Starlight Rhapsody Chapter 8
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 8
Richie arrived at his front door, let himself inside, and immediately his mother began carping on him. The boy wondered why wouldn't today be just like any other, and as he usually did, he agreed with her verbally and then ignored whatever she said. He want into his room, closed the door, undressed and like Kyle, lie on his bed and played the events of the weekend over in his head. He had to admit, the O'Reilly's were different than anyone else he knew, even the families that were his mother's friends. Alex and his family wanted you to know everything about them, what they thought of you, and most importantly, they wanted you to feel what they felt. Why didn't his mother ever share her feelings with him? Maybe if she did, he wouldn't think she was such a pest. Wait a minute. The O'Reilly's suggested that he take the way they were with him back home and try being like them. Richie got dressed again, then went into the living room where his mother was listening to the radio.
"Mom, can I talk to you without you getting angry and yelling at me?" the boy asked his mother.
"I suppose," his mother said, rather coldly.
"I just had a wonderful weekend with a family of three people who aren't even related by blood," the boy said. "Krystal O'Reilly adopted two sons, and her younger son goes to my school. That's why I was invited to spend the weekend. My friend Alex, his brother Mike and Krystal never stop showing their love and affection for one another, and it made me jealous. Why don't we ever do that here? All you ever do is pick on me. You never give me a hug or tell me that you love me because I'm your son, and you never taught me to show you that I love you either. What's wrong with us, Mom?"
"I don't know, Richie," his mother said. "I think maybe I got so fed up with your father and his drinking that I shut down and shut you out, because when I would look at you, it made me think of him. It isn't your fault, son. It's mine, and I'm sorry. I just never realized that I was depriving you of the love a mother should share with her son."
"Can we try to be more accepting and tolerant of each other?" the boy inquired. Will you let me show you that I love you because you are my mother, and could you show me some love because I'm your son?"
"Oh Richie," the woman began to cry, "of course we can try to show that we love each other. Why didn't you say something sooner?"
"I didn't know, Mom, Richie said. "I just didn't know. Sometime soon, you have to meet the O'Reilly's. They are such nice people. I saw how their family is and I couldn't understand why mine was so different. Would you let me do something?"
"What is it?" his mother asked.
"Can I give you a hug?" the boy answered.
"Oh Richie, of course you can!" his mother said, beginning to cry. "You don't ever have to ask me if you can do that!"
Richie and his mother spend several minutes in a mother and son embrace. When both had stopped their sniffles, Richie asked, "Are we OK now?"
"Yes son, we are," she said. "I must call Krystal this evening to thank her and her son for opening our eyes to what we've been missing.
Richie smiled at his mother and said, "I'm going to call Alex right now to thank him, but when you talk to Krystal, would you thank her for me, too?"
"Certainly, my son," she said.
Richie grabbed the phone from the telephone table, brought it into his room and called Alex. Krystal answered and since Alex was in the music room, put Richie on hold and buzzed Alex on the intercom. Alex picked up Richie's call and the two boys talked for an hour about how Richie talked with his mother and what the results were.
"I'm really happy for you," Alex told his friend. "Do you see now why we all met that day in the boys' room, and what came out of spending the weekend here? There are no coincidences. Things happen for reasons that we don't always understand right away. Today, you got a positive result because you took something away from your stay at my house and used it in your own. If that's the only good thing that resulted from the weekend, then it's enough."
"You are such a great friend," Richie told Alex. "I just hope someday I can do something wonderful for you."
"I don't expect you to do that," Alex said. "When you find another poor soul that needs to learn what you experienced here, don't be afraid to share what you know. The more we pass it on, the better the world will be."
"You got it!" Richie exclaimed.
"Anything else?" Alex asked.
"That's it," Richie said.
"Have a good evening and I will see you tomorrow. Goodbye, now" Alex said.
"Goodbye," Richie responded before hanging up.
Alex searched for Krystal and finding her and Mike sipping more tea in the dining room, Alex said, "One down, three more to go."
"What do you mean?" Mike asked.
"Richie got home and thought about his weekend stay with us, then talked to his mother about why we're not related but we have so much love between us, and they are related and Richie felt there was no love in their home. The both began to cry, and his mom apologized to him because every time she's look at him, she'd see the drunk that was his father and I guess it froze her heart toward Richie. Now that they've talked and hugged, both of them are going to try to be more loving toward one another. I told Richie that if it's the only positive thing that came out of the weekend, then it was enough."
"I don't think we've heard the last of this," Mike said.
"Oh yeah, we haven't," Alex said. "His mom's going to call later to thank Mom for having Richie over because it opened her eyes."
"I didn't mean Richie's mom," Mike said. "There's three more boys who just went home, and I'm really concerned about Kyle. I keep wondering if perhaps the boy isn't emotionally brittle."
"Perhaps," Krystal said, "but if he is, we can't fix that."
"I'm worried about him, too," Alex said. "I wish there was a way to keep him with us for a week or so, but I doubt his folks would go for that."
"For now, we'll have to stick with weekends and maybe school vacations," Krystal said.
"What about if I went over his house some nights and did my homework over there?" Alex suggested. "If his parents didn't mind, I could spend the night there, go to school from his house, then come home the next afternoon, it would give me a sense of what his life is with his folks."
"That might be a good idea," Mike offered. "We know we can trust Alex to be responsible."
