hospital. He knew that now was not the time to talk as Jason's mind was at this moment focused on the plight of his father. His role was to be there in case his friend needed a shoulder to lean on, no matter how small that role.
Fifteen minutes of driving brought them to the car the hospital car park. Jason got a ticket from the parking machine and then the two of them headed to the Accident and Emergency department to get some news of his father. Inside Reuben hung back as Jason, looking around, noticed his mother sitting close to the enquiries desk. He watched as Jason went over, embraced his mother and kissed her on the cheeks. He then spoke to her briefly before looking around. When he saw Reuben by the door he beckoned him over. Slowly he made his way towards them and on reaching them Jason took his hand and introduced him to his mother. Then taking Reuben to one side he said "Rube, I'm sorry. I'm not sure how long I'm going to have to stay here as my father is in surgery at the moment. Can you make your way home if I give you your cab fare?"
"No, Jason, I'll stay here with you. I'm not doing anything and at least you'll have company."
"Thanks, Reuben. Having you around would help a whole heap."
They were in the emergency department for just over six hours when a doctor came out and told Mrs Samuels and Jason that Mr Samuels was out of surgery and would be in ICU (Intensive Care Unit) for the next twenty-four hours. They could, if they wanted to, go to the ward and see him, but he was still unconscious and wouldn't come around for at least another hour or so. They thanked the doctor, and Jason and his mother left to make their way to the ward. Reuben remained where he was till Jason came back, grabbed him by the hand and dragged him along.
They had been there from eleven in the morning and now it was coming up six-thirty. They had been in the ICU for nearly an hour and now Jason's father was just regaining consciousness. Reuben stayed in the background while wife and son spoke to him. He watched as they flapped around him till the doctor came to check out the patient. Jason came over to Reuben and gave him a peck on the forehead. "I think he's going to be all right and you don't know how much it means to me for you to be here and giving me so much of your time."
"No problem, Jase. It's what one does for that special person and more if you have to."
Jason lowered his mouth to his younger friend's ear. "Come on, beautiful. I'm taking you home," and then straightening up and looking down at Reuben, he added "and no arguments."
Another fifteen minutes of driving saw them parked outside Reuben's house.
"The younger boy turned to his lover. "You coming in for a few minutes, Jason?"
"Yeah, I will," and the two of them headed for the front door. Once inside the house Jason couldn't contain his feelings any longer. He scooped the boy into his arms and brought their lips together while he carried him to the sitting room. Inside he fell onto the settee with Reuben positioned in his lap. Jason began stroking the younger boy's head saying "I've got to go shortly, Rube, but I owe you big time. Having you there at the hospital meant an awful lot to me. Your presence there made me feel a lot more comfortable."
"You'd do the same for me, Jase. Now you'd better shoot off back to the hospital. It won't be too long before my parents will be back." They made their way to the front door. Letting the older boy out, Reuben stood in the doorway watching him walk down the path. When Jason was at the front gate, Reuben yelled "Jase."
He turned to see the small slim figure standing in the open doorway. "What?"
"Je t'aime," the younger boy mouthed, loud enough for only the ears of the person at the gate to hear.
Jason walked back up the path to the boy that was occupying so much of his thoughts. On reaching him, he gently pushed him back into the house, then closed the door. Lifting the boy by his armpits, then wrapping one arm around his upper thighs, he brought their faces on a level to be able to gaze into each other's eyes. Reuben moved and wrapped his legs around Jason's waist and locked them behind his back, at the same time wrapping his arms around Jason's neck and asking "Why'd you come back?"
The older boy didn't answer. He brought their lips together. As they were carried away with the uniting of their tongues, their very souls were enveloped in the kiss. When they separated, Jason smiled. "To taste you one more time, that's why I came back and to tell you `Je t'aime davantage.'"
He lowered Reuben to the ground, then opened the front door to leave.
"What did you say just now, Jase?"
"I love you more," and he turned and walked down the path.
The younger boy standing in the doorway yelled "You can't. I loved you first." Jason smiling turned and waved to the boy before entering his car and driving off.
Monday morning was not the drag it normally presented to Reuben when making his way to school. His whole world had been turned on its head since Friday and he felt as if he were walking on air as he made his way to Saint Peter's.
Dawn Roberts had made it a point to be at school at least ten minutes before her normal time and was now looking in the direction she knew that Reuben would approach from. The moment Dawn saw that small slim form appear from around the corner, instead of waiting for him to arrive, she walked hurriedly in his direction to meet him.
