A Special Place

 By Sequoyah Pendor

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(Parts Forty-one - Fifty)

        
 Part Forty-one
Luke

         Matt and I took the things from the Jeep into the house and cleaned up and put everything away. It took longer than it might otherwise have done, because we were constantly stopping for some passionate kissing. I was pleased to learn that our new ways of making love had taken nothing from the old. Damn, I loved kissing my man!
        We had just finished getting things put away when Yong Jin and Greywolf arrived. They came into the house laughing and holding hands. "No more school until September," Greywolf shouted as he tossed a load of books and papers on his desk in the library. When he and Yong Jin walked into the kitchen, he said, "And I bet you thought only students were thankful when school was out!" He laughed and grabbed Yong Jin and the two did a dance across the kitchen. They were acting like a couple of teenagers--even to engaging in some pretty passionate kissing themselves.
        When they had calmed down a bit, Yong Jin asked, "How did the skip day go?"
        "Perfect, absolutely perfect," Matt said.
        "Yea, and the Fellowship has a new couple," I added. "Jacob and Paula finally got over holding each other at arm's length. I mean they really got over it."
        "Well, if they decide to stick together, next year will be pretty tough," Greywolf observed.
        "It surely will," Yong Jin commented. "But both seem like strong people. If they want to make it work, they can."
        "I'm just glad we don't have to," Matt said, pulling me to himself and kissing me. "Being separated would be no fun."
        "You just don't know," Greywolf said. "Yong Jin and I have had experience and it's the pits."
        "That's not the only news," I said.
        "Well, grab a Coke and tell us all about it," Yong Jin said as she got four cold Cokes.
        We sat talking about the day and all that had happened. "The house is now officially ours. Millie saw to that. Of course we have to pay her back. She had Mr. Fox, one of her lawyers, incorporate us as the Oberlin Five, Inc."
        Greywolf laughed, "Leave it to Millie. Well, paying her back will be no problem. All the money Yong Jin and I and Gabrielle and Jens set aside for your college is now available for other things since your hard work has paid off in scholarships."
        "Plus the money I got from sales at the exhibition," I added. "Even Larry found out he wasn't as bad off as he thought. His parents had established a college fund when he was born and his mom kept it up after his father left until he was eighteen when it was paid out. Also, he has a job this summer."
        "Hate to be this way, but did you get any work done on the speeches?" Yong Jin asked.
        "We did. I guess we'll have to finish them tonight," Matt said as he looked at me with a frown.
        Just as he spoke, the phone rang and Yong Jin picked it up. After she had greeted Mom, she said, "Yes, he's here. One minute... It's your mom, Luke."
        "Mom, what's up?' I asked into the phone.
        "I haven't been able to leave work yet--I planned to be home early, but it looks like I'm stuck for another half hour so I wanted to make sure I got you before you made plans for tonight. Your dad and I want you and Matt to have dinner with us. Michael and Mary Kathryn are having dinner with the Andrews.
        "I hope Michael is up to it. I'm not sure he is after today. I think he overdid the swimming."
        "I hope not. Anyway, this is pretty important to your dad--well, to me too. He would like to sit down and have a talk with you after dinner. And, by the way, plan to spend the night at home."
        "By myself?" I could feel the hair on the back of my neck rising. I was well on the way to being very angry when Mom said, "I certainly hope not! Have you and Matt had a fight?"
        "Of course not!"
        "Then I suspect you'll be spending the night at home with him in your bed. I would if I were you," Mom laughed. "You've got to learn not to be so touchy, Luke."
        "Mom, I think I have reason to be touchy."
        "Maybe not after tonight. See you around 7:00?"
        "Ok."
        I told Matt what Mom had said and he suggested we work on the speeches before going to my place since we obviously weren't going to have as much time as we thought. "But I'm sure there will be more to do and they have to be ready tomorrow for Ms. Jones to approve."
        Yong Jin called us at 6:30 to remind us of the time. We had gotten so absorbed in the speeches that the time slipped up on us. We had made great progress, but now only had time for a quick shower and getting dressed before it was time to go. Just before we showered, Matt set the computer to copy the speeches onto a disk so we could continue to work on them at my place later.
        Just before we were ready to leave, Greywolf said, "Sons, be patient and hear Jens out, regardless of what he has to say. I'm sure this is serious business for him and will not be easy, so be patient. Remember, he loves you both."
        "We will, Dad," Matt said and we hugged both Matt's parents and turned to leave.
        As we reached the front door, Greywolf called to Matt, "Matt, don't plan on using the Jeep Thursday. I'm taking it in to be checked."
        "Ok, Dad, but remember that's the birthday bash at Uncle Michael's. I'll need it then."
        "I'll see what I can do about getting the work it needs done before too late," he replied. "But I'm not sure. You're going to need to be sure it's ready for the trip to Sewanee."
        When we reached my place, both Mom and Dad were in the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready shortly," Jens announced. "Maybe you want to catch the latest news."
        There wasn't much of interest in the news and I was only half paying attention, Matt saw to that, when suddenly I heard, "More happening in the McBride case in Concord today. In a civil action suit against McBride, Judge Snow ruled that McBride's assets would be confiscated and placed in a trust fund to continue therapy for those he had abused. A local therapist told this reporter that the three young men who had testified to years of abuse from McBride will probably be in therapy for some years. However, I also learned that the three had completed their high school education while living in a halfway house and will be graduating with their high school class at Independence High School."
        "That's surely an interesting development," Matt said. "I wonder how Independence students will take that?"
        "More for the speeches, Matt," I responded.
        I was surprised when we got to the dining room. The table was set for a celebration. What was going on here? There was a wine glass at every place and Dad had wine sitting in front of his place. When we had gathered around the table, Dad said grace. I was shocked when he, as Greywolf had done, passed up the standard grace to offer thanks for his sons Matthew and Luke and for their love for each other. Shocked? I was thunderstruck! When he had finished the grace, he poured wine for all of us and offered a toast, "To the Family, blessed beyond measure and to our two sons who have found love--unexpected and, at first, unacceptable. May it grow and deepen in the years to come."
        The dinner was, of course, perfect. "Gabrielle, I hope you have taught your son to cook. I don't think I can last months without at least a hint of your wonderworks from the kitchen."
        "Never let him fool you, Matt. Luke is an excellent cook, but then I seem to recall Greywolf and Yong Jin haven't neglected that part of your education either!"
        As the meal progressed, we talked about our day at the falls, about having the house and about all the plans for the next week and the summer. "Mary Kathryn has already told me about the picnic Sunday. I think that is a wonderful idea! I thought you'd want to go off and party on your own," Mom said.
        "That's Saturday night," Luke said. "Mr. Greywolf and his entourage are going back to the club in Lexington."
        We finished the meal and Matt and I started to clear the table as usual when Dad said, "Leave the wine glasses." After the table was clear, Dad asked, "Boys--I guess you're no longer boys, huh? But I still think of you as boys. I want to talk with you and wonder if you'd like to talk in the den or sit here around the table?"
        "Jens, I vote for the table," Matt replied and I nodded.
        When we were settled again, Dad filled our glasses, sat down and became very silent. He sat for what seemed like a very long time looking at his wine glass, twirling it between his fingers. Actually I'm sure it was only a minute or two. But I was getting very nervous and, when Matt took my hand under the table, I knew he was too. He finally looked up and said, "I really don't know how to begin. I have something I want to say and I'm afraid I'll bungle the job and I sure don't want to. Be patient with me."
        "First, I want you to know I love all of you kids. Matt, I don't think I love you or Michael any less than I do Luke and Mary Kathryn. That's kinda hard for me to say, not because it's untrue, but it's hard for me to say 'I love you,' to Luke and Mary Kathryn, my own flesh and blood. Telling the children they were loved just wasn't done in my family and it's been very hard for me to say it even as seldom as I do. But it's true. I love all of you very much."
        "The second thing..."--Jens the accountant was getting the books in order just as Greywolf the scientist has to have everything in order--"I want you to know is that I have struggled very hard to accept your relationship. It has called into question beliefs I thought absolute and unchangeable. It shook all I have believed to the very foundations. I'll admit I still don't understand two men loving each other as you two love. But then love is not to be understood, just accepted--and I do accept it."
        "Then a major problem--to my mind--is that you are still children, very young, and have made a decision..."
        "Dad, there was no decision," I said. I could feel myself bracing for something. I wasn't sure what.
        Matt squeezed my hand, looked at me and mouthed, "Patience".
        Dad ignored my remark and continued, "...a decision to accept who and what you are and to act on it: to accept that you were in love with a man and let him know it--and everyone else for that matter. Gradually I have come to realize that you are no longer children, but I'm still not yet ready to call you adults. Well, I guess I am, it's just that being adults carries responsibilities that I didn't want you to have to have. But then, you aren't children and I don't really want to keep treating you as children."
        "Matt, Luke, I told Gabrielle to ask you to stay here tonight. I wasn't sure I could do that without saying the wrong thing. I have noticed that since you two have acknowledged your love for each other--I mean other than as brothers--you have spent little time here." Dad laughed, "I've even thought about renting out Luke's room. But seriously, I have noticed that your displays of affection are much less free here than elsewhere and I suspect your love-making has also been restrained."
        "Dad, Matt and I knew you had problems with our relationship. I won't say that we haven't made love here--within the bounds we set for ourselves--but you're right. It has been restrained because we knew how you felt and we just didn't feel comfortable here. Also, I--we--had respect for you, if not your position. And we weren't going to cheapen our love by being sneaky."
        "Well said, Son," Dad said. "I know that you had placed boundaries on your love-making until you were eighteen and, since I got drafted to help prepare your love nest at the falls, I think I am safe in saying you observed those bounds, but only as long as you said you would."
        "Luke's no longer a virgin, if that's what you mean, Jens," Matt said and then turned bright red. Dad had a good belly laugh.
        "That's what I mean," he said. "I have some real problems with premarital sex--although, to be frank, I wasn't innocent when Gabrielle and I were married."
