Starlight Rhapsody

Starlight Rhapsody - Chapter 7

This story begins in 1946 in Boston, Massachusetts. The author was born in 1953 and never experienced life during the time in which the story takes place.

The concept for Starlight Rhapsody was conceived as I awoke one morning. I rushed to my PC to save the idea in a text file, and wound up staying at the PC for the entire day as the first four chapters literally wrote themselves. This novel is a complete work of fiction and the characters bear no resemblance to any real persons, living or dead. The main character's Christian name was chosen because it was the name of an online friend, but the use of his name is the only characteristic they have in common. I sincerely hope you will enjoy Starlight Rhapsody. It is a story filled with love, affection, friendships, relationships, competition and jubilation, however it was written as a same-sex love story without being pornographic. I guess I was motivated to write this story because there's so little literature available that teens can read that could make a positive impression on those attempting to discover their own identities, if they suspect their attraction is to their own sex. I cannot imagine that I could have written a different story with the same commitment and dedication I have given to this one. Those wishing to communicate with me about Starlight Rhapsody can do so at junkmail01801@gmail.com. If you like this story, be sure to make a donation to http://www.nifty.org so that authors like me continue to have a place to post our work so that you may enjoy them!

"Starlight Rhapsody" – Chapter 7

Friday morning and the rest of the school day were no different than those that had preceded them that week, minus the beating in the boys' room. Richie and Kyle met Alex for the walk to school, the day in classes went by slowly, and finally the school day was over. The five boys gathered at the foot of the steps, with Alex's guests carrying duffel bags with changes of clothes and their school books. When they arrived at Alex's house, he led the way in, then closed the door behind his friends.

"Let me show you where to put your stuff," Alex said.

The five boys ascended the grand staircase, then followed Alex to his room. Mike was reading Peyton Place, but was dressed in casual wear. Alex called Mike to his room and introduced his friends to his brother. Mike shook hands with each of them, then went back to his char and his book.

"Want me to close this door so you can have your privacy?" Alex asked Mike.

"No, that's fine, although you might want to close it if you guys want some privacy," Mike said with a grin.

"Maybe later," Alex said.

"Hey, the five of us won't fit on that," Kyle observed, pointing to Alex's bed.

Alex reached behind the door for the pole, slid the end of the pole into the hook, and pulled the large bed down out of the wall.

"I think between this and my bed, we ought to be able to fit five guys between 13 and 14 years of age," Alex answered. "The three thinner guys can fit in the larger bed and the two larger guys can fit in the smaller bed."

"That'll work," Kyle answered.

"I'm going to change out of my school clothes and put on some casual clothes," Alex said. It's what I do every day after school. If any of you guys want to change, there are hangers in my closet to hang up your slacks, but after you put them on the hangers, give them to me so I can hang them according to who belongs to what."

Alex removed his shirt and tossed it in his hamper, then removed his slacks and hung them up. Grabbing a pair of khakis and a green polo shirt, he was once again fully dressed. The other boys fumbled with their shirts, ties, belts and slacks. The twins tried to remove their slacks without removing there shoes, but were disappointed at not being able to do so. Once everyone had changed their clothes and slacks and shirts were hung up in order, Alex led them down to the game room.

"Wow, this is incredible!" Donnie exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's like a regular casino," Danny said, spinning the Roulette wheel.

"Can we play with everything here?" Kyle asked.

"Sure, but if you want to play the slot machines, you have to use your own coins," Alex said.

"What do they take?" Richie asked

"One takes nickels and the other takes quarters," Alex answered.

Richie took out a nickel and put it into one of the machines and pulled the handle. When the three cylinders had stopped, the machine spit out twenty nickels.

"Wow, I just won a dollar!" Richie exclaimed.

"No, you actually won ninety-five cents," Alex explained. "You always deduct what you put into the machine from your winnings, because that is what it cost you out of your pocket to play the game. My brother explained that to me."

When they thought about it, they had to admit Mike's logic was accurate.

Alex cautioned Richie, "Quit while you're ahead, otherwise you could lose everything you just won."

The boy put his nickel back in his pocket, at least for now.

"What would you like to do? We can play cards, shoot pool, and play ping-pong or whatever you want to do."

"How about we play poker, but instead of using real money, we'll just use the poker chips," Kyle suggested.

"What's your game?" Danny asked.

"Whatever you like. Draw, five-card Stud, seven-card Stud, it doesn't matter." Kyle answered.

"Draw," Danny replied. "Is everyone OK with that?

"I'll need a refresher on how to play," Alex said, being totally unfamiliar with the game, but embarrassed to say so.

Kyle and Danny ran down the rules and method of play for all the boys and suggested they play a few practice hands until everyone felt comfortable with the game. Once they were, the chips were handed out and the game began. While they played, Mike came down, quietly entered the room and sat in a corner to observe his brother's guests. Satisfied that everything was fine among them, he quietly left without them ever knowing he had been in the room and stopped by Krystal's office to give her a status report. In his opinion, Alex's guests were well-behaved fun-loving boys, and as long as they treated his brother with respect, he had no issues with any of them. Krystal smiled and appreciated his assessment. Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Elena was cussing up a storm about having to feed four extra mouths on such short notice. The missus wanted four extra steaks grilled, and when they arrived from the butcher, they were slightly frozen, having been packed in ice for too long. Luckily, she put them on a metal tray and left them next to a window with the sun pouring in, and that did the trick. Dinner was ready on time, and the steaks were grilled perfectly. At promptly 6:30 P.M., Elena rang the bell for dinner.

"Dinner time," Alex announced, but allowed the hand in progress to be played out. "Follow me."

The four guests followed their host from the game room to the dining room and told each one where to sit. He did this to avoid having to kick one of them out of the seats usually occupied by his family members. They were shortly joined by Krystal and Mike. Krystal was about to offer the blessing, but Alex beat her to it. The blessing he offered thanked God for his family and the good things he had received through the week, including the associations with his new friends. He asked God to protect them all from harm and from temptation, and that they he guide them all to be kind and show respect for everyone. Alex's friends never heard anyone offer a blessing like that before, so they found it unusual, but at the end, they all chimed in with an "Amen."

