Mother Chapter 3-5

WARNING:

This is a story of friendship, commitment, love and trust. It is not a sex story. However, this story deals with love between male teenagers. If you are offended by stories involving love between two teenage boys, please do not read this story. There may be some sex scenes in this story; however, sex is not the main theme. If you are under age 18 or 21 or it is illegal to read this story where you live, don't read it. Reproducing this story for distribution without the owner's permission is a violation of that copyright.

Sam Lakes

samlakes86 at yahoo

M.a.i.n.e. Frame PC

AKA

Mother

by Sam Lakes

Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved

Chapter Three

It was Saturday. Colt had spent twenty-five hours that week learning to dance at Arthur Murray’s, figuring it would help him socially. He spent Friday night, dancing with women, nearly three times his age and more. He had had a great time. One woman he danced with, had her Ph.D. in Biochemistry, and Colt got her talking about DNA and Biochemistry. She was overwhelmed by his grasp of the knowledge, and his extreme politeness.

She was an attractive lady, Maureen Kidner, Colt thought, and her parting words boosted his self-confidence immensely, “Colt you are not only extremely smart, you’re good looking, and polite, and a superb dancer. If only I were a teenager, but then, that really wouldn’t work would it?” she said.

Colt nearly freaked! He knew that she knew he was gay. How? There had been only one other teen guy in the small class and he had really controlled himself, not to perv on the guy. He had virtually ignored the guy.

“Don’t look so worried. I know what to look for, that others don’t see. I have a son that is gay, who’s waiting for me out in our car. Right now he is really sad because he was hoping you’d notice him but you’ve barely said two words to him all week. He has no real friends because his “best friend” outted him at school.”

“I would love for you to meet him. Maybe, you two could become friends. How would you like to have lunch with us on Sunday?”

From what Colt could remember, her son was definitely a hottie. “Okay.” Colt figured, making a new friend would be a great idea. Maureen gave Colt her address and phone number and then left.

*****

Colt was dressed in a pair of old cut-offs, an old T-shirt and he raced to the mall on his 21-speed Mountain bike. He got to the mall in record time. With sweat pouring off him he walked into the air conditioned mall and sat down with his water bottle outside A & F. He took off his helmet and shook his head, then guzzled down the bottle of sports water. As he cooled off, he became aware of someone looking at him. He looked into A & F and saw a boy looking at him. The boy quickly looked away, but not before Colt recognized him. It was Alex Kidner. Colt stood there staring at him. He thought Alex was gorgeous. His heart raced. Alex glanced at Colt and Colt blushed, and looked away. After a minute he gathered up his courage, and walked into A & F and over to Alex.

“Hi, Alex” he said, quietly, “You are Alex Kidner, right? I saw you at the dance classes.”

Alex’s rich brown eyes fixed on Colt’s deep blue eyes “Yes. I-I remember you.”

Colt smiled “I’m Colt Smith. I was talking to your Mom last night. She invited me over Sunday. She thought maybe we could be friends. I’m sorry I ignored you all week, but, well, ugh, hmmm.” Colt had no idea of what to say. His heart was beating so loud he was surprised Alex didn’t hear it.

“Yeah, she told me she talked to you, and invited you over,” Alex said, in a reserved voice, “But you don’t have to come over. Once you get to know me you’ll probably hate me like everyone else, so spare me the pain.” He turned away.

“Why would I hate you?” asked Colt.

Alex hesitated, then turned back to face Colt “Because I’m gay. Are you happy now? Just leave! Leave me alone!” He turned and walked away from Colt and out of the store.

Colt ran to catch up, “Alex!” he said in a loud whisper, “Please stop. I-I wouldn’t hate you, because of that. I’m, I’m, you know, ugh, well, hmmm gay too.”

Alex stopped abruptly causing Colt to run into him, and knocking both off balance. Colt grabbed Alex to regain his balance and backed away feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Oops, I’m sorry.”

Alex turned around wiping a few stray tears from his face, “You’re really gay too?” he asked softly.

Colt blushed and nodded affirmative. The two stood facing each other, neither saying anything, both coyly looking at each other. Colt started giggling, and Alex followed, until each of them was having a good laugh.

After they’d calmed down, Alex asked, “Are you here to shop?”

“Yeah, Keith gave me some money to go shopping, but well, ugh, I’m not too good at shopping, cuz Ruthie usually buys my clothes for me.”

