Artificial Sky

By Chris James

Chapter Three

"Do you think they will be all right back there?" Alice asked.

Elisabeth smiled. She knew her son well enough by now to know he wouldn't get in trouble...besides, she knew Andy had a new focus. She had seen the boy's reaction to Danny when the cake was offered. It was very sweet, and to her mind a lot more acceptable than the older boy he had first brought home.

Having a lecherous husband and two small children had allowed her to trust few people. The fact that her son was a gifted artist, a true genius, had forced her into making some decisions. Andrew had no real relationship with his father since the bastard hadn't been around in years...not in a real sense. The boy had no positive feelings for the man.

But Andy had grown up fast, too fast in her opinion. His art had forced her to recognize that he was going to make his own decisions at an early age...and so he had. She couldn't fault his needs, and when puberty came along it proved how headstrong he could be.

The college boy had been nice, maybe too nice. And by the time she realized they'd had sex behind her back it was too late, the die was cast. Andy seemed to grow up over night in a sexual sense. Even if she'd known what was on his mind there was probably no way she could have stopped his actions. Having a gay son wasn't difficult...dealing with his urges was the hard part.

Alice had confided to her about Danny's writing. It brought back all those warm feelings about Andy's beginnings as an artist. Most kids drew on walls with crayon, but Andy had used chalk and produced masterpieces.

"The boys will be fine. You did very well in eating that snack," Elisabeth said.

"I guess it was the pills, I had a bit of an appetite though."

"I've seen too many patients with transitory pain like yours...the pills are addictive and that becomes the real problem. You'll need to schedule that surgery pretty quickly, Alice."

"Yes, I know. Rita has a doctor already picked out, but I'm just worried about leaving Danny in a strange place so soon. He's only met her once."

"You can always send him to me," Elisabeth said.

Alice shook her head. "I don't know, do you think that wise? I mean the way the boys..."

"I imagine if they want to get together that neither you nor I can stop them. Not that I think we should encourage that behavior. Oh Lord, I just wish Andy would wait until he grows up a bit more."

Alice shook her head. "I feel like a total idiot. How could I not see that Danny had developed these feelings...these urges? Do all boys fantasize so much when they masturbate?"

"Girls do too," Elisabeth replied.

They both looked down at Alicia sitting on the carpet at their feet. She was quietly playing, overwhelmed by having so many dollies at her disposal.

"Well I lived a sheltered life, Danny's father was the first man I dated...and I married him," Alice said. "Sex was not a topic of conversation in my parent's house. I was pretty innocent."

"Don't put your self down like that. My life in St. Louis wasn't that different. But I had friends who taught me more than I probably should have known at a young age. Because of that I had my first boyfriend when I was thirteen, just about the time I was beginning to blossom." Elisabeth looked down at Alicia. "And that's enough about that."

"I just don't want Danny to get hurt," Alice said.

"He won't with Andy, he's a loving boy," Elisabeth said.

"And isn't that what we're worried about? You don't suppose they're doing anything now...do you?" Alice asked.

"Not in my coach seats they won't...what could they possibly do in such a public place?"

But Danny was just about to explode for the second time because Andrew seemed to have the most talented mouth...when someone tried the door.

Both boys froze as the door rattled several times. Someone was trying to get in.

"Damn it all," they head a woman's voice say. "Come on girls, let's go find that conductor."

"Oh shit, it's the woman that was supposed to have this room," Danny said. "We better get out of here."

The boys hurried to dress themselves, gathering up the art supplies that had somehow become strewn across the floor in the midst of passion. Danny went to the door and slipped the latch, sliding it open just enough look out. They bolted from the room, sliding the door shut behind them and hurried towards the coach seats.

"Looks like we're stuck here," Danny said as they sat down.

"Sorry, I was enjoying that...bet you were too," Andrew laughed.

"Oh yeah...where did you learn how to do that?"

"You never sucked someone before?" Andrew asked.

"Well...yeah, I tried, but not like that. I guess I was pretty bad at it," Danny said.

"Who was it then?"

"Um, Bobby Conklin. That was in seventh grade...he was my first," Danny said.

"And how far did you guys go?" Andrew asked.

"Mostly we jerked off together, but I tried to suck on him. He didn't like it, said I was biting him."

"But you felt the need to try...I get that."

"I don't think I'll be very good if you want me to do that with you," Danny said.

"You let me judge that...I'll show you how it's done," Andrew said. "You won't mind will you? I mean you're older, I don't want you to feel like some little kid is showing you the ropes."

"What little kid? From what I saw you aren't little at all," Danny said.

"Ya know, that's what I love about you...you don't treat me badly. Most older boys think I'm some little shrimp. I have brains...I know what things are about."

Danny smiled. "You sure do...and so talented."

Andrew grabbed his arm and pulled their faces together. "And I just might finish it here and now with everyone watching."

Danny blushed. "No...you wouldn't...we can't."

Andrew laughed. "I would just to hear you scream."

Danny spent a fitful night with only a few moments of sleep. He was scrunched against the window with Andrew curled up in a ball next to him, head in his lap. It was nice to sit there and stare down at the boy in his sleep. Danny could not remember when he had felt so warm and wonderful. The emotions flowed over him and sleep didn't seem so important.

The conductor came through the car in the middle of the night. He woke several people and announced they were due to get off. Danny yawned, five hours to El Paso...he could hold out that long.

Andrew slept peacefully while Danny dozed on and off. The rising sun grabbed his attention because it revealed a different landscape. He could see mountains in the distance but the ground still looked pretty dry out there. Late summer didn't seem like the kind of season he would enjoy in this part of the country.