The steaks were distributed to all, with Alex serving his guests first, then his Mom and his brother, with himself taking the last one. There were both baked and sweet potatoes, and some steamed kale with garlic butter. Like most boys, Alex's guests tried to pass on the green vegetable, but Alex insisted they try it and all of them enjoyed multiple servings.

"How do you boys like The Boston Academy?" Krystal asked Alex's guests.

"Not much," Kyle ventured.

"I suppose it's all right, for a school," Danny said, while his twin just made a crazy gesture.

"I don't like any school," Richie stated, flatly.

"What don't you boys like about it?" Krystal wanted to know.

"They expect too much of us," Donnie said, breaking his silence. "I have friends in public school that only have half the work we get."

"You know what?" Alex chimed in. "They only get half the work because the public school only gives their kids half the education we get. Our school is preparing us for tomorrow while theirs is barely preparing them for today."

An astonished Krystal and Mike looked at one another in amazement at the boy's words.

"There's a saying that you get what you pay for," Alex continued. "The parents of public school students pay nothing in tuition, while our families pay to send us to The Boston Academy. What kind of school gives away a good education away for free?"

Everyone in the room was in awe of Alex's logic. His guests had little choice but to admit he was probably correct, Mike couldn't have been more proud of his brother at that moment, and Krystal was doing everything she could to smile and hold back her tears of joy.

After dinner, the boys went back to the game room to finish their poker game, and in a short while Kyle had everyone else's chips. As they were seen leaving the game room, Krystal directed the five boys back to the dining room for some devil's food layer cake and glasses of milk. They made mad dashes for the table and assumed the same seats they used at dinner. Krystal abstained from the cake, but Mike joined the rest of the guys.

"Are you guys having fun?" Mike asked Alex's guests.

"Yes, I am," but I can't speak for these clowns," Kyle quipped.

"I am too," Richie chimed in.

"You guys are awesome to let us spend the weekend here," Danny interjected.

"Yeah really, you guys are really nice, and it's fun here," Donnie added.

"What do you guys want to do next? Alex asked his friends. "We could go down to the music room and listen to records, or I could bore you playing the piano."

"You play piano?" Richie asked. "What sort of music do you play?"

"Classical," Alex replied.

"My mother makes me take violin lessons," Richie whined. "I hate it, and I hate the music I have to play."

"Try to listen to the music and see what you can draw from it," Alex said. "It's not all what you think, and sometimes you have to find just one tiny element in the music that speaks to you, and then you understand it."

"Come on down to the music room and I'll show you what I discovered about classical music," Mike said, leading the way. He flipped on the lights, grabbed the Ravel and Debussy records he had enjoyed, stacked them on the player and turned off the lights again.

"Hey, what gives?" Danny asked.

"I'm going to start the records in the dark," Mike told them. You boys are going to close your eyes and let the music paint images in your mind. Don't say anything until the last record has played."

Mike pushed the button, the first record dropped, and Debussy's "Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun" began to play. The boys did as they were instructed, remaining totally motionless and silent. When it had finished, the player dropped Debussy's "Clair de Lune," and the boys again followed Mike's instructions. Finally, Ravel's "Pavane for a Dead Princess" dropped and played. When the music stopped, Mike turned the lights back on.

"Well, did the music draw pictures in your mind as you listened?" Mike asked the boys.

"Yeah, and it was awesome, all these colors and shapes seemed to appear with one record, another one showed me a sailboat in the moonlight, and when the other one played, I thought I was gliding in the air over trees," Donnie said.

"I saw all kinds of things," Danny said, "but they didn't have any size or shape with the first record, just sort of like bursts of light, then the second one I imagined I was in a horse and buggy on a darkened country road, and on the third one, all I could see was me going through a tunnel."

"The first one had me taking a walk through a forest in autumn, when the leaves are all red, orange and yellow," Alex said. "The second one was sort of like what Donnie said, but it wasn't a sailboat, more like the dead of night on an ocean liner, and the third one had me walking through empty corridors at school."

"During the first one, I thought I was at a circus and a magician was making a lady float through the air with no wires," Kyle offered. "The second one just reminded me of the city with totally empty streets, like during a blizzard, with the whole city as peace, like it was asleep. The third one was hard to describe, because there were no defined images or scenes, it was like looking at this weird painting my Mom has. She calls it `abstract' or something like that."

"When the first record played," Richie began, "I just saw little rectangular bars in soft colors, and the louder the music got, the larger the bars got, and as the record ended the bars got smaller and just faded away. The second one made me think I was at Cape Cod with my parents, sitting on the beach at night, just watching the waves break upon the sand, and the third one made me think I was watching a travelogue at the movies."

"So the music let your imagination take you to places you remember," Mike said, "or drew memorable pictures in your minds as the records played?"

The five boys nodded.

"Until I heard those three records a few days ago, and I found them purely by chance, I had no idea I could even enjoy classical music, but those three records changed my whole perspective," Mike told them. "I see classical music totally differently now, and I have a respect for it because instead of trying to appreciate it, I put the records on and let the results of listening just happen, and it did."

That was Alex's cue. Purely by circumstance, the piece Krystal gave him to practice for his next lesson was Debussy's "Clair de Lune." Since he had practiced it the previous evening, the sheets were still on the music stand. He got up from his seat, went over to the piano, and played it for his guests. While the record they heard was the orchestrated version, they recognized it as the same melody and were quite impressed that their new friend was as talented as he was. When he had finished, his guest stood up and applauded him. Alex took a bow, then suggested they head upstairs to his room. Mike put the records away, turned off the lights, closed the door and went up to his own room.

Alex pulled down the bed in the wall and got six pillows from a closet. Since he and Kyle were both skinny, the twins had medium builds and Richie was pudgy, Alex suggested that the twins take the pull-down bed and that Kyle and Richie sleep in his bed with him.

"You guys get undressed for bed, the boy told his guests. "You can sleep however you like. I sleep naked and Mike next door does, too. The bathroom's over there and if someone needs to use it and someone else is in it, there's another one next door in Mike's room. If you guys want, we can close the door to Mike's room, but he and I usually keep it open because it makes it easier to talk."

"You sleep naked, huh?" Kyle asked.

"All the time," Alex said.

"What about you, Richie?" Kyle asked

"I do if I don't have any clean pajamas," Richie replied.

"Well, I will if you do," Kyle told him, since Alex already admitted to how he slept.

"Oh, I don't care. Sure." Richie said.