“Who’s Keith, who’s Ruthie?”

“Well umm, my mom and dad, sort of. My mom died when I was four, and Ruthie and Keith took me in – they’ve known me since the day I was born and so has Arbor. He’s like my brother and best friend.”

“I can help you shop,” volunteered Alex.

Colt eyed Alex, giving him an obvious look over. “Hmm, yeah, you’re definitely a hottie,” said Colt, then, blushed at being so forward.

For the next two hours, they shopped. Colt had always hated shopping, but this time, it was different. He really enjoyed himself. He was trying to do as Keith had told him, find out what Alex liked. He found that other than computers they had common tastes in music, movies and books. They both enjoyed reading.

By lunch time, they had finished shopping. Their shyness had completely vanished. In fact, Colt discovered, he could enjoy being silly, and deliberately stupid, in order to get a laugh. For example, he put a pair of pants on backwards. The problem was, the zipper got stuck and he had to ask Alex to unzip them for him.

As they walked along Colt asked “Are you hungry?”

“A little,” Alex said, but he was starving really.

“Well, I’m famished. Let’s go to the Food Court and I’ll treat you to lunch. I was thinking, there’s a movie theater here, and I was wondering, if you’d like to go see a movie with me?”

“I was supposed to be home by one,” instantly Alex saw the disappointment in Colt’s face, “but I’ll call my Mom, and see if it’s all right with her. What movie do you want to see?”

“Whatever you want to see, I haven’t been to see a movie for over a year.”

“Really, over a year! That’s a long time, why not?”

Colt’s stomach sunk. He’d been working at the U on his Ph.D. and making improvements to Mother, which had occupied about ninety percent of his waking hours and he rarely slept more than six hours. He just shrugged his shoulders.

“Were you grounded or something?”

“Yes, part of the time, and, I was busy doing things, the rest of the time.”

“What did you do to get grounded for a year? Did you murder somebody?” Alex laughed.

“I wish. Going to prison I think would have been easier.” He could tell Alex wanted to know “Well, I got picked up by the campus police. I was drunk as a skunk, and wandering about the campus, in my underwear. I have no idea where I lost my clothes. The last thing I remember, I was going to a Frat party, and drinking a couple of cokes. They were spiked with rum, vodka and Tequila. I was definitely grounded! Anyway, how about seeing that movie?”

“Okay. I’ll have to call my Mom.”

“Fine, while you call your mom, I’ll get us some food. Hamburgers and fries okay?”

“Sure. No onions. No mustard. No tomato. Mayo, pickles and lettuce would be cool.”

Colt got the food and found a table. He hadn’t had such a good time with anybody outside of his family, ever, and he couldn’t wait to tell Keith. Alex was so cute, and it felt like Alex liked him. He wondered if the feeling he was feeling, meant he was falling in love.

“Mom, guess who I met at the Mall? Colt Smith! Mom, he is such a babe! I helped him choose some clothes. He is so much fun. Anyway, he asked me if I would like to go to the movie. I told him I had to call home because you wanted me home by one.”

“I’m glad you called. I ran into an old college friend of mine, and she’s invited us over, this evening for barbecue. So you can go to the movie with Colt. Call me when it’s over and I’ll come pick you two up. I’m glad you like him. I knew you would.”

“Thanks Mom. I love you. I’ll call when the movie’s over. Bye.”

“My Mom said it was ok. I’ll call her after the movie, and she’ll pick us up.”

They sat and ate, and talked for over an hour. Colt thought things were going along fine. They’d been laughing and joking, then suddenly, Alex said “You’re very smart, aren’t you?”

“Huh? What?”

“You’re some kind of genius, you know smart. Smarter than most people.”

Colt looked down “Why do you ask?” he said in a barely audible voice.

Alex reached across the table and took Colt’s hand. “Because my Mom said you were” he smiled “And because every time I mention school, you change the subject, and because you were picked up by the University police and not the city police after a Frat party. I really thought you’d be a nerd. I was so upset about Mom inviting you over for dinner. I’m being honest. You’re not a nerd, or a geek! You’re fun and you’re interesting and I really like you.”

“You like me? You really like me?” Colt beamed “I avoided talking about school, cause when I tell most people, they sort of don’t like me. I wish I wasn’t so smart, sometimes. I wish I was just normal, like other kids. I really like you a lot too. You’re fun to be with, and I think you are a babe.” Colt gave Alex’s hand a gentle squeeze. Alex smiled, and they looked at each other for several moments.