When they met, she grabbed his arm, saying "Hi, Rube, what happened between the two of you?"
"Bloody hell, Dee! Give us a chance, will you? And we can't talk out here. Wait till lunch break and I'll tell you everything."
"You're a little shit, Reuben Taylor. You're keeping me in suspense on purpose. If you don't come up with the goods at the meal break, I'll put your goolies through a mangle."
Then taking his arm she walked him through the school gates like a protective mother hen.
Dawn Roberts was on tenterhooks. She couldn't concentrate on her studies, just waiting to hear what Reuben had to tell her. The three and a half hours to the meal break seemed to take an eternity to arrive, but eventually it did and she almost ran to the cafeteria to meet Reuben. Entering she looked to the one spot where he usually sat and sure enough he was there, sitting by himself at the farthest corner table. Quickly she acquired her food and arrowed her way without any hesitation to the one spot that her eyes were fixed on. Reaching her goal, this time she didn't sit across from him, but took a seat beside the boy. "Hi Rube."
The boy looked over to the voice and smiled. "Hi, Dee."
"So tell me or do you want me to go on my knees and beg?"
"Don't you want to eat first, Dee?"
"I don't eat with my bloody ears. Now speak before I make you eat some of my school meal."
"Oh God, Dee! No, not that, anything but school meals. I'll tell you, I'll tell you."
Dawn Roberts controlled her fit of laughter, then said "Come on, Rube. Please tell me what happened. I'm nearly wetting myself in expectation."
So Reuben Taylor gave an account of what happened between himself and Jason over the weekend to a goggle eyed Dawn Roberts.
"Rube, was he big down there?"
"Dee, that's being bloody personal."
"Oh, don't be such a bloody prude and what did he have to say about your eeeny weeny one?"
"If you must know, mine was bigger than his."
"WHAT! Is he deformed?"
"Shhhhh, not so bloody loud and no, he's not deformed. He has a slightly larger than average size dick."
Dawn Roberts looked at the boy beside her with a renewed interest. She looked around the cafeteria and noticing that no one was paying them any attention, she leaned over to Reuben and whispered in his ear "Don't you even think of jumping up when I slide my hand between your legs. I want to make sure you're not lying."
Reuben looked at her and saw the false smile on her face as he felt her hand go down and fondle his crutch. Then he saw her eyes widen in surprise.
"Bloody hell, Rube, you little shit! I mean you big little shit. Oh God! What a lot of girls would give to feel that between their legs."
"Shut up, Dee. You're bloody embarrassing me. I didn't ask to have this thing between my legs."
"How big is it, Rube, when it's, you know, hard?"
"Dee, for God's sake, what's with you asking me personal questions like that?"
"Sorry, Rube, I'm sorry. Look, if you want to leave, it's okay. I was way out of line doing and asking what I did."
"It's okay, Dee. I know you didn't mean anything by it."
"Rube, what do the other kids have to say about it?"
"Nobody knows except Jason, and now you."
"They must know, Reuben. You go swimming, don't you? They must have seen the bulge in your swimwear."
"I wear swim shorts that are baggy and reach to my knees."
"Oh God, Rube, if only all those smug arsed boys could see what you've got. They'd be embarrassed to stand next to you, if you wore Speedos like them when you went for your swimming lessons."
She paused for a moment, looking at the boy beside her before saying "Rube?"
"Yeah."
"You're a one off."
"What d'you mean?"
"If any other boy had what you have, they wouldn't stop boasting, but you just don't attach so much importance to it."
"Dee, before you knew the size of my dick, did you like me less or more?"
"Touché. Oh God, Rube! If only you were into girls, I think I'd kidnap you."
"If I were, I'd let you."
"Come on, po face, let's get out of this place and into some fresh air before classes start.
They rose from their seat and made their way out into the quadrangle and then to the playing fields. On the way Reuben turned to her and asked "Dee, you're always calling me po face. Jase doesn't think so, but do you think I'm a bit on the ugly side?"
"Shit, Reuben Taylor, to me you're bloody beautiful. I only call you po face because... because... Oh bullshit! It's like a term of endearment." Reuben stopped walking causing the girl to stop, turn and enquire "What now?"
"God, I never knew, Dee. I'm sorry."
"What are you sorry about?"
"You fancy me."
"Fancy you? You must be bloody joking, Reuben Taylor." Dawn Roberts came closer to the boy and lowered her voice. "I'm in love with you, moron, and have been since I first laid eyes on you."
