tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169779913999907132024-03-18T22:05:17.047-07:00Glen and TJPlease Note: All stories on this Blog are Copyright - 2009-2018LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-2257309369404895802014-07-21T03:21:00.002-07:002014-07-21T03:21:58.778-07:00Rearranging Time<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tired of waiting for TJ to pick-up their dry-cleaning,
Glen decided to do it himself. The shop was only a few doors down from TJ’s
pharmacy but seeing as he had been late leaving work the past two days, TJ had
arrived both times at the dry-cleaners just after it closed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good afternoon,” Glen pleasantly returned the clerk’s
greeting. “I’m here to retrieve a couple of suits and a jacket that were
dropped off the beginning of last week. Sorry for taking so long to come by,”
he offered his apologies as he handed over the three ticket stubs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s okay,” the girl answered as she went to the
back of the store, returning moments later with the plastic-covered garments.
“These were found in one of the pockets,” she explained, handing over a white
envelope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thank you.” Glen slipped the envelope into his
pocket, paid the bill and left with his cleaning hanging over his shoulder.
Once in the car, he pulled out the envelope and opened it. He knew he had
empted his pockets and had reminded TJ to do the same, so he couldn’t imagine
what had been left behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He felt his blood pressure rising as he stared down at
the two speeding tickets in his hand. His Brat had done it again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ arrived home late as usual. ‘It’s becoming the
story of my life,’ he thought as he entered the kitchen to find it empty.
‘Glen’s car is out there so how come supper hasn’t been started?’ He groaned
when he spotted the dry-cleaned clothing hanging from a hook. ‘Damn it!’
Sometimes he wished for the ability to kick himself. But since that wasn’t a
talent about to be acquired, he settled for walking down the hall in search of
his husband. He found his man sitting on the leather sofa in the den and stood
in the doorway for several moments studying the love of his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen had his arms stretched out on the back of the
sofa, his head back and almost touching the wall. His feet were crossed on the
scratched surface of the coffee table in front of him. His eyes were closed. If
he knew of his partner’s presence, he gave no indication of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">‘He looks tired,’ TJ thought. ‘Or is he just fed-up?’
Sadly shaking his head, he walked over and quietly sat down. He blanched when
he saw the two speeding tickets sitting on the table next to Glen’s feet. ‘God,
this day just keeps getting worse.’ He frowned as he re-thought that. ‘Or could
it possibly be going to take a turn for the better. We’ll see.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He reached out and placed a hand gently on Glen’s leg
and gave it a slight shake. Eyes slowly opened and the two men spent a moment
or two gazing intently at each other while the younger one chewed at his lower
lip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sorry for being late again,” TJ softly apologized,
glad his dark skin hid the blush he could feel burning his cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I trust you didn’t acquire another one of those.”
Glen looked pointedly at the two pieces of paper they’d be discussing
momentarily.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t speed tonight, so no new tickets…honest,” TJ
was quick to assure his partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen pulled TJ towards him and lovingly kissed his
lips before asking, “Care to share the story behind those two.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ sighed and reluctantly began his tale. “The first
one was the night of your awards dinner. Even with all my advanced preparation,
I still left the pharmacy later than I’d planned. Inventory glitches,” he
offered by way of an excuse. “Needless to say, I was stopped by the OPP on the
400 just outside the city. I barely made it in time for the presentation and
your acceptance speech.” TJ glowered at the memory. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And the second one,” Glen encouraged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Kind of similar circumstances, except this time I was
late for the monthly Chamber meeting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen leaned forward, picket up the two tickets and
glanced over them. “A grand total of fifty miles over the speed limit; must be
a new record for you, hummm?” He shook his head when TJ cringed. “So that
means….” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The raised eyebrow let TJ know he was expected to
finish the sentence. “I lose my driving privileges.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Exactly! And for all fifty days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s ludicrous!” TJ screeched, sending even Glen’s
heart rate soaring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen sat back and closed his eyes. Would he ever get
used to his Brat’s penchant for overdramatizing these types of situations? “It’s
doable, TJ,” he reasoned once he’d calmed his ruffled nerves. “But right now we
have the other part of your punishment to deal with. Can you tell me what that
would be for?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ’s shoulders slumped and his stomach tightened as he
confessed the wrongdoing he felt most guilty about. “I kept it all hidden from
you,” he murmured and hung his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">No further words were spoken and none were needed. TJ
stood up and slowly moved over to Glen’s left side. He undid his trousers,
lowered them and his boxers to his knees, and reluctantly stretched himself
over the older man’s thighs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen’s hand fell and rose in a steady fashion until TJ
was frantically squirming in an attempt to avoid the painful swats while
tearfully vowing never to speed again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Satisfied the message had sufficiently sunk in; Glen
brought the spanking to an end and patiently waited for the other man to calm
down. He soothingly rubbed circles over
TJ’s back and crooned words of forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It wasn’t long before TJ had settled enough to turn
over and bury his head in his chastiser’s shoulder, seeking additional comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you want to talk now or in the morning, Love?”
Glen asked as he gave his partner a reassuring squeeze. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not now,” TJ hitched. He was zoning out in the safe
haven of his lover’s arms. The lump in the pit of his stomach had disappeared
and the guilt that had been eating at him over the last three weeks was almost
gone. He sighed deeply and snuggled even closer, knowing Glen would give him as
much time as he needed in order to move on. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The next morning TJ stumbled down the stairs to the
smell of fresh coffee and toast. He found Glen already at the kitchen table
with a mug of coffee poised against his lips and his eyes glued to the daily
paper in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ turned up the radio that was softly playing in the
background to alert his partner to his presence. The younger man got a kick out
of startling his Top. He laughed as a bit of coffee sloshed over the rim of the
cup and onto the table. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen glared up at his partner but before he could
begin scolding, he found his arms full of one rather exuberant Brat. This was
not an unusual occurrence in their home the day after a spanking had been
administered. As a rule, a guilt-free Brat was a happier one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Smiling, Glen kissed the man cuddling on his lap and
determinedly inquired, “Are you ready to talk yet?” Getting a muffled ‘uh-huh’
he suggested, “Then get some breakfast and join me here at the table.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ lifted his head and grimaced slightly. “Think you
can join me at the counter instead? I really prefer to eat standing up this
morning. I’m still a little tender.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Before the men could begin their conversation, Glen’s
cell phone rang. TJ impatiently drummed his fingers while Glen checked to see
who was calling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How come you didn’t answer?” TJ wanted to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Because you’re more important, and I can just call
that client later.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ beamed even though he was aware of his partner
having done this many times before. It always made him feel special and he
silently berated himself for so often forgetting that fact. “Sooo, what do you
want to talk about. I hope it’s about how I go without my car for almost two
months.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll certainly be covering that issue. You do
realize the advantages to you establishing better habits where time management is
concerned. I think my playing chauffeur for a while may help you accomplish
that.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you going to be dictating how much time I spend
at MY place of business?” TJ’s eyes narrowed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I am going to help you stick to the schedule you
yourself have set up. You’re working longer hours than you need to and aside
from arriving late at various events, you are also getting over-tired and
stressed out. It is playing havoc with our relationship. Look, TJ, you have a
marvelous staff. They are all trustworthy, hardworking people. You have to
delegate more and stop micro-managing before you lose some of them. Sally’s
been working with you for years. Maybe you could consider making the inventory
her responsibility? I am sure your two assistant pharmacists would appreciate
more hours. Both those suggestions would free up some of your time. Time we
could be spending together.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ nodded his head, seriously contemplating the
benefits these changes would have for everyone involved. He knew Glen was
right; knew he wanted to do this. But could he let go?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re right and I really want to put your proposals
into practice. I’m just not sure if I can do it on my own,” TJ quietly
admitted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m quite confident about you being able to count on
your staff helping you,” Glen responded with a smile. “And then there’s me.
I’ll back you all the way.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ’s grumbled ‘yeah, I bet you will’ had the older man
laughing uproariously and the younger one rolling his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Turning serious, Glen firmly stated what should have
been the obvious. From past experience, he knew what was clear cut to him often
seemed muddled to his Brat. “I will drop you off at the store every morning
five days a week at exactly eight o’clock and pick you up at five. There will
be no arguing, although I will make every effort to accommodate any unexpected difficulties.
I am aware of you not taking time to eat a proper meal at noon, so for the next
while until a routine becomes ingrained, I will be joining you for your one
hour lunch break.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen paused and waited for this last statement to sink
in. When all he got was a wide-eyed stare, he thought it best to continue. “And
this afternoon right after we’ve eaten, we will be going to the court house
where you’ll pay those fines you’ve been collecting.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> TJ racked his
brain in hopes of finding a way to circumvent this enforced break in his day.
Nothing came to mind so he capitulated for the time being. This was going to
prove more difficult than he’d first imagined. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What happens if I can’t get away at the times you’ve
set?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll discuss it in order to determine why it is
presenting a problem.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And if there’s no good reason?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Each situation will have to be handled separately,
TJ. This exercise is meant to assist you in setting up a schedule that works
for you. One in which you can maintain control of your business while still
improving how you manage your time. I am sure we will both be going through a
somewhat intense learning curve to begin with, but I am equally sure everything
will work out in the end.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ took a deep breath and decided to jump in with both
feet. “Okay, I’ll give it my best shot. Just don’t expect perfection.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“When has either of us expected perfection from the
other, love?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Never, I guess,” TJ answered with a smirk. “Okay,” he
announced and then swallowed down the last of his coffee. “Let’s get this new
initiative up and running.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Things went rather smoothly for the first week and
then steadily began to deteriorate. Getting TJ to work on time each morning
never posed a problem, it was the lunch hour with which they experienced their
first setback.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen could understand an employee having to leave work
suddenly to attend to a personal dilemma but found the late arrival of a drug
shipment unacceptable. That evening, after discussing how the situation could
have been handled better, TJ spent a considerable amount of time writing lines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Towards the end of the third week, one of TJ’s
assistants took ill and ended up being hospitalized. This resulted in TJ having
to work the weekend. All too soon old habits furtively revisited and remained
after the now recovered employee’s return.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Getting back on track took some doing, mostly on
Glen’s part as he found himself having to put his foot down on several
occasions. This proved delicate at times as he didn’t want to do anything the
least bit conspicuous that would cause his partner any embarrassment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was TJ taking advantage of his Top’s reluctance to
publicize this aspect of their relationship that resulted in a couple more trips
over Glen’s knee. Negotiations seemed to be taking place almost nightly as they
tried to work things out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This is proving harder than I thought it would,” TJ ruefully
complained after yet another spanking that had followed after yet another
tantrum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re making it so, love. Just let go. Trust others
who have your best interests at heart.” Glen knew he was asking a lot of his
partner, but also knew their goal was achievable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ closed his eyes. He thought over all that had
happened during the past few weeks; all he had actually accomplished. He was no
longer feeling as overwhelmed at he had been, no longer suffering bouts of
exhaustion, no longer being tempted to throw in the towel and forget about
being his own boss; all thoughts of going back to work for someone else had vanished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Following Glen’s advice, he breathed in deeply and
just let go. He smiled and snuggled into his lover’s arms as a sense of peace
and freedom enveloped him. ‘This rearranging project has been worth it,’ he
admitted to himself. ‘My time is now my own.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-87943396178747359552014-07-08T15:07:00.001-07:002014-07-08T15:07:13.170-07:00You Didn't!<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another response to the ‘Zombie’ Challenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What are you snickering at, TJ?” Glen asked, glancing
at the LED reading on the clock. “It’s two AM and you’re supposed to be
sleeping. That damn TV show better not be responsible for keeping you up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well it kind of is.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Didn’t sound like you were having a nightmare, so how
is it disturbing your sleep and moreover, why is it disturbing mine?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">‘What the heck,’ the younger man thought. ‘It’s too
funny to keep to myself.’<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Micah was rather interested in The Walking Dead. He knows
absolutely nothing about zombies and so he didn’t really understand all that
was going on. When the show ended I told him it left me kinda nervous. I asked
him to stand guard tonight and keep his eyes open in case any zombies paid us a
visit. I convinced him that the creatures were afraid of ghosts and he believed
me. He’s sitting in the hall next to our door.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And you find that funny, do you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah! Don’t you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No, I do not!” Glen growled as he sat up in bed and
turned on the lamp. “I thought you’d stopped pulling these kinds of tricks on
your friends long ago, but it seems I was mistaken.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Before TJ caught on to what was happening, he found
himself face down over the bigger man’s lap and his bared-bottom being soundly
walloped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you still find it funny?” Glen inquired when he’d
unceremoniously plunked TJ back onto his side of the bed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“N-no,” TJ hitched as he wiped the tears from his
cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Go and tell Micah he’s no longer needed for guard
duty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s gone,” TJ announced, somewhat surprised. “Any
bets Jeremiah hauled him off to bed?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I can only hope so! You can apologize to both of them
in the morning. Meanwhile it’s time we were getting some shut-eye.” Glen held
out his arms. “Come here, Brat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The End</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div>
LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-75940920114374350672011-12-19T05:19:00.000-08:002012-08-26T16:39:58.784-07:00Christmas Customs, Old and New<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By LJ<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<em>Written f<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">or The Tea Room’s Holiday Prompts Challenge: Holiday Crafts<o:p></o:p></span></em><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><em>Glen, TJ, Jeremiah and Micah wish to thank their many readers for helping them celebrate their first Christmas together.<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p>************************ </o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t forget your cell phone or your keys, TJ. It’s cold out; maybe you should be wearing a hat,” Micah suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re beginning to natter like a Top, Micah,” TJ complained, shouldering into his heavy jacket.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Guess over a hundred and twenty years with the same partner has influenced me some. Oh my God, behaving like a Top! I’m gonna lose my Brat status!” Micah declared; his eyes wide in mock horror.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, right!” TJ snorted. “Not as long as you remain so nosey about everything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ah, speaking of nosey, where are you off to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The mall, I need craft supplies.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Crafts? Man, I’ve never made crafts. Can I come?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ glanced at his friend in surprise. “Are you serious? You’ve never asked to come out with me before.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah shrugged. “Maybe the season is affecting my better judgement.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You don’t have ‘judgement’, better or otherwise,” TJ teased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Cute, real cute! Being as I never had a chance to do things like this in years past, I wanna do it now.” Micah was picking up a lot of present-day speaking habits, something Jeremiah wasn’t exactly impressed with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The mall will be crowded this time of the evening and people will be walking through ya,” TJ warned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Better than stepping on me,” Micah retorted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You can’t materialize,” TJ reminded his friend, not wanting him to get in trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I won’t!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe you should let Jeremiah know.” TJ realized he was looking for a way out of taking Micah shopping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll do what you do and leave him a note.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay then, get your coat.” TJ resigned himself to having a ghost in tow. Suddenly a frightening thought entered his head and he spun around to waylay his companion. “Micah, can little kids see you when the rest of us can’t?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, and so can animals, especially dogs.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good grief!” TJ moaned as they left the house. “Note to self; avoid pet shops at all costs!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ considered himself lucky to have found a parking space after only driving around the lot for less than ten minutes. Taking the key out of the ignition, he turned to Micah with last minute instructions. “Remember there’s to be no wandering off and don’t touch things. Stay as close to me as you can so I can sense your presence. Okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How about if I just hang on to your scarf? Will that be close enough?” Micah was beaming from ear to ear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“As long as you don’t choke me,” TJ quipped in return as his friend vanished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Upon entering the mall, TJ headed straight for Michael’s Arts and Crafts with his list of needed items clutched in his hand. Considering his familiarity with the store’s layout and his list not being overly long, he estimated they’d be in and out of the store in under thirty minutes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">However, it was more than an hour later when a rather perturbed sales clerk softly expressed her relief at finally seeing the last of him. Although in truth, she was no more relieved than TJ was.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ had spent most the time picking up after Micah. The ghost had found it necessary to examine close-up just about anything he laid eyes on. Unfortunately, due to his over-abundance of exuberance and in his haste to see and touch everything, he dropped the majority of the handled products and if fell to TJ to return each one to its’ proper place. Between TJ’s frustrated mumblings and the sound of small packages hitting the floor, they had attracted some unwanted attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Walking as fast as he could through the throngs of shoppers and trying to avoid hitting anyone with any of the multiple bags he was carrying, TJ steadily wove his way to the main doors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hey, are we leaving?” Micah inquired when he suddenly recognized the direction they were going in. “We only just got here and there’s so much to see. I don’t want to go home yet.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ spun around, an angry retort on his lips. He stopped himself when he saw the expression of wonder that had been on Micah’s face rivalling one of unreserved disappointment at the thought of them not staying longer. Realizing all this was a novelty for his companion, TJ pushed aside his annoyance and relented.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Just let me get all this stuff in the trunk of the car, okay? It will make taking in the sights a lot easier.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A short time later, TJ was second guessing that decision. He was grateful that his darker complexion kept the blush of embarrassment he was feeling from showing on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah had momentarily left his side once again and had returned reeking to high heaven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where the hell have you been this time, Micah?” TJ’s underlining irritation had definitely crept into his hissed demand. He wrinkled up his nose. “And what the hell have you been into to?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There was a display over there,” Micah pointed towards ‘The Body Shoppe’, “and when no one was looking I sampled a few things.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You could have at least sprayed on a man’s fragrance,” TJ muttered. “You smell like a girl; several in fact.” He smirked at the thought of passer-bys detecting an overpowering scent and not being able to see who was wearing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Just then a well-groomed woman walked by carrying a small pet in a shoulder bag. The little dog began yapping and trying to escape. Much to TJ’s dismay, Micah made no effort at all to rein in his delight as he loudly expressed his amusement. The lady, preoccupied with trying to calm the little animal, assumed TJ was responsible for upsetting her precious pet and adding insult to injury by laughing at her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Get away from us, you horrible man!” she shouted, swinging her handbag and hitting TJ on his head and shoulders. Micah roared even louder as TJ tried to ward off the blows. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Fortunately, the irate woman ended her attack a moment or two later and indignantly marched away with her head held high in satisfaction of having obtained her rightful revenge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now we’re definitely getting out of here,” TJ grumpily declared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No we’re not, because I’m going over to see why that crowd has gathered,” Micah informed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Get back here!” TJ growled through clenched teeth as the odour of perfume gradually waned. He shrugged off the strange looks he received from those nearby and took off in the direction he assumed Micah had gone in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“To hell with it,” he grumbled when he clued in to what the ghost was up to. Suddenly he was able to see the whole scene as if through Micah’s eyes. The newness and the wonder of it all stuck without warning and immediately dispelled his irritation. Leisurely strolling over to the nearest refreshment bar, he ordered a cold drink and then locating a spot at the end of a bench, he sat down to enjoy the fun to be had people-watching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">His good humour restored, TJ chuckled when he saw an opening in the line of children who were with parents waiting to see Santa Claus. He watched as that particular space moved closer and closer to the steps leading up to the man in the red suit. He couldn’t help but laugh when several adults exchanged glances of bewilderment at their pre-school off-springs’ apparent conversation with someone the older folk could not see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">A number of the youngsters, who had been intently staring at some unseen object, nodded merrily and unexpectedly began to sing Jingle Bells. No amount of coaxing by their parents could curtail their enthusiasm. TJ knew dang well that Micah was to blame for the impromptu chorus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re up next, Maggie,” a gentleman said to his daughter as the song came to an end and giving her a gentle push forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No I’m not, Daddy. The man telling us to sing was in line before me so it’s his turn,” the little girl explained to her father who was looking more confused by the moment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Santa jerked in his seat, surprised to feel a slight weight on his lap but unable to determine what was responsible for it being there. The feeling disappeared a minute later almost as abruptly as it had ensued, leaving a very perplexed St. Nick sitting there. The elf assistant was also stupefied when a couple of the treats she was handing out were snatched from her hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ found all this hilarious and was laughing uproariously by the time he felt Micah’s presence. “Are you ready to go home yet, you fruitcake?” he murmured once he was able to get control of himself. “Preferably before men in white are called to drag me away. A couple of senior citizens asked if I was all right and I told them I’d forgotten my meds this morning. They probably think I’m throwing fits or something. Besides, I got work in the morning, remember” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes, I’m ready even though it’s still early. That was so much fun. I got us each a candy cane.” Micah handed one over to TJ and after opening his own, snapped off a chunk and shoved it into his mouth. “We never saw Santa when I was a kid,” he mumbled around a mouthful of candy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks, man.” Accepting the peace offering, TJ just shook his head and gleefully smiled at the thought of telling Glen about his afternoon at the mall with a ghost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Okay, Micah, the strips are cut and now all you have to do is make the chain,” TJ patiently explained as he made a circle out of a red length of craft paper. “You add a daub of glue, firmly hold the ends together for a couple of seconds and then loop a second piece of a different colour through it like this.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Got it! Sorry I couldn’t help you cut these out but my hand is still stiff from writing all those blasted lines Jeremiah had me do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What did they say?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“A brief note stating ‘gone out, be back soon’ is not sufficient for keeping your partner informed of your whereabouts,” Micah rhymed off with a scowl.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How many times?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Two hundred.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ouch!” TJ grimaced at the thought and flexed his right hand when he imagined it seizing up in sympathy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well it could have been worse. Like he said, I should have sought him out and asked him outright about going into town with you. I mean it wasn’t as if he wasn’t home at the time.” Micah smirked unrepentantly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I shared our adventures of yesterday with Glen and he saw the humour in it all. He wished he have been there to see it for himself, especially the bit of that ticked-off dog lady smacking me with her purse. And of course he figured the expression on Santa’s face when you sat on his lap must have been priceless.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah laughed at the memories. “Yeah, Jeremiah got a chuckle out of the purse-smacking bit too. He just didn’t like being left to worry so needlessly while I was out ‘gallivanting about’ as he put it. I really gotta think of a gift to make it up to him. Maybe something I can handcraft myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Although homemade is nice, are you sure making it yourself is the way to go?” TJ watched his companion trying to shake off the paper stuck to his fingers and rolled his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I sure do. He’s got quite a sweet tooth so I’m trying to come up with something that includes lots of candy. Got any suggestions?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not off hand, but we can always check out the internet. In the meantime, while you’re busy putting together those chains, I’m gonna start on the fifty ‘Santa Soup’ packets Glen and I have to get done by this weekend. Sally, Joan, Barry and Gordie are making twenty-five each for a grand total of a hundred and fifty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What kind of soup is that and what is it for?” Micah inquired, sucking on his index finger. He’d switched from the glue to using a stapler and had accidently hooked afore-mentioned digit on a staple, causing it to bleed. “We used to make long lines of popcorn with cranberries to hang around the house. Of course I’d bleed then too because of pricking my finger with the darning needle.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Go back to the paste, Micah,” TJ strongly suggested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I only bled a drop or two,” Micah pointed out, preferring the mechanical device over the messy adhesive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But it’s always enough to freak you out,” TJ reminded his companion unsympathetically.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I do not!” Micah argued. “And you haven’t answered my questions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Although the ghost had gradually been becoming invisible over the last minute or two, TJ knew he was still present. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They’re Christmas treats that we hand out when we go caroling. We do it every year; dress up in old-fashion clothing and visit an old folks’ home in Calgary. We also go door-to-door at a seniors’ complex. It’s a blast!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We used to get carolers at our house when I was growing up. My siblings and I weren’t always permitted to come downstairs to see them, so we’d hang out our bedroom windows,” Micah mused, remembering with mixed feelings some special moments from his youth. Shaking himself back to the present, he asked again about the soup.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We take one of these cellophane bags and paste this verse to the front of it.” TJ passed over a four-by-four inch sheet of paper with a picture of Santa and a poem on it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah immediately proceeded to read it out loud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbldNJYab6kI86NRLPiieBIk0Pk-qfgbX8FTrY_S9xAtF32HTJJgHd3yMNBSZuExlhW2ofwNTDGPvpLLloIyJXFT34PN7oiokG23RtiSTAdf_GUGJW2IQTdfNew8JJzXHJGKt4ayRMXOk/s1600/santasoup2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbldNJYab6kI86NRLPiieBIk0Pk-qfgbX8FTrY_S9xAtF32HTJJgHd3yMNBSZuExlhW2ofwNTDGPvpLLloIyJXFT34PN7oiokG23RtiSTAdf_GUGJW2IQTdfNew8JJzXHJGKt4ayRMXOk/s320/santasoup2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:f></v:formulas> <v:path gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect" o:extrusionok="f"> <o:lock aspectratio="t" v:ext="edit"> </o:lock></v:path></v:stroke></v:shapetype></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And the recipe is….” he joked.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“In each packet we place three Hersey Kisses, a package of hot chocolate mix, a snack sized zip-lock bag of miniature marshmallows and a candy cane to be used as a stir-stick,” TJ explained, adhering a copy of the poem to a bag he was about to fill. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wish I could go caroling with you,” Micah murmured longingly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ picked up the sadness in his friend’s voice. “I’ve got an idea,” he exclaimed after giving the matter a few seconds’ thought. “You’re not allowed to show yourself to people because being visible one minute and invisible the next can be disconcerting to say the least, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I guess,” Micah shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So just how long can you and Jeremiah stay visible?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Certainly not for an entire evening,” Micah sadly admitted. “It can be hard work to prevent ourselves from fading a bit in order to sort of recharge. I’m sure your caroling event takes at least a couple of hours.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It does. But what if you guys accompanied us, stayed in the car until the last dozen or so houses and then joined our group and sang along. Hell, you already have the perfect attire.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m gonna go find Jeremiah and ask him,” Micah excitedly declared as he pushed back his chair and ran out of the room, almost knocking over Glen who was on his way in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t see him coming but that must have been Micah in a tear to get somewhere fast.” Glen smiled his amusement and sat down at the table in Micah’s recently vacated seat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes, he’s keyed up over the prospect of coming caroling with us. And your timing is impeccable, my love. I was just about to holler for help in getting these bags finished up. Here, you can take care of the marshmallows.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m happy to be of assistance, sweetheart, now that I’ve finished my Christmas shopping.” Glen moved the colourful paper chain Micah had been working on out of the way and confiscated the items required for him to do his part.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You're finished! That’s so unfair. I’ve barely started.” TJ pouted. He was tempted to ask what Glen had bought for him, but refrained as he knew from past experience all he’d get was a raised eyebrow. “Oh well, at least I have a pretty good idea of what all I’m getting everyone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good! Now let’s get this stuff taken care of. We still have crafts to make, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s it!” Micah exclaimed in disbelief. “You’re only making one kind of sweet for Christmas? Only a measly batch of shortbread? Whose idea is that?” Micah shook his head at the man on the other side of the kitchen counter. “When I was growing up, our cook baked oodles of holiday treats for our family and guests.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s nothing ‘measly’ about it. It’s another of our traditions, Micah. We are one of twelve friends who take part. We each bake twelve dozen of our choice; cookies, squares, candy, whatever. Then we give each other a dozen so we all end up with twelve dozen different sweets but only have to buy ingredients and do the work involved for one of them. Neat, huh?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah stared open-mouthed, trying to assimilate what had been said. He blinked and rubbed his forehead. “I think I’m getting a headache. Ya gonna bake a fruitcake and make a plum pudding, right? Those are old-fashion, must-have festive fare.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nope, neither. I don’t know how to make the pudding and I don’t really care for fruitcake. Glen does though, but fortunately his mother provides him with one.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What about gingerbread men and sugar cookies to hang on the tree?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ve never done that. Besides, less baking frees up time to do something else.” TJ popped the last two large trays of cookies into the oven and reached for his list. Checking off an item, he merrily announced, “Man, we’re doing a great job getting everything done. Here, you look it over and see if I’ve missed anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hmm, let’s see. All your shopping done?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“For the most part; there’ll always be last minute purchases.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Really? Will that mean another trip to the mall?” Micah hopefully inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not if I can help it,” TJ muttered under his breath.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I heard that!” Micah reached over and punched the other man on the arm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Man, you punch like a girl!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No, I punch like a ghost.” Micah laughed as he continued reading over the list in his hand. “You checked off ‘cards sent out’ a bit prematurely. Glen’s in his study writing them out while you baked.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Those are for his business contacts and therefore not part of ‘our’ list. He’ll be all evening doing it because he’s left this particular chore to the last minute and is working under the gun. But he has all his gifts wrapped, which is more than I’ve got done.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re doing that next, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes, and helping you with Jeremiah’s gift. You sure he’ll stay away until we get it finished.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He will if he doesn’t want to ruin the surprise. The directions you found on-line for making a candy wreathe look real easy. I’m anxious to see the completed product.” Micah glanced up with the timer sounded and licked his lips at the mouth-watering whiff of cookies fresh from the oven. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ quickly pulled the tray back when Micah reached for a cookie. “Careful! These are too hot. Have another one of the cooler ones if you must. But that’s it, no more or there’ll not be enough for me to trade with the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They’re so good and just melt in your mouth,” Micah dreamily explained as he bit into one. “Best I’ve tasted in well over a century. Don’t even need milk.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ efficiently placed a dozen of the cooled cookies in each of the six boxes he’d readied and the remaining few in a can for later. “I’ll pack the rest when they’ve cooled down. In the meantime, let’s get on to your present.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An hour later, TJ stuck a bow on the final gift and sighed impatiently at the mess the other man was making. “Micah, you’ve got more hot glue on the table and your fingers than you do on that damn wreathe. Give me that bloody glue-gun! And stop sucking your finger when there’s glue on it!” he ordered, grabbing the tool out of Micah’s hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I can’t help if I burned myself again,” Micah retorted and vanished. “I’ll just watch, okay?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Making an effort to be a little more understanding, TJ sincerely apologized. “Sorry for snapping at you, Micah. You did a great job decorating the styrofoam circle with striped paper and tying on the individual wrapped candy pieces with curls of red ribbon. I’d think it was quite the accomplishment for a ghost. Getting all the holly to stay in place is just a bit trickier.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s real neat that the Lindor candy comes in its’ own colourful wrappings.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It might be a bit more expensive that others but the taste sure makes up for the extra cost.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m beginning to see there’s more to this art and craft stuff than I thought there’d be,” Micah mused. “You make it all look so straightforward. And after the relative easy chain-making activity you let me do, this was unexpectedly difficult. But it was still a lot of fun and worth the work, simply because it is a gift for Jeremiah.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Another ten minutes and the two men sat back to admire their handiwork, self-satisfied grins lighting up their faces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This is wonderful! The first gift I’ve given my man in over a hundred years, and one I made myself…well most of.” Micah smiled at his friend. “I wish I could come up with something to give you and Glen.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s no need, Micah,” TJ assured him. He had no intention of mentioning the bottle of high-quality Cognac Glen had purchased for Jeremiah. “That is, unless you want to consider cleaning the Jacuzzi in our en suite after bathing in it as a gift.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You are aware of us using it?” Micah wondered what the repercussions would be, if any.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Long black hair in the tub and towels on the floor are a dead give-away, you know. But it’s okay, enjoy it as often as you want when Glen and I aren’t home,” TJ graciously invited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thanks, TJ. It sure eases the pain in Jeremiah’s leg when it’s acting up in damp weather. But don’t tell him about the towels, okay? I’m supposed to clean up after us and I forget more often than not. I got to admit though, sometimes getting in hot water isn’t so bad after all. And thank you too for including us in your many holiday customs, TJ. I appreciate it more than I can say. Jeremiah and I both had a magnificent time singing carols with you and Glen the other evening. You didn’t have to put yourselves out like that to accommodate us the way you did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m glad our partners agreed to go along with it and that everything went so smoothly. It never crossed anyone’s mind that you guys aren’t real folks.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It might have been funny if they had,” Micah suggested with a smirk. “Then again, maybe not. Too much chaos could have resulted. Have you ever noticed that trouble almost always starts out as if it were fun?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh yeah, more times than I’d like to count. And after last year, I want this Christmas to be trouble free.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What happened last year?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I kinda ignore an earlier agreement and when Glen called me on it, I got in a snit. I tried but couldn’t seem to pull myself out of it. I even got nasty with my kid sister while we were at my parents’ home for Christmas dinner. All and all, not something I want to repeat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you spend most the whole day visiting family?” Micah was disappointed in thinking their housemates wouldn’t be home to celebrate the holiday with him and Jeremiah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not every year. Two years ago we stayed with Glen’s family and last year we went to mine. This year, we’re starting a new custom and staying home on Christmas Day. We’ll get our visits in on Boxing Day instead.” TJ chuckled when he clearly heard a sigh of relief coming from Micah’s lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So, what’s coming next according to the Yuletide ‘must-do’ list?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The all-important Christmas tree!” TJ joyfully announced. “This Saturday we go into the woods, cut down the best we can find and drag it home.