        "Jens, be honest. Our wedding night was our first night as husband and wife, not our first night." Damn if Dad didn't blush.
        "Anyway, as I was thinking about that, I realized that you would never be married to each other. At least, not as marriage is understood and recognized legally. I know you plan a commitment ceremony, but that's beside the point. What I'm trying to say is that I recognize your commitment to each other and expect you to make love any way you care to in this house. And I hope, if not now, soon you will feel comfortable doing so."
        Both Matt and I gave a great sigh. "Dad, I was afraid... I mean... I was afraid... I don't know what I was afraid of but, Dad, you don't know how happy that makes me. Not because I can make love to Matt here. If not here, I would somewhere, but because of your acceptance of us." I got up and hugged and kissed my dad. Matt did the same. Both Matt and I had tears in our eyes--I guess remembering Dad's reaction only weeks ago--and damned if Dad didn't have a tear or two in his eyes.
        "Jens, I know how hard it has been for you to reach this point, but I want you to know that I will honor it the only way I know how, by loving your son with all my heart and soul," Matt said.
        Jens poured the rest of the wine into the glasses and as he did said, "Matt, I could ask nothing more and expect nothing less." He raised his glass and said, "Here's to the finest sons a man could ever ask for, and to their love--for each other and for the family. May both grow ever deeper and stronger!"
        We drank the toast and I said, "I know you'll not believe this, but Matt and I have speeches to work on. I think we'll say goodnight and go up."
        We hugged Jens and Gabrielle and both of us said, teary eyed, "Thanks, Jens." Matt added, "And we promise to make you proud of us and of our love," then we went to my room.
        As soon as we got upstairs, we discussed the fact that we planned to mention Danny, Buddy and Jake, the three who had beaten and raped Gregory, in our speech. "Luke, that worries me," Matt said. "I am really concerned about that."
        "So am I, Matt. Maybe we should just leave it out."
        "We could. Maybe we should."
        "Matt, why don't we let them decide? I mean it's a part of what the speeches are about. Maybe they would want us to say what we planned to say."
        "What do we do? We won't have time to make major changes in the morning."
        "Let's give them a call."
        It took a while to find the phone number of the halfway house, but we finally decided it was too important not to make every effort and, in desperation, called Judge Snow at home. We apologized for calling her so late and at home, but when we told her what we had in mind, she thought it was a good idea. "Especially since you are leaving the decision in their hands." She gave us the number and, when we called, we managed to get all three on the halfway house speaker phone and went over what we had planned. When we finished, Danny said, "It's going to be rough--for you and for us--but I think you should go ahead." The other two agreed.
        Then we worked on the speeches, again getting completely immersed in them, until I had to rush to the toilet for a piss. When I got back, Matt had fallen asleep in front of the computer, his head on the keyboard. When I looked at the clock I saw that it was 3:30 in the morning and we had to be at school at 9:00 for rehearsal. The speeches could still use some polishing, but I saved them and shut down the computer, got undressed and picked up my man and took him to bed. He was so out of it that I got him undressed and under the cover before he gave any hint of waking up. When he did, he smiled, reached up and kissed me and was immediately asleep again! So much for making mad passionate love in my house tonight! Of course, by the time I had spooned into the back of my love, I was also asleep. I guess there are, as Michael pointed out, limits--limits of all kinds.
        Saturday morning is usually sleep-in time at my house, but this morning the clock went off at 7:30. I hate alarm clocks! One day I hope I will be in a position to not have one in the house! Matt reached across me and slammed the snooze button for another nine minutes of sleep. I guess sometimes even teenage priorities get changed.
        The clock went off a second time and Matt and I dragged ourselves out of bed. We went to the bathroom and took care of morning necessities. We barely had time for a quick shower with no playing around. I shaved while Matt got dressed. While I got dressed, he printed out copies of the speeches and we went downstairs.
        Dad was in the kitchen alone, fixing breakfast. "I hope you two had a good night," he smiled.
        "I guess it was good. Actually, Dad, we worked on the speeches until 3:30 and, while I was taking a piss, Matt fell asleep at the computer. He barely woke up when I got him undressed and in bed. Just long enough for a quick kiss. I was asleep two minutes later."
        "I guess you're adults after all," Dad mused. "You're learning there are responsibilities which keep you from doing what you want to do. You may as well know, that doesn't change."
        "Yea, like getting up to feed two boys when you'd rather be in bed--sleeping or otherwise," Matt laughed. Dad joined in his laughter.
        After breakfast we rushed to school, getting there in the nick of time. When we walked in, a very excited Ms. Jones met Matt. "Matt, we had a Rogers organ delivered late yesterday to be used for graduation. When we had rehearsal, the assistant conductor and the director handled the ensemble and chorus--we are NOT using recorded music this year--and they did fine so the two groups are in good shape, but with Paula and Eugene back and the addition of the organ, do you think you could work to improve the selection of music?
        "I hope I can," Matt replied. What did you have in mind?"
        "Get together with Eugene and Paula and see what you three can come up with. I'll leave it up to you three."
        "Pomp and Circumstance" have to be included?"
        "I meant it when I said I'd leave the music up to you three. How are the speeches?"
        "I have a hard copy of them," I said. "We want to do some more work, but I think you can see where we are headed. Any changes will not be a big surprise."
        "I trust you two so I'll read what you have and you can do what you want to improve that. To tell you the truth, the hard part of graduation is well in hand. It's getting the marching in and out and getting up and down that seems to be too complicated for graduating seniors!"
        Ms. Norman had the seniors marching in and out and standing and sitting, trying to make everything look smooth. It didn't. She was getting pretty put out and finally said, "Take fifteen." I hadn't been too involved since I just marched right up on stage and didn't have to do the up and down bit--which looked silly to me, but then it was graduation tradition.
        When Ms. Norman called for the break, I walked over to Ms. Jones who had read the speeches. "I think the speeches are great, but I wonder about one thing. You mention the three students who beat and raped Gregory...."
        "Matt and I called them and ran over the speeches with all three because we would not have included what we did without their knowing and approving it."
        "I would have thought as much, but I wanted to be sure. And their response?"
        "They thanked us. All three thanked us. In fact, all three wept and said they couldn't understand how we could say what we did about the outcome."
        Actually, as we said, Matt and I had been very hesitant about mentioning that horrible event, but when we talked with the three, they urged us to do so. Even though Ms. Jones approved the speeches, I knew they needed more work and Matt had agreed when we talked about them on the way to school.
        During the lull, Derrick Armstrong, football hero and student body president, came over. "How's Michael doing?" he asked.
        "He's coming along fine," Matt said. "He actually swam some yesterday."
        "Do you think he might come to school before we finish? I need to talk to him. I know he had to give up being a marshall, but I hoped he would be here."
        "Give him a call. I think he can make it," I said.
        Derrick left to call Michael and I joined Matt, Paula and Eugene. Matt was sitting at the organ, running his fingers over it as if it was my naked body! "Babe, have I been replaced?" I asked in a whiney voice.
        Matt smiled and said, "Not likely, but I tell you, I'm amazed at what this baby can do. I have always heard electronic organs put down and I'd probably choose the Flentrop over this but, man, what I wouldn't give to have this baby. It can do just about anything. Three manuals. I would just love to have it. But right now I guess you have been replaced for a spell since we've got to get the music done."
        Later Matt told me he, Eugene and Paula had told Ms. Jones they would announce the beginning of the ceremony with "Fanfare for the Common Man" and then use Clarke's "Trumpet Tune" instead of the usual "Pomp and Circumstance" which Eugene said the ensemble was having trouble with since they only started work on it yesterday when he was at the falls. The rest of the music they selected--including the recessional--was also from the concert.
        Sure enough, as soon as Ms. Norman got everyone back in place and processional started, a couple mothers went rushing up to Ms. Jones. One was the mother of a daughter who was graduating only by the grace of God and a few points from her teachers. Ms. Norman called a halt just as she shouted, "I don't care how it's done. It can be an eight track tape so far as I am concerned, but my daughter is going to march to the graduation march!"
        Ms. Jones of the icy voice drew herself up to her full height and asked, "And just what is the graduation march?"
        "Don't play dumb with me, Lady!" the mother was shouting now, "You know..." and in her best "my daughter is being mistreated voice" tried to do a bah, bah, bah version of "Pomp and Circumstance".
        "Oh," Ms. Jones said, "you mean "Pomp and Circumstance". I guess if you insist she march to that you need to find a high school that's using it. Most will. We're not!" and turned and walked away as she said, "Get on with it, Norman".
        Then there was a problem because Eugene, Paula and senior members of the chorus and ensemble had trouble getting back to their places after they had done their parts of the program. Finally Ms. Norman, who was in charge, decided the only easy way was to let them sit together and made a change in the strict alphabetical order in which the diplomas were given out. The same loud-mouthed mother and her tag-along raised cain again because their children got pushed further back in the line. Finally Ms Jones had had it with all the fuss and said, "We'll seat the honors students in the front, the chorus and ensemble members who are not honors students--if there be any--directly behind them. We'll do honors in alphabetical order, then members of the chorus and ensemble in alphabetical order and then the remaining students in alphabetical order. Seems to me the honors students and the ensemble and chorus have done enough for Independence to have that bit of preference shown to them. Anyway, that's the way it's going to be!" The two busybodies started to say something when Ms. Jones announced, "The rest of the rehearsal is closed to all except participants. Ladies you are excused."
        "Millicent Willingham will hear about this," Ms. Loud Mouth shouted as she walked out the door. Her poor daughter was embarrassed to tears. Sometimes parents are more concerned about their own image than their children it appeared.
        While Ms. Norman was rearranging students, Derrick came back and spoke with Ms. Jones. I heard her say, "As soon as he's here, we'll discuss it."
        We marched in and out a couple more times, Derrick and I marching straight to the stage rather than sitting in the audience. Eugene and other seniors in the ensemble didn't have to march and Paula and senior members of the chorus peeled off when they reached the risers for their group.