Several passengers stirred around them, some even went forward to the club car. Danny felt thirsty but Andrew was still in his lap so he didn't move. A moment later he knew he had to move. The urge to pee was building.

Danny tried his best to slip out from under the boy without waking him, but he saw the blue eyes pop open.

"What's up?" Andrew said.

"I have to use the bathroom, its morning," Danny replied.

Andrew squeezed his crotch. "Ya, me too."

They staggered to the bathrooms and then went along up to the club car.

"I have money...you want something?" Danny asked.

"I want a coffee," Andrew said. "Two creams and sugars, please."

"You drink coffee? Um, I'll have a juice, and maybe a sweet roll."

They sat at the same table as the night before. Danny saw that Andrew was barely awake, his hair a tangle of snarls. It was endearing, the boy was even cute when he looked like this. They finally reached El Paso and stopped in the station. Danny watched as a bunch of passengers got off the train.

"Wasn't your Mom going to get a sleeper when they became available?" Danny asked.

"That was the plan. Do you see the conductor?"

"He's probably outside. I know we're supposed to be in this station for a while."

"Let's go find him," Andrew suggested.

It was hot outside, something they had not felt in the air conditioned train. The conductor was out on the platform studying a little black book.

"Excuse me, sir, may I have a word?"

"Ah, the English boy," the conductor said."You boys have been very quiet, I appreciate that."

"Yes sir...um, and I'm Australian. What I wanted to ask, sir, is did my mother, Mrs. Mallory, request a sleeper cabin when they became available?"

The man looked thoughtful and thumbed through his little book. He smiled.

"Yes, she did. Let's see, 2101 D is open. The porter is in there now I'm sure. Just give him thirty minutes to straighten things out and you may have it when we leave this station."

"Hurrah, a real bed," Andrew yelped.

The three of them laughed. The conductor knew full well how hard it was for passengers to sleep in coach on these long trips.

"Would you like some help with your bags?" the conductor asked.

"No sir, I think the two of us can manage, but thank you very much, sir," Andrew said.

"We'll be out of here in say...thirty minutes," the conductor said while consulting his watch. "You might like to stretch your legs a bit, but don't leave the platform. We can't turn the train around if you get left behind."

"Can we walk up and see the engines?" Danny asked.

"Sure, that's a good way to stretch out," the conductor said.

The boys walked towards the front of the train. More supplies were being loaded in the dining cars and water hoses snaked out into the tanks underneath the train. A man came along the tracks with a tool box in his hand and hurried towards the sleepers.

"Ah, I bet that's the plumber," Danny said, and they both laughed.

The engines at the front of the train seemed huge and menacing as they sat thrumming with the power of the diesel generators. One of them had a large Texas flag emblazoned across the side. They walked around to see the front of the very first engine and saw a sign that said "Sunset Limited."

"That's the name of this train, I remember that from the schedule," Danny said.

"Hmm, but we're headed east. It ought to be the Sunrise Limited," Andrew said.

"Do you think our moms will let us stay together in the compartment?" Danny asked.

"Oh yeah, we're not going to be separated now. Besides, I know you need some sleep. You were my pillow all night, it's only fair."

"I am tired, I guess," Danny said. "Maybe we ought to get back and tell your mom we got the cabin assignment."

"Good idea. I don't want to be stuck in Texas the rest of my life," Andrew said.

The boys reentered the train, making sure the conductor saw them board. Andrew knew his mother would be awake because of Alicia so they stopped off in the club car and got two coffees for the moms and a juice for Andrew's sister.

Danny knocked and Elisabeth slid the door open to admit them.

"Coffee! How wonderful and considerate. Look Alice, room service."

Danny's mother was still in bed but she looked much better than the day before.

"Did you boys sleep alright?" Alice asked.

"One of us did, I used Danny as a pillow," Andrew said, giving Danny a grateful look. "Mum, the conductor assigned us a sleeping cabin...can Danny and I use it together. He needs some real sleep."

Alice sipped her coffee and looked over at Elisabeth. They had to trust their sons, which had been the point of their whole conversation the night before. If Danny and Andrew were to be boyfriends then it would begin here and now, they both knew that.

Elisabeth smiled. "I suppose Alicia and I will stay on here, but you boys be careful now, no rough housing around and getting in trouble...am I clear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Andrew said. He was barely able to control his joy. "We'll be in compartment D, next car beyond the diner."

"Danny, you come give us a shout when you wake up...we'll go have some lunch. I think I'm ready to face the dining car this evening too," Alice said.

Danny kissed his mother and then yawned. She swatted his rear and told him to go sleep. Andrew hugged his mum and gave Alicia a smile before they left.

Alice gave Elisabeth a look. "This might be the wrong decision, but like you said, it's inevitable. Did you see the way they look at one another? It's puppy love."

"I know this is all new but you handled that very well. I've seen how hard it can be for some boys at that age. Being gay is like...like a stigma; it brings down all kinds of condemnation. Boys are insecure enough during adolescence. Imagine how they feel knowing that our society says they are wrong in everything they do simply because they chose to love one another."

"I only want what's best for Danny. I know he didn't choose to be gay but I think he's dealing with it."

"So can you talk to him about it?" Elisabeth asked.

"Can he talk to me is a better question. What adolescent boy wants to discuss his sexual preference with his mother? But I intend to be supportive, whatever it takes. Just talking to you has made me see a lot more of what that means...thank you," Alice said.

"No worries...that's what friends are for," Elisabeth replied. "Okay, one coffee is just not going to do it for me. Feel like a walk to the club car?"

