Farr

At the age of fifteen, I remember being very self-conscious of my body. Not Luke, that boy had no modesty what-so-ever. By the time we got to the bedroom, he had not only removed the towel; he'd folded it and was carrying it over his arm. I couldn't help but admire his cute little boy butt even if he was so skinny. I couldn't imagine an adult man wanting to violate it.

I found him some briefs, jeans that were too small in the waist for me, a tee shirt, and some socks. I looked at his shoes which were falling apart, and asked him what size shoe he wore.

"Seven D-width, I think."

"Duck feet like me, huh? You've got big feet for your size." I was two inches taller than him and also wore a seven wide.

"Do you think I'll grow more to match you?"

The wistful tone of voice got to me. I knew only too well how he wished that he'd grow into a full-size man. "Only time will tell, Luke. You're only fifteen. I think I grew a couple inches more before I turned twenty."

He turned his back to me to put on the briefs. I noticed when he bent forward that he was really inflamed in his crack and between his upper thighs. "Hold up, Luke, let me get you some salve to sooth that inflammation."

"Thanks, Farr, I just figured it would go away by itself once I got to wash down there."

"The salve will make it feel better and help it heal up faster." I let him apply it himself even though he looked like he wanted me to do it. Once it was applied, he dressed as I handed him each article of clothing.

"The thing I hate most about being small is everyone thinks I'm still a little kid," he said, going back to our conversation as he pulled the tee shirt down his torso.

"I know how you feel, Luke." I handed him a pair of white cotton socks along with a fairly new pair of sneakers which seemed to delight him. He put them on with alacrity and looked at himself in the mirror, rolled up the bottom of his jeans and then checked himself out again. He looked at me and said, "Thanks, Farr." I could see that he'd brushed his teeth, although they still needed a professional cleaning.

I grinned at him. "Farr, is it?"

He sheepishly nodded. "You look more like a Farr than a Frank."

"Okay," I said - not really comprehending.

John

While Farr was getting clothes for Luke, I pulled his clothes from the washer. God, they were rags. My boy was going to have some new clothes... today. I put them in the dryer and turned off the water main. I went back to the kitchen and quickly replaced the washer in the hot water faucet. I then called Rich.

"You work for the welfare department, don't you?" I asked. I knew he was a lawyer.

"Yes, CPS to be exact. Why are you asking?"

I told him about Luke, and asked him what I needed to do to legally keep him.

"Let me get this straight. You pick up this kid off the street, feed him, take him home and bathe him… and now you want to keep him? What's gotten into you, John?"

"You don't understand, Rich, he's a little person. You know… like Farr."

"A midget? Are you sure he's really fifteen and not just a ten year old trying to fool you?"

"Don't let Farr hear you use that word unless you want a lecture on being PC. Luke showed Farr his birth certificate. Plus his body is too mature for a ten year old."

"And you know this… how?"

"Like I said… I bathed him."

There was silence on the line for several seconds before Rich said, "Right."

I couldn't believe that he would think I had done more than just bathe the kid. "Rich, I'd sooner cut off my pecker before molesting a kid. You damned well know that."

"I'm sorry, John. This whole thing is so out of character for you. I know you wouldn't touch the kid that way. So, are you saying you want to adopt the boy?"

The word shocked me. Adopt? Adopt the boy?

"I… I… Adopt him?" I gulped. "I was thinking more like… just supplying him a secure place to live… where he wouldn't have to worry about sexual predators… where he wouldn't go hungry."

"Oh, you just want to foster him. That's more doable. All we have to do is get you guys licensed. How does Farr feel about it?"

"We haven't had a chance to discuss it, yet. But I'm sure he feels the same."

"Look, Pat will be back in about half an hour. What say we come over to meet this young man?"

"Great. Especially since you two are going to be grandparents."

"What?" he yelped.

"Gotcha, Gramps. Wasn't it you that brought up the idea of adoption?"

"Oh, God. What did I ever do to deserve you and Farr?"

"Well, for one thing you hooked up with Dad."

Rich laughed, "God help me. I guess I should just be thankful that Pat doesn't have the same sense of humor his youngest son and you do. We'll be over in a couple of hours."