"Let me think about it," Krystal replied. "The next time I call his parents, I might suggest it. I see you two are really concerned about the boy, and that he is important to you."
"Mom, I feel Kyle is crying out to me, but I don't know what to do for me," Alex said convincingly. "Remember how nobody made those boys feel like we did? Well, no one I've ever known has made me feel I'm needed more than he does."
"That settles it," Krystal said. "I'll feel his parents out to see just how much they'd miss Kyle if he spent a few nights of the week over here with you. Just tread lightly, because if he's that brittle, you might do more harm than good."
"Thanks, Mom," Alex said. "I love you. I'm going up to read my assignment, and then go to bed. Good night."
I'll be up in a bit, buddy," Mike said.
"Good night, honey," Krystal said. "Sleep well."
Alex ascended the grand staircase and headed to his room. He undressed and tossed his dirty clothes in his hamper, grabbed Romeo and Juliet and began to read.
Mike came in a few minutes later, undressed, tossed his dirty clothes into his own hamper, and walked into Alex's room.
"He's really got you upset, doesn't he?" Mike asked his young brother.
"Yeah," Alex said. "You know what I didn't say downstairs? I think Kyle is so hungry for love that he's blinded by the fact that he's got it right here."
"Maybe," said Mike, "but I think you're the only one of us who can actually reach him. You were the last one awake this morning, but how did you fall asleep. Tell me exactly how you were lying in bed, where was Kyle, and which way were you facing?"
"I was lying on my side facing this edge of my bed," Alex remembered. "Kyle was directly behind me, facing my back, with his left arm hugging me tightly against himself."
"That's exactly the way the other three boys found you when they awoke, Mike told him, "and the same way I found the two of you when I came in. I don't think I'm wrong. You're the only one of us who is going to be able to connect with him. It's like the bond between you and me at St. Patrick's. We connected, and look how far we've come. We can talk about anything and we trust each other. We both trust Mom too, but there are things you and I talk about that neither of us would discuss with her because they're guy things. Your friend has something bottled up inside that he's not going to let out until he spills it to you. The good news is that Mom called his folks, sounded his mother out about Kyle spending some school nights over here and you perhaps spending some school nights over there, and it sounded fine to her because it would keep him occupied and out of earshot of the frequent arguments that occur between her and his dad. He's coming here tomorrow after school, and you're going there on Wednesday, so be sure to bring a change of clothes to school."
"I wonder if Kyle blames himself because his folks are always fighting," Alex said. "That would explain a lot."
"If you're over there, you can gauge the situation for yourself," Mike said. "Just be supportive of your friend and don't be critical of his parents. If you are, you might lose your friend."
"Come here, big brother," Alex commanded, getting off his bed. He walked over to Mike, both of them totally undressed, and gave his brother a hug, which Mike gladly returned.
"I love you, big brother," the boy said with a smile.
"I love you, little brother," the young man said through a smile of his own. "I'm going to read for a while before I go to sleep, so I'll just be on my bed."
"After I finish this scene, I'm going to sleep," said Alex. I slept a lot between last night and now, but I'm still tired."
"Good night, little brother," Mike said.
"Good night, big brother," Alex replied.
The next morning began as just another school day. Kyle showed up at the door to meet Alex, only to be joined by Richie, who was anxious to discuss his newly-improved relationship with his mother. Alex saw Kyle's face could over as though he resented Richie's enthusiasm for mending fences with his mom. They arrived at school, Richie ran off with the twins to tell them his good news leaving Kyle with Alex.
"Shall we meet at the usual place at the usual time?" Alex inquired of Kyle. "It's just going to be you and me at my house today. Did you bring a change of clothes?"
"Yeah, I have what I need," Kyle admitted. "I'll meet you at the bottom of the stairs right after school."
"Deal," Alex replied as they both headed to their respective classes.
Alex's mind was only half on his classwork that day. Twice, Mrs. Appleton caught him not paying attention. The boy was relieved when his last class had ended. Out the door he flew, met Kyle, they walked to his house and headed directly to his room. Mike wasn't around, so Alex saw the opportunity and grabbed it.
"Kyle, I agreed to be your best friend, didn't I?" Alex confronted his friend.
"Yeah, you did," his older friend replied.
"Then as your best friend, I need you to know that I'm worried about you," He said. "I need you to tell me everything, without skipping over details. I don't care who it concerns or who is guilty of anything. You have to tell me and get it off your chest. Keeping it bottled up inside of you isn't doing you any good. Now please, tell me everything!"
Kyle began to cry and Alex wrapped his arms around his friend, giving him a hug. He whispered softly to the crying boy, "Tell me and you'll feel a lot better. Trust me, if it's that bad, I won't even tell Mom or Mike."
"My parents hate me," the boy sobbed. "My dad never looks me in the eye, he's always arguing with my mom, and it's always over me."
"Oh, Kyle," Alex said, hugging his friend again. "I'm so sorry you feel that way.
"When I was here over the weekend," Kyle began, "you, Mike and your Mom expressed nothing but love for me. I hated to leave because you three made me and the other guys feel wanted and loved, and I had to go home to feeling loathed again. I can't stand being in that house with my parents, and my older sister's never there either. She just bounces from one boyfriend to the next, and everyone thinks she's a slut."
"What is a slut?" Alex asked.
"Ask Mike," Kyle said. "He'll tell you."
"I want you to tell me," Alex insisted.