"Yes, let's do that. I think Alicia might like some breakfast as well. Ever had a bagel, sweetie?" Alicia shook her head. "Well they are simply wonderful, we'll get you one."

The boys found 2101-D and saw that the porter had cleaned up the room.

"I hope we got fresh sheets," Danny said with another yawn. Andrew opened the seat back and pulled down the bed. The smell of fresh linens filled the room. "You want some company?"

Danny had started to strip off his clothes, he paused and grinned. "I'd like that."

Andrew locked the door and started to undress. They crawled under the sheets in their underwear. Danny rolled on his side and they both sighed. "I love you," Danny said, and then he closed his eyes.

Andrew stared at the face he now knew so well. The boy had fallen asleep in less than a minute, he must be exhausted. Several times in the night he had awakened with his head on Danny's lap. The thought of what lay under his head had been arousing, but the place had been all wrong. Now he smiled and rolled over, scooting himself back against Danny. And in his sleep Danny responded to the warmth, his arm draping itself over the boy. Andrew smiled and closed his eyes.

Chapter Four

The boys slept on while the train stretched out for the long haul to San Antonio. Texas was a large state and they would take all day and night to traverse the distance. But snuggled in Danny's arms, Andrew laid there waiting, thinking....dreaming.

They would be close together in Miami, not too far apart his mum had said. Of course they wouldn't be at the same schools and anyways they were two grades apart. He could probably arrange to spend weekends together, his mother would allow that. He wasn't sure what Danny's mother would allow.

He could tell that his mum had been working on her. The looks they exchanged said that much, the gay thing had been discussed. He wasn't sure how Mrs. Briggs had figured out about her son, but she knew.

And she would know how he felt when he gave her the final sketch, the one he always did before the painting began. He would put all his love into that work and she would know how he felt about Danny without question. He had to make her understand, she had to trust them.

Andrew felt his stomach rumble. A few bites of roll with his coffee had been the only food this morning. The shade had been drawn but he could tell by the light that it was almost midday. Artists knew about these things.

Sometime in the last fifteen minutes he had become aware of something poking him in the butt. Danny was becoming aroused and that thrilled him. It was probably because the boy needed to pee but it sure felt wonderful for now. At some point it would awaken the sleepyhead behind him, but for now it was simply stimulating and he too became aroused.

He felt Danny move in his sleep, his body pressing forward in unconscious motion...Andrew pressed back. There were two layers of cloth between them, there could be no penetration. If they had been naked like this he might have wiggled his way back, spreading his cheeks until Danny awoke with his cock in something warm and tight.

But Andrew worried that Danny might feel he had taken advantage. The little cloth bag in his case on the floor held condoms and lubricant, not art supplies. Later, they would get the chance to use them.

He felt Danny stir, the need to urinate finally overcoming sleep. Andrew pressed back until he felt the boy's cock pushing into the crack of his ass.

"What?" Danny said as he came awake.

"Hmm. seems like some big boy is trying to take advantage of me," Andrew giggled. "You are poking me rather well you know."

Danny pulled away blushing and Andrew groaned. "And just when I was about to cry rape," he said.

"I'm sorry..." Danny began. "I have to pee."

"Never be sorry, be certain. You go pee and hurry back. I'll miss that warmth until you return," Andrew said.

Danny leapt over him and hurried into the bathroom. The walls being thin as cardboard Andrew heard the rush of water hitting the bowl. Lord knows how the boy could aim that thing hard as it was.

Danny returned, a hand over his crotch, being ridiculously modest. Andrew held the covers back. And then they were together, arms around one another.

"You get enough sleep?" Andrew asked.

"I suppose," Danny replied. "You hungry?"

Andrew reached down and grasped Danny's cock. "You want me to finish what I started?"

Danny laughed. "You're a sex machine...what do you want?"

"I want to put a smile on your face. I want your mother to know how much I love you. I want you to be in my life forever. I want...."

"Okay...okay, I get the picture. But I want to do something for you too," Danny said, a blush coming to his face.

Andrew reached over and took Danny's hand, sliding it down to his crotch.

"There you go, help yourself."

It was Andrew who decided what the activity should be. He did that simply by turning himself around with his head towards Danny's feet. In this way he figured he could show the boy how oral sex was supposed to happen. Monkey see, monkey do always seemed to work.

Danny found it hard to focus when Andrew's mouth began to work on him. He worried that he might scrape his teeth against that soft flesh like he had done with Bobby. But Andrew's cock was different; there was a lot more skin to contend with. And once he began to reciprocate he found that if he just did what was being done to him it seemed to work.

He knew at some point there would be a climax and Andrew would cum. He'd thought about the taste of something strange flooding his mouth and how he would react. At worst it would make him ill rather than drowning him. But he knew Andrew had no aversion to swallowing cum, why should he?

Andrew may have been only five inches long but that seemed to fill Danny's mouth. Not that Danny felt he was much larger, in fact only an inch and a bit. But his cock was larger in diameter and his balls twice the size of ...Andrew pulled off.

"Time for the big finish, I've been teasing you long enough. You keep doing what you're about and we'll get there together, that's the best. Do you want me to cum in your mouth?"

Danny grinned. "I can handle it...I wanna taste you."

"Good egg, let's go for the finale," Andrew laughed.

Andrew slid Danny's cock down his throat, feeling pubes tickle his nose. The boy

begin to shudder, his balls tightened up, the sure sign of an impending orgasm. For his part all he did was relax and let himself go. They both came within seconds of one another and Andrew relished the taste.

Danny came with a groan of delight, feeling the pulses erupt in Andrew's mouth. He was so focused on that he barely noticed the taste in his own mouth. But then he felt a gush of warmth across his tongue, and his mouth filled with Andrew's seed. Nothing for it now, he swallowed.