“Do you really want to see a movie?” he asked.

“It’s up to you.”

“No. I invited you. So, it’s your decision.”

“Well, then no, I’d rather talk and get to know you better.”

“How far do you live from here?”

“It’s about two or three miles from here, on Morrison Ave. Why?”

“You live on Morrison? I live on Cleveland Avenue between Pinehurst and Willow.”

“My gosh, I live on Morrison between Pinehurst and Oak!”

“Why don’t we walk to my house? I’ll get changed, into my new clothes, and you can meet my family.

Then, I’ll walk you home and we can talk along the way. What do you think?”

“Sure. Let’s go.”

When they got to Parker’s Hill, Colt impulsively said “Here hold this” as he handed Alex his shopping bag and mounted his bike. “Okay, you get on the handlebars and hold my clothes and we’ll race down the hill. It’s fun! Really! It’ll be awesome!”

Alex sat up on the handlebars. “Colt I don’t know about this!” he whined, but it was too late. Colt pushed off, and peddled as hard and as fast as he could. He shifted into high gear. By the time they got to the bottom of the hill, Colt figured they were going about thirty-five, and Alex was screaming his head off, half out of fright, and half out of the thrill. Colt was laughing and panting. He was completely out of breath as they neared the top of the hill. Finally, he could go no further. He stopped and Alex jumped off laughing, and Colt sort of fell off the bike, and onto the grass, by the side of the road.

“That was great!” he said as he took a big gulp of air and looked up at Alex.

“That was awesome!” Alex said, looking down at him “Are you all right?”

“Yeah…Just…out..of…bre…ath!”

Alex sat down next to him, and they just looked at one another, saying nothing. Colt sat up, still not saying anything, just looking into his eyes. Finally, he leaned close to Alex and kissed him gently, on the lips. He pulled back, and said, “I hope you didn’t mind me doing that.” He smiled the broadest smile he had ever smiled.

Alex smiled back, and said quietly “No, I didn’t mind at all, in fact…” and then he kissed Colt back. After the kiss, Colt smiled again, then closed his eyes, and lay back on the ground.

“Are you okay?”

Colt opened his eyes and smiled at him “Yes. I was just reliving the moment. I guess we’d better get going.”

They continued their walk to the Maine’s home.

“You haven’t mentioned anything about your father. Are your parents divorced?” asked Colt.

“Yes. He never comes around, and I don’t even remember him. They got divorced when I was two. We lived in Wisconsin, then. We only moved here a month ago. My mom works in research at Biodyne Labs. What about your father?”

“Oh, he comes around sometimes. I guess I like him. I don’t know. My Mom died when I was four, and he took it real hard. I guess burying himself in his work, was his way of handling his grief. I’ve lived with Keith and Ruthie ever since. I don’t really think he likes me, although we get along all right when he visits. He just doesn’t visit very often. Sometimes, I wish he’d just let Keith and Ruthie adopt me. I really hate talking about all this, because it just upsets me. I used to daydream about him suddenly realizing that I was important to him and that we really would become a real father and son team, but…it’ll never fucking’ happen!”

Alex realized he’d hit a nerve. “So, uh, what’s Arbor like?”

“Arbor, he’s the greatest. You’ll like him. People always like him. He’s good looking, of course, not as good looking as me!” Colt laughed then continued “We’re more like brothers than just friends. He’s a typical big brother. He teases, picks on me, we fight sometimes, but he’s always there for me when I’m in trouble or upset. He calls me geekoid, but once he beat the shit out of some guy, because the guy called me a geek, and a weirdo. He’s very smart too, although he won’t admit it. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him, or him for me. We built our own computer with Keith’s help. It’s the best computer in the world.”

“You built a computer? That’s incredible! I’ve used an Apple at school and I took a programming class last year, but I had a hard time with it. I like programming, but I like doing graphics work best.”

“I can’t draw worth a damn! If you’re good at graphics, and I’m good at programming, maybe we could combine our talents and write some awesome games or something! What ya think?”

“I’m not very good at computer games.”

“You mean the bang-bang shoot them up games or the one’s that require intelligence.”

“I guess the bang-bang shoot ‘em up ones, you know the arcade type games. They’re just not my sort of thing.”

