Snow! Two days after Christmas the boys awoke to snow falling outside their windows. After a hasty breakfast insisted on by Uncle Ben, they donned their new parkas and boots and went outside, where they found that the snow was wet enough to pack into balls and throw. It was the first time either of them had been in snow, and they played all morning, throwing snowballs at each other and attempting to build forts.
Meanwhile, their uncles shoveled the driveway but told the boys at lunch that next time it would be their turn.
By noon, the snow had stopped, leaving a white landscape glistening in the sunlight so brightly they could barely see.
In the afternoon they went to the Conrads’ and built a snowman with the twins. When they all grew cold, they went into the Conrads’ home for hot cocoa and cookies.
Although Charlie was now talking more with the two uncles, he still was leery of them and what they might do. Perhaps, he still worried, they were just grooming Joey and maybe even him.
The next morning at breakfast, Ben said, “Rodney and I have been thinking about adopting the two of you. How would you feel about that?”
Joey was immediately happy about it. Charlie was more reluctant. “How would that change things?” he asked.
“Practically, it probably wouldn’t make much difference,” said Rodney, “but it would be a symbolic confirmation that we are all family.”
Turning to Ben, Charlie said, “I thought you said back in Waco that you didn’t want children.”
“You’re right. I did say that, and it was true. I didn’t really want children. But since I’ve gotten used to you boys here, I find that you’ve enriched my life tremendously. I want to be able to call you my sons.”
“Can we think about it?” Charlie asked.
“Sure,” replied Ben. “We weren’t thinking of doing it until you were out of school for the summer.”
The Cape generally got less snow than the rest of the state because of the ocean water’s moderating temperatures. A few days later there was a warm spell and the snow melted. Rodney told the boys that some winters they got no snow at all, and some people played golf all through the year.
Charlie’s birthday was January 17. The family held a party as he turned 15. He realized that in a year he would take drivers’ ed and begin the process of getting a license. From Joey he received CDs of Mexican music. He had always enjoyed the Mexican music he’d heard in Waco, and he had tried to imitate its rhythms and chords on his guitar. In time he had gotten rather good, although he’d never had lessons.
Charlie also continued his study of the stock market with Ben and Rodney. When he understood how the system worked, Rodney gave him $100,000 in play money and told him to figure out how he’d invest it. Charlie did and then watched the market to see how his investments went. Some stocks went up and some went down. Rodney suggested that Charlie research online the companies he wanted to invest in. When he did that, he sold some stocks and bought new ones, doing a little better. Ben told him he was fine but it would take him a lot of time and study before he really understood the market.
Meanwhile, Charlie and Jared had grown closer. They always ate lunch and rode the bus together.
One day Jared suggested that Charlie spend part of the February vacation sleeping over at his home. Charlie liked the idea and said that they could split the vacation between the two houses. When the boys asked Jared’s parents and Charlie’s uncles, all were willing, although the adults wanted to meet each other before they agreed completely.
On the first Saturday in February, Jared and his parents drove to the uncles’ home. This was the first time the uncles had met Jared, and it was the first time that Jared’s parents had met Charlie. Jared was aware by then that Charlie’s guardians were two gay uncles and he was a little concerned how his own parents would react.
The uncles served a sumptuous lunch in the dining room while everyone, including Joey, chatted and laughed together. While Jared and his family had lived on the Cape his entire life, they were interested in hearing about Waco, so Charlie and Joey told them about it and answered their questions.
When the Williams family left, Charlie turned to his uncles and said, “They didn’t seem to have any problems with you two being gay.”
“Maybe Jared had already told them, so they’d had some time to digest that fact, or maybe they were just okay with it.”
On the Saturday of vacation week, Ben drove Charlie to the Williams’ home. After stopping for a few minutes to say hello, he drove away.
Charlie went with Jared up to his friend’s room, where first he looked around, noting the neatness, the desk and bookshelves, and the twin beds. They played video games for a while before lunch.
Since the snow had long since melted, Charlie had brought his bicycle with him. In the afternoon they explored the area around the Williams’ home on their bikes.
Although Jared was a little nervous at first about what Charlie would think as he got to know his parents and his house, by the third day, they both relaxed. They spent time riding their bicycles, playing games, throwing a ball, and reading.
On their third night together when they were getting ready for bed, Charlie went as usual into the bathroom first. He brushed his teeth, removed his clothes, and put on the boxers he had brought with him. When he returned to the room, Jared did the same.
They said goodnight to each other and climbed into the two beds. Jared turned off his desk light and they lay in the dark, talking quietly until they fell asleep.
As he slept, Charlie dreamed of Jared, naked. Later in the night he felt the touch of lips on his mouth. At first it was a part of his dream. When he didn’t react, the touch grew firmer. Startled and suddenly awake, Charlie pushed Jared away exclaiming, “What the hell are you doing!”
“I’m sorry,” Jared said quietly as he returned to his bed. Soon, Charlie could hear Jared quietly sobbing. He went across the narrow space between the beds and put his arm gently across the crying boy’s shoulders, just holding him until the sobs slowly abated.
When he had gotten control of himself, Jared said, “I’m so sorry. I’ve been dealing with a tremendous crush on you, and it just took over.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” said Jared. In fact, at first I quite liked the kiss. It was just that when I awoke, I was startled. That’s why I pushed you away.” Shyly, he continued, “I have to admit that I’ve a crush on you, too.”
Jared looked up and smiled, although Charlie couldn’t see it in the dark. Jared turned the light on and for a moment they said nothing as their eyes adjusted to the light.