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We used to do that when we were alive. Not the pizza bit, just the tree,” Micah murmured as past memoires once again came to mind. “And without recorded music to listen to, we had to do our own renditions of Christmas songs.” He had greatly enjoyed hearing the soft background sounds of the season being played daily over the last couple of weeks whenever TJ and Glen were home. He would have turned on the DVD player himself when he and Jeremiah were home alone had the older man allowed it. His having turned it up full-blast was to blame for his partner bringing a quick end to that activity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Although TJ couldn’t see Micah’s face, he was sure his friend’s eyes were sparkling in anticipation as much as his own were. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What do you think?” Glen asked with a slight note of uncertainty creeping into his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It may not be perfect, but I think it might be the best we can find,” Jeremiah answered, giving the tree another once over.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Cut that out, Micah!” TJ hollered, wiping the snow from his face. “It’s cheating for you to be taking advantage of being invisible while lobbing snowballs.” He smirked at the sound of a swat landing followed by a sharp yelp. “You sometimes seem to forget that Jeremiah can always see you. Dang well serves you right,” he added. “No sympathy from this quarter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was just having a little fun,” Micah reasoned. “I’m getting cold and my legs are beginning to hurt. How many miles have we trudged through this snow anyway?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you kidding me? You hitched a ride on the sleigh every chance you got. Glen and I had to drag your sorry ass over half the way here and you can bet we’re not doing it on the way back. Besides, we’ve only come a little over a mile from the truck, so quit your belly-aching.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ was ready when another snowball came at him and was rewarded when a shout of alarm greeted the one he threw in return. “Gotch!” he crowed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hey, you guys! This is supposed to be a fun activity, not a bickering match,” Glen spoke up. “Now let’s cut this tree down and get it back home before dark.” He picked up the ax and walked around to find the best place to make the first cut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Enough!” Jeremiah ordered. He shook his head as he watched his partner digging snow out from where it had slid inside his collar. “Getting wet isn’t going to warm you up, Micah. Now call it even and assist our friends with what we all came here to do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s a clear night, Glen, so the moon will light our way.” TJ sidled up next to his partner. “Kinda romantic, isn’t it?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;">“</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">And we’ll be able to enjoy the ambiance better once we have this down and loaded on the sleigh.” Glen took several might swings, hitting the trunk dead on every time. “Timber!” he hollered a few minutes later as the tree slowly toppled over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ and Micah rushed forward to pick up the tree from the big branches on the bottom. It didn’t take long before it was securely tied and they were making their way back to the truck. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Spirits were high as one more preparation for the holidays was accomplished. With the tree standing in the corner of the living room, surrounded by paper to catch the melting snow as the branched settled, Glen and TJ put a quick meal together and summoned their housemates to join them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Although we do not require substance, we do enjoy your company.” Jeremiah accepted the invite by pulling out a chair and sitting down at the table. “However, a cup of tea wouldn’t go amiss.” He graciously thanked TJ when a cup appeared before him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We may not need food but I still like the taste of it,” Micah pointed out as he looked longingly at the fragrant bowls of beef stew being placed in front of Glen and TJ’s seats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Would you like some, Micah? There’s plenty,” Glen kindly offered, “and lots of fresh rolls too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes please.” Micah could hardly wait to dig in. “When do we trim the tree?” he garbled around a spoonful of vegetables and gravy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Swallow first, Micah,” Jeremiah instructed. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll do it right after I get home from work tomorrow,” TJ answered while buttering a roll. “I’ll try to get away early if I can. We always make a bit of a party out of it by ordering in pizza, pigging-out and guzzling our favourite brew.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sounds like a recipe for getting ill,” Jeremiah commented with a shake of his head. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nay, Glen usually managed to see to it that both of us exercise a little restraint,” TJ joked, smirking at his partner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But can we check out the decorations this evening? You got lots of little candles, right?” Micah inquired. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We don’t use candles. We can’t! Good grief, I’d hate to think of the ramifications with our insurance company if there was ever a fire due to us having lit candles on our tree,” TJ mused.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But candles are what makes the tree,” Micah insisted. “It will be as good as naked without them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Micah,” Jeremiah spoke softly as he reached over and covered his partner’s hand with his own larger one. “It can’t be done, love. There’s no need to make an issue of it.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That sucks!” Micah shouted as he pushed back his chair and got to his feet. “I’m not even going to bother helping you guys with your crappy old tree!” With that, he stormed out of the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wish he’d refrain from using those abhorrent expressions?” Jeremiah muttered and rolled his eyes. “I apologize for Micah’s behaviour. Handling disappointment appropriately has never been one of his strong suits. If you’ll please excuse me,” the older man stood up and followed his errant Brat upstairs to their room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ glanced at Glen and blushed at the memory of his having acted in a similar manner numerous times in the past. He bit his lip, worried by the thought that Jeremiah would in all likelihood handle it the same way Glen had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Don’t fret, love,” Glen quietly advised, pulling gently to free his partner’s lip from where it was trapped. “They’ll take care of it. Let’s finish up here and go sit by a roaring fire. We can both do with some down time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sounds inviting,” TJ smiled, scraping the remaining stew from his bowl and eating it. “You’ll put all the lights on the tree while I’m at work tomorrow, right?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“As much as I dislike the chore, I promise to have them strung before you get home. Then I’ll sit back with my feet up and watch you get the rest done. Okay?” Glen began filling the sink with hot soapy water in preparation for washing the dishes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Works for me,” TJ laughed, grabbing up a tea towel and joining his partner in the cleaning up process.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Upstairs, Jeremiah walked through the door into their bedroom. Micah was pacing near the foot of their bed and apparently working up a good head of steam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Whaaat?” Micah stopped circling to inquire. He would be beyond insulted if Jeremiah drew attention to the question sounding pretty much like a whine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What?” Jeremiah repeated, unable to believe his Brat had dared to ask him that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I asked first!” Micah pointed out belligerently.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeremiah pursed his lips and silently beseeched the powers that be for patience. “You’re treading on thin ice, my boy.” He sighed deeply when he saw his partner close his eyes and actually seemed to crumble, all hostility subsiding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah felt strong arms engulfing him. Although capable of crushing him, at times like this they provided security and a haven from the outside world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Talk to me, sweetheart, while I get you changed into a clean nightshirt,” Jeremiah instructed when he knew the man he was embracing had calmed enough to obey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This was going to be our first real Christmas since our deaths,” Micah murmured, caught up in his own thoughts and vaguely aware of clothing being removed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It still is,” Jeremiah reminded him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was hoping for it to be like the ones we had so many years ago,” Micah sadly voiced his disappointment. “But there’s not going to be candles or homemade gingerbread men on the tree and no one is making a plum pudding. Instead of people coming to call, Glen and TJ are going out several times over the holidays.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’ve been given reasonable explanations for all that. And if memory serves me correctly, the last few of times we had plum pudding you wouldn’t eat it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s because you never did master the art of making it and it usually tasted weird.” Micah knew the older man wouldn’t be offended by his words and Jeremiah’s soft chuckle proved him right. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If you keep your expectations so high, my boy, you’re bound to be disheartened,” Jeremiah hinted, hoping Micah would figure it out for himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I guess. Goes with something TJ said last week: blessed are those who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed,” Micah mimicked his friend’s speech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He may have a point. I suggest you concentrate on all the things you and TJ have done similar to those done in the times you long for. Carolling comes to mind, immediately followed by baking and craft making. The damage done to the finger tips on your left hand, attests to you having made strings of popcorn and cranberries. You and darning needles really need to maintain a healthy distance from one another,” Jeremiah mused, holding back the laughter trying to burst free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We did have a fun time going out and cutting down our tree,” Micah softly admitted as a nightshirt was pulled over his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeremiah lead his partner over to the large armchair in the corner of their room and sat down with the smaller man nestled against his side. “And then there are all the modern customs that TJ has shared with you, especially when it comes to music which you enjoy so much. It’s all about mingling the two, my love; past and present. It’s about adjusting to the changing of the times.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You’re right…as always,” Micah begrudgingly concurred, hiding the smile spreading across his face. His feigned disgruntlement was easily picked up by his long-time companion, causing both men to chuckle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Were you at all able to curtail your negative reaction to not getting your own way downstairs, Micah?” Jeremiah moved onto the event which had resulted in them presently being in their room as opposed to spending a nice evening in front of the fire with friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I could have,” Micah truthfully replied after giving the question some serious thought. “But I couldn’t be bothered making the effort.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“So instead you subjected me and our housemates to an unwarranted display of bad manners.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m sorry,” Micah mumbled into the chest he had his face pressed against.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Have I ever in the past allowed you to get away with such deplorable behaviour?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No,” was the whispered response.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you think I am going to let it go this time?” Jeremiah didn’t like punishing his partner but he knew to let this pass would mean them having a restless night while Micah wrestled with a guilty conscious. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nooo,” Micah moaned, momentarily cringing at what he knew was inevitable before quietly admitting, “In truth, I’m rather relieved when you do call me on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In a heartbeat, Micah found himself face down over a pair of very solid thighs. His nightshirt was lifted and the last bit of coolness he’d enjoy for some time to come wafted across his now exposed backside. A rapid peppering of hard swats landed, turning his white bottom a deep red as a flame blossomed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was over in a minute. It had been fast and left him gasping. Before he could even wail his sorrow, his nightshirt was once again covering him and he was upright and being tightly held by his chastiser. Words of comfort and absolution were being murmured as a warm hand lovingly caressed his back from shoulders to below his waist. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That really sucks,” Micah whimpered, wiping at the few tears that had escaped. He knew he’d gotten lightly but the message had definitely been delivered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I wish you wouldn’t use those repulsive sayings, Micah.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Didn’t we just talk about this, Jeremiah? You know; something along the lines of adjusting to the changing of the times.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Brat!” Jeremiah smiled at having his words thrown back at him and dropped a kiss on the younger man’s hair. “You owe our friends an apology, my lad. Let’s go downstairs so you can tender your request for forgiveness.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Can it wait until the morning? Please?” Micah pleaded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“All right,” Jeremiah relented. “Glen doesn’t work on Sundays and TJ leaves later than usual, so you’ll be able to get up early and do so.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thank you,” Micah breathed a sigh of relief. He suddenly felt exhausted, but cooperatively got up at his partner’s nudging and went along with Jeremiah tucking him in bed. He sleepily watched the other man get undressed and moved closer to Jeremiah’s body once he too was settled for the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah turned a slow circle in the center of the living room, his eyes wide with wonder and amazement. The room seemed transformed now that the tree was decorated and well lit. He was completely caught up in the joy of the moment, as all he could have possibly hoped for had somehow miraculously appeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The red and green of the holly placed strategically about the rooms on the lower floor complemented the plaid linen covering the dining room table and buffet. The window seat now housed a beautiful nativity scene while various seasonal ornaments graced almost every available space. Christmas cards were hanging from a miniature clothesline attached to the wall in the hall. But the tree was the piece de résistance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ watched his friend’s face lighting up, a wide smile almost splitting his own in two. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You got gingerbread men and sugar cookies after all,” Micah joyfully exclaimed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They’re ceramic,” TJ informed him. “So don’t try eating them,” he teased as he wiped pizza sauce off his chin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There are little apples and bows,” Micah added, stepping closer to get a better look at the items dangling between the branches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, I learned some of my decorating techniques from Darby and Riley a few years ago,” TJ admitted a little shamefacedly. “I kinda rib them about being so old-fashioned at the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now there’s an understatement,” Glen muttered into his third cup of spiked eggnog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And the little candles,” Micah whispered in awe. There were clusters of three plastic candles scattered about the limbs and brightly shining. “They’re awesome! Where did they come from?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, I’m afraid they’re not real,” TJ explained unnecessarily. “They were part of an order we received at the pharmacy, but we’d never ordered them. Our supplier obviously made a mistake. But seeing as they were already paid for, I decided to reimburse the business and keep them for our tree. They clip onto the branches and plug into emptied sockets on the strings of fairy lights. However, if it’s any consolation to you, there will be real candles on the table when we have our turkey dinner on Christmas day.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The entire display is absolutely breathtaking. Thank you,” Jeremiah sincerely murmured, barely able to get the words passed the lump in his throat. He recognized the extra effort made in order to have as much as possible bear a resemblance to by-gone days, and that it had all been done with him and Micah in mind. This was definitely a priceless gift of love and friendship. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’ll tidy up in here and put our gifts under the tree,” Glen suggested, gathering up the empty boxes that had held the ornaments and packing them away one of the bins. “TJ, get rid of the pizza box, please.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll do that,” Micah offered. “You can top up the eggnog bowl. It’s getting kind of low.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Half an hour later, three men were relaxing with feet propped up by the fire and a matching glow inside while a fourth crawled around the foot of the tree reading name tags.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There are gifts here for Jeremiah and me,” Micah excitedly announced. He picked one up and shook it next to his ear in an attempt to guess what was inside. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Put it down, Micah,” Jeremiah ordered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah reluctantly obeyed and shuffled over to side on the floor in front of his partner. The gift would receive many a look of longing before the week was over. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Have you ever opened your gifts on Christmas Eve, TJ?” Micah asked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nope, never and wouldn’t want to either! Have you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No, but I knew a family who did. In fact, they opened one a night the week leading up to Christmas.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then they didn’t have a proper Christmas morning,” TJ replied, slightly horrified at the very idea. “That’s what weeks of anticipation lead up to; the grand finale, so to speak.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“If you’re hinting at opening yours early, my lad, you can forget it.” Jeremiah taped Micah on the back of the head to make sure he had his attention. “Christmas is less than seven days away so you can wait like the rest of us. And I better not catch you peeking either.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah settled back, resigned to waiting out the week. He heaved a sigh of contentment when he thought about the surprises he still had to put under the tree, provided they arrived in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah couldn’t believe he’d overslept just enough for someone to have actually beaten him downstairs this morning. But from the soft glow coming from the living room, that was exactly what had happened. He’d been first down all week, lighting the tree and turning on the CD player. But now that was already done and the positioning of a last minute gift in the wee hours was responsible. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He tiptoed into the front room to discover someone on their hands and knees next to the tree. “Whatcha doing’?” he quietly inquired, startling the other man. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“God, Micah, you may as well come right out a shoot a person instead of scaring them to death,” TJ griped. “For your information, I’m just rearranging the gifts because a certain pest we know has been foraging again. You should at least have the good grace to blush,” he pointed out when his friend merely smirked at him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Jeremiah is getting dressed and I heard Glen shaving, so they’ll probably be down any minute now,” Micah announced, squatting down beside TJ and looking over the bounty of presents. “Kinda makes you wonder where they all came from. Parcels seemed to have been arriving for days.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They’re all from family and friends,” Glen answered as he and Jeremiah walked into the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe we should have breakfast first.” Jeremiah’s proposal resulted in a series of objections from the younger men sitting on the floor. But looking closer and seeing the glimmer in the older ghost’s eyes, let them know he was only teasing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah jumped up and ran over to throw his arms around his lover who was standing under the mistletoe. The green sprig with little white berries was dangling in the entrance way, and the guys had taken advantage of it every time an opportunity presented itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then let’s get started before a couple of us burst with excitement,” Glen recommended, kneeling down beside TJ to exchange kisses and Christmas greetings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The next little while was spent opening gifts. Each one brought forth exclamations of delight and gratitude. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah was thrilled with his new outfit. “Now I can dress properly when we go out like we did last night,” he said, getting to his feet and holding the jeans against him. “Perfect length too!” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You can wear them this evening when we go out looking at the decorated homes about town. It is another tradition we do every year.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Bet none are as nicely done up as ours,” Micah insisted, proud of having helped with their home’s holiday façade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He became more animated each time a gaily wrapped package with his name on it, was handed to him. “Where did this come from?” he jubilantly queried after tearing the paper off an old guitar that had been completely restored.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I found it along with some pieces of leather, in the attic and thought you’d like it,” Jeremiah answered. “I cleaned it up, put on a new shoulder strap and strings.” He smiled at seeing his partner’s expression of admiration.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You engraved the strap yourself, didn’t you?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I did.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But how did you come by new strings?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ah-ha, I earned money to purchase them. Glen had me inscribe a belt for TJ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah’s enthusiastic laughter rang out. “So,” he blurted as soon as he caught his breath, “while I thought you were giving me space to do my own thing, I was actually giving you privacy to do all this. How neat is that?” He glanced over at TJ who was absorbed in examining a special gift from Glen. “Whatcha got there, TJ?” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Something I’ve wanted for quite some time now. A Nikon Coolpix camera. It has a 16.1 MP CMOS sensor that delivers outstanding quality and performance. I’ll be able to shoot faster with less blur and capture clear, crisp images, even in low light. The sensor, working together with the EXPEED 2 processor, will make my photos as sharp as the moment they happened.” Seeing the confusion on Micah’s face and realizing the man had no idea was he was talking about, had TJ laughing. “But I’m giving you fair warning; if you mess about with this there’ll be hell to pay.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah tried to deny ever touching what wasn’t his and TJ kindly decided to change the subject. “Jeremiah really likes the candy wreath you made him, if his having eaten some already is anything to go by.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Both young men chuckled at the guilty expression that briefly showed in the blush on the older man’s cheeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I know he definitely appreciates the gifts from you and Glen. Brandy and old books are a great combination.” Micah watched as his partner picked up one of several premium-bound books belonging to the classic set of an antique library rare book collection. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” Jeremiah mused, loving running his fingers over the smooth leather. “They’ll provide hours of unimaginable pleasure.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are they better than just candy?” Micah softly questioned, suddenly feeling his gift was inadequate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nothing can surpass a gift so lovingly made by you, my love,” Jeremiah genuinely declared, making his eternal mate beam with pride and happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I can’t imagine how you come up with some of your gift ideas, TJ,” Glen spoke up. He read aloud from the box in his hand. “</span><span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Vinturi red wine deluxe aerator set is clearly on the cutting edge of wine aerating. Mixing just the tight amount of air with your wine at the precise moments, this see-through aerator allows your reds to breathe instantly.” He returned the grin TJ sent him. “Yes,” he nodded, “this will be a welcoming addition to our equipment.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I thought you’d easily see the benefit of having one,” TJ responded light-heartedly. Wine-making was a joint hobby they’d begun almost a year ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You must be concerned about me overeating this holiday season.” Glen lifted another box and once again read off the caption. “Garmin's next-generation, sleek and stylish line of personal trainers; the Forerunner 305 Portable Navigator. This taskmaster will continually push you to do your personal best as it combines all of the popular features to continuously monitor your heart rate, speed, distance, pace and calories burned so you can train more effectively. Thank you, sweetheart. I’d planned to enhance my exercise routine in the New Year and this will certainly come in handy.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This last gift is from Jeremiah and Micah to the both of us,” TJ stated, handing a large parcel over to Glen for unwrapping. They missed the look of surprise that crossed the older ghost’s face. Jeremiah was apparently unaware of Micah and him having obtained an extra gift for their housemates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“WOW! It’s a </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Yuletide Treasures Omaha Steaks Gourmet Selection; a really bit one!” TJ exclaimed, unable to believe his eyes. “We sent smaller versions of these combos via the internet to family members. This one features a lot of extras, including four Filet Mignons, Marinated Salmon Fillets, Oven Roasted Chicken Breasts and juicy Omaha Steaks Burgers, plus stuffed baked potatoes and scrumptious caramel apple tartlets. This is terrific!” It never for one moment occurred to TJ to speculate on how any of this had come about. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ah, did one of you order this?” Glen haltingly inquired, glancing back and forth between Jeremiah and Micah. He hated to think of the repercussions of the younger ghost having overstepped himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I did!” Micah readily admitted, sounded rather pleased with himself. <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It arrived yesterday when you guys were out running last minute errands and I hid it outside until about three hours ago. It’s in a special box that keeps it frozen for quite a while.”<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jeremiah just groaned and sank back in his chair to collect his thoughts before daring to confirm his suspicions. “You’ve been playing on the computer again, haven’t you? You just can’t seem to resist modern-day contraptions. Tell me, didn’t the order form demand certain information, Micah. Information you could not be privy too?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nope, I’m getting real good at finding my way around the net. I just used the arrow thingy to enter the site; then clicked on the item I wanted. That seemed to be all that was needed. Oh, I did have to change the delivery address, but that’s all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It didn’t request credit card info?” TJ asked, utterly flabbergasted. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah merely shook his head, for the first time having doubts about his impulsive gift-buying decision. “It sent you an email confirming the order. Good thing I know your password so I was able to delete the message. I wanted the gift to be a surprise.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve got to hand it to you for certainly accomplishing the surprise part.” Glen started to laugh. “It obviously retained all the pertinent data from our orders. Well, Micah, I have to say your gift is both unexpected and appreciated.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Even if we’ve paid for it with our own money,” TJ commented, also finding the situation comical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unfortunately, Jeremiah didn’t find anything amusing about his Brat’s actions. “Rest assured Micah will be reimbursing you with numerous hours of hard labour. Winter should afford an abundance of necessary snow-removal. All walkways will be kept cleared by guess who?” He stared purposely at his partner who seemed to be trying for an air of innocence. “It’s not working, Micah,” Jeremiah emphatically stated. His demeanor relaxed as he too began to see the humour of it all. He pulled Micah onto his lap and muttered, “My little hellion, what will you come up with next?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah settled against his lover’s broad chest, knowing he’d be forgiven as long as he made restitution. The enjoyment he’d received in being able to give such a well-deserved gift made it more than worthwhile.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, my stomach has begun to growl. So once we get this debris cleaned away, we’ll have breakfast,” Glen reminded everyone that they’d yet to eat since getting up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I second that!” TJ piped up. “I’m starving! Of course I’ll save room for our big turkey dinner later today.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You know, Glen, I think this is just about the best Christmas ever.” TJ was sitting on the end of their bed in his underwear. He had one sock in his hand, its’ mate was still on his left foot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why’s that, love?” Glen came out of their en suite and pulled back the covers in preparation for them retiring for the night. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ’s face scrunched up as he tried to figure out an answer to his partner’s question. “There was something different. Subtle changed seemed to take place over the last week or two. But I can’t quite figure it out.” He removed the second sock and glanced up in time to see a knowing expression on his lover’s handsome face. “You know, don’t you?” he softly inquired. “And it’s to do with us having housemates this year; Micah in particular, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen nodded, took the socks out of his partner’s hand and tossed them in the direction of the laundry hamper. Then pulling the younger man up, wrapped his arms around him and kissed his forehead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think you’ve had a chance to see what I do whenever I see your eyes widen with sheer delight over something as mundane as the first snowfall of the season, and again when I hear your laughter as you try to catch an elusive flake on your tongue. You seem to make a point as often as possible to live in the moment and enjoy whatever comes your way. The best part is that you’re able to draw me in with you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I understand…I think. We made Christmas extraordinarily special for Micah without deliberately planning to, and his totally transparent enchantment with it all brought us added pleasure.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I couldn’t put it better.” Glen gently encouraged his lover to get into bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I gotta say there were times when I thought he’d stopped breathing as if it all seemed just too much to take in.” TJ smiled at the memories of those times when an inexplicable rush of happiness would hit him. He turned over, cuddled against Glen and whispered, “Merry Christmas, my darling.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The End<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Quote:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away. (Anon.)<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-88506773889061609582011-11-18T10:55:00.000-08:002011-12-03T18:36:15.701-08:00A Housewarming<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By LJ<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">OC’s: Glen and TJ with Guests and Ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ grunted as he leaned against the pantry door, pretending he was having a hard time shutting it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen chuckled at his partner’s antics and went back to the list he was reading. “According to this receipt, TJ, you were charged for two packages of chocolate puff cookies but there as only one in with the groceries.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s because I ate a bag of them on the way home,” TJ openly admitted. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You ate the entire bag of cookies?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, and a good thing too, cause this pantry is about to burst. So are the refrigerator and both freezers for that matter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well we want to make sure there’s enough in to feed our guests over the long weekend. I’m really looking forward to having the Richmond Gang all together, and for the first time it will be in our own home. We’ve been to Rowan and Jayson’s homes, as well as their cabin, so many times over the years but were never able to accommodate them and their husbands all at the same time due to our apartment being too small. Now we’re finally able to return their generous hospitality.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I had doubts of us ever getting this weekend off the ground. We set a date so many times since moving in but something always happened to prevent us from getting it off the ground. We’ve been living here for ten months and are only now having our house-warming party.” TJ rubbed his hands together and crowed, “But it’s going to be a hell of a party!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen smiled at the younger man’s enthusiasm. Truth be told, they were both equally excited to be playing hosts for their best friends. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh, I managed to get most of the pop and all the beer into that old clunker of a refrigerator out in the back porch,” TJ proclaimed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll be happy if it runs until the weekend is over, or at least until we get the one in here partially empty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’d have a better chance of that if someone would quit opening the damn door to see if it’s getting cooler.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Who is doing that?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Micah is, who else?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen rolled his eyes. “You have got to stop blaming things on this imaginary friend of yours, TJ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oooh, Micah is far from being imaginary, Glen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Really? And you actually seen him, have you?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes; well sort of. Maybe more like a vague outline, with him being a ghost and all.” TJ took his partner’s arm and dragged him into the living room. “That’s him!” TJ pointed up at one of the portraits hanging above the fireplace. “While I’ve never seen Jeremiah, I’ve often felt both their presence. Until recently it seemed as if they hadn’t been around on a daily basis for quite some time, but yesterday when I was making up the beds in the guest rooms, I got a sense that one of the rooms was being inhabited again. It was the Victorian decorated one at the end of the hall. It had kind of a lived-in feeling and just felt warmer somehow. You needn’t scoff; if you weren’t so obstinate you’d be able to discern them too.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve read their history and will admit they’re very interesting men. I would certainly have enjoyed meeting them had we all lived in the same era, but we didn’t. They built this home together and lived in it for several years. It’s sad to think they had to keep their love for one another hidden.” Glen stepped closer to TJ and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. As they stood studying the faces of the two long-dead men, they thought of how fortunate they were to be living in this day and age in a country where they were free to love openly. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They must have really loved each other,” TJ softly mused. “Poor Micah died of a broken heart only a few months after Jeremiah succumbed to some illness that was making the rounds at the time.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Their conversation was interrupted by the ringing of the phone. Glen dropped a light kiss on TJ’s black wiry curls and walked into the hall to retrieve the handheld. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He returned to the living room with the phone to his ear and a wide grin spreading across his handsome face. “It’s Jayson,” he mouthed to his partner and then concentrated on what the man at the other end of the phone was saying. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s great, Jayson. Hold a sec while I fill TJ in on what’s happening.” Putting the phone to his chest, Glen happily announced, “They’re making good time and are sure they’ll be here in a little over an hour.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ya-hoo!” TJ crowed, dancing around excitedly enough to cause Glen to back out of his way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I guess you can hear TJ’s reaction,” Glen laughed into the mouthpiece. “What’s that? You plan to stop for what?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Tell them not to bring any more food; there’s no space for it,” TJ called out.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh, that will be fine, Jayson. See you in a bit. Bye for now.” He walked back into the hall to replace the phone, TJ right on his heels. “They’re coming straight here, love, and not stopping to purchase anything.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I can hardly wait to see Darby and Riley again. I have so much to tell them.” TJ’s eyes lit up and he grinned suggestively. “Sooo, we have an hour to wait, huh? Gee, I wonder what we can do to pass the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen smirked at the thinly veiled hint. Wrapping his arms around his partner, he slipped his hands into the belt-free waistband of TJ’s cotton shorts, then into his boxers to gently squeeze two firm round globes. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Let’s take this somewhere more comfortable.” TJ giggled and push away to run up the stairs. He divested himself of his clothing as he ran, leaving everything to fall where it may.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen followed a little slower as he multi-tasked by picking up TJ’s discarded clothes while removing his own. He entered the master bedroom and was not at all surprised to see his partner on the bed already lubing up in preparation for their love-making. The sight always went straight to his penis, especially when he could see TJ’s hardening. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Dropping their garments in a pile on the floor, Glen stretched out beside his beautiful black lover and pulled TJ on top of him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ gazed down at the man whose thighs he was straddling. “Okay if I ride?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen’s only answer was to grab TJ’s hips and help the other man slowly impale himself on his thick pulsing erection.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Beautiful place you have here, Glen,” Rowan complimented as he looked out the large picture window in the kitchen. He turned to accept the cold beer being offered him. “Lots to do on warm summer evenings; a lovely fireplace and double-size whirlpool tub for relaxing on cold winter ones.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Best of two worlds, I have to say,” Jayson observed. “You look out over a lake just like our cabin and yet you have all the amenities that we enjoy in the city.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Except for one major difference and that’s my commute. You gentlemen don’t live too far from the airport where you work and both your partners work out of your homes.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I didn’t think TJ had a distance to travel,” Rowan commented.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He doesn’t. He was fortunate enough to acquire his own pharmacy in a nearby town less than twenty minutes from here. I, on the other hand, have another hour’s drive before I get into Calgary where much of my customer base is located. Although, I now only travel there for pre-arranged appointments as most of my clientele are willing to come out to my showroom which is located over our three-car garage. I’ll take you up there before the weekend is over, if you like.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then you work part-time out of your home base, right?” Jayson nodded his approval when he received an affirmative response. “It’s about time you slowed down some.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Unlike Jayson and Rowan who had owned their homes for several years now, Glen and TJ had found it necessary to put their ownership plans on the back burner while Glen got his interior decorating business established. Glen’s tendency to work extremely long hours, often seven days a week, nearly destroyed his and TJ’s relationship. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have,” Glen assured his friend and one time mentor. “And fortunately TJ hasn’t emulated me in respect to developing his own business. He’s not the workaholic I was.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s just more laid-back, my friend,” Rowan pointed out. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Laid-back, huh? You haven’t seen him getting ready for a party like the one we’re having tomorrow evening, my friend,” Glen responded with a laugh.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s a hard worker, but has always taken time to smell the roses, although not necessarily by always implementing the best laid plans,” Rowan expanded on his statement. All three men saw the humour in that observation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have to confess that one benefit I enjoy, and happily take advantage of, is TJ getting home before me and preparing supper.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“God, I hope he’s learned to cook since university! Some of the concoctions he made back then were absolutely revolting!” Jayson shuddered at the memory.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s become a great cook as you’ll see at the party tomorrow night. TJ planned and prepared ninety percent of the menu. At last count, he informed me there will be thirty-two people attending.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, it may have taken you two almost a year to get this weekend off the ground, but it was worth the wait,” Jayson remarked.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“And I hope it is only one of many trips we’ll be making here,” Rowan added.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Now that we’re finally settled, we plan to entertain as often as possible and the door is always open to the four of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Has becoming homeowners lead either of you to consider finally taking the plunge like Jayson and I did?” Rowan inquired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ve asked him to marry me,” Glen admitted and smiled somewhat sheepishly. “He wants to be sure, so he’s still thinking it over.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What the hell is there to think over?” Jayson bluntly asked with a burst of laughter. “You two have known each other for over ten years, dated off and on the first five and have been in a relationship for the last five.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I think he’s just trying to torture you, Glen,” Rowan teased.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s completely possible, Rowan. TJ can be perplexing at times. Still, I’m fairly confident he’ll accept my proposal before year’s end.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He might just want to settle for nothing less that spectacular; something off the wall. Maybe you can let him know it’s okay if he wears a long white dress and veil,” Jayson facetiously suggested. “I know he isn’t a cross-dresser in the strictest sense, but he certainly revels in dressing up and performing for friends. What better occasion to do so than a wedding?” These men had been best of friends for well over a decade; their level of ease with one another revealed by the nature of their exchange.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He sure gave a bang-up performance as a hula dancer at our luau a couple of years ago,” Rowan reminded them. “Coconut breasts, grass skirt and all.