"I can't," Kyle replied. I'm fourteen and know a lot about things you probably don't know yet because you're not developed yet. I don't want to be the one who ruins your outlook on life."
"You think I don't know about women of no virtue?" Alex bluffed.
"I didn't think you knew anything about that," Kyle replied.
"Look, I know that Mike's natural mom wasn't married to his dad when he was born," Alex continued with his bluff, even though it was true, "so what you're saying is that everyone thinks your sister's a woman of no virtue?"
"Yeah," Kyle answered, "but that doesn't bother me. That's her problem. My problem is that my parents hate me."
"Look me in the eye, OK?" Alex demanded. "How do you feel about me?"
Mike was trembling, afraid to say what was right on the tip of his tongue.
"Spit it out," Alex insisted.
"All right, I can tell that you, Mike and your Mom love me," Kyle began bawling his eyes out.
"Kyle, I love you just as I do Mike and my Mom," Alex admitted, because if I didn't, I wouldn't be standing here with you trying to get you to spill what's been tearing you apart! I saw you needed my friendship the day you offered me your apology for the punches I got. It wasn't so much your apology that made us friends, but the need that I saw you had for my friendship, and I gave it to you for that reason. You know I believe that we are often sent as angels to help each other. I knew that you needed me to be your angel, and I couldn't refuse."
"You really are an angel, you know," Kyle admitted, "and seeing that in you, your brother and your mom just made the situation in my own family worse, because I want from them what they can never give me."
"You don't know that," Alex said. "I'm spending Wednesday night at your house. That will let me check the situation out first-hand, and if I see an easy way to open a door to a conversation with your folks, I'll take it. Remember, Richie spent the weekend here, too. He went home, talked to his mom and let her know what he thought was wrong in their home, and things are on the mend in his house. All we need at your house is an opportunity. Once we have that, the rest is easy."
"Are you sure?" Kyle asked.
"All I can do right now is ask you to trust me," Alex answered. "Can you do that?"
"Do I have a choice?" Kyle said through a weak smile.
"No, not really," the younger boy said with a grin.
Kyle grabbed Alex, gave him a bear hug.
"You might only be twelve years-old," Kyle said, "but you have a way about you that makes me want to trust you."
"I know you believe me because you know I'm an honest kid," Alex said. Now if I didn't care about you, do you think I would be going through all this trouble to try to bring love into your home and family?"
"I never thought of that," Kyle admitted.
"Now, do you have homework assignments? Alex asked his friend.
"Yeah, a few," was Kyle's response.
"Fine. You can use my desk over there to work on yours and I'll do mine on my bed," Alex said. "But first, I want to get out of these school clothes."
"Me too," Kyle said. "I'll just throw on what I got in my bag."
"I'm not throwing anything on until I have to go down for dinner," Alex said with another grin, "and you don't have to either, if you don't want to."
"My best friend is a nudist, he's only twelve years-old, and he's corrupting me," Kyle joked.
Both boys shed their school clothes, Alex gave Kyle a hanger for his while he hung up his own, and both boys tossed their undershorts on the floor, and then Kyle sat at his friend's desk while Alex lie on his bed. A half-hour later, Mike entered his room, removed his clothes and hung them in his closet, but decided to remain in his undershorts.
"Hi guys," Mike greeted the boys. "How's everything?"
Alex looked at Kyle and asked, "Can I tell him? You can trust him, too. I can trust him with my life."
Kyle looked at Mike, then at Alex, and then back to Mike before saying, "Yeah, go ahead. If you trust Mike that much, then I can too."
Alex replayed the whole scenario between them verbally for Mike. Mike listened intently as the most of the missing pieces about Kyle's internal torment fell into place. Mike made the boy stand up, gave him a hug, and told him to just have faith and everything would work out.
"Do you really believe it? Kyle asked the young man.
"Yes, I do," Mike answered. "For now, the only one of us who can help you is Alex, but I trust him and you should too.
Mike's words were reassuring, making Kyle more confident that Alex could really help his family.
"Just let me add that Alex made you admit that he loves you as his friend, Mike continued, "so I'll just add that I love you too, and so does our Mom.
"I wish I knew if I could love you too, Mike," Kyle admitted, and Krystal too!"
"Keep your chin up buddy," Mike said. "It will get better.
Mike went into his room, put on his casuals, and went in search of his mother. He found her, in her usual spot in the dining room with a cup of tea.
"Alex got the whole story from Kyle," he told Krystal, then gave her all the details they just gave him.
"That poor boy!" she exclaimed. "I wonder how long he's felt like this."
"The boys didn't mention that, but I don't think it began recently. I'll speculate that it happened sometime around when Kyle hit puberty."
"You're my son, so I'll ask you this," Krystal began, "why do young men have such a difficult time with puberty?"
"Raging hormones," Mike replied. "Hormones that were dormant all through childhood are suddenly unleashed during puberty, and many guys aren't properly prepared for it."
"Who guided you through yours, if you don't mind my asking?" Krystal inquired.
"I was at the boys' home when I went through it," Mike answered. "We just had each other. Some of us got good information, some of us didn't. Some of us explored each other's bodies, and some of us didn't. Even though I did, I didn't learn everything about puberty that guys should know. Do you know those walks I take during the day? I've been stopping at the library and reading up on it so that when Alex goes through it, I'll have the right answers to give him."