Alex thought for a while, as they walked along and then said, “I don’t think I’m that good.”

“Well, you’re going to have to be better than me, even my stick figures look bad! Anyway, you didn’t say ‘no’ and in my book that means ‘yes’” Colt smiled.

“But what if my work isn’t good enough? I don’t want you to get your hopes up. I’m really not very good, I just said I like doing graphics work, I didn’t say I was any good,” Alex said angrily.

Colt let his bike fall to the ground. He stood in front of Alex, took his shopping bag from Alex’s hand and let it drop to the ground and placed his hands on Alex’s shoulders “I’m sorry, Alex, I’m very sorry. I…I just get…it doesn’t matter…really! I only suggested the game thing because…because I…because I like being with you and…and I…” Colt made a really goofy looking face, and Alex laughed at him. “You see, I’ve only known you for a few hours, and I’m totally nuts over you!” he said as he gave Alex a hug. He rested Alex’s head on his shoulder and sniffed.

“Oh, this is embarrassing. My nose always runs when I get sort of angry,” said Alex.

“You can wipe your nose on my shirt and I shall treasure it forever.” Alex did, and Colt blurted out “Oh, Gross!” Alex started to pull away from Colt but Colt quickly added “I’m joking! I’m joking! I shall worship this shirt!” Alex giggled and then kissed him on the neck. He moved his head back. They looked into each other’s eyes and then kissed again. This time it was a much longer kiss.

“You know I could stay here like this for hours, but then I think your Mom might get worried. Shall we continue our trek homeward?”

They continued their walk, laughing and joking with each other until their laughter was somewhat broken, by Keith, walking up and saying, “Well, you two certainly seem to be enjoying something. Ruth saw you out here and is dying to see what you bought.”

“Yeah, right, Keith!” Colt laughed “You just saw me here, with a new friend, and wanted to meet him.”

“Alex Kidner, Dr. Keith Maine. Dr. Keith Maine, Alex Kidner” Colt said.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Dr. Maine” Alex responded.

“Please call me Keith, unless you want me to address you as Mister Kidner,” Keith said, with a friendly smile.

“Okay, I’m pleased to meet you, Keith.”

“We met at the mall. His mom was at the dance, last night. Remember, I told you she invited me over on Sunday, for dinner. Anyway, when I got to the mall, I looked up and saw him. They live on Morrison. So, we decided to come here, so I could change clothes and he could meet you and Ruth, then I was going to walk him home.” Colt picked up his bike.

“You said your last name was Kidner? Any relation to Maureen Kidner?” asked Keith.

“She’s my mother, do you know her?”

“Sure, my wife just finished talking with her at the super market. They were friends in college, and so I guess you’ll be having dinner with us tonight. This is quite a coincidence.”

“Yeah, I’ll say! Do you know the mathematical probability of all this happening, must be astronomical, and there isn’t even a full moon!” Colt laughed.

“Alex, you’ll learn, like me, to ignore Colt, ninety percent of the time, especially when he gets sarcastic. And never go to a movie with him, or you’ll only get to see, like, maybe, the first ten minutes of it, before he gets thrown out.”

“We almost went to a movie today” Alex said.

“Have your ever seen Mystery Science Theater 3000? It’s the one where the three guys are sitting making sarcastic comments about the show?”

Alex nodded, ‘yes’.

“Well, I think they took lessons from Colt. He sits there and talks, the whole way through the movie, and God forbid, anyone one should laugh! Then he really goes to town.” Keith laughed.

“Is Arb home?” asked Colt.

“No. Alan’s moving into a new apartment and Arb offered to help him.”

“Oh, yeah, duh, I forgot! Did you see the awesome chess game I wrote?”

“Awesome is right, Colt. I lost in six moves and I’m pretty good at chess, so you’ll have to fix that.”

“You did? Didn’t you change the mode?”

“No. What mode was I in?”

“Probably, the last mode I tested which was computer to computer mode. You must really be good to last six moves.” Colt turned to Alex and said “I’m going to shower and change and I’ll be right back,” and he took off up the stairs. Alex smiled.

Keith shook his head and laughed to himself. “He’s quite a kid! I think he likes you a lot!”
Alex blushed. “I like him too.”

“I can see that, and you don’t know how relieved I am as a parent. He’s a lot to handle sometimes.”

“What do you mean? Because he so smart?” he asked.