It wasn't sweet. But it left a salty aftertaste in his mouth that Danny found pleasant. His nostrils filled with a strong scent, but he felt elated. Not only had he just experienced the best orgasm of his life, but he had successfully demonstrated his ability to please the boy he loved.

Danny felt Andrew milk the remaining drops and he tried doing the same, but Andrew pulled away.

"Whoa, cowboy. We bastards with the foreskin have a mite more sensitivity down there after we're done. The head of my willy is electrified at the moment, we best give it a rest."

Danny smiled. "That was awesome."

"Couldn't agree more, mate. You have the talent. Was the taste agreeable?"

"Hmm, yes...almost sweet, just like the rest of you."

Andrew laughed and turned himself around. He quickly lay on top and pressed his lips against Danny's. In that kiss they shared the taste of one another and it felt grand.

"We needed that, didn't we?" Danny said. "I mean, it says a lot about the way we feel towards one another. Such a loving experience...everything says I love you when you have sex like that."

"You are a poet," Andrew said. "There was no having sex about what we did, that was making love." And he immediately thought, "I am the luckiest creature alive, this boy is so hot and he doesn't know it."

"I suppose we ought to get dressed, the moms are probably waiting and wondering," Danny said.

"Well wipe that grin off your face or they'll know what we've been about...lover boy."

"Are you...are you gonna tell your mom what we did?" Danny asked.

"No...no way. Besides I won't have to...I'm sure she'll know."

"I wish there was some way to take a shower," Danny said as they dressed.

"We'll come back after lunch and bathe in the sink. Have you ever been camping?" Andrew asked.

"No, we lived in the city."

"Then I'll show you how to wash up properly. It takes a while but the result is pretty good. I learned how to wash in a bucket when we went camping."

The two moms were chatting away like old friends when the boys knocked on the door.

"You sleep well?" Alice asked. Danny nodded in reply. He noticed his mother push a pillow over something sitting beside her on the seat but it wasn't hidden completely. He looked up into her eyes and she smiled. He'd recognized the grey and black cover...she'd been reading in one of his notebooks.

There was a quiet pause in the room and Andrew looked at his mum, what was happening?

"I'm sorry Danny...I should have asked," Alice said.

Danny blushed and turned, bolting through the open door.

"What?" Andrew asked, but Danny was gone.

"You better go find him," Elisabeth said and Alice got up.

"I didn't mean for it to be like this," Alice said.

"Just tell him how you feel...now go," Elisabeth said.

Andrew looked at his mum after Alice left. "What just happened...is Danny alright?"

Elisabeth patted the seat and Andrew sat down. "They just need a little family time, sweetie." She moved the pillow and exposed several school notebooks. "Did you know about these?"

"Danny's diary...yes he told me about them. Aw, and you were reading them...that's shameful, Mum. That's his private business."

"It's how Alice discovered her son, sweetie. A mother has a need to protect her family. I suppose she should have asked him if she could read them, but it's too late for that now."

"I know he's been keeping them for quite some time," Andrew said. "He was going to show them to me...he's a brilliant writer I gather."

"Yes...yes he is, but the subject matter is what this is all about. Alice has known for months that she had a gay son, but she thought it was her fault. I believe her mind is changed about that now, they need to have a private chat. You're lucky you know, we've always been very open about our feelings."

Andrew smiled. "I have the best mum in the world," he said giving his mother a hug. "I hope Danny gets through this okay."

"Let's give them some time to deal with it," Elisabeth said.

Alice found Danny face down on the bed in the boy's cabin. The muffled sobs she heard seemed to stab a hot knife in her heart and made her feel worse about what she had done. She eased herself down on the bed and placed a hand on the boy's back.

"I'm sorry, dear. I should have told you I found your notebooks. And I should have asked if I could read them."

Danny seemed angry and embarrassed; both emotions came forth in his words.

"I didn't want you to read them...I wanted some privacy with my thoughts, my feelings. But I don't have any of that do I?"

"Danny, you've done nothing wrong...it's my fault you're so upset. I violated your privacy and I shouldn't have. But I wanted to protect you from harm...I wanted to know what you were thinking."

"But now you know," Danny sobbed. "Now you know I'm...I'm..."

"Gay? Is that what this is all about?" Alice said. "Oh, honey...being gay isn't the end of the world. I've wondered about you for a long time, and now I know for sure. It doesn't change the way I love you...nothing could ever do that."

Danny raised his head from the pillow. "But you read about the things I thought about doing...the things I wanted to do."

"And you're embarrassed because now your mother knows. I understand. We have never talked about sex like this before. But the things you wrote, the things you wanted to try are all perfectly normal for a gay boy...for any boy."

"But you let Andrew's mom see them...she knows too," Danny said. He sat up, his face awash with tears. "I love him, Mom...I can't lose him now."

Alice felt her own tears brimming over as she hugged the boy. "Oh, sweetie. I think the things you wrote were beautiful. You have a gift for expression...for saying exactly what you mean. Elisabeth understands your feelings, we both do. Nothing is going to take away the boy you love, you have our support."

Danny wiped his cheeks. "You mean that? I mean its okay with you guys if Andrew and I love one another?"

Alice brushed back the hair from Danny's face. He was a handsome boy; she could see what Andrew found so attractive. And at this moment she knew the boys needed one another, it brought out her deepest nurturing feelings.

"I think Elisabeth and I just worry that you boys are too young to understand the risks of being openly in love. But you're entitled to those feelings. You need to be able to love someone like him. I'm just glad we have this out in the open now, no more secrets."