Looking at Charlie, Jared said, “I was hoping you were gay.”
Sighing, Charlie replied, “At the moment, I don’t really know what I am. Are you gay?”
Jared nodded. “I figured it out when I was about twelve. I haven’t said anything to my parents, but I think they might suspect.” He looked at Charlie and asked, “Can I kiss you again?”
Charlie nodded and as their faces moved closer, Jared pulled him in and placed a firm, loving kiss on his friend’s mouth. When he finally pulled back, he smiled and Charlie returned the smile.
“Have you ever done anything with another boy?” asked Charlie, his meaning being clear to them both.
“Never.”
“Neither have I,” answered Charlie.
“Do you jerk off?” asked Jared.
“Don’t all boys our age? At least that’s what we learned in sex ed.”
Jared nodded. There was silence for a few moments before he said, “Why don’t we lie down and do it together.”
Charlie agreed. Jared turned his desk light off. They removed their boxers and lay down facing each other on the narrow bed.
At first, they snuggled together, simply enjoying the feeling of each other’s warm bodies. They were both very hard. Slowly, they drew into a long, eager kiss. Charlie felt the tip of Jared’s tongue on his lips and he touched Jared’s lips with his tongue. Soon they were exploring further. Their tongues felt around in each other’s mouths for a bit until Jared pulled back a little and asked, “Can we jerk each other off?”
Charlie hadn’t thought about that but readily agreed. They held each other’s cocks and enjoyed the feelings of being touched there.
They started moving their hands up and down, and it wasn’t long before they came, almost simultaneously.
“Oh, wow!” exclaimed Jared.
“Yeah, wow!” Charlie responded.
They lay for a few minutes just descending from their highs before Jared fetched some socks from beside his bed and they cleaned off.
Charlie returned to his bed as Jared turned off the light. Both boys lay awake for a time thinking about what had happened. Charlie wondered if he was gay or if he was just enjoying what was available. He wondered how and when he’d know.
In the morning, the boys arose as though nothing had happened, although Jared suggested that they shower together. They did, soaping each other and cleaning unreachable spots. They both grew hard but simply finished showering, dried themselves, and went downstairs for breakfast.
After they had eaten, they loaded their bicycles into the rear of the Williams’ SUV and Jared’s mother drove them to Charlie’s home. Jared kissed her and she departed before they went into the house to be greeted by the uncles. Jared followed Charlie upstairs to his room, which he hadn’t seen before.
Looking around, Jared first noted the double bed, which he knew would give more room for their nighttime activities than his own twin beds had. He looked over Charlie’s books, video games, and CDs.
They played a couple of video games for the remainder of the morning.
After lunch, they walked to the Conrads’ home to call on the twins. It was too cold to play outside, so they stayed indoors and enjoyed a rousing game of Monopoly.
At 10:00 PM, as the two boys readied for bed, they peed in the toilet together, removed their boxers together, and brushed their teeth together. Checking the hallway to be sure Joey’s door was closed, they crept back to Charlie’s room where he turned off the light and they fell into bed together.
That night and the next two, they repeated what they had done in Jared’s bed. They didn’t even think about trying other things, except that they found stroking each other’s chests induced wonderful feelings they both enjoyed.
On the morning Jared was scheduled to go home, they kissed long and hard in the shower and brought each other off again. After they were dressed, they shared a private kiss goodbye before they went down to breakfast.
In the days that followed, Charlie repeatedly wondered how boys knew whether or not they were gay. Finally, he decided he had to ask his uncles.
One day when Joey had gone to the twins’ house, Charlie took a deep breath and asked, “Can I ask you both a question?”
They assured him that he could.
“How do you know if you’re gay?”
The two men looked at each other before Rodney said, “This one’s yours, Ben.”
First, Ben asked Charlie, “Do you think you might be?”
Charlie reddened and nodded, adding, “But I really don’t want to be.”
“Do you have crushes?”
Again, the boy nodded.
“Are they on boys or girls.”
“Right now they’re on boys, but I hope that could change as I grow older.”
“Well, perhaps it could. I can certainly say that you’re not one of the flamboyant gay boys. Have you done anything with a boy?”
Charlie nodded reluctantly.
“Jared?”
Again the boy reddened but nodded.
“Did you enjoy it?”
“Yes,” replied Charlie, hesitantly.
“Good. Sex with another person should always be enjoyable. I won’t ask what you did, but I will advise that you not do the anal thing until you’re older and perhaps sure.”
“What’s the anal thing?”
Ben explained briefly and added, “Some gay men enjoy it and some don’t.”
“What about you?” Charlie asked and then realized the question was very personal.
“We don’t discuss with others what we do in private. That’s just between the two of us.”
“So, how do I get cured if I’m gay? After all, Dad said that being gay was a choice.”
“It’s not a choice, Charlie. If you’re gay, you were born that way. Of course, you would have the choice of not acting on that. You could probably even marry a woman and have children, but in the end you’d be unhappy.”
“I’m born with it?”
“Yes, if you’re gay. Oh, clergymen and psychiatrists have tried to ‘cure’ gay boys for years but that never really works and sometimes leads to boys killing themselves.”
Then Ben asked, “Rodney, do you have anything to add?”
“Just keep an open mind,” Rodney said. “It’s not something you have to decide right now. If you’re gay, in time you’ll know. If you’re worried, come to us.”
Charlie thanked them and left the room. In his bedroom he sat quietly playing his guitar and thinking. At last he realized that he now trusted the uncles, that they indeed had no designs on him or Joey.
Smiling, he strummed a little louder and began singing a song in Spanish.