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Knowing his friends were pulling his leg, Glen pretended to give the idea some thought by way of payback. “Hmmm, you guys just may have something there.” The thoughtful expression on his handsome face left his companions wondering if he was seriously considering it. That is, until he set their minds at ease by cracking up at the expressions on their faces. “But I highly doubt he’d put on a wedding dress unless there was a good reason. Something like that fund-raiser for The Children’s Wish Foundation he took part in last year. Although only women’s clothing was modelled, all the models were men. It was quite a hit. I highly doubt he’d wear one to his own wedding. Thank goodness too, because he looks so damn hot in a tux. But tell me, Jayson, would you have been able to sanction Riley wearing a traditional gown of white?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t think so,” Jayson truthfully replied. “And I definitely wouldn’t be happy sporting the black eye he’d give me if I was foolish enough to so much as introduce the subject.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Would you have minded Darby doing so, Rowan?” Glen asked once they got their laughter under control.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s not an issue we’d ever have to face,” Rowan answered seriously. “At the time of our marriage, Darby was still coming to grips with our lifestyle. For a while, he found it difficult to cope with our choice to have a discipline relationship and its’ impact on his self-image and sense of masculinity. We had countless conversations before he was finally able to accept his newly recognized needs didn’t make him any less a man than he’d always been. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">So to even hint at him putting on a <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">dress, even in jest, would</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> have sent him spiralling. However, he greatly admired TJ for doing so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jayson and Glen both nodded their understanding. Darby was the youngest of the three partners and the one with the least self-confidence, except where his music was concerned. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Speaking of our partners, I wonder what they’re up to at the moment,” Glen mused out loud. Jayson’s response that he’d last seen them in the living room had Glen frowning. ‘TJ better not be regaling our guests with outlandish accounts about his imaginary ghosts,’ he silently nattered to himself. ‘I gave him sufficient warning not to do so.’<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Meanwhile, TJ, Riley and Darby were standing in front of the fireplace and gazing up at the framed artwork above the mantel. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s true!” TJ insisted. “That’s them in the portraits. Don’t tell me you’re gonna be sceptics like Glen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Riley and Darby slyly traded looks of incredulity. The entire time TJ had been giving them a tour of his new home, he’d cautiously whispered about a secret he had to share with them. Ghosts were the last thing they’d have suspected. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m expected to keep mum about them,” TJ explained in hushed tones. “I’ll get in trouble if Glen finds out. So now that I’ve told you, you better damn well believe it!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ah, has Glen seen them?” Darby tentatively inquired, glancing at the pictures hanging over the fireplace.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you kidding? He refuses to accept their existence,” TJ scoffed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I think it’s a Top thing. You know, relying so much on the true and blue, they can’t see outside the box.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But you see one of them?” The doubt was evident in Riley’s voice. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you!” TJ declared, his voice beginning to rise in frustration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, if you don’t mind, I think I’ll wait until I see them myself to believe this wild tale of yours,” Riley stated.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Fair enough, but be prepared for the younger one to cause mischief. He’s got me blamed for stuff in the past.” TJ grinned at a pleasant memory. “And unless my ears have been playing tricks on me, he’s gotten himself in a lot of hot water, too. God only knows, it serves him right.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are you saying he’s a Brat and these interlopers, real or imagined, are in a discipline relationship?” Riley was astounded, while Darby was rendered speechless. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Actually, they probably consider us to be the ‘interlopers’. This was their house; they built it themselves a century or more ago.” TJ proceeded to expound on the history of the homes original owners, steadily drawing his two friends into the realm of make-believe. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">By the time he was finished, Riley and Darby were eagerly hoping they’d have a run-in with one, if not both, of the Ghosts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How are things going in here?” Glen asked, walking into the room with Jayson and Rowan following him. It was evident that he’d startled the three young men who had been huddled together; two paying avid attention to the third. Glen’s eyes narrowed; he had a pretty good idea about what had been discussed just by their reaction to seeing him, but he decided to let it ride for the present.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re going outside for a bar-b-que and would like you to join us,” Rowan informed them. If he too noticed anything suspect, he didn’t mention it and neither did Jayson. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Come sit by me,” Glen issued a soft request to his partner who was looking out the window facing the lake. He patted the bed beside him and was relieved when TJ walked over and sat down.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why, TJ?” Glen asked the next morning. With a hearty brunch under their belts, their guests were checking out Glen and TJ’s private dock and boathouse. They’d been invited to make use of the pleasure craft.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ shrugged, leaning closer to the man whose arm was resting across his shoulders. “I don’t know.” He knew exactly what Glen was referring to.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m pretty sure you do. It would make things a lot easier if you offered an explanation for doing something you’d been categorically told not to.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I just wanted someone to believe me,” TJ murmured, dropping his head even further.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It only took a split second for Glen to pick up on the unintentional clue and the despondency in his lover’s voice. “Just who else have you told, sweetheart?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“My employees,” TJ reluctantly divulged, mentally crossing his fingers that Glen wouldn’t point out how foolish that had been and how he’d set himself up for ridicule. ‘Because I already know that well enough, thank you,’ he miserably self-confessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How did they react to that?” The query was kindly made, totally without censure or scorn; only a vague sense of loving sadness could be distinguished. Already guessing the answer, Glen compressed his lips. The apparent fall-out was what had him prohibiting his partner to tell anyone in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“They laughed, and probably joked about it behind my back. All except Sally that is. I could tell she really would have liked to accept what I told them as true.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t find that too difficult to believe of Sally. She may be flighty but she has a kind heart. Are you worried about Riley and Darby teasing you?” Glen knew if they decided to tease, Darby would keep it lighthearted and know when to stop; Riley on the other hand could be unmerciful. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nah, I don’t think so,” TJ said confidently and shook his head. “They may be having a hard time wrapping their heads around it, but are also kind of curious to learn more.”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Only the opinions of those who truly matter to you, are important, TJ. If I were you, I’d try hard to ignore the others.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, I don’t have much other choice. I’m sure not gonna fire them for teasing me.” TJ unenthusiastically glanced up and heaved a sigh of resignation. “Guess I’m in your bad books, huh?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen was wishing he didn’t have to make an issue out of TJ’s deliberate defiance, but he’d been left with little choice. If he let it go, all hell would be out to recess before the day was over. TJ was clearly feeling remorseful and needed to make restitution in the straightforward manner they had adopted when setting up the boundaries that governed their relationship; simply because it worked. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You knew what the consequences would be when you chose to disobey, TJ.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Right,” TJ woefully replied and got to his feet. Moving around to Glen’s left side; he paused long enough to shove his sweat pants and boxers down to his knees before lowering himself over his partner’s lap. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We’re doing this to clear the slate, TJ. To put it behind us and move on, correct?” Glen asked as he gently caressed the two brown globes. Receiving a muffled affirmative response, he raised his left hand and brought it down hard in the first of a dozen stinging swats. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Quickly over, it was far from being a serious punishment but it was enough to free TJ of the guilt he was harbouring. Glen knew his lover was crying more from the emotional release than from the pain of the spanking.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are we done here, TJ?” Glen was sure they were but wanted his partner to be just as sure. Once again he received a muffled sound of agreement. He set TJ on his feet, stood up and embraced the man he loved with all his heart. He chuckled softly when TJ rubbed tear-streaked cheeks and a snotty-nose on his shoulder. “Pull up your pants, love, while I change my shirt.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“In a minute,” TJ murmured, wanting to be held a little longer. He sighed contentedly when Glen obliged. “Is it okay if I answer any questions Riley or Darby might ask about Micah?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You may as well now that you’ve let that particular cat out of the bag,” Glen lightly teased, knowing the younger two of their guests would want to hear anything TJ had to tell them, their unbridled curiosity probably already driving them crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I won’t tell Jayson or Rowan, and I don’t think their partners will want to try explaining our housemates to them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">With his face out of TJ's line of vision, Glen felt safe in rolling his eyes. “Good idea, sweetheart.” He could well imagine the two older men’s reaction to such a tale. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">An hour later, Glen and TJ were on the back porch anticipating their guests’ return. Upon their arrivals, all were immediately put to work helping out with last minute party preparations. TJ, in his self-appointed position as director and planner of the event, had assigned tasks to everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Happy to get away from TJ’s hyper mode, Glen, Jayson and Rowan drove into town to pick up extra chairs and a couple of tables from the local recreation centre. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Meanwhile, Riley and Darby assisted in the kitchen, turning out tray after tray of Hor d’oeuvres and other fancy finger foods. As soon as the older men left the house, they took advantage of their absence and began questioning TJ about the phantoms he’d started telling them about yesterday. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It wasn’t long until TJ had them hanging on every word as he detailed many of the problems he laid at Micah’s door, starting from before he and Glen had even moved into the place.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“At first, I thought I was imagining things. Even when I began having nightmares, I’d blame it on being over-tired or a meal disagreeing with me. Glen would accuse me of messing around when I wasn’t and he had trouble believing me when I swore I’d done nothing. It wasn’t until we moved in that I finally clued into what was happening. So far, I’m the only one who’s seen the Brat ghost from hell.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He continued regaling his friends with more stories and eventually had them laughing hysterically with the antics during last year’s Halloween, as well as the mischief cause by Micah fooling around with various broken appliances they’d put at the curb as trash.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">For Darby in particular, it definitely made being stuck in the kitchen more pleasant. He’d never had an interest in the culinary arts, not that Riley outshone Darby’s meager efforts. Certainly not in the way TJ did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">As requested, Riley had been checking over the trays that needed to be cooked at the last minute before serving. “Hey,” he interrupted TJ’s narrative. “Who’s been sampling these things? There are several gaps in among the bite-size pieces of grub that weren’t there a few minutes ago.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not me!” Darby declared. “Yuck! There’s uncooked bacon in some of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ stopped stuffing the mushroom in his hand and frowned. “Do either of you guys have a feeling there’s someone besides us in here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Somewhat alarmed, Riley and Darby glanced around the room but saw nothing. “That’s not funny, TJ!” they angrily declared in unison, embarrassed at being spooked so easily.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m not kidding. Micah is here, I can sense his presence. He has a habit of pinching treats. Show yourself, Micah. These are my friends and they want to meet you.” TJ paused and waited in the subsequent silence. “Damn it! He’s gone.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That sucks!” Darby exclaimed. “I wouldn’t mind seeing him. At least I don’t think I would. Maybe he’ll show up at the party.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Where there’ll be safety in numbers, right?” Riley added, not at all sure he wanted to come face to face with a ghost when on his own….providing there was one to begin with. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Heck, your guess is as good as mine,” TJ stated. “Meanwhile, we better get this finished before our partners return. They’ll want help bringing everything inside and setting it up.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Everything was ready by the time guests started to arrive. TJ took anyone who had not been to their new home before on a brief walk through the main floor and then out to the deck to join the others gathered there. Introductions were repeatedly made until the last invited guest had arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">On the deck, a large bar-b-que had been set up along with two tables for the refreshments, plus a bar. TJ’s brother, Garrett, was flipping burgers while his wife, Deanna, and Glen’s sister, Jemma, carried out platters of food. Jayson had taken on the duties of bartender and was busy lining up an assortment of liquor and mixes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The party seemed to be going off without a hitch. Rowan was handling ‘crowd control’ as he called it and Glen was keeping the music down to an acceptable level. After all, they did have neighbours within a ten mile radius. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Pleasantly surprised by no one asking about the ‘Ghosts’, TJ pulled Sally aside to see if she had anything to do with her fellow employees abandoning the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Kind of,” she admitted with a soft giggle. “I told them you were just testing them to see how spooked they’d get because you were thinking of having a Halloween party this fall, complete with a spook alley.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“But such a party hasn’t even crossed my mind, Sally. However, you may have just planted a seed,” TJ laughed, already beginning to fancy the idea. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You and Glen did a lot of entertaining in your apartment over the years, so with all the space you have now….” She left the rest of her blatant hint unsaid and turned to walk away. “Oh, by the way,” she added over her shoulder, “I want to play a part in the spook alley, especially if you can talk your ghosts into participating.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ laughed even louder. Sally had always been one of his favourite people and he felt blessed having her in his life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby sat just outside the glow of garden lights hanging around the deck. For over an hour now, he’d been fixating on an artificial ice cube someone had dropped into his glass. Staying focus helped to keep the fuzzy atmosphere surrounding him at bay. He knew if he stood up, he’d fall down. He just didn’t know why.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The party was winding down when Rowan realized he hadn’t seen Darby in a while; not since he’d spotted him talking to one of TJ’s employees and his date. He noticed Riley next to the bar and from the pout on his face, not too happy with whatever Jayson was saying to him. Straining his eyes in order to search the unlit areas of the back yard, Rowan finally located his husband sitting under a tree. He strolled over and squatted beside him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby had no idea how long he’d been sitting by himself when his concentration was interrupted. He blinked and looked upward, placing a hand on the grass to steady himself. “Oh hi, Rowan, whatcha doin’?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I came over to find out what you were doing, Sweets,” Rowan chuckled. He peered into his partner’s eyes and frowned. “Just how much have you had to drink, Darby?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Huh?” Darby glanced down at the glass in his hand, studied it for a moment or two and then turned a confused expression up to the older man. He had never been much of a drinker; usually stopping at two if drinking the hard stuff and rarely more than four beer. “This is my second rum and coke. I haven’t even finished it ‘cause it’s too strong, so it’s taking forever for the glass to get empty.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“The party is almost over so how about you and I heading inside, okay?” Rowan confiscated the glass that was still three-quarters full and slipped his free hand under Darby arm, hauling him up to his feet. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby swayed and fell heavily against Rowan chest. If his husband hadn’t been holding him, he would have ended up flat on his face. “Man, the world’s spinning. I can hardly stand up.” His speech was slurred and his co-ordination non-existent. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Only two drinks, huh?” Rowan mumbled his disbelief, setting the glass on a nearby table. He was half-carrying the younger man as they made their way up the stairs of the deck and eventually into the house. They were part way down the hall leading to the stairs and their bedroom when Darby let Rowan know he was going to throw-up. Hastily shoving his husband into the downstairs bathroom, Rowan got the toilet seat up just in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby dropped to his knees and emptied his stomach contents. When done, he sat panting with his forehead pressed against the cool porcelain. “My head’s killing me,” he moaned. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Let’s get you up to bed, Sweets.” Rowan helped his husband up and they were just leaving the bathroom when they bumped into TJ who had been saying farewell to a couple of the guests. Rowan quietly explained the problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’ll be right up with something to help Darby feel better,” TJ offered; concern for his friend evident in his voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Once in their room, Rowan quickly stripped Darby of his clothing and gently encouraged him to lie down. “I’m going to get a wash cloth and towel, Darby. I won’t be gone long.” He returned to find Darby sitting up and engaged in a conversation, but couldn’t figure out with whom.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He says he’s sorry,” Darby informed him.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Who’s sorry?” Rowan glanced around, his brow furrowed in confusion. There were only two of them in the room.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Micah is. He said he kept my glass full. He said he was angry for us laughing at him and just wanted to get even.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Darby, who is Micah? And where is he?” Rowan patiently inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He’s one of the ghosts who share this house and he sitting right there.” Darby pointed to the foot of the bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Rowan heaved a sigh. “That’s TJ’s cat and it’s a ‘she’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby frowned and leaned forward a bit. “Oh, hi Miss Muffet. I didn’t see you there. Do you know Micah? Ah, never mind, he’s leaving.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Only two drinks, huh?” Rowan grumbled under his breath. “And you’re hallucinating.” He didn’t think this was a conversation he wanted to pursue with his obviously inebriated Brat, so he merely pushed Darby back on the bed and proceeded to wash the sweat from his naked body. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Be back in a jiff, love,” he softly promised as he left Darby’s side to answer a knock on the door. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“These should do the trick, Rowan,” TJ assured him, handing over two small packets. “One is to settle his stomach and the other is a pain killer. You’re okay using these, right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yes, I am. Thanks, TJ.” Rowan closed the door and turned to see Darby rolled into the fetal position. ‘This will have its’ advantages,’ he thought as he approached the bed. Removing the foil from the two bullets, he bent slightly, spread the two upturned cheeks and gently inserted one. Fortunately the second was also in place before Darby realized what was happening and whined a protest.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What did you do that for?” he demanded, turning over too quickly and then wishing he hadn’t as he grabbed his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This method will work better, Sweets. You might not be able to keep down oral meds.” Rowan explained, cleaning his fingers on a wet-wipe that TJ had supplied. He lay down and spooned around his ailing husband. Humming and rocking slight, it wasn’t long before he heard soft snoring coming from the man in his arms. He waited a few minutes more, kissed his love, quietly got up without disturbing Darby’s slumber and tip-toed out of the room. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In the room across the hall, Jayson had firmly settled his husband in bed. It had been an uphill battle as Riley continued to argue about the party not being over. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t feel so good, Jay. Lying down makes me feel worse,” he griped. “My mouth is dry and my head is beginning to hurt. Can you make the room stop spinning?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jayson rolled his eyes in mild exasperation. “I’m going to fetch a glass of water and a couple of aspirin. Don’t get off that bed!” Jayson ordered when he saw his Brat about to do just that. He was in the bathroom running water to get it nice and cold when he heard Riley shouting. Shutting off the tap, he hurried back to see what was going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Get away from me!” Riley hollered. “Leave me alone! Leave me alone?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Jayson walked through the door just as a pillow sailed across the room. He managed to catch it before it hit him in the face. He saw Riley scrunching himself in the far corner, a look of fear on his face. Rushing over, Jayson pulled the frightened man into his arms. Riley was actually shaking, his breath coming in short bursts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s okay, babe. I’ve got you. Breathe,” Jayson soothed in an attempt to calm the younger man. “What got you so worked up? I’ve never seen you so rattled.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It-it’s…” Riley stammered. “Good, he’s gone. I scared him off.” Riley resiliently shook off the effects of having perceived something he couldn’t explain and even now didn’t quite believe. “I’m okay now,” he insisted, pushing away from his husband. “I must have had more to drink than I thought, ‘cause I’m seeing things. And it’s all TJ’s fault for laying that ghost crap on us. They don’t really exist, do they?” He was embarrassed and needed someone to blame. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Ghost crap?” Jayson questioned, backing off and giving Riley his space. He sat down and watched his Brat’s anxiously pace and rub his hands through his hair. That is, if stumbling and depending on the wall for support constituted pacing. Fortunately, the space beside their bed was somewhat limited. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, TJ’s been telling us stories about the two guys who built this house. He says they still live here. He claims the place is haunted.” Riley was uncertain and needed reassurances. “I shouldn’t have let it get to me.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I must admit, I’d find such a tale hard to swallow,” Jayson calmly responded. “TJ must have been pulling your leg. Come on, let’s go downstairs and ask him.” He got up and placed an arm around Riley’s shoulders. Together they went in search of an explanation.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen, TJ and Rowan were bringing the last of the party paraphernalia in from the deck when Jayson and Riley put in an appearance. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Look who’s just in time to help put some leftover in containers and into the refrigerator,” Glen announced with a broad smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Many hands make light works,” Rowan piped up, setting an oversized serving dish containing veggies, cold cuts, cheese, crackers, fruit and dip on the counter. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have to say your timing is impeccable, because this is the last of it. The rest is already put away,” TJ informed the late comers. “Even the bar has been cleaned up, Jayson. Some bartender, leaving your job before it’s finished,” he teased.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Everyone’s cleared out so soon?” Jayson asked. “It’s not even midnight.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Some, like our family members, either had a way to travel or had children waiting for them,” Glen explained.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Or maybe it’s a mutual fear of their vehicles turning into pumpkins,” Riley joked, helping himself to a piece of fruit and popping it into his mouth. “I’m still hungry. Can some of this stuff be left out?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Swallow before talking, babe,” Jayson advised. He walked over to the fridge and took out a couple of bottles of water. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s been a long day. Is anyone up to just chilling out? We can grab some of finger foods and a drink to take with us into the living room,” Glen suggested and was immediately taken up on his proposal.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Got a question for you, TJ,” Jayson spoke up once everyone was comfortably seated, drinks in hand and their plates piled high. “What is this business concerning ghosts?”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ glared at Riley while Glen looked up at the ceiling and bit back a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What? You don’t believe in the supernatural, Jayson?” TJ answered with questions of his own, in hopes of creating a diversion. Not getting a response, he asked Rowan the same question.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hmm, I suppose anything’s possible. Why? What’s this about?” Rowan glanced back and forth between the four other men in the room. “Wait a minute. It wouldn’t have anything to do with someone by the name of Micah, would it?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeap, it would.” TJ brightened right up. “Did you see him?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Nooo, but Darby thinks he did. Of course the man was as drunk as a skunk at the time. I’m sure once he’s slept it off he’ll not remember talking to….whoever.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Riley had been starting to doze off, but his eyes widened when he heard this bit of news. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“He was talking to Micah? That’s great!” TJ was getting more excited by the minute. “See, Glen, I’m not the only one who’s seen one of our ghosts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Glen closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead as if he felt a headache coming on. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“How did Darby get so intoxicated, Rowan?” Jayson asked. “I only served him two drinks and from what I saw, he spent most of the evening nursing the second one.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I have no idea. He claims Micah kept refilling his glass, and for some reason didn’t seem at all fazed by supposedly seeing an apparition of sorts.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You know, Micah would have had to materialize to pour something into a glass; the same as when he pinches food, and he’s real good at doing it on the sly. Does this mean you don’t have a problem with Darby believing in ghosts?” TJ wanted to know.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Doesn’t bother me one way or another,” Rowan stated pragmatically. He smiled softly, remembering something from his past. “When I was twelve, my parents purchased an old farmhouse a short distance from town. I don’t quite recall how it all came about, but my younger sisters were convinced there was a ghost in their bedroom. They said her name was Abigail; that she was very unhappy and cried a lot. They were not at all frightened by her, not that I recollect her ever materializing. They felt only compassion for her. As they grew older, my sisters eventually just talked less and less about her. It might have something to do with my not finding it difficult to believe the line from Hamlet that reads ‘There</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy’.”</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">That about summed up Rowan’s take on the subject.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, I’ll admit I’d certainly be more than a little disconcerted if Micah was a malevolent spectre, but he isn’t. Neither is Jeremiah. Sure, Micah can be a real pain but he probably wants a friend and doesn’t know how to go about getting one. And there isn’t much encouragement from that closed-minded guy over there.” TJ jabbed a finger in Glen’s direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m not totally refuting their existence, TJ. I haven’t seen them or even signs of them. But I’m okay with you believing in them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No signs! Are you kidding? What about….” TJ went on the list several of Micah’s misdeeds, much to the amusement of Jayson, Riley and Rowan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I think this is an issue we’re going to have to agree to disagree on, my love,” Glen declared, firmly bringing the topic to a close. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m off to join my husband in bed,” Rowan announced, getting to his feet and gathering up the dirty dishes to carry into the kitchen. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Good idea. I think it’s time we all hit the hay,” Jayson agreed, following suit.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m ready to,” TJ piped up, accepting a helping hand from his partner. “I’m beat!” he tiredly admitted, leaning against the slightly bigger man for a few moments.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Tomorrow’s our last day here and we don’t want to be too worn-out to enjoy it,” Riley commented around a huge yawn that made his eyes water. He had been quiet throughout the discussion, still slightly embarrassed and a little bewildered over his earlier scare. He was undeniably relieved that Jayson hadn’t mentioned it. He quite willingly got up and walked out of the room behind the others, looking forward to curling up in bed with his husband. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ was anxious for his friends to put in an appearance. He knew they were finally up because he’d heard the showers running. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Are those eggs ready yet, pet?” Glen asked as he placed an entire pound of cooked bacon on a paper towel-covered plate. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Almost; I got the cheese grated and just have to add these veggies as soon as I get them chopped small enough. Can you butter the last of the toast?” Both men were multi-tasking in order to get brunch on the table while everything was still reasonably hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hmm, smells good in here!” Rowan enthusiastically complimented as he walked into the kitchen. “Anything I can do to help?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Yeah, mind pouring out six glasses of OJ?” Glen requested. “The table set and we’ll be ready to sit down in a couple of minutes.” He grinned at the sound of two young men galloping down the stairs and jumping off the last two. “Obviously those two Brats aren’t the worse for wear after last night’s over-indulging.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Jayson’s bringing up the rear,” Riley announced, sliding into the room in his sock feet seconds before Darby. “I won!” he crowed. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You shouldn’t be racing in the house in the first place, young man,” Jayson scolded, coming in just as Riley slammed into the counter and knocked the air out of his lungs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby smirked and sat down at the table, picked up the glass of juice Rowan set in front of him and drained it. “I’m starved! I didn’t eat much last night at the party.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“That’s probably why the liquor hit you so hard, Sweets.” Rowan readily accepted that as the reason for his husband being so drunk after only two drinks. Fortunately, Darby had apparently slept it off.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What’s your excuse, Riley,” Jayson asked his husband who was loading up his plate.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Beats me! I thought I’d eaten plenty and I only had four beers. I can usually handle more.” He merely shrugged his shoulders and chewed on a piece of bacon. “I feel great now, so whatever happened will have to remain a mystery.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">‘You keep thinking that, buddy,’ TJ thought. ‘Too bad there’s something else on the agenda or we’d be clearing up that so-called ‘mystery’ here and now.’ He was far from thrilled with having to wait but had no control over it.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We better get a move on if we want to get in a game of golf before the temperature rises and it gets too warm to play comfortably,” Glen suggested, happy at the sight of everyone digging in. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ and Riley were stretched out at the end of the dock with their feet dangling over the edge, and complaining about the heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“At least it’s a bit cooler than in our home town,” Darby commented, peeling the bark of a twig he was toying with and tossing it into the water. He was sitting nearby yet seemed miles away as he gazed out over the lake.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Thank God Jayson suggested we come back early and leave them to finish up the last nine holes,” Riley murmured, closing his eyes against the glare of the sun. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Probably thought some of us were hung-over,” TJ teased. He suspected his friends of being a little weary, but not suffering any other lingering effects from the party. “Although it would have been with just cause; after all, you guys were pretty blotto last night. Darby. Hey, Darby, I’m talking to you, man,” TJ’s raised voice succeeded in getting the other man’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Whaaat!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“There’s a rumour around that you met Micah. Is that right?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m not sure,” Darby shrugged his shoulders. “I was probably dreaming at the time.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Rowan specifically asked about Micah. He said you were having a conversation with someone supposedly sitting on the foot of your bed.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was kinda out of it at the time, TJ. Rowan told me it was your cat.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Regardless, the question remains. Do you now believe we have ghosts?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I’m not saying you don’t, I’m just not admitting to having actually seen one of them.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“What about you, Riley?” TJ asked as he poked the dozing man beside him in the ribs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Huh? I haven’t seen nothin’.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Oh yeah? Then why were you shouting after going upstairs to your room and who did you chuck your pillow at?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Despite his denial lacking conviction, Riley planned to claim ignorance as far as any potential sighting of the supernatural was concerned. He preferred the subject be dropped. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ pressed his lips together to avoid lashing out. He was annoyed and disappointed by his friends not supporting his assertions of there being two other men, albeit dead ones, sharing his and Glen’s home. “Hell of a lot of help you guys are,” he muttered, pushing himself to his feet and glaring down at his companions. “I’m going inside to get something to eat. If you’re hungry, there are plenty of leftovers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Darby’s stomach answered the call and he got up to follow. “Wait up, TJ. Look, I’m sorry, but I really can’t remember much of anything once Rowan got me upstairs. Honest.” He felt bad for having upset his friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“It’s okay, Darby. Maybe Micah will put in another appearance before you leave in the morning.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They were filling their plates when Riley decided to join them. He’d deliberately taken his time in hopes that they’d changed the topic of conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I think our spouses are home. I heard a vehicle coming down the lane,” he informed Darby and TJ. Glancing over the array of food on the table, he shook his head in amazement. “Think you’ll ever get this all eaten, TJ?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Probably not,” TJ muttered. “We somehow must have gotten the idea we were expected to feed a small army. We’d end up throwing a lot more out if many of our guests hadn’t taken some home.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“We can always pack a lunch for our trip tomorrow,” Darby suggested. “This is all so good,” he complimented, shoving a large forkful of seafood salad into his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Just then car doors were heard slamming to announce the arrival of Glen, Jayson and Rowan.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Finally!” Darby and Riley chorused. There were plans in the works to spend a fun afternoon on the water. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ groaned with the realization that any strategies he had for trying to conjure up Micah would have to be put on hold, and he felt his frustration mounting. His sour mood would have to be squelched if he didn’t want to turn their guests’ inability to believe in ghosts into a painful trip over Glen’s knee. Maybe Micah would be willing to help out. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">It was much later in the day before an opportunity to converse with Micah unexpectedly arose.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ was brushing his teeth in preparation for retiring for the night, when he glanced up into the mirror and saw the man he’d been wanted to speak with standing behind him. He was pleased to realize he was no longer shocked when Micah put in appearance, heedless of the time or place. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hi Micah, it’s nice of you to finally pay a call. I was expecting you to show up to the party last night. I mean literally ‘show up’.” TJ kept his voice low so as not to attract Glen’s attention. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was there, and so was Jeremiah for a little while. He left but I stayed on.” Micah fidgeted self-consciously.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Why didn’t you let me know you were present?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I was upset because I had heard you and your friends laughing at me earlier.” A touch of sadness was seen in Micah’s eyes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ thought back to yesterday and remember the scene Micah must have witnessed. “Oh, Micah, I admit we were seeing the humour in some of the stunts you’ve pulled but we were not laughing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">at</b> you. I would never deliberately hurt your feelings. You should have let me know you were there and we would have included you in the fun.” TJ grinned at an after-though. “Okay, that would only have been after Darby and Riley got over the shock of seeing you.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, it angered me and I behaved badly. So I’m here now to apologize for playing mean tricks on a couple of your guests. Darby let me express my regret, but Riley chased me away.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“I knew! I knew it!” TJ gloated seconds before his hand flew up to cover his mouth. He waited for a moment and was relieved when Glen didn’t call out from the next room. He tiptoed over to the door, noiselessly opened it a crack and looked out to discover Glen sleeping, his book lying face-down on the bed. He turned back to his visitor to continue their conversation. “They denied your visits, you know. Although I can understand Darby being too drunk to remember, I bet Riley was too mortified to let on. You gotta reveal yourself to them again, Micah, and this time, I want to witness their reactions.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah emphatically shook his head. “I can’t, TJ. I dare not defy Jeremiah again; at least not today. I really got in a lot of bother for my retaliation exploits and I’m still recovering from my partner’s extreme displeasure in what he called my dastardly deeds. I’ve been forbidden to materialize in front of anyone other than you.” He shifted to relieve the discomfort being aggravated by his tight pants but resisted the temptation to reach around and rub his sore backside.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well, I won’t say I’m not disappointed, Micah. It would have been neat to have someone else believe in you guys. I do appreciate your predicament though, having been on the receiving end of ‘bother’ myself.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">They studied each other for several moments, both wanting to tender the same appeal but agonizing over the thought of being rejected. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you think….” they jointly began, then chuckled softly before TJ cautiously ventured forth.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Do you think we can be friends, Micah? After all, we are sharing this home you and Jeremiah built. I’m getting rather use to you hanging around. Hell, I think I’d miss you if you left for good.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah nodded, a happy grin spreading across his face. “I’d really like that. I don’t think Jeremiah will mind but what about your partner?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ shrugged. “Who knows? Glen just cannot seem to acknowledge that you two guys not only exist, but that you do so in this very house right alongside us. Until he does, we’ll have to develop a friendship without him. It isn’t the way I’d like it to be, but I’ve no control over what he wants to believe, right?” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Maybe Jeremiah and I can help with that,” Micah offered.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Not if it means scaring him to death,” TJ declared with a burst of laughter. Although he wouldn’t want Glen deliberately frightened, he could still see the humour in that particular scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then I’d be best forgetting that idea,” Micah suggested after reconsidering. “It will probably enhance my own well-being if I do.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Hey, you want a treat?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Sure!”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Then meet me down in the kitchen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Psst, Micah; show yourself if you want this,” TJ said as loud as he dared for fear of waking Glen and their guests. The five of them were refusing to acknowledge the ghosts and besides, he didn’t want Micah getting in any more trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ felt the bowl being grabbed and let it go, smiling as Micah slowly become visible.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“From now on when you want something, just ask. But no more tricks, got it?” TJ watched spoonfuls of ice cream disappearing into the mouth of the rapidly bobbing head. “I’m fed up with Glen and me blaming each other for the weird things that happen around here. So it’s a truce between us. If you want, our partners need never know.” <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Two Brats’ eyes widened as duplicate throat clearing was heard a little too close for comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Startled, Glen glanced to the right of where he was standing just inside the kitchen door. He sure as hell didn’t think the room had the acoustics to produce an echo. So who in blazes simultaneously cleared their throat when he did? <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">He was staggered when a man who looked vaguely familiar gradually materialized. He watched open-mouthed as the large gentleman wearing a by-gone sea captain’s uniform walked over to a younger man also dressed in attire from another era, and wrapped an arm around him. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Then he noticed TJ’s face-splitting grin. Had his life depended on it, Glen was unable to utter a word as he looked back and forth between his partner and two…surely they weren’t the ‘Ghosts’ TJ had been going on about.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">‘I mustn’t be fully awake and my eyes are playing tricks on me,’ he managed to convince himself. TJ’s voice quickly destroyed that badly hoped-for delusion. He shook his head in utter amazement, blinking his eyes several times as if doing so would make the apparitions disappear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“You finally see them, don’t you?” TJ smugly inquired.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Going over the stand next to his own Brat, Glen easily picked-up on the over-protective mode Jeremiah was in. He’d seen Jayson and Rowan behaving in a comparable manner on occasion. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“This is positively incredible! They’re real! Well, as real as ghosts can be, I guess,” Glen murmured, completely dumb-founded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“Well you can’t say I didn’t try to tell you,” TJ was in his glory rubbing it in. “But we’re not going to tell anyone else. They can’t wrap their minds around it anyway so it’s a waste of time and just pisses me off.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Micah was staring wide-eyed at Glen, while Jeremiah had a self-assured smile on his face. <o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“No,” Glen agreed. “Telling others isn’t necessary. No need opening ourselves up for ridicule. I am so sorry, my love, if I ever seemed to do that to you. It was just so damn impossible, or so I thought. But apparently I was wrong. I think this is going to take some time to sink in.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">TJ exuberantly hugged his dazed lover. “As long as you see them now, that’s all that matters to me. Oh, and while you may have doubted my claims, you never once belittled me for having made them. If it’s all right with you and Jeremiah, can Micah and I be friends?”<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Two alpha males sized each other up, liked what they saw, courteously smiled and decisively nodded their heads.<o:p></o:p></span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-CA; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The End</span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><br />