Kyle went to ask the twins, but they were already asleep on the pull-down bed lying naked on top of the covers.

"I guess it's unanimous. Everyone sleeps naked." said Kyle.

Alex closed the adjoining door to Mike's room, got into bed with Richie on the opposite side and Kyle in the middle. Richie fell immediately asleep, but Kyle wasn't that tired so he talked with Alex for a while.

"You are a truly amazing kid, you know that?" Kyle commended his host.

"You seem to just understand things that other kids don't, even ones much older than you," Kyle told him. I know you're almost 13, but you're more mature for your age than my older sister, and she's eighteen. Your brother's a great guy, too. He didn't have to spend time with us showing us what classical music could do in our minds, but he did. You were right what you said about your adoptive family. Your Mom and brother really care about you, and it's obvious you really care about them. My familys not like that; we don't care about each other the way the three of you do. Can I tell you something?

"Sure," Alex replied.

"These are the guys I hang around with because they're funny and we have a good time, but I don't consider them best friends. There something about you that makes me want to have you as a best friend, because you make me feel like I can talk to you about anything, and even if you don't understand what I say, you at least try to. I can't tell those guys how I feel about some things because they have no clue about feelings, but you're not like them. You actually have feelings and you don't hide them, and I see that your Mom is like that, and your brother is like that, too.

"Part of the reason I'm who I am is because of them," Alex told Kyle. "The tell me they love me, my Mom isn't up my rear end all the time about things, and my brother and I talk about everything and anything. They leave me free to experience life as it comes, and when I have questions about things, I usually go to my brother because he's always honest with me."

"I don't have anyone like that in my family," Kyle said. "My sister's always too busy breaking up with this guy or going out with that guy, and I can't talk to her about guy things, anyway. My dad works two jobs just so my Mom can stay in the same house she spent her childhood, and so they can send me to private school instead of public school. My dad said that if we moved to a suburb and sold this house, we could buy two houses in the suburbs and use one just as rental income. I could still go to a private school, but Mom won't move from the house where she grew up."

"It sounds like your family is pulling itself apart," Alex said. "Your Mom wants it her way, you Dad thinks there's a better way, and your sister's only concern is finding a guy she likes that likes her back. Here, we discuss what we think might be best, and we have trust in each other, so everyone's views count for something. Mom could have the final say, because she took Mike and me in and adopted us, but it doesn't work that way. She listens to us, and if one of us has a better answer that works out for everyone, that's what gets chosen. We communicate with one another, but we also have a lot of love in our hearts for one another. None of us would ever do anything intentionally to hurt one of the others, because we would feel pain in our own hearts if we did."

"What exactly is love?" Kyle asked. "You seem to know about it, so tell me, what is it?"

"When you love someone, you care about them with everything you are. You respect them, you always want the best for them, to always see them happy, and when they're not happy, you want to fix it so they become happy. My Mom does everything she can to make me happy here. She didn't have to invite you guys for a sleepover weekend, but she did. All I asked was that you guys could hang out after school today, but she took it all the way to Sunday. She knew I'd be happy to have you guys for the whole weekend, and so she set it up with your parents, and I love her because she did it. Mike and I are sometimes so close that we almost read each other's minds. He cares about me a whole lot, does things with me, and even changes his habits because of me. I started to avoid wearing my undershorts when I was just hanging out in my room. I just hang out naked. After a while, Mike started doing it too, and now he finds it's more comfortable than wearing undershorts in our rooms. Once he got used to it, he now thinks that if a guy can't be comfortable in his own room, where can he be comfortable? Mike and I are closer than many natural brothers ever get, maybe even closer than the twins. We just have so much love and respect for each other that I don't think we could have a tighter bond if it was sealed with cement."

"Wow kid, you have it all," Kyle said. "Nobody makes me feel like that."

"You asked me if I would be your best friend, didn't you?" Alex asked. "Suppose I say yes, and as part of our friendship, I offer you what Mike and I have as brothers? Will that make you feel like you're a part of something you're missing that I already have?

"Maybe. I hope so, Alex," Kyle said. "It's really kind of lonely being me."

"That's what brought the three of us together in the first place," Alex said. "Mom was lonely after her husband died, but she still can't bring herself to date any guys. Mike was lonely when his time at the boys' home came to an end, so he got hired as St. Patrick's orphanage where they stuck me after my parents and sister died in the car accident. They assigned Mike to take care of me so that's how we met and bonded tightly, and Mom came twice a week to give me free piano lessons because of my love for music. Mom saw how tight the bond was between Mike and me, so she originally hired him to be my governor. A few days later, she had the idea that she should adopt us and make us a real family. Mike and I agreed, and here we are, the O'Reilly family.

"Do you think your Mom and Mike would mind very much if I came over here a lot to hang out with my best friend?" Kyle asked.

"Not at all," Alex said. I'll just tell Mom that we've become best friends because you really need one and she will understand. It's how she is. I know something you need right now, and I'm going to give it to you."

Alex shoved one of his arms under Kyle's shoulder, wrapped the other arm around his other shoulder, and in spite of the fact they were both naked, gave his new best friend a hug. Kyle responded by putting his arms around Alex and returned the gesture, with tears in his eyes. He didn't understand what he felt from this boy but it was a feeling he never felt from anyone else. If what he sensed from Alex was love, he never wanted it to go away. This kid was really special, and he was the very one he punched in the boys' room earlier that week. Alex rolled over to face the outside edge of his bed, but Kyle kept his left arm wrapped around Alex as they both fell asleep. When Alex awoke the next morning, Kyle's arm hadn't moved. He thought about what he and Kyle discussed before falling asleep and he really pitied the older boy. None of the other boys were awake, so Alex took a quick shower, dressed and went down to the dining room. He knew he'd have to wait for his friends to wake up, but he needed a sympathetic ear. Krystal was seated at the table enjoying her morning tea.

"Mom, I need a sympathetic ear," Alex said to Krystal.

"What wrong, honey?" She asked.