        As we were marching out the last time, Michael came in. Ms. Jones motioned for me, Matt and Derrick. When we reached them, Derrick said, "You all know it is traditional for the president of the student body to introduce the valedictorian--in this case co-valedictorians. However, I spoke with Ms. Jones and I would like for Michael to do that. Michael has done more for this school in a couple or three months than I have done as student body president all year. Frankly, I haven't done shi... anything. I would like to introduce Michael and let him introduce you two."
        "Derrick, what will your classmates think of that?" Michael asked.
        "The ones I have talked to think it's a good idea."
        "You know the program can't be changed," Ms. Jones said.
        "Doesn't bother me," Derrick replied. "But with all the changes made today, I guess the only thing correct is the list of graduates anyway! But, if you like, I'll call Dad. His best friend runs a print shop and I bet we could get new ones. I'll call as soon as you give me the corrected program."
        "What do you three think of Derrick's suggestion?" Ms. Jones asked.
        "I think it's a grand gesture, Derrick," Matt said.
        "So do I."
        "Derrick, if that's what you truly want to do, I am honored, but it's your decision. You have earned the honor," Michael said.
        "That's just it, Michael, I haven't and now it's too late. But I have learned a lesson about the difference between being a leader and having a title. You're on tomorrow, Man!" He started to slap Michael on the back, but stayed his hand just in time.
        "Thanks," Michael smiled, "if you hadn't stopped that hand, I don't think I'd have been able to do anything tomorrow! Now I guess I better get home and get busy trying to find something decent I can say about these two brothers of mine."
        After Michael left, I noticed Derrick looked puzzled. Finally he asked, "Are you two and Michael brothers?"
        "Not by blood, but otherwise, one hundred percent," Matt said.
        Ms. Jones wanted to know if there was anything she needed to do for us. "Just be sure there are two mikes for the speeches because we're doing a dialogue," I said.
        "Glad you reminded me of that. I'll see that it's done. Paula left as soon as she could with that redheaded junior--Jacob--saying 'Time's a'wasting' as she walked out, but if you, Matt and Eugene, can stay a bit, we'll get the program corrected and, Derrick, you can see what you can do."
        "I'll wait outside with Larry," I said and started toward the door, then remembered, "Oh, by the way, Ms. Jones, the Fellowship is having a graduation celebration tomorrow afternoon. We like you to be there if you aren't going to another one."
        "Thanks. I appreciate that, but I suspect that's a time for you young adults."
        "Not at all. We're having a family picnic at the falls. Parents and friends invited."
        "Then I'd be honored. See you at graduation."
        As Ms. Jones went about getting the program corrected, I walked to the parking lot. Larry was sitting in Eugene's car, listening to a tape. I joined him and, as we listened, we started talking about yesterday and how much fun it had been. Then we both got the giggles when Larry brought up the loud-mouthed mother. "I'd like to be a fly on the wall when she decides to dress down Ms. Jones to Millie," Larry laughed. Matt still hadn't joined us and the parking lot was empty except for Eugene's car, Matt's Jeep and one other car I didn't know.
        Matt finally walked out of the building with Eugene and two other seniors. I soon recognized them as Randy and Sandy. When the four of them reached us, we all spoke and Randy said, "We're just telling Eugene how much we appreciate what he did to keep us in school and to allow us to graduate".
        "Well, to tell the truth, we were telling him just how much we appreciated the punishment," Sandy laughed. "Randy and I have been best friends for years, but that was it. I guess both of us were afraid what might happen to our friendship if we told the truth, but after that kiss in the cafeteria, we decided we liked it and, well, we finally admitted we were in love with each other and had been for ages."
        "Sure was easier than the way Matt and I got together," I said and pulled Matt to me for a kiss.
        "I admire your guts--all four of you," Randy said. "I'm afraid we can't be as open as you four. I know I would be put out of the house if my dad found out...."
        "And that would be the least of my troubles," Sandy added. "I know my old man would beat the shit out of me. He does that just for kicks now, especially when he's drunk--which is most of the time. Give him a reason and I don't think he'd know when to stop."
        "Also, we both are football players and I'll bet our scholarships would evaporate if the college found out. I'm sure we would be hounded off the team at best. But at least Sandy and I are going to the same college and we are roommates, so we can be together and what we do behind closed doors--well..." he grinned. "But, again, thanks Eugene, you made two men very happy. And I still can't get over how fast you can put a football player's ass in the dirt. But we've got to run. Laters."
        "Laters," the four of us said.
        "Luke, we better run too. We still have work to do on speeches. See you guys tomorrow," Matt said.
        Matt and I spent the afternoon working on the speeches at his place. We reached the point where we were just fussing over them without making any improvements and I finally said, "Matt, let's call it quits for now and have Yong Jin take a look at them later".
        It was a beautiful spring day so Matt and I decided we'd go for a walk along the river. Of course the falls are a special place, but the river above and below the falls is also beautiful. We walked to the river bridge, climbed down the bank and walked up the river toward the falls. We had our arms about each other's waist and stopped from time to time for a gentle kiss. We weren't, it seemed, in the mood for heavy making out. That was strange until Matt said, "I guess without saying it or even being conscious of it, we're storing up memories, Luke. I feel kinda sad knowing that all we have known and loved is, well, no longer going to be a part of our everyday life. Soon all of this will be very far away from us and I don't think we can ever, really, come back to it."
        "I know what you mean, Babe. It frightens me at times. I thought that this summer was just like other summers--we'd go away to camp or whatever and come back to what we have always known. But even if we were coming back here, we wouldn't be coming back to what we've always known. I mean there'd be no school, no Fellowship--at least for us. All that we're leaving behind. Of course, we'd also be coming back to each other as we've never done before... But we won't be coming back, not back to this place, to the family... not really. And you know what frightens me--still--is that we could have reached this point in our lives, separated and never have been together."
        "But we didn't and we are, Yonghon Tongmu." Matt took me in his arms and kissed me softly, gently, then lowered me to the mossy bank of the river where we lay in each other's arms. Matt was unusually tender as he slowly undressed me. Soon he, too, was lying beside me in all his wonderful, naked, dark beauty. Our love-making was as gentle and soft as the light breeze in the willows above us. Matt started kissing my body, stopping to look up into my eyes and smile the smile which made my world light up. God I loved this man who could be a wild Korean Lakota, but who could also be a gentle warrior making love to me under the canopy of the willows with the soothing sound of the river near by. Even when he took me into his mouth, his love-making was gentle, tender, soft--unrushed and unhurried. When I had given him my gift, he looked into my eyes and said, "We're creating memories, Yonghon Tongmu, memories to last forever".
        In the tenderness of our love, we lay in each others arms, looking into each other's souls until I started making love to my Dark Angel's hard, perfect body. When he filled my mouth with the pure taste of Matt, I drank it, filling my being with the nectar of my love. In the gentle warmth of our love we lay together, whispering things to each other which only appear foolish to those who are not in love.
        As with all good things, our time together had to come to an end so we dressed and walked, holding hands, stopping for a kiss, laughing and enjoying being alive, back to Matt's place. We walked into the kitchen just as Greywolf came in, his hair wet from the shower. "I hope you two were enjoying yourselves while I slaved away in the garden," he laughed.
        "I don't know about your slaving away," Matt joined in the laughter, "but we certainly were enjoying ourselves. Well, kinda. Well, we did enjoy ourselves, but I guess yesterday started us thinking about how our life here is drawing to a close."
        "Yea," I added. "We were just thinking about graduation as the end of another school year until yesterday, but both of us keep thinking that it's not. It's the end of being here in surroundings we know and love, among people we know and love and who love us. All that is about to change. It's kinda a happy-sad time."
        "Yes, it is. For us too," Yong Jin said. "Too soon the house will feel incomplete because you and Matt won't be around. I keep thinking about when I weaned Matt. It was time for him to move on, but nursing him was a pleasure for both of us. He cried the most, but it was a kind of sad time for me as well--and it hurt. But he could hardly have gone to school hanging on my breast."
        "Mom!" Matt exclaimed.
        "It's true, Matt," Greywolf said. "I guess the unfortunate thing is that most people, figuratively, go through life hanging onto a breast. This place and the people you know and love have given you all we can at this time. That doesn't mean the place will no longer be special or that the people will stop loving you, but both will take on a new meaning for you. You can't stop growing, even when you have growing pains--as you will, always."
        "I know it's really none of my business and you can tell me that if you wish," Yong Jin said, "but how did your time with Jens go? Gabrielle told me he was very anxious to talk with the two of you, but had been pretty tight-lipped about it."
        Matt and I told Yong Jin and Greywolf about our talk with Jens and how he had said he considered our love special and welcomed it.
        "I recall how frightened we all were about Jens finding out about you two. I knew he was a good man at heart, but I also knew how hard it was going to be for him to question what he had been taught all his life," Greywolf said. "But I guess I also knew how very much he loved his son and all the rest of the Gang of Four. I am very thankful that he has come to see that love is love and that your love is as deep and precious as it is."
        "Needless to say, I am more than happy with my dad," I said. "He not only has my love, but also more respect than I can tell."
        "Hate to change the subject, but what about the speeches?" Yong Jin asked.
        "We'd like for you to hear them and see what you think," Matt said. "And, by the way, I plan to spend the night with Luke. We kinda didn't get to see how comfortable we would be at his place last night."
        Yong Jin raised an eyebrow as only she can and I laughed. "We worked on the speeches until I had to go to the toilet at 3:30 and when I got back, Matt was asleep on the keyboard! He hardly woke up when I undressed him, just enough for a goodnight kiss."
        After we did a run through of the speeches, Yong Jin said, "I think you've done enough. Put them aside and get to Luke's. And don't play around all night because Matt has to play tomorrow morning. He only has one more time to play before he leaves for the summer."
        Matt and I drove to my place knowing we would sleep as late as possible and wouldn't want to have to walk back to his place for the Jeep.
