The Hathaway

Reader discretion is adviced, this story contain graphic content depicting violence and rape which may not be suitable to all readers. This is a fictional story and do not portray real events or real persons.

Peepers

The next few days saw the town revving up for the beginning of classes, both at the public school, where our kids would be going, and at the college. Sammy and Jo Jo returned to the boarding house and made a special trip to the Hathaway so they could regale us with tales from their adventures in summer-stock, and meet the kids as well. They hit it off particularly well with Chad and Jodi, the older of the two girls, and promised to get everyone tickets to the first show of the semester. The also had a conversation with Sylvia about how the campus LGBTQ group might be able to be involved at Hope House to offer some peer mentoring or the like. Nothing specific was decided, but with the offer on the table, Sylvia promised to give it some thought. She asked for my input the next night when I arrived home from work. I asked, “Is there any kind of peer organization at the school?”

“No,” she answered quickly, “At least nothing active. When I spoke to the guidance counselor earlier this summer, she told me that there used to be a gay straight alliance a number of years ago, but none of the gay kids would attend. She thought they were afraid of being outed. It is a small school, after all, and everyone sees who attends which after school programs, so…”

“I see.” After thinking for a second I asked, “But everyone will know these kids are not straight, and who knows, maybe they could be activists of a sort.”

“They could,” she conceded, “But don’t forget, they are new kids in a new school in a new state, and because of the protests, they are easy targets. I don’t think it would be a good idea to put another weight on their shoulders.”

“Fair enough,” I agreed. “Then I’m not sure what the college kids can do, maybe organize some events aimed at underage participants, I don’t know.”

“Yeah, it’s a tough one, but it was generous of Sammy and Jo Jo to offer. Maybe the campus organizers will come up with something.” She was hopeful, but didn’t really have the time to think about it further. Her hands were full at the moment as our first week with residents was drawing to a close.

I ran upstairs to change into some shorts and a tee shirt. It had been a hot day, and I was not about to spend the evening in my work clothes. I knew Ben and Helmut had been making great progress on the carriage house, and I assumed that was where they were. Once I was changed I headed to the lower level to say hi to the kids and pop out to the back and see their progress. Jodi and Sabina were playing a video game in the rec room. I said hello, but they didn’t even look up. Beth was in the kitchen doing some prep for dinner and I asked, “Where are the boys?”

She gestured toward the back door. “Out back, I’m not sure what they’re up to, but they looked a little guilty when they headed out. Some sort of trouble, no doubt.”

“Thanks,” I smiled, “I’ll keep my eyes open.” I grabbed a few bottles of cold water from the fridge and went in search of the boys. It didn’t take long. I found them crouched behind some bushes, watching Ben and Helmut as they were cutting and assembling pieces of wood in front of the carriage house. They had been doing hard physical labor all day and it had been hot, so they were both bare chested, and dripping with sweat. I quietly crept up behind them and could see that both Kevin and Chad were massaging their crotches, while Ash just seemed to be enjoying the excitement of spying on the grown ups.

I smiled to myself. I remembered being a teenager and having those raging hormones. I wondered if anyone had ever had ‘the talk’ with these guys, they were certainly old enough to need guidance, but I wasn’t sure if it was my place to give it to them. I knew that we could not rely on the public school system to offer the specific kind of guidance they needed. I also knew that we could not rely on the school system to even acknowledge they existed. I decided to be guided by the organization’s policy of radical transparency, and let the conversation go where they needed it to go. I crouched down so I wasn’t visible to the two shirtless men, and asked, “Enjoying the view?”

The three of them started, and the two older boys made a desperate attempt to hide their obvious boners. “Don’t worry,” I said conspiratorially, “I like to watch too.” I crawled up to their level and joined them in peeking through the bushes. “Nothing wrong with looking.” After a moment of hesitation, they resumed their positions.

Kevin asked, “Do you get jealous when other guys look at Ben?”

“No,” I said simply. “Why should I? He’s beautiful. Of course other guys are going to look at him. But he loves me. Let them look. I’m the one he’s going to come home to and make noise with. Lots and lots of noise.”

I grinned at Kevin as I said this and he rolled his eyes. “Oh, great, no sleeping tonight again.”

“If all goes well,” I winked.

Chad chuckled but Ash looked slightly confused. I took note. Ash would definitely need ‘the talk’ but probably at a more introductory level then the others. As we turned our attention back to the spectacle in front of the carriage house, I could understand why they were there. The construction Ben and Helmut were doing was showing off their muscles to perfection, and the sweat made them almost glitter in the sunshine. Helmut had a fairly deep tan, which almost obscured his tattoos, but Ben had the traditional complexion of a red head, and his fair skin was almost blinding. While we watched, he stopped and mopped his brow, picking up a bottle and beginning to spread it’s contents on his chest and shoulders. He handed it to Helmut, who obligingly spread it on his back. I was happy to see he was using his sun screen, but wondered how effective it would be, diluted with all that sweat.

That’s when I saw it. Ben took a quick glance in our direction and cocked his head toward Helmut to say something. Helmut smiled and handed the bottle back to him. He proceeded to spread more sunscreen across his chest and belly, only slower this time, and Helmut started doing some stretches as if his muscles were sore. I looked on either side of me and the two older boys were practically drooling, while Ash still seemed a bit oblivious. It was all I could do not to laugh.