</div>LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-59292617164161536032011-03-25T20:08:00.000-07:002011-03-25T20:08:22.070-07:00A Top’s EntitlementWritten By: LJ<br />
<br />
This in response to the Tea Room’s March Challenge.<br />
<br />
<br />
Glen let himself in the front door and snapped on a light. He placed his bags on the floor next to the stairs and tossed his keys down on the table in the lower hall. It had been a long week and he was relieved to finally be home.<br />
<br />
The convention had been very informative but he had decided to forgo this evening’s awards dinner in favour of flying out early. He picked up his car at the Calgary airport and drove home in hopes of getting there before TJ did. The empty house led him to believe his surprise would be a success.<br />
<br />
After a refreshing shower, Glen stretched out on their bed to relax and wait for his lover to arrive. By Glen’s reckoning, that should be in any time now. But within minutes, his week of meetings and of trying to sleep in a strange bed after travelling to the other end of the country, seemed to catch up with him. Fight as he might to stay awake, he eventually gave in to the pull of exhaustion.<br />
<br />
He woke several hours later, chilled from lying on top of the covers and with his bladder adding to his overall discomfort. TJ’s absence was glaringly noticeable and immediately became cause for concerned since it was now well after midnight.<br />
<br />
After relieving himself, Glen pulled on a sweatshirt and pants, slipped into a pair of slippers and went downstairs. In walking through the lower floor of their home, he spotted a number of things out of place. Dirty dishes left in the sink, clothing not put away, and laundry beginning to pile up next to the washing machine. Glen shook his head and wondered what JT had been up to all week. He was usually fairly good at keeping up with the daily chores.<br />
<br />
After several attempts to reach his errant partner on his cell phone, Glen reluctantly accepted it as a lost cause and left one final message demanding TJ call home as soon as possible. Suddenly remembering a certain employee of TJ’s, with a habit of spending countless hours on the internet, Glen sat down at his desk in the study and turned on his computer. Sure enough, Sally was on Facebook and readily responded to Glen’s greeting via voice-mail.<br />
<br />
She enthusiastically began regaling Glen with all TJ and his staff had accomplished while Glen had been away. Acquiring the small business next to his own that had closed recently, enabled TJ to expand and remodel the pharmacy. This week they’d worked long hours rearranging shelving and merchandise. Twice TJ had spent the night at Sally’s so they’d get an early start the next morning.<br />
<br />
Sally was a kind-hearted, gentle soul. She was also a bit of a scatterbrain. But TJ recognized her worth as an excellent employee and a terrific friend. She was unaware of the type of relationship Glen and TJ lived, and therefore had no way of knowing the information she had just given Glen would land TJ in a fair bit of trouble.<br />
<br />
When asked if she knew the present whereabouts of her employer, she zealously filled Glen on the day’s activities and how totally worn-out it had left everyone. It took another twenty minutes for Glen to learn that his partner had dropped Sally off at her apartment shortly before eleven that evening. He had turned down her offer to sleep on her couch again, saying he had things to do before Glen got home from his trip. By Sally’s estimate, TJ should have been home some time ago. This bit of news only increased Glen’s fears for his lover’s well-being. That, added to the headache he was getting from listening to Sally’s rambling, meant he best be prepared for a long, sleepless night.<br />
<br />
Deciding that keeping busy would better pass the time, Glen set about taking care of the unfinished chores. He unpacked his suitcases, got a laundry started and cleaned up the kitchen. When he ran out of things to do in the house, he headed over to his studio above the double garage. There he managed to occupy a few hours by going through the samples he’d brought back with him, and filing away brochures for future use.<br />
<br />
Concerns for TJ constantly niggled at the back of his mind. He had to keep reminding himself that TJ was an adult and capable of taking care of himself. Also that TJ had no idea that Glen had returned from his trip earlier than expected. Of course that reasoning did little to alleviate the frustration Glen felt at his partner having deliberately disregarded a number of their rules the moment Glen’s back was turned.<br />
<br />
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
<br />
TJ lethargically stirred. He was vaguely aware of shivering and wondered why he felt somewhat rest as well as so cold. He stretched the cramps from his body as best he could but found the space he was in a little too confining. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, he looked around to get his bearings.<br />
<br />
“Why the hell am I still in my car? Come to think of it, exactly where is my car?” he grumbled, trying to recall the events that had lead up to his being here. He remembered dropping Sally off and driving away, second-guessing himself as to whether or not he should have taken her invitation to crash at her place for the night.<br />
<br />
God, he had been so tired. He vaguely recollected slowing down to round Cranky Corner and then…. nothing. He drew a complete blank.<br />
<br />
“Shit!” he exclaimed, heavily dropping his head on the steering wheel. “I fell asleep while driving. More accurately, I passed out! Question is: for how long?” He rubbed the condensation off the windshield, but with only a meagre amount of moonlight filtering through the trees he was still unable to get a clear view of clock on the dashboard. “I gotta get outta here,” he muttered, his mood steadily worsening.<br />
<br />
After several hard shoves against the driver’s door, TJ realized it was not going to open more than a few inches because of the thick brush he was wedged into. Sliding across the front seat, he attempted to open the passenger door but found it stuck solid. Getting a flashlight out of the glove compartment, he climbed into the rear of his car and managed to squeeze out the back driver’s side door. He carefully made his way around to the passenger side. He discovered much to his dismay that the right front bumper of his beautiful Grand Prix was badly crumpled against a large oak tree and because of an early spring thaw, all four wheels were almost axle-deep in mud. There was no way he would be able to back the vehicle unto the road which was a number of car lengths from where it had come to rest in a small wooded area.<br />
<br />
He trudged towards the highway and stumbled up the embankment, falling once and hurting his leg in the process. “Apparently driving off the road while asleep is a lot easier than getting back up when fully awake,” he griped to himself.<br />
<br />
Successfully making it to the shoulder of the road, he turned and saw that his car could not be seen from the highway. He then spent several minutes stomping around and swinging his arms about himself to keep warm while planning his next move. Should he walk back to town or just try to make it home before daylight? The decision was made for him when he heard the sounds of an approaching vehicle. It was coming from the direction that indicated it was heading back to town.<br />
<br />
He hurried across the road and stuck out his thumb. His spirits lifted considerably when an old truck pulled up in front of him and the driver reached over to open the door.<br />
<br />
TJ thanked the man for the lift as he climbed in, grateful for the warmth that enveloped him when his rescuer turned up the heater.<br />
<br />
Switching on the overhead light and squinting to get a better look at his passenger, the older gentleman grunted and shook his head. “You don’t look to good, boy. I think it best if I just drop you off at the emergency room. Meanwhile, I don’t mind listening to how you came to be out here.”<br />
<br />
TJ figured satisfying the man’s curiosity was the least he could do to repay him for his kindness. It was such a welcoming relief to be out of the cold, even though it didn’t last nearly long enough as they arrived at the hospital all too soon in TJ’s opinion. He got out of the truck, thanked the man and hobbled into the ER. The short drive had been enough to stiffen up his injured leg.<br />
<br />
The triage nurse kindly accepted his explanation of momentarily losing control of his car and careening off the road, even though it appeared to him as if his story wasn’t entirely believed.<br />
<br />
‘Probably a guilty conscious,’ he thought in an effort to brush it off. ‘I’m just grateful there was no one else on the road.’ <br />
<br />
An hour later, TJ had been checked for a concussion and found to be generally fit. All his cuts and scrapes had been attended to; the abrasion on his forehead had been disinfected and a small sterile bandage had been put on it. His knee had required a bit more work, but fortunately had not required stitches.<br />
<br />
It was well after six AM when he was told to call someone to pick him up and regardless of it being so early, TJ used his only quarter to immediately call Sally. “I fell asleep and drove into the woods by Cranky Corner,” he whispered his confession into the mouthpiece of the pay phone, glad to be out of hearing range so he could speak to his friend in private. “Can you arrange for someone to come get me, please?” It was a relief to hear her assurance that she would take care of everything.<br />
<br />
While he waited, he thanked his lucky stars that Glen wasn’t home yet. He hoped his partner never learnt of this particular adventure. One can only imagine his mortification when twenty minutes later the last person TJ expected, walked into the waiting room.<br />
<br />
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
<br />
The sun was just coming up when Glen stopped what he was doing and made himself a cup of coffee. He had barely sat down to enjoy the fresh brew when the phone rang. It was an excitable Sally talking a mile a minute. By the time Glen had her calm enough to understand what she was saying, he was in need of calming. His partner had been in an accident but was unharmed and expecting someone to pick him up.<br />
<br />
Glen shouldered into a jacket, stepped into loafers and grabbed his keys, wallet and cell phone almost simultaneously. He had become rather adept at multi-tasking as of late. Living with TJ made that a very handy talent to possess.<br />
<br />
It was during the drive into town when he had the time to dwell on all the information Sally had unwittingly supplied him with that his anger began to take root. He was livid by the time he walked into the ER and came to a stop in front of his errant partner.<br />
<br />
TJ blanched at the appearance of his Top and caught his breath at the expression on the older man’s face. He couldn’t recall ever seeing Glen so angry and wondered what all Sally had told him about the mishap and the events leading up to it. There were so many questions running through his head, but TJ couldn’t verbalize any of them.<br />
<br />
“I-I…” TJ stammered and was almost relieved by the raised hand in front of him.<br />
<br />
“I’m not interested!” Glen grounded out between clenched teeth before turning on his heel and heading back towards the big glass doors, leaving his Brat with little choice but to follow.<br />
<br />
Unknown to TJ, Glen had stopped at reception to ascertain his partner’s whereabouts and to verify Sally’s statement that TJ was indeed unharmed.<br />
<br />
At the car, TJ paused as he reached the passenger side and tried once again to explain, only to be told to get in and keep quiet. The drive home was accomplished in nerve-racking silence.<br />
<br />
Following Glen into their home, TJ caught up with him in the kitchen. “Glen, wait…”<br />
<br />
“No! I told you I wasn’t interested.” Glen’s voice was sharp as he stepped out of his shoes and hung up his jacket. His movements rough and unbalanced, clearly indicative of his disposition. “I’m going to bed. I’ll be in the guest room and short of the house catching on fire, I do not want to be disturbed.”<br />
<br />
TJ’s jaw dropped and he starred open-mouthed as his partner left the room. He stood listening to the heavy footsteps ascending the stairway and cringed when he heard a door close with unnecessary force.<br />
<br />
Getting over his shock, TJ looked down at his cat and enquired, “Did my Top just throw a temper-tantrum? Because that’s exactly what he’d call it if I acted like that.” Miss. Muffin showed her indifference by haughtily sauntering over to her bowls in expectation of something to eat.<br />
<br />
“I don’t know why he’s acting so strange. He’s always insisted we talk things over as soon as possible when I’ve done something foolish.” TJ talked as he feed and watered his pet, hoping it might help lessen his confusion. It didn’t and he was steadily working himself into a panic. “Maybe it would be a good idea to find out what I’m up against by asking Sally just how much blabbing she did. I also want to know how she even knew Glen was home ‘cause he wasn’t due in until later this morning.”<br />
<br />
TJ tried to settle at the computer, but the words Sally was typing had him getting antsier by the minute. He’d thought his day couldn’t get much worse when he learnt that Glen had arrived home early and at some point in time had contacted Sally in the likelihood of locating TJ.<br />
<br />
Reading his friend’s messages as they appeared on the screen had TJ realizing things were indeed getting worse. Sally had told Glen about their entire week. His stomach plummeted when he read ‘fell asleep at the wheel and drove off the road but he’s okay’.<br />
<br />
“Oh my God, I am so dead,” he groaned, lightly banging his head on the desk in hope of finding a distraction. “I am in shit up to my eyeballs. No wonder Glen is so pissed off. He may never speak to me again and I can really blame him.”<br />
<br />
He signed off and sank further into the big leather chair, completely self-absorbed in absolute misery. He felt his world crashing around him and desperately wanted to talk to someone who understood his and Glen’s relationship, and who might be able to offer some support and possibly a small amount of comfort.<br />
<br />
Unaware of the time, he picked up the phone and dialed an old friend. Swaying back and forth in the chair, he nervously waited for someone to answer. “Hello, Jayson? It’s me, TJ. I think I’ve blown it; big time!”<br />
<br />
At Jayson’s insistence, TJ related the events of the past week. He made sure to include all the sordid details regarding the breaking of several rules. He also made sure to inform the other man of Glen’s ‘temper tantrum’.<br />
<br />
“So you finally pushed him that far, huh?” was the older man’s sardonic response. “Not that I hold him responsible, with all you’ve been up to. God only knows, if anyone is entitled to throw a fit, it’s Glen.”<br />
<br />
“He’s gonna break up with me and kick me out, isn’t he? And it’s my own fault,” TJ sadly declared before starting to cry.<br />
<br />
“That’s not going to happen, TJ. Listen to me, Brat! You can be a lot of work at times, but Glen adores you. He just needs some time and space to come to grips with this latest fiasco of yours. Give him that much, TJ.”<br />
<br />
“But it so hard, waiting like this. I hate delays and Glen knows it.” The crying stopped for the moment but the remaining pout was easily detected in the young man’s voice.<br />
<br />
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and suck it up,” Jayson firmly scolded. “Glen’s probably exhausted. Just let him sleep it off. You go catch some extra winks yourself.”<br />
<br />
“But Glen’s in the guest room and I don’t wanna be in our big bed by myself.”<br />
<br />
“Then get a pillow and blanket, and curl up on the sofa in the living room,” Jayson instructed. “And don’t you dare leave the house, TJ. I mean it. If you do, you’ll be answering to me.” As TJ past mentor, Jayson knew the tone needed to gain the younger man’s compliance.<br />
<br />
“I’ll do what you say, Jayson. And thanks for everything,” TJ softly added.<br />
<br />
“Good man. Now, being as it is only a little after seven here, I’m going back to bed. I have a Brat of my own who is beginning to fret. Have Glen call me when the smoke clears, okay?”<br />
<br />
“Oh, sorry man; forgot about the time difference. Please give my apologies to Riley. Thanks again, my friend.” With that, TJ ended the call. Although feeling somewhat better, he would still be a lot happier when this whole episode was behind them.<br />
<br />
He had one more thing to take care of before he could comply with Jayson’s directives. He got out the yellow pages and found the phone number for Pat Mason’s Auto Body. Then he called and made arrangements for his car to be towed in for repairs. He could only imagine how much that was going to set him back.<br />
<br />
After quietly making his way upstairs, TJ paused next to the room his partner was in and listened for several moments. Not hearing a sound, he silently opened the door an inch or two and peeked in. Glen was sprawled across the bed with his arms wrapped around the same pillow his head was resting on and softly snoring.<br />
<br />
TJ just as silently closed the door. His eyes filled and tears threatened to overflow as he changed into sleep <br />
pants and a T-shirt before gathering up a pillow and quilt and heading back downstairs. He curled up on the <br />
living room sofa, pulled the quilt over his head and cried himself to sleep.<br />
<br />
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*<br />
<br />
It was well past noon when Glen entered the living room and walked over to sit on the coffee table. He looked down at his sleeping partner and sadly shook his head when he saw the tell-tale signs of dried tear tracks on TJ’s cheeks.<br />
<br />
“What am I going to do with you, my precious Brat?” he lovingly mused as he brushed the hair back from his lover’s forehead. He smiled faintly when beautiful brown eyes opened and looked up at him somewhat warily.<br />
<br />
“Can we talk yet, Glen?” TJ croaked as he pushed off the confining blanket and tried to sit up.<br />
<br />
Glen nodded and helped the other man get into a sitting position facing him. “We’ve quite a bit to discuss, don’t we?”<br />
<br />
“I was scared when you left me on my own. I thought it was over between us, but Jayson said I was panicking and to give you time to work things out.”<br />
<br />
“I’m sorry you were scared, love. You needn’t have been because it certainly isn’t over between us and hopefully never will be. It’s okay that you called Jayson though.” Glen understood his Brat’s need to talk to someone who was aware of their lifestyle. “And thank you for not disturbing me, babe.”<br />
<br />
TJ sent his partner a crooked smile and sighed out his relief. His Top was back in full form and would take care of things. From the beginning when they had first incorporated discipline into their relationship, Glen had been in charge. He had promised they’d always smooth out these bumps in the road and start over each time.<br />
<br />
“You’re welcome, Glen. But why did you need a cooling-off period in the first place? You’ve never needed one before.”<br />
<br />
“I was beyond outraged and completely exhausted. I knew there was no way I’d be able to deal with it all in an acceptable manner, TJ. I could have easily irreparably damaged our relationship. I may have even totally lost control and harmed you, I was just that furious.”<br />
<br />
“Gotcha,” TJ murmured, his eyes widening. He’d never known Glen to even raise his voice in anger, let alone lose his temper to that extent. ‘Guess he had every right to this time.’ TJ kept that observation to himself.<br />
<br />
“My intent when I first went upstairs was to put together a plan of action, so to speak. But I wasn’t able to think straight and ended up falling asleep, which proved to be a good thing. I woke up readily to weigh out the various options available for taking care of the situation we now find ourselves in.”<br />
<br />
TJ swallowed nervously. “And what did you come up with?”<br />
<br />
“I’ll get to that, TJ. First I need to be sure you understand all you did wrong and my feelings about your actions. Care to start?”<br />
<br />
“Not really, but I will,” TJ muttered, shifting uncomfortable. “I put in a lot more time at the drugstore than our rules say I can.”<br />
<br />
“And we have rules about you working such long days because……?” <br />
<br />
“I have a tendency to get overtired and then thoroughly ratty with anyone unfortunate enough to be around me.”<br />
<br />
“So what made you decide to put in so many extra hours, TJ? You had options. While the renovations were going on we spent a great deal of time talking about the final phase, about doing the work a couple of hours each evening and on weekends whenever possible, about it probably taking a few weeks to complete. There was never any mention of turning the project into a five-day marathon.”<br />
<br />
TJ fidgeted, feeling awkward. “I wanted to finish up the store and surprise you?” He was unsure of his reasoning now that he’d been put in a position of explaining it.<br />
<br />
“It would appear both of our surprises failed to meet their goals,” Glen commented a little self-mockingly. “When you weren’t home by midnight, I no longer gave a fiddler’s damn about surprising you. I was too dang worried about your whereabouts and if you were okay. For some reason, I was unable to get through to your cell.”<br />
<br />
TJ cringed. “Yeah, believe it or not I forgot it on my desk at the store. I was running late and had to drop off three of my employees. Providing meals and transportation were two of extra incentives I offered in return for their help. That and the addition hours’ pay went a long way. Sally must have told you all about it, huh?”<br />
<br />
“She did, and in great detail. Do you have any idea what bothers me most in all this, TJ?” <br />
<br />
“Oh, the accident?”<br />
<br />
“We’re not there yet. Guess again!” Glen firmly suggested, crossing his arms and sitting back to await the other man’s reply.<br />
<br />
“Okay, so disregarding the last incident, do you mean besides breaking the rule regarding my overdoing at the store? And in addition to forgetting my phone?” TJ’s frown clearly showed his confusion. “Sorry, Glen; I really have no idea.”<br />
<br />
“You premeditated planned to do what you know would be unacceptable while I was out of town. Going behind my back showed a complete disregard for our roles in this relationship. It was especially disrespectful to me as your Top, Thomas.” <br />
<br />
The hurt in Glen’s voice was TJ’s undoing. Not once had he ever considered his partner putting that spin on what he’d done. He dropped his head into his hands as his eyes filled with tears. “I am so very, very sorry, Glen. Under no circumstances would I purposely disparage you or mock our relationship. I love you too much and I’ve always held you in the highest esteem.” TJ’s voice cracked and he barely managed to get out, “Are you going to spank me now?” <br />
<br />
“Not for this, TJ. As we’ve discussed in the past, a spanking isn’t a magic fix-all every time you find yourself in trouble.”<br />
<br />
“But I deserve both a spanking and whatever else you have in mind.” Guilt was quickly overriding all the other emotions TJ was struggling with. <br />
<br />
“You’re grounded for at least the next month. I will be driving you to and from work. Tomorrow, you will set up a schedule where you work up to forty-eight hours a week and no more unless I okay it. However, that will only happen in extremely rare circumstances.”<br />
<br />
“But your hours are more flexible than mine, Glen. What if I’ve finished for the day and you get held up? What happens then?” TJ was entirely unaware of whining. He’d be appalled if Glen brought it to his attention.<br />
<br />
“The odd occurrence of that scenario will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate you can be trusted when my back is turned to do the right thing. You will stop work on time and take yourself off to your office where you will relax and wait for me. You can go online, play games, listen to music, watch a movie, read, nap or whatever, as long as it does not involve an activity that has anything to do with your business. You have a very efficient staff, TJ; all of whom can be trusted to carry on in your absence.” <br />
<br />
TJ nodded his agreement to adhere to what would prove to be exceptionally difficult directives for him to abide by. He was bound and determined to show his Top he could stick to the rules they had established quite some time ago. “What about not having my phone on me at all times?” he apprehensively inquired.<br />
<br />
“As worried as I was, babe, on this occasion we’re not going to make a bid deal of it. You usually have that I-phone practically glued to your belt and rarely leave it anywhere. So how about if you just show it to me every morning before we head out and again when I pick you up later in the day.” Glen knew that to do absolutely nothing would unnerve his partner and yet he really didn’t feel the need to make a serious issue of it. They still had another major concern to deal with. <br />
<br />
“Yeah, that will work.” TJ glanced up and sighed woefully. Although realizing they had yet to resolve a matter that was of even greater magnitude than the others, he was beyond stunned when he heard Glen’s somber request.<br />
<br />
“I want you to go upstairs and get the hairbrush off my dresser, TJ.” <br />
<br />
“Huh? Why?”<br />
<br />
“Because we do not own a paddle and driving while impaired requires more than a hand-spanking.” Glen had reason to wonder if he’d be obeyed and was somewhat relieved when TJ got up to do his bidding, after only one attempt to verbally defend his actions. <br />
<br />
“But I wasn’t impaired!” was the stanch defense from a wide-eyed Brat bent on avoiding what would be a first-time method of punishment; one more severe than others in the past. <br />
<br />
“Well, young man, I happen to consider the operating of a vehicle while exhausted to the point of falling asleep at the wheel and driving off the highway, the equivalent to being impaired. You may have survived the accident none the worse for wear; but you could have so easily have injured or killed yourself, and possibly someone else. You were very fortunate. Aside from the costly repair bill you’ll be taking care of on your own, additional penalties are at my discretion. However, I will not choose to use the hairbrush unless I have your consent. That is at your discretion.” <br />
<br />
TJ sat with his head bowed, quietly studying his fingernails and chewing on his bottom lip. He glanced up to try and read the expression on his partner’s. Glen seemed to have aged a little overnight and TJ wondered how many gray hairs he had added to the older man’s thick, wavy hair. He was obviously weighing out the pros and cons. Though the cons in his mind outweighed the pros, for some inexplicable reason, he stood up and unhurriedly headed towards the stairs.<br />
<br />
Glen’s admiration for the man jumped up a notch or two. He well knew the burden of guilt his Brat would presently be struggling with and acknowledged it would be up to him as TJ’s Top to absolve him of it. <br />
<br />
Upon TJ’s return, the hairbrush was handed over and placed on the sofa next to Glen’s left hip. <br />
<br />
Glen gazed up into coffee-brown eyes and he felt his chest constrict at the sadness he saw in them. Taking TJ’s hands in his, he softly inquired, “You know why we’re doing this, don’t you, sweetheart?”<br />
<br />
“Yes,” TJ murmured in a voice already heavy with tears as shame, self-reproach and contrition threatened to overwhelm him.<br />
<br />
“All right then, let’s take care of it,” Glen gently stated while helping TJ out of his sleeping pants and leaving him in just an overly long t-shirt that hung to mid-thigh.<br />
<br />
Moments later, the young man was positioned facedown across his partner’s lap; his upper body resting on the chesterfield by Glen’s right side. TJ squirmed to get as comfortable as possible as he reached for a throw pillow to wrap his arms around. <br />
<br />
Glen lightly caressed TJ’s smooth backside for several seconds in order to give TJ plenty of time to settle. When he felt the timing was right, he raised his left hand and delivered a resounding wallop to first one brown cheek and then the other. Quickly getting into the rhythm developed over a number of these sessions, he soon had the entire bottom evenly coloured a reddish hue. <br />
<br />
TJ was softly crying at this point, but making no attempt to escape the punishing hand that was setting his rear end ablaze.<br />
<br />
Picking up the hairbrush, Glen steeled himself for was to happen next. He tightened his hold around TJ’s waist, took a deep breath and carried on, determined to teach his Brat a lesson and to eradicate the remorse the younger man was experiencing.<br />
<br />
He landed four powerful swats on each of the already stinging cheeks. Each swat was followed by a loud shriek from the owner of those cheeks, leaving TJ hoarse by the time it was over. Glen tossed the hairbrush on the floor and felt TJ’s weight increase on his thighs as the well-chastened man went completely limp.<br />
<br />
Shifting positions, Glen slowly maneuvered his partner’s drooping body until TJ was turned on his side and partially lying on the sofa, the rest of him safely enfolded in strong, loving arms. It took longer than usual for the soul-wrenching sobs to subside, during which time Glen didn’t say a word. He merely rocked gently back and forth, humming to sooth the man who had him in a death-grip and was saturating the front of his shirt with tears.<br />
<br />
TJ couldn’t recall ever being this wrung-out; or his butt ever being this sore. Adrift in the familiar world of after-spanking lightheadedness, he dreamily played back the events of the last twenty-four hours. Yesterday, he had been stressed out from trying to meet a self-imposed deadline and doing something he knew his partner would strongly disapprove of. Plus he had definitely been a lot more frightened by the accident than he would admit at the time. Then there’d been the crushing burden of guilt from having disrespected his partner, his lover, his Top; and from having dishonoured the promises they had made to each other. <br />
<br />
But Glen had upheld his promise to keep them on track. Using methods that worked best for them, the older man had cleaned the slate so they could now pick up the pieces and start again. <br />
<br />
“We’re okay, Glen?” TJ murmured when he was finally able to speak coherently.<br />
<br />
“We’re always okay, babe. Never doubt it.”<br />
<br />
TJ sighed out his contentment and snuggled against Glen’s broad chest. He knew even though his Top had just torn a strip off his behind, the older man would spend the rest of the day keeping him nearby and watching for tell-tale signs of adverse repercussions from both the accident and the punishment. They’d also be discussing some of the events in greater detail, but without reproach or chastisement. <br />
<br />
“One of the most embarrassing things about being spanked is that Micah knows,” he muttered several moments later.<br />
<br />
Glen rolled his eyes. While it was true there had been a few unexplainable incidents around the house, he still hadn’t accepted the idea that they shared their home with a couple of ghosts. This was not the first time, he found himself wondering how many grown men had imaginary friends to blame things on.<br />
<br />
<br />
“What was that, JT? I missed it.”<br />
<br />
“I said I shouldn’t let it bother me because Micah gets spanked more often than I do.” <br />
<br />
“Really!” Glen sounded astonished. “I find it hard to envision a Brat who gets into more dilemmas than you do.” He chuckled when his teasing earned him a hefty punch on the arm.<br />
<br />
The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-29245534890329431942010-10-10T06:42:00.000-07:002010-10-10T07:08:33.787-07:00Unappreciated Prankster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglaPS9Fd21N-re8jGKdUQDoPDUcKgfROOomWxHQzNfeQE88OauXOgJsAF9HiR0qVpbC-1Y6bL4dMzx69hRFRFcsA0yYw8JXUdYwC1CC3Y9Xjt84OTT8e9lq71hKM6hJaWNZYolEwSbjg/s1600/halloween_ghosts_91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglaPS9Fd21N-re8jGKdUQDoPDUcKgfROOomWxHQzNfeQE88OauXOgJsAF9HiR0qVpbC-1Y6bL4dMzx69hRFRFcsA0yYw8JXUdYwC1CC3Y9Xjt84OTT8e9lq71hKM6hJaWNZYolEwSbjg/s200/halloween_ghosts_91.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Written by Jodie<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
“I’d like to choke that man!”<br />
<br />
“Who?” <br />
<br />
“Micah!”<br />
<br />
“Wouldn’t his already being dead make choking him redundant?”<br />
<br />
“Very funny! Shelling-out has been awful tonight. Thanks to Micah’s stupid stunts; one kid wet his pants, two little girls went into hysterics and someone’s grandmother fainted on our doorstep. And all before 6pm. We haven’t had any trick or treaters here since.” TJ roughly dropped a large bowl on the coffee table. “Look at all this stuff we’re now stuck with.”<br />
<br />
“And the problem with that is…..” Glen grinned as he grabbed up a chocolate bar and a small bag of chips.<br />
<br />
The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-77275362187320015972010-06-12T14:48:00.000-07:002010-07-30T18:06:31.989-07:00Water ShortageWritten By LJ<br />
In response to the WL 'It's Not My Fault' Drabble Challenge.<br />
<br />
“It wasn’t my fault!” TJ was pacing. Although wanting to stomp, he reconsidered. No need for added retribution to his already sore backside. <br />
<br />
“You’ve known for a while the gauge was broken and promised to get it fixed.”<br />
<br />
“Not enough time.” It was a lame excuse, but TJ wasn’t about to confess his neglect in taking extra water.<br />
<br />
“Humph!” Glen grunted. “So your time saving techniques are to blame for the motor seizing up?”<br />
<br />
A rhetorical question, right? Short silence followed by a soft, “What do I do about a car now?” <br />
<br />
“You do without!” <br />
<br />
TJ promptly stomped his foot.<br />
<br />
The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-61909854845378620682009-04-30T13:44:00.000-07:002010-03-10T05:56:33.135-08:00Christmas ConcernsWritten By: LJ<br />
<br />
<br />
TJ was having a hard time containing his excitement. He could barely sit still. It seemed to be taking forever to open the few gifts under their tree. <br />
<br />
‘Finally!’ he sighed deeply, his face lighting up as he reached behind him and pulled out a beautifully wrapped cylinder package. “This is from me, Glen, and you know we always save the best for last.” <br />
<br />
Glen accepted the present, turning it several times while speculating, “Hmm, just what could this be?” He chuckled at his partner’s giggle of delight. Tearing off the paper, he peered in one end before withdrawing the rolled-up picture inside. Flattening it on the coffee table, he glanced quizzically at the love of his life. “It’s a photo of a large television,” he softly stated, obviously confused. <br />
<br />
“It is an entertainment center,” TJ excitedly informed him. “A 50-inch Plasma Widescreen HDTV home theatre package, complete with a new satellite system; all the bells and whistles and it is being delivered in two days. There would be no way to keep it a secret if I brought it home before Christmas, so I thought of this instead.” He pointed at the picture still clutched in Glen’s hand.<br />
<br />
Moving closer, Glen hugged and kissed TJ. “It’s a lovely thought, baby,” he murmured. ‘This is going to be difficult,’ he thought, worriedly contemplating the best way to approach what could turn out to be a rather volatile situation.<br />
<br />
Pushing back, TJ stared suspiciously into the older man’s deep blue eyes. “But; oh yeah, I can tell there’s a ‘but’ hanging on the end of that sentence.”<br />
<br />
“I am sorry, love; you’ll have to cancel the order.” Glen’s heart broke at the expression of shock and disbelief on his lover’s beautiful face. ‘There, I said it; now to do damage control.’ <br />
<br />
“What are you talking about? Why the hell would I do that?” The volume of TJ’s voice was steadily climbing as he got to his feet and stood with hands on hips glaring down at the man on the sofa. “I’m not going to! You mentioned a while back it would be nice to have. I got it, we’re keeping it, and that’s all there is to it!” he yelled and stamped his foot. He would have stormed off in a huff had Glen not reached out and grabbed his arm.<br />
<br />
The slightly bigger man had no trouble unbalancing his drama queen and hauling him onto his lap. “Settle down, TJ!” Glen ordered. “We’re going to talk this out like two reasonable adults. There’ll be no tantrums, screaming or any other dramatics. Is that understood?” The response was a reluctant nod accompanied by a pout.<br />
<br />
In the silence that followed, Glen waited patiently for his Brat’s rigidly-held body to relax. For several minutes, he rhythmically rubbed circles on TJ’s back and murmured all the nonsense words his partner found so comforting.<br />
<br />
Finally, TJ slumped and buried his face in Glen’s shoulder. In fact, he drooped enough to become a dead weight, making it necessary for Glen to slide out from under him in order to keep his legs from becoming numb. TJ mumbled a complaint and tightened his arms around the other man’s neck. <br />
<br />
“We have to talk, babe,” Glen calmly insisted, his lips pressed lightly against TJ’s wiry black curls. “We both agreed on a spending limit a few years ago, didn’t we?” Getting a nod, he continued, “and you’ll have to admit that you have more than surpassed that limit, right?”<br />
<br />
“But we changed it this year.” TJ’s aversion to dealing with the situation was evident in his whine. A whine Glen would be the last one to mention.<br />
<br />
“True, we decided to double it.”<br />
<br />
“Nooo, you decided but I didn’t.” TJ shifted to hide his face even further under Glen’s chin. “I just didn’t tell you,” he quietly admitted.<br />
<br />
“TJ, sit up and look at me!” Glen waited for his order to be obeyed. “That is not acceptable. Going a little over might have been, but thousands of dollars is a definite no-go. How were you even planning to pay for all if it?”<br />
<br />
“I can afford it now, Glen. I do have my own business now, remember?” TJ immediately dropped the belligerent attitude when his Top’s eyes narrowed. “The store is doing real good, Glen. Besides, I don’t have to make any payments until a year January and I can have it paid for long before then.”<br />
<br />
“Seems we’ve been this route before, TJ, and ended up paying out a lot of interest when plans fell through,” Glen reminded him. He had to bite his tongue to keep from smiling at the eye-rolling and expression of exaggerated annoyance on the younger man’s face. “You have been in business for less than four months and while it appears your first quarter was very profitable, much of that is probably due to the season. I think you can expect sales to drop off in the New Year.”<br />
<br />
TJ released an inaudible mutter. He hated it when Glen resorted to logic. It seemed so unfair when he himself preferred to function on an emotional level.<br />
<br />
Glen’s voice became firmer as he added, “And as much as I appreciate your generosity, I am not prepared to put up with you stressing out over unnecessary financial burdens. You have enough on your plate.”<br />
<br />
“In other words, the discussion such as it was, is now closed and I have to stop delivery of my gift to you.” Much to TJ’s chagrin, tears of disappointment formed and he had to blink several times to keep them from falling. “It’s punishment, isn’t it?”<br />
<br />
“No, love; it’s common sense. The set of wood chisels you gave me for my lathe and the silk shirt are absolutely perfect. I could want for nothing more.” Glen gently kissed his lover and used his thumbs to wipe away the lone tear that escaped. He watched various signs pass over TJ’s unhappy face; first, the search for additional argument; next, reluctant resignation; finally, hard fought-for acquiescence with the older man’s judgment.<br />
<br />
“How about we tidy up in here and get dressed? We’ll have to leave soon if we want to make it to your parents’ home in time for dinner.” Glen smiled as he encouraged TJ to get off the sofa. He didn’t for a moment delude himself into believing this was the end of it. He was more than aware of the difficulties his Brat had in accepting things not to his liking. TJ needed and wanted the structure, but often wrestled with the emotions some restrictions stirred up. <br />
<br />
Although their visit with TJ’s family started out well, it slowly but steadily went down hill as the afternoon moved on. During the long drive, TJ had let his mind conjure up negative thoughts of how unappreciative his partner had been. His earlier acceptance gradually dwindled, leaving him feeling put out and sorry for himself. His nastiness towards his sister used up the last of Glen’s patience and even though TJ had sincerely apologized, they left for home earlier than originally planned. <br />
<br />
TJ was not at all grateful for Glen’s hasty intervention. He resented his partner smoothing things over and offering excuses for his behaviour. He wasn’t feeling at all under the weather; he was bloody-well pissed-off. The entire drive home, TJ sat sullenly feeding his anger. It was far from being an amicable trip. <br />
<br />
“I think it best you have an early night,” Glen stated upon their return. He plugged in the kettle to make the cup of tea he felt in dire need of. <br />
<br />
“Like hell!” TJ stepped out of his boots and threw his jacket down. “It’s still Christmas and I’m going to have a good old-fashioned, rum-laden drink of eggnog.”<br />
<br />
“You most certainly are not!” Glen returned the milk and shut the refrigerator door. Turning his Brat towards the kitchen door, he smacked TJ’s backside, hard. “Bed!”<br />
<br />
TJ gasped at the unexpected pain. He would have screeched had he had the breath to do so. He stomped from the room, down the hall and up the stairs; each footstep echoing throughout the house. <br />
<br />
The door slamming hard enough to shake walls was the last straw for Glen. His tolerance exhausted, he unplugged the kettle, locked up for the night and turned out the lights. Well versed in his partner’s needs, Glen resolutely headed for the master bedroom.<br />
<br />
He found TJ savagely ripping his clothes off; dress pants landing on the floor next to the matching jacket with a crumpled shirt lying on top. Glen wondered if the glare coming his way could possibly freeze water. <br />
<br />
“I’ve put up with all I am going to, TJ. This comes to an end right now!” Grabbing the other man’s arm, Glen steered him to the foot of the bed, sat down and hauled his Brat face-down across his lap. The very last thing, Glen wanted to do on Christmas day was spank his lover. But he loved this man with all his heart and was more than willing to do whatever was necessary to keep TJ happy, even if it first meant making him unhappy. <br />
<br />
No words were spoken, as none were needed. TJ was fully aware of his having pushed well past what was in compliance with their relationship. He knew his tantrums would bring retribution and yet he had stubbornly clung to and nurtured his feelings of malcontent. All attempts to rationalize his actions were put on hold as Glen’s left hand began to pepper his now bare-bottom with a rapid barrage of painful swats. <br />
<br />
The spanking didn’t last long; it didn’t have to. TJ was emotionally spent and unable to stop the tears from flowing almost from the first spank. He kicked his legs a couple of times before resigning himself to what his behaviour had earned him.<br />
<br />
Glen picked up on TJ’s almost immediate submission and quickly brought the punishment to an end. He set TJ on his feet, stood up and pulled the sobbing man into his arms. “Shhh, it’s all right, love. It’s over and all is forgiven.”<br />
<br />
Several minutes passed until the sobs shaking TJ’s slender body turned into intermittent hitches and sniffles. Glen gently manoeuvred his Brat around to the side of the bed. Maintaining his hold with one arm, he reached down to pull back the covers. Next he lovingly lowered TJ and drew the sheet over him. <br />
<br />
“Don’t go,” TJ whimpered when Glen straightened up.<br />
<br />
“I’m just getting undressed, baby. I’ll be right there.” The older man hastily shed his clothing, tossing everything on top of TJ’s pile. After turning off the overhead light, he crawled into bed to cuddle with his lover.<br />
<br />
TJ wrapped his arms around Glen and dropped his head onto the bigger man’s upper body. “I’m sorry, Glen,” he whispered. “I just couldn’t stop.”<br />
<br />
“I know, sweetheart. I can certainly emphasize with your disappointment,” Glen assured him, tenderly kissing TJ’s head.<br />
<br />
“I just wanted to give you something special and instead I ruined Christmas for both of us.” TJ murmured his sad lament as he nestled in closer.<br />
<br />
“You have not ruined anything, my love. Just spending this wonderful holiday season with you is special enough for me. Besides, we have all day tomorrow to make up for today,” Glen promised, his spirits lifted by the younger man’s contented sigh and enthusiastic nod of agreement.<br />
<br />