"You are such a good brother to him," Krystal complemented him. "I'm so proud of my two boys."
"I'm not a boy anymore," Mike reminded her.
"You know what I mean!" she chided, giving him a playful punch on his shoulder. "Do you think Alex is capable of handling Kyle's parents on Wednesday evening?"
"He has my total confidence," Mike answered, "and if he doesn't get an opportunity on Wednesday, there will be a next time. At least he has Kyle's confidence, which is a big step."
"If that's the case, my younger son has my confidence, too." Krystal agreed.
"I'm going back upstairs to my room," Mike said, "and I'll poke my nose in on the boys before I start reading."
Krystal smiled at the young man and he disappeared to his room. Mike undressed again, this time removing his undershorts, poked his nose in on the boys who were busy with their homework, stretched out on his bed and resumed reading his book.
Kyle finished his homework, put his books and papers away, and then walked into Mike's room. It was the first time any of Alex's guests encountered Mike in a state of complete undress, and it caught the boy off-guard.
"Oops!" he said. "Sorry, I didn't know you weren't dressed."
"You aren't either," Mike grinned.
"Oh yeah," Kyle said. "I guess I'm getting used to it when I'm in Alex's room, and I just forget."
"It's nothing to worry about," Mike told the boy, "and me being undressed in my room is a habit I got from Alex! Is there something on your mind?"
"Well yeah," Kyle replied. "I have feelings that I don't understand. You and Alex are guys, but you don't hide your feelings for each other from each other. I've never seen that before, not even with Donnie and Danny who are twin brothers."
"OK, you're 14 and more developed into adulthood than my brother, Mike began, so I will talk with you about things Alex isn't ready to hear. There are different types of love. The love we show to each other as family is a little different than the love we show to friends. They are both different than when two people are in love with each other. That type of love involves being committed to being in love with only the other person, being faithful to that person, and expecting the same in return. There are other elements involved too, such as physical attraction, deep emotional bonding, and the desire to please the other person in all ways of life, including sexually. At your age, you probably haven't had an attraction to anyone else, or if you have, you have only acted on it as a fantasy in your own mind. Am I right?"
"You and your brother are truly amazing," Kyle said. "How did you know that I might have a fantasy?
"You're a teenage boy," Mike answered, "and teenage boys who have begun to develop into men have fantasies of all kinds. I grew up in a home for boys, so I've seen it all. In the beginning, some boys fantasize about exploring the bodies of their friends to see what makes them different, while others actually do. Later, they focus on girls because they find some to whom they are attracted and fantasize about them. When guys get to be around my age, we want a constant companion with whom we can fall in love so that our fantasies will end and being in love will become reality."
"What did you do when you were my age?" Kyle asked. "That is, if I'm not getting too personal."
"Like other boys at the home, I explored my friends' bodies and they explored mine," Mike replied. "It was no big deal for me, because that's how I got used to getting hugs from other guys and hugging them, too. I'm not sorry I had those experiences, because they made me who I am today."
"You didn't get teased about it?" Kyle asked.
"No, because several of us were involved," Mike answered. We were all curious about how we were developing compared to how our friends were."
Kyle was afraid to ask his next question, but Mike was being honest with him, so he asked, "Did anything you did with your friends ever involve sex?"
"What do you think?" Mike asked. "We wouldn't be teenage boys trying to figure out what was going on with our bodies if we didn't. Now, why don't you tell me what's really on your mind?"
"I'm having fantasies I don't understand," Kyle admitted. It's an attraction to someone I can't get out of my mind. I can't bring myself to act on it because it just wouldn't be right, and there's more to what's there than just the attraction."
"I see," Mike said. "You're attracted to my brother and you're confused about what to do about it."
"How did you know?" Kyle asked.
"It's all over your face, kid," Mike said. Look, Alex isn't developed enough yet to know about what you feel for him. He's not ready for romance or sex, so I must ask you to wait before getting too heavily involved with him. I plan to tell him about these things when I know he's ready, and in such a way that he won't go out looking for willing partners who will give him diseases. He's my brother, and it's up to me to protect him from things that could destroy him. Because he's the kind, sweet, loving boy he is, he extended himself to you to bring love into your heart. I must ask you to respect him and wait until he's ready to accept or reject the part of you that you now wish to extend to him."
"He's so lucky to have a big brother like you, Mike," Kyle said in all honesty.
"I have enough love in me that I can be one to you too, Kyle," Mike offered. "I know how badly you want to be loved, because I was once there myself. The O'Reilly's have enough love to share that no boy, man, girl or woman should ever be refused."
"You are really special, Mike," Kyle said, approaching the young man and giving him a hug.
"You are special, yourself," Mike responded, hugging Kyle tightly.
Kyle returned to Alex's room feeling better that he had talked to Mike, and that the young man didn't make fun of his attraction to his brother. Alex was still busy with homework, but aware that Kyle had returned was naturally curious.
"Did you have a nice chat with Mike?" Alex inquired.
"Yeah, your brother is a really good guy," Kyle replied. "We talked about my friendship with you and how being around here is really changing how I look at some things."
"Like?" Alex asked.
"Well, for starters," the boy began, "all this love and mutual respect you guys have for each other that I've never seen in anyone's family before. It's just mind-boggling. I wish I could just move out of my house and move in here."
"What did you just say?" Alex asked.
"I wish I could just move out of my house and move in here," Kyle repeated.