"Kyle's got some issues," the boy began. "We talked after the other three boys fell asleep last night. Kyle says that I'm a really special kid, and I think he's sort of jealous of me because of the relationships we have between the three of us in our family. He doesn't have the same kind of relationships with his family, and it's like everyone over there isn't really a family member, but they're all on their own individual journeys through life. The only thing they seem to have in common is their address! Well, Kyle said that he hangs out with Danny, Donnie and Richie because they're funny and clown around a lot, but he sees that I'm not like those guys. He said that he sees that I understand things, and even when I don't, I at least try to. I mentioned about the love and respect we have for one another in our family, and he even had to ask me what it felt like to be loved! I described it as best I could, but then the subject got changed to best friends. He asked if I would be his best friend because I understand things, especially feelings, and the other three guys never talk about feelings. I agreed to be his best friend because I really think he needs a friend he can talk to about anything, no matter how serious or silly. What do you think?"

"You are probably right about Kyle," Krystal said. "If the people in his family are as disconnected as you say, your friend can definitely use a good friend and confidant. Because we can talk about anything in our family, anytime you get stuck for an answer for Kyle, you can always bring the situation to me like you just did now, or to Mike, especially if Kyle has a `guy' problem that I obviously wouldn't be able to help you with. It's no accident what happened between the five of you last Tuesday, because God brought that boy to you for friendship and help. Now you know why I arranged this weekend sleepover. You are a very gifted boy. You never hide your feelings, you're willing to share yourself with others, making their lives happier, then seeing them make yours rewarding. If you think Kyle will benefit from having you as his best friend, then you should definitely be his best friend."

"Before we fell asleep, I gave him a hug, Alex said. Was that all right?"

"Of course it was, dear," Krystal said. "If you had to explain what love was to your friend, your gesture of giving him a hug was a perfectly innocent way of telling him that he's become a part of your life."

"Should I wake everyone up or let them sleep?" Alex asked.

"If they're not up by 10:30, wake them up," Krystal said, "but let them sleep until then."

"All right," he said. "I'll just go back up to my room for now. It'll be interesting to see who wakes up first."

Alex ascended the stairs and went back to his room. Seeing the other boys were still sleeping, Alex removed his clothes and climbed back into bed next to Kyle. Sensing that Alex's warm body had returned, Kyle maneuvered himself into a spooning position against him, wrapped his arm around him and pulled him tightly against himself, but from what Alex could tell, Kyle was still sound asleep. Richie was the next to awaken, with a need to use the bathroom. Without bothering to close the door, Richie relieved himself, flushed, then returned to bed but not to sleep. Hearing Richie's flush, Danny got up next, repeated Richie's routine, but getting back into bed, nudged his twin who had to repeat the process all over again. That left only Kyle still asleep.

"Did everyone sleep well? Alex asked?

"Like a baby," Danny mumbled.

"Yeah," Richie agreed.

"My mattress at home doesn't feel like this one," Donnie said. "Mine's all lumpy and soft. This one holds your whole body at the same level!"

"Mmmmmm," was all that came out of Kyle, who apparently didn't want to move or let go of Alex, which the other boys couldn't see because Kyle's arm was under the bedcovers.

"You guys can take showers if you like," Alex told them. "There are clean towels on the racks everywhere in the bathroom.

The twins went into the bathroom together and showered together, which they were used to doing at home. When they came out, Richie went in and took his shower. Finally, Kyle felt he had to move and use the bathroom. With Richie in the shower, Kyle relieved himself and flushed.

"Ow! Hey, this water got too hot!" Richie yelled.

`Sorry," Kyle yelled back.

When Richie was done in the shower, Kyle followed. All five boys then dressed and went down for breakfast. Between the time Alex sat with Krystal discussing Kyle and now, French toast, scrambled eggs, bacon, ham and sausages appeared on the table, obviously prepared for Alex and his guests. Mike came down and joined the boys, asking the usual irrelevant questions about finding the beds comfortable, having enough pillows, and making small talk. Mike could see by the look on Alex's face that he wanted to talk, but getting private time with four guests in the house wouldn't be easy. He suggested they walk down to Boston Common to see if anything was going on there. It was only down the hill from the house, and it would give them all some fresh air. Having nothing else immediately planned, the boys agreed. Upon reaching the Common, Mike suggested that if they became separated, they should all meet back at the entrance to the Park Street Station trolley stop in an hour. They began to walk down a path, when the twins saw some people gathering around a one-man band, and wanted to check that out. It also interested Richie, who followed the twins, leaving Mike, Alex and Kyle to bring up the rear.

"You guys left the door slightly ajar last night, and your voices carried," Mike told Alex and Kyle. "Kyle, I know Alex agreed to be your best friend, but I want you to know that you have another best friend right here," he said, using his thumbs to point to himself. "Our family has a lot of love in it because we're open and honest with each other, and we tell one another what we feel. Anytime you need to talk, if my brother is in a piano lesson or busy with something else and he just can't talk with you right away, you can always come to talk with me. I'm Alex's big brother, but I became his big brother after I became his close friend. We had the good fortune to see in one another what other people couldn't see in us. My brother and I both think you need people in your life who can see in you what other people can't see. I can see that you are a lost soul who is desperately in search of people who have the time, understanding, and capacity to love you. Our family has enough love that we can spare that one more boy who needs it won't make the slightest difference. Now, we can't provide you a home away from your family, but our door can always be open to you when you need it or when you just want to come over and hang out. We can talk about anything you like, and you should never be afraid to discuss what's on your mind because no one in our family will ever judge you for it. Now, is that all right with you?"

Kyle didn't know what to do, so he just wrapped his arms around the young man as his eyes began to water.

"You and Alex understand me better than my own parents," Kyle sobbed, "and Alex isn't thirteen years-old yet!"

"Kyle, everything happens for a reason," Mike explained. Whether you slugged my brother in the boys' room or you didn't was never the issue. You and he were destined to meet because God saw a lost soul in you, and he sent you my brother as your angel. People don't recognize when things like that happen, but my family of three totally unrelated people are of kindred spirits, and we do recognize when we are called to be angels for someone in need. That is how Alex and I found one another. He had a need, and God sent me to him. He had a different need, and God sent him Krystal. We all had needs and accepted that God sent us each other. We were all raised as Roman Catholics, but we don't take a lot of stock in religion. We recognize that He works in our lives and uses us to help one another. He now sees that you need help, and He sent you to Alex and through Alex, he brought you to all of us. You might not be able to join our legal family, but you can join our spiritual family and join us in our home whenever you like or your family permits. We will teach you what it means to love and what it feels like to be loved. You will learn that we accept people in spite of their faults because we are all human, and no humans are perfect. Three imperfect people united to become a perfect family with God's blessing. You are always welcome, and don't forget it."