"I love you, Mom...I was just afraid you would hate me for being...gay."

"I could never hate you, Danny...never." And Alice smiled. "So tell me about Andrew, what makes you love him so much?"

Danny's eyes grew soft and he smiled. "I know you worry...well we haven't done anything very... God, I don't believe I just told my mom that."

They both laughed. "Well I wasn't thinking about those details...some things are best kept private, even from your mom," Alice said.

"He's an amazing artist...his eyes see the world like no one else does. He's doing a sketch of me now and says he's going to do a painting. I don't know how he does all that but Andrew says I'll find out when we get to Miami and he can finish it. I don't want you to be upset, but it's going to be a nude portrait."

Alice smiled. "And you're willing to pose for him? That takes courage."

"He's got a lot more experience...at things than I do," Danny said. "But he's warm and very loving...I think that's all I can say about that."

"Good for you. You can always tell me whatever you want me to know; the rest will happen as it may...I trust you, Danny."

"I mean...well can I spend time with Andrew when we get to Florida?"

Alice thought a moment. "Danny, you know I've been sick and ...well, I have to have surgery. Your Aunt Rita is arranging that now. It's not a simple operation and there will be several weeks of recovery time afterwards. Elisabeth has suggested you stay with them during that period...I think you should."

Danny's eyes were wide now. "Mom...is everything alright? Will you be okay?"

"Yes, dear, I just need the surgery when we get to Miami. I know you don't know Rita very well and I'm sure you would be bored spending time around an old lady. I'll be in the hospital for about a week and then at Rita's for a recovery period. I think you and Andrew would enjoy the time together...if that's alright with you?"

Danny laughed and gave his mother another hug. "I think I can handle that, but if you need me I'll come right home."

"You're growing up so fast...it scares me sometimes," Alice said. "I just want you to be happy, sweetie. We can't know what tomorrow will bring, but for now I see that Andrew is in your future...I'll learn to love him too."

"Um...so what is it about my writing that you liked best?" Danny asked.

Alice smiled. "I think it's the way you describe things...I never knew you had such a way with words...."

They sat for some time talking about Danny's writing as the Texas landscape rolled past the window unseen. For Danny it gave him new insight about his work through his mother's eyes and it gave him joy to realize that she accepted him for who he was. One thing was for sure; his relationship with Andrew was blessed by her acceptance.

It was nearly three in the afternoon when they returned to find Andrew's family waiting and wondering. One look at Danny's face told Andrew everything was just fine.

"We missed lunch didn't we?" Alice asked.

"I sent the kids for a snack a while ago," Elisabeth said.

"I can wait for dinner," Danny said. He sat down beside Andrew and took the boy's hand in his own. "Nothing to hide any more."

"I think we both understand how you two feel," Elisabeth said. "Just be cautious and respect the feelings of others. You have our support but lots of people won't be as understanding."

"I told Danny he may stay with you while I recover from the surgery. I think he'd like that and I would be grateful," Alice said. "Besides, it seems there is some great artwork being planned, and we wouldn't want to interfere with that. My son is going to pose nude."

Andrew blushed furiously. He hadn't mentioned that to his mum quite yet. Elisabeth laughed at the boy's reaction. "He is such a schemer...always trying to get someone's clothes off." She ruffled his hair and took her hand away. "You need a bath, my dear."

"We were going to wash up in the sink...is that okay?" Danny asked.

"Best thing we can do, I'm afraid," Alice said. "Why don't you boys go wash up? And while you're at it, tell the steward in the dining car we need dinner reservations...say six-thirty? Danny can get a snack beforehand if he feels the need."

The boys left and talked to the dining car steward on the way before hurrying back to their cabin. Andrew slid the door shut and pinned Danny to the wall. "So tell me what happened?"

"I told her I would throw myself under the wheels of the train if she didn't let me love you."

"Oh, what a lie...but things are good now?"

"Yes, we understand one another," Danny said. "It's such a relief, and I get to stay with you when we get to Miami."

Andrew kissed him and things just began to happen. It wasn't like they planned to have sex right then, but their bodies responded and they gave in to the feelings. Their clothes came off and Andrew reached into his supply box for the little cloth bag. Danny didn't even need to ask what was up when the boy produced a little foil wrapper containing a condom.

Andrew didn't ask if Danny wanted to put it on, he did it himself. And then they were lying down, face to face, with Andrew's legs on Danny shoulders. It was probably best that Danny had no preconceived notion of how things like this happened. He'd thought about it, dreamed about it, but the reality was so much better.

Their bodies came together like a hand in glove, and Andrew smiled up at him. The feeling of the boy's heat surrounding his penis made Danny shudder. And suddenly he knew they belonged together like this, it would always be the best expression of their love.

Danny almost screamed with delight. Every moment produced a different thrill, an overwhelming cascade of feelings...and he knew it would end much too soon.

Andrew groaned and cooed, driving Danny up the wall. His own groans became more frequent, his body shuddering with raw passion. The surge began, built to impossible heights and he groaned with the climax.

He collapsed on Andrew's chest, their bodies covered in sweat despite the cool air tumbling down from the vents. Danny didn't know his body was capable of producing such feelings...but he did now.

Danny felt fingers running through his hair and the squeeze of Andrew's legs around his waist. Danny raised his head to look and saw the smile on Andrew's lips.

"Was it good? Did I do it right? I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did," Danny whispered.

How insecure, how touching...what a sweetie, Andrew thought. "It was everything...the best."

Danny grinned. "It was over much too fast...the feelings just blew me away."

"Practice, we'll get it down just right," Andrew said.