TJ raised-up and gazed into his partner’s beautiful blue eyes. “I love you, Glen!” was his heartfelt declaration before laying his head back on the other man’s chest to listen to the steady sound softly thumping against his ear.<br />
<br />
“I love you too, baby…..” Glen’s deep voice trailed off and he smiled when TJ finished the sentence; “with every beat of your heart.”<br />
<br />
The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-81579159635844830242009-04-30T13:33:00.000-07:002009-04-30T13:34:04.885-07:00Co-habitingWritten By: LJ<br /><br /><br />Startled awake, TJ lay panting on his side of the bed; his heart pounding and his body covered in a fine layer of sweat. Looking over at his nightstand, he watched as the red numbers change to 3:36 AM. What the hell had that been about? Glancing to his other side, he saw Glen sleeping soundly in his usual position of flat on his back with his arms bent above his head.<br /><br />TJ quietly slipped out of bed and into their en suite. After relieving himself, he washed his hands and face, gulped down a few mouthfuls of water and then stood staring at himself in the mirror, trying to remember what happened.<br /><br />He was only able to recall being very upset; shouting and running away from someone or something. Both activities were almost always impossible to do in a dream; or in this case, a nightmare. <br /><br />Shaking his head to rid himself of the residual feelings of fear, he turned off the light and returned to the other room. He looked down at his partner for several moments before crawling back in bed and snuggling up against Glen’s left side. Even in slumber, Glen’s arm automatically wrapped around his beautiful black lover and drew him closer. TJ now felt safe enough to relax and slowly drift off once again.<br /><br />************<br /><br />TJ got up from the breakfast table and put his few dishes in the sink. His hand was grabbed as he made his way passed Glen and he found himself sitting on the other man’s lap.<br /><br />“Did you sleep all right last night, TJ?” Glen asked in a soft voice filled with concern. “You look a little haggard.”<br /><br />“I’m okay, Glen. I just have a lot on my mind and sometimes it keeps me awake,” TJ mumbled as he put his arms around his lover’s neck and rested his head on Glen’s shoulder.<br /><br />“Hmmm. You know, I now wish we had accepted Rowan’s invitation to visit at the cabin a couple of weeks ago. We could have used a few days of relaxation before jumping in over our heads like we seem to have done,” Glen wistfully commented.<br /><br />“But who have thought two such grand strokes of luck would hit at the same time? It takes most people months to find the house of their dreams, yet we ended up with the second one the realtor took us to,” TJ reminded his partner.<br /><br />“That’s true; we both knew it was meant to be ours before we even stepped inside.” Glen smiled and gave TJ a loving squeeze. “And then you taking the monumental leap to go into business for yourself and open your own pharmacy.”<br /><br />“In a location close to our new community,” TJ mused happily. “Even though it’s a move I wasn’t planning until the very distant future, it was an opportunity I couldn’t let pass me by. It’s just that there is so much extra work involved in hiring staff, getting the place renovated, ordering stock and setting everything up, and right when our time is at a premium.”<br /><br />“But the timing was perfect, my love, especially in light of Mr. B. retiring and selling his drugstore.”<br /><br />“Yeah, and the fact that the new owners are such miserable schmucks,” TJ groused. Glen fought to contain his urge to chuckle, but TJ felt the restraining movement and giggled. <br /><br />“Up you get, babe,” Glen ordered, lightly swatting his Brat’s rear end. “We’ve got another hectic day ahead of us.”<br /> <br />************<br /><br />TJ woke with a start, breathless and confused. This time he knew why he had been upset and why he had been trying to run away as he recalled more of the reoccurring nightmare, beginning with his standing in the corner with a very sore backside.<br /><br />“What’s the matter, babe?” Glen questioned in a sleepy voice, reaching for his partner.<br /><br />“S’okay, it was just a bad dream.” TJ rolled over and nestled into his lover’s welcoming embrace. <br /><br />“Want to talk about it?” Glen lovingly offered, coming fully awake.<br /><br />“I was running away from you,” TJ responded, emphasizing the last word. “I was pissed off because you spanked me and then stood me in the corner.”<br /><br />“That is not how we do things, TJ. If corner-time is involved, it is before I spank you, not after.” Glen rubbed a soothing hand over his partner’s back. <br /><br />“I know that, but this is not the first time I’ve had this dream; I just remember more each time I have it,” TJ grumbled before yawning loudly. “I don’t want to talk anymore. I want to go back to sleep.”<br /><br />************<br /><br />Glen and TJ stood side by side, gazing up at the newly-painted, three-bedroom bungalow in front of them. <br /><br />“It’s absolutely stunning,” TJ breathed out in hushed tones, totally in awe at the exterior of their new home. “I love the mint green with white trim. It offsets the multicoloured stone pillars and veranda base beautifully.”<br /><br /> The cosy, Craftsman-styled cottage stood on an acre of land. The woodland surrounding three sides of the structure gave it the privacy the men craved. It was hidden from the road, and their closest neighbours were just barely discernable through the trees. To the left of the driveway was a two-car garage, painted to match the main building. Over half of the property would not require any mowing or maintenance, but such could not be said for the remaining area. The back of their home overlooked a grassy expanse that gradually sloped towards the narrow strip of sand edging the lake that was fully visible from the large windows of the kitchen-nook and family room. Off to the side of the dock, jutting over the water, was a small boathouse. <br /><br />“Quite a history behind the old place,” Glen mused. “It was designed and built a hundred years ago by a retired sea captain. The story goes he never married; choosing to live out his remaining years here in the foothills of the Rockies with only his somewhat younger first-mate for company.” <br /><br />“Thank God the cottage has been modernized, but without losing any of its’ original quaintness of course.” TJ nodded his head contemplatively. “Kinda like stepping into the past.” <br /><br />“Let’s go see the carpenters’ finished product, love,” Glen happily suggested. He was enjoying the expressions of wonder and enchantment lighting up his partner’s handsome face.<br /><br />Inside, the generous open plan of the first floor was punctuated by a strategic placement of beams and easy traffic flow was sustained throughout. Both the living and family rooms boasted large fireplaces made with the same stones that graced the outside of the cottage. <br /><br />“They did a great job closing in what had been the dining room and converting it into a study, don’t you think?”<br />Glen inquired, standing in the middle of the empty room and slowly rotating in a full circle.<br /><br />“Yeah, and I’m glad they left that deep window seat intact. I was afraid they’d get carried away and want to make everything look too modern.”<br /><br />“I agree, as I believe that particular spot will make a perfect reflection place and probably a welcomed relief from a corner,” Glen half-seriously teased.<br /><br />“Sooo droll,” TJ gripped and left the room to make his way down a short hallway leading to the back of the house.<br /><br />“The upper floor is ready to inhabit and we only have two rooms to finish painting down here,” Glen commented, following a momentarily disgruntled TJ. He made allowances for his Brat’s lightening-fast mood swings, fully aware of the man being overtired and somewhat stressed out. <br /><br />TJ felt his lover’s presence behind him. “I’ll be so relieved when all this cosmetic work is done and we can move in,” he murmured wearily and turned to burrow his head into Glen’s shoulder. “It’s almost the end of September and it seems like we’ve been cleaning and redecorating forever.”<br /><br />“It’s been a long month all right but will all be behind us in a couple of weeks. We’ll be settled in by Thanksgiving; just in time for our housewarming party,” Glen gently reminded the other man, hoping to lift his spirits.<br /><br />“Do you think Rowan, Darby, Jayson and Riley will be able to join us for the holiday weekend?” TJ glanced up, a look of hopeful expectation on his face.<br /><br />“I received confirmation e-mails from both Rowan and Jayson yesterday. They plan to be here with bells on,” Glen chuckled and managed to squeeze a giggle out of TJ. “It’s just about time to get back to the apartment and even though it is still early evening, we’ll hit the hay because we have another full day ahead of us tomorrow.” He tenderly kissed TJ’s forehead before stepping back. He smiled with sympathetic understanding when his Brat’s exhaustion circumvented the usual mutterings of protest.<br /><br />************<br /><br />TJ lay there staring up at the ceiling, silently fuming and waiting for his heart rate to return to normal. It was so frustrating; trying to run and getting no where, yelling without a sound emitting from his throat. But that was what nightmares were made of. He turned on his side and glared at his peacefully sleeping partner. He felt a little ashamed at the resentment he harboured as a result of irrationally blaming Glen for the predicament he found himself in. Logically he knew the older man was not responsible for the recurring dreams but he was too tired to be logical, so he bounced to get his Top’s attention. <br /><br />“Huh!” Glen was instantly awake and supportive. “What did I punish you for this time, love?”<br /><br />“For tearing off a strip of recently put-up wallpaper; it was still wet. But I didn’t do it,” TJ wailed. “So far I’ve been spanked for putting dirt in the paint; stirring two different colours together; tipping over a full litre of the stuff; painting bright, water-based pink over a blue enamel; knocking over your antique vase; deliberately breaking a mirror; the list goes on,” he complained, his voice steadily rising. <br /><br />“Ssssh, TJ, they’re only dreams. Bad ones grant it, but nevertheless only dreams.”<br /><br />“What makes it worst is that after you spank me and shove me into the corner, you actually laugh at me.” TJ scowled at the remembered sounds of pure glee echoing off the walls of an empty room and punched Glen on the arm to emphasize his aggravation over the unfairness of it all. <br /><br />“But that would never happen in real life, TJ.” Glen gathered his Brat closer, holding TJ’s hands by his side to prevent further abuse.<br /><br />“I know, but it doesn’t help,” TJ whined. <br /><br />“I am confident that this time next week, when we’re in our new home, these nightmares will cease and you’ll be able to catch up on the sleep you’ve lost this last little while. At least, everything is in place for your grand opening on Saturday.” Glen took a chance on a change of subject acting as a balm for his partner’s irritation.<br /><br />“Yeah,” TJ sighed wistfully as the ploy worked. “I’m really fortunate to have several of my former fellow-employees now working for me. Not having to train a new staff is a big plus.” He yawned, snuggled in closer and drew imaginary pictures on Glen’s chest with his finger.<br /><br />“Is Sally planning on commuting?”<br /><br />“Nope, she, Jane, Barry and Mac are renting an old semi-detached together, not too far from the mall. Matter of fact it’s within walking distance. They plan to party hardy, man.” TJ giggled when he heard a groan of foreboding emanate from the other man’s chest. Another, louder yawn had TJ drowsily admitting, “I’m ready to go back to sleep now, Glen.”<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Please, TJ,” Glen pleaded once again. “I identify with your excitement but the perpetual motion is really interfering with my driving.”<br /><br />“Sorry, Glen, but I just can’t help it. After four years of living in the apartment, I thought I’d have a hard time moving on. But once it was emptied and cleaned, turning the keys into the superintendent was just so easy. In a very short time, we will be permanent residents of our own home.” TJ unconsciously continue to bounce in uncontained joy.<br /><br />“That does it!” Glen grumbled several minutes later as he pull over to the shoulder of the road and turned off the motor. “Out! Get out and run around the car ten times,” he firmly ordered.<br /><br />“Huh?” TJ was render speechless. The expression on his Top’s face had him quickly doing what he had been told.<br /><br />“I trust that little bit of exercise burned off some of your excess energy,” Glen drolly commented when his Brat slipped back into the passenger seat after obediently completing the short laps.<br /><br />“What the hell was that all about?” TJ demanded, doing up his seatbelt and glaring at the other man.<br /><br />“Bounce control!” Glen chuckled at TJ’s upward glance and head shaking of disbelief. “Hopefully you can sit still for the remaining fifteen minutes of our trip.”<br /><br /> “I not promising anything,” TJ grinned impishly. “You know, I was wondering whether you’re supposed to carry me over the threshold or if I should carry you. What do you think?”<br /><br />“I haven’t given it any consideration at all,” Glen responded, astonished that the subject had even come up.<br /><br />“Hmm, maybe we can carry each other,” TJ mused.<br /><br />“Now that could prove just a tad tricky?” Glen teased, trying unsuccessfully not to laugh at his partner’s proposal.<br /><br />“On second thought, let’s forget it,” TJ mildly suggested seconds later. “It’s kinda redundant now that we’ve been in and out of the house so many times.”<br /><br />“Sounds like a plan, love.” Glen was only too happy to agree. “By the way, have I told you recently how proud I am of the dazzling success of your grand opening?” He reached over to gently place a hand on Glen’s knee and give it a loving squeeze. <br /><br />“To tell the truth, I do believe you’ve neglected to mention it at anytime during the past couple of hours,” TJ joked. “But we forgive you, don’t we, Miss. Muffin?” TJ twisted around to see his pet in the carrier on the back seat and received an apathetic blink in reaction to his query. “I think you’re spending too much time with my cat, Glen. I could swear she just rolled her eyes at me,” he complained. <br /><br />Now it was Glen turn to shake his head in disbelief. Choosing another subject, he caringly asked, “Anything new happening in that reoccurring nightmare you’ve been having, love?”<br /><br />“No,” TJ answered abruptly. “And I don’t feel like talking about it.”<br /><br />“Might help,” Glen encouraged, knowing the true behinds the words.<br /><br />“Yeah, well now that you brought it up, there has been a slight variance. I can’t figure out what’s going on, but I get the succinct impression that you are not the one doing all the malicious laughing; someone else is. But I’ll be damned if I know who.”<br /><br />“You may never reach a conclusion to the dream, babe, because I still have faith in your sleep-disturbed nights ending once we’ve settled in,” Glen avowed as he turned onto the winding driveway that led to their new abode. <br /><br />Several minutes later, TJ shuffled from one foot to the other while waiting impatiently for Glen to unlock the front door.<br /><br />“Do you need the washroom, TJ?” Glen tormented, not bothering to hide the crooked grin spreading across his handsome face.<br /><br />“Not funny! I’m just anxious to show Miss. Muffin her new home,” TJ offered the feeble excuse for his restlessness.<br /><br />“Of course you are!” Glen’s feigned agreement was rewarded with an equally feigned scowl of irritation. He shoved open the door, took the pet carrier from TJ’s hand and set it down; then laughed uproariously at his lover’s squeal of delight when he swept him off his feet, carried him over the threshold and deposited him on the other side. <br /><br />************<br /><br />TJ woke with a start. “That miserable little son-of-a-bitch!” he gasped, willing the increased adrenalin pulsing through his body to abate. Gulping in air, he rolled over and shook Glen’s shoulder.<br /><br />Glen was instantly awake. He tapped the lamp on his bedside table, providing the needed light to better see his Brat’s face before gathering TJ into his arms. He was taken aback to see the expression of anger on the other man’s features change into one of gleeful satisfaction. “What is it?” he asked apprehensively.<br /><br />“I-I saw him!” TJ breathlessly exclaimed. “I actually saw him this time.”<br /><br />“Who?”<br /><br />“The guy who has been causing all the problems and laughing when I got the blame; he’s a ‘Brat’. Apparently he’s been having a great time getting me in trouble and enjoying the fallout that I’ve had to deal with. But no more!” TJ bounced hard enough to escape Glen’s confining embrace. “He’s got a Top: a very big, very pissed-off Top.” TJ’s eyes sparkled as he rubbed his hands together in unadulterated joy. “Man, did he ever get it!”<br /><br />“You’ve lost me, TJ,” Glen muttered and scratched his head.<br /><br />“In my dreams, Glen….you know; the nightmares that have been plaguing me for over a month?”<br /><br />“I do. Please go on.”<br /><br />“Well, like I tried to tell you, it wasn’t me pulling all those naughty stunts. It was another Brat named Micah; at least that’s what his Top called him. This Micah guy has been setting me up; that is until Jeremiah, or so his Brat called him, caught him getting ready to do it again.” TJ gazed into his partner’s eyes and seriously informed him. “There was no laughing this time, Glen, just a hell of a lot of yelping and hollering. Jeremiah sure whaled the living daylights out of Micah.”<br /><br />“So I trust we have seen the end of all this nocturnal drama?” Glen smiled at the younger man’s obvious happiness and relief.<br /><br />“Yes, I’ve been vindicated!” TJ crowed as he sprung up and raised his clenched fists into the air before throwing his arms around Glen’s neck and soundly kissing him. “Gotta love it, man,” he murmured contentedly. <br /><br />************<br /><br />“Tada! We made it, Glen! We’re going to have everything in place by the time our guests arrive Friday evening and with two days to spare,” TJ merrily announced as he shoved the pull-down ladder to the attic, into the recess of the upper hall’s ceiling. “I hope you don’t have anything else to go up there, because there’s no storage space left. Seems like the last owners forgot a few items but we can clear them out later…like next year maybe.”<br /><br />“Probably sooner than that, but definitely not at this time,” Glen partially concurred. “A bit of furniture rearranging, some beds to be made, a few remaining bits and pieces to pack away and our major move, like your nightmares, will be a thing of the past.” He hid his crossed fingers behind his back and sent up a silent prayer that he was right.<br /><br />Some time later, Glen was putting the finishing touches on their evening meal when TJ approached carrying a can of cat food and a can opener. <br /><br />“Have you seen Miss. Muffin?” <br /><br />“Not since you shooed her away when she tried to follow you up to the attic.”<br /><br />“Hmm, I wonder…..” TJ mused thoughtfully. He set the items he was holding down on the kitchen counter and headed out of the room with Glen following a short distance behind him.<br /><br />“I bet she managed to sneak by me and is now locked up there,” TJ commented as he reached up to open the hatch leading to the uppermost story of their home. <br /><br />“Miss. Muffin,” he gently called. He listened for any unusual noises and just barely made out the sounds of his pet making her way further into the far corner. “Come on out, girl. Don’t make this any more difficult that it has to be,” TJ pleaded. <br /><br />“You’ll have to go in after her, love.” Glen’s no-nonsense suggestion met with a groan of frustration as TJ began to squeeze himself in among the cartons. <br /><br />“This is ridiculous,” the younger man complained, sneezing to clear the dust out of his nose. “Get out of there, you dumb cat,” he ordered even knowing it would not change the situation. He grumbled and swore under his breath as he inched along the poorly-lit cramped area, pushing as many items out of his way as possible. <br /><br />“How are you doing, TJ?” Glen stuck his head through the opening just as a large white ball of fluff raced by him and down the ladder. “Okay, TJ, your pet has escaped,” he chuckled. “Come out; come out where ever you are.” The musical refrain echoed throughout the limited space above him accompanied by TJ’s growl of annoyance.<br /><br />There was a sudden loud thumping as a hefty, rectangular, paper-wrapped package fell forward and caused a small domino effect with several of the other stored articles. <br /><br />“Are you all right, love?” Glen asked as he shoved aside some of the nearest cartons. He managed to make out a muffled ‘Yeah’ coming from the far reaches of the garret, then a number of grunts and groans as TJ slowly made his way back while propelling something along in front of him.<br /><br />“Can you take this down for me, please?” TJ requested. He was rather dishevelled and slightly out of breath. “One of the corners ripped opened,” he panted. “It might prove interesting.”<br /><br />Glen and TJ stood side by side in their living room, looking at the heavy parcel they had just dragged down two floors.<br /><br />“The light wasn’t very good, Glen, but if these are really antique picture frames like I think they are, you’re going to love them.” TJ eagerly began tearing at the brittle brown paper. <br /><br />“They are not just frames, TJ. They’re marvellous portraits.” Glen glanced over to see why his Brat was so quiet. <br /><br />TJ was absolutely thunderstruck. He stared in total amazement at the two old paintings he had uncovered. He did not know the men in the pictures, but he had seen them before…..in his dreams.<br /><br />“Captain Jeremiah Smith and First Officer Micah Hopkinson,” Glen read aloud the small, engraved, gold nameplates. “These are the original owners of this house, TJ,” he announced to his still-in-shock partner.<br /><br />“They are also the two characters who played significant roles in my last nightmare,” TJ whispered. As he glanced around the beautifully decorated and furnished room, a feeling of warmth and serenity washed over him. “They still live here……well in spirit only, of course,” he murmured reverently.<br /><br />Glen blinked in surprise at this statement but nevertheless accepted TJ’s word on it. “In other words, co-inhabitants, right?” <br /><br />“Huh-huh,” TJ nodded and grinned up at his lover. “Can we hang them over the fireplace in here, Glen?”<br /><br />“It only seems fair. After all, this is their home too.” Glen smiled back. “I’ll go fetch some nails and a hammer.”<br /><br />TJ stepped back to gaze at the good-looking men in the portraits. <br /><br />The older one appeared rather rugged, weather-beaten and so very stern. TJ looked closer. ‘Is that a twinkle in his eye?’ he wondered.<br /><br />The younger one gave the impression of someone who loved to cause mischief. TJ laughed to himself when he imagined Micah winking at him.<br /><br />The End.LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-85413955839106087732009-04-30T13:09:00.001-07:002009-04-30T13:09:43.149-07:00HouseguestWritten By: LJ<br /><br /><br />TJ stood at the big picture window in their living room, looking down at the driveway on their side of the apartment building. He was practically bouncing with excitement.<br /><br />“They’re late!” he complained yet again.<br /><br />“Probably the traffic, love,” Glen responded patiently without taking his eyes of the magazine he was perusing.<br /><br />“They should have been here half an hour ago,” TJ muttered. ‘Hmmm,’ was the only response he heard and he rolled his eyes in disgust.<br /><br />“They’re here!” he shouted as he spotted Rowan’s car pulling into the parking lot. Heading for the front door, he tripped over a white cat sleeping in the sunlight shining through the large window. “Sorry, Miss. Muffin, but you shouldn’t be lying in the middle of the floor.” <br /><br />“TJ, slow down and watch where you’re going.” Glen’s admonishment echoed throughout the room TJ had just vacated. Putting down his reading material, Glen followed his partner down the hall towards the elevators. He arrived just as the big metal doors were closing.<br /><br />Several minutes later they opened and TJ reappeared with their guests in tow. <br /><br />“What are you doing out here, Glen?” TJ asked the man leaning against the wall.<br /><br />“Waiting patiently, which was something I expected you to do,” Glen responded with a smile as he reached out to take the extra piece of luggage from Rowan. “It is great to see you again, my friend!”<br /><br />“Nice to finally arrive,” Rowan grumbled in a mixture of relief and exasperation. “An eight-hour drive with a fidgety companion is about seven and a half too long.” He smiled at Darby to let the younger man know he was teasing. “Actually, we had a good trip until we hit the Friday rush-hour in this fair city of yours,” he mildly complained.<br /><br />“We probably would have missed the traffic if we hadn’t spent an hour sightseeing in Banff,” Darby reminded the older man. He smirked at Rowan over Glen’s shoulder as he returned his host’s welcoming hug. <br /><br />“Still can’t pass that town without stopping, eh Row?” Glen laughed at his friend’s piqued expression and released Darby. “TJ will show you to your room, Darby.”<br /><br />“Not that I for one blame you, Rowan,” TJ offered his support. “There is always so much to see and it is always changing.” <br /><br />Darby grabbed up his duffel bag and briefcase; then followed TJ into the study that would now be a guest bedroom for the next month. <br /><br />“The bathroom is just across the hall and it’s all yours. Glen and I have our own en suite,” TJ explained as he dropped the suitcase onto the bed. “Hope you’ll be comfortable here, Darb.”<br /><br />“I’m sure I will, TJ. Thanks!” Darby looked around the spacious room and tried not to think about having it all to himself when Rowan left for home the day after tomorrow. “Just between you and me, TJ, I really enjoy any time Rowan and I spend in Banff. It holds a lot of special memories for us.”<br /><br />“Gotcha; it’s where you two guys went for your honeymoon last year, isn’t it?” <br /><br />“Uh-huh,” Darby nodded. He walked over to the large window behind Glen’s desk and looked out at the city below. He sighed at the thought of having to learn his way around over the next few days. <br /><br />“So tell me about this job you got, Darb,” TJ requested, making himself comfortable in a recliner in the corner.<br /><br />“Well, I applied for and was accepted for the position of back-up orchestra conductor for the month long production of Phantom of The Opera. Of course, now that I’m here, wouldn’t you know I’d be having second thoughts about it?” <br /><br />“Why’s that?”<br /><br />“Mostly being away from Rowan for so long; meeting a lot of new people; maybe a little afraid of failure; I don’t know…..” Darby’s voice faded and he shrugged his shoulders in confusion. “Please don’t say anything to Rowan. I don’t want to worry him. And after all, it is definitely a great opportunity as far as my career is concerned,” he quietly pleaded.<br /><br />“Hey, mum’s the word, man!” TJ zealously promised.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Hope you didn’t go to any trouble making a meal, Glen. Darby and I picked up a KFC picnic basket deal. Figured it would save time,” Rowan announced and gratefully accepted the cold beer handed him. <br /><br />“Thanks, Rowan. I was just winging it until you guys got here,” Glen chuckled, took a long drink from the frosty bottle in his hand and settled back in his chair. “Do you think Darby is going to have any trouble adjusting to being here without you?”<br /><br />“He may, but hopefully he’ll be too busy at first to miss me badly enough to act up.”<br /><br />“What would be the warning signs?” Glen thought it important to learn all he could about the young man who would be staying in his home for the next month.<br /><br />“Inattentiveness, loss of interest in anything other than his music, lack of appetite, sporadic sleeping habits; all passively assertive. In all likelihood, unless it is brought to his attention, he will not even be aware of exhibiting these symptoms.”<br /><br />“You are planning to visit often over the next few weeks, are you not?”<br /><br />“I will not be able to get back here every weekend, but I intend to do everything in my power to be here for as many as possible” <br /><br />“I really don’t anticipate any problems, Rowan, especially if you are going to be joining us regularly during Darby’s stay.” <br /><br />Glen sounded so confident and Rowan smiled in spite of himself. “You are probably quite right, Glen.” Rowan agreed while attempting to cover the smile on his face, hoping his friend’s prediction would prove spot on.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“It has been a great weekend, hasn’t it, Sweets?” Getting a somewhat unenthusiastic grunt in reply, Rowan looked up from packing his overnight bag and got a brief glimpse of the forlorn expression on his husband’s face a second before it vanished. Sitting down, he held open his arms and softly invited, “Come here, sweetheart.”<br /><br />Darby settled into his favourite place and nuzzled his lover’s neck, deeply breathing in the familiar after shave.<br /><br />“You are going to be fine, Darby,” Rowan offered his assurances with a tight hug. “We’ll call or IM each other as often as our schedules will allow and, if all goes smoothly with the C-check, we’ll be spending most weekends together.”<br /><br />“I know, Rowan, but I still can’t help missing you. I already am and you haven’t even left yet,” Darby murmured as he gazed adoringly into deep blue eyes of his lover and lightly ran his finger tips over the handsome features of Rowan’s face. <br /><br />“You’ll be so busy the time will pass before you know it.” Rowan smiled and gently kissed the palm of Darby’s hand. “God willing, I’ll see you in less than a week. In the meantime, I want you to work hard, have fun and enjoy your stay with Glen and TJ.”<br /><br />Darby laid his head on Rowan’s broad shoulder and mentally re-examined his last conversation with Riley. His friend had thought a month out from under his partner’s watchful eye was the cat’s meow. Darby, however, did not share Riley’s point of view. While Riley considered it an excellent opportunity to do whatever he wanted, Darby concentrated more on the fact that he would not be within touching distance of the one he loved above all others. <br /><br />“And you are going to be a considerate and deferential guest, aren’t you, Sweets?” Rowan’s deep voice penetrated the younger man’s pensive musings.<br /><br />“I’ll be good, Row; honest.” Darby smiled up at his loving companion. “I really am looking forward to starting work tomorrow and TJ has promised to keep me involved with the vast array of entertainment provided by the Stampede. It starts in a few days you know.”<br /><br />“Glad to hear it, Sweets. Now I better finish packing, say my goodbyes and hit the road if I want to make it home before midnight. The Sunday evening traffic is going to be murder and I have work in the morning.”<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Hey, Darby; what’s up?” TJ merrily inquired as he dropped his carryall on the floor, tossed his jacket over the back of the sofa and turned the stereo up on his way by.<br /><br />“Huh, oh, not too much actually; I’m just going over this musical score. I’ll be conducting the whole show for the first time at the matinee tomorrow,” Darby shyly smiled up at his host. “I’m kinda nervous about it though,” he added, raising his voice slightly to enable TJ who had gone into the adjoining room, to hear.<br /><br />“Bet you’ll do just fine. After all you’ve been at rehearsals for over a week now and even had a shot or two at leading the orchestra, haven’t you?” TJ asked, returning from the kitchen and handing Darby a glass of pop.<br /><br />“Yeah, hope you’re right. Thanks, I needed that,” Darby said after taking a long drink and setting the glass on the coffee table. He shook his head at the offered bowl of chips. “Guess I needed the encouragement too,” he murmured his appreciation.<br /><br />“You’re welcome for both. Glen should be home any minute now and he’s bringing Chinese take-out, but I can’t wait ‘cause I’m damn-near starving.” TJ sat back with the bowl of munchies on his lap and watched Darby neatly slide the sheets of music into his briefcase.<br /><br />“Not me.” Darby quietly spoke more to himself that anyone else. <br /><br />TJ overheard but chose to ignore it and think of something positive to cheer up his friend. “By the way, Darb, have you taken a close look at our working schedules?”<br /><br />“No, I haven’t had time since marking my shifts on the calendar like Glen asked me to.”<br /><br />“I’ll go get it,” TJ offered, pushing himself up off the sofa to get the calendar that was stuck on the front of the fridge. “Do you remember when your next day off is?”<br /><br />“Yes; it’s two days from now. Why do you want to know?”<br /><br />“Because Glen and I are also free that day; feel up to joining us for some Stampede fun?”<br /><br />“Depends; is it the same kind of ‘fun’ as we supposedly had last Friday?” Darby smirked as he remembered how narrowly they escaped getting into trouble at the parade.<br /><br />“Are you kidding? With Glen around it’s not likely.” TJ pretended to pout for about two seconds before both young men burst out laughing. <br /><br />“But you’ll still have a good time,” Glen half-sternly commented, having come into the apartment unnoticed and overhearing the tail end of the conversation. He decided not to question their version of the so-called fun they’d had, thereby putting a damper on their good moods. Obviously nothing too serious had taken place or he would have found out about it as neither of these two Brats excelled at keeping things hidden for long. The change in their behaviour patterns usually gave them away.<br /><br />“Hey, when did you get home?” TJ asked as he jumped up to greet his partner with a welcoming hug and a kiss.<br /><br />“Only a moment or two ago; you would have heard me come in if you’d had your music turn down to a reasonable decibel,” Glen mildly scolded, tightening his embrace to let the younger man know he wasn’t too put out. “Help me get our supper on the table, love.”<br /><br />“Know what, you guys? According to the different coloured check marks on this calendar, this Thursday is the last time we are all off on the same day for over two weeks,” TJ announced several minutes later. He was multi-tasking by perusing their working schedule, carrying on a conversation and eating concurrently. “That kinda sucks!”<br /><br />“Then I recommend we make the most of the time we do have together,” Glen calmly suggested. Turning his attention to their guest, he explained, “Every year, TJ and I make a point of spending at least one entire day taking in the various activities at the Stampede, starting with breakfast in the Grandstand Courtyard and ending with the fireworks display. I’m glad you’ll be able to accompany us, Darby.”<br /><br />“Sound like fun,” Darby didn’t even try to pretend he was excited about the prospect. He had been quiet throughout the meal while pushing his food around his plate instead of consuming it. <br /><br /> “Is something troubling you, Darby?” Glen softly inquired, making note of the young man’s lack of appetite and distant frame of mind. “I expect you to tell me if there is,” he insisted when a response was not immediately forthcoming.<br /><br />“Rowan was supposed to be coming down this weekend but he can’t make it,” Darby mumbled unhappily. “That will make two weekends in a row he’s missed.”<br /><br />“When did you find this out, sweetie?” Glen was saddened at his guest’s understandable disappointment.<br /><br />“He called me earlier this afternoon. He had hoped to get the time off but they ran into more problems, this time with some parts delivery. It’s not just Rowan who’s been inconvenienced; his whole crew has to work if they hope to get the contract done as close to the deadline as possible. It’s not Rowan’s fault,” Darby adamantly, but unnecessarily, defended his partner. “It’s his job; he has to oversee all aspects of a C-check because he has to sign off on it.” <br /><br />“I’m sorry to hear that, Darby. I know how badly you are missing Rowan,” Glen sympathized. He reached over and squeezed Darby’s hand, his heart going out to the younger man.<br /><br />“I even requested permission for him to attend the performance I’m conducting on Sunday afternoon,” Darby murmured. He kept his head down as he blinked back tears.<br /><br />“Now here’s a coincidence; I am kind of at loose ends this weekend, what with TJ working both days. Would it be all right it I went in Rowan’s stead?”<br /><br />“You’d do that?” Darby looked up in surprise.<br /><br />“Of course; I’ve always enjoyed Phantom of the Opera and being a friend of the conductor will make it even more special,” Glen assured him and was rewarded with a watery-eyed smile. “Now how about making an effort to eat what is on your plate instead of playing with it,” he lightly badgered.<br /><br />“Look at this, Darby,” TJ exclaimed, stabbing his finger at the calendar. “We both have next Friday off. A few of the guys and I have planned a day at Bragg Creek Provincial Park and you’ll be able to come with us. We’re going to have a blast, man!”<br /><br />“Thanks, TJ, I’d like that.”<br /><br />Glen smiled at the improvement in Darby’s mood and was pleased with his partner’s attempts to entertain their guest. He determined to keep a closer eye on Darby’s behaviour patterns and watch out for signs of increased despondency.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Yo, Darb, you gotta admit this is the life and that it doesn’t get much better,” TJ slurred as he threw down the empty beer can and reached into the cooler for another one.<br /><br />“Well during this oppressing heat-wave, it sure beats staying in the sweltering city.” <br /><br />The young men were relaxing on lawn chairs they had set up in the middle of the shallow water. The cold mountain run-off was swirling around their ankles and calves, providing much needed relief from the soaring temperature.<br /><br />They had come up to Bragg Creek for the day with a large group of TJ’s friends. Darby was pacing himself. He had never been a heavy drinker and this late in the afternoon, he was one of the very few that was reasonably sober enough to be concerned about the trip home.<br /><br />“Don’t you think it just about time to head back to where the vans are parked? Maybe it will make the climb easier if you guys do it while you are still able to stand up,” Darby teasingly suggested. He laughed at his friend as TJ staggered to his feet and immediately toppled face first into the water.<br /><br />“Shit!” TJ exclaimed. “Some of the god-damn water got in my beer and ruined it,” he complained and then proceeded to quaff it down anyway. He didn’t even feel the discomfort of sitting in the rock-infested river.<br /><br />The group slowly gathered up folding chairs, ice chests, articles of clothing and various items of debris, leaving the area as clean as they had found it. Then they began the upward trek along the winding trail through the woods to the top of hill. <br /><br />It proved to be an almost impossible feat. The ten-minute climb took well over half an hour, but finally the last of the stragglers stumbled into the clearing a short distance from the parking lot. What a bedraggled lot they were; sweaty, filthy and not exactly unscathed by their adventure.<br /><br />“God, I’m hotter than ever,” Darby exclaimed, dropping his armful on the ground. “How’s the knee, TJ? Has it stopped bleeding?” <br /><br />“Huh?”<br /><br />“Check out your leg, man. See where your pants are torn? You fell at least six times and a one point slid down the path and injured yourself.” Darby was trying to get TJ seated on a bench. “Man, are you ever shit-faced.”<br /><br />“Let me look at your hands, Gordie,” Sally offered. “You certainly did a number on these; the palms are badly scraped and full of dirt particles. We better get this cleaned up.”<br /><br />“Nah, it can wait ‘til I get home,” Gordie muttered. “Thanks anyway.” His inebriated state prevented him from feeling the burning pain the abrasions normally would have been causing.<br /><br />“Hey, where the fuck are our vans?” Barry bellowed. <br /><br />“The first bunch up got tired of waiting and left in two of them,” Mac replied. “Unfortunately they didn’t leave us a designated driver for the third vehicle.”<br /><br />“Can I drive, Darb?” TJ asked, looking up through blurry eyes.<br /><br />“Drive! Forget it; you can’t even walk.” Darby scoffed.<br /> <br />“Oooh; how about you then? Are you sober enough?” TJ didn’t really appear to give a damn one way or another.<br /><br />“No, ’cause I’ve got a real good buzz on.”<br /><br />“What about you, Sally” TJ turned towards one of his fellow employees.<br /><br />“I can’t, TJ. I only got a learner’s permit and I think it expired a few days ago.” <br /><br />“Oh, well, guess we’re stranded.” TJ giggled as he stretched out on the bench, only to roll off it. “Hmm, this is comfy,” he murmured from where he was lying in the dirt.<br /><br />“Anyone got some beer left?” Joan asked, rooting through one of the coolers and coming up empty.<br /><br />“Here’s one.” Mac tossed over a can. “Sorry,” he apologized when it sailed over Joan’s head.<br /><br />“This is a neat fire circle,” Darby commented. He helped TJ up and got them settled on one of the benches surrounding the fire pit.<br /><br />“Yeah, let’s light it up.” TJ’s drunken suggestion met with enthusiastic votes of agreement. “We can have some kind of a ceremony.”<br /><br />“Isn’t there a fire band posted somewhere around here, guys?” Darby wondered out loud. Assured it was an older one he’d seen and had not yet been removed, he shrugged his shoulders and decided to go along with the rest of them.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Hello, Rowan. Welcome back,” Glen greeted his friend and shut the door to the apartment. “You know where to toss your bag.”<br /><br />“Glad to finally be here,” Rowan commented after dropping his overnight case on the Darby’s bed. “I didn’t tell Darby I was coming up this weekend in case my plans changed and I had to disappoint him once again.”<br /><br />“I think he’ll rather like the surprise,” Glen commented. “He has certainly been missing you.”<br /><br />“All and all, how’s he been?” Rowan asked, both men fully understanding what was left unsaid.<br /><br />“Aside from mostly quiet and requiring a lot of encouragement to eat his meals, he’s been a great houseguest.” <br /><br />“Where is he now?” Rowan settled on the sofa and glanced briefly at the TV, noting the start of the evening news. <br /><br />“He and TJ are enjoying a day at Bragg Creek with a group of TJ’s friends. It’s about a forty minute drive from here. I’m expecting them home before too long, so should we wait to eat or are you hungry now?”<br /><br />“No, I’m good. I had a snack at the airport while waiting for my flight. I could do with a cold drink though; bottled water would do fine.”<br /><br />“I’ll get a couple out of the fridge,” Glen offered.<br /><br />The men were relaxing and appraising one another of the happenings of the last three weeks, when something on the TV screen attracted Glen’s attention. “What the hell!” he exclaimed, grabbing the remote and turning up the volume.<br /><br />“This is Larry Wells reporting. As you can see behind me, several young people are being escorted into the Cochrane police station. They have been arrested for starting a fire in an area of the Bragg Creek Provincial Park which is presently like most of southern Alberta, under a fire band. I’ll try to get close in the hopes of interviewing one or two of the mischief-makers.” <br /><br />Glen’s eyes widened before narrowing dangerously as the camera zeroed in on his partner. TJ certainly appeared to be enjoying his moment of notoriety. <br /><br />“Hey, Glen!” TJ called out. “I’m on TV, man. Hope you’re watching.” He flashed a big smile and waved as a nervous-looking Darby grabbed his arm and hustled him into the center of the group. <br /><br />Glen groaned as he sank further into the back of the sofa and put his head down. “That Brat of mine is as drunk as a skunk and in shit up to his eyebrows,” he muttered through grinding teeth.<br /><br />The two men continued to stare at the screen for several long moments as the small group of lawbreakers was herded into the building and out of sight. <br /><br />“At least Darby made some attempt to maintain a low profile,” Rowan calmly commented as he worked on keeping his annoyance under control. “How long will it take us to get to them, Glen?”<br /><br />“Forty-five minutes to an hour, depending on the traffic.” Glen sighed and rubbed a hand across his eyes, still not wanting to accept what he’d just witnessed.<br /><br />“Then we better get a move on,” Rowan resignedly suggested, getting to his feet and grabbing cell phones, keys and wallets.<br /><br />************<br /><br />The sergeant glared down at the bedraggled assembly of trouble-makers. “Oh, brother!” he huffed out in disgust. Then raising his voice, he sternly demanded, “All right, now; which one of you wants to act as spokesperson and offer an explanation as to just what you all thought you were doing?”<br /><br />A moan from one of the miscreants attracted his attention. Taking in the pallor on one of the faces, the sergeant shouted, “Get this man to the washroom before he throws up all over the place. God Almighty, in this heat we’d never get rid of the stench.” <br /><br />Once again, TJ felt an unfriendly hand clamp around his arm to roughly propelled him down a short corridor and into a much smaller room. He barely made it to the toilet before his stomach contents spewed forth. <br /><br />Sometime later, he sidled up to Darby. “Did I miss much, Darb?” TJ whispered. <br /><br />“Nothing good!” Darby despondently murmured. <br /><br />“Where are the others?” TJ glanced around the room that seemed larger now that fewer people were crowded into it. Of their friends only Darby and Barry remained in the room. Barry appeared to be suffering the after-effects of an afternoon of over-indulging. “What happened to Sally, Joan, Gordie and Mac?”<br /><br />“After the officer in charge took down a bunch of personal information and stuff, a policewoman took the girls to the ladies room to clean up; at least that’s what I think is happening. Mac is calling his brother and someone is taking care of the cuts and scrapes on Gordie’s hands. Want someone to look at your leg?” <br /><br />“Naw, it’s nothing.”<br /><br /> “Hmm, you feeling any better, TJ? I mean, is your stomach okay?”<br /><br />“Yeah, in fact I feel great. How about you?”<br /><br />“I’m all right. Now that you’re back, we can call Glen. Then I think they’re going to make us wait it out in some kind of holding room.” Darby shuddered at the thought. “But I guess it beats a jail cell, huh?”<br /><br />“Shit, I don’t want to call Glen.” TJ winced as his partner’s angry features came to mind. “Man, he is going to be so pissed off when he learns about this.”<br /><br />“He’s not going to be any happier when he hears of the fines we’ve been given.” Darby felt like crying. He desperately wanted Rowan and yet at the same time was very apprehensive about facing his partner. Darby wrongfully assumed the older man would be deeply disappointment in him. Taking a deep breath and bravely squaring his shoulders, Darby insisted that TJ call his partner but was met with a stubborn refusal to do so.<br /><br />“Just how much are the fines?” TJ asked no one in particular, a short time later as he stared out the window of the locked area they were being held in. It was not that he really cared; he just needed the conversation as a distraction to prevent him from concentrating on the impending arrival of his partner who, much against TJ’s wishes, had been notified of the day’s proceedings. To add to his discontent, his injured knee had been cleaned and bandaged despite all protests on his part.