I was hungry at that point. Lunch time had come and gone. I pulled out makings for sandwiches, and made a salad of mixed baby greens with crumbled Gorgonzola, toasted pecans, dried cranberries and a creamy raspberry vinaigrette. Even though Luke had eaten earlier - he'd finished off the burger in the pickup after Farr had assured him we'd be eating again later - he made himself a Dagwood classic, ate all of his salad and half of Farr's. When he stuck the last bite of salad in, he wiped his mouth and exclaimed, "I've never tasted anything like that before. That was goooood."

Once we finished eating and had cleaned up the kitchen with Luke helping, I said to Farr, "We need to talk."

He looked a question at me, then suggested to Luke that he go watch TV for a bit.

"TV? Really? Gee, I haven't watched TV in months." He headed for the den.

Luke watched him 'til he was out of sight, then turned back to me, shaking his head and asked, "Is this about keeping the puppy?"

I nodded.

"You're serious." It was more a statement of observation than a question.

I nodded.

"I don't know if I'm ready to take on raising a kid."

"Think about the alternatives," I said.

"What alternatives? We promised him that we wouldn't turn him over to the authorities."

I nodded.

"And we can't just turn him out on the streets again. We'd be no better than his father."

"Rich is going to come over as soon as your dad gets back. He's a lawyer. He can tell us what we have to do."

Farr thought about things for a minute or so, then said, "Maybe we should talk to Luke… see what he has to say."

I agreed and went in to get him. Luke went into a typical teen mode, and started acting like he'd rather be anywhere than sitting at the kitchen table with the two of us. He sat there looking petulant, like we were going to get on his case.

"Luke, I know you've only been here a couple of hours, but what would you think of living with us?" I asked.

In a barely audible little boy voice, he said, "I guess I'd like to try. At least I wouldn't be on the streets for a while... well, that is until you get tired of me."

Farr stretched out a hand to cover Luke's. "We'll never get tired of having you here," he said as I watched him rub his fingertips over the boy's chapped knuckles and made a note to myself to get the Intensive Care lotion out for him. Maybe Farr and I were still on the same wavelength because he added, "We'd like you to stay with us permanently… but only if you'd like to."

Luke looked rather surprised. Then a big delighted grin spread across his face. "You really won't get tired of me and kick me out?"

"We would never do that," Farr said.

"I never thought that my dad would either, but he did."

"Luke, we're gay, just like you. We accept who and what you are," I told him.

The kid suddenly looked frightened. "I didn't say that I'm a fag."

That set us both back on our rears. I immediately started apologizing for assuming he was gay.

"Stop. Hold on a minute," Farr interrupted. "We may be wrong for making assumptions from what little you've told us about yourself, but if you're not gay, you have no right to use that word."

"What word?" Luke belligerently asked.

"Fag. That's an insulting word coming from a straight dude."

"Sorry." Luke's head dropped forward, and after a moment he glanced up at me, then at Farr. "I guess you don't want me if I'm not gay?"

"What gave you that idea? Of course we'd still want you. It doesn't matter to us whether you like guys or girls. It doesn't change what we feel," Farr said.

"Yes-s-s!" I silently yelled. Farr and I are thinking alike.

"I didn't know which I was when my dad kicked me out. I hated doing things with the men that paid me, but I think if I met the right guy, I'd like doing those things with him. So… I guess I might be gay."

"Well, like Farr told you, it doesn't make any difference to us. Once we get you back into school with young people your own age, maybe you'll find that right guy... or girl."

"Really?" He perked up. "I can go back to school? That was the best thing in my life before Dad kicked me out."

"Of course you'll go back to school, Luke. What else would you do? Besides, you just might find the answer to your wish." Farr said.

Luke looked like Farr didn't know what he was talking about until Farr motioned at me with his chin and suggestively raised his eyebrows, then Luke grinned. "I like you guys."

I tell you, when he looked at me and said that, I thought my heart would burst. It was almost as good as Farr telling me he loves me.

Farr

Are we out of our minds?

That question kept racing through my head. I was certain that Rich was just going to tell us that we were, and then start the proceedings to get Luke into a home. I guess I didn't know him all that well, even though I do like and admire the man my dad has taken for his lover, and who is one of John's best friends.

"I've known Rich for nearly a year, and I still don't know what he does for a living. What exactly does he do?" I asked.

"He works for the welfare department in CPS. He's a lawyer."