"It's a long-shot, but it could be brought up as a last resort," Alex said.
"What do you mean?" Kyle asked.
"When I'm at your house," Alex began, "I'll need to get a sense of how your parents really feel about you, like if they feel like they're just stuck with you, that you don't matter, or they wish you would hurry up and graduate so they could force you to move out."
"What good will that do?" Kyle asked with confusion.
"Well, if they don't really want you, Alex said, "maybe your folks would consider letting you become my Mom's ward. That way, you could actually move in here and not feel so badly about yourself the way you do now. I can bring it up to Mike and Mom, but I don't know if they'll go for it. If it happens, I doubt you'd get your own room, but I'd let you share mine."
"Do you mean it?" Kyle asked in disbelief.
"If I didn't mean it, I wouldn't have said it," Alex replied. "Remember, I could only suggest this as a last resort, and the main goal is to get your parents, your sister and you to admit that you really love one another and that you're willing to show your love to each other."
"Kid, you are really something else," Kyle said. "If you can really pull any of this off, you really are an angel!"
"Oh ye of little faith," Alex said, causing Kyle to hit him over the head with a pillow. Not to be outdone, Alex picked up another one and hit Kyle in the face. A voice from the next room bellowed, "You guys won't want to be picking up pillow innards by hand on your hands and knees for several hours, so you might consider ending the pillow fight." The boys put the pillows back at the head of Alex's bed before grinning at each other and just leaned back on them while Alex finished his homework. The dinner bell rang, and the boys scrambled to dress for dinner. Mike joined them out in the hall and the three of them headed to the dining room to eat. Elena had prepared stuffed roast pork with mashed potatoes served with salad. Krystal greeted them with her usual smile.
"How did the day treat you gentlemen?" she asked.
"Fine," Mike stated.
"School was a bore," Kyle told her, "but I've been great since I got here."
"Everything's good, Mom," Alex said before changing the subject. "Mom, Kyle's becoming more open with Mike and me about his feelings and his life at home. You know I'm spending Wednesday night at his house and that I intend to feel his folks out about the way they are. I will try to get them to become more open about their feelings for each other, but what if I can't get them to express love for each other? That still leaves Kyle no better off than he is now. Is there any alternative?"
"What you are telling me sounds like you may have already thought of an alternative," Krystal replied. "Is there anything you would like to share with me?"
"Mom, you know I would never hide anything from you," Alex said. "I wondered that if my efforts with the McLaughlin family fail, would you consider accepting Kyle as your ward? I know I'm asking a lot, but I really love my friend and want to help him anyway I can. Sometimes, I have to accept the fact I'm only 12, and just not old enough to accomplish what I believe in my heart needs to be done."
Krystal was taken aback by her son's request, never suspecting he would ask of her what he just did.
"This is going to take some serious thought," she said. "Mike, what do you think?"
That question surprised Mike, who almost choked on a mouthful of food. Once he swallowed, he paused for a moment, then offered an answer.
"I trust my brother," Mike said. "If he can't open Kyle's family up to expressing love for each other the way we do, I doubt anyone can, but maybe the next step would be for you to invite Kyle's family to dinner and feel them out yourself."
"You have a good point, Mike, his mother said. "Kyle, if you could change your life in any way that would truly offer you happiness, what choice would you make?"
"Krystal, I know how I feel when I'm here," the boy said, "and I don't feel the same way anywhere else. I honestly think that if my parents could get rid of me by letting you become my guardian, they would do it in a flash. When I'm in your house, I feel wanted, comfortable and secure. I don't know about all this love stuff because I'm totally unfamiliar with it, but maybe it is what I feel when I'm here and I just don't recognize it."
"Well Kyle, I can't make you any promises," Krystal told him, "but if Alex can't plant a seed that will turn your family around, then I will feel your parents out about letting you live here. It will mean Alex will have to share his room with you, because we don't have a room of your own to give you, but if that is all right with him, and your parents agree to let you move here, I'll have the necessary paperwork drawn up to make it happen."
"Really?" Alex asked, "I won't mind sharing my room. Kyle needs my friendship more than I need the space, anyway."
Kyle, seated next to Alex, put his arm around the younger boy saying, "You really are an angel, and I hope you know that."
Even Krystal recognized how much Kyle was depending on her son, but she seemed not to let it bother her. It was obvious the boy was in emotional pain, and if either or both of her boys could ease his pain with her help, the boy deserved a chance to learn to love.
After dinner, Alex wanted to practice on the piano, so Mike took Kyle upstairs with him.
"Your Mom is unbelievable, Mike," Kyle said after getting undressed in Mike's room. Mike did likewise and stretched out on his bed.
"Mom, Alex and I think along the same lines," the young man told him. "Your self-esteem is down in the cellar because of the way life is for you at home, but here, you feel you have some self-worth. Mom sees that, she talks to us, we talk to her, but we all listen to what each other has to say. Make no mistake, since Alex brought you home, we have all grown to love you. We share your pain, and you need to know that you are not alone. You have us behind you. Come up here with me."
Kyle climbed up on Mike's bed and lay next to him. Mike slipped an arm under the boy pulled him close and held him. For as long as Mike would hold him, Kyle didn't move. Moments later, the boy began to sob.
"Let it all out, Kyle," Mike said. "It's perfectly all right for a guy to cry. If you let it out, you will feel better."
Through his sobs, Kyle said, "Are you showing me love right now?"
