Reaching Out

Chapter 5: Settled In and Getting Back to School

By Grant Bentley

After we had finished eating, the boys started to clean up. As John put everything in the sink, Jason poured coffee for everyone and then started to dish up the ice cream he had found in the freezer.

“I could get used to this,” I laughed. “Thanks, guys.”

Once we had finished our ice cream, we were ready to relax and chat for a while. Ian suddenly turned to Jason and said, “Oh, yeah, I have some things for you in the car.”

“Things?” Jason asked.

“Yeah, here are the keys; everything’s on the back seat or in the trunk,” Ian replied.

“Just a minute,” I said to Jason, and I gave him the key to the apartment door.

The boys looked totally puzzled, but they grabbed their coats and went out to Ian’s car. A few minutes later, they came in the door with two garbage bags full of clothes.

Jason ran over and gave Ian huge hug. “You got all my stuff,” he almost shouted. “How did you get him to give it to you?”

“Go get the rest of it and I’ll fill you in,” Ian answered.

As the boys were bringing in Jason’s things, Ian explained that as there was no way Jason would be going home, he would either be staying with me or he would be staying with them. “Either way,” Ian explained, “he’s going to need all of his stuff.”

The boys had to make several trips. Once they were done, all of Jason’s books and posters, his laptop, stereo, TV and a box of trophies had been moved into his room. When they returned, Ian explained to us what he had done.

Apparently, Ian had a couple of good friends on the police force, one of them being the Chief of Police. After I had invited him over, he decided that Jason’s stepfather needed a good scare; at the same time, he figured that he could get Jason’s things. So, just before he came over, he and two squad cars pulled up in front of Jason’s house–apparently, just as his stepfather was leaving for work. When the squad cars blocked him from backing out of his driveway, he came storming out of his car, ready to raise supreme hell, until he realized he was standing face to face with the Chief of Police. He suddenly became very cooperative. After the Chief explained to him the charges he could be facing, they had no problems getting Jason’s things. Once they were ready to leave, the Chief told him they would be getting in touch with him again soon. Ian laughed. “The asshole was almost shitting himself as we drove off.”

Jason was just thrilled that he had all his stuff, even down to the posters off his wall. He was also very pleased that he had his AP Physics books, so he could get his assignment done for the next day. Two very happy boys disappeared into Jason’s room, where he could get his homework done while John started unpacking his things for him.

Ian and I spent the rest of the evening relaxing. We talked about the boys, work and whatever else came to mind, and got to know one another. It was obvious that we would be seeing a lot of each other, considering the boys’ relationship. The more I got to know Ian, the more obvious it became that he was one of the kindest, most gentle and caring people I had ever met. It also became obvious that John was his life.

After a couple of hours, Jason called us to come down to his room. As we walked in the door, we were greeted by two huge smiles and asked, “Well, what do you think?” by Jason.

The room had been completely transformed. It looked as if it had been Jason’s room for years. The posters were pinned up, his TV, Xbox and stereo were all set up, as was the desk with his laptop and school work sitting on it. They even had all of his trophies and whatnot set out on the shelving unit.

What really stood out, though, was a picture of the boys on the wall above the head of Jason’s bed. It had been taken when they were working together on the school paper and had been blown up to eighteen by twenty-four. It showed the two of them standing in front of the school, each with an arm around the other, looking into each other’s eyes with smiles a mile wide. It was an amazing picture. If love could be photographed, that was it.

John looked at his dad and smiled as he said, “Now I can put my copy up in my room too.”

Ian laughed and said he thought it should go in the living room, above the fireplace; John quickly reminded him that that spot was reserved for his Mom’s portrait. “And it always will be,” Ian replied as he gave John a hug.

As we stood there admiring the boys’ work, it hit me how much the events of this one weekend had changed my life. Jason was moved in and officially living with me. I smiled as I realized I couldn’t be happier.

At about 11:00, Ian announced to the boys that he and John had better get home since it was a school day tomorrow. After a few minutes of whining, they retreated to Jason’s room to say goodnight properly. Five minutes later, Ian and John were on their way out the door, leaving us with the assurance that we would have to get together again soon, at their place.