<br /><br />“Five hundred dollars each!” Mac’s unpleasant announcement was accompanied by a low painful groan from Barry who was still dealing with an excruciating headache. <br /><br />TJ gasped and abruptly turned to face the other six sprawled around the table in the center of the sparsely-furnished room. “Fuck!” he muttered and shook his head in disbelief.<br /><br />“Yeah, and they had the audacity to say we got off lightly,” Gordie grossed, picking at the dressing on his left hand. “God, it’s gonna take me forever to pay it.”<br /><br />“We have also been denied access to the provincial park for an entire year,” Joan bitterly complained. “Stop that!” she ordered, reaching over and slapping at Gordie’s fingers to persuade him to leave his damaged hands alone.<br /><br />“There goes the car I was saving up for,” Sally forlornly injected and laid her forehead on the cool wood surface in front of her. <br /><br />“Yeah, and there goes almost two weeks’ net pay, but it really could have been much worse,” Darby quietly added his two cents worth. ‘In fact, it’s going to get a hell of a lot worse when Rowan learns about it.’ He kept this thought to himself and squirmed uncomfortably on the hard wooden chair he was sitting on. <br /><br />The door suddenly opened, startling more than one of the room’s occupants. The seven partners-in-crime were quickly ushered back to the main room where they found themselves once again facing a very irate sergeant. <br /><br />Unprepared to deal with any more disparaging glares from the uniformed man behind the desk, TJ and Darby hung their heads and concentrated on controlling the urge to nervously shuffle their feet.<br /><br />“Humph!” The sergeant cleared his throat in order to gain everyone’s attention. “Now that a few rather more responsible people have arrived to take you in tow, I am releasing all of you. You’ll be receiving formal notices of your fines in the mail within a week.” His ice-cold eyes moved from one to the other, stopping to look fiercely at each of them in turn. “I better not set eyes on any of you again in my capacity as a law enforcement officer. Got that?” he all but shouted.<br /><br />‘Yes sir’ and ‘thank-you sir’ were repeated numerous times by the guilt-ridden young men and women to convince the sergeant of their understanding.<br /><br />TJ and Darby glanced at each other, breathing out sighs of relief that they were free to go. Unfortunately, their relief was short-lived when they felt the heavy hands of their partners landing on their shoulders.<br /><br />TJ was forcefully spun around until he was face to face with Glen’s unhidden expression of utter exasperation. The older man settled for giving his Brat a firm shake in lieu of landing a resounding swat on the seat of his pants which is exactly what his left hand was itching to do. But this was a public place and Glen would never embarrass the young man like that. <br /><br />Darby, in the meantime, found himself gently turned and lovingly enfolded in Rowan’s strong arms. He clung on tight, buried his face in the soft fabric of his lover’s shirt and fought back the tears threatening to fall. <br /><br />“Okay, Sweets?” Rowan whispered and after receiving a slight nod of affirmation, exchanged a silent message with Glen. The two older men then lead their somewhat traumatized Brats out of the building to begin the trip home.<br /><br />************<br /><br />A quick light supper was eaten upon their return; then TJ and Darby were sent to have showers and get ready for bed.<br /><br />“Darby and I are going to have to discuss today’s fiasco. Putting it off is out of the question,” Rowan quietly informed his host. <br /><br />“I understand, Rowan,’ Glen reluctantly agreed, “as I also have to talk things over with TJ. Prolonging the discussion will only make matters worse and I think both our Brats are stressed out enough.” <br /><br />“We’ll see you in the morning then,” Rowan stated as he got up from the table and made his way to the room he and Darby had been given.<br /><br />“Good night, Row,” Glen softly called out to his guest. He spent the next few minutes straightening out the kitchen area before heading for the master bedroom. He needed to be in the right frame of mind to impress upon his partner in no uncertain terms that the day’s events were never to be repeated.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Rowan sat on the side of the bed and patiently waited for Darby to emerge from the bathroom. He looked up when the man consuming his every though at the moment, entered the room wearing no more than a towel around his waist. Rowan tenderly smiled at the love of his life and held out his arms. He breathed in the fresh clean scent of his lover as they cuddled and reconnected after being apart for almost three weeks. <br /><br />“I-I’m so sorry, Row,” Darby began falteringly.<br /><br />“Sssh, Sweets,” Rowan soothed. “Listen to me for a moment, please.”<br /><br /> “But, Rowan, I’ve missed you so much and now that we finally have a weekend together, I go and blow it by….” Darby’s words were cut off by a finger being pressed firmly against his lips.<br /><br />“Are you listening?” Rowan asked, gazing determinedly at his partner.<br /><br />“No, but…” Darby ceased to speak when Rowan’s eyebrow peaked.<br /><br />“You have not ruined our weekend. True, what you did today was illegal and went beyond carelessness. In fact, it was down right dangerous. It is one thing to party and have a good time; it is quite another to put your safety and that of others in jeopardy. You know participating like you did was wrong, Darby. You had other options, difficult as they may have been. What do you think they were?”<br /><br />“I could have left when no one would listen to me and things got out of hand. I guess I could have called Glen. But, Rowan, what about TJ? How could I have just turned my back and walked away on him?”<br /><br />“TJ is a grown man and responsible for his own actions, as you are for yours. I know the right thing to do would have been hard but it was doable, wasn’t it?” Rowan voice contained a wealth of understanding of just how hard it would have been.<br /><br />“Yes,” Darby responded in a small voice, ready to accept the consequences for his part in this afternoon’s inappropriate and unlawful behaviour.<br /><br />“I see no need to discuss it into the ground, Sweets. You and I are going to take care of it, put it behind us and start fresh.” Rowan gently kissed his partner’s head. “In the morning, I am going to make wild, passionate love to you so you’ll know just how much I love you and missed you.” <br /><br />Relying on the older man to provide him with absolution, Darby nodded and slowly got to his feet, letting the towel fall to the floor as he did so. In a heartbeat, he found himself face down over his husband’s strong thighs and his bottom clenched in anticipation of the first of many painful smacks. <br /><br />************<br /><br />“I am having a tough time coming to grips with what you did today, TJ. When I saw you on the television screen….” Glen was cut off by his partner’s squeal of delight.<br /><br />“I was on TV? When? How come I didn’t know about it?” TJ excitedly hopped up from where he was sitting next to Glen on the side of their bed. He wondered for a split second if Glen had tape the moment but decided maybe now was not the most advantageous time to ask. <br /><br />“You were on the early evening news; it is how Rowan and I first learned of our partners’ escapades. Sorry you were so drunk that you cannot remember the momentous event, but if your luck holds out they might air it again on the late night news and you can tape it then,” Glen sarcastically offered the false hope as if reading his partner’s mind.<br /><br />TJ figured a repeat of that rather un-newsworthy event may not prove beneficial, especially for him. He sat back down and hung his head as shame for his earlier actions permeated his being. The emotional rollercoaster he had been on a greater part of the day, was beginning to take its’ toll. He jerked to attention as the sounds of a spanking and cries of pain filtered into their room from across the hall. <br /><br />“Yes, Thomas Josiah,” Glen scolded. “You are partly to blame for your friend’s painful predicament. You were supposed to entertain Darby, not treat him to a drunken bash that ended up in your arrests.” He tried not to let his lover’s enticingly naked body divert him from the course of action needed to bring them closure.<br /><br />“I’m so sorry, Glen,” TJ regretfully mumbled as tears filled his beautiful coffee-coloured eyes. “I know things really got out of hand and I have no explanation for what took place. I fully acknowledge that my behaviour was reprehensible and I’ll accept any punishment you deem necessary.”<br /><br />“Thank you, TJ,” Glen lovingly responded. He tightened his arms around TJ’s shoulders and his stern stance softened in light of the younger man’s sincere admission of guilt and unspoken request for forgiveness “You’ll apologize to both Darby and Rowan tomorrow, right?” Getting an overzealous nod of agreement, Glen continued. “You will also be grounded for the next two weeks; hopefully it will help you better appreciate your next opportunity to party sensibly.”<br /><br />TJ gazed into Glen’s serene blue eyes. There he found the commitment to love and care for him enough to correct him when required. He also saw the promise of additional punishment seconds before finding himself lying across a rock-hard lap with his bare bottom poised for retribution. He was sobbing convulsively long before the spanking ended. <br /><br />It took a long time for TJ to settle down and succumb to the soothing rhythm of his partner’s caressing hands on his back and the calming litany of words being murmured against the wiry black curls on his head. <br /><br />“It’s okay, baby; it’s over now. The slate has been wiped clean and we start anew,” Glen assured the well-chastened man in his arms. “I love you, TJ, with all my heart.” <br /><br />************ <br /><br />“I want to thank you for your hospitality over the last few weeks, Glen. You too, TJ,” Darby said, smiling at his gracious hosts.<br /><br />“It was a pleasure having you, Darby,” Glen sincerely assured his houseguest as he drew him into his arms for an affectionate hug. <br /><br />“You are welcome anytime, Darb,” TJ enthusiastically added, thumping his friend on the back.<br /><br />“I’m sorry for any inconveniences my being here has caused either of you,” Darby humbly apologized.<br /><br />“You caused no problems whatsoever, Darby. You were the perfect guest,” Glen insisted, giving the younger man a slight shake. <br /><br />“Then how come TJ and I have been grounded for the last two weeks of my stay?” Darby asked, his eyes twinkling with mirth.<br /><br />“Well, okay, there was that one incident….” Glen surrendered, chuckling along with Rowan and their Brats.<br /><br />“I really appreciate you having my partner here and giving him the opportunity to work in your lovely city,” Rowan said, hugging TJ and shaking hands with Glen. “The two of you will have to find some time to visit at the cabin before the summer is over,” he invited as he picked up the last two suitcases and headed out of the apartment.<br /><br />“Yes, and if you come out the end of the month, you’ll meet up again with my kid brother, Skyy, and his partners. The three of them are coming out for the last ten days of August. Man, I can hardly wait,” Darby announced excitedly. <br /><br />“We will certainly try and work it into our house-hunting schedule,” Glen promised, following them down the hall to the elevator.<br /><br />Goodbyes were exchanged and promises to call at the end of their trip home were given. Then Glen and TJ’s guest were gone.<br /><br />“You know, Glen, I love having visitors, but it is soooo nice to have our home to ourselves again. It sure bodes well for spontaneity, doesn’t it?” TJ grinned leeringly up at his partner as the older man locked and closed the door. “And right now I just wanna have hot, down and dirty sex,” he exclaimed, quickly stripping off his clothing.<br /><br />“And just where do you wanna have this hot, down and dirty sex?” Glen teased. His eyes lit up as he hurriedly undressed, tossing his shirt and pants onto the armchair. “On our bed, the sofa, or would you prefer the dining room table?” <br /><br />TJ threw himself at his lover, tackling him to the floor. “Right here on the carpet is fine!” he breathlessly stated while Miss. Muffin high-tailed it to safety.<br /><br />The End.LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-71131682406924217762009-04-29T19:03:00.000-07:002009-04-29T19:05:02.967-07:00Was It Worth It?Written By: LJ<br /><br />(A DP Philosophy Question posted on our WL Group: What do you feel was the most draconian sanction you ever imposed on your Brat?)<br /><br /><br />Hello, it’s Glen Chamberlain here. I realize I responded to the last DP Philosophy question, and I ask you to kindly bear with as I do so once again. The incident I’d like to share with you took place a couple of weeks after the end of TJ’s and my agreement to a six-month trial of incorporating discipline into our relationship. I was waiting for my partner to decide whether or not he wanted this to become a permanent aspect in our lives, but in the meantime we were continuing to adhere to the guidelines we had set up at the first of the year.<br /><br />It was the second weekend in July, the start of the Calgary Stampede; an annual blowout TJ had eagerly awaited for several months. As a result of him having cashed in his accumulated overtime, he had ten days of freedom. He intended to put the time to good use by attending and participating in as many activities as possible. I will now attempt to explain the events leading up to my imposing some rather harsh penalties. <br /><br />The very first afternoon of the Stampede, TJ arrived home much later than planned. That in itself was all right, as he had telephoned to let me know he’d been held up. However, he had failed to inform me of the altercation he had been involved in. The resulting conversation went something like this:<br /><br />“I expect you to tell me everything that transpired, TJ. I want to know exactly why you came home in this condition.” I asked, gently pressing the bandage into place over the recently cleaned gash above his left eyebrow. I sighed heavily at the beginnings of a bruise discolouring the same side of his beautiful face. I had already administered first aid to the abrasions along the knuckles of his right hand.<br /><br />“Not much really happened, Glen. Just a bit of a scuffle; you know, bumping shoulders and the like. It was so crowded down there.” TJ’s squirming clearly indicated his awareness that his stalling techniques were failing miserably.<br /><br />I packed up and put away our small but adequate first aid kit, pulled out a chair and sat down facing him. “Let me see if I’ve got this straight. You want me to believe a stranger from out of nowhere and completely unprovoked, punched you in the head. Was this the same person or was it someone else who then inadvertently rammed his face into your closed fist?”<br /><br />“Well, noooo.” I’m sure he’d have been appalled had I told him he was whining. He continued to sit there in silence with his head bowed and picking at the sterile dressing I had just put on his hand.<br /><br />“ONE!” A long drawn-out sigh and a bit of foot shuffling were the only responses.<br /><br />“TWO!”<br /><br />“Glennn…!” he wailed. He hates it when I count. “It wasn’t my idea. I told them I didn’t want to go to the beer tents!”<br /><br />“Thomas Josiah! You went to the beer tents? After I told you not to because of the brawls that often takes place in those establishments?” <br /><br />“Everyone else was going, Glen, even Sally. For shit sake, I’m a grown man! What was I supposed to say?” TJ jumped to his feet at this point and started pacing. “Don’t you think ‘because I’m not allowed’ would have sounded rather stupid?”<br /><br />“There is no need to yell, young man!” I grabbed his hand and pulled him onto my lap. “TJ, you did not have to explain anything. You merely had to say you’d meet up with them this evening as pre-arranged and come home. And, yes I do know it would have been hard, but it was doable, wasn’t it?”<br /><br />“Probably,” was all he begrudgingly acknowledged. He was getting more uncomfortable by the minute, trying to determine where this conversation was going. Another drawn-out sigh of defeat and he slowly told me what had transpired. “Your worst fears were realized. A couple of the guys got into a bit of a discussion with a couple of cowboys and things just escalated from there.”<br /><br />“And you did absolutely nothing to bring about the attack on your person?” I retorted sarcastically and would have laughed at the expression on his face if I hadn’t been so annoyed at his blatant disobedience. <br /><br />“Well, I guess it didn’t help matters when I told that loud-mouth I’d like to see things from his point of view but I couldn’t get my head that far up my ass.”<br /><br />I was completely dumbfounded. I must have sat there staring at him for a full minute before asking for confirmation that I had heard him correctly. <br /><br />“Up!” I patted his backside to get him off my lap. “We’re going to eat the meal I’ve been keeping warm and then you, TJ, are going to bed.”<br /><br />“But I’m supposed to be meeting Sally and the others at the fair grounds just before dark to watch the fireworks! I’ve been waiting all year….” he tried to present his argument and was firmly told not to even go there. <br /><br />After sulking halfway through dinner, he eventually got up the nerve to ask, “Are you going to spank me, Glen?”<br /><br />I put down my fork, sat back and looked at him. I knew exactly what was going through his mind. A spanking, early bedtime and it would all be over and forgotten. Well, that Brat of mine had another thought coming.<br /><br />“No! I am putting you on a short leash until the Stampede is over.” I was almost tempted to grip the sides of the table in preparation for the explosion. It didn’t come. It was his turn to be totally flabbergasted. He sat there in disbelief, wide-eyed, mouth opened and gulping in air.<br /><br />“W-why?” he gasped out.<br /><br />“Because you apparently refuse to keep yourself safe, so I will have to do so for you. You may only attend the events of my choosing and only when I am available to accompany you. Unfortunately, that will be next to none as I am extremely busy this coming week.”<br /><br />“That’s not fair!”<br /><br />“I consider the injury or loss of my beloved partner to an entirely avoidable altercation as even more unfair, TJ.” We remained seated; quietly staring at each other for several long moments before he pushed himself back from the table, walked into our bedroom and softly closed the door.<br /><br />I cleaned up to the sounds of his sobs. I understood and emphasized with his disappointment and frustration but I stood by my decision. <br /><br />The weekend seemed to drag by endlessly. TJ received numerous telephone calls from his friends pleading with him to join them. They also thoughtlessly kept him informed of all the good times he was missing. As much as my heart was aching for him, it was simultaneously bursting with pride at his quiet acceptance of the punishment handed out even if he wasn’t talking to me as much as he usually did. It set the precedence for the week to come.<br /><br />I’d had to work Saturday but took him on a picnic at Elbow Falls on Sunday. The weather was perfect and because so many people were at the Stampede, we all but had the resort to ourselves. We silently strolled around hand in hand, keeping our thoughts to ourselves. I had given up trying to have a conversation when all I got was one or two word answers. We both knew it was not supposed to work like this. Our lifestyle changes had been made to put an end to these long, drawn-out periods of not speaking, but he needed time to deal with the severity of the sanctions I had placed on him.<br /><br />That evening, TJ asked if he could cut his holiday short and return to work. The pharmacy was understaffed that week and enthusiastically welcomed him back early.<br /><br />Late the following Saturday brought an end to the demanding contract I had been working on and I’d find it almost impossible to come up with a time when I had been more relieved to get home. I let myself into our apartment and headed for the study, intent on putting away my briefcase. <br /><br />TJ was engrossed in what appeared to be a lengthy conversation with Sally. He had the speakerphone on and was sitting back in my desk chair with his feet on the window sill, swinging it slightly while nuzzling Miss Muffin. I smiled at his reflection but he didn’t notice me.<br /><br />“Like I said, TJ, you didn’t miss that much. Past Stampedes were a lot better than this one,” Sally’s voice came through the telephone line. “You’re lucky you chose not to attend.”<br /><br />“Well, it wasn’t exactly my choice, Sally. As much as I would have like to, Glen preferred me not going down there without him.”<br /><br />“Aaah, that’s nice. You guys like to do so many things together.”<br /><br />“Yeah, but I would have gone if he hadn’t been so concerned about me getting hurt or something.”<br /><br />“Are you saying that even though you wanted to go, you didn’t because Glen didn’t want you to?” There was a note of disbelief in Sally’s voice.<br /><br />“Something like that.” <br /><br />“Man, if my father had told my mother he didn’t want her to do something; she’d have done it out of spite. Then they would have spent days arguing and fighting which would have been followed by an eternity of silence. God, I hate it when they treat each other that way!”<br /><br />“Glen and I don’t fight. We also do whatever it takes to avoid that cold-shoulder shit,” TJ said quietly. He lifted his head and our eyes met in the mirror-like image of the blackened window. “Ah, I have to say goodbye, Sally; Glen’s home.” <br /><br />I saw his eyes fill as he stood up and slowly walked towards me. I returned his embrace and listened to him stammering out his tearful apologies for the weeklong, silent tantrum he had thrown. <br /><br />“I-I’m so sorry, Glen! I-I didn’t mean to shut you out like that.” <br /><br />“Sssh, I understand, sweetheart.” I steered him out to the living room and sat down on the chesterfield with him on my lap. “I can see where you would have found it an extremely difficult penalty to live with after having looked forward to this event for so long.”<br /><br />“It was and realizing I’d earned it fair and square, didn’t make it any easier. But I also knew you were trying to keep me safe and protect me from my own worst enemy, who just happens to be me.” He slid off my knees, curled up against my side, wrapped his arms around my neck and gave me an embarrassed, watery smile. “Thank you,” he whispered before soundly kissing me.<br /><br />I deepened the kiss when he went to pull away. One thing led to another as we spent the next little while making up for the past week of physical and emotional separation. <br /><br />“Are you working tomorrow?” I asked sometime later. <br /><br />“No. Why?”<br /><br />“I was hoping you’d be available to join me for a day of activities starting with one of those pancake breakfasts held throughout the city, then to the Village Opening at eleven o’clock, followed by the flag raising ceremony and rodeo. In the evening we could attend the Village Closing ceremonies and watch the fireworks display.”<br /><br />“Yeah, sounds like a fun time. I’d like that! And Glen?” <br /><br />“What, baby?”<br /><br />“I do want to continue what we started just over six months ago.” It wasn’t hard to pick up the sincerity in his statement.<br /><br />************<br /><br />So, folks; that is what I consider the most draconian sanction I have ever subjected my Brat to and in similar circumstances I’d do the very same thing all over again. To me, it is worth anything to keep him safe.<br /><br />The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-47055453769524503672009-04-29T18:42:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:51:45.183-07:00A Reluctant TopWritten By: LJ<br /><br />(A DP Philosophy Question posted on our WL group: Has your Brat ever run away; not because of an impending punishment, but because of something you may have done?)<br /><br /><br />Hello. Finding this question is affording me the opportunity to officially introduce myself. My name is Glen Chamberlain and my partner is TJ Cameron, whom you’ve heard from in the past.<br /><br />First I’d like to provide a little history on TJ’s and my relationship. TJ and I have known each other for going on ten years. We dated off and on for the first five of those years before realizing whom we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with. This month we celebrate our fourth year of co-habitation. Admittedly, we got off to a bit of a rocky start. I won’t go into it at this time as TJ has already expounded upon it in his answer to an earlier DP Philosophy question. Things smoothed out for awhile and then almost two years ago gradually started to turn sour again. I am more than willing to accept my portion of responsibility for what happened. There was a lot of non-communication on both our parts.<br /><br />At the time, TJ was excelling in his career; my business was expanding and meeting my expectations; we had both worked hard and were satisfied with our accomplishments. Having finally settled into a routine of sorts, we were looking forward to spending more time with each other and socializing with friends. Over the years, we’d had a few opportunities to visit with Rowan and Jayson during the construction stage of their cabin. TJ always seemed to enjoy these visits and it came as quite a surprise when he began to find reasons to avoid taking trips to B.C.<br /><br />Looking back, I realized this unexpected change coincided with Jayson finding his life-partner. Riley is a wonderful man and it is obvious that he and Jayson belonged together. I was at a loss as to why TJ, over a period of time, became so obnoxious. His hateful attitude actually accelerated and reached an all-time high when Rowan’s beautiful young lover was introduced to us. But I’ll come back to that later.<br /><br />As I already mentioned, TJ had clearly made known his preference to stay home rather than visit our long-time friends. Every time plans were made to get together, he’d come up with an excuse at the last minute and we’d have to cancel. However, he was unable to explain this change of heart, as he had always been very excited about making the trip.<br /><br />I had finally reached the end of my patience when I informed TJ we would be spending a three-day weekend with Rowan, Jayson and their partners. I succinctly stated my aspiration to go and under no circumstances would our plans be cancelled at the last minute. Mind you, at the time I had no idea of how I would go about enforcing this declaration. I had hoped TJ would be willing to comply out of fairness if nothing else. Such was not the case and my wishes were once again ignored.<br /><br />We packed on Thursday evening. TJ had been quiet but not sullen. He had also been fairly co-operative. I allowed myself to be lulled into a false sense of security, believing all was well. I got home Friday afternoon with intentions to pick up my lover and hit the road. TJ was not there waiting for me. The apartment was empty and an echoing silence greeted me. My first inclination was to go without him, but I quickly smothered that thought. I had been looking forward to a wonderful weekend with the love of my life and I had no desire to be the odd man out with two other couples. <br /><br />It took me several hours to accept the fact that TJ had run away. I eventually tracked him down two days later. He was staying at the home of a fellow employee, a young woman by the name of Sally. God only knows what explanation he offered Sally’s parents for being there.<br /><br />I asked him what I had done to cause him to run out on me. I now know the problem arose not from something I had done, but for something I had not done. Unfortunately, TJ was either unable or unwilling to discuss what was bothering him and another month passed before the riddle was solved.<br /><br />You see, when the four of us were in university and sharing an apartment, we considered Jayson head of the household. I know we all had different reasons for doing so when we agreed to uphold the rules we’d drawn up together. Rowan, I believe, let Jayson assume this role because of Rowan’s innate preference for order. I looked to Jayson for assistance in helping me stay focused on my goals and avoid the pitfalls often associated with being away from home for the first time. The majority of Jayson’s help was in the form of him setting an example and being a role model. TJ, I later learned, requested a lot more support and structure. He has volatile mood swings and a tendency to over-react in situations where he feels he has been slighted. TJ needed and badly wanted someone to lean on. He outdid himself within the boundaries he and Jayson set up for him. <br />I eventually overcame those areas I had problems in. I thought TJ had done the same. I have never been more mistaken. <br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. TJ is a very competent man. He maintained an excellent GPA all through university, even after Jayson had graduated and moved on. TJ completed his final two years while living on his own. He has, at times, a very stressful career but deals well with it and has made a name for himself within his chosen field. He is more than capable of taking care of himself. He exercises, eats and sleeps well, has good health habits, and can manage his finances. Of course, like all of us, he’s not perfect. He has a tendency to be untidy, often drives too fast, and has difficulty controlling his temper. He has his limits, although he finds it hard to admit. He is a very proud man.<br /><br />As I’ve said, TJ never gave me any indication of his desire for the re-enforcement of a safety structure consisting of rules and consequences. I had not gone into TJ’s and my relationship intending to have a DP, and I was unaware of TJ wanting one. That is, not until the Christmas holiday we spent at the cabin with Jayson, Riley, Rowan and Darby. <br /><br />I should point out that TJ was never upset over Rowan and Jayson having partners. He was jealous of Riley and Darby having partners who provided the support and assistance that he himself wanted but was unable to ask me for. <br /><br />The clarification of wants and needs provided a dramatic shifting of power within our partnership. Making the transition wasn’t easy. Our lack of communication skills was the biggest obstacle we had to deal with and conquer. But we did it and now have a happy, loving, stable relationship. <br /><br />TJ likes to remind me I was once a reluctant Top. He also generously acknowledges how quickly I assumed my responsibilities when it came to safeguarding my Brat. In our household, it has become a well-established rule that running away is a spanking offence and it is a rule TJ makes every effort to adhere to.<br /><br />I only hope I never cause him to run away again because of my not doing what was necessary to meet his needs.<br /><br />The End.LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-38068472547917218092009-04-29T18:39:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:42:14.221-07:00A Bitter Pill to SwallowWritten By: LJ<br /><br />Special thanks to Cora for providing the storyline.<br /><br />(A DP Philosophy Question posted on our WL Group: What is the worst thing your Top has ever made you swallow?)<br /><br /> <br />Hi, there. My name is Thomas Josiah Cameron, better known as TJ. As soon as I read this question, I knew I would have to respond. The incident that always comes to mind whenever I think of having to painfully swallow something unpalatable took place three years ago. <br /><br />Glen and I had officially been ‘a couple’ for less than six months. Mind you, back then we had not introduced discipline into our relationship, so technically I wasn’t yet a ‘Brat’ and didn’t consider Glen my ‘Top’ at the time. We’d known each other for several years, having met at university where we had shared a home with two fellow students. Although we had dated off and on throughout our university years, we’d only acknowledged our love for one another a few months ago. <br /><br />Looking back, I can see where our timing might have been slightly off. We had just relocated to Calgary from the city where we had attended university. Both of us were making major adjustments in our personal lives and moving in together only added to the drama. I was trying to settle into the routine of my first job and wondering if this was where I wanted to be for the next umpteen years of my life. Glen had recently left his employment of two years with high hopes of going into business for himself as an interior designer. He was working all hours God sends and I was finding the switch from academic life to a job involving shift work rather overwhelming to say the least. We ended up having less and less time for each other and the little we did have, was a far cry from quality time.<br /><br />What transpired over the next month or so, I can only believe was a result of my loneliness.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“I think that guy is interested in you, TJ.” Sally, one of my co-workers at the pharmacy, informed me one afternoon. <br /><br />“Of course he is,” I joked, not taking her seriously. Sally is a little ditsy, but very pleasant and fun to work with.<br /><br />“I mean it. This is the second time in two days that he’s been in to talk to you.”<br /><br />“Sally, yesterday he came in to have a prescription filled and today he wanted more information about the possible side-effects. Those are perfectly legitimate reasons for him to be here.”<br /><br />“Oh yeah! Then how come he was flirting with you?”<br /><br />“You’ve got a wild imagination, girl.” I walked away rolling my eyes to the sound of her giggling.<br /><br />Over the next couple of weeks this man showed up on a daily bases and always on my shift. He was friendly and even though it soon became apparent he didn’t have any real need to see a pharmacist, we seemed to find plenty to talk about. He wasn’t in a relationship at the time but was aware of Glen’s and my partnership.<br /><br />One afternoon he arrived just as I was leaving work and invited me to join him for dinner. His date had cancelled at the last minute and he had reservations for two. It so happened, Glen and I had argued that morning and I really wasn’t in the mood to go home to spend another evening alone. I readily accepted his offer. It proved to be the first of many mistakes I would unwittingly make.<br /><br />I began to look forward to the times I spent with Gary. Yes, that was the man’s name. I thought we were developing a friendship. We got along well, our tastes in music were similar and we both enjoyed the nightlife found at a certain gay bar we frequented. I admit I might have let the attention he paid me go to my head. Gary was a great listener and didn’t seem to mind me bending his ear with tales of woe concerning my personal life. He sympathetically responded to my complaints of having to spend so much time on my own, of the increasing number of arguments Glen and I were having, and of how desperately I was missing the man I loved. It never crossed my mind for one second that I was being set up.<br /><br />Things finally came to a head one Saturday, when Glen informed me he didn’t want me hanging around the bar so often. He reminded me of other areas in our lives that were in need of attention. He neglected to tell me our relationship was our most important responsibility.<br /><br />Disappointed in him for not promising to put me first, I turned and verbally assaulted him. I can’t express how deeply I regret some of the mean, spiteful words that spewed out of my mouth. I told him about Gary; deliberately allowing him to believe our friendship was more than it was and I would be welcomed at Gary’s place. I demanded a pledge that he would spend more time with me or I would move out. He didn’t accept my challenge. He explained his chosen role to be my partner, not my keeper. He also told me of his desire to work less and have more time for us, but couldn’t one hundred percent guarantee it. Ignoring the hurt in his eyes and keeping my own pain hidden, I walked out on the man I soon came to realize I loved more than life itself.<br /><br />“What’s up, gorgeous?” Gary flippantly asked as he sat down on the barstool next to mine. I had been trying unsuccessfully to drown my sorrows.<br /><br />I started to tell him about the events leading up to me being in my present condition, when it suddenly hit me through my alcohol-induced stupor that gone was the amicable, sympathetic friend with whom I had shared some rather intimate information. The stranger sitting beside me had a self-satisfied smirk on his face.<br /><br />To make a long pathetic story short, Gary took pleasure in telling me how he had seen me many weeks ago in this very bar. He told me of asking if anyone knew anything about me. He had at first been disheartened to hear I was in a relationship but had happily accepted a bet on whether or not he could chase and catch me. To say I was disillusioned would be an understatement. The only satisfaction I came away with was the knowledge of Gary’s failure and subsequent disappointment, to make me fall in love with him. I had only wanted his friendship.<br /><br />It was while I watched him walk away that the sobering realization of my having nowhere to go returned. My God, what had I done? I certainly didn’t want to go home to my parents. I briefly considered visiting some old friends in BC, but Jayson had recently acquired a partner and Rowan was off on another of his endless rounds of business trips. Besides, I knew there was only one place I really wanted to be and that was with Glen. <br /><br />‘Maybe if I crawled on my hands and knees he’d let me come back,’ were my thoughts as I left the bar and headed for what I hoped would still be my home.<br /><br />************<br /><br />Glen didn’t do that though…make me crawl, I mean. He isn’t made that way. He did, however, expect a very sincere apology and he was fully aware of how difficult it would be for me to admit just how much I regretted what I had said and done. I am a very proud man. In fact, Glen has often mentioned me having too much false pride for my own good. It was this false pride he made me swallow; and be assured, it leaves one hell of an after-taste.<br /><br />The End.LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-37156173389287292292009-04-29T18:29:00.001-07:002009-04-29T18:29:59.787-07:00Prescription ProblemsWritten By: LJ<br /><br /><br />“I kinda have mixed feeling about this trip, Glen.” TJ commented as he came out of the en suite carrying a handful of toiletries and his shaving kit.<br /><br />“I can understand that. I’m having second thoughts myself,” Glen confessed, taking the articles from his partner and placing them in the opened suitcase. “What’s worrying you, love?”<br /><br />“Nothing is actually worrying me. It’s just that I don’t want to be away from you for four days. I wish you’d reconsider and come with me. You could help take my mind off the boredom.”<br /><br />“Why are you assuming it’s going to be boring, babe?”<br /><br />“This is the third convention in a row that I’ll be representing Mr. B’s pharmacy and the last one really sucked. There was nothing new, just same-old, same-old. You’re positive you can’t make it?”<br /><br />“I’d love to but we’ve already gone over this, TJ. I have a new client to wine and dine this weekend. Besides, think of the freedom you’ll enjoy without your Top around, interfering with your questionable activities,” Glen teased. “And at least I’ll be here to keep your cat company.”<br /><br />“Yeah, I guess there is that to consider,” TJ grin crookedly at his partner. “So why are you having doubts?”<br /><br />“I’m not one hundred percent comfortable with you traveling by yourself while you’re still not feeling up to par.”<br /><br />“At least my throat isn’t as sore as it was since starting the prescription three days ago. I’ll be fine, honest!” TJ assured the other man as he opened the closet door, removed a couple of dress shirts with coordinating ties and dropped them onto the bed. “You just like to baby me.”<br /><br />“It’s true! I love taking care of you, especially when you’re sick.” Glen picked up the garments, folded them and placed them next to the dress trousers he had already packed. “Looks like you’ve got everything you’re likely to need, love,” he said, mentally going over his checklist.<br /><br />“Good! Now how about getting those bags off the bed so we can put the space to more interesting use,” the younger man suggested, wrapping his arms around Glen’s waist and hugging him from behind.<br /><br />“Have you got your clothes ready for the morning?” Glen pretended to be unaware of his Brat’s innuendo as he closed the cases and set them by the door. He laughed when TJ’s expected wail at being thwarted filled the room. Turning, he grabbed the other man and after efficiently stripping him of his clothing, proceeded to undress in record time. He watched the expressions of anticipation and excitement spread across TJ’s handsome face. After taking a tube of lubricant out of the nightstand drawer, Glen piled the pillows against the headboard and comfortably leaned back. He held out his arms invitingly and welcomed his partner into his embrace. <br /><br />TJ immediately straddled Glen’s legs and knelt to face him. He licked his lover’s nipples and moaned out his delight as Glen’s lubed fingers penetrated his body. Moments later he felt the fingers withdraw to be replaced by Glen’s hardened penis. TJ loved the control this position afforded him, enabling him to determine the rate of entry, the depth and angle of penetration, and the tempo of their lovemaking. Glen enjoyed it because he could lie back and watch his partner’s face while fondling TJ’s erection. TJ held out as long as he could. Then, picking up speed, he indicated the need to find his release. Together they plummeted into a world of ecstasy.<br /><br />“I trust you don’t think that’s enough to last me until I get back,” TJ murmured once he had regained his breath and his heart rate was decelerating.<br /><br />“Greedy Brat!” Glen laughed. He reached for his T-shirt and after pushing TJ off his chest, used it to clean them both. Dropping the soiled T-shirt back on the floor beside the bed, he rolled on top of his lover and promised, “You’ll be well sated by the time I’m finished with you, my love.”<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Are you sure you haven’t forgotten anything?” Glen asked early the next morning as he placed the luggage in the trunk of the car.<br /><br />“How could I forget anything when you’ve packed enough for at least a week,” TJ grumbled. He didn’t want to leave on a bad note but was having a hard time coping with being up before the sun. “It’s still dark!”<br /><br />“It will be light in a few minutes. You’ll get a good start, babe, and miss the morning traffic.” Glen tried to maintain an up-beat attitude in hopes of improving his partner’s mood.<br /><br />“It’s cold!” TJ whined. <br /><br />“The car should be warmed up by now,” Glen patiently insisted as he opened the car door and stood aside for the other man to get into the driver’s seat. “Where is your prescription, TJ?” he inquired, suddenly remembering he’d last seen the vial of pills on the kitchen table.<br /><br />“I’m not sure. I think I left it upstairs.”<br /><br />“Then go back and get it!” Glen instructed, tugging at the younger man’s arm in an effort to get him out of the car.<br /><br />“I don’t feel like going all the way upstairs!” TJ wailed; then lowered his voice when he saw the warning expression on his partner’s face. “Besides my throat’s no longer sore, so I probably didn’t need the medicine in the first place.” <br /><br />“Nonsense! Dr. Davidson wouldn’t have prescribed an antibiotic if he hadn’t been sure it was necessary. As a pharmacist, you of all people should know the entire prescription is to be taken. Now go back to the apartment and get it.” Glen manhandled his Brat out of the vehicle and seeing they had the parking lot to themselves, sent TJ on his way with a resounding swat on the seat of his trousers. <br /><br />TJ yelped indignantly and rubbed at the handprint burning his backside. The cooler air did nothing to dull the sting as TJ begrudgingly made his way into the building and up to the sixth floor. He returned a few minutes later and held up the small plastic container. “Happy now?”<br /><br />“Yes, I am. Thank you, sweetheart!” Glen smiled and pulled his cranky partner into his arms, giving him a warm hug and a kiss. “Have a safe trip, love. See you Sunday night.” He stood back to watched TJ resettle himself behind the steering wheel and buckle up.<br /><br />“I-I’m gonna miss you, Glen.” TJ’s voice was soft and his eyes were pleading. “I’m sorry for being so rotten.”<br /><br />“You were not rotten! You’ve never been a morning person, baby, but we’re working on it. I love you and I’m going to miss you, too.” He leaned in for one last parting kiss. “Call me when you get to Regina, love.” <br /><br />“I promise. If all goes well, I should be in my hotel room by mid-afternoon. I’ll talk to you then. Love you!” TJ waved and carefully backed out of his parking space. Glen stood there in the early glow of the rising sun and waited until the car had totally disappeared from view.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Hi! It’s me again!” Glen heard when he answered TJ’s third phone call since the young man had arrived at his destination. He smiled as he picked up the excitement in his Brat’s voice. <br /><br />“I’m glad I came, Glen. It’s starting out much better than last year; a lot of new people and so many more displays. It’s gonna be three fun-filled days, man!” TJ exclaimed.<br /><br />“I’m glad you’re having a good time but try not to overdo it, love. You’re still getting over this latest bout of strep throat.”<br /><br />“But it’s better now!” TJ retorted. He was getting frustrated at his failure to convince his Top of this fact.<br /><br />“I’m glad you’re feeling better, TJ, but I still expect you to obey me and take care of yourself. Have you been taking your medication as instructed by the doctor?”<br /><br />“Yes, Glen.” TJ rolled his eyes dramatically and gave the answer he knew his partner wanted to hear. “I only have one pill left for today and I’ll take it at bedtime.”<br /><br />“Good boy!” Glen praised. “Go rejoin your colleagues, babe. You can call me before you turn in if you like. I’ll be staying up for a while longer.”<br /><br />“If I don’t get a chance tonight, I’ll make sure to touch base with you tomorrow. Okay?”<br /><br />“That’s fine. Love you!” Glen said softly and blew a kiss into the phone.<br /><br />“Love you, too!” TJ answered and returned the kiss.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“Hi, Glen; sorry I didn’t get back to you sooner.” TJ was dead-beat. It was almost midnight on Saturday night and too little sleep along with too much partying was taking its’ toll. <br /><br />“Hello, sweetheart; how are things going?” Glen picked up the sounds of exhaustion in his partner’s voice and tried not to sound as if he had just been woken up out of a sound sleep. He hadn’t heard from TJ since Thursday evening and had been unable to contact him because his Brat had turned off his cell phone. TJ had also neglected to respond to the messages Glen left with the hotel operator.<br /><br />“Busy!” TJ figured the one word summed it up nicely.<br /><br />“I thought so when you didn’t call again last night. I can almost picture you running from one event to the next,” Glen teased, sitting up in bed and leaning against the headboard. Long distant calls were not conducive to discussing behaviour issues, especially with an over-tired Brat.<br /><br />“Yeah,” TJ sighed wearily. “But everything was so interesting and I didn’t want to miss any of it, ‘cause I wanted to get as much information as possible to pass on to Mr. B. and….” The young man’s rambling was a clear indication of just how wound up he was. <br /><br />“What wrong, love?” Glen gently questioned.