        After dinner, we took a shower, playing around but keeping everything within bounds. I mean there were much more exciting things to come! After we got our hair dry--I kept threatening to cut mine since getting it dry was a chore, but Matt reminded me that it was one I seldom had to do since he did it and I better not cut a single hair--Matt put on some soft slow music and we danced. Man, how I loved holding his hard body in my arms, his head resting in the crook of my neck and dancing. His hair was free and completely covered his back, even his great butt. As we danced, I reached behind him and took his cheeks in my hands, pulling his hips to mine. Soon I realized that he, as I, was very hard. He nibbled at my ear and then whispered, "Luke Hans Yonghon Tongmu Larsen I love you. I love you. I love you!"
        I raised his head from my neck, looked into his black almond eyes, smiled and said, "Matthew Sarang Hanun Pomul Greywolf, I love you too. Dark Angel, I couldn't love you more if I were twins!" I slipped my hands into his hair and pressed my lips against his again and again. Our open-mouth kisses became more passionate as our tongues started a familiar duel. We were both very hot and very hard when I reached down, swept my Sarang Hanun Pomul into my arms and carried him to my bed.
        I stood over him, drinking in his dark beauty. His hair was a black, black pillow for his smooth beauty. He extended his arms and I fell into them. As I lay atop his body, he grasped two handsful of my hair and pulled my lips to his in a kiss which knew no bounds. We continued kissing each other as he rolled atop my body, his hair--God how I loved his hair--forming that special private world I had grown to love more and more, a world filled with the fragrance of Matt. His hands were all over my body, his mouth and tongue making me hotter and hotter. When he started licking and sucking my nipples, I started groaning. Finally I said, "Dark Angel, I want you. I want to feel you inside me. I want to feel you deep inside me." As I spoke, I managed to twist to one side and pull open the drawer of the night stand where I had placed the lube I had forgotten on our birthday.
        Matt reached in the drawer and took the lube and soon was working it into me with a finger, then two. He continued relaxing me until I finally said, "Babe, I want you now!" After applying more lube to me, he covered Chili Pepper and started gently entering me. "Dark Angel, I am ready. Please!" Matt still moved very slowly, very gently until his Lakota arrow was buried deeply inside me. As he pulled back and then slid in again, he hit a spot I didn't know I had. It felt as though an electric charge of pleasure shot through my whole being. Matt raised my legs to his shoulders as he knelt over me. Again and again his plunging arrow hit my target and I clinched my teeth to keep from shouting as I urged Matt on, "Yes, yes, yes, Love! Faster Matt, faster. Deeper, deeper." His balls had been slapping against me, but now they were drawing into firing position. Suddenly he reached out, grabbed my hair and pushed himself as deep as possible into me. I felt him explode inside as he pulled my lips to his in a crushing kiss while still exploding. I could hold back no longer and felt hot man's seed shoot across my body. As I did, my Dark Angel collapsed on me.
        Both of us exhausted by our love-making, Matt held me tight, Chili Pepper still inside. Exhausted by our climax, yes, but not enough to prevent passionate kissing. Finally, Chili Pepper grew soft and slid from inside me and we lay side by side, gazing into each other's eyes, both smiling, but saying nothing for a long time. Then Matt said, "Luke, I want to make love to you like that until the day we die. You are my life, my reason for living, Yonghon Tongmu."
        "And you mine, Sarang Hanun Pomul. You, my beloved Dark Angel, are the very reason I am living." As we had done at the river, we lay, saying little, just basking in the presence of our love.
        After we had recovered, Matt became my wild Korean Lakota again and was smothering me with kisses. In spite of the fact that only a short time ago he had brought me to a roaring climax, Little Luke made his presence felt and Matt said, "Luke, make love to me. Make the stars sing and the planets dance."
        Foreplay is wonderful and exciting and great! But there comes a time when it is not enough. "Luke, I want you NOW!" Matt said. "I am ready for you NOW!" And he was. I hope I never have to choose between being inside Matt and having him inside me. Both are out-of-this-world experiences and I want to have both as long as I live. As I approached my climax, I took Chili Pepper in my hand and brought Matt along with me. As I felt my hot seed pulse into my love, he covered my hand with his.
        Again, we were both exhausted and I collapsed on Matt's body, placing my head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. We were silent for a long time and then Matt started laughing. He started laughing! "Bright Angel, do you remember when we glued ourselves together?"
        Recalling that morning, I got the giggles and the two of us, fresh from some damn hot sex, were laughing like two ten-year-olds. I finally gained some control and said, "I guess this means we are no longer uncomfortable making love at Jens' place".
        "I think it means we have also learned the Michael and Mary Kathryn trick of playing when making love."
        "Maybe not when, but surely after," I answered.
        "Well, if we don't want to be siamese twins, I guess we'd better clean up," Matt said. We took a shower, went through the hair-drying routine--I was amazed to find Matt really needed to wash his hair. I mean, I knew it was long, but to get--well, you know. I had grabbed clean sheets out of the linen closet as we left the bathroom, and we changed the bed. As we were making it up, Matt laughed and asked, "Do you think Gabrielle would believe the sheets are the result of a wet dream?"
        "If she does, I have a bridge in Brooklyn I want to sell her."
        We crawled into bed together; the fresh sheets felt delightful against my bare skin and the fragrance of my Matt filled me. "God, I love you so much I ache," I said as I kissed my Dark Angel tenderly.
        "And I love you so much I feel great my Bright Angel."
        We cuddled together, looking lovingly into each other's eyes and drifted off to sleep, dreaming of a long, wonderful, as-yet-unknown life together.
        Mary Kathryn knocked on the door and called to us, "If the two of you can drag your asses out of bed long enough, breakfast is in fifteen minutes and you know you're not leaving here alive without breakfast. Mom will see to that!"
        We both hopped out of bed and dashed for the bathroom. Mary Kathryn was standing outside the door and said, as we rushed by, "I see part of you is awake if not all of you," pointing to our erect cocks as she laughed and started downstairs.
        We took a quick shower, taking care to keep our hair dry and, in what had become a routine, I shaved while Matt dressed for church. As soon as I was dressed, we went downstairs where breakfast was waiting. As we sat down Matt looked at Jens and said, "Thanks, Jens."
        Dad smiled and responded, "From the smiles on your faces, I deduce that you found sleeping here comfortable."
        "Both before and after we fell asleep," Matt blushed.
        "I'm pleased," was all Dad said.
        Matt and I went to St. Mary's and I stood behind him for the choir warm-up, occasionally singing along softly. Matt tells me that, contrary to my belief, I have a nice singing voice, but I don't believe it.
        At announcement time, Fr. Tom called the four St. Mary's seniors to the chancel steps and gave us each a small box. "These are graduation gifts from St. Mary's to four outstanding seniors," he said. "I hope you will wear them proudly knowing they represent our appreciation and love." Inside each box was a beautifully wrought small silver cross and chain.
        As I turned to leave, he said, "Hold on Matt". Facing the congregation, he added, "As all of you know, Matt became organist at St. Mary's when he was about ten. We had a couple years, I guess, of organ sans pedals--first because Matt couldn't really reach them. Then, when he could, we were still sans pedals because Matt had to be one of the most awkward eleven- or twelve-year-olds I have ever known. But he grew and he changed and even Millie admits he's better with his feet than she ever was--a high compliment because 1) Millie hates to admit anyone is better at anything than she, and 2) because she was--and I suspect we will soon learn, still is--good."
        "When Matt started playing, Greywolf and Yong Jin were determined that he wasn't going to be spoiled by money and the vestry of St. Mary's was determined that we wouldn't engage in underpaid child labor. Unknown to Matt, a plan was hatched. Matt, had you been more attentive to the budget of St. Mary's, you might have questioned why we had an organ fund. Kinda strange for a parish which has more organ than most think is needed. Well, the arrangement was that you would be paid what you got as an allowance--and Greywolf was pretty cheap on that count, wasn't he?"
        Matt laughed and nodded.
        "The fact of the matter was, the money to pay an organist, less an amount equal to your allowance, was placed in the organ fund. That has remained true for eight years--accruing interest at a very favorable rate due to the market I might add. Greywolf increased your allowance as you grew older--not enough to please you, I'm sure--and the stipend for the organist was also increased each year. The organ fund was to be yours when you left for college. But, of course, you don't need money for college since you and your three classmates earned--and I want to emphasize earned--amazing scholarships. After talking with your parents, the vestry--wisely, I believe--decided to spend the organ fund for an organ. Frankly, I was amazed at how much was in the fund and we decided to go all the way. You are now the proud owner of a Rogers 950 with all the trimmings." Fr. Tom then handed Matt another small box.
        Matt opened the box and took out a small brass plate and a note. He unfolded the note, looked up with tears in his eyes and read, "To be attached to the side of the organ now sitting in the auditorium of Independence High School." He then read the engraving on the brass, "To Matthew Sarang Hanun Pomul Greywolf, Organist of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Concord, 1987-1995." Matt couldn't contain himself. As the congregation stood and applauded, Matt grabbed Fr. Tom in a great hug, rushed down the center aisle to hug his mom and dad, then grabbed me in a hug. I thought he was going to kiss me right in the middle of St. Mary's, but I guess he suddenly realized that would probably cause Fr. Tom problems. Instead, as he hugged me, he whispered, "Now I have two organs I love!" Damn, I turned beet red!
        "Matt, moving an organ and getting it properly set up is not an easy or inexpensive task. Accordingly, there is money in the fund to move and install the organ in your home after today's graduation. Further, it will be transported and installed in what I believe is a house belonging to The Oberlin Five, Inc. when you leave at the end of the summer. It is something you have earned by your devotion to this congregation, your hard work and your sense of responsibility. Enjoy it with our blessings."
        When church was over, the coffee hour was actually a grand reception for the four of us and everyone wanted to talk to all of us. It was a delightful madhouse, but it did mean that we had little time before graduation. However, the food at the reception made lunch unnecessary, so we weren't too rushed. That is, we weren't rushed, but Matt was hopping around like a kid waiting to open presents Christmas morning. Finally he could stand it no longer and said, "Luke, would you like to go with me to school?"
        "Matt, it's only 12:30! Graduation isn't until 2:00. We were told to be there by 1:30. What's your rush?" I asked as if I didn't know.
        "I want to go see my baby," he laughed.                        