“Smart. Colt is way beyond smart. When it comes to computers and technical things, he’s in another dimension! Colt has discovered things, that are so far ahead of our time, it sometimes scares me. Has he told you about Mother the computer?”

“He told me that he and Arbor built a computer with your help.”

Keith smiled, and thought for a moment, trying to size up Alex. He knew he liked Colt, that was obvious, but if he told him how smart Colt really was could he still accept him as-is. If he dumped Colt, Colt would be devastated, and he would probably never forgive Keith, especially, as it was Keith who advised him, to steer away from the truth, about how smart he was.

“Anyway, my wife is waiting to meet you.”

“But what do you mean, he’s a lot to handle” he insisted.

At that moment Ruth walked in to the room.

“Oh, Ruthie. This is Alex Kidner” Keith said “He’s Maureen’s son. He met Colt at the mall. Colt met Maureen last night at the dance. You met Maureen at the super market. Now that’s a coincidence!”

“And it’s isn’t even a full moon!” Ruthie smiled.

Alex laughed. “I’m sorry, that’s just what Colt said. I’m pleased to meet you. You know my Mother?”

“Yes, we went to college at the same time. I was really surprised to see her in the supermarket, after all these years. She told me she had a teenage son. I had no idea you were so handsome!”

“Thank you.”

“Colt told me that he met a Mrs. Kidner last night and was invited over to dinner on Sunday. I knew you’re Mom as Maureen Scott. So you met Colt at the mall?”

“Yes. He introduced himself and asked me if I’d help him choose some clothes.”

“Yes. He’s hopeless at fashion. Have you had lunch? Half the time he forgets to eat.”

“Yes. We ate at the Mall. We were going to go to the movies, but we were having a great time just talking and getting to know each other. He has a great sense of humor.”

“Keith, could you marinate the chicken breasts and ribs?” Ruth asked. Keith knew what she wanted, which was to be alone with Alex.

After he left the room she asked “Would you like some lemonade, it’s fresh!”

“Yes, ma’am, I‘d love some.”

“Please make yourself comfortable. I’ll be right back.”

Alex sat down on the sofa and waited. Ruth returned a few moments later with a pitcher of lemonade and a couple of glasses filled with ice.

“Okay, and you like him? And he’s being a gentleman, not cussing or swearing?” Ruth inquired.

“I like him a lot and he’s very polite and he only swore once when he was talking about his father, his real father, not Keith. I think he feels Keith is more of a father.”

“Paul, Colt’s Dad, is really a terrific person, he just can’t seem to relate, with his own son. I’m sure he loves him, but when Sarah died; she was Colt’s mother. He just buried his sorrows in his work, and it’s become a habit now. Anyway, Keith and I do our best with him and long ago, we decided just to treat him as our own. Keith spends fifty percent of his time with Colt and sometimes I swear he loves Colt more than he loves Arbor. I used to be worried that Arbor would become jealous, but he doesn’t, and Colt doesn’t try to monopolize Keith’s attention, or affection.”

“Your son seems like a neat person. That’s how I got Colt off the subject of his father, by asking him what Arbor was like.”
“Yes, those two have been buddies I swear since Colt was born. They’re actually more like brothers” Ruth said and then continued “I’m really pleased he’s behaving himself like a gentleman. He unfortunately developed a bad habit over the last few years of swearing, or rather, using four-letter explitives… Sometimes, he can be a lot to handle.”

“That’s what you husband says. Is it because he’s so smart?”

“Well, he’s smart alright, but, he sometimes gets carried away with his emotions. It’s not that he’s immature for his age. It’s that his intelligence is so far ahead of everything else, that, if you don’t take into account that he’s only thirteen, you’d think he is childish, but then he is only a child. It’s sort of like because he’s so smart you expect him to be on a comparable level emotionally, and you expect him to act like a grown up, and when he acts like a kid, it’s just unexpected.”

“My Mother thought he was great and so smart. So, what does Colt do at the University? Is he like a freshman?” asked Alex.

“He hasn’t told you?”

“No, he deliberately avoids the subject. I know he is very smart. As I said, my Mom told me that, but it’s also obvious, and he told me that he got picked up by the campus police for being drunk, and wandering about in his underwear.”