"Do you...do you want to do it to me?" Danny asked.

Andrew giggled. "Afraid I can't." And he looked down at the puddle on his belly and Danny realized for the first time that Andrew had erupted as well. He never knew a boy could do that without touching himself.

"Awesome...it just happened?"

"It always happens, well at least to me. Something just sets me off." And then he gave Danny a seductive smile. "How long does it take you to recover?"

"Recover? Oh, you mean...I don't know...never done it twice in a row before."

"Then we'll have to find out," Andrew said.

Danny was exhausted...his muscles trembled from the exertion of a second orgasm. But wow, he had never imagined it would be anything like this. He gazed down at Andrew and the look on that sweet face was angelic. Suddenly Danny felt such a passionate moment of love pass between them, it brought tears to his eyes.

All those years of writing about his dreams, his hopes, and his desires had brought him this understanding of himself. He could spend the rest of his life wanting something like this to happen, and he would find none better than this sweet boy. Here and now mattered most, that's what his mother had been trying to say.

Danny reached down and placed his hands on either side of Andrew's head.

"I love you so much," Danny whispered, kissing the boy's face and neck. "I just love you and everything about you."

Andrew lay there, providing warmth, kissing him back. But then the boy leaned up and grinned. "Now I get to bathe you."

Andrew stood Danny in the small bathroom and proceeded to wash him from head to toe with a soapy washcloth. Waves of emotion passed through his mind as Danny watched the boy gently bend to his task. Not since his mother had given him baths when he was little kid did he understand how good something like this felt. He could only look forward to returning the favor.

Andrew wiped off the soap, rinsing the cloth in the sink and making a good job of it. Danny's body tingled and he knew it wasn't just because he was clean. It was the loving touches, the need Andrew had to please him that made him feel this way. And then it was his turn.

Of course the boy kept up a continuous dialogue while Danny soaped his body. All that expanse of pink healthy skin under the cloth was a turn on. One day they would bathe together in a real tub which would be a lot more exciting.

They dressed in clean clothes and brushed their hair. Danny took the brush from Andrew's hand and took over the duty. The bristles seemed to glide through the fine strands.

"You have such beautiful hair," Danny said. "Has it ever been cut short?"

"Um...my father made me cut it a few years ago, I hated him for that," Andrew said. "I think he did it to make me feel more masculine but we both knew it wouldn't work. I overheard him call me a 'little fag' to mum once, she slapped him for that."

"I'm sorry...he doesn't sound like a very nice man."

"We left him 'high and dry' as mum says. I imagine he's right well pissed at her now. That's why we left...and a good thing too, I never would have met you otherwise."

"I believe that no matter where you were on the planet I would have found you, Andrew. I can't imagine a life without you."

"Aw, mate...you give me such a wonderful feeling inside. Hmm, and now that I know the notebooks do exist, when are you going to show me your writing?"

Danny smiled. "Well everyone else has seen them so there's no sense in leaving you in the dark is there? We'll just go take them back from my mother after dinner."

It was just about dinner time when they rolled through Del Rio, Texas, a small border town situated on the Rio Grande River. Andrew and Danny sat in the club car waiting for their moms and Alicia to arrive. The train tracks ran through the seedier side of most towns, this time it was no different.

The boys looked at the piles of junked cars and broken down buildings. Occasionally they could look into the back yards of homes situated along the tracks. Sometimes there were kids playing in those yards amidst the debris and clutter.

"Why would anyone choose to live beside the train tracks?" Andrew asked.

"I'm sure they didn't choose to, they're poor and this is all they can afford," Danny replied.

"Are we poor? My Mum doesn't have much money with us."

"But she has skills, she could be a nurse again," Danny said. "My Aunt is rich, but I know mom won't like her paying for stuff. Wait, why can't you sell your art?"

"Nobody wants to buy my art, it's not good enough yet," Andrew said.

"Boy are you wrong about that, have you seen what some people call art? I saw this painting in a window back in Long Beach, it was pathetic but they were selling it for thousands. I know you're better than that."

"I got paid for a portrait of this guy's daughter once, four hundred dollars the man gave me. It took me several weeks to finish and he seemed happy enough," Andrew said.

"Sounds like a good deal, but that isn't much if it took you so long."

"Yeah, I know, and the supplies cost me close to half of that. Artist's supplies are expensive. I'll have to get some more when we reach Miami, especially if I am going to paint you up proper."

"Will you let me buy the paint for that, I have money," Danny said.

"I might have to borrow some of that. I want it to be a great piece...especially since it's you."

Danny saw the mothers enter the car with Alicia right behind. His stomach was growling, what good timing. They went forward to the dining car and were seated amidst the other diners. Bright white linens, polished silverware, and even a rose graced their table....everything looked nice.

Danny looked at the menu and his eyes were drawn to the prices. Wow, even a hamburger was eight dollars. Andrew's comment about them being poor came to mind, he didn't know what to do and then it came to him.

"Mom...can I buy everyone dinner tonight...like a celebration?"

His mother looked at him, as did Andrew and his mom.

"And what brought this up? How much did you get out of that piggy bank of yours?" she asked.

"Enough. I just thought it would be the gentlemanly thing to do. I mean Mrs. Mallory has been so kind and well, then there is Andrew, it's just something I want to do," Danny said.

The women looked at one another and Danny's mom smiled. "Well far be it from me to keep you from being a gentleman, we'll see how much dinner costs first, okay?"

Elisabeth reached across the table and placed a hand on Danny's wrist. "That's very sweet of you, dear. But at your age money doesn't come easily, maybe you should hang on to it."