"You guys are incredible," Kyle said. "After what I did to your kid brother, I would have slammed your door in my face if I were you."

"That is not love, Kyle." Alex interjected. I weighed my decision to forgive you for what you did, and I remembered Jesus' words about forgiveness. I would have been a hypocrite if I hadn't accepted your apology, and then I would be guilty. That's just who I am. Look at what happened. I forgave you, and now you have two best friends, and our Mom is behind us in our effort to share our love with you. We don't want anything from you, other than that you accept our love and learn to give your love to others who need it."

"I think I get it Alex," said Kyle. "What I learn from you guys and what you teach me about feelings, when I see someone else who is down in the dumps with nowhere to turn, I'm supposed to teach them about love and to understand feelings so that they can pass it on to someone else. Is that it?"

"You got it kid," Mike answered. "That's really how it all works. My family means everything to me. Once you understand what we do, you'll be part of our family as well, because you see, it's not really our family at all. It's God's family. Somewhere along the line, religion became more important to people than faith. Faith is the relationship between you and God, with no man in between other than Jesus. That's all there is, and a city full of clergymen won't make it any easier, because they're unnecessary. You heard the blessing my brother offered last night before dinner, didn't you? That blessing came from his heart, and those are the kinds of words God wants to hear. If you want to see changes in your own family, take what you learn from us home to your house and make it the standard order of practice in your own home, and you just watch how quickly your family takes notice and becomes more open to love."

The fourteen year-old hugged Mike again, reached over and hugged Alex saying, "God did right by bringing me to you guys. My mom and dad don't believe in God, but I've never known people like you."

"We're around," Alex told his new best friend, "but you only get sent an angel when you are at a point in life where you can accept one. Just remember, we're human, so we're not perfect. A pastor once told me that if I ever found a perfect church, I shouldn't think of joining it, because if I did, then it wouldn't be perfect anymore. Nothing and no one on earth is perfect, but the best we can do is try to be."

"Your family is the closest thing to perfect I've ever found," Kyle admitted, and then looking at Alex, he said, "Maybe I shouldn't be sorry I slugged you in the boys' room?"

"Maybe it doesn't matter if you are or not. What matters is that you are where you are now," Alex told him.

Mike gazed at the crowd milling about the common, but couldn't see the other three boys.

"We need to move to Park Street Station. We seem to have lost your other friends, and we agreed to have them meet us there," Mike told the younger guys. "Let's go."

Upon arriving at the entrance to the station, they found their Donnie, Danny and Richie waiting for them. For the walk home, Mike led the way, and the five boys followed walking five abreast with their arms around each other, forcing other pedestrians off the curb. They got back to the house and were informed that homemade soup and turkey sandwiches awaited them in the dining room. After having lunch, all six guys realized they were up late the night before, had taken a trek up and down hills between the house and the common, and believed they needed to take naps. They lay on top of their respective beds, surprised to find them made instead of the way they left them. Apparently Elena was instructed to make the beds while they were out, and not wanting Mike to feel left out, she made his as well. Richie moved over to the pull-down bed with the twins, leaving Kyle and Alex alone on Alex's bed, and within minutes, Richie and the twins were asleep.

"Are you OK?" Alex asked Kyle, knowing his mind was full of thoughts he didn't understand.

"I don't know," Kyle replied. "I go over the Donnie and Danny's house, and their family is just like mine. Richie just lives with his Mom and his sister. I guess his Mom threw his Dad out for being drunk all the time. Your family is just so different, and you're not even blood relatives."

"Sometimes, we just have to accept what we have and try to change things from within as best we can," Alex told his friend. "Try taking what you see that you like from my family and giving it to yours. You won't know what effect it will have on them until you try, but maybe if your family sees a change in you, it will make changes in them, bring you all closer together, and you will feel the same way about your family as I do about mine."

"Will you help me?" Kyle pleaded.

"Of course I will," Alex replied. If I said "no," I wouldn't be showing you what love is all about. "My love for Mike changed him, and the love he gave back to me changed me. Mom's love for both of us still changes us, and our love for her changed her, too. This didn't happen overnight. It took almost two years. I had just turned eleven when my family and I were in our accident and I went to the orphanage. Krystal was the first person to show me any kindness, followed by Mike. Mike and I bonded because he was always there for me, and he treated me with respect, even though I was stuck in a wheelchair with both legs in casts. When it became apparent to Mike that I'd have to be sent to a boys' home when I turned thirteen, he came over here on his own and talked with Krystal, because if I got sent to the boys' home, I'd have to stop my piano lessons and I'd get separated from Mike, and that's how all of this happened. The two of them cared enough about me to do something about my situation and the three of us became a family. I guess this all started because of the love my natural parents gave me before they died."

Kyle reached around Alex with his arm and just left it there, as the two boys fell asleep. The adjoining door to Mike's room was still wide open, and the young man couldn't help but hear the conversation between his brother and his friend. Mike was proud of Alex, extending himself to a boy who obviously needed him as a friend, and the words he chose to explain how Kyle might take examples from this house home to his own and affect changes within his own family. Mike recognized that Kyle was a troubled soul who needed a deeper meaning in what appeared to be a shallow life, and that Donnie, Danny and Richie's lives were probably just as shallow, so that had little to contribute to Kyle, other than their zany humor. He put the boys out of his mind and opened Grace Metalious' novel from where he left off and began to read.

Elena rang the dinner bell promptly at 6:30, waking up everyone in the wing the guys shared. Alex noticed Kyle's arm was still around him, and he had to smile. He felt good that Kyle needed his friendship and that he made the older boy feel wanted. Upon realizing his arm was still around Alex, Kyle withdrew it. The five of them headed downstairs somewhat groggily to be greeted with a giant pot roast, with new potatoes, carrots, onions, celery and whatever else Elena could find to stuff into the pot. Before eating, Kyle shocked everyone by asking for permission to offer the blessing, to which Alex replied, "Go ahead." Kyle thanked God for the food they were about to eat, but especially for being blessed with being accepted as a friend of the O'Reilly family. Like Alex, the previous evening, he asked for protection from harm and evil, and added a twist of his own. The boy asked for the wisdom to recognize when angels are sent to help them all, an addition that surprised even Mike. Once he had finished and the "Amens" were said, group began to dine and Mike opened the conversation.

