"How did you boys sleep?" Terri asked.
"Like the dead for me, I don’t remember much after I put me head down," Liam
"Me too,” echoed Danny, “except I think I remember you kissing me when you got home. Were you real late?"
"Nearly one; there was construction and a very bad accident on the Fifty-Seven coming back."
"Well, you don’t need to drop us; Todd and Darren are going to walk with us from here."
"That’s fine boys; I’ll see you back here this evening. I might be late so you may have to feed yourselves."
"I’m going to make the trek home after school, probably from there. I have something in glue-up in my workshop that wants seein’ to; and I need to glue the next part and clamp it in the form. It’s only seven blocks the other side of the school."
"Okay, just be careful," Terri cautioned.
"We could grab the bikes and ride back; we have a helmet that will fit you and that huge brain of yours. Oh crap, I forgot to tell Da about your Nerd hat experience."
"Oh no, so did I. Danny quickly explained the circumstances and how Cheri had followed up and how it felt so good to have a discussion like that with their peers."
"That’s so like you, you say the damnedest stuff when you’re preoccupied," Terri chuckled.
With breakfast out of the way, Terri gathered her things and hit the road after dispensing hugs and kisses.
It was still early when Todd and Darren arrived. "Do you guys want some cocoa or something?" Danny offered.
"Not me,“ Todd answered, his eyes dancing.
"I’m good," Darren added.
"I talked to my dad last night and started out by discussing social issues. We got around to gay rights and he stopped me. I was really nervous, but he just asked me if I was trying to tell him I was gay. I almost lost it but then he put his hands on my shoulders and I nodded my head yes and he just hugged me. He said he’d been waiting for me to bring it up. He was going to just ask if I didn’t do it soon. So anyway, he told me it was fine and he thought I was gay since about the time my mom left. He said he felt bad about leaving me to work it out by myself, but that was the advice he got."
"That’s so cool, I’m really happy for you," Danny said.
"And me," Liam added.
They all hugged Todd who was moved by the attention and sentiment.
"I talked to him too, he figured we were together and told us he was cool with it. He said to be careful because a lot of people aren’t cool," Darren put in.
"I should have known how he felt, he never yells at me unless I put myself in danger. He doesn’t scold me, he uses reason. I can’t remember ever getting spanked…,” Todd explained.
"Well, I’m really glad for you and I know you were worried," Danny said softly.
"So Liam, did you walk all the way over from your place this morning?" Darren asked.
"Well it’s only ten blocks, but no, I spent the night with Danny."
"Alright dudes, but why?"
"Me da had to travel unexpectedly, so Danny’s mam picked us up and then took me da to the airport. Terri works with me da and she was in charge of the reservations and such."
"Oh cool, did you guys get to have any fun?"
"Yeah, we did," Danny said, blushing.
"Um, were you guys okay with what we did the other day? I know it kind of went a little hot but it sure felt good," Todd inquired.
"We talked about it, we might be up for some more but it will have to be talked about you know, what we will and won’t do," Danny replied.
"Oh cool, you guys are like us, Darren and I are equals and it looks like you guys are too."
"That’s true, I don’t tell Danny what to do, I ask if he’ll do something but I wouldn’t try to force him and he wouldn’t try it with me."
"But a lot of couples have a dominant person and they decide most stuff. We’re not like that either," Darren added.
"Um Liam, is it true you took on a sixteen year old guy in the park Sunday?" Darren asked.
"Aw Jaysus, where did ya hear that shite?"
"From Crawford, he’s a ninth grader and was just saying how weird it looked for a kid your size to do that."
"Did he show you any video?" Danny asked.
"No, he didn’t think of that until it was over and then there was no point."
"Good, I don’t need that shite doggin’ me everywhere I go."
"Liam, don’t shoot the messenger, Darren was just asking."
"Sorry Darren, ya see I don’t like doin’ that sort of thing and it brings mostly trouble. So if yas don’t mind I would rather it not get around much."
"Okay, I won’t tell anyone, Todd already knows he was there and heard the story; I’m not sure the other three guys believed Crawford."
"Well so yas know, the other lad got his prescriptions crossed up at the drug store and wasn’t really being himself."