“Oh, he got picked up by the campus police, but not in his underwear. He was drunk and completely naked. Luckily, the officer recognized him, and brought him home. I was so embarrassed!” She shook her head and laughed “Are you sure you wouldn’t like a snack?”

Alex smiled “No. Really, we already ate.”

“Well, I’ve got to get things ready for tonight. Feel free to watch TV. Colt should be down soon” and she hurried out of the room.

Alex sat there thinking about Colt, and his guardians. He wondered why Colt avoided the subject of school. Still in mystery, but getting bored he decided to get up and look around the room. One wall was covered with diplomas. He walked over to it. The three on top belonged to Keith Maine one for a BS in Math, one a Masters in Computer Science and the third was his Ph.D. in Computer Science. The second row belonged to Ruth Maine. The third row only had two diplomas and a space for a third. They belonged to Colt Smith. A BS in Computer Science, and a Masters in Computer Science, both were with honors. It was dated last year. He’d received his Masters at the age of twelve!

That must mean he is working on his Ph.D. he thought. “My God he must be smart!” Alex said to himself, as he returned to the sofa. He remembered Keith’s comments, ‘When it comes to computers and technical things, he’s in another dimension!’. He thought about telling Colt that he sort of liked programming. He’d actually had a terrible time in the class! “He’ll think I’m so stupid! He probably thinks I am stupid, and dumb!” Tears formed in his eyes and suddenly he had to leave. He got up and ran to the door.

At that moment Colt came cheerily down the stairs as Alex ran out the door.

“Alex!” he cried out and then took off after him. He had gotten half way down the block before Colt caught up to him. Colt grabbed his arm “Alex, stop! Please tell me what’s wrong!”

“You must think I’m so stupid! I barely passed the programming course. I got a D minus!” he sobbed, “I wouldn’t have said anything if I knew. I…I feel so stupid! So dumb!”

“If you knew what?” asked Colt.

Alex shook his head and tried to pull away from Colt.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were working on your Ph.D. in Computer Science?” he yelled.

“Because you didn’t ask me, that’s why!” Colt yelled back. “Because I was afraid…this would happen…” he said sadly as he released his hold on Alex, turned and walked away with tears in his eyes.

Alex ran home, still crying.

Colt ran back home, and up to his room.

Thirty seconds later Keith and Ruth heard an upstairs window break as Mother went sailing through the air and crash on the front lawn. Keith ran upstairs noticing the front door was open and Alex was no where in sight. Keith opened the door to the boys’ room and saw Colt lying face down on his bed sobbing and, a broken window.

“I take it Alex left and seeing as Mother is in pieces on the front lawn. I guess you’re upset ‘because he thinks your too smart for him.”

Colt continued sobbing, but nodded his head.

Ruth was standing by the door.

“Keith, I told you trying to hide his intelligence wouldn’t work. Damn it all! I knew I should have told Alex the truth! Instead, I avoided it. He’s not a dunce. He’s very clever and smart. He probably saw the wall of diplomas and figured it out for himself.

“And you, young man, stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get up out of that bed go pick up your computer off the front lawn and the two of you fix that window. I’ll go see if I can salvage this relationship to some degree.”

Colt looked up at her.

She wanted to run over to him and hold him tight, but, instead she smiled and blew him a kiss.

“Come on Casanova, get your little butt up out of the bed and get the window fixed.” She smiled at the two who felt chastened by her words, as she turned and left.

After several moments, Colt asked Keith, “Is she always right?”

“Only ninety-nine point ninety-nine percent of the time,” replied Keith with a smile. “I live for the day that I get my hundredth of a percent!”

“Do you think she can fix it with Alex?” he asked hopefully.

“If anybody can, she can” replied Keith, as he began picking up pieces of glass.

“I love him. Really I do.”

“Who?”

“Alex! He is handsome, lots of fun to be with, and he really is smart.”

“Yeah, when she returns from having handled Alex, you’ll feel forever in debt to her, and for the next ten years, when she needs a favor, she’ll just gently remind you of the time she … Ruthie still reminds me of the time she saved my butt in high school by coaching me all night, so I could pass a math test. So, young man, get your butt moving!”

Colt jumped up out of the bed and wiggled his butt “You mean like this?” then he started singing ‘Jive Talkin’ by the Bee Gees, and he walked out. of the room dancing and shaking his butt.

Chapter 4

Ruthie pulled up in Maureen’s drive and parked her car. Maureen came out to the car to meet her. They effusively greeted each other.

