Doors of Love

By DesDownUnder

Copyright © 2008 By DesDownUnder. All Rights Reserved.

Chapter 5: A Beautiful Morning

I took in a deep breath as I stirred from my deep slumber. I unwrapped my arms from around each of the boys as I stretched out.

…Unwrapped my arms from around – What?

My eyes flew open to see the familiar ceiling of my bedroom. The comforter was lying across us; from our feet to our waists. My now protruding eyeballs darted first to the left and then to the right. I was in bed with Eran on one side of me and Bryce on the other. They were fast asleep and dreaming, by the feel of them. Their legs were entwined around each other’s, on top of mine. Their arms were across my chest, but they were holding onto one another. They were cuddling; it was just that I was in between them, in the middle; quite decidedly in their way.

Their heads were snuggled into my chest. Eran had dribbled a little onto my left nipple so that it was a little mountain in a small lake. A tiny shaft of sunlight peeked through the window blinds and fell between my pecs, just where Bryce’s breath was gently blowing across my small tuft of chest hairs, like a field of corn wavering in a slow summer breeze. Was I dreaming? Was that a song I could hear echoing in my mind to welcome the day?

1. There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
2. There’s a bright golden haze on the meadow,
3. The corn is as high as an elephant’s eye,
4. An’ it looks like it’s climbin’ clear up to the sky.
5.  
6. Oh, what a beautiful morning,
7. Oh, what a beautiful day,
8. I’ve got a wonderful feeling,
9. …

* Credits

No! No, I do not have a wonderful feeling. That would be so wrong in so many ways.

I tried to sit up without disturbing the guardians of my sleep, but as soon as I moved, their eyes fluttered open as if they were coming out of standby mode.

The first thing they saw was each other. They smiled as only lovers in love can smile at the disaster that is human in the morning.

“Hi,” they said together, to each other. I might just as well have been on another mattress.

I felt quite alone and rightfully ignored as they lifted their heads from their resting place on my chest. I watched as they slowly leaned their heads towards each other, spanning across the not-so-vast distance of my pectoral muscles, their lips pouting in preparation for their morning kiss. I coughed very quietly.

They turned towards me, “Oh…it’s okay,” Eran said as they both swivelled their heads and looked me in the eyes, “we are…we….”

“We are gay,” said Bryce.

“You’re gay?” I said, surprised only that they thought I didn’t know.

“Please don’t hurt us,” said Eran.

I was hardly in a position to hurt anyone, let alone wanting to hurt either of these lovers. That was the furthest thought from my mind.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I guessed you were gay,” I said. “But what are you doing in my bed?”

“Well,” said Eran, now feeling less threatened, “the night turned quite chilly and the paramedic told us to make sure you were kept warm.”

I wondered why the paramedic didn’t offer to keep me warm.

Bryce continued to explain, ”The fireman said the power would remain off till the electrician came this morning, so we thought the best way to keep you warm would be to sleep with you.”

“And our bed is not set up yet, so we used yours. I hope you don’t mind. You’re not angry are you?” said Eran.

He looked like he was going to burst into tears.

“Of course I’m not angry, with either of you. I’m just surprised. It was umm, very thoughtful of you. Now I think we should get up and have a shower and something to eat.”

At that precise moment, Eran’s phone beeped, twice.

“All taken care of,” he said.

I looked at him quizzically as I heard a knock on the door. It opened and Lucy came strolling in with a breakfast tray of hot scones and tea.

“Are you all decent?” she said, but it was too late to do anything if we weren’t.

“I hope you all like tea,” she said.

I pulled the comforter up to cover our chests. I would have covered my head, but thought it might reveal too much at the other end of the bed. I found it hard to believe any of this was happening.

“Tea is just fine, Aunty,” said Eran, “but I think Jase is a bit embarrassed.”

“He doesn’t need to be embarrassed; I’m sure you boys behave properly when you are in someone else’s bed.”

Could this morning get any worse?

“You’re not embarrassed, are you, Jase?” she asked.

“Oh no, no of course not. I am quite used to being served breakfast in bed after I have slept with the local twinks, especially if the server is the aunt of one of them.”

Eran and Bryce giggled.

“Oh dear,” said Lucy, “you said ‘twinks’, does that mean you are gay too, Jase? I would never have guessed. I suppose I should have, you being quiet and polite and all. I did have my suspicions. And I did wonder from time to time when I saw that nice Harvey calling on you. I didn’t like his girlfriend, though. So I wasn’t sure if you were straight or gay. I only met her the once and that was enough. She needs to be breast fed.”

Lucy was one of those people who thought aloud, it would seem. Bryce was looking at me all the time Lucy was speaking.