<br /><br />“I-I can’t sleep. This bed is too hard, the pillows are flat, the blankets are scratchy, and it’s cold ‘cause the lousy thermostat is acting up.” TJ ended his list of complains with a barely audible whisper. “And I miss you.”<br /><br />Glen smiled as the real reason for his Brat’s restlessness came to light. He lowered his voice to huskily inquire, “What are you doing right now, baby?”<br /><br />“Just lying here,” TJ answered, his senses coming alive.<br /><br />“If you are not already naked, strip immediately!” Glen authoritatively ordered.<br /><br />TJ automatically responded to his Top’s command. He almost ripped his T-shirt in his hurry to rid himself of his clothing. “Ready,” he said as he lay down to await his partner’s next instruction over the speakerphone. <br /><br />“Comfy, love?” Glen asked seductively.<br /><br />“Ah huh…” <br /><br />“Only do what I give you permission to do. Don’t get ahead of me. Now, close your eyes and slowly start caressing your body. Begin with massaging your neck and shoulder muscles….that’s it, nice and slow…relax…breathe deep. Next, lightly stroke your chest, paying particular attention to your nipples….good, easy does it …breathe, baby. Move your hands lower….not too low….rub your stomach…..gentle circles…lower….lower….breathe.” His tantalizing guidance continued, increasing TJ’s carnal excitement. Knowing well his partner’s physical state at this point, Glen shared an erotic fantasy while enticing his young lover to fondle his genitals, wrap his hand around his growing erection and rely on the age-old rhythm to reach a climax. He listened with satisfaction to the lustful groans of sexual fulfillment coming through the phone line. “Good night, baby. Sleep well.” <br /><br />“Thanks, Glen. Love you, my darling.” TJ barely managed to disconnect the call before falling into a dead sleep.<br /><br />************<br /><br /> “Guess who?” TJ laughed.<br /><br />“Hmm, I wonder!” Glen teased back. He was please to hear his partner in a happier frame of mind. “What are you up to, babe?”<br /><br />“Not much at the moment. The brunch buffet isn’t due to start for another fifteen minutes, so I thought I’d call and thank you for last night.”<br /><br />“Slept well, did you?”<br /><br />“I’ll say. We’ve got to have phone sex more often. That was so awesome, man!”<br /><br />“Glad you enjoyed it. I wasn’t sure if my technique needed a little polishing.”<br /><br />“It was just fine. Of course, if you feel you could improve with practice……” TJ left his suggestion hanging and started to giggle.<br /><br />“Greedy Brat!” TJ could detect the smile in Glen’s voice. <br /><br />“What time are you planning to leave?” Glen asked.<br /><br />“I’m already packed and hope to be out of here by one o’clock at the latest so I can make it home by early evening.”<br /><br />“Drive safely, TJ. No speeding, right?”<br /><br />“Right!” <br /><br />“By the way, I trust you have been taking your antibiotic regularly.”<br /><br />“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” TJ frowned and crossed his fingers in the hope that Glen wouldn’t pick up on the lie. “And I’ll take my next pill as soon as I get off the phone. Gotta go, Glen; a couple of the guys just arrived and we have to get downstairs while there is still a good choice. See ya tonight!”<br /><br />“All right, until tonight then; love you, sweetheart.”<br /><br />“Love you, too!” TJ murmured and hung up. Unfortunately, in his hurry to join his friends, he once again forgot his medication.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“I’m home!” TJ yelled, dropping his bags by the front door and going in search of his partner.<br /><br />“It’s great to have you back, love!” Glen gathered the young man into his arms and tightly hugged him before soundly kissing his lips.<br /><br />“It’s sooo go to be here,” TJ murmured as he melted into his lover’s embrace.<br /><br />After spending several more minutes cuddling and reconnecting, Glen gently held TJ away from him to inquire about his trip. “You certainly made good timing, babe.”<br /><br />“Yeah, well, I got away a bit earlier than I thought I would. There wasn’t much traffic and I didn’t stop to eat. Just refueled once and grabbed a sandwich at the gas station.”<br /><br />“Along with a variety of junk food,” Glen added with a knowing smile. “And you didn’t go over the speed limit even once, right?”<br /><br />“Actually….” TJ squirmed uncomfortably and looked down at the floor.<br /><br />“How much?” Glen asked with exasperated affection.<br /><br />“Huh?” TJ glanced up with a wide-eyed look of bewilderment.<br /><br />“How much was the speeding ticket?”<br /><br />“A hundred dollars,” TJ mumbled. “But I was no more than twenty miles over, Glen.”<br /><br />“You know the rules and the consequences for breaking that one; don’t you, TJ?” There was only a hint of sternness in Glen’s voice.<br /><br />“I’m grounded and lose my driving privileges for the next twenty days,” TJ quietly answered. <br /><br />“Got it in one, baby.” Glen was relieved at his Brat’s easy compliance. He gave TJ a comforting hug and suggested they prepare a light meal together after the younger man had changed into more casual clothing. <br /><br />The two men worked with companionable ease in their small kitchen. They were used to moving about in the confined space, with each of them doing their share to get the food on the table. Soon they were seated and talking about their long weekend apart. With their appetites appeased and the clean up out of the way, they decided now was as good a time as any to get TJ’s unpacking taken care of. That is, Glen thought it should be done as soon as possible while TJ reluctantly went along with the idea.<br /><br />“What’s this, TJ?” Glen called out to the younger man. <br /><br />TJ had been in the process of returning his personal items to their place in the bathroom when he detected the irritability in his partner’s voice and quickly made his way back into the bedroom. He stopped just inside the door and stared at the object in his Top’s hand. <br /><br />“Aah, I can explain.” TJ wondered what explanation could possibly get him out of the hot water he presently found himself in. ‘Man, why didn’t I dispose of that?’ he silently berated himself.<br /><br />“By all means, please do!” Glen insisted, taking a seat on the bed.<br /><br />“I-I…it was just so busy, Glen. It seemed like I was always in a rush. I-I just forgot a couple of times,” TJ stammered.<br /><br />“More than a couple of times, TJ; there are almost as many pills in this bottle as when you left four days ago. There should only be enough for another two or three days; not an entire week’s supply.” <br /><br />“Well, I kept telling you I was feeling fine and that my throat was no longer hurting me. I don’t know why you have to be so insistent that I take unnecessary chemicals into my body,” TJ belligerently stated.<br /><br />“TJ, you are fully aware of the reasons behind the need to finish the entire prescription. You are very susceptible to repeated bouts of strep throat. You have been since you were a child. Besides which, I distinctly told you to take them. You not only disobeyed, you lied about it!” Glen firmly admonished.<br /><br />“I’m sorry, Glen.” TJ responded in a small voice. He knew he was probably in line for a spanking and even though he accepted it was deserved, it was not what he wanted to happen on his first night home.<br /><br />“Come over here, TJ!” Glen ordered and waited patiently for his Brat to shuffle across the floor. “I will never put up with your deliberate disobedience, Thomas Josiah, especially where your health is concerned!” he scolded as he lowered TJ’s sweatpants and boxers. He did not allow the tearing brown eyes to deter him from what had to be done. He simply tugged his partner down over his thighs and after giving him a few moments to wiggle into a comfortable position, asked the inevitable question. “Why are you being spanked, young man?” <br /><br />“For not taking my prescription like I was supposed to, for disobedience and lying,” TJ whimpered. “Owww!” he wailed as the first of many sharp slaps landed on his bare bottom. Moments later he gave up on his plan to remain stoical and cried harder as Glen’s hand repeatedly made contact with his rapidly heating-up backside. <br /><br />Glen applied one hard swat after another until a red hue appeared and his Brat was sobbing out his regret. He raised his left knee to gain access to TJ’s sit-spot and brought the punishment to an end with six rapid, hard smacks to the tender area where cheeks and thighs met. He waited until TJ’s cries had lessened somewhat before gently pulling him up and resettling him on his lap, turning him to keep the pressure off his sore bottom. Glen spoke soothing words of comfort as he continued to stroke TJ’s shuddering back, until only an occasional whimper remained. <br /><br />TJ threw his arms around Glen’s neck and burrowed his head into the older man’s shoulder. Moments later, he wiped his face on his Top’s T-shirt as one hand crept around to tentatively rub at the heat radiating from his backside. “I-I really am sorry, Glen!” he hitched, glancing up through red and swollen eyes.<br /><br />“I know, sweetheart. It’s over now and I am pretty confident that we’ll not have to deal with this issue anytime in the near future, right?” Glen’s tone emanated reassurance as his arms tightened around his Brat’s waist to hold him closer. He felt TJ’s nod of agreement against his shoulder. “Okay then, it’s time you were in bed. And before you say anything, yes, I know it’s only eight-thirty.”<br /><br />“I’m not even tired,” TJ mumbled around the yawn that belied his words of protest.<br /><br />“You most certainly are tired. More importantly, I’ve said you’re going to bed. You don’t want to get run down and have a relapse, do you?”<br /><br />“Nooo!” TJ whined and unenthusiastically removed himself from Glen’s lap. He winced as he pulled up his boxers and sweatpants. “What about the rest of the unpacking?”<br /><br />“I’ll take care of it. Go wash up and brush your teeth, sweetheart,” Glen instructed as he gave his Brat a gentle shove in the direction of their en suite. He removed a bundle of shirts and underwear from the suitcase and following his partner into the bathroom, dropped it all in the laundry hamper. “Don’t forget to take this, babe,” he reminded TJ as he handed him the vial of pills. He walked out of the room, shaking his head in loving exasperation at the other man’s disgruntled muttering.<br /><br />“You know, I still haven’t come up with a gift idea for my father,” Glen mentioned several minutes later as he tucked his sleepy partner into bed next to the suitcase, which still had to be emptied and put away. He shook his head and smiled when TJ’s cat curled up against her master.<br /><br />“Oh, that reminds me,” TJ stated with some excitement. He gently pushed Miss. Muffin aside, shoved down the blankets and dragged the last piece of luggage across the bed. He retrieved a parcel from a pocket on the side of the bag and handed it to his bemused partner.<br /><br />Glen carefully opened the package and unfolded the article of clothing. “Where did you get this, babe?” he laughed.<br /><br />“At a truck stop on my way to Regina. As soon as I saw it, I thought of your father and his upcoming birthday. What d’ya think of it?” TJ asked uncertainly. He was having second thoughts as to the appropriateness of the gift.<br /><br />“I think he’s going to get a real kick out of it!” Glen assured him. He shoved the suitcase aside and spread out the T-shirt. He grinned at the comical picture of an old man on the front of it and read the caption out loud. “Oh, My God! You’re turning fifty! Whatever for?”<br /><br />Both men burst out laughing.<br /><br />The End.LJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-42683801257670707722009-04-29T17:09:00.000-07:002009-04-29T18:09:59.167-07:00Temper TantrumsWritten by: LJ<br /><br /><br />Glen and a friend were sitting on the sofa when the front door abruptly flew opened. A briefcase sailed through the air and landed with a hard thud on the living room floor in front of them. Seconds later it was followed by TJ stomping in and slamming the door behind him, solidly enough to cause the walls to vibrate and a picture in the entryway to fall and shatter.<br /><br />Glen quickly got to his feet and headed towards his partner, intent on putting an immediate halt to the proceedings. He grabbed for the younger man and realized TJ was literally shaking with rage. Gathering his lover into his arms, Glen held him close and began a litany of soothing words while gently rubbing ever widening circles on TJ’s back. Glen was aware of his Brat’s fingers clutching at the front of his shirt. He heard the whimpers and felt the tension as TJ fought hard to control the shudders running through his body and prevent himself from crying. It had been quite a while since the younger man had been upset enough to throw a tantrum of this magnitude.<br /><br />“It’s okay, baby. I’ve got you. You’re going to be all right.” These softly spoken words were repeated many times over the next several minutes as TJ gradually relaxed into the safe haven of his Top’s embrace and his breathing returned to normal.<br /><br />“Think you can walk over and sit with me on the sofa, love?” Glen gently inquired. After receiving a slight nod of submission, he slowly maneuvered the other man across the room. He smiled at the groan of objection when he removed his arms from around his lover in order to sit down before pulling TJ onto his lap.<br /><br />“I’m going for a walk so the two of you can have your privacy,” their guest quietly announced, pushing himself up off the couch.<br /><br />“No, no, Jayson. That won’t be necessary. We’re fine,” Glen assured him and was pleased to see his friend reseat himself.<br /><br />TJ raised his head to look over at the man on the other end of their large leather sofa. Until this moment he was unaware they had company. He could only imagine what Jayson would think of his appalling display of temper. His tantrums had always been a sore spot for the older man and TJ had often found himself in the uncomfortable position of chastisement during the years they’d all lived together.<br /><br />“That was a first class entrance, little boy!” Jayson smiled at the look of chagrin on the younger man’s face.<br /><br />Although TJ recognized the tone and knew he was being teased, he still blushed and buried his head in Glen’s shoulder. “Are you going to spank me, Glen?” he whispered, acknowledging his awareness of the rule he had just broken.<br /><br />“Not this time, baby. I’m quite certain something major must have gone wrong to upset you this much. Want to tell us about it?” He lovingly squeezed his Brat to make known his acceptance and understanding of the situation. He felt any punishment at this point would only aggravate the situation and achieve nothing. <br /><br />“Okay,” TJ murmured before sighing deeply. “You remember the position of supervisor I applied for? Well, Mr. B gave it to his nephew. The guy barely has two brain cells that work in conjunction with each other. He only got the job because of who he knows, not what he knows. It’s not fair!" During his narration, TJ stood up and started pacing. He managed to work himself up all over again only to end up stamping his foot as he yelled the last statement.<br /><br />Glen stretched out and snagged the young man’s hand when TJ’s travels brought him within arm’s reach. “Settle down, TJ!” he ordered as he tugged hard enough to cause his partner to topple over and land back on his lap. “I understand your frustration but I am not going to let you get yourself into the state you were in when you got home.” He landed a hard swat on TJ’s hip to ensure the message being received. “Now take a deep breath and relax while we talk this over calmly and reasonably.”<br /><br />Not wanting to earn retribution in the face of his Top’s earlier leniency, TJ made every effort to follow Glen’s admonitions. “But it really sucks, Glen!” he complained as he nestled into his lover’s arms.<br /><br />“I know, baby, but these things happen. Did you speak with Mr. B about his decision?” Glen wasn’t at all surprised by his Brat’s response.<br /><br />“Nooo,” TJ whined. “I just told him I was quitting, gathered up my things and took off.” TJ kept his head down, unable to look at his partner. He wasn’t up to facing the disappointment he knew would be in Glen’s pale blue eyes. He was amazed when the arms around him tightened and he felt a gentle kiss on his cheek.<br /><br />“I’m so sorry, love!” Glen murmured his heartfelt declaration in TJ’s ear.<br /><br />“You’re not angry? I-I was afraid you’d.…I don’t know…think I was a failure or something.” <br /><br />“Oh, TJ, I am well aware of how efficient you are at your job and how diligent you are in fulfilling your responsibilities. You are more than qualified to be supervisor and I agree that you certainly deserved to be considered. However, that being said, it would have looked better on your resume had you given notice rather than just up and quitting.”<br /><br />“Yes, you’re probably right. Do you think I’ll have a difficult time finding a new job?”<br /><br />“Not with your experience, honey,” Glen assured him. “Right now though, I think it would be a good idea if we started making plans for supper before our guest wishes he’d gone somewhere else.”<br /><br />“No fear of that, guys!” Jayson laughed. “I’d like to treat you to a Chinese all-you-can-eat buffet; that is if TJ feels up to going out.”<br /><br />“Ahh, can we order take-out instead?” TJ requested. <br /><br />“No problem. I’ll trust the two of you to do the ordering.”<br /><br />“And while we’re waiting for our order to arrive, a certain Brat we all know and love can sweep up the broken glass in the foyer,” Glen proposed and looked pointedly at his partner. He smiled when TJ screwed up his face as he got up to comply with the recommendation.<br /><br />The evening passed quickly as the three men enjoyed their meal while reminiscing about their college days when they, along with Rowan, were known as The Richmond Gang.<br /><br />“I can remember some of the times you demonstrated that infamous temper of yours, TJ,” Jayson chuckled, dishing himself up a second helping of fried rice.<br /><br />“Really! Well, I’d just as soon forget those occasions if you don’t mind!” the young man adamantly responded with a feigned pout while jabbing his chopsticks in the other man’s direction.<br /><br />“Hmmm, don’t think I was around for all the big events,” Glen teased as he helped himself to another egg roll.<br /><br />“You didn’t miss much!” TJ muttered and gave him a crooked grin. “It was after a temper tantrum when Jayson proved he would see to it I got through university come hell or high water. It was also the first, but unfortunately not the last time he whaled the tar out of me. Guess I was a slow learner.”<br /><br />TJ waited for the other men’s laughter to die down before getting up the nerve to ask something he had wondered about for a long time. This wasn’t the first time he’d asked for his curiosity to be appeased. “Jayson, I can only think of one time I overheard you paddling Glen. It was for failing to show up for an exam. I want to know if you ever had to paddle Rowan.”<br /><br />“I believe I’ve already answered that question several times, little boy!” Jayson frowned as he and Glen exchanged knowing glances. Although Rowan had acknowledged Jayson as head of the household, he had never submitted to being physically disciplined. Glen and TJ, on the other hand, had both admitted their need for help in certain areas and TJ had gone so far as to request even more firmly enforced boundaries.<br /><br />“You’ve always said it was none of my business but I still want to know.”<br /><br />“All right, nosey one; I’ve never paddled Rowan, however I did threaten to once or twice. Satisfied now?” <br /><br />“I guess I’ll have to be, but I sure would have liked to tell Darby differently,” was TJ’s cheeky reply.<br /><br />“We had a lot of great times in that old apartment, didn’t we?” Glen asked, not really expecting an answer. “I kind of miss those good old days.”<br /><br />“Not me!” TJ lied and received a teasing swat on the back of his head. “See! You guys were always picking on me because I was the youngest.” He rubbed furiously at the place Glen’s hand had landed.<br /><br />“Fibber!” Glen laughed at his partner’s piqued expression.<br /><br />“It wasn’t easy living with three ‘Tops’ or should I say two plus one in training. Jayson, you probably organized the daily activities in your pre-school and Rowan must have at least started developing his skills in Jr. High,” TJ teased. “But you, Glen, used to be what someone once referred to as a ‘Reluctant Top’,” he said in a low voice, leaning towards his partner.<br /><br />“I was just waiting for Mr. Right to come along, sweetheart.” Glen reached over and caressed his lover’s cheek with the back of his fingers.<br /><br />“Maybe we should change the subject?” TJ suggested, after clearing the lump of emotion from his throat.<br /><br />“Sure, babe, what do you have in mind?”<br /><br />“Well, I’m curious as to why Jayson’s in town. Not that I mind him paying us a visit.”<br /><br />“I’m here to train our Calgary office staff in the latest computerized accounting techniques. I only learned late last night that the person who was to provide the training had an unexpected family matter to take care of.”<br /><br />“And just how long are we going to be subjected to your company?” TJ asked in a way that made it sound as if he was displeased with the idea of their guest staying too long and possibly wearing out his welcome.<br /><br />“Probably until Saturday, Brat.”<br /><br />“That’s great, man! It’s almost four days!” TJ’s happy expression belied his earlier manner of speaking. “Why didn’t Riley come with you?”<br /><br />“Well, for one thing, Riley has gone into business on his own. He is no longer in partnership with Pete and Freddie,” Jayson informed them. “That, plus the softball team he plays shortstop for, is in the finals and needs all their players.”<br /> <br />“Please congratulate Riley for us when you get home,” Glen requested. “You must be really proud of him.”<br /><br />“I am! Although I would never have interfered with Riley’s career or chosen his friends for him, I must admit to feeling very relieved over this recent change.”<br /><br />“I can understand that, Jay,” Glen agreed and nodded his head. “Those two young men were becoming very unreliable. Their failure to show up as promised after the fireworks incident a couple of months ago, was proof of that.”<br /><br />“That’s right! Darby, Riley and I got punished while those two losers got off scot-free. That really sucked!” TJ griped.<br /><br />“It was a hard decision for Riley to make, as the three of them had been friends since childhood. Besides, he wasn’t sure if he could handle all their clientele on his own,” Jayson continued. “I pointed out that he had been carrying the workload almost entirely by himself over the past several weeks due to Pete and Freddie’s increasing lack of interest. Fortunately, they’ve gone their separate ways on good terms and will continue to stay in touch with each other, but it is still a big adjustment for everyone concerned.”<br /><br />“What are Pete and Freddie’s plans for the future?” TJ asked. He had never really cared for either of them but was curious enough to inquire.<br /><br />“Pete’s enlisted in the army to follow in his father’s footsteps. Freddie is getting married and moving to Vancouver. I only hope he’s doing so because he truly loves the girl and not because he’s going to be a father.”<br /><br />“Seems to me those two are finally going to be forced into growing up,” Glen quietly commented.<br /><br />“Looks like I’m not the only one making a job change,” TJ sighed. “I’m really going to miss some of my fellow-employees, especially Sally.” The young man grew quiet as he contemplated his losses. A few moments later he began to chuckle.<br /><br />“What’s so amusing, love?”<br /><br />“I was thinking of something that happened a few days ago. It was a slow shift and I was at the front of the store talking to Sally. A shopper approached her and asked where he could find some intimate lubricant. She didn’t know what he was referring to, so I told him which aisle it was located in. He returned several minutes later with some KY and a box of condoms. That’s when the fun began.” He smirked as the memories resurfaced.<br /><br />“Spill it, man!” Jayson demanded. “Don’t keep us in suspense!”<br /><br />“I walked away but stayed within hearing distance and heard the entire conversation,” TJ grinned as he mimicked the exchange between Sally and the customer.<br /><br />‘I don’t think there’s any tax of these condoms, Miss, ‘cause they can be considered clothing.’ <br /><br />‘But there’s no provincial tax in Alberta, sir, only GST and it’s added to almost everything.’<br /><br />‘Not on food items and this lube is flavoured, so it should be completely tax free!’<br /><br />“Sally actually fell for it and deducted all the taxes from his purchase,” TJ snickered. “She is just so ditsy at times.”<br /><br />“Did you set her straight?” Glen asked.<br /><br />“Only after the customer left, gloating over his good fortune.” This time the two older men laughed along with him.<br /><br />All too soon the evening began to wind down and Glen got up to clear the table. “It’s getting late, fellas, and we’ve got work in the morning. I think it’s just about time to call it a day.”<br /><br />“Not me!” TJ sang out as he walked into the living room and threw himself down on the couch. “I’m going to watch the late show after the news. Where do you guys have to be so early anyway?”<br /><br />“I have three full days of presentations to give,” Jayson informed him. “And I need to get everything set up in the board room before anyone else arrives.”<br /><br />“I will be meeting with an important supplier first thing and I can’t afford to be late,” Glen answered, taking the remote control out of TJ’s hand and pulling him up off the sofa. “And you will also have things to do, my good man.” <br /><br />“No I won’t!” TJ wailed at having his plans thwarted. “I’m not tired and besides, I can sleep in tomorrow.” He struggled to get away from his partner.<br /><br />“TJ!” Glen gave the younger man a shake to get his attention. “Listen to me! We are going to do up the supper dishes and then we are going to bed. It’s not up for discussion.”<br /><br />“But, Glen…..” TJ closed his mouth when he saw the look of warning on the older man’s face and resigned himself to the inevitable. <br /><br />*************<br /><br />Sometime in the not so distant future, Glen would look back on the next three days as a roller coaster ride of mood swings, temper tantrums and tears. He had determined from the start to keep his partner on a schedule until such time as TJ found a new position. Leaving the younger man alone for hours on end was bad enough, but Glen knew leaving him alone and with nothing constructive to do, would be even worse.<br /><br />“I think it would be a good time for you to update your resume this morning, TJ. When you get that done, I’d like you to run a few errands,” Glen informed his partner while helping him get his day started. He smiled at the scowl that greeted his suggestions. Poor TJ just wasn’t a morning person at all. <br /><br />“See you guys this evening,” Jayson announced, shrugging into his suit jacket. He kept his smile hidden as he listened to Glen gently cajoling his not-too-wide-awake partner into eating a proper breakfast. Picking up his briefcase, Jayson returned the goodbye waves and headed out the door.<br /><br />Glen left shortly after their guest. He unexpectedly returned home at noon with plans to spend some quality one-on-one time with his partner, only to discover TJ back in bed. It was apparent the young man had slept away the morning, accomplishing none of the assignments he had been given. Glen pulled down the covers and landed a hard swat on his Brat’s boxer-clad bottom. “On your feet this minute, Thomas Josiah!” he ordered, tugging the pillow out from under TJ’s head.<br /><br />“Ooow!” TJ hollered as he slithered across the width of the bed and turned his vulnerable backside away from his irate Top. “What did you do that for?” he demanded, getting to his feet on the side furthest from his partner and rubbing at the sting from Glen’s left hand.<br /><br />“You were supposed to drop those garments off at the cleaners and make the necessary purchases for a steak dinner this evening,” Glen sternly reminded him.<br /><br />“So, there’s still plenty of time to do that this afternoon,” TJ stated belligerently.<br /><br />“Am I to take it you found working on your resume so tiring you had to postpone getting the errands done?” Glen was fully aware of what had transpired during his absence. <br /><br />“Nooo,” TJ murmured, looking down at the floor and shuffling from one foot to the other. He had the good grace to look ashamed for the few moments it took for his temper to over-ride all reason. “I didn’t feel like working on the computer and I figured you could have darn well taken your own friggin’ stuff to the dry-cleaners!”<br /><br />“Well I’ve done some figuring of my own, young man, and you are not going to be too thrill with the conclusions I’ve drawn,” Glen informed his partner, putting a halt to the pending argument. “You can just plan on spending a good part of the afternoon under my supervision, writing lines on how to improve your communication skills. Then we’ll do the errands together. That should prevent you from wasting the day away in bed.” <br /><br />Fortunately, by the time Jayson arrived, things had calmed down considerably. TJ had completed his lines with a minimum of fuss; Glen’s suits had been dropped off at the cleaners, groceries purchased and supper was on the stove. Apologies and forgiveness had been exchanged along with the promises to put in a better day tomorrow. <br /><br />************ <br /><br />“You did a great job on this resume, love,” Glen complimented as he handed back the papers he’d been reading. He and TJ had just finished a companionable lunch together. So far their day was definitely going smoother than yesterday.<br /><br />“Thanks,” TJ softly answered as he slid the pages into his briefcase. “Anything in particular you want me to do this afternoon, Glen?”<br /><br />“As matter of fact, there is. It’s a lovely day and I think it would do you good to get some fresh air. I like you to go to the park and stroll around for an hour or so before you work on your weekly CE exam.” Although it may have sounded as if he was offering a choice, Glen fully expected TJ to comply.<br /><br />“I don’t feel like it!” TJ stated in an argumentative voice. “I want to watch a movie on TV.”<br /><br />“TJ, it is too nice and sunny to spend the entire day cooped up in this apartment. If I have to, I’ll order you to obey my directive to go out and get some exercise.” Glen knew if the younger man stayed in, he’d end up brooding about his present state of unemployment. TJ was already having a hard time dealing with his emotions. “I only have your best interests at heart, baby.” Glen spoke quietly, hoping to avoid another flare-up of his lover’s volatile temperament.<br /><br />“What the hell is the problem? Are you suddenly having difficulty understanding the English language or have you become hard of hearing? I said I didn’t feel like going out and I damn well don’t intent to!” TJ shouted, pushing back from the table and getting to his feet. “And you can’t make me!”<br /><br />“Hold it, mister!” Glen stood up and blocked TJ’s path to the living room. “That is not how we speak to each other.” He grabbed the other man by the shoulders and gave him a firm shake. Turning his partner to one side, Glen delivered several sound swats to TJ’s backside. “Corner! Now!” he ordered and watched his Brat obediently trudged across the room to his designated place of confinement.<br /><br />Keeping an eye on his fidgeting lover, Glen cleared off the table and washed the dishes. He shook his head in loving exasperation at the sound of his Brat’s sniffling and watched as TJ intermittently rubbed at his butt or his eyes.<br /><br />“Have you got yourself under control enough to behave appropriately, TJ?” Glen asked fifteen minutes later from his comfortable seat on the sofa. <br /><br />“Yes, sir!” TJ murmured. He turned and slowly made his way over to curl up on his Top’s lap. “I’m sorry, Glen. I know you only want what’s best for me. I’ll do as you’ve asked.”<br /><br />“Thank you, sweetheart. I’m grateful for and admire your yielding to my authority. Which, I might add, you gave me in the first place.” Glen hugged and kissed the younger man. Then tilting TJ’s head up to look him in the face, Glen sternly added, “Take heed! This is your last warning! One more outburst from you, Thomas Josiah, and you are going to find yourself on the receiving end of a sound spanking. Got it?”<br /><br />“Got it, Glen!” TJ softly answered. “I’ll be good, honest!”<br /><br />It was some time after supper when Glen and Jayson’s absorption in the evening news was disturbed by the sound of TJ’s laughter coming from the bedroom.<br /><br />“He seems to be finding something awfully funny!” Jayson commented, holding back a chuckle of his own.<br /><br />“It’s good to hear him laughing. It sure beats dealing with temper tantrums.” Glen gave the other man a pained look. “It’s not easy for him, being at loose ends like he is.”<br /><br />“Riley went through the same thing when he was trying to decide what to do with his future. He really had a difficult time to finally face the true of Pete and Freddie no longer being interested in pulling their weight where the business was concerned.” Jayson sadly shook his head as he thought of the hurt and disillusionment his young partner had suffered.<br /><br />“Everything worked out in the end for him though,” Glen consoled his friend. “And I’m certain it will for TJ as well, assuming he lives long enough.” Both men appreciated the humour in this statement. <br /><br />“That was Sally!” TJ announced, practically bouncing into the room. “She says all the staff really miss me and want me to come back. I told her ‘no way’. According to Sally, Mr. B’s nephew is driving everyone crazy, including Mr. B himself. She asked me to tell her where I’m working after I find a new job, so she can apply for a position at the same place. Man, she is so ditsy sometimes! But she’s a kind person and fun to be around. I think I’m going to miss her the most.”<br /><br />“How about making us a batch of popcorn, love, while I get us some liquid refreshment?” Glen suggested in order for the young man to have something to do. He didn’t want TJ dwelling on the negative aspects of no longer being able to enjoy the almost daily interaction with his former fellow employees.<br /><br />“This is my last evening with you guys,” Jayson informed them, accepting a cold beer from his host.<br /><br />“I thought you were staying until Saturday morning. We should still have tomorrow night to plan an activity for,” TJ pointed out.<br /><br />“I hope to have everything wrapped up by noon and be able to head home earlier than first anticipated,” Jayson explained. “As comfortable as that makeshift bed in your study is, it doesn’t have Riley in it.” Jayson grinned at his companions’ nods of understanding.<br /><br />“Well, it’s been great having you, Jay. You know both you and Riley are more than welcomed anytime,” Glen assured his and TJ’s long-time friend.<br /><br />“It’s nice to have the opportunity to repay you for all the times we’ve stayed at your home or cabin,” TJ added. “I just wish we lived closer so we’d see more of you two guys, as well as Rowan and Darby.”<br /><br />“Hey, it’s only an eight hour drive to our town!” Jayson reminded them.<br /> <br />“Yeah, right! Just a hop, skip and a jump.” TJ rolled his eyes, causing the other two men to laugh at his antics.<br /> <br />************<br /><br />Where the previous evening had ended on a high note of camaraderie, Friday morning started on a sour one, as TJ stubbornly attempted to resist Glen’s urging to get out of bed. Having lost the first major skirmish of the day, TJ followed his partner’s instructions as slowly as he dared without actually stepping far enough over the line for Glen to call him on it. He paid little or no attention to the older man’s dwindling supply of patience.<br /><br />“Okay, guys! I’m off! Thanks once again for your gracious hospitality.” Jayson declared as he collected up his few pieces of luggage. Leaving his suitcase by the front door, he walked over to Glen and shook his hand. Next, he pulled TJ off his chair and hugged him. “You better start behaving yourself, little boy!” he teased, landing a light swat on the younger man’s bottom.<br /><br />“Thanks for coming by, Jayson,” TJ murmured and returned the hug.<br /><br />“Have a safe trip home, Jay, and say hello to Riley for us,” Glen requested as he saw his guest out the door. He returned moments later to discover his Brat had left the table without finishing his breakfast. “Thomas, get back here!”<br /><br />“Whaaat?” TJ whined.<br /><br />“If I were you, I’d sit down while I was still able to do so and finish eating. You’ve taken this not-being-a-morning-person about as far as you’re going to, young man.”<br /><br />TJ wisely decided to stop pushing. “I don’t want to stay home and do chores or study, Glen,” he mumbled around a mouthful of cold cereal.<br /><br />“What’s on your mind, love?” Glen inquired as he pushed a glass of orange juice closer to TJ’s hand. He smiled when his unspoken command to drink was unconsciously obeyed.<br /><br />TJ shrugged as he peeled a banana and took a bite. “I-I..”<br /><br />“Swallow, please.”<br /><br />TJ swallowed. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go back to the park and search for that kitten I was telling you about last night.”<br /><br />“I thought we had agreed not to have any pets, TJ.”<br /><br />“I know, but can’t we change our minds?”<br /><br />“Not today, sweetheart.”<br /><br />“Then I’m going back to bed.”<br /><br />“No, you’re not! What you are going to do is get dressed and come to work with me.” Glen was very much unwilling to leave the younger man alone but also unable to get out of his morning’s commitment. “I could use some help unpacking the materials being delivered to the home I’m decorating.” Difficult as it was to presuppose his partner’s next mood swing, Glen decided to chance teasing him. “It pays well.” He was relieved when TJ agreed to accompany him and found pleasure in the young man’s crooked grin.<br /><br />A few hours later, Glen leaned back in the booth and fondly gazed at the handsome man sitting across the table from him. He watched with amusement as his lover flirted outrageously with the waitress taking his order. Drinking from a glass of ice water, he patiently waited for TJ’s performance to end.<br /><br />“I want to thank you for all your help this morning, baby,” Glen softly said as their server walked away. “I’d still have an afternoon’s work left if you hadn’t been assisting me.”<br /><br />“No problem, Glen. Had I known lunch at Chili’s was part of the employee’s benefit package, I would have come to work for you sooner,” TJ laughed.<br /><br />“I’m afraid the novelty would have greatly diminished before the first week was over,” Glen returned the gentle banter.<br /><br />“Maybe I can add you as a reference source on my resume. You could say I was an Unpacker-of-Boxes Extraordinaire.”<br /><br />“Your abilities far out-weight those needed to unpack boxes, my love. Have you ever thought of opening your own pharmacy, TJ?”<br /><br />“Yeah, it’s crossed my mind,” TJ answered quietly. “But there’s so much involved and I don’t think I’m anywhere near ready to make such an enormous leap. But I’m prepared to begin my search for a new position on Monday,” he announced. “Not that I didn’t appreciate the opportunity to work for you,”<br /><br />“When the time is right for you to start up on your own, I have every confidence you’ll be able to do it, sweetheart.” Glen assured him.<br /><br />“Well, right now I just want to dig into this delicious-smelling food.” TJ grinned up at the woman who was placing their meals on the table in front of them.<br /><br />************<br /><br />“I think I’ll have a shower. Wanna join me,” TJ asked, toeing off his shoes and kicking them into the closet. <br /><br />“I better check the answering machine?”<br /><br />“Do you have to do that now?”<br /><br />Glen glanced at his partner, expecting to see a pout on the younger man’s face. Instead he saw a silent plea. Having gotten the day off to a rough start, the morning had proved very productive and they had enjoyed a companionable lunch together. Both men were well aware of Glen’s penchant for getting involved with returning calls, especially during what would normally still be a workday. <br /><br />‘To hell with the phone,’ Glen thought. ‘I’d much rather spend time with my Brat.’ Taking TJ by the hand and leading him into their bedroom, the older man suggested, “Let’s see who can undress the fastest.” He already knew from experience how tight a race it was going to be. TJ’s beaming smile provided all the proof Glen needed to know he had made the right choice.<br /><br />Ten minutes later, the two men were enjoying the feel of warm water cascading down their bodies. Glen snapped open the shower gel and after washing himself, began to leisurely rub the foamy soap over his partner’s body. He loved caressing TJ’s smooth skin and loved the way the younger man’s body responded to his every touch. Several minutes later, Glen rinsed them off and knelt in front of his lover. He took TJ’s arousal into his mouth and listened to the man’s moans of abandonment as he gained his sexual release.<br /><br />Glen got out of the shower and grabbed up a couple of towels. He chuckled at his Brat’s difficulty in standing up straight enough to dry off. “Better let me help you, love,” he teased. “You seem a little weak at the knees.”<br /> <br />“You’re so funny!” TJ smirked as he happily submitted to his Top’s pandering.<br /><br />“Let’s see if we can find something tempting enough in the freezer to throw a meal together,” Glen suggested, pulling up his shorts.<br /> <br />“Not yet,” TJ murmured, steering his partner towards the bed and toppling him on to it. “I want to pleasure you now,” he whispered, the longing noticeable in his voice.<br /><br />“Are you sure, my darling?” Glen tenderly asked, looking into the beautiful, misty, coffee-brown eyes of his lover and seeing the desire in them. “I thought I had worn you out in there,” he gently reminded.<br /><br />“Not that much!” TJ assured him and rubbed his hand against the front of Glen’s boxers. Feeling the man’s reaction, he murmured, “You want it, too. I can feel it.” He fumbled to get Glen’s underwear off. Holding his lover’s erection in his hand, TJ lower his head to slowly lick the shaft up and down before turning his attention to suck and nibble at another area of his mate’s body. Glen didn’t complain and TJ obviously had no plans of ending the torment anytime soon.<br /><br />“I give up,” Glen sighed deeply as pleasure flowed through his body. He lay back, watching his lover closely and enjoying the moment before ordering, “Quit teasing and do whatever you had in mind for me!”<br /><br />“You always want to be the boss,” TJ teased, lifting his head and grinning.<br /><br />“Please!” Glen begged; his eyes full of passion.<br /><br />Thrilled with the older man’s pleading, TJ took him fully into his mouth and smiled at the lustful moan that escaped his partner’s lips. Repeatedly sucking the pulsating arousal harder and faster, TJ took complete control.<br /><br />Glen closed his eyes and surrendered. His heart skipped a beat when his lover increased his efforts to take him over the edge. Glen suddenly reached a shattering climax without warning and let out one shuddering gasp as he exploded.<br /><br />TJ lifted his head to smile at his sated mate. “Hmmm, good, eh!” he chuckled as he crawled up the slightly bigger man’s body, lay his head on Glen’s chest and murmured. “Now I’m tired!”<br /><br />************<br /><br />Glen glanced up from his meal preparations and tenderly smiled at his Brat coming out of the bedroom. “Maybe you should consider getting dressed, babe,” Glen suggested to TJ who was wearing only boxers and a T-shirt. <br /><br />“In a minute. How long have you been up?” TJ asked around a yawn as he took a seat on the stool and leaned on the kitchen counter with his head resting in the palm of his hand.<br /><br />“About forty minutes, give or take. You were sleeping so peacefully, I didn’t have the heart to disturb you,” Glen answered and received a smile of appreciation for his thoughtfulness.<br /><br />“Did you check for messages?”<br /><br />“Yes, and there was one for you from Sally.”<br /><br />“Great!” TJ exclaimed, getting up from his seat. “I’ve got to touch base with her and catch up on the latest gossip.” Just as he reached for the phone, it rang. “Hello,” TJ politely answered, seconds before slamming the receiver down.<br /><br />“TJ, who did you just hang up on?” Glen demanded to know.<br /><br />“Umm, I sort of hung up on Mr. B.” TJ was having a hard time believing what he’d just done.<br /><br />“There was no ‘sort of’ about it, young man. Ring him back and apologize at once!”<br /><br />“NO!” <br /><br />“Pardon me?”<br /><br />“I-I don’t want to talk to him!” TJ stammered. “And-and you can’t make me!”<br /><br />“We’ll just see what I can or can’t make you do, Thomas Josiah. I’m giving you to the count of three to make that phone call or else.”<br /><br />“One!” Glen waited. “Two!” Glen headed towards his partner, intent on having his order obeyed. The count of “Three!” had barely left his mouth when TJ grabbed the phone, ripped it out of the wall and threw on the floor.<br /><br />Both men stared at it and then each other in astonishment. Glen felt like kicking himself. He had allowed the peaceful day to lull him into believing TJ was finally accepting the consequences of having hastily quit his job. He believed his partner had settled down and was prepared to make the best of a bad situation by checking out the job market the first of the week. He should have realized the premature nature of that belief. <br /><br />Overcoming the shock of his partner’s behaviour, Glen wrapped his hand around TJ’s arm and marched him into the study. “I’ve put up with all I’m going to, young man!”<br /><br />Glen pulled the straight-backed chair into the center of the room, seated himself and pulled his Brat around to his left side. It took one sharp yank for TJ to land face down over his partner’s lap. “Why are you about to get a spanking, Thomas Josiah?” Glen sternly asked as he lowered the young man’s boxers. Not getting an answer, he landed a painful swat on each of the light brown globes before him.<br /> <br />“Temper tantrum!” TJ wailed and tried to push himself out of the precarious position he found himself in. The arm around his waist merely tightened while the other repeatedly rose and fell in a steady rhythm, slowly setting his backside on fire. Long moments past and the punishing hand didn’t let up regardless of the sobs and pleas coming from the ever-so-sorry Brat. <br /><br />By the time the spanking ended, both men knew this was one lesson that would not have to be re-taught anytime soon. TJ was crying too hard to realize the hand, which had spanked his bare bottom so severely, was now drawing gentle circles on his back. Glen waited until the cries of pain had subsided before turning his well-chastened partner face-up to sit on his knee. He made sure the heated flesh came in contact with nothing other than the soft cotton boxers he had replaced. <br /><br />“Sssh! It’s over, sweetheart. Sssh! You’re going to be all right!” Glen began the litany of soothing words to calm and comfort the man he loved with all his heart. The man he loved enough to reprimand when things got out of control and tempers flared.<br /><br />“I-I’m so sorry, Glen, for wrecking the phone and-and for disobeying you….and…” TJ hitched out his regret and buried his head in the older man’s shoulder. He rubbed his face on his Top’s shirt, leaving behind a mixture of tears, sweat and mucus.