“How’s Alex?” Ruth asked.

“Oh, he’ll live. Feeling sorry for himself, of course. How’s Colt?”

“The same. Feeling sorry for himself.”

“Do you remember when you and Keith broke up for a day?”

“Oh, God! That seems like centuries ago. If it hadn’t been for you and Sarah coming to our rescue.”

“Well, more Sarah than me. Last night I kept trying to think where I’d met Colt before he looked so familiar and then when you called just now it suddenly dawned on me. He looks so much like her! No wonder he’s so good looking.”

“He’s a lot like her. He’s got her sense of humor and his emotions are like hers and he can be so loving.”

“Do you see much of Paul?”

“No. A few times a year. I still don’t think he’s gotten over her death. I keep hoping he’ll find someone new and settle down. I know it bothers Colt. He loves his dad, but he tries not to show it. Every time he comes and then leaves Colt goes off by himself where nobody sees him and cries. I’ve tried to talk to Paul, but it’s like a blind spot all he sees is Colt being better off and happier with us and in away he is.”

“I knew last night he was exceptionally smart. I had no idea he was working on his Ph.D. in Computer Science. Is he really working on his Ph.D.?” asked Maureen as they move towards the front door.

“Yes. He works with Keith on some research project and on his own thesis and he goofs around a lot of the time like any teenager, I guess.”

“I know what you mean. I’ve never seen Alex this upset in a good way about any boy though. I think he’s really fallen for him.”

“I over heard Colt talking to Keith before I left and I’m sure he’s ‘in love’” Ruthie smiled “Well, let’s see if we can’t help cupid and straighten my husband’s male stupidity out.”

They both laughed in agreement.

Alex was sitting in a chair in the living room as they walked in.

“Hi, Alex. I’ve come over to apologize for my husband’s stupidity. No actually for both my husband’s and Colt’s stupidity” Ruth said with a friendly smile.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, as smart as those two are when it comes to computers, they have less intelligence than a microbe when it come to relationships. To put it bluntly they are dumb! Colt was really upset a few weeks ago. He’s thirteen years old and he suddenly discovered that there’s more to life than a silicon chip. Arbor whose fifteen and not bad looking has at least two girlfriends. He’s a pretty normal fifteen year old boy. Probably a little smarter than most and a very responsible young man, mainly, I think, due to Colt. Colt is a genius. Right up there with Einstein. And if you listen to Keith there’s no one smarter than Colt. But socially he’s practically zero he can be the most annoying pest and sometimes a real smart ass that you’d like to beat to a pulp. But, basically he’s the most loving and caring person I’ve ever met. He has his mother’s sense of humor and good looks and his father’s drive. I’ve known him to work on a problem for days without eating or sleeping to the point of near exhaustion.”

“Well, he hit puberty and began to realized that he was gay. Even for the normal gay guy that’s a not necessarily and easy thing to confront. Colt always had a difficult time dealing with people his age because he primarily thinks like a scientist. He can probably talk a persons ear off when it comes to some of his theories which even I have a difficult time understanding. To cut a very long story short, Keith ended up giving him some ‘manly’ advice. Be polite and don’t use a swear word in every sentence. Good advice. And ‘If someone wants to know something about you and you don’t want them to know avoid the issue or change the subject’ Bad advice. I told Keith this and told him that the first intelligent guy that comes along is going to find out how smart Colt really is and he’s going to be ticked off because he wasn’t honest or he’d feel stupid because he said something dumb which he would have never said in the first place if he had known or both.”

Alex instantly brightened up and giggled.

“You are so smart Alex, I knew from the moment I met you that this was going to happen and I apologize for not warning you sooner. I love my husband more than anything, anywhere and I always will, but sometimes men do the stupidest things to get our attention and Colt is just a stupid for believing Keith and going along with this idiotic scheme. You are his first love and in the same day his first heartbreak.”

“He really loves me, he doesn’t think I’m stupid?” asked Alex.

“No. I do believe I over hear him say to Keith and I quote ‘He’s handsome, he’s fun to be with and he’s really smart’ unquote. As for love, well I don’t think he was crying over his computer because he sent it sailing out his window in to the front yard.”

Alex was clearly over her upset “All I want is for him to be honest with me and I guess I should be honest with him.”

“Works for me” responded Ruthie.

Alex gave her a hug “He’s so lucky to have someone like you in his life.”