Finally, he said to me, “You’re gay?”

I looked at the boys. They sat up in bed with me, eating their scones and drinking their tea. For a short moment, I considered saying no, I wasn’t gay, but I thought better of it and told them all, quietly, “Yes, I am.”

“You’re gay too?” said Eran. Bryce’s eyes widened.

“Oh, I am sorry,” he continued. “If we had known, we would never have slept with you.”

I was tongue-tied, brain tangled and terribly tormented in the most demented manner by his remark. What was he saying? He’d sleep me if I was straight, but not if I was gay?

So I spoke up, “It’s okay, Eran, no one’s been attacked; we all still have our virginity.”

“Speak for yourself,” said Bryce, with a delightful cheeky grin that heralded the declaration of his once upon a time, greatest achievement. .

Eran blushed a bright red. Lucy tapped her foot and then I realised I too was blushing for no good reason whatsoever.

Lucy saved the morning, “Too much information, boys. Now, Jase is beside himself with embarrassment. Eat up your breakfast; you have a lot of work to do in your new apartment.”

“Theshe are great shconesth Looshy,” said Bryce, with his mouth full.

“He likes your scones, Aunty,” translated Eran.

“I made them this morning.”

The boys were stuffing the scones into their faces and drinking their tea like this was an everyday occurrence.

“Eat up, dear,” said Lucy, looking at me, “You need to build up your strength.”

I wondered what she had in mind. I don’t think I really wanted to find out.

“Is the power back on?” I asked, “What happened to the poor fireman? Is he all right? What about the elevator and the pot plant? Did the building burn down? – I don’t suppose it did, seeing we are still in it.”

“You worry a lot, don’t you?” said Lucy, “You’re just like Eran.”

‘Like Eran?’ I thought to myself, ‘I’m nothing like Eran.’

“Yeah,” said Bryce, “Eran is always worrying.”

I gave up and ate a scone.

Lucy and the boys told me that the fireman was okay, just a bit stunned. I thought he was just stunning in that uniform.

“The other firemen waiting outside in the truck came in and quickly put out the small fire in the elevator shaft. A cable had overheated and gave off lots of smoke, but there was no danger,” said Bryce.

I looked at Lucy for confirmation, though why I did, I don’t know; after all, she was related to Eran. I guess at her age, I felt she would at least have accumulated some survival skills, if not a measure of worldly wisdom. Time would prove me right or wrong.

“We were quite lucky, the fireman told me. If Eran hadn’t rung emergency they wouldn’t have known to bring the paramedic with them.”

“Ah yes,” I said, “what happened to him?”

“I thought you might ask that,” said Lucy.

“Why would he ask about the paramedic?” asked Bryce.

Lucy leant over to Bryce and whispered into his ear. Then Bryce leant across me and whispered into Eran’s left ear so I couldn’t hear. I was feeling quite neglected…again.

The boys pulled back their hands, and I managed to save the breakfast tray out of their way, as they high-fived each other.

“Jase’s got the hots for the paramedic,” chanted the boys.

“Come on, you two, we have to get out of bed,” I said.

I was about to lift the comforter off, when I realised that Lucy was still there.

I looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

“Give me the tray,” she said, “and I’ll let you boys have the privacy you need to get dressed.”

“You didn’t say, Lucy. Is the power back on?” I asked.

“Oh – Yes it is, the electrician came early this morning and fixed everything, but the elevator people have to come for an inspection before we can use it again.”

She turned and walked out. Bryce jumped out of bed, feet first, of course, making a resounding thump on the floor. I lifted the covers, making sure we could preserve our modesty, and then Lucy walked back into the bedroom. I pulled the covers back over Eran and me.

“I almost forgot,” she said, taking no notice of Bryce, who was now standing naked behind the bedroom door. “The owner of the building will be here in about two hours. He wants to talk to all of us about last night.”

Bryce tried to imitate a shy version of the statue of David.

“We're doomed,” cried Eran. “We never get to stay in one place long, but we haven’t even moved into this one properly, yet.”

“Nonsense,” said Lucy, “I’m sure everything will work out fine.”

She turned and left the bedroom.

As she was leaving she yelled out, “Oh, and Bryce? Nice equipment.”

Bryce was so red I thought we might need to call back the fire truck. He was in danger of going into spontaneous combustion.

“Anyone want a shower?” I asked, trying to cool him down.

“Together?” both boys asked.

“Just you two, just you two.” I smiled at them and we all laughed.

What a way to start the morning! At least we hadn’t broken anything.

It really was a beautiful morning in many ways.

I stepped out of bed and immediately fell over into a crumpled heap on the floor.

I had forgotten all about my foot.