As we stood in the entry, Jason looked at me and smiled, then stepped forward and gave me a gentle hug. “Thank you,” he said. “You have no idea what you’ve done, do you?”

“What do you mean?” I asked him.

“You didn’t just save my life this weekend; you gave me my life,” he replied.

When a seventeen-year-old boy is hugging you and saying something like that to you, what do you do? You cry. What else can you do? So, I cried…happy tears, of course, but I cried as I hugged him back. When I was able to, I reminded Jason of school the next day (Do I know how to spoil a perfect moment or what?) and suggested he should probably crash for the night.

I don’t usually go to bed that early, but I was still recovering from the weekend and I knew I would have to be up earlier than usual. I don’t usually set my alarm, but I thought I had better set it for 7:00. I wanted to be sure I was up in time to take Jason to school, so I could let the school administration know of his change of status and address. As I worked freelance from home, I normally got up when I woke up, which was seldom before 9:00. I soon discovered that, first, being woken up by an alarm clock is not a good thing; and second, being up at 7:00 in the morning is simply unnatural. Who the hell decided school should start at 8:30?

It took me fifteen minutes to roll to the side of my bed and sit up. When I finally got up, showered, dressed and made it to the kitchen, Jason had already eaten breakfast. My cereal was in the bowl with the milk and coffee sitting beside it, waiting for me. I mumbled, “Thanks,” and sat down to eat.

By 8:05 we were on our way to the school. I parked in the visitor parking and Jason and I walked up to the school. As we were walking up the steps, I heard a few snickers and a couple of whispered, “Faggot,” comments. Jason looked at me and I could see he was upset and scared. We kept going, entered the school and started down the hall to the office. As we walked down the hall, it was obvious that Jason’s stepfather had made sure the wrong people knew Jason was gay. Conversations stopped as we passed and it seemed like everyone was watching us. Even I began to feel nervous.

I suggested to Jason that he phone John and his dad and warn them. However, when we walked into the office we realized it was too late. John was already sitting there with a split lip and what appeared to be a developing black eye. Jason ran over to him and, as soon as John realized he was there, they were in each other’s arms. It was at that point that the principal’s door opened and a rather tall man who looked to be in his mid-thirties, wearing a grey pinstriped suit, stepped out. He watched the boys for a minute and then asked John to step into his office.

I quickly introduced myself and explained that the situation also involved Jason and myself and requested that we accompany John. The principal looked me over for a second and asked how I was involved with the boys. I told him it was a rather long story, that Jason was living with me, and that his stepfather was trying to cause the boys as much trouble as he could. As soon as I mentioned Jason’s stepfather, he said, “I’d like to hear that story.” He then turned to John and asked him if he wanted us in the office with him. John was very emphatic in stating that, yes, he did want us with him.

Just then, Ian came racing into the office. He quickly introduced himself and gave John a quick hug. The principal told Ian he was glad he could make it and we were immediately ushered into his office. He asked us to sit down. There were four large chairs, but only three got used as Jason and John chose to sit together in one of the chairs. He looked at them as they sat down together and smiled. He looked at me and reached out to shake my hand. “I’m Scott Thiessen, by the way,” he said as he looked from me to Ian, then reached out to shake Ian’s hand as well. “I’m very pleased to meet you both.”

“Pleased to meet you, too,” Ian and I replied.

He turned to John and asked him if he knew who had attacked him. John replied that he had been blindsided as he came around the corner of the school and had no idea who it was.

“Damn,” the principal said, and immediately apologized. “Sorry,” he said, “but that kind of cowardice really upsets me.”

We let him know that he didn’t need to apologize, as we were just as upset and probably would have said worse.

Just then, his secretary buzzed him on the intercom and told him there were some students outside who wanted to see him. “They said it was urgent, sir.”

“Now what,” he muttered to himself. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he left the room, leaving us alone to ponder what the problem could be.

Chapter 6