 Part Forty-two

 Luke

         When we arrived at the school, Ms. Jones met us with a huge smile on her face. "I thought you'd get here a bit early," she said. "Matt, thanks for loaning the organ, even if you didn't know it was yours." As we left the house, Greywolf had handed me a small toolbox and, while Matt went wild on the organ, I affixed the brass plate to the side of the instrument.
        Five minutes after Matt started playing, I saw Paula, Eugene, and the entire chorus and ensemble start sneaking out from backstage. Obviously they had been tipped off by Fr. Tom. Matt was still unaware of their presence when he started playing the Gounod "Sanctus". He hadn't finished more than a bar or two when the ensemble and chorus joined in, scaring Matt out of his wits. When he turned around, all started applauding and cheering. Their cheers soon changed to Lakota war whoops.
        The whole group got into the music for graduation full swing and was having a great time until Ms. Jones said, "Ok, enough. It's time to get dressed for the big show." We left the auditorium and went to the room set aside for the chorus and ensemble, where the seniors got into their graduation gowns. Michael and all the Fellowship were there, waiting for us. When we were dressed and ready, Ms. Jones held up her hand for silence and said, "I want you to know I am very proud and honored to be your principal. The people in this room have made Independence High School what it was intended to be. I am eternally grateful to all of you. Now--let's get this show on the road!"
        Graduation and commencement--an ending and a beginning had started.
        Matt and the ensemble took their places and started playing--and they didn't play "Pomp and Circumstance". I noticed that the daughter of Mother Loud-mouth was in line. I guess Mommy had decided graduation without "Pomp and Circumstance" was better than no graduation at all. The faculty marched in behind Ms. Jones and Mr. Allan, all dressed in academic regalia--gowns and colorful hoods. Immediately behind them were Derrick in his cap and gown and Michael dressed in the unofficial school uniform. The two young men, of course, marched directly to the stage with the administrators and faculty as did I. As soon as everyone was in place, the senior members of the ensemble joined their classmates while the underclassmen went to their reserved section. Eugene and Paula, of course, sat with the honors students as both, along with Larry, were wearing honors insignia. Matt came on stage and sat beside me. I wanted to reach out and grasp his hand, but refrained.
        After Ms. Jones welcomed the audience to the 1995 graduation exercises of Independence High School, Derrick went to the podium and said, "Ms. Jones, Mr. Allan, faculty, students, parents and friends, today a long-standing tradition of Independence High School is being broken. Traditionally, the president of the student body has introduced the valedictorian and salutatorian. But a young man, a sophomore, broke another long-standing tradition at Independence this spring. Rising seniors, as if by divine right, have always run for student body president for the coming year. This year, a sophomore ran for the office and not only won, but won by a landslide. He won because he had shown what a leader is, and that was recognized by his fellow students. The student body president-elect has, through his leadership, done more for Independence High School and the community than, I suspect, all the past student body presidents--myself included--have done. It is my expressed wish that he, not I, make the introductions this year. Michael Andrews."
        As Michael stood up to walk to the mike, the entire senior class stood en masse and started applauding, and soon the entire audience joined them. Michael nodded in acknowledgement of their applause, but it didn't stop. A few seconds later, he held up his hand for silence but the applause went on. The faculty had remained seated until Ms. Jones stood and started applauding. She was immediately joined by the entire faculty. Michael turned and looked around at them and started turning red. The applause continued and Michael said what Michael always says: "Holy shit!". Fortunately, he was still facing away from the mike and the applause drowned out everything, but Luke, Greywolf and I knew what he said and all three cracked up. Finally, Michael leaned into the mike and said, "Enough already! I have a picnic to attend when this is over and I'd like to make it before dark!" The audience laughed heartily, but gradually stopped applauding and sat down.
        "Ms. Jones, Mr. Allan..." Michael did the proper introduction and then said, "I am deeply honored at Derrick's gesture. While some wonderful things have happened at Independence this year and I may, in some way, have provided some of the leadership which helped bring them about, I take credit for them in no way. Others also have been leaders who stood for right and brought about changes. But without those who chose to follow good leadership, nothing would have happened. Leaders are leaders--for good or bad--because they have followers. Any good that may have been accomplished came about because good and decent people made wise choices in the leaders they followed."
        "I take special delight and am doubly honored to introduce the 1995 Independence High School valedictorians. There is no salutatorian. I am told that Ms. Jones and Ms. Norman used every conceivable means of calculating grades to be able to choose between the two men who will address you today, but each time came up with the same result, a tie." Michael turned toward Ms. Jones, smiled, and said, "I could have told you that. There is no way to choose between my brothers. Well, actually, you could have chosen the older over the younger. While they have the same birthday, one is fifteen minutes older than the other--and reminds us of that when it is to his advantage!"
        "The criterion for choosing valedictorians is simply grade point average. Given the fact that grades are now calculated to the second decimal point--utter foolishness since the original grade is a whole number and we all know or will know about significant numbers before we get out of the ninth grade--it is amazing that two students would end up in a tie. It is more amazing that the grade point average of these two men is 4.00, a perfect one." Michael again turned, this time to look at Matt and me, and said, "If they only knew how far from perfect you two are, but I won't tell!" The audience loved it.
        "As you will be told again later, their hard work and discipline as students is not going unrewarded. Both--along with Larry Watley, Eugene Willingham and Paula Wright--have received full scholarships to Oberlin College, not a mean feat. But in addition to the usual full scholarship, the five had also received a scholarship to pay for their books and fees." There was thunderous applause at Michael's announcement.
        "Grades make them valedictorians, but grades do not make a man or woman. It is other qualities which make them worthy of honor and respect as men and women. Personally, they have shown me qualities of love and concern, care and responsibility my entire life. They were patient when I wanted to learn to ride a bicycle, learn to swim, drive a car and in a thousand other things. They have demonstrated their love, sometimes tough love, throughout my life. When I was wrong, they let me know it. When I was right, they supported me without question. And that is far more important than grades."
        "The same has been true of their relationship to Independence High School. Their contributions to life here are well known. I need only mention the state and national recognition they brought to Independence--recognition given to no other school in this state, past or present. The concert and exhibition held a few weeks ago, for which these two men were responsible, received state and national radio and TV coverage. In connection to that, I am sure Paula Wright and the chorus, together with Eugene Willingham and the ensemble, would demand I mention the fact that their groups were invited to be a part of what was to be a recital by one of the valedictorians--a one man show. When he learned the chorus and ensemble would not be having a spring concert, rather than keep his recital as an ego trip, he asked that they become a part of it, making it a concert the likes of which Concord had never witnessed. Surely these two deserve to be honored by Independence for putting this school and this town on the map."
        "For these, and reasons too numerous to count, I am deeply honored and humbled, overjoyed and delighted, to present to you my brothers and the 1995 co-valedictorians of Independence High School, Matthew Sarang Hanun Pomul Greywolf and Luke Hans Yonghon Tongmu Larsen."
        I took a minute to recover from Michael's introduction, especially with his adding Yonghon Tongmu to my name. Matt looked at me and smiled, reached out for my hand and the two of us walked to the podium.
        Matt turned to Michael who was now seated behind us and said, "Thank you, Lil' Bro. Glad you could find something nice to say about us." We all three had huge smiles on our faces.
        Matt started our speech.
        MATT: "Ms. Jones, Mr. Allan, faculty, parents--especially our parents David and Margaret Andrews, Yong Jin and Patanka St. Michael Greywolf, Gabrielle and Jens Larsen--and friends.
        The human soul, it has been said, is divided between good and evil, right and wrong, prejudice and love, bigotry and acceptance, between, if you will, darkness and light. Darkness and light--these are in constant battle to determine whether life and the human spirit will prevail over death and nothingness. This year--especially this spring semester--has seen the battle between darkness and light raging in our school and our community.
        LUKE: While the war between darkness and light will never be over so long as there are human beings on earth, darkness fought well in Concord and Independence High School this year. And light is winning.
        MATT: Looking back, it began when the bigotry and prejudice of students in this school and this town drove a young man to utter despair because he was different. Daily taunting, name-calling, shunning was his life at Independence. But his despair was not enough to satisfy darkness. Bigotry and prejudice led three other young men, classmates of his, to beat and rape him. Raped and beaten because he was different, he was rejected by his parents because he was gay. Beaten by his father to a point near death, thrown out of his home, he was, literally, left in the street to die. Darkness had won a victory at Independence, a victory which found tacit approval by the Concord community when those guilty of the act were given no more than a slap on the wrist for their deed--they received probation. Yes, darkness claimed a major victory.
        [As Matt said those words, I looked at the seated seniors and saw the three weeping openly and wondered if we had made the right decision.]
        LUKE: But light was not defeated. A kind uncle rescued Gregory, took him to another state where he could enter a new school and have a new and better life.
        MATT: But darkness was not finished. It was not satisfied with the its victory. It demanded more and it won more. In one way or another, students at his new school learned Gregory was gay and the abuse and harassment started afresh. Again, he was hounded because he was different until finally, in utter despair, he saw no way out except the final--and dreadful way--he took his own life. Gregory was a sacrifice to the hatred and bigotry so loved by darkness. Yet even that was not enough to satisfy darkness. An administrator at this very school, in announcing to the student body Gregory's final desperate act, proclaimed Gregory should have expected what he got because of his choice of lifestyle. How could anyone believe Gregory chose to be hounded, literally, to his death? And how did his lifestyle warrant his death? The proclamation by the administrator implied, if not gave, his approval to the acts which drove Gregory to his death. Darkness celebrated and laughed at the foolishness of his servants.
        LUKE: But darkness did not win. Yes, Gregory was dead, a sacrifice to hatred and prejudice, a sacrifice which cost the world we know not what and can never know, for Gregory is dead, but darkness did not win. The administrator who had said Gregory should have expected what he received was immediately challenged by Patanka St. Michael Greywolf. Greywolf's challenge galvanized Michael Andrews, a sophomore, into action and he began an immediate student protest, a protest which led to the dismissal of the administrator. Further, Michael called upon the students of Independence to acknowledge their complicity in Gregory's fate. He called for a service of public repentance by the students of Independence, a service which was attended by most of the students of this high school. Those who gathered were students, such as myself, who had essentially stood by in silence when Gregory was hounded by abusive words and taunts in the halls and classrooms of this school--classrooms in which we were supposed to be learning what it means to be concerned human beings in a world of diversity. Darkness was not laughing. Light was shining for us all.
        Further, since Gregory's body had been cremated without ceremony, Michael called for a memorial service for him. The cost had been high--as it always is. In this case it cost the life of a young man of unknown potential, but light triumphed.
        MATT: But darkness and evil had not finished. The battle between darkness and light is not like a ball game--win or lose, it comes to an end--no, the battle continued. The same three young men who had attacked Gregory once again attacked some Independence students. Now legally adults, their probation was revoked and their attack was so outrageous they were charged with many serious offenses including attempted murder. Seeing nothing but emptiness in their future, the three tried to take their lives. Darkness had won a major victory and he laughed.
        LUKE: But not for long. Fortunately, the three young men were not successful in their suicide attempt. Alive, they revealed a well-known pattern. They abused because they had been abused. Perhaps out of fear at first, they revealed that they had been tools of a man who claimed to represent all that was right and good and holy. They had been victimized by one who claimed to serve light, but was a true servant of darkness. The young men who had beaten and raped Gregory had been raped and abused by a man who condemned those of us who are different. Their tormentor was a man who operated a child pornography business netting him hundreds of thousands of dollars. They were not only the victims of his sexual abuse, but also caught in his web and forced to make pornographic videos distributed world wide. Darkness had a powerful servant, but the young men chose to serve light. And because some people care and serve light through providing mental hospitals, the three were sent to the state mental hospital for treatment, and then to a halfway house where their treatment continues. Maybe we complain about taxes, but your tax dollars worked serving light, seeking to repair the damage done to the three young men. Because of their treatment, they are here today. They have a hard road ahead--no-one said living in the light was easy--and darkness has already exacted a tremendous price from them. It took their childhood, but light is winning their future for them.
        MATT: But the three were not the only ones who suffered from the darkness of that man. Eugene Joyce, simply because he took part in the service of repentance and memorial for Gregory, was beaten and left to die by his father--a father whose mind had been poisoned by the very man who had raped the three and who had also raped Eugene. Don't you know darkness was joyous at the possibility of destroying one as talented as Eugene? Darkness was pleased.
        LUKE: But darkness was not to have the four. All chose to serve light at a high cost to themselves. They all testified against the man who had victimized them. Their abuser will be a very old man before he sees the world--if he ever does--except through bars and razor wire. And justice is not finished with him yet. Light prevailed.
        Eugene, in spite of his nightmare and his father's condemnation of him as a liar, testified. Light had found, in him, a willing servant. Eugene was adopted by a loving woman, Millicent Willingham, and as a result is not only graduating with honors today but also, together with Matthew Greywolf and Paula Wright and the chorus and ensemble of this school, won honors no other school in this state has received. Eugene rose from the depths where darkness tried to keep him. Light was victorious.
        MATT: But darkness was not defeated. As Concord and Independence were celebrating the victory of light brought about by the concert and exhibition, darkness struck again. Operating out of hatred and prejudice, again with minds poisoned by the same man who had raped the young men and who had made himself wealthy selling child pornography, four young men and four young women plotted to destroy the work and life of Luke Larsen. Their leader slashed a painting in the exhibition while yelling slurs against the artist. When Michael Andrews again stood up for what is right and sought to prevent the destruction of the painting, he was slashed so badly there was little hope for his survival. And darkness laughed and laughed as Michael lay dying.
        LUKE: But Michael's death was not to be. Students and parents of this school lined up to give blood because there was not enough to save Michael. Literally gallons of blood were shed for Michael, shed as surely as if it had been shed on the battlefield--and it was. It was on the battlefield between darkness and light. Students maintained a vigil, a vigil marked by candle light when night came. Light was shining in the darkness. Darkness discovered light had many warriors at Independence High School.
        MATT: These are but some of the battles darkness has fought. Defeated in major battles, darkness, as always, becomes more subtle, more cunning, using small attacks to undermine light. When LaTisha Gregory took a stand against those who had slashed the painting and Michael, racial slurs were hurled at her. She was called "nigger", a coach--a so-called leader of young men--encouraged the vandalism of campaign posters, a student was attacked because he was gay. Subtle so-called jokes, slurs, name-calling and put-downs are still heard in these halls--and will be until the warriors of light demand they stop. Darkness is ever with us.
        LUKE: But so is light. LaTisha has a major scholarship to study jazz, the coach has been dismissed in disgrace, the student attackers have learned a painful lesson about violence. [I looked at Eugene and saw a huge smile on his face and on Larry's as well. Randy and Sandy were practically laughing out loud. Ben and Marc were looking very sullen.] Shortly you will learn of the accomplishments of the students graduating today. There is little doubt that this graduating class has been given more and larger scholarships than ever given to a graduating class at Independence. There is no question this class will set a record for SAT scholars. Every student in the careers program has received a job offer and/or apprenticeship. The present is a witness to the victory of light this year at Independence.
        MATT: But the war is not over. As surely as Independence exists next year, there will be new battles. Hatred, prejudice and bigotry do not take a holiday. Darkness waits for the smallest chance to attack. Darkness smirks.
        LUKE: Yet as this class graduates, we leave behind mighty warriors of light. We leave an administration which will not tolerate hatred and bigotry, a dedicated administration which has already demonstrated it will not tolerate darkness, doing battle against it whenever it appears, an administration which will give all the support it can to the light. We leave behind a faculty which has witnessed what it can do and knows it cannot do less in the future. We leave behind a student body president who knows well the power of darkness and who has demonstrated his stance as a warrior for right. And this is most important of all, we leave behind a student body which has shown through difficult times that those who question the values and responsibility among the youth of today are fools, tools in the hands of darkness.
        MATT: Darkness has fought a good fight this year at Independence and will continue to fight. Never forget that. Never forget that.
        LUKE: But light has triumphed! And light will triumph in the years to come because we know it can and we know it must. Thank you.
        There was deadly silence then the audience went wild. Michael hopped from his chair and ran to the podium to hug both of us. Ms. Jones was right behind him. The seniors, who had been applauding wildly started war whoops and when I turned to look, Jake Hilliard, Danny Elrod and Buddy Johnson were running toward the stage. They ran up the steps three at a time and all three embraced me and Matt, crying for all they were worth. Matt and I hugged them as the seniors and other students continued the war whoops.
        Once Ms. Jones got order restored, Ms. Norman started announcing the scholarships and apprenticeships. While I had mentioned them in my speech, I was bowled over when I heard them named one by one. Independence's seniors had, indeed, set an amazing new record.
        The rest of the ceremony was just the usual--giving out awards--of which there were many--and diplomas. Matt returned to his new toy and the recessional marked the end of the graduation ceremony. An ending had just taken place. Suddenly I realized I was in unknown territory. Matt walked up to me and said, "I feel like that little kid I was twelve years ago when the next day was my first day at school. I had thought about it, been told about it, but I was frightened because it was new and unknown."
        "So do I, Sarang Hanun Pomul, so do I."