"Mom, how does it feel to be surrounded by all these guys after being alone for a few years?" he asked.

"Finally, there's some life in this place," Krystal admitted. "I look at the six of you and I see six hungry-but-happy mouths devouring good food, and apparently enjoying it. This will probably only be the first time Alex's friends will spend a weekend here, because I see it does him well to have you boys join us."

"You aren't like my Mom," Richie said. "You seem to let Alex do whatever he wants around here, but my Mom's always suspicious that I'm up to something."

"Maybe you have given her cause to be suspicious," Krystal suggested. "In this house, everything is based on trust. I trust that Alex will behave as I expect of him, and he doesn't betray my trust. Everything here that you have seen at least is shared among us. Mike and Alex respect my privacy and they respect mine. Even my housekeeper stays out of their bedrooms, except to change their linens, provide clean towels, and take their dirty laundry out of their hampers for cleaning. There is no need for rules here. Everything is based on trust, respect and love.

"What brought you decide to be this way with them?" Danny asked. "Our parents, mine and Donnie's, are just like Richie's Mom."

"I think it has something to do with our personalities," Krystal answered. "The three of us, before we ever thought we might become a family, always see the good in people. Not everyone can do that, but we can and do. We don't judge other people for their mistakes, either. Alex told me about what happened with you boys at school, but because Alex didn't judge you for what you did, here you sit in our dining room and you boys have become his friends. It's in his nature to forgive, and in your case, he did."

"We're really sorry about that, Mrs. O'Reilly," Kyle began. "That was a really sh..., I mean a really rotten thing we did." Kyle caught himself before uttering an expletive in front of Krystal.

"I know what you were going to say, and I thank you for not saying it," she replied. "My name is Krystal, so let's dispense with the formalities and remain on a first-name basis, please.

"OK, Krystal," Kyle responded, thinking to himself, that this lady was something else. If one of his friends called his mother or father by their first name, they'd be banned from his house!

"Let me tell you what I know about my son," Krystal said. "Alex is sensitive to the feelings of others. He cares about people, and doesn't mind showing that he does. I don't know if Alex is capable of concealing his feelings, but if he isn't, I don't view it as a bad thing. Because of who he is, he will grow up to be an admirable adult. Mike is already one in both my eyes and Alex's. I am proud of both my sons and am happy that they made the choice to become my sons. The three of us love one another very much."

"Aw," Donnie began, "Don't get all mushy with that love stuff."

"That's what makes our home different than many others," Alex interjected. "Everything about us is out in the open among us. If I'm excited about something, even if it concerns a topic in which they have no real interest, Mom and Mike listen to what I'm excited about. Mike got accepted to Harvard and starts next term to study to be a doctor. He was excited about it, and I became excited for him. In this family, we are three separate people who share common lives. The key word is share."

"I have to tell you something that has been bothering me at school," Alex continued. "You all know how everyone calls Mrs. Appleton `Mrs. Crabapple?' I mentioned it to Mike, and he pointed out that the lady is probably a very good teacher and is devoted to her job, but someone gave her that nickname and it stuck. Now, who has Mrs. Appleton as a teacher?"

All four boys raised their hands.

"Now, imagine what it's like going to work every day an hearing people call you `Mrs. Crabapple' behind your back? Wouldn't you feel unappreciated?"

The four boys nodded.

"I intend to do something nice for Mrs. Appleton. Tomorrow, I'm going down to the flower market to buy a rose and a vase from my allowance to give it to Mrs. Appleton to show her that I appreciate her for teaching me. You guys don't have to do anything for her unless you want to, but I think it would make her feel better about her job, instead of having her go home every day thinking we all hate her."

"This is what we mean about Alex being sensitive to the feelings of others," Mike said. "He and I talked about this, and this is what he has decided. There's no guarantee that his gesture will make a difference in her attitude, but an act of kindness never hurt anyone."

The four guests were totally spellbound by their three hosts. Things were being discussed that never crossed their minds, but everything the three O'Reilly's said made perfect sense.

"I'm going to get her a nice greeting card that just says, `Thank you'," Danny said.

"Can we both sign it?" Donnie asked.

"I think you should find your own way of expressing yourself," Danny replied.

"I agree," Krystal interjected.

"My Mom makes up fruit baskets for her friends when they're in the hospital," Richie said. "Maybe I could have her make up on for Mrs. Appleton."

"That would be OK, if you buy the fruit out of your own money," Alex chimed in.

"I have a kit I got last Christmas," Kyle said. "It's a set of bookends that have to be carved and finished. I started it, but never finished it. Maybe Mrs. Appleton would like it."

"You all have some good ideas," Krystal said. "Now, the five of you should decide whether to give them to her all at once, or separately."

"All at once!" was the unanimous decision.

"I will wait until you guys have your things ready to give her," Alex began, "and then after school, the five of us will go to her room and give them to her at the same time. I have to wait, because if I buy a rose tomorrow, it will have wilted by the time you have your gifts ready."

The seven of them remained at the dining room table and continued conversing for the rest of the evening, until Krystal told them she was tired, excused herself and retreated to her room. Mike continued to hang out with the boys until Richie said he was tired, Donnie and Danny agreed, so the party adjourned to Alex's room. The five boys tossed their clothes in piles next to their beds, Donnie, Danny and Richie sitting up on the pull-down bed and Kyle and Alex on his bed. Upon walking through the adjoining door, Mike saw the five of them and exclaimed, "What am I in, a nudist camp?"

Alex said, "Who are you kidding, Mike? You're just like me. You're more comfortable undressed in the privacy of our rooms than we both are in our undershorts!"

Mike grinned and said, "You got me there, little brother, but it's your fault. You kept saying how much more comfortable you were, and didn't care whether or not I was around, so eventually, I had to admit that you were right."

Danny said, "Donnie and I don't care because we've either bathed or showered together since we were little."

"I can't go around my house like this," Richie said. "I live with my mother and my sister."

"I can, because I have my own room on the top floor," Kyle said, "and nobody else will climb three flights of stairs to get up there."

"Don't your folks go up there to see if you've cleaned your room?" Richie asked Kyle.

"Nope," he replied. "They don't have to, because it's always clean."

"I'm ready for bed," Richie said.