"Yes," Mike replied. "I am offering you comfort that you are accepting and by letting out all the hurt you feel inside, you will be more receptive to recognizing love when it is offered to you."
"If what I'm feeling from you is love," Kyle began, "then I'd like to be able to offer some back to you."
"Just because you want to offer me love," Mike said, "is a step in the right direction. Eventually, whether you stay with your family or wind up sharing Alex's room, you are already learning about love and just as importantly, you are learning how to trust people who love you."
Just then, Alex came in from his room in his usual state of undress, and seeing Kyle being comfortable in his brother's arms, jumped up on the bed next to Kyle. Not understanding why he felt he should, he cradled the younger boy in his arms and surprisingly felt quite secure between the two brothers.
"Hey buddy," Alex asked Kyle, "do you feel any better now? What do you feel?"
"I feel I can trust you, Mike and Krystal," the boy began, and that as long as I have the three of you in my life, nothing can hurt me. Here, I feel wanted and safe from my demons. I can't believe my friend who is almost two years younger than I am is making such a difference in the way I see things."
"Kyle, being open about your feelings is what is really important," Mike answered. Telling us what was bothering you about your home life was a giant step today. We're not psychiatrists or therapists. We just know what works in our lives and makes us happy. You've seen how happy we are, and ultimately, you want the happiness you fine in our home in your own. The three of us are committed to you to try to help you find that happiness at home, but if we can't, our Mom has agreed to try different alternatives to help you become happy in life. You have true friends here. We won't abandon you. My brother, even at his age, wouldn't allow it. The boy you hold in your arms must really be an angel sent to you to help you in life, and the man who holds you in his arms is another who will intervene on your behalf when my brother can't. Our Mom has her ways of convincing people what might be in your best interests, so when Alex and I aren't equipped to offer our assistance, we turn to her. Everything in this family is a group effort. We have no secrets from one another. If you tell something to one of us, it's as though you've told all three of us, because we discuss things among ourselves. If it happens that you move into my brother's room, you will become part of our discussions as well. We all hope to get your family to open up the way we are, because if that happens, your parents win, your sister wins, but most importantly, you win."
The boy began sobbing again, causing Mike to hold him tighter and for him to hold Alex just as tightly.
"Get it out, buddy," Alex said. "I feel your pain, but it's OK. I think you have lived with this pain for a long time, maybe a couple of years. It's time to let it all out and share it with people, and we're here for you to share it with us."
"I want to tell you guys that I love you," Kyle said, "but I'm not sure that I do."
"That will come in time," Mike said. "Many things don't happen overnight. They happen when people are ready to accept them."
"Can we just stay here like this?" Kyle asked. "I feel so safe right here, like I'm being protected from my demons."
"We can stay this way as long as you feel you need to," Mike answered.
The three guys remained just as they were until sleep overtook them. The light stayed on all night, and none of them stirred until Alex woke up the next morning. The young boy had to wiggle out of Kyle's arms to run into his bathroom to relieve himself and take a shower. When he had dried himself, he went in and woke Kyle, who repeated Alex's routine. The two boys dressed for school, grabbed their books and papers, and went down to breakfast.
"Did you boys sleep well?" Krystal asked between sips of tea.
"I did, but I always do," Alex said.
"I slept better than ever, Krystal," Kyle said. "It just happened that the three of us undressed when we got upstairs, Mike called me on top of his bed, and held me in his arms. Alex came in later, and I held him in mine, and that's how we fell asleep."
"Kyle, I can only assume that you felt quite secure lying between my sons," Krystal told the boy. If they made you feel you could trust them, and that no harm would come to you being with them as you were, they did their job."
"Mom, Kyle let himself go last night in a way that I could feel his pain," Alex said. I wish I could wave a magic wand to make his pain go away, but that only happens in the movies."
"Sweetie, you are doing everything you can for your friend here," Krystal replied. "Don't beat yourself up because you can't change things as quickly as you would like. You will have your first chance to demonstrate the kind of boy you are at Kyle's house on Wednesday. Focus on that, and you may find that your efforts will be rewarded."
"Kyle got up from his seat next to Alex," walked over to Krystal and gave her a hug. "Thank you for caring, Krystal. I see the kind of mother you are to Alex and Mike, and I wish my mother could be like you."
"That's what we're aiming for, Kyle," she said before kissing the boy's cheek. "In you, I see the potential to become just like Alex. It may take a little time, but eventually you will mature into a genuine, kind, considerate and loving man like my son Mike. I know that you have faith in the three O'Reilly's, and now it's time to build some faith in yourself. Now finish your breakfast, because you boys have to get to school."
The boys finished eating, grabbed their books and left the house, meeting Richie at the next corner. The three boys walked to school, but before entering, and in front of everyone near the entrance to the building, Kyle wrapped his arms around Alex, saying, "Thank you for being my friend." The gesture brought titters from some of the other boys waiting to enter, but then Richie repeated the gesture, saying the same thing. Word got around that the two boys hugged Alex out in the open, and Kyle and Richie were questioned by many other students during the school day. All they could say was that Alex O'Reilly was the greatest friend they could ever hope to have, an opinion that was corroborated by Danny and Donnie. Upon Alex's exit from school that afternoon, a large group of boys was waiting for him; Alex O'Reilly had become an instant celebrity, something he wasn't sure he wanted, and he knew he couldn't be the same type of friend for that many boys as he was to the four he had befriended, and to Kyle in particular. Once the small crowd had dissipated, the four friends began to walk as far as they could in a common direction before the twins had to head toward their house, Kyle had reached his, and Richie took off toward his own. Alex knew he had a piano lesson that afternoon, but he wanted to talk with Krystal first.