 Matt

        A soon as we could get away, Matt and I, Eugene and Larry, Paula and Jacob left school and headed for my place. When we got there, the rest of the Fellowship had already changed into shorts and shirts for the picnic. We five seniors rushed upstairs and did the same. When Mom saw us she said, "You have changed! We all wanted pictures of you seniors in your caps and gowns at the falls."
        "No problem, Yong Jin," Luke said as he slipped on his gown and once again tried to balance his cap atop his blond Afro.
        "By the way," Michael said as we left the house, "I learned nothing was planned for Jake, Danny and Buddy--their parents have more or less abandoned them--so I invited them to our picnic. They weren't sure they would come...."
        "Would you?" Bill asked. "That would take a hell of a lot of guts. I mean, don't get me wrong, I hope they come. A lot of people are going to have to reach out to them if they are to make it, but it sure won't be easy for them to show up at a celebration where the people they might see as having put them in jail will be."
        "Yea," Linda said, "but if they have made any progress at all, they know that our pressing charges against them was their only hope for salvation". It's easy to forget most of the time that Linda has a good brain, then she comes out with an insight like that.
        "Well, if they decide to come, Ms. Jones will be bringing them."
        One of the nice things about living where we do is that there is little traffic so we felt free to hold hands and walk down the middle of road toward the falls. The gate put in for David's and Margaret's wedding was kept closed except when necessary. When we reached the fence, we all crawled through rather than open the gate, only Matt and Paula getting their gowns caught on the barbs. As I bent to untangle Matt's gown I said, "Better a throw-away gown, Lover, than your face," and kissed him.
        When we reached the falls, all the parents wanted to make pictures and we were posing first one place and then the other. Everyone was careful to not get too much in the picture because the four guys looked kinda silly with bare legs below their gowns. But leave it to Millie--she kept having us move back and when she made a picture said, "I think I'll have that one made into a poster and call it 'Barefoot Graduates'". Well, we were barefoot. We had kicked off our shoes as soon as we reached the falls.
        Mom, Gabrielle, Margaret and Millie had started getting the food laid out. Paula's and Larry's moms were helping. Soon people started coming in. When Dr. and Mrs. Walker arrived, they were carrying two gift-wrapped packages. "You can put those on one of the tables over there," Millie said. I looked where she pointed and there were a couple tables with name tags for graduation gifts. Before the day was over, it would be piled high.
        Suddenly I had a sinking feeling. I turned to Luke and said, "Luke, I forgot to give..."
        "We forgot to give each other our birthday presents! Damn!"
        Greywolf heard us and laughed and said, "From the looks on your faces the next morning, I doubt that very seriously". I blushed and Luke laughed. "Seems each of you gave yourself to the other. Pretty big birthday present I should think. Save the other for Thursday night and the party."
        "Makes sense," Luke said. "You know, Sarang Hanun Pomul, we forgot just about everything that night!"
        "I did, everything except you."
        All this was said as the five of us got lined up in a cap and gown, barefooted receiving line as people came. Chelsea and Gladys gave each of us a hug as they came down the line. Fr. Tom said to Jacob, who was standing behind Paula, "Young Man, I understand you have captured the heart of the prettiest and most talented woman in the graduating class. You are to be commended on your taste in women." Jacob blushed and Paula laughed. Uncle Michael and Mr. Stephenson shook hands with all us men and hugged Paula, giving her a kiss on the cheek. I was surprised to see Mr. Fox. He was with a beautiful young woman he introduced to us as Ms. Paris then said, "So all the stockholders of the Oberlin Five, Inc. are here. Some serious investing you are doing. Think you might do some for me?" he laughed. Several other people came, some friends of Paula's I did not know. Several teachers came. When Mr. Mitchell came, Luke said, "The man deserves a cheer." We were happy to oblige. Ms. Norman came with her husband. Strange how you never think teachers have a life outside of school. Mr. Allan was also with his wife--a real looker. In all I guess about fifty people showed up in addition to the Family.
        It seemed we had done our social duty when Ms. Jones appeared, followed by Jake, Buddy and Danny. The three seemed hesitant, but when they reached us, we greeted them like long-lost friends. I'm sure all of us were thinking about Bill's statement that if they were to make it, people had to reach out to them. And, man, it did take guts to show up.
        "Ok, one more picture, then we eat," Millie said. "You three, borrow a cap and gown and get over here by the falls." The three complied--I mean Millie had spoken, what choice did they have?
        The food--need it be said?--was excellent. Soon older and younger adults fell on it like a plague of locust. I mean it was almost 5:00 and we hadn't eaten anything after the church reception. Soon everyone was groaning from having eaten too much. People were sitting down in groups talking, then getting up and moving to a different group. Luke and I were sticking close together. I saw Jens smile at us once and, when we walked over to him, he said, "I guess no-one would know you were on your honeymoon from the sad look on your faces," and laughed.
        Luke looked over to where Mr. Mitchell was standing alone for the moment and said, "Matt, I think this would be a good time to thank Mr. Mitchell". We walked over and Luke said, "Mr. Mitchell, there is no way Matt and I can ever thank you enough for your faith in us but, even more than that, I'll never forget you admonishing us to take time just to enjoy being alive. That's meant a great deal to me especially since... well... well... since I tried not to live. Calculus I might have been able to live without, but that lesson I..."
        "We," I interjected.
        "We needed to endure all that has happened since you first gave it to us. Thanks." Luke grabbed Mr. Mitchell in a bear hug which he returned, then I hugged him as well.
        "A teacher lives for such moments," he said. "They are rare, but worth the wait." Mary Kathryn suddenly yelled, "Hey, you guys going to open presents or what?" None of us needed a second invitation. There were all kinds of gifts.
        Millie gave all five of us huge down parkas with fur trimmed hoods. We put them on over shorts and stood, barefooted. Everyone started laughing. "Laugh now," she said, "but next winter in Ohio you'll love me to death. I've been there!"
        One gift was addressed to the Oberlin Five and Paula got to open it. It was from all our parents and was a real nice digital camera. "We expect pictures from you all next year," Paula's mom said.
        When we had opened all our gifts, there were three packages left. They were addressed to Danny, Buddy and Jake. Mary Kathryn handed the packages to them. They seemed stunned for a moment, then started opening the gifts slowly. Inside were three very nice watches, all different. "Who're they from?" Mary Kathryn asked.
        "The card just says, 'Good luck and we're pulling for you.' It's not signed," Danny said. "Thanks to all of you for everything."
        "Ok, folks," Paula shouted, "It's time to get... " she paused and started taking off her clothes! I think all the Fellowship was standing with their mouths open as she continued, "in the water!" She started laughing like mad as she revealed a swim suit which showed off her stunning figure. Jacob gave a wolf whistle, stripped off his shorts--also revealing a swim suit--and the two of them raced to the top of the falls where Jacob grabbed Paula for a passionate kiss just before they dived into the basin.
        "If you forgot to bring swim wear," Greywolf said, "I think you might find something that fits in one of the baskets over here. Women to the cane brake to the right, men to the left." Matt and I had to dig out trunks from the basket. Danny, Buddy and Jake were standing back, but Luke tossed them trunks and soon the basin was full of young and old.
        Michael was standing in the water when David and Margaret walked in. "Guess Mom won't be doing any diving anytime soon," he said. "My two sisters are showing right well, don't you think?"
        It was pretty obvious that Margaret's figure had started undergoing a significant change.
        All the kids were diving from the top of the falls except Michael. Luke, Jacob, Bill and I were waiting for Michael to get out of the way below, when Danny, Jake and Buddy came up. Luke said, "Glad you guys decided to come. I know it wasn't easy."
        We all dived and, when we got into the basin, cut-to-the-chase Michael said, "Glad you guys showed up. I know it took a lot of guts."
        "Yea, it took more than I thought I had," Buddy said. "I wouldn't have except Ms. Jones kept insisting. She said we had to begin to associate with people again and knew that it would take guts and some real determination. But it also took a lot of heart and forgiveness for you to invite us."
        "Well, that's what it's all about, I think," Michael said. "Maybe we can talk about that. The adults will be leaving soon."
        "I think we would like that," Buddy said after reflecting for a minute or two. "I would anyway." About that time, the adults did start leaving and Ms. Jones asked, "Are you guys ready to go?"
        "I guess it'll have to wait," Buddy said. "Sorry, because now seems a good time and place."
        "It is," Michael said. "Here's where we come to be alone and think, or come to talk out things. Yes, this is a good place."
        "Ms. Jones," Bill said, "Linda and I can take the guys home if that's all right.'
        "I'm not sure. I had to sign them out of the halfway house. I'm not sure it would be permitted."
        "I'll call and see," David said. He was never far from his pager and cell phone. The guys gave him the number and he called. He talked for several minutes, then still holding the phone he said, "Couldn't get permission for you three to go back with Bill, but if an adult will take responsibility..."
        "May I use your phone?" Chelsea asked, and took it when David nodded. "I want to talk with these guys anyway."
        While Chelsea was on the phone, Greywolf walked to the edge of the basin after he got dressed and said, "Think you fellows could load everything? David and Yong Jin have gone to the house to get the vans so we can carry stuff back."
        "Sure," Bill answered for all of us, and we climbed out of the water and started gathering up things. By the time we had the first load to the meadow, David and Mom had the vans waiting. We quickly loaded them, then Bill said, "We'll walk to the house and help unload."
        "You can do that later," Greywolf said, "Why don't enjoy the falls a bit longer? Matt, remember you have to move the furniture in the den so there will be a place for the organ."
        "We'll all help," Jacob volunteered.
        "Well, take your time at the falls. It will still be here when you finish."
        It was arranged for Chelsea and Gladys to take the guys back to what would be their home for the foreseeable future, the halfway house, and she came over to the edge of the basin.