“I think I want a closer view.” I stood up and motioned for the boys to follow as I approached the carriage house. They followed sheepishly, but the thought of seeing all those muscles close up seemed to overcome their embarrassment at being caught peeping. “Quite the show you guys were putting on there. How long did you know you had an audience?” I handed them each a bottle of water and opened one for myself.

“About a half hour,” Helmut grinned. “At least that’s when I noticed.”

Ben chuckled, “I didn’t notice until I saw you duck behind the bushes, then Helmut filled me in.” He turned his attention to the boys. “You don’t have to sneak, you know. It’s normal to like to see what other guys look like. But I understand. It can be scary to let someone know you like to look at them. I was scared to let Joey know when we first met, but he let me know he liked to look right away.”

“It was pathetic,” Helmut added, “They were so hot for each other but it took forever for them to figure it out.”

Ben shot him a wicked grin, and added, “Yes, and some guys like to be looked at. Helmut loves to have guys look at him. We could hardly get him to keep his clothes on back then.” He turned that grin to me and said, “Joey can tell you all about that.”

All three boys turned to me with anticipation in their eyes. I gulped and said, “Not gonna happen, sorry.” They all looked disappointed, especially Kevin. “Instead of telling tales of Helmut and his amazing technicolor dream-jock strap, why don’t we take a look at the progress you’ve been making?” As I ushered the boys into the carriage house, I leaned over to Ben and whispered, “Wait till I get you home.”

He just chuckled and pinched my ass. “What you gonna do, spank me? I can’t wait.”

Kevin leaned over to Helmut and asked, “Do they ever stop?”

“Not since I’ve known them.” He put his arm around Kevin’s shoulder and gave him a quick bro hug. “And why should they? Just look at them, so much in love it’s ridiculous.” Kevin did look at us, and a single tear slipped from his eye. He quickly wiped it away and resumed his bravado, but Helmut had noticed too. “What is it?” he asked in an uncharacteristically gentle tone.

Kevin didn’t want to talk, but Helmut held him fast as he showed us the work they had done, and Kevin didn't make any attempt to free himself from his embrace. When we had seen everything the boys headed back to the house for a cool drink, but a minute later Kevin returned on his own. We sat with him as he hesitantly tried to explain himself. “It’s just that...well, I’ve never seen…”

We waited for him to formulate what he needed to say, and Helmut finally encouraged him, “Just say it. I’ve pretty much heard it all.”

“I didn’t know fucking could be a sign of love,” he blurted out. “The only times I’ve ever fucked it was because I needed money, or someone held me down and forced…” he dissolved into tears and buried his face on Helmut’s shoulder. After he had released some of his grief he continued, “Whenever my dad was drunk, which was most of the time, he would force my mom, even if she didn’t feel good. We could hear her protests, but what could we do? Eventually my big brother started coming into my room at night and choking me while he called me all kinds of nasty names and forcing himself on me. I actually passed out a couple of times. I thought he was going to kill me, that’s why I ran away.

Helmut continued to hold him as he sobbed. “They never even tried to find me,” he added as he began to gather himself back together. “When I was arrested for...well, for earning a living, they tried to take me back home, but when they found out that my parents hadn’t even reported my disappearance the put me in foster care. I didn’t stay there long, though. The guardians were just in it for the money. She kept sending me back out onto the street to make more money for them, and when she was out he would force himself on me or one of the other kids there. That’s where I met Chad. He arrived a just a couple of weeks after me and I could tell the creep who ran the place wanted his ass too. We ran away on his very first night there. Hid out for a while and got as far away as we could. Finally got picked up about a month later by the folks who brought us here.”

Ben and I were both in tears as he told us his history. Even Helmut was unusually quiet. Kevin finally looked at him and said, “You kind of remind me of my dad, when he wasn’t drunk, I mean.”

Helmut held his gaze and drew in a slow quavering breath. “I wish I was your dad. I wouldn’t have let any of that happen to you.” they looked at each other for another long moment, until Helmut smiled and added, “But I’m old enough to be your grandfather. You shouldn’t be out here ogling an old fart like me. You should be looking at young studs your own age.”

“Most of the guys who paid to fuck me were probably about your age.” He seemed to blush a little. “Some of them were very kind,” he smiled as he remembered one or two of his favorites. “But some..” he seemed to shiver at the memories of his more brutal clients.

“I’m one of those guys, and don’t you forget it.” He gave Kevin a wicked grin then motioned toward us. “You can ask these two, they used to call me an asshole behind my back all the time.” He turned to us and smirked, “Didn’t think I knew, did you?” Then turning back to Kevin, “But don’t let the rough exterior fool you, inside I’m…” he hesitated before smirking at Kevin and adding, “Even more of an asshole then they know.”

Kevin laughed. “Good, something I understand. I think I need some assholes in my life.”

Ben dried his eyes and sniffed. “Don’t we all?” he remarked as he slid his hand down my back and forced a finger between my cheeks, causing me to jump.

Kevin rolled his eyes and chided, “You two are awful!” But the smile on his face contradicted his words.