Danny frowned, his plan wasn't working. And then Andrew figured it out.

"Oh...this is my fault I suppose." He laughed and turned to his mother. "I told Danny we didn't have much money with us and he said you could always go back to being a nurse. He thinks we're poor."

Elisabeth smiled and Danny felt her hand tighten on his wrist. "You are quite the gentleman for offering, and my son has a big mouth. But I wired all our funds to a bank in Miami. I only brought what I thought necessary to accomplish the trip. Now if my son would only mind his own business we can get back to ordering our dinner."

The women laughed as Andrew blushed. Danny didn't know what to think now, except that he really liked Mrs. Mallory at the moment. Andrew was subdued for a while but he ordered the steak after Danny made the same choice.

The dinner was pretty good, although by the time it came Danny would have eaten the table cloth and enjoyed every bite. They even had cake and ice cream for dessert and Danny watched as his mother ate every bite of her food. She had to be feeling better and that was a relief.

Their waiter brought the check and Alice swiped it off the table. "Since Danny thinks this should be a celebration of some kind, I'll buy the dinner. Just my way of saying thank you to the Mallory's for all their kindness. And Danny, I'll let you tip the waiter, okay?"

That was settled. They returned to the club car and settled in to watch the sunset over coffee. Elisabeth sat with Danny beside her and whispered in his ear.

"You are quite the young man, I am so happy for you. But you're mistaken if you think we're broke, I have tons of money in the bank. Shh, just don't tell anyone, sweetie."

Danny nodded. It made him feel very grownup to be brought into her confidences like this. He looked over at his mom and realized something. Now that he had Andrew in his life it would be like having two moms. That made him smile and he told Elisabeth what he was thinking.

"Yes, I always want you to feel that way," she said, and then kissed him on then cheek. "Andrew and I come as a set; I'll never let him grow up. He'll always be my little boy...and I have to share him with you."

Andrew slid a hand under the table and grasped Danny's thigh. Of course he had heard everything his mother said, especially the last part about the sharing. Danny produced the deck of cards and the women tried to teach the boys how to play Bridge. Alicia seemed to be off in a world of her own, a dolly in her lap and a vivid imagination were all she needed to be happy.

It was getting late, nearly ten o'clock when the conductor came through the club car and announced the next stop as San Antonio.

"This is where the Alamo is located," Danny said.

"The Alamo, what's that?" Andrew asked.

Danny gave them a brief description of Texas' most famous monument. It was really just a small mission church that got in the way of history being made. But that small pile of stones had become the rallying point for hundreds of men who fought and died for their pledge to set Texas free from Mexico. Andrew was fascinated with the story, especially the way Danny told it.

"Your son has a real gift for words, you must be so proud," Elisabeth said.

"Oh yeah, Mom. I told Andrew he could look at my notebooks," Danny said.

Alice raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure? Well I suppose, why not, he knows what's in them. You may have them back anytime, they're yours after all."

"I was thinking about now, it's getting pretty late," Danny said.

They retired to the cabin and Alice gave Danny his shoebox with the notebooks inside. He carried the precious cargo back to their room and handed it to Andrew.

"Everything you'd ever want to know about me is in those pages, some of it is pretty raw," Danny said.

"Point taken," Andrew said, "but I was hoping you might read some of it to me."

"Oh...a bedtime story is it? I think I can do that."

They opened the bed and undressed. Andrew lay down and folded a pillow under his head. Danny sat with his legs crossed in a pool of light from the overhead fixture and selected a book from the pile. There were at least a dozen to choose from, but he chose this one for a reason.

"I was twelve when I started writing these things," Danny began as he turned the pages. "I knew there was something different about me. I just didn't know what it meant until I met Bobby."

"Ahem," Danny cleared his throat and began to read: "The stars came out tonight as they seem to do every night even if we can't see them blazing away up there in the sky so many millions of miles away.

The majesty of that distance always makes me feel small, as if by some chance one of them might fall and take away everything we know, every drop of water, and every bit of life. It isn't going to happen, but maybe I would welcome the change.

I met this boy Bobby today, he lives nearby and yet I didn't know he existed until we met on the bleachers behind the high school. He came there to run he says...I asked what he was running from and that made him laugh.

Humor is always a good way to break the ice, but I knew he wanted to talk to me anyway, I could just tell. So we talked about school, or at least I did, he's new to the area. So I asked him if he was into sports or had any hobbies and he said yes. I don't know which question he was replying to.

He said I had nice eyes. A statement right out of the blue like that really startled me. I never had a boy tell me that before, I don't now why he said that. But I smiled back at him and noticed his eyes as well; they were green with tiny flecks of gold around the iris. I usually don't notice stuff like that either but for some reason I did.

I would have felt silly telling him his eyes had such an effect on me that I had to look. Instead I asked if he wanted to go get a soda from the machine behind the locker room. He said okay but that he didn't know where that was, I led the way.

It was quiet back there, the hum of the machine being the only sound filling the space. Someone had written 'all fags die' on the wall and for some reason I was offended and embarrassed by that. Bobby looked at it and said that things never change; there were haters everywhere in this world.

I put my money in the machine but it didn't give me a soda. We both heard the can fall but nothing came out. Bobby bent over and looked up under the flap in the machine. He could see the can there, he said, but it seemed stuck at some weird angle. I was looking at the curve of his back and at the smoothness of his spine leading down to the crack at the top of his butt cheeks.

His jeans had ridden down exposing his underwear and the aforementioned crack, I was very aware of it. He was reaching up into the machine, trying to free the can when the snap on his jeans let go. It was just pop and his jeans slid down. His hand was up inside the machine, his jeans were down around his knees and his briefs were the only thing between me and his bare ass.