        "Guys, I've been hatching a plot and would like to talk to you."
        "We also wanted to talk to the others," Danny said. Soon all three of them, the Fellowship and Gladys and Chelsea were sitting on blankets on the beach.
        Danny opened the conversation, "I guess what I wanted to say--what we wanted to say--to you guys--and Paula, Linda and Mary Kathryn--is that we are sorry for what we tried to do to you. We have been in pretty intensive therapy and gotten a lot of shit--pardon ladies--straightened out. Buddy, Jake and I have all talked about why we did what we did and I think we know why--that doesn't excuse it or change it or make it right. Also, it doesn't mean we don't still have some of the same irrational thoughts and feelings."
        "Yea, we were all filled with rage over what had been done and was being done to us and we felt helpless against McBride so the rage got directed elsewhere--where it didn't belong. Today I saw all your friends--old and young--around you celebrating your graduation and when I saw how happy your parents were, I felt rage rising up in me--against you. I found myself becoming enraged because you had everything and I had nothing. You were being loved and I was hated. Didn't make sense that I was enraged against you folks, but I was. The difference was that I recognized what was going on inside and was able to stop it. Sometimes I still can't," Jake said quietly.
        "Eugene, I find it very hard not to direct my rage at you,' Buddy said. "You were in the same boat with us and you escaped. That makes me feel weak and rotten. Why couldn't I have been strong enough to escape? But it wasn't to be." He, then the other two, started telling us about the whole rotten mess with McBride. Unlike Eugene, he had been giving them drugs and alcohol when they were mere kids--with predictable results. McBride had them right where he wanted them. Suddenly the three were telling us horror stories of how they were abused. The videos often showed them, they said, being absolute animals to each other because that's what McBride's customers wanted, but they stuck together because they were all they had. McBride pimped for them, often giving them to older men who were into every kind of perverted sex. It got so graphic that suddenly I was sick to my stomach. I jumped up and ran into the cane brake where I started throwing up my guts. About the time I was going into dry heaves, Chelsea appeared. She had a wet towel which she applied to my forehead and gradually I stopped heaving.
        "I guess I'm just a wuss," I said.
        "No, you're a sensitive human being whose sensitivity hits him in the stomach. Matt, I'm sorry you had to hear all that... well... I guess I'm not. When a person gets a boil, it has to be lanced and drained of the pus and corruption inside. I know those three guys have spilled out the same sick mental pus in their therapy sessions, but I suspect there is a major difference between that and pouring it out to your peers and to those your mental and emotional illness has hurt. I think all of you have done them a great favor, allowing them to purge themselves of an infection of the mind as powerful as any of the body. Frankly, I have seen just about everything I thought, but I'll admit, I haven't come as close to being sick as I was today in years.... Are you ready to go back?" I nodded.
        When we reached the group, Mary Kathryn, Linda and Paula each were holding one of the three, all of whom were bawling like babies. As the three women--man, we were lucky to have three such strong women in our midst--held the three former tough guys, stroking their hair, Danny, Buddy and Jake gradually calmed down. Strange as it might seem, I noticed all of us guys were sitting quietly, patiently. Sometimes, I guess, a woman's touch is what is needed and we knew it.
        The three finally gained control of themselves and Chelsea said, "Fellows, I have talked with the director of the halfway house and with your therapists and all agree that if you are willing, you can work in the hospice. It won't be easy. You'll be dealing with people who are dying and know it. You'll be doing some pretty unpleasant work--changing diapers on adults, cleaning them when they soil themselves, feeding people who can't do it themselves. But I think you might draw strength from those who are facing certain death, but who are dealing with who and where they are so you can learn who you are and where you choose to be headed. You'll still live at the halfway house, but one of you will be on night duty and sleep at the hospice--if you get any sleep. In return, the hospice will pay you a small, very small, stipend to get what you have to have. And a bit more. Your therapy will be paid for as long as you need it--Judge Snow has seen to that--but you'll need money for college. A generous supporter of the hospice had agreed to pay your expenses at Lexington Community College so long as you maintain passing grades. Of course, getting to Lexington would be a problem, but the college holds extension classes in Concord. You can take courses here for the two years needed to get your associates' degree, then you'll be ready to move on. I don't want an answer now. I want you to talk about it among yourselves, think about it on your own and spend some time at the hospice--we have two patients already and I am sure more will come soon. When you have made your decision, one way or the other, let me know."
        Again, silence. Finally Danny asked, "Why are you all doing this for us?" His voice was filled with suspicion.
        "Because we think you can be redeemed and that's better than having three people rotting in prison or a mental hospital costing the state money rather than contributing to it," Gladys said. "Actually, it's just good economics--as well as the right thing to do." Silence again, then Gladys said, "Ok, fellows, you know what you've got to do. Now it's time Chelsea and I get you back."
        The three were profuse in their thanks for the afternoon and left, all three a bit teary eyed. Who knows what will happen with them? I surely didn't, but at least there was a possibility that they might become worthwhile citizens and I felt good--still queasy--but good.
        We all went back to the falls and it was obvious that Paula was in command. All the women were skinny dipping. Needless to say, the trunks we were still wearing were shed quickly. We all swam for another hour and then got dressed and went to my place.
        Since school was out, Mom and Dad said we should move the desks out of the den to make room for the organ. We put them in the downstairs guest room and decided that was all that needed moving. In spite of the fact that we had eaten more than enough in the late afternoon, Mom prepared more food and we all sat around the dining room table, laughing and talking about the day. It had been a wonderful day for all of us. We were in complete agreement about that. The talk got serious when the three guys came up, but soon became light-hearted again until Michael said, "Commencement--a beginning. But it's also an ending."
        Again we were all lost in our thoughts for a time until Bill said, "Well, I for one am ready for an ending and a new beginning. I don't think I could have stood the pace much longer. My good God, how have we lived and stayed sane for the past three months? I guess if I were a religious person, I'd have to say that was the answer--good God. Even if I am not overly religious, I guess I'd have to say that."
        "Yea," Paula said. "How else would you explain it? But does it matter? Who would believe it if we told them?"
        "Well, I've got to run," Jacob said. "I know my dad has a ton of chores for me this week--and we do have a party Thursday and break loose Saturday night. Laters."
        After the others had left, Michael said, "I've got to go. Today has really been great, but I have about had it. Wild Woman, drive me home?" Mary Kathryn's kiss was a positive answer. Only Luke and I were left.
        "Sons, if you can spare the time, how about a glass of wine with your mom and me?" Mom got glasses and we all four went into the den. "Matt, Luke, I have been proud of you two all your life. You are, even allowing for my natural prejudice, two very exceptional young men. I have heard a lot of graduation speeches and usually I could recite them without having seen them before the speaker stood up, but I have never heard speeches with the power yours had. They will be remembered, I'm sure."
        "I agree," Mom said. "It took real men to give them. I am sinfully proud of you two."
        We sat and talked, drinking our wine. When we finished the wine, we talked some more. I suddenly realized that graduation had, for Mom and Dad, changed our status in their eyes. Sure, they talked about our being grown men, but now we were being treated as grown men. I liked it, but I also found it sad. What about those times when I needed to be a little boy again? I guess I'd have to wait to find out.
        "Greywolf, do you know when the organ is arriving?" Luke asked.
        "I suspect around 9 or 10. The movers were to be at the school at 8 to pick it up. Shouldn't take long to get it ready to move the short distance it has to be moved."
        "Sunrise as usual tomorrow?" Luke asked.
        "We could put it off to Tuesday," Dad answered.
        "I would like to go ahead with it. Everything's changing. I'd like to keep what I can unchanged."
        "I would too, Dad," I said.
        "Then it's sunrise as usual," Dad said. "I'll call Jens and David. I guess that means early to bed or you two will play around the rest of the night and not make it."
        What Luke had referred to was a tradition the families established about the time the two of us were born. Prior to that, each family had a garden, but with David's and Jens' schedules--Gabrielle's and Elizabeth's as well--their gardens were a real chore. Since Mom and Dad were out of school for most of the summer, they offered to have a common garden. Dad had always done a Lakota blessing of the garden when he started spring planting and Jens had his own blessing, but when they started the common garden at our place, both blessings were kept, but took place the day after school was out at sunrise. Of course, things had been planted before the first of June, but I guess a retroactive blessing worked as well as any.
        After Jens and Dad did the blessing, Gabrielle, Mom and Elizabeth prepared furrows and the men planted seeds. For the first time, as I thought about it, I realized there was something very sexual about that. Since Mom had been given a summer fellowship to study Hopi culture, corn was always the seed planted in the symbolic blessing and planting of the garden. After the ceremony, we all had breakfast together. This year, Margaret would participate for the first time.
        It was a great family tradition. The blessing and planting were, of course, ceremonial, but sometimes I think it is ceremony which keeps us going. During the summer, Mom and Dad, along with the Gang of Four, do most of the work of tending the garden. But the entire family gathers once a week to work together and share a meal afterward.
        I was with Luke. I wanted the sunrise blessing of the garden this year, perhaps more than ever before.
        We said goodnight to Mom and Dad and went up to my room. After making gentle, tender love, we lay in each others arms and talked about the day. It had really been wonderful. Then, our hard bodies snuggled together, we drifted off to sleep, two very, very happy high school graduates.
        