"But that’s where Danny got that bruise on his side, isn’t it?"
"Yes Darren, but it’s nearly gone and it didn’t hurt after the paramedics wrapped a cold pack against it."
"I feel bad for bringing it up, sorry Liam."
"Don’t worry yerself."
"Um, did your accent just get stronger?" asked Todd.
"Yeah sorry; it does that when I get agitated."
"Do you guys want to try some more stuff this afternoon?" Darren asked.
"Oh sorry, we’re going to Liam’s and we’ll ride bikes back here."
"Okay, another time then," Darren said.
"I suppose we should get moving; we might need an extra couple of minutes if T.J. is out front."
As predicted T.J. was waiting with Bryce for Greigh to come out. He charged at Liam and Liam picked him up and received a hug and a kiss, which he returned in kind. Liam passed him to Danny for more kisses and hugs. Danny passed him to Todd and Todd stared into T.J.’s beautiful eyes and hugged him close. He kissed T.J.’s cheek and passed him to Darren who did the same and set T.J. down. The boys waved and walked on. Todd managed a block before he sat down sobbing on a brick wall. Darren joined him and cooed in his ear.
"What’s wrong Toddy, what happened?"
"I just never held a little guy like that and it threw me a little. It was so intense and his eyes are so beautiful."
Danny put a hand on Todd’s shoulder and Liam slipped his pack off and dug out his tissues, handing them to Todd.
"Sorry guys, I don’t know what that was all about."
"Da says it puberty and hormones twistin’ our tails."
Todd announced that he was ready to continue and the four boys made their way to school.
Cheri and Amber were waiting for them and they ambled through the gate together. They stopped for Cocoa and hot tea and enjoyed themselves at a table. People came and went and greeted each other. Soon it was time for Liam, Danny and Cheri to hit the music room. Cheri gave Amber a kiss on the cheek and she walked the opposite direction for her history class.
Liam had done some research, watched a few videos, and had a surprise for Robby, the boy who was interested in Hawaiian slack key style. It was Robby’s turn for individual instruction with Liam and they spent the time playing simple slack key exercises.
"You’re picking this up way faster than me Liam; you sure have made guitar class a lot more fun. Gregg’s even being nice. I’m enjoying learning each part. It helped me see that all the parts are important"
"Well I think that’s what Mr. Levi and others had in mind when they proposed abolishing the chair system."
"Sure was a coincidence that you walked in on the same day Mr. Levi dropped the chairs."
"Our instructor at Hart had done it last year and it improved everybody’s playing except for a couple of kids that just hated classical."
At the break, Danny and Liam went for cold drinks and Liam bumped into Charley."
"Hey Liam, how are you making out?"
"Just grand, say Charley, do you know a kid named Crawford?"
"Crawdad, yeah he’s one of my best friends, here he comes now."
"Oh hey Charley, I see you’ve cornered the Irish tiger. What’s up guys?"
"I’ve a favor to ask you mate; would you mind not spreadin’ the tale about what happened in the park Sunday. It could cause me a lot of trouble if some eedjit wants to take me on because he heard the story."
"Oh shit, sorry Crawdad, I thought you were making it up," Charley said.
"No problem Liam, nobody believed me anyway. I have a reputation for exaggerating a little?"
"Okay thanks mate, I appreciate it."
"It was still wild to see you take him out like that. I found out later he’d been knocking golf balls at you and your friends."
"Well, he wasn’t in his right mind at the time. His pharmacy messed up on his pills and he spun out a bit."
"Oh, well consider it done with, I won’t repeat it again."
"Thanks mate, we have to get back for second session but we’ll be seeing you around."
Liam and Danny walked away.
"Really Crawdad, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you."
"Aw don’t sweat it, it’s my own fault."
After school, Danny and Liam took the footpath to the backside of the school where they encountered Brian Holcomb and Calvin Harper walking ahead of them. Liam watched as they bumped each other off the path.
"Hey Brian, how’s it goin’ for yas."
"Oh hey, Liam, this is Calvin, he’s a friend, a real one," Brian smiled at Calvin.
"It looked that way, is this the way you walk home?"