"Mom, I think the you-know-what has hit the fan," Alex said.
He told Krystal what happened in front of the school with himself, Kyle and Richie, and what was awaiting him in front of the school when he passed through the front door.
"I wasn't prepared for this," the boy said. "What should I do now?"
"Sweetie, all you can do is follow your instincts," Krystal told him. "You will recognize the boys who need you in their lives and the ones that just want to be hangers-on with your popularity or because being associated with you is considered the `cool' thing to be. Trust that you will see who your true friends will be and which ones will be `fair weather' friends who won't be there for you when you need them."
"I get that," Alex replied. "What worries me is that right now, I'm in the middle of a situation with an emotionally fragile friend, and I don't want him to think he will be any less important to me tomorrow or the next day than he is now."
"Honey," Krystal began, "your thinking is quite logical, and because you're thinking this way, your fears are unfounded. You will still be Kyle's best friend and I know you won't let him down. He knows you have love in your heart for him, but he's not at a point yet where he can recognize it.
"I guess you're right," Alex answered, then changed the subject. "Why didn't you say anything when Kyle told you we all slept undressed in Mike's bed last night?"
"Would it have mattered?" Krystal asked. "Think of it this way. By exposing yourselves physically to each other, it became easier for Kyle to expose himself emotionally to you and Mike. It left him feeling that there wasn't much left to hide from the two of you, and that you weren't hiding anything from him. By being exposed to each other physically, it just gave Kyle more reason to trust you."
"Mom, Mike is usually the wise one who sees stuff like this that I don't see," Alex said. "I admit that most of the time Mike and I are each in our rooms, we're completely undressed, because we feel more comfortable that way. In fact, it was me who convinced him that being undressed was more comfortable than sitting around in our undershorts! I just never thought that the two of us being undressed in our rooms, and going back and forth between each other's rooms was a sign that we trusted each other."
"It's like I said," Krystal repeated, "it's an indication that you have nothing to hide from one another. I trust Mike with you completely. We talk all the time, and I know he loves his younger brother and that you love him. Neither of you would ever do anything that would harm the other, and I won't be critical of how you share your brotherly love or for that matter, how the two of you share your love and concern for Kyle.
"I love you, Mom," Alex said, moving to give his mother a hug and a kiss.
"I love you too, Alex," Krystal replied, hugging and kissing her son. "Now, it's time for your lesson."
Mother and son went to the music room and were deep in piano technique when Mike walked in and went to his room. He hung his clothes in his closet, tossed his undershorts on his chair, and began to read a new book. About an hour and a half later, he heard Alex enter his room, hang his clothes in his closet, leave his undershorts on the floor on top of his shoes, and head into Mike's room.
"How was your day, kid?" Mike asked.
"Different," the boy replied. He then proceeded to tell Mike about the small crowd of boys awaiting him after school, and Krystal's reaction to hearing the story herself.
"I think Mom has the right idea," Mike began. "Some of those boys may only want to be your friend because your true friends have made you some sort of a celebrity. You will have to see which once can be real friends to you and which ones can't. I know your heart won't let you down in that department."
"This morning, Kyle told Mom how we all slept in your bed last night. I thought Mom was going to have a canary, but she said that with the three of us being physically exposed and making Kyle feel safe, it made it easier for him to expose his emotions because they were all he had left to hide. I told her how you and I are always undressed in our rooms, and she said that being exposed like this in front of each other means we don't have anything to hide from each other, either. She was completely understanding about us wanting to be comfortable, but also that we are completely open with each other."
"Mom is a very understanding woman," Mike replied. I don't want you to ever think that I would hide something from you. I don't always tell you everything your curiosity might desire, but there are some things in life I don't think my brother is ready to handle, so to protect you, I keep them to myself until I know you're ready. Even Kyle understands that."
"Mike, I trust that if you don't tell me something, it's for my own good," the boy said. "You've never disappointed me, even when you were only my caregiver at St. Patrick's. Last night, letting Kyle sleep in your arms with me in his was another step toward him believing that we were trustworthy and wouldn't let him down. I felt my friend's pain last night, and it frightened me a little. I didn't even say that to Mom."
"Buddy, I felt it too," Mike said. "Your friend's soul is in turmoil, and even he knows it. If that boy was to lose your friendship now, there's no telling what he might do. He's very fragile, so all we can do is be there for him. Tomorrow night, you'll get your first chance to meet his parents. Just be yourself, and spread your love throughout their home. Tell them about all the love in this house between three unrelated people who voluntarily made our own family. That might generate a spark of jealousy that will trigger them to see what's missing in their family. You might be only 12 years-old, but you are smart, intelligent, and you have a heart wider than the Grand Canyon. I know you will do just fine."
Alex climbed up on Mike's bed without an invitation, put himself in the position Kyle was in, and let his brother hold him.
"Mike, I don't know what I would have done if I had moved in here and you didn't," Alex told his brother.
"I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't moved in here with you as my younger brother," Mike said. "You mean the world to me, and I love you very much.