He lowered his head trying to think of what to say when a hand came under his chin lifting his face. "If you ever tell anyone what I just said, po face, I'll castrate you." Then smiling at the look of confusion on his face she said "Come on, let's head back to school. I think we've had enough of this fresh air. It seems to be going to our heads."
Reuben Taylor, glad to end the mode of conversation, smiled and accompanied his mother hen back to school.
With school finished Dawn and Reuben headed out of the school gates. As they walked in the direction of Dawn's home, a car pulled up alongside them. Reuben's heart skipped a beat as he recognised the car. The nearside window wound down and a voice that had been buzzing around inside of his head now spoke for real. "Anyone need a lift?"
Reuben quickly responded with a big grin on his face. "Yeah," then turning to Dawn "Come on, Dee. You as well."
"No, Rube you go ahead."
"Dee, if you don't get in, I'll... I'll..."
"You'll what?"
"Kick you in the crutch. Now get in."
Dawn Roberts looked at her friend and smiled. "Ooooooh! I like it when you talk dirty."
"Oh pleeeeeeease, Dee, get in the bloody car."
Laughing she complied with Reuben's pleas and took a seat in the back while Reuben climbed in beside Jason.
"Okay, Miss Dawn Roberts, firstly let me thank you for introducing Reuben to me and now which way do I head to drop you home?"
Jason followed the instructions that Dawn supplied and within five minutes they pulled up outside her house. She jumped out, walked around to Reuben's side, leant inside the window and whispered in his ear.
"I want a full account tomorrow at school of what happens after you leave, big boy," and out loud "Bye, Reuben, bye Jason, and thanks for the lift."
Jason drove off, then asked "What did she whisper in your ear?"
"You won't get mad, will you, Jase?"
"If you keep on stalling and asking me stupid questions, I will get mad. God, Rube, how many times do I have to tell you I don't bite, only bark?"
"Sorry, Jase. Dee wants a full account of our love life, but I don't really tell her anything, just the basics."
Jason started laughing and when he'd stopped, he turned to his young companion. "She's really looking out for you, isn't she?"
"Yeah, and also she's been in love with me for the last three years."
He glanced over to his passenger. "You're lucky Rube. Wish I had a friend like that."
"You've got me."
"I meant when I was your age. Like you I was a bit of a loner as well."
Jason parked the car outside Reuben's house and they both made their way inside. As soon as the door was shut behind them, they flowed into each other's arms and their lips came together. When the desire for each other was temporarily quenched, they made their way into the sitting room and sat together, Reuben sitting in Jason's lap with his arms around the older boy's neck, his head resting on his chest.
Jason stroked the younger boy's head. "I've got some bad news, Rube." Lifting his head off Jason's chest, he looked into the older boy's eyes. "What is it, Jase?"
"Because of my father's heart condition my mother wants to sell the house and business and move farther south. She wants the two of them to stop working and retire."
Reuben was silent and laid his head on Jason's shoulder while the older boy stroked his it.
"Rube, you all right?"
"No, but there's nothing much I can do about it."
"I've got a proposition to make, but it's only if your parents and you are agreeable."
"What?"
"I take over the running of the shop and live in the apartment above it. I can give my parents a percentage of the profits from the shop and also pay you when you give me a hand at weekends and in the school holidays." Reuben yelled "Yeah, Jase, yeah," then in a lowered voice enquired "What about your going to university, Jason?"
"I was only going to uni to get a degree in English language and literature so I could go into teaching. I think running a shop will pay me a much better salary than teaching and more important we won't be separated."
Reuben looked searchingly into Jason's eyes. "Don't try to con me, Jase. Going to university would be much more rewarding than running a shop. At first I was just thinking of myself so that I could have you near me all the time. Now after hearing what you were willing to give up, I realise that there's no need for me to worry about you forgetting me or finding someone else. I'll be here, Jase, going to school Monday to Friday waiting for you and okay, we won't have as much time together as we want, but when we do, it will be awesome and when I finish school we can have a lifetime together."
They sat together talking till Jason kissed the boy on the top of the head saying "I've got to get back to the shop to pick my mother up and take her to visit my father. I'll see you again tomorrow."
At the front door they kissed goodbye before Jason opened the door and made his way to his car. He gave a final wave of his hand before driving off.
Reuben watched the car and its occupant drive away. His mind, now put at ease with Jason's willingness to give up uni so that they could be more in each other's company, made a warm contented glow inside of him. As the car disappeared out of sight, he whispered "Je t'aime, Jason."
The End
Many thanks to 'N Fourbois' for having the patience to edit the story, and making it reader friendly.
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