 Part Forty-three
Matt
                        
        While Luke and I had not made love all night--just enough--and actually had gone to sleep early, Sunday had been a long--wonderful, exciting, tremendous, but long--day so we didn't wake up. Dad came upstairs and knocked on our door well before dawn. We got up, took a quick shower, Luke shaved and we got dressed. Downstairs, Mom had coffee and juice ready as we would have breakfast after the blessing of the garden.
        While we sat in the kitchen, Dad went into his room and dressed as a traditional Lakota--which he was, deep inside. While we were still at the table, the rest of the Family arrived--it is just understood that Jens and Gabrielle, David and now Margaret would not be at work the first day school was out. We all had coffee and then went to the garden. Dad began chanting a Lakota prayer as he waved smoking braids of sweet grass and sage over the garden, fanning the smoke about with a branch of cedar. The fragrance of the burning grass and sage floated on the morning air.
        Jens then did a blessing of the garden, sprinkling holy water over the ground. He had been concerned that he could not get holy water from Immaculate Conception and mentioned it to Fr. Tom who had laughed and said, "Jens, if you think it will do, we use holy water at times too, you know." Jens said he didn't know and took the water Fr. Tom gave him.
        When the two blessings were done, the three women began digging furrows. They had just started when Mary Kathryn took up a hoe and started making a fourth one. All of this, as usual, was done in silence. When the men started planting the seeds, Michael grabbed a handful and started planting the furrow Mary Kathryn had made. Luke looked at me with a puzzled look on his face and I said quietly, "Later".
        Just as the last seed was placed in the furrows and the women had covered them, the sun rose above the horizon. We were all dressed to work in the garden, but that would be all that was done until after breakfast.
        Breakfast on the day of the garden blessing was always a joyous affair and this one was no exception. While we were just sitting around drinking an after-breakfast coffee, I asked, "Mary Kathryn, when did you and Michael decide to participate in the planting?"
        "About two seconds before I grabbed the hoe. At least that's when I did. I didn't decide, I just did it and don't know why."
        "As soon as I saw Mary Kathryn I knew what to do. Like her, I didn't decide, I just did it. Strange."
        "Maybe not," I mused. "Dad, there seems to be something kinda sexual in the whole ceremony of planting. I mean women open the ground and men plant. That struck me this morning."
        "Matt, it is I'm sure. Take a look at any agricultural society and if you scratch the surface, you'll find the whole planting thing is related to sex, remember the fertility goddesses? All who had them were agricultural cultures you'll recall. I suspect you wouldn't have to look very far afield to find a culture where what Mary Kathryn and Michael did amounted to marriage or at least engagement."
        "Don't you go getting any ideas, Michael Andrews!" Jens said in his best stern father voice.
        I guess Dad saw a questioning look on my face because he said, "Matt, you and Luke are different from a majority of the people in the world. You know that. You will no doubt recall your mother's first reaction at learning you were in love with Luke. Her first reaction was that you would not have grandchildren for us. That's not why you two are in the world. Sometimes that will be--no doubt--painful, but you and Luke are here to make other contributions. Never, ever, forget that! It is not a mistake. You are different for a reason. You are not mistakes!"
        "I guess," Luke said. "that explains a question a ninth grade girl asked me after Matt and I announced we were a gay couple. She asked, 'Which one of you is the woman?' I didn't really know what she meant, so I just told her, 'Neither. We are both very much men. Can't you see that?' and she said 'Oh,' and walked off in that swishy ninth grade girl walk. I guess the world thinks it has to be divided into men and women. But I'll admit, today was the first time I really--I mean really-- thought about our being men--I mean, you know--men in love and a couple."
        "And a handsome one, I might add," Gabrielle said. While that ended the discussion, I was sure it was not the end of the question for Luke and me, especially when everyone expects you to be like everyone else.
        "Well, while we are on this sex and planting bit--and I really did feel this morning was special--I guess I have an announcement to make," Margaret said. "It's still early so the results are very tentative, but it appears Michael was right. I had an ultrasound this week--I couldn't wait any longer--and it appears as nearly as anyone can tell that Michael will have two sisters by Thanksgiving at the latest," Margaret announced.
        "Kathryn Elizabeth and Mary Margaret, don't you forget," Michael smiled.
        "Don't you think that is really too much name for the poor girls to bear?" Yong Jin asked.
        "Matthew Sarang Hanun Pomul Greywolf's mom would ask that question?" Michael sure had her on that one. "Anyway, they'll be called Elizabeth and Mary so there's no confusion between mother and daughter even though I'd really like them to be called Elizabeth and Margaret. But none of this short nicknamey stuff!"
        "Nicknamey stuff?" David asked.
        "Yea, Dad, you know: Liz and Maggie, that kind of nicknamey stuff."
        "Well, Michael, I suspect we can keep names straight if you want to call one of the girls Margaret," Margaret said. "We seem to be able to avoid comnfusion when we talk about the family--I mean whether we mean all of us or just one of the families within the family. Seems reasonable we could keep two Margarets straight," she laughed, then added, "But if it turns out you're wrong, Michael, Margaret wouldn't fit a boy very well."
        "I don't know why you keep questioning my ancient wisdom and powers," Michael said and hugged Margaret.
        "May be more truth than fiction to that," Greywolf mused.
        "I'd really like to have the girls to be called by the names of my two moms," Michael said and it was clear this was important to him and he was showing Margaret great respect.
        "Ok, so it's Elizabeth and Margaret if that's ok with your dad," Margaret smiled and hugged Michael, obvioulsy pleased. "Is that ok with you, David?"
        "Sure. Actually I like it if your comfortable with it," he smiled at his wife.
        "Very comfortable," was her response.

 Luke

         Breakfast was a wonderful time together, but at 7:00 Dad said, "Well, I guess it's work time". We all went back to the garden. The parents were making furrows and planting while the Gang of Four tackled the weeding of earlier plantings. Margaret called to Michael once, warning him not to overdo the work. "You may think you're as good as new, but you still have healing to do."
        Michael is one of those blonds the rest of us hate. He tans as if by magic so he had, of course, taken his shirt off. A look at his chest was a reminder of just how seriously he had been cut, but he wasn't overdoing the work. He was spending most of his time gazing at Mary Kathryn. "Michael, look at the weeds, not Mary Kathryn," I laughed.
        "Man, if you knew how I felt about my wild woman you wouldn't say that," he answered.
        "Think I might have some idea about being in love," I responded.
        "Well, if I were you, I'd be jealous. Matt's paying no attention to you."
        Of course, Matt never had to worry about the sun and it was hard to keep clothes on him when he was just a baby. I looked at my dark beauty, shirtless and in short shorts, his hard body gleaming with sweat in the morning sun. "Michael, did you say something?" he asked.
        "Yea, I said you weren't with us. Why do you keep looking down the road? As if I didn't know!" Michael laughed. It was true. Matt was paying little attention to what he was doing. Instead he kept looking down the road.
        "Matt, it won't be here before 9:00 at the earliest," I said. "Now let's get to work so you can be free when it does arrive."
        Matt looked up with a sheepish grin and said, "Ok," and really did get to work. By 9:30 we were finished with the morning's work in the garden and Matt's other organ still had not arrived. He was quickly becoming a basket case when everyone went home to get cleaned up. They would all be back; we were having lunch at the Greywolf's. Of course, I stayed and Matt and I showered together, playing around a little bit, but he wouldn't stay still long enough for much.
        As we were just finishing with our hair, Yong Jin yelled up from downstairs, "They're here."
        The movers got the organ and speakers in the house and the Rodgers man started having them move the speakers around and testing one placement then another until he was finally satisfied. "Anyone here play?" he asked. I thought it kinda strange that he had just spent an hour getting speakers placed with no idea anyone could play until I noticed the grin on his face. Then I remembered seeing him at graduation. "Want to take her out for a spin?" he asked Matt. I knew that for the moment at least I was in second place as Matt practically leaped on the organ bench. He cut down on Millie's surprise--the Widor "Toccata". I was afraid we would all be blasted into the next county before he finished. "I guess that answers my question," the Rodgers rep laughed. "If you have any questions or problems, give me a call," he said as he handed Greywolf his card. Matt was in another world and didn't hear a word he said.
        Lunch was on the late side as we all sat in the den listening to Matt play. My man sure knows how to handle an organ--ok, so I knew that already, but I was talking about the Rodgers! After lunch, Matt could hardly wait to get back to playing. He played for an hour without stopping. Finally, he started playing what we had all been waiting for and soon we were all singing "More". I guess some people would think we were all nuts, but there were five couples singing to each other as though they were the only two people in the world.
        When we finished the song, no one said anything. We just all got up and the five couples--three sets of parents and two kid couples-- walked hand-in-hand to the falls carrying picnic baskets. This was the second part of the family tradition for the first day school was out.
        The day at the falls was another happy-sad time, everyone realizing that this would be the last time we were together as we always had been. Late in the afternoon, the five couples were scattered about the beach, talking, laughing, expressing love for their partners. "Matt, what do you think Greywolf meant when he said we were here to make a different contribution to the world?"
        "Luke, I have thought about us more than once when I see our parents together and even when I see Michael and Mary Kathryn together. Our parents have children--of course they all have made and will make other contributions--but they have had children. I am positive that Michael and Mary Kathryn will do the same. I mean, I don't know whether or not they will stay together until they get together for good, but I keep having that dream in which I see Michael and Mary Kathryn and she is holding a baby, his baby. But--Luke, you and I will never have children--at least not our own. So I guess what Dad was saying is that we are here to do something else as our contribution to life. Sure be easier just to have kids."
        "I'm not sure Jens would agree," I laughed as I kissed Matt softly. "But if we make no other contribution, we can show the world what love is all about, I mean real love."
        We all eventually ended up on Lookout Rock watching the sunset, then walked home in the twilight. Matt and I had decided we would split our nights between our homes, so we went to my place where we found we were very comfortable making love.
        Since school was out, the Gang of Four had chores to do--after all we do live on farms. We talked with Jens, David and Greywolf about what needed doing and worked out a plan for the week. As always, the Gang of Four worked together and this year, three of us had to take up any slack that Michael couldn't handle--which proved to be very little.
        Tuesday, after work, Matt and I took a long hot shower and then made mad passionate love. I know our first time will always be special, but I can tell you that, as with any art, practice improves technique! Matt had learned to take things slow and easy--sometimes too slow and too easy--but man, he was a real love machine. I was getting no complaints either! After making love for a good, long, wonderful time, we lay in each others arms, just snuggling together, enjoying being alive--bless Mr. Mitchell. We took another quick shower, got dressed and went downstairs. After supper, the rest of the family showed up and Matt played for us again. It was great--more memories stored up.
        When the parents had gone, the Gang of Four sat on the front porch, talking and cuddling. "Luke, why don't we call Nelson and meet him in Lexington tomorrow afternoon? We can take that much time away from chores. We could meet him and then do some shopping. We need to pick up some things for the summer and we could do that in Concord, but I'd like to see Nelson."
        "You two like to go with us?" I asked.
        "Sure. I'd like to get away from here awhile," Michael answered.
         
Eugene    
   
        After all the to-do over graduation, Larry and I went to his place to spend time with his mom. I had mentioned to Larry that we had been so wrapped up in what was going on and with each other that she had seldom seen him. Larry agreed and we decided to spend some time at his place before he left for the summer. I knew his mom, after all I spent as much time at his place as I could before all hell broke loose, but we had never really had a kind of family time with her. She was very pleased when we told her we would be spending time at their place before Larry had to leave.
        When we got back from the picnic, she was sitting in the living room, looking through a box of photographs. She started to put them away when we came in, but I asked her if I could see them. After all, I hadn't known Larry the way Matt and Luke knew each other. We spent two hours looking at pictures of Larry and his family while his mother told stories about when he was a young kid. I loved it and Larry got embarrassed several times. There were many pictures, but none of what I would call a happy family. Without thinking, I said that.
        "You're right, Eugene. We never were really a family. Larry's dad was a big man on campus and all the girls were all over him. Of course, I had a crush on him and when he asked me out, I was in heaven. We dated a few times before he started telling me how much he loved me and that if I loved him, there was no reason we couldn't have sex. I was innocent and stupid and fell for his line. He assured me I wouldn't get pregnant--which was the only thing holding me back--and I finally gave in. I insisted he use protection, but he told me it didn't feel good and that we didn't need it. Well--Larry, I should have told you before, I guess--but you know what happened. When I told him I was pregnant, he started screaming and yelling, asking how I could allow it to happen."
        "He insisted that I get an abortion but I had no money and, besides, I was young and in love--at least I thought I was-and I was carrying his child, so I refused. As soon as he knew I was pregnant, he wanted nothing to do with me. I thought about all sorts of things--including suicide--but did nothing. I felt so rotten--I mean morning sickness is no fun--all I wanted to do was die. My mom was pretty smart and figured out what was going on from my mornings in the bathroom. When she confronted me, I told her I was pregnant. She told my dad who wanted to kill Larry's father but, when he got calmed down, Mom and Dad decided to call the Watleys. The four of them got together and decided we should get married. Both Larry's father and I were seniors in high school and the baby wasn't due until late summer. 'You two can finish high school, but you're getting married now,' Mr. Watley said. He was a very forceful person and Larry's father was afraid of him, so we 'ran away' and got married over spring break."
        "Well, to make a long story short, Larry's father was already having sex with another girl and that didn't stop when we got married. I put up with his playing around because I saw no way out. When Larry came out of the closet, it was an excuse for his father to leave, which he did. It was the best thing that had happened to me in years."
        "It was the best thing for both of us," Larry said and hugged his mom.
        "I'm sure glad you were broke when you got pregnant," I said and I meant it.
        "So am I," she said, "but I can tell you there have been plenty of times I wished I hadn't been. I don't mean I haven't loved Larry. He has been the delight of my life and still is, but there have been times that, had I not had him, I would have gotten out of the mess I had made of my life by listening to a man's lies."
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