"I love you too, big brother," Alex responded. "Lying here in your arms, I sort of get what Kyle felt last night. You make me feel like I shouldn't have a care in the world. I could just fall asleep."
"Go ahead, little brother," Mike replied. "You're welcome to lie here like this whenever you feel the need. Even though he's not my little brother, Kyle can, too."
"Thanks, Mike!" Alex exclaimed, before drifting off to sleep in his brother's arms.
`You're welcome," said Mike, before he too, fell asleep.
The dinner bell rang, waking up the brothers, who just pulled on casual slacks and shirts before going down to dinner. Krystal opened the dinner conversation.
"I'm going to be busy afternoons and evenings through the rest of the week. There's charity fundraiser on Saturday night that I thought I was going to be able to leave up to the committee, but it seems they have their heads so firmly tucked where the sun doesn't shine that I'll end up doing most of the preparations myself. Do you think you gentlemen can manage without me? Alex, this also means your lesson for Thursday is cancelled."
"Since I won't have Thursday's lesson, can my friends come over for a while after school?" Alex asked.
"Will you be here, Mike?" Krystal asked.
"I can be, if you like," Mike answered.
"Yes Alex, your friends may come over, but you'll have to chase them out before dinner," Krystal answered.
"OK," the boy replied.
Since dinner consisted of homemade beef stew, it was over quickly, although all three O'Reilly's enjoyed two servings. Krystal excused herself to phone members of her committee regarding the fundraiser, Alex did his homework, and Mike read his book. When Alex finished his homework, he went back into Mike's room, climbed back up on his bed, and wiggled his way into Mike's arms.
"Is my little brother feeling insecure?" Mike asked.
"Not really, but it's very comforting having you hold me in your arms," the boy replied. "Why didn't we do this before?"
"I never thought you needed it," his brother responded.
"I didn't, but I like it," Alex said. "When Kyle slept in my bed with his arm around me, that felt good, too."
"OK, so what you're telling me is that you like having physical contact with people," Mike said.
"Yeah I do," Alex replied. "It makes me feel more loved and more confident that people care about me."
"I didn't know that you ever questioned those things," the young man stated.
"Mike, I really never did, but it's become a new experience and it's just something I like," Alex said. "I don't question whether or not I'm loved in this house, because I know I am. It's just that feeling Kyle's arm around me, or lying in his arms or in yours, I just let everything go and enjoy the sensation of the moment."
"Little brother, you have the makings of a true romantic when you mature into adulthood," Mike said.
"How long will that take?" Alex asked. "Will it happen fast or slow?"
"The physical process will take about a year, Mike explained. "Then, there will be a few years when there will be many questions in your mind about the direction in which your life will go. You will be presented with many choices, one of which I know is already standing before you, but of which you are unaware of that I am not at liberty to tell you. You will sort it all out yourself and make your own decisions, and if you are confused, you will come to me and we will work it out together."
"Mike, I'll only be 13 in a couple of weeks, but I'm not that naïve, Alex said. "What you're not at liberty to discuss with me is that Kyle may love me more than he is willing to admit. I am not afraid of that, and if my friend needs to love me and needs me to love him back, why would it be a problem?"
"Buddy, I had no idea you saw that coming, Mike stated, but he also warned, "You and he could become subject to ridicule if people found out that the two of you loved each other. Socially, it's considered unacceptable for two guys to love each other."
"You and I love each other, and we don't care what people think about us," Alex countered.
"We are brothers, and that makes it OK," Mike said.
"I just don't see the difference," Alex fired back. If Kyle needs me and I want him to feel needed and wanted, why should we care what other people think?
"There's another danger, also," Mike cautioned. What would happen to Kyle if you meet a girl and the two of you fall in love? You already know that Kyle's emotions are brittle, and to feel he's lost you to someone else might crush his spirit. Would you really want to break your friend's heart?
"Oh no, I never thought of that," Alex responded. "I could never hurt Kyle."
"There's a lot at stake with Kyle, little brother," Mike said. "If you let his heart feel as secure with you as he might want it to be, it could very easily get broken, and you would never forgive yourself for breaking it.
"Mike, you're so right," Alex said, "but right now, I can't just turn him away. He needs me and you know he does."
"Tread lightly on his heart, buddy," Mike suggested. "Don't lead him on. I know that when you mature physically, the two of you will explore each other's bodies. Teenage boys do that, and it is part of growing up. Kyle's body is already physically mature, but yours needs to catch up to his before you begin your exploration.
"Why don't I just explore yours?" Alex asked. "I mean you're my big brother, so that makes more sense to me."
"I'm an adult, little brother," Mike answered. "It would be highly inappropriate for me you let you examine my body to see what makes It different from yours. Kyle is closer to your age, and trust me when I say that not only would he be willing to let you examine his body, he would encourage it and want to examine yours as well."
"OK, so I know what to expect in that regard," Alex said, "but what does that have to do with him realizing that he loves me or me showing that I love him?"
"I can only warn that if you do, you will break Kyle's heart," Mike said, emphatically.
"You've never steered me wrong, Mike," so I'll trust you on this, too."
Alex looked so comfortable and serene in his arms that Mike reached over, knocked his book on the floor, turned out his light, and let his brother fall asleep where he was. After all, if Kyle could enjoy being held by Mike, why shouldn't his brother? Shortly afterward, Mike dozed off as well, and they remained as they were until they both woke up Wednesday morning.
(to be continued)