"Pretty much, but we’re going to Calvin’s to work on his quad runner."
"Brian’s a pretty good mechanic, I’m learning a lot from him," Calvin offered.
"So where are you going Liam?" Brian asked.
"I live a few blocks northeast of here."
"Well we’ll see you later," Brian said as Calvin poked him in the ribs and ran down a side street.
"Ha, imagine that. Sorry I didn’t get a chance to introduce you."
"Oh, Brian knows who I am and so does Calvin. I like this Brian better."
"He just needed a little help," Liam said quietly."
It took very little time to reach Liam’s home and he went in and checked the house with Danny at his side. He brought in the mail and a Fedex package. He checked the video system for alerts but it was only the postman and Fedex driver that were seen.
"If you don’t like bad smells you might want to stay down here, I don’t have an extra mask and the glue is an epoxy."
"Oh, I thought maybe you were going to fart the wood together."
"That made Liam laugh and Danny joined him.
"Yeah I’ll stay here, can I mess with your piano?"
"Sure, you’re welcome to anything we have."
Danny sat at the piano as Liam went up to see to his project. It didn’t take very long to do the next glue up and clamp the piece into the jig.
Liam sat and listened to Danny play Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata; it was beautiful. When Danny turned around and noticed Liam, he was glowing.
"That was beautiful Danny, I love the way you play."
"Liam, do you play piano?"
"Yes." Liam said sheepishly.
"Why didn’t you tell me before?"
"It didn’t come up. You played "Danny Boy" and I sang and then we talked about your life and stuff and I never got a chance to show you what I can do with a piano."
"Can you show me now?"
"Sure, pick something."
Danny handed Liam the music for Schubert’s Sonata in A,and Liam sat and began playing the Moderato and when that was done he skipped to the Scherzo. "Sorry I didn’t play the whole thing but it takes nearly forty-five minutes. We’ll need to leg it pretty soon or we’ll be riding in the dark."
"That was really good; does anyone at school know you play?"
"No, I keep it to myself. I don’t want to be roped in to playing for every birthday or occasion that comes along."
"That happens?"
"It did at Hart, it got really tedious having to play for every assembly, and some of the dreck they would ask me to play was that bad."
Liam and Danny pulled two bikes from the racks in the garage and Liam checked tire pressures. He adjusted them with a small electric compressor and they rolled them into the side yard. Liam retrieved a helmet for Danny and pulled it out of the storage bag along with his own. He handed Danny a pair of gloves to protect his hands if he should fall, and a reflective vest.
"Man you really take this seriously, Liam."
"I don’t know any other way, besides I’m not explainin’ to Terri how you broke yer neck or cracked yer skull."
"You big faker, you’re doing this because you love me."
"That’s true Danny, I’d die inside if you got hurt because I failed you."
"Oh Liam, don’t worry, I’ll be careful. Let’s go slow at first, it’s been a while since I rode a bike."
"But you can ride?"
"Sure we rented bikes at a lot of places and it didn’t take long to learn."
"Well let’s get our gear and head back; I hate riding in the dark."
With the house secured, it didn’t take long for the boys to make it back to Danny’s house.
Bryce greeted them at the curb. "Alright guys, I’m glad to see you taking safety serious with people looking at their damn phones half the time."
"I know, I had a close call once, a lady went right through a stop sign and hit my front wheel. It was hard enough to knock me off."
"What was her excuse?" Bryce asked.
"She didn’t have one, I saw the phone in her hand and I asked her was the message important enough to kill me for? Da said she lost her license for six months."
"Well hopefully she learned something," Bryce said.
"It was nice seeing you Bryce, we need to get dinner started," Liam explained.
"Okay guys, Greigh and T.J. are off picking up our dinner now. We’ll see you tomorrow."
They pushed the bikes around the back and locked them in the shed.
"What do we have that we can fix for dinner?"
"We have some lean hamburger, I was thinking of broiling a few patties with some seasoning and maybe some mac and cheese and a salad," Danny answered.
Terri told them that she would be late so they made a plate for her and put it in the fridge.
At six, Connor called and let Liam know all was well and he would be another day as the presentation was delayed.