Then Alex hugged his Mom “And I’m so lucky to have my Mom in my life.”

“Okay so. I’ll see you two in an hour and a half?”

“Yes” they responded.

“How about I send my youngest boy over to apologize and you two can get things sorted out with each other?” asked Ruth.

“Yes. I think that would be good, but I owe him an apology too” said Alex.

Ruth left and returned home.

Chapter 5

As Ruth pulled up in the drive Colt ran out of the house and over to the car.
“Get in. I want to have a talk with you” she said and Colt face went from smiling to slightly worried and she added “Come on, you’re not in trouble. I just want to have a mother-son talk with you.” His face brightened up and he smiled.

“What?” he asked as he sat in the front seat looking at her. “Does he hate me, will he never talk to me again? Have I foresworn my true love’s love for me? Tell me mother what part of this vile anatomy doth he hate so that I may…”

“Colt!”

“Sorry, while I was waiting I decided to read Romeo and Juliet. I like the story I just don’t like the ending. It’s so sad.”

“It’s supposed to be, it’s a tragedy.”

“Oh, duh!”

Ruthie sighed. “Colt, maybe you should just get out of the car and I’ll cancel the barbecue” she said angrily.

“No. I’m sorry. I’ll knock it off. It’s just that I know you fixed everything and I’m giddy. I love you so much” and with that he leaned across and gave her a hug. Ruth hug him back and kissed him on the top of his head.

“I love you too, so very much.” She continued to hold him in her arms as she talked.
“Look, Keith adores you too and I don’t think there’s anything he wouldn’t do for you. He’s super smart at computers and engineering. But, when you need advice about romance you should come to me. Alex thought you would think he was stupid and that’s because you weren’t honest with him. I don’t know how to really explain it, but it’s like he should have known, only didn’t and then when you find out, the way he did, you do feel stupid. You know it’s like when you’ve been working on a problem and you can’t figure out the answer and yet it’s staring you right in the face.”

“I wanted to be truthful, but I was scared that he’d be like the others and not like me. I really love him.”

“Colt, if he or any other person for that matter, can’t accept you the way you are including your faults then is he really the one for you? I love Keith more than anything in my life, but I love him as he is, he can be so stupid sometimes about certain things, however I can have that and he’s got so many more good things about him that one or two little things don’t matter. Life isn’t always a bowl of cherries and sometime we have our differences and sometimes we argue, but we always communicate and we’re always honest with each other and that always wins out. My responsibility to you is to see you really understand this so that you can have a happy life with whomever you choose. Maybe it will be Alex, maybe someone else. But whoever that person is you have to be honest with each other.”

“I was stupid, wasn’t I?” he said.

“Yes, and I think you owe him an apology. I think you need to go get things sorted out with him about yourself and if he really loves you and if you really mean a lot to him then he’ll love you because you’re smart, even when you do stupid things. He’ll love you because you are you. And if he doesn’t, well, he doesn’t and you just keep looking because someday you will find that special somebody.”

“Should I go see him now and apologize?” he asked.

“That would be a good idea, he’s expecting you.”

“Do you think he likes me? Even a little bit?”

“You know it’s funny, he asked me that very same question.”

“Really! What did you tell him?” he asked excitedly.

“I told her that I didn’t think you were crying over you computer cause you throw it out the window.”
“You told her I was crying!”

“Well, you were, weren’t you?”

“Yes, but he’ll think I’m a wuss!”

“No. I would say he thought it showed that you really liked him and were sorry for not being honest. I also told him earlier that the police didn’t pick you up in your underwear.” Ruth smiled.

“Mom! I couldn’t tell him I was naked as a jay bird! Now he’ll think I’m some kind of pervert!”

Ruth laughed “Then you shouldn’t have been running around without any clothes on, besides now maybe you’ll get the idea of how embarrassed I was when Jack Murphy brought you home that night!” she continued laughing.

“You are vindictive! But I still love you. It’s is sort of funny when you look at it.”

Colt smiled “I gotta go!” He kissed her again and hugged her tight “You’re the best mom in the whole world!”

“Go on go, get out of here and be honest!”

Colt got out of the car and ran half way down the block before he realized he didn’t know Alex’s address “Ruthie! What’s his address?” he yelled.

Ruth held up her hands and communicated 5 1 8.
Colt got it and continued on his way