<br /><br />“I know, baby, I know,” Glen assured the man in his arms and made note of the softly whimpered promises of better behaviour from this day forward. He put his Brat on his feet amid wails of protest, stood up and returned the chair to its’ rightful spot. Next, he wrapped his arm around TJ and gently guided him to the bedroom and into their en suite. “We’re going to get you cleaned up and then you have a phone call to make.” This time his directive went unchallenged.<br /><br />“But I don’t know what to say, Glen,” TJ said, hoping for a reprieve. “I didn’t want to speak to him in the first place.” They were back in the study and he was standing next to Glen’s desk with the extension phone in his hand.<br /><br />“First, you’ll apologize and then you will politely ask him the reason for calling you earlier. I know it’s hard but you can do it, love.” Glen was fully aware of the embarrassing dilemma TJ was attempting to rectify. He sympathized even though the younger man had no one to blame but himself.<br /><br />“So tell me what Mr. B. had to say, sweetheart,” Glen requested, twenty minutes later. He was sitting on one end of the sofa with TJ’s head on his lap. The TV was on with the volume turned down and neither of them paying attention to the news they had tuned into. They’d had a difficult evening but for this moment in time, peace prevailed. <br /><br />“He wants me to go in tomorrow to discuss the supervisory position. He said he made a rash decision and has come to regret it. Guess I wasn’t the only one, huh?” TJ’s cheeky grin faded at the ‘don’t even go there’ expression on his Top’s face.<br /><br />“Bet you’re the only one who’s decided that temper tantrums are a thing of the past, right?” Glen leaned down and kissed his partner’s forehead to take the sting out of his words.<br /><br />“I’m inclined to think so,” TJ muttered, lightly rubbing a hand over his extremely sore bottom. He was curled up on his side and making every effort to avoid getting his backside near anything remotely harder than the soft flannel boxers he had on. “You know, Glen, your spankings are beginning to hurt a lot more than Jayson’s ever did. Even though he used a paddle, at least he’d let me keep my pants on.”<br /><br />“Hmmm, are you saying there might be a slim chance I’ve met with success where he failed, and have finally put an end to those infamous temper tantrums of yours.” Both men smiled and chose to keep their thoughts to themselves, knowing in all likelihood such would not be the case<br /><br />************<br /><br />Glen was working at his desk Saturday morning when the phone rang. He hadn’t even said hello when he heard his partner saying, “This is the new supervisor of Bernstein’s Pharmacy speaking.” It was impossible to miss the happiness and excitement in the young man’s voice. <br /><br />“Congratulations, my love!” Glen sincerely acknowledged as he smiled contentedly. “I’ll have to go out and get something special to mark the occasion. “<br /><br />“Okay! See you later, babe!”<br /><br />Glen put the finishing touches to the centerpiece he had created and set it on the table. The wine was chilling, candles ready to light, napkins professionally folded, the meal done to perfection and he was eagerly anticipating TJ’s arrival. <br /><br />The front door opened and a briefcase was tossed through the air to land lightly in the middle on the living room carpet. Moments later, TJ made his grand entrance. “Ta-da!” The young man was grinning from ear to ear as he quietly shut the door and turned to his partner, who welcomed him home with opened arms. They spent the next several minutes enjoying the process of reconnecting and exchanged amorous kisses.<br /><br />“Wow! You went all out, Glen!” TJ exclaimed appreciatively, leaving the warmth of his lover’s embrace and glancing at the dining room table. “And something smells absolutely heavenly.”<br /><br />“We’ll eat soon. First, I have a special surprise in the study. Come with me,” Glen softly invited. He smiled indulgently at his lover’s reaction to the gift that awaited him. “She’s a purebred Ragamuffin, TJ. Her name is Miss Muffin. She’s spoiled rotten and has a rather interesting personality. I had gone to the park in search of that lost kitten you mentioned, only to learn it had been found. Then I remembered a client telling me of this older couple who were looking for a good home for their full-grown cat. The seniors’ complex they were moving to does not allow pets. I thought she would make a perfect reminder of your promotion.” Glen could see the delight shining from the younger man’s face. TJ was speechless. All he could do was cuddle the beautiful creature in his arms and rub his cheek against the soft white fur. “Well, what do you think of her, love?”<br /><br />“I love her, Glen,” TJ whispered past the lump in his throat. “But I-I thought you said no pets.”<br /><br />“That was yesterday, sweetheart. Guess I changed my mind.” Glen laughed at the cheeky grin on his Brat’s face. “Although I hope you don’t change yours when you discover you are no longer the reigning drama queen in this family!”<br /><br />The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-31242317108635788552009-04-29T16:36:00.000-07:002009-04-29T17:08:12.360-07:00SchedulingWritten By: LJ<br /><br /><br />Glen tried to concentrate on the demonstration he was watching on television. He had been waiting a week for this particular show on designing techniques. Unfortunately, he kept being disturbed by sighs of frustration coming from his partner. <br /><br />“How about taking a short break, love,” Glen suggested once again; only to receive a similar response to the suggestion, he had made the last time he had spoken. <br /><br />“I can’t take the time if I’m ever going to get this done!” was TJ’s petulant answer and Glen could clearly hear the pout in the young man’s voice.<br /><br />“That’s it!” Glen said fifteen minutes later. He got up from the sofa, turned off the TV and walked across to the table where the other man was working on his laptop. Looking over TJ’s shoulder, he inquired. “Have you saved that?”<br /><br />“Yeah, but I still have to look up something on the Internet,” the younger man complained.<br /><br />“Not tonight, TJ. It’s late and you’re getting too wound-up.” Glen reached around his partner and shut down the computer. <br /><br />“What the hell did you do that for?” TJ screeched loud enough to rattle the windows.<br /><br />“It’s only Monday and you have the rest of the week to get this completed. You’ve done all you’re going to do tonight, TJ. We’re going to bed now and I don’t want to hear one word of disagreement on your part,” Glen insisted as he put his hand under his lover’s arm and lifted him out of his chair.<br /><br />“You can go to bed without me because I’m not ready to call it a day yet!” TJ shouted, belligerently making his feelings known as he tried to wrench himself away from the bigger man.<br /><br />Tightening his hold, Glen landed a solid swat on the seat of his partner’s jeans. “You are going to do as you are told, my boy, or else!” he scolded.<br /><br />TJ immediately burst into tears, which was ample proof of how tired he was. <br /><br />Pulling the younger man into his arms, Glen hastily set about calming his Brat by holding him close. “It’s all right, baby. You just too overtired to work on this anymore tonight. We need to get ready for bed, love,” Glen lovingly encouraged.<br /><br />TJ resignedly submitted to being towed into their en suite and gently badgered out of his clothing. Under Glen’s watchful eye, he washed his face and brushed his teeth. Once all his personal needs had been taken care of, he stood waiting for the other man to turn down the quilt so he could curl up in their big bed. It was at times like this when TJ relied most on his Top to take charge and make him do what had to be done. It was only after Glen had completed his own ablutions and was lying down beside him that TJ was able to settle. Putting his head on the bigger man’s chest, TJ took a deep breath and slowly relaxed in the comfort of his lover’s embrace before falling asleep.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />‘Oh, my God!’ thought Glen, ‘De-ja vu or what?’ He was reviewing plans for tomorrow’s meeting with a new client and his attention kept being adverted by the signs of disgruntlement coming from his partner who was once again working on his computer at the other desk in their study.<br /><br />“We should be getting ready for bed soon, love,” Glen gently reminded the other man for a second time after looking at the clock and seeing how late it was. He cleared off his desk and commented. “I trust we are not going to have a repeat of the last three evenings, right?”<br /><br />“I still have so much to do, Glen. It’s not that late and besides, I get Friday off this week so I don’t have to work tomorrow. I want to stay up and get more studying done so I can do this exam in the morning,” TJ responded as he turned around to face the older man.<br /><br />“Haven’t you already done one this week, TJ?” Glen asked sternly.<br /><br />“Yeah, but I want to do at least one more.”<br /><br />“And what agreement did we come to just a couple of weeks ago?” Glen anticipated they would be reviewing the entire issue yet again and although he was frustrated by the thought, he knew it was something he would repeatedly talk over if it was what his Brat needed.<br /><br />“I changed my mind about that. I don’t want to follow the schedule we set up ‘cause I work better with more flexibility,” the younger man groused, turning back to the computer.<br /><br />“Nothing has changed, TJ. The reasons for the schedule still exist. You still have a problem with choosing priorities as well as a tendency to push well past your limitations, causing yourself unnecessary distress over your fear of failure. We’ll review it one last time and then it will be just a matter of me enforcing the guidelines we have jointly put in place for your well-being.”<br /><br />“But, Glen, I want to be able to submit more than one a week, especially on the weeks I chose uncomplicated, straight-forward subjects.”<br /><br />“TJ, I understand this goal of yours to average at least fifty CE exams a year since you graduated and became a pharmacist, but I cannot condone you attempting to catch up with the ones you didn’t get done last year. You are only obligated to turn in a minimum of fifteen a year, so the completion of fifty is certainly a reasonable accomplishment,” Glen firmly but patiently pointed out.<br /><br />“But I only achieved half my target goal last year,” TJ shouted, letting his resentment of his own perceived failure get the better of him. <br /><br />“Why was that, baby?” Glen softly inquired, hoping to keep emotions from spiraling out of control.<br /><br />“Because I couldn’t organize my time and I didn’t want you to know I was having trouble. I didn’t want you to think I was inferior and too stupid to manage my own life,” TJ pushed the keyboard out of the way and dejectedly laid his head down on his folded arms. <br /><br />Glen stood up and walked across the room to spin his partner’s chair around. He gently pulled the younger man up and after settling his own slightly heavier frame into the now empty chair, tugged TJ down unto his lap.<br /><br />“You, young man, are not inferior to anyone nor are you stupid. I don’t want to hear you say something like that again, ever! Do you understand me?” Glen spoke adamantly, but not unkindly. “When you talk like that you are not just putting yourself down, you are also doing me a disservice. I love you and I am so proud of all you have accomplished. We all need help in different areas at one time or another. We agreed to put the past year behind us and start anew, didn’t we?” Feeling an affirmative motion from the head on his shoulder, Glen continued. “I’m holding you to your promise to follow the study schedule we’ve set up and I’ll do whatever is necessary to enforce it, my darling.”<br /><br />“I understand, Glen,” TJ softly stated. “It’s just hard sometimes, you know.”<br /><br />“I know, babe, but we’ll smooth things out together a little bit at a time.”<br /><br />The two men sat quietly for awhile, each mulling over their own thoughts. Finally Glen nudged TJ to stand up and accompany him into the bedroom. Fifteen minutes later Glen got into bed, turned out the light on his night table and reached over to pull TJ into his arms. <br /><br />“Is there anything else you want to talk about, sweetheart?” Glen murmured into the wiry, black curls beneath his chin.<br /><br />“No, I’m good!” TJ lifted his head to tenderly kiss his partner goodnight.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />“Just what do you think you are doing, young man?” Glen asked from the doorway of the study. “It’s two o’clock in the morning and you are supposed to be sleeping in our bed.”<br /><br />“I woke up to go to the bathroom and I couldn’t go back to sleep, so I figured I’d get some more studying in.” TJ looked up questioningly at the irate man standing beside him.<br /><br />Glen stood glaring down at his disobedient Brat for several moments before suggesting. “Maybe you need a sedative.” <br /><br />“Huh, what do you mean?” <br /><br />Glen would have chuckled at the look of confusion on the other man’s face had he not been so annoyed at finding him back at his desk. <br /><br />“Have you saved everything?” Glen inquired before turning off the computer. He grasped TJ’s upper arm, hauled him out of the chair and across the living room to the bedroom. Sitting down on the side of their bed, he looked up into his partner’s nervous face and started to explain. “When I was a kid, my sister and I would often call back and forth to one another when we should have been going to sleep. After telling us numerous times to be quiet and get some shut-eye, my dad would say it was time for him to administer a sedative, as he called it. It was his way of informing us of the spanking we had earned for not obeying him. It always worked! We slept quite soundly after he was done. I trust it will work just as efficiently for you.”<br /><br />With that Glen tugged his partner down over his lap, raised his T-shirt and lowered his boxers. A second later Glen’s large left hand was rising and falling as it steadily applied hard, stinging swats to the brown-skinned bottom in front of him. TJ squirmed and yelped but the spanking continued until the older man picked up the subtle change in his Brat’s body language indicating the message had gotten through. Turning his sobbing partner over, Glen began the process of calming the younger man. <br /><br />“Okay, baby. It’s over. You’re going to be fine.” <br /><br />Once TJ’s cries had slowed to intermittent sniffles and sighs, Glen rearranged the young man’s clothing, tucked him back in bed and crawled in beside him. Nestled together, TJ soon fell asleep and almost missed the other man’s final warning of “No more nocturnal visits to the study!”<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />“Good morning, my little sleepyhead!” Glen said brightly, setting a tray on the nightstand. He pulled the blankets down and lifted the pillow off his lover’s head. “Come on, sunshine, breakfast is being served.”<br /><br />TJ opened one eye and hoped his groan would illustrate his feelings about his partner’s announcement. <br /><br />“Why do I have to get up when I don’t even have to go to work today?” he groused.<br /><br />“I’m just asking you to sit up and eat with me, then you can go back to sleep. I have an appointment with a new client in less than two hours.” Glen cheerfully cajoled the younger man into a sitting position.<br /><br />“Okay, but I have to pee first,” TJ grumbled as he rolled over to sit on the side of the bed; then wished he hadn’t. His backside was still feeling the results of its’ encounter with Glen’s hand during the early hours of the morning. He jumped up and headed to the bathroom, gingerly rubbing his sore bottom through his boxers.<br /><br />Coming back into the room, TJ eyed the bed with some misgivings before tentatively lowering himself down to settle uncomfortably on one hip. <br /><br />“How long do you think you’ll be gone?” TJ asked, picking up his glass of orange juice. He looked at the tray between them on the bed and his stomach gave a faint growl of appreciation for the light meal of soft-boiled eggs and toasted fingers of whole wheat bread. <br /><br />“I hope to be home by noon but I’ll call if I’m going to be any later.” Glen sat back against the headboard to enjoy his cup of coffee.<br /><br />“How come I didn’t get any coffee?” TJ complained when he noticed there wasn’t a second cup on the tray.<br /><br />“I want you to stay in bed this morning and try to catch up on your sleep. You really need the down time, love, and you don’t need any caffeine to make you jittery.”<br /><br />“But you’re having it!” TJ pointed out, his voice beginning to rise.<br /><br />“Because I have a business meeting to attend.” The raised eyebrow let TJ know this part of the conversation was over. Glen was well aware that his partner’s fractious attitude was a result of being stressed-out and overtired but he didn’t intend to put up with temper tantrums or any other unacceptable behaviour.<br /><br />Once their meal was finished, Glen got up to clear away the dishes and get dressed. <br /><br />“I expect to find you in that bed when I get home, young man,” Glen firmly instructed, straightening his tie and looking in the mirror at the other man’s reflection.<br /><br /> TJ’s dissatisfaction in the edict was clearly apparent in the pout on his handsome face, but he meekly accepted Glen’s goodbye kiss, curled up on his side and pulled the blankets over his head.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />Glen was finally on his way, having been waylaid by the complex manager for a friendly chat. Less than two miles down the road, he suddenly remembered the estimate forms he had put aside for this morning’s presentation. Turning the car around, he headed back in the direction he had just come from. He took the elevator up to their sixth floor apartment and quietly, so as not to disturb TJ, let himself in the front door. He came to an abrupt stop as he was about to enter the study and spotted his partner sitting at the smaller desk, working on the computer.<br /><br />“I thought I left orders you were to remain in bed, Thomas Josiah!” Glen declared, his aggravation growing.<br /><br />“For shit’s sake, Glen,” TJ jumped at the unexpected voice. “Why don’t you just kill me outright instead of scaring me to death?”<br /><br />“I’ll give you something to be scared about, my boy!” With that, Glen hauled his partner out of the chair, sat down and none too gently pulled the younger man over his thighs. It only took a couple of seconds to bare the intended target and another second before a strong, paddle-like hand landed painfully across two still-tender, brown cheeks. <br /><br />TJ yelled and cried from the onset. He could count on one hand the number of spankings he had received from his lover since they first incorporated discipline into their relationship four months ago, but never two so close together. This really hurt and he certainly wasn’t opposed to letting the person causing his pain, know it. He continued sobbing long after the spanking was over and he was kneeling on the floor with his tears soaking into the other man’s dress pants.<br /><br />Glen compassionately drew his partner up and into a loving embrace. Holding TJ as snugly as possible while still being mindful of his flaming bottom, Glen began murmuring words of comfort and caressing the man in his arms. When it took longer than usual to calm his distraught Brat, Glen realized that he could not and would not leave TJ alone, not even for a short period of time.<br /><br />“Come on, baby, let’s get you settled,” Glen softly suggested as he walked TJ into the master bedroom and helped him get in bed. “I won’t be long, baby,” he assured the young man when TJ asked him to stay.<br /><br />Back in the study, Glen shut down the computer and placed a call to inform his new client that he would not be available as planned. <br /><br />“While I would certainly appreciate working with you, I’ll understand if you decide to take your business elsewhere, Mr. Kitson.”<br /><br />“No, no, Mr. Chamberlain. I am actually rather relieved you’ve had to postpone our appointment, as I have inadvertently over-booked myself today. We’ll get together the first of the week if it’s convenient for you.”<br /><br />“That would be fine. I’ll see you Monday afternoon, then,” Glen confirmed. Hanging up and returning to the bedroom, he quickly rid himself of his clothing and got under the covers to snuggle with his still sniffling partner. <br /><br />“We have three days to enjoy each other, babe. We’re just going to chill-out; do whatever we feel like doing and get back on track. I love you, TJ! Just let go, love, and trust me.” <br /><br />“I love you too, Glen. I’m sorry for disobeying you,” TJ shamefully apologized.<br /><br />“We’ve taken care of that, sweetheart,” Glen declared, drawing the other man closer and kissing his forehead.<br /><br />TJ yawned. Within a few seconds, he was curled up and sleeping soundly.<br /><br />Lying there under his lover’s slightly smaller body and listening to TJ’s soft snoring, Glen pulled the blanket over them and fondly stroked the other man’s back until he too fell asleep.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />After yesterday’s peaceful interlude, Saturday morning arrived bright and sunny.<br /><br />“How would you like to spend the day at the Heritage Park Historical Village, babe?” Glen asked over brunch.<br /><br />“Well, I kinda wanted to talk about an idea I have,” TJ suggested hopefully.<br /><br />“I’m pretty sure they allow talking in the park, honey.” Glen laughed at the sight of the other man rolling his eyes.<br /><br />It was later that a troublesome issue reared its’ ugly head and led to their day taking a downward spiral.<br /><br />“We’ve already discussed this into the ground, TJ. I can’t see how extending the conversation will change things.” Glen firmly stated later that afternoon as he closed their apartment door behind his out-of-sorts partner.<br /><br />“But, Glen, what’s wrong with my idea beside the fact that it’s not your idea?” TJ asked belligerently and stamped his foot.<br /><br />Ignoring the foot stomping, Glen took a deep breath and prayed for patience. After hanging up his jacket and removing his shoes and making sure TJ had done the same, Glen walked across the living room, sat down on the sofa and invited the other man to join him.<br /><br />“We’re going to go over this one more time, TJ. You’re entire life does not revolve around your profession anymore than my life revolves solely around mine. If we want our relationship to grow and develop into a life-long, deeply committed partnership, we both have to compromise and set priorities. That is where your CE schedule comes into play. We’ve already decided to put a limit on the number of hours you spend studying as well as the number of exams you turn in, haven’t we?”<br /><br />“Yes, but…” TJ stammered, hoping a reasonable argument to support his view of the situation would come to mind.<br /><br />“There are no ‘buts’, young man. Did we or did we not both agree to conform to these limitations?” Glen asked sternly. Getting a begrudging nod and softening his own approach, Glen continued, “You asked me for help, didn’t you?” This time the nod was accompanied by a glowering pout. Pretending not to see it, Glen pressed on in a mild voice; “We contracted to a six-month trial period to see if a discipline partnership would benefit us, right?”<br /><br />“Yes, but it’s just so hard at times,” TJ muttered, putting his sock-covered feet on the sofa, wrapping his arms around his knees and lowering his head.<br /><br />Moving closer and placing his arm around the younger man’s shoulders, Glen said, “I understand, sweetheart. I know it’s difficult to give control over to someone else but it is working. You’re doing so much better now; we are doing so much better now. We’re no longer arguing over insignificant things and the long drawn-out periods of silence we used to suffer through have ceased.” Glen waited a few minutes to let his observations sink in before adding, “We have two months left until the contract is over, at which time you can decide if you want it to end or become a permanent part of our lives.”<br /><br />“What if I want it to continue but you don’t?” TJ asked uncertainly.<br /><br />“Darling, if you want and need someone to help you, to care for you and to keep you safe, to assist you in being the best you can be, to let you know how very special you are, and to love you with all his heart and soul, then not only I am willing to be that person, I would be honoured to be that person. But I can only be that person if you trust me enough to allow it and are willing enough to let me be in charge of making final decisions. I want you to think about this very carefully over the next several weeks so you will be able to make a comprehensive choice.”<br /><br />“I understand, Glen, but I still want to be able to finish the exam I’ve been studying for since Thursday without waiting until next week.”<br /><br />Glen gave out a sigh of loving exasperation, bowed his head and closed his eyes. ‘Who would have thought that this normally reasonable, very intelligent man could be so outrageously tenacious?’ he asked himself. Realizing the other man would not be able to let go of this one issue, Glen determined it was time for a little give and take. Maybe, just maybe, he could set an example in compromising.<br /><br />“I’ll make a deal with you, TJ.” Glen offered in hope of resolving this reoccurring problem once and for all. <br /><br />“What kind of deal?” TJ asked suspiciously.<br /><br />“Well you know we’ve received an invitation to Rowan and Darby’s wedding next month, right?” Glen bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at the expression on his Brat’s face as the younger man tried to figure out what this question was leading up to.<br /><br />“Yeah; what about it?” TJ wasn’t at all sure he even wanted to hear his Top’s suggestion.<br /><br />“We’ll be driving up and spending several days at Jayson and Riley’s house. So it would probably work to your advantage if this evening you completed the extra subject you’ve been studying. That way you won’t have to worry about doing one while we’re away.”<br /><br />“Huh? Then I won’t be any further ahead!” TJ wailed.<br /><br />“That’s right! But just think, you’ll be right on schedule. Is it a deal?” Glen couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer as TJ began hitting him with the throw pillow he had grabbed off the end of the couch.<br /><br />“All right, all right, it’s a deal!” TJ capitulated and discovered much to his surprise, he was actually happy to be doing so.<br /><br />The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-416977991399990713.post-892568296429032062009-04-29T16:35:00.001-07:002009-04-29T16:35:56.306-07:00Starting OverWritten By: LJ<br /><br />Special thanks to EM, Cora, and D’be-D’be for all your help and encouragement. <br /><br /><br />It was after ten o’clock in the evening when Glen turned off the computer and for the second time in less than a week, admitted his failure in fulfilling his partner’s needs. He twirled his chair around to stare out the window into the darkened sky and mentally review the events of the past month. <br /><br />************<br /><br />Glen and TJ had returned home three weeks ago after spending the Christmas holidays with Rowan, Jayson and their partners. They were determined to put into practice the life-style changes they had jointly decided upon. Their homecoming had been followed by several busy days as they caught up at their workplaces.<br /><br />Glen was immediately swamped with the need to decorate the interior of a new home. Unfortunately, due to the contractors falling behind schedule, additional pressure was put on him to finish in less time than he would have liked. The homeowners’ inability to make decisions did not help the situation and he found himself working a lot of extra hours.<br /><br />TJ missed his partner. He hated coming home every evening to an empty apartment, hated having to make a meal only to end up eating it by himself, hated having no one to talk over his day with. Although things at the pharmacy had gone smoothly the first couple of weeks into the New Year, the last few days had really begun to go downhill. Flu season had struck, increasing both his workload and his resentment.<br /><br />Earlier last week, they had spent one of their few evenings together talking about how their days were going. They were sitting side by side on the comfortable leather sofa in the living room of their apartment, enjoying an after-dinner brandy.<br /><br />“The Hennesey’s are driving me right around the bend,” Glen had complained. “Nancy and Donald Hennesey have been arguing in each other’s faces all week. They are a couple of young, spoiled socialites whose parents gave them this newly-build house as a wedding gift. They each have very good, if somewhat different, ideas as to how they want their home decorated but are too newly-married to have learned the art of compromise. If this keeps up, I’ll be giving them one final ultimatum before this week is over.”<br /><br />TJ would have like a few ultimatums of his own but didn’t want to burden the other man by requesting the attention and support Glen had promised him. Success in TJ’s career depended on him following specific guidelines and he functioned well within the security of those rules. However, in his personal life TJ felt he was spinning out of control. He needed boundaries and he wanted his partner’s guidance.<br /><br />By Friday of the same week, Glen realized he should have taken care of business matters sooner than he had when he demanded that his clients make a final decision. He was gathering up his supplies after having listened to yet another argument between the young couple.<br /><br />“I’m sorry, Mr. & Mrs. Hennesey, but I’m afraid I can no longer work under these conditions. I know your preferences and I am more than willing to decorate in a manner that I am sure will satisfy both of you, but if you can’t trust me to do so then I suggest you find another decorator.”<br /><br />“Oh no, Mr. Chamberlain! You’re the only one we want!” Nancy exclaimed, glaring at her husband.<br /><br />“That’s right! We’ve been told you are one of the best in your field and we don’t want to have to start all over again,” Donald agreed.<br /><br />“We’re sorry and we promise to stay out of your way. Please say you’ll finish the job,” Nancy begged.<br /><br />“All right, I’ll have my people here first thing Monday morning providing you two make yourselves scarce. Do we have an understanding or not?”<br /><br />They assured him there would be no further interference on their part and that they were looking forward to the completed project. Glen finally felt he was in control of things, at least on the work front. Home was another matter altogether.<br /><br />Glen had been ready to admit defeat by Sunday evening. He let out a long sigh of frustration. ‘It’s my fault,’ he thought in self-disgust, staring out the study window. ‘My partner asked for my help and I have failed to keep my part of our agreement.’ Nothing he said or did could sooth the resentment TJ was harbouring for having been practically ‘deserted’ as he put it.<br /><br />“It’s as if I’ve been living alone for the past three weeks,” TJ petulantly complained. “There were times I needed you and you weren’t here.”<br /><br />“I was only a phone call away and we’ve both been busy, TJ. I’ve got things under control now and won’t be putting in such long hours. We’ll get back on track, baby. Promise!” Glen looked into the pouting face in front of him and tried to explain as patiently as possible. “I’m sorry you’ve been on your own so much but that’s about to change; effective immediately.”<br /><br />“I just thought our new agreement would bring us closer together,” TJ whispered, maintaining his pout to insure his partner’s awareness of his dissatisfaction.<br /><br />“I don’t think we’ve given it enough of a chance to determine whether or not it’s going to work for us, babe,” Glen said softly as he pulled the younger man into his arms.<br /><br />“Are we still going to do the six-month trial? I mean, we’ve already talked things over and set up some of the rules, right?” TJ questioned.<br /><br />“Of course! It’s what we both want, isn’t it?”<br /><br />“Yeah, I guess,” TJ responded with a shrug of his shoulders and squirmed out of the other man’s embrace. “I’m tired! I’m going to have a shower and go to bed.”<br /><br />Glen understood that the usual invitation to join TJ would not be forthcoming. ‘That apology went over well,’ he thought wearily, shaking his head in frustration as he sat down at his desk and turned on the computer. He was hoping to get some badly needed advice from a couple of old friends.<br /><br />“You have to put TJ first; he is your main priority,” Rowan had admonished him.<br /><br />“You’ve apologized, now move on; take him in hand. He wants the structure; he needs to know you are there for him,” Jayson had further instructed.<br /><br />Glen sat back in his chair to mull over the conversation he’d just had with his two closest friends. He thought about what had led up to him IM’ing Rowan and Jayson. He also mulled over the suggestions they had adamantly put forth.<br /><br />‘Easier in theory than in practice,’ he thought as he turned off the computer. Getting to his feet, he headed for the master suite to get ready for bed, only to discover the bathroom in a mess. Deciding to avoid another round of arguing, he cleaned up the room himself.<br /><br />Fifteen minutes later, Glen stretched out beside his partner. He didn’t think TJ was asleep even though the other man had remained perfectly still on his own side of the big bed. The gulf between them seemed insurmountable at the moment. Then he felt the small movements that let him know his partner was quietly crying. He reached over and pulled TJ into his arms. “It’s going to be okay, babe. We’ll work things out.” His soothing voice calmed the younger man. “Do you want to talk about it now or wait until the morning?” Glen gently inquired.<br /><br />“No, I just want to sleep,” TJ tearfully whispered.<br /><br />“All right, sweetheart. Things will look better after a good night’s rest.” Glen rhythmically rubbed TJ’s back until he felt his partner breathe in a deep sigh and relax. Only when he knew his lover was asleep, did he drift off himself.<br /><br />Nothing got resolved the next morning. In fact, nothing even got discussed. TJ overslept, got up grouchy and in a hurry. He left for work without eating breakfast and after informing Glen, “If you happen to get home before I do, don’t hold supper. I’m not sure when I’ll be home.”<br /><br />Glen was ready to pull his hair out. He consoled himself with the thought of them talking things over that evening.<br /><br />Once again, no progress was made. TJ wandered in sometime after eight o’clock claiming he had already eaten. When Glen invited the younger man to sit down so they could spend time together just to talk and get closer, TJ went on the defensive. <br /><br />“I know you think it’s all my fault!” TJ griped while he remained standing and glaring down at his partner on the couch.<br /><br />“I think no such thing, TJ. We are both responsible for coming up with solutions to our problems. Don’t you agree with that, love?” Glen asked, patiently trying to instill a sense of reason and purpose.<br /><br />“Yeah,” TJ begrudgingly acknowledged as he threw himself down on the far end of the sofa. “But I’m too tired to fight about it tonight,” he grumbled.<br /><br />“Why do you feel we have to fight about it, baby? We’re two grown men and should be capable of conversing with each other without resorting to arguing and finger-pointing,” Glen gently chided. “We both want the same thing, sweetheart, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to work out a suitable arrangement. I love you, TJ, and only want what is best for you, for me, and for our relationship. But things are going to have to change fast.”<br /><br />“I know, and I love you too,” TJ murmured sliding along the couch until he was within arms’ reach. “I’m sorry, Glen. I’ll try harder to do my part,” he said sincerely, looking into his lover’s blue eyes as his own misted. “But I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do.”<br /><br />Glen smiled as he pulled the younger man on to his lap and kissed him. “It’s all right, love. Why don’t you just let me take care of you for awhile? After all, it’s my responsibility to keep us on track, right? We’re both aware of the areas we have to work on and have set up guidelines to follow, so all we need to do now is follow them.” Glen gently kissed the short wiry curls on the head resting against his shoulder. He instinctively picked up his partner’s feelings of bewilderment and frustration. The other man’s fatigue didn’t help matters either. <br /><br />“Okay,” TJ yawned, putting his arms around Glen’s neck and cuddling in closer. “Can we go to bed now?”<br /><br />“Yeah, good idea; we can both use an early night,” Glen agreed, setting the younger man on his feet and taking his hand to walk with him into the bedroom.<br /><br />Things did not improve very much over the next few days. By late Friday evening, after numerous attempts to get TJ to comply with even the most basic rules, Glen decided he’d had enough. <br /><br />TJ had been given lines to do Wednesday for unexpectedly coming home late. Last night he had spent fifteen minutes before bed standing quietly in the corner and reflecting upon his inappropriate behaviour involving temper tantrums when reminded to pick up after himself. Then earlier today Glen had stopped off at the apartment to pick up some colour swatches and discovered his partner was already home.<br /><br />“What’s wrong, TJ? Are you ill? Have you caught that nasty flu going around?” Glen asked; concern evident in his voice.<br /><br />“No, I haven’t got the flu!” was TJ’s belligerent reply. He was slouched on the sofa with his feet on the coffee table, surfing the TV channels.<br /><br />“Then why are you here in the middle of the afternoon instead of at work?” Glen inquired, sitting down and taking the remote to shut off the TV. He grabbed the other man’s arm to pull him back down when TJ moved to get up and leave the room. “I expect a civil answer to a civil question, young man! And if I were you, I’d lose the attitude.”<br /><br />“I was sent home and told not to come back until Monday,” TJ informed his partner, “and then only if my manners improve. Happy now?” he asked sarcastically.<br /><br />Taking a deep breath in an effort to remain calm, Glen said, “No, I’m not at all happy and just what do you mean by ‘if your manners improve’? What happened?”<br /><br />TJ shrugged his shoulders in an attempt to lessen the importance of today’s events. “Mr. Bernstein, my boss, is blowing it all out of proportion. It’s my job to inform a doctor when there is a conflict in the medications he is prescribing. It’s not my fault the doctor filed a complaint,” he groused.<br /><br />“It is your fault if the complaint concerned how you spoke to him,” Glen stated unsympathetically just as another suspicion crossed his mind. “Is that the only thing that happened to cause Mr. B. to send you home?”<br /><br />“I think so……possibly…..maybe…..” TJ hedged, not wanting to admit to anything else that could be misconstrued as him acting inappropriately.<br /><br />“Thomas Joshua, you have one minute to tell me everything before I call your employer,” Glen demanded, “and if I do have to make that call, you are the one who is not going to be too happy.”<br /><br />Silence.<br /><br />“One!”<br /><br />Continued silence.<br /><br />“Two!”<br /><br />“Okay!” TJ wisely capitulated. He wasn’t exactly sure what the counting was leading to, but it had a familiar ring to it and he didn’t want to push it. “Mr. B. also had a complaint from a customer who said I was rude to her. I may have been a little impatient when I had to explain to her for the third time, how to take her prescription.”<br /><br />“Anything else?” Glen had a perfectly good idea of what had probably taken place but was adamant about TJ telling him the entire story.<br /><br />“I kinda made Sally cry,” TJ muttered before insisting in a louder voice, “but it wasn’t my fault. She should pay more attention to what she’s doing and then careless accidents wouldn’t happen.”<br /><br />“In other words, you spent a great deal of the morning in a foul mood and taking it out on anyone unfortunate enough to get in your way. Isn’t that right?” Glen sternly admonished while glaring at his partner.<br /><br />TJ was unsuccessful in his attempt to out-stare the older man and finally admitted defeat by hanging his head. “I didn’t mean to,” he shamefully murmured.<br /><br />“All right, Thomas, this is how we are going to handle your appalling lack of self-control. First, you are grounded until you can return to work. Next, you’ll be preparing hand-written apologies to the doctor, the customer, your fellow employee and your boss. You will also write up an essay on how to treat people with kindness, dignity and respect. I have to deliver some swatches but will return as soon as possible and I’ll expect you to have a good start on these assignments. Do you understand me, young man?” <br /><br />“Yes, Glen, I got it!” TJ answered in a small voice.<br /><br />“Get paper and pens, make yourself comfortable at the dining room table and get busy! I shouldn’t be more than an hour.”<br /><br />That conversation had taken place several hours ago. Glen had returned home in under an hour to find the apartment empty. Pens and papers had been left strewn across the floor where TJ had obviously thrown them in a fit of temper.<br /><br />Fortunately, he now knew exactly what he had to do next, thanks once again to Rowan and Jayson.<br /><br />************<br /><br /> A small sound pulled him out of his musings and turning towards the door of the study, he found himself looking into the face of his truant Brat. TJ stood in the doorway with a look of utter dejection and remorse on his young face. Glen’s heart went out to him as he opened his arms in welcome. TJ headed for the only place he wanted to be at that moment in time….on his lover’s lap.<br /><br />“I’m so sorry,” the younger man wailed. “I shouldn’t have gone out. I should have done what you told me to do.”<br /><br />“What were you thinking, baby?” Glen asked quietly, putting his hand under TJ’s shirt and rubbing circles on the smooth brown skin.<br /><br />“I don’t know…..lots of things. I was scared,” he admitted, trying to get even closer to the older man.<br /><br />“What were you frightened of?” Glen gently inquired as he tightened his embrace and kissed the head on his shoulder.<br /><br />“That we’d keep on drifting further and further apart until you would leave me or kick me out or something,” TJ whispered his fears as a sob caught in his throat. “I know you’re becoming more and more disappointed and fed up with me.”<br /><br />“Never, baby! That’s not going to happen, I promise. We’ve decided I’m in charge and that’s how it’s going to be from now on!” Glen looked down into two big, coffee-brown eyes filled with unanswered questions. “I’m going to set things right!”<br /><br />“How are you going to do that?” TJ asked although he was afraid he might already have a pretty good idea.<br /><br />“By doing something I should have done before now, young man.” Glen gently patted TJ’s backside and said, “Stand up, please.”<br /><br />Getting to his feet, Glen walked over to the side of the room, pulled a straight-backed chair away from the wall and sat down.<br /><br />“Come here, TJ.” Glen took slim, brown hands into his, looked up at the man they belonged to and informed him. “You’ve strayed over the line too far not to have to face the consequences, my love.” He watched the different expressions play across his partner’s face as he lowered the other man’s jeans and boxers before firmly settling him across his thighs. “What have you done to find yourself in this position, Thomas?” Glen asked in a stern voice.<br /><br />“I was rude to people I work for and deal with. I was disrespectful to you by not working on my writing assignments and by going out when you told me I couldn’t.” TJ was already finding it hard to think and talk clearly while lying bare-butt over his partner’s knees. <br /><br />“Close enough!” Glen was slightly surprised at his ability to do what had to be done; surprised that he was able to chastise this man whom he loved with all his heart, but he suddenly realized it was because of his love that he was able to do so.<br /><br />Glen raised his left hand and brought it down with a resounding smack. He spanked firmly and steadily. He had heard a small squeak of surprise at the first swat followed by ragged breaths that quickly turned into sobs. He continued until a red hue appeared on the dark bottom. Although this first spanking lasted only a minute or two it was enough to get the message across. He stopped and gently rubbed his hand over the area it had just punished. <br /><br />It took TJ several moments to realize the spanking was over and that the only sounds in the room were his own diminishing sobs and Glen’s soothing voice. He pushed away from his partner and slid to his knees.<br /><br />“I’m sorry, Glen!” he cried, reaching around to hesitantly touch his sore bottom. He felt strong arms picking him up and immediately found himself sitting on Glen’s lap instead of lying face down over it.<br /><br />“I know, baby. Shh, it’s over. It’s okay! Shhh…” Glen softly cooed as he calmed his partner and waited for the crying to gradually turn into hitching breaths and sniffles. Then he helped the other man remove his jeans and sneakers. “Let’s go get you cleaned up, babe. Then we can cuddle up in bed and talk,” he suggested as he set his lover on his feet and pulled up his boxers. He took TJ’s hand and led him out of the study, through the living room, into their bedroom and straight to their en suite. He gently washed the tear-stained face before guiding the younger man over to their bed and pushing aside the duvet so they could lie down together.<br /><br />“I really am sorry, Glen,” TJ repeated for the umpteenth time as he pressed himself against his lover’s side and burrowed his head into the other man’s shoulder. “I’ve never acted that way on the job before. I don’t understand what happened.”<br /><br />“It’s partially my fault, sweetheart. I should have been paying closer attention, especially after promising to provide the help you asked for. I will do everything in my power, not to let that happen again,” Glen promised, lifting his partner’s head to tenderly gaze into his beautiful face. “Your work can be very demanding and I am fully aware of how stressful you sometimes find it. People depend on you to get it right every single time and it isn’t easy having no margin for error.”<br /><br />“Your job can get stressful, too. Sometimes you have to put up with rather demanding clients yourself,” TJ pointed out.<br /><br />“But I don’t have to carry malpractice insurance, love,” Glen lightly teased. “And no one will get sick or die if the drapery colour is off by a shade or two.” He pulled TJ’s head back to its’ resting place on his chest and lovingly requested. “Let me take care of you and our relationship. Just let go, TJ. Trust me, my love.”<br /><br />TJ sighed and relaxed into the embrace. Here in his lover’s strong arms he found the comfort and security he craved. “We’re okay, right?” <br /><br />“We are more than okay, babe, and we’re just going to keep on getting better,” Glen assured him. “But you still have a writing assignment to complete and your grounding still applies until you go back to work.” He smiled at his partner’s exaggerated groan of defeat. Secretly, Glen thought Mr. B’s ‘time-out’ solution was very well-chosen.<br /><br />TJ gingerly rubbed his still burning backside and hissed. “Man, you weren’t fooling when you said I’d find out how hard you could spank. I sure hope we don’t have to deal with too many of these bumps in the road.”<br /><br />“Every time we come to a bump, we’ll take care of it, smooth it out and start over. How’s that for a plan, TJ?”<br /><br />“Sounds fine to me,” TJ agreed with a contented sigh.<br /><br />The EndLJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09209660278651151524noreply@blogger.com0