"Me too," Donnie added, with Danny nodding his head.

"You guys slept half the day," Kyle observed. "How can you be tired?"

"It's getting late," Mike interjected, "and your biological clocks are used to going to bed at certain times. I'm used to staying awake later than my brother, but because he's usually asleep before me, it's easier for him to get up earlier than I do. He was the first one up this morning, went down and talked to Mom, then came back up and climbed back into bed."

"How do you know that?" Alex asked his brother.

"I woke up while you were in the shower and had to use the bathroom, and I was still awake when you got dressed and went downstairs. When you came back up, I heard you close your door, and your bed creak when you got back into it," Mike explained. "You know I wouldn't spy on you, it's just what I heard."

Donnie, Danny and Richie were all stretched out under the covers of the pull-down bed and quickly fell asleep. Mike retreated to his own room to read, but left the adjoining door open.

"Are you OK?" Alex asked Kyle. He knew something was amiss with his friend, but no logical explanation was forthcoming.

"You O'Reilly's are really something, you know that?" Kyle stated, but in the form of a question.

"We are pretty lucky, and gifted," Alex replied. "Talk to me. Tell me what's really on your mind."

"That's the problem, Alex," his friend answered. "I don't know what's on my mind. I just know that since I've been here, I have feelings I've never had before, feelings I don't know how to explain. I've never met people like you, Krystal and Mike. The three of you have made me feel like someone really cared about me, I mean for who I am without trying to turn me into the person they think I should be. I hang with those guys because they make me laugh, but they don't make me feel as though I'm part of their world. Here, the three of you want the four of us to be part of yours.

"Patience, understanding and tolerance," Alex said, "are all part of how and why we take people for who they are. Let me ask you, did any adult ever tell you that you were a bad kid?"

"I swiped a piece of bubble gum from a store once with my father," Kyle told him. "The storekeeper caught me, and when we got home, my father tanned my hide."

"That isn't what I asked," Alex responded. "Did he tell you that you were a bad person?"

"I don't remember, but I don't think so," Kyle said. "Why?"

"I was just wondering," Alex replied.

"I wish you were my brother," Kyle told him.

"Maybe in a way, I am," Alex said. "You don't have a real brother, but you now have Mike and me whenever you need us. If you need a reassuring hug, come on over and either of us will be glad to give you one. If we're not here, talk to Mom. Trust me when I tell you that we know things about you that you don't know yourself."

"Who told you?" Kyle asked, somewhat defensively.

"You did," Alex answered in a way that further confused Kyle.

Alex stared into his friend's eyes and thought he saw something in them, but didn't understand what he thought he might have seen. He rolled onto his back, then onto his right side to face the edge of his bed, and as soon as he did, Kyle's arm went over him and drew him closer. To Alex, this was no different that it would have been if Mike had done it. He closed his eyes, feeling that he was providing a degree of comfort to a needy friend.

The next morning there was a bustle in the room, as Danny woke up first at about 7:30 AM, gave his twin an elbow in the ribs, waking him up, and he in turn rolled Richie off the pull-down bed. The three boys stood up and looked at Alex sleeping peacefully with Kyle's arm around him. Donnie pointed at the two of them, saying, "Isn't that cute!" The bustle in Alex's room roused Mike, who rolled out of bed to check on the commotion. Finding Donnie with his finger still pointing at his brother and Kyle, asked him, "What's your problem, Donnie?"

Donnie replied, "All I said was `Isn't that cute?'"

"Do you see something wrong with that?" Mike asked.

"Well yeah, I mean there are two boys together and one has his arm around the other," Donnie said.

"I know five guys who walked five abreast with their arms around one another on the way back from the Common," Mike countered.

Donnie put his arm down, looking somewhat ashamed of himself.

"This is what we mean when we talk about not judging people," Mike told the three boys. "You don't know why Kyle's arm is around my brother. Maybe one of them needed a reassuring hug. Maybe Kyle doesn't know he put his arm around Alex, or Alex doesn't know Kyle's arm is there, or he does but he doesn't want to wake Kyle to make him move it. There are many reasons why you see what you see, but you shouldn't jump to any conclusions about it. Alex and I hug each other all the time. Donnie, are you going to stand there and tell me that you and Danny never hug one another? You're twins, for heaven's sake!"

"Of course we do," Danny replied. Not often, but we do."

"Nobody ever hugs me," Richie said, feeling somewhat left out.

"Come here," Donnie said to Richie.

Richie obliged and received a hug from Donnie.

"There, see?" Donnie said. I can hug a friend just like anyone else.

"Now, you understand my point," Mike said. "What I see is that Kyle is so happy to have become friends with my brother, that maybe it's just his way of telling my brother he knows Alex will be there for him if he needs him. I overheard Alex tell Kyle that our door is always open to any of you guys, if you need someone to talk with and you don't think you could talk with your parents. The O'Reilly's don't believe in coincidences. There's a reason you guys were led to my brother and through him, to us. You guys feel welcome here, don't you?

Three boys nodded at Mike.

"We might be three of the strangest people you will ever meet," Mike continued, but we are also three of the kindest, most loving people you might ever hope to meet. We hope that even some of who we are influences others to be like us. The world could be much better for it. Now, hug each other and get into the shower."

The three boys did as Mike suggested, and all three headed to the bathroom. Richie thought his bladder was going to burst, and made a dash for the toilet while Danny turned on the shower. The twins claimed it first, leaving Richie to digest everything Mike had said. When the twins had dried off, they found Richie on Alex's bed next to Kyle with his arm around the boy. The twins looked at each other, shrugged, and gave each other a hug.

"Is this the secret to the happiness in this house?" Donnie asked his brother.

"If it is, we need more of it," Danny replied.

"We all do," piped Richie. "My mom gives me lectures about stuff all the time, but nothing like the one Mike just gave us, and my mom's lectures always make me feel guilty. When Mike was finished, I felt good."

"Me too," Donnie said, "and I was the one who was pointing my finger at Kyle and Alex."

"I think we'll be spending a lot of time here," Danny said. "Alex is a really nice kid, Mike is a terrific brother to him, and Krystal is a great mom.

"I'm with you," Richie said. At home, my mom always complains about me, but nobody over here complained about me all weekend. I'd rather stay here than go home, and Alex is a true friend.