The briefs were worn, the cloth quite thin by this point in time and they gave me an interesting view of his well rounded bottom. I could see the shape of his balls hanging down in them, but the curve of his butt and especially that crack between the cheeks held my attention. Suddenly he stood up and turned around, a can of soda in his hand.

He must have seen something in my eyes or he guessed that I had been looking at his ass. But that was history, now he had presented the front of his briefs to my inspection and they were bulging outwards. It suddenly occurred to me that none of this was by accident; he had unsnapped his jeans and allowed them to drop just to gauge my reactions.

He smiled and asked if there was anything I wanted to say. I said yes and thanked him for retrieving my soda, and then I turned away. If only he could have seen the smile on my face at that moment, he would have known I was on to his game and had returned the favor by dismissing his play.

Instead he pulled up his jeans and hurried after me. We went back and sat on the bleachers. Now he didn't know what to say so I took over. I asked him if that ploy worked very often. He pretended that he didn't understand me. The game moved on to a different level of play, he was going to be hard to catch out.

You have a nice ass I finally said, knowing that is what he wanted to hear. He raised an eyebrow and asked why I had been looking. Of course I don't see many asses like that in my life I replied, I'm not a very good judge of a fine ass. But as asses go I still thought his was pretty nice.

You want to see it again he asked, just to make sure you still think it's nice. I said I might, but I wasn't sure that would upgrade my opinion. I asked if he knew what might be the next level beyond nice. He smiled and said awesome might be a little higher, did I think his ass could be awesome?

I told him that maybe if it was bare instead of all bound up inside his briefs then I could tell, was that a possibility? I could tell the prospect enticed him; it was only a matter of dropping his briefs for me to tell what I thought. He looked around and I laughed saying that this was definitely not the place to continue the game, but I had a suggestion.

I led him over to the old gas station across the street, he looked the place over and I had to admit it was pretty disgusting and filthy. He seemed relieved when we crossed that property and went into the apartment building behind it. He followed me down the stairs to the laundry room and then into the storeroom beyond. We had lived there once and I never forgot the layout.

So you ready for the game to resume I asked. He looked around the room and decided this was just fine so I locked the door. Snap and once again his jeans fell, only this time he pushed his briefs down along with them. I didn't know much about judging asses but I knew a nice cock when I saw one, and his was awesome and becoming world class more each second.

He turned around and bent over, giving me the full moon. Yes he had an awesome ass, that's all there was to it, but now I wanted to see more of his cock. The only other cock I had ever seen was my own but I wasn't about to tell him that. Instead I pretended to judge his ass and I started by running my hand over his smooth cheeks.

He started at my touch and looked back at me. I tilted my head this way and that, trying to look like I was coming to a decision. My hands were on fire from touching him and he bent over further to make sure I got the whole view. I ran a hand up his spine a little and then back down his crack. I heard him sigh and knew he was enjoying this. It was time to view the front again knowing full well he would be completely aroused by now.

I stepped to the side and told him to stand up which he did. His cock was standing straight out from his belly a good six inches. Nice ass I finally said, but the cock is world class. He beamed at me and reached over to fondle the erection in my pants. We sat down on a pile of mattresses and masturbated...his hand on my cock and mine on his.

We both shot a great distance and complimented one another. Then he had to go home and I watched him leave wondering if we would ever do the same things again. And that brings me back to the stars in the sky tonight.

Somewhere Bobby is sitting under those same stars, and maybe, just maybe he is thinking about me. For even though they seem to hang up there in the night sky I know the universe is expanding, always moving away from the center of what they call the Big Bang. Life had brought me Bobby today, someone who shared a bit of what I feel inside, except he sure went about finding it in a strange way.

We are all like the stars, always moving, always changing. And sometimes stars collide even here on earth. I have met someone who I think might be a star in my universe if only we stay attracted. It's too soon to tell and maybe one day I will be truthful with Bobby. He does have an awesome ass; I just need time to tell him about it"

Danny closed the notebook and looked down at Andrew, fully expecting the boy to be fast asleep. Instead he saw wide eyes; the boy had hung on every word.

"God...that was beautiful...amazing," Andrew said.

"I just wrote down what I was feeling. Just the ramblings of a lonely twelve year old."

"And this was the Bobby, the one you had sex with?"

Danny leaned down and kissed Andrew's nose. "Yeah, well I thought of it as sex back then. I kinda worshiped Bobby for a long time. What we have is much more real."

"I make no comparisons; it was the beginning of your coming to terms with yourself, what you were feeling inside. It was sweet...what happened to him?"

"We moved away from there because of the crime problems when I was thirteen and then Mom became ill and here we are," Danny said.

"Was he gay...or do you know?" Andrew asked.

"I think he was, but he had a lot of weird thoughts about being gay. He was into exposing himself, I guess you caught that. He came over to our apartment one day and stood in our bathroom doorway shaking his cock at me. That would have been fine except my mother was right there around the corner in the kitchen. He took too many risks for no apparent reason.

"I would never do that to you, he could have got you in trouble."

Danny leaned down once again and this time kissed Andrew on the lips. "I could do with a bit of trouble from you." And then he yawned.

Andrew drew back the covers and Danny turned out the light before they both slid in under the sheets.

"Danny...why did you stop writing in your notebooks?" Andrew asked in the darkness.

"I...well...I just ran out of things to say and I didn't seem to be making any sense there towards the end, it was always the same old complaints."

"You should start up again, that was inspiring."

Danny smiled. "Maybe I will...now that I have something to inspire me again."