"I feel the same way," Donnie said, turning to his brother. "How about you?"

"Count me in," Danny replied. "Our family is nothing like Alex's. Come to think of it though, none of us are anything like him."

"You're absolutely right," a voice said from across the room. "None of us are anything like Alex. He knows how to feel things, but we don't," Kyle said, joining the conversation without moving his arm. "I hope I can learn how to feel the way he does."

Mike entered the room, waking Alex up so he and Kyle could shower and they could all head down to breakfast. Kyle relieved himself while Alex turned on the shower, then Alex offered the shower to his guest. Kyle was hesitant, but Alex insisted that he go first, and relieved himself while Kyle showered. When Kyle got out, Alex flushed, then took his own shower. Once the five boys were dressed, Mike led the way to the dining room, where another big breakfast awaited them.

"Good morning!" Krystal said with a smile. "Did you all sleep well?"

"I've slept better here than I ever do at home," Kyle told her.

"Me too!" Alex said, being a wise guy.

That cracked everyone up, as platter were passed and plates filled. As Kyle ate his breakfast, a thought entered his mind and he decided to act on it.

"Krystal, Mike, and Alex," the boy began, "I want to thank you for one of the most wonderful weekends of my life. I feel that I am not the same person that I was when I arrived on Friday afternoon, and I feel much better about myself having spent the weekend here with your family."

"Thank you, Kyle," said Krystal. "We enjoyed having you and your friends as well. I'm sure this won't be the last weekend you boys spend here, and except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when Alex has his piano lessons, you're always welcome to hang out, do homework or whatever it is guys do together after school."

"Thank you, Krystal," Donnie said. "Thank you, Mike and thank you, Alex."

"Thanks to the O'Reilly's," Richie added.

"Thank you all so much," Danny said. "You gave us all a great time, and a lot to think about."

"You're all welcome," Mike said.

When they were finished with breakfast, Alex's guests knew they were expected home, so they went up, packed their duffel bags, and brought them downstairs. As they went to leave, Alex gave them each a hug and told them he'd see them the next day. Once they had left, Alex walked into the dining room where Krystal and Mike were sipping tea.

"Thank you both for a great weekend," the boy said.

"You are most welcome, my dear," Krystal replied. "Now tell me, what did you take away from your weekend with your guests?"

"These guys have issues," Alex stated. "The twins and Richie just don't know how to feel emotions, and you would think that twins would, but these two don't. They and Richie use their clowning around as a mask for what they can't feel, but I think Kyle really wants to but doesn't know how. They're all pretty good guys, but they live in an emotional vacuum!"

"Well said, Dr. Alex!" Mike exclaimed. "That was my impression as well."

"Should we try to do anything?" Krystal asked her sons, rather coyly.

"Could they spend every other weekend here?" Alex asked. "I think the more time they spend with us, the more time they will want to feel what we feel, and that desire will open them up."

"You sound like a clinician, little brother," Mike said.

"He's right, you know," Krystal interjected.

"What do you think?" Alex asked. "Do you really think I'm wrong, or are you just playing devil's advocates?"

"You probably are right," Krystal said, "and yes, they may spend every other weekend if their parents give permission, but let's concentrate on the one you think needs you most."

"Kyle?" Alex asked. "Yeah, there's something about him that's tearing me apart. I don't know what it is, and I'll only be thirteen years-old next month, so I'm obviously not qualified to offer any real opinion, but that guy is crying out for something that just isn't clear to me."

"You're as qualified as either of us," Mike stated. "I sense a lot of confusion inside that boy, Mom. It's not that he's a danger to anyone or even to himself, but I just know he's got a lot of emotion bottled up inside of him that's just crying for release."

"That is exactly what I think," Krystal said, "so we agree that Kyle needs more attention that the other three?"

"Yeah, but let's not make it too obvious, huh?" Alex asked. "If the other three see Kyle spending lots of time over here and they're not, they might think we're trying to steal their friend and shut them out."

"Let me feel Kyle's parents out," Krystal suggested. "Who knows, they might be thankful to get their son out of their hair more frequently. Parents who never get time away from their offspring are often eager to accept frequent invitations for them to stay with friends."

"Okay," Alex said. "I'll leave the invitations up to you, but yeah, I think Kyle needs to spend more time with me, with Mike and with you."

Since Alex did no homework while his friends visited, he went up to his room to do it. Mike spent a lazy Sunday reading, and Krystal filled her bathtub and took a nice, long and hot bath.

Richie walked home by going down the street from Alex's house, while Kyle and the twins walked to Kyle's house where they said goodbye and the twins continued home. Upon entering his house, his father and mother sounded hostile toward each other, so the boy just went up to his room. Feeling liberated at Alex's house, he undressed and lie on his bed, trying to sort out what had transpired over the weekend. The O'Reilly's had changed his thinking in some profound way, but what way? He had no memory of ever having felt toward anyone the way he felt toward the O'Reilly's, and especially Alex. When it came time to come home, he didn't want to leave Alex behind. Why couldn't he have a real brother like Alex? It was like the kid could read his mind, or see into his soul, and what he couldn't understand is why Alex would even care. A week ago they were perfect strangers. Five days ago, he gave the kid three belts to the gut, and the kid just let it go! If he had been in the younger boy's shoes, he never could have let it go. He'd have been out for revenge, but maybe that's what the kid was trying to teach him. Maybe revenge wasn't the way to go. Because Alex forgave him, they had become the best of friends. Alex and his family kept talking about love, forgiveness, acceptance and tolerance. Did Alex, his Mom and Mike love him? Did he love the O'Reilly's? More importantly, did he love Alex? Maybe that's what he hadn't figured out. That they loved him, and he felt their love inside. Maybe he loved them back and it was confusing him because he never loved anyone before. He couldn't say for certain that he loved his parents or his sister, but they weren't like Alex's family at all. He just knew that he felt comfortable around Alex and his family, and they made him feel like no one else ever did. His mother yelled up that dinner was on the table. Kyle went down to eat, saw what was served and decided he wasn't hungry. Besides, the tension in the room was so thick, it could have been sliced with a knife. The boy went outside to get some air, wishing he could return to Alex's house. After about twenty minutes, when he was sure the kitchen table had been cleared, Kyle ran back up to his room to cry into his pillow. He cried himself to sleep for the night.

(to be continued)