I guess John had forgotten his promise, or he just didn't make the connection. He looked stricken when Luke said, "I knew you were lying. I'm nearly sixteen and I will not live in a foster home. I've heard enough about them that I'd rather live on the streets. So give me my clothes and backpack and I'll get out of here."

John pushed past me and pulled Luke into a hug. Luke was as rigid as a two by four. "Luke, Rich is one of our dearest friends. He has the power and ability to help us. He will not be putting you into foster care."

"Promise?" he meekly asked.

John hadn't really touched Luke before, except to wash his hair. I watched Luke's reaction as he relaxed and melted against John's big chest.

"I promise," John rumbled.

I stepped up and ruffled his hair. "I promise, too, Luke. And we keep our promises."

It was plain to see Luke still had doubts. Only time would alleviate them.

Farr

When Rich and Dad showed up, Luke was back in the den watching TV. Rather than call him out to meet them, John led them to the den door where they stopped and just watched the boy lying on his belly, giggling at the silliness of the cartoons he was watching.

Rich watched the boy for a minute, then asked sotto voce, "You're sure he's not ten years old?"

I handed him Luke's birth certificate. Rich scanned it and muttered, "Amazing, he's just like you."

I bounced my eyebrows. "Yeah, he is."

Dad pushed past Rich, walked on into the room and sat down in a chair next to Luke, who glanced up at him, then sat up and just stared at him.

"You're Farr's daddy?"

Dad nodded.

Luke stood and offered his hand, saying, "I'm Luke."

Dad took his hand and said, "It's good to meet you, Luke. I'm Pat, but if you want to, you can call me Gramps" Dad shot a grinning glance at John and winked. Rich chuckled. I wondered what that was all about.

"You really want me to be your grandson?" Luke asked.

Dad nodded again and said, "Absolutely, and this man," he put an arm around Rich who'd moved to sit on his chair arm, "is going to help make it happen. Luke, this is my partner Rich. He's a lawyer and I guess he's going to be your granddad, too."

"You mean you are gay?"

Dad looked a bit uncomfortable, but he glanced up at Rich and smiled before looking back at Luke. "Yes, we're gay."

Seeing that expression of love and happiness on Dad's face when he looked up at Rich decided me there and then that Rich walked on water... he could do no wrong.

John

It took a couple of weeks to get us approved as foster parents. Man, did Luke ever kid us about putting him in a foster home, but at that point he'd learned to trust us, and loved us enough to take the kidding and gave as much as he got. The kid has a wicked sense of humor. Rich more than once has declared that Farr had found his match in that department.

I don't think that we knew just what we were taking on by taking in this little ragtag kid off the street. Once he was bathed, fed, and decently clothed, he looked perfectly normal and healthy, except he was quite skinny. One of the first things we did was take him to see Dr. Steve.

I first met Dr. Steve soon after I settled here in San Francisco. He poses as a GP, but has specialized in the health problems that in his words 'plague gays.' The doctor wanted to speak to Farr and me without Luke present, but Luke raised enough stink that the doctor let him join us. He chose to sit on the arm of the club chair I was sitting in and leaned against me.

Dr. Steve sat on the front edge of his desk and looked Luke in the eyes and said, "I'm not going to gloss over or soften anything I say here, Luke. It is my opinion that John and Farr have the right to know, as your acting parents, exactly what is going on with you."

Luke nodded his head, folded his arms around mine, which I'd wrapped around him, and stared the doctor in the eyes.

Dr. Steve nodded back to him, and then addressed us. "John, Frank, I find it astounding that this boy is as healthy as he is. He's obviously undernourished and he has been sexually active as evidenced by the condition of his rectum. It looks like he has been used - often.

"With abstinence, the swelling and puffiness will recede. There is some scaring where he has been torn, but it has healed well, which is amazing - if what Luke has told me is true."

"I told you the truth. I don't lie, even if I am ashamed."

"Luke, if anyone is to be ashamed, it is the men that have abused you. You are an admirable young man to have endured the abuse you've gone through."

Up to that point, Luke hadn't shown much emotion, except for a bit of belligerence. Tears started trickling down his cheeks as he hunched in on himself and slid off the chair arm onto my lap. He snuggled into my chest like a little child instead of the blustery teenager he'd been a moment before. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't have any other way. I was hungry. I had to let them," he sobbed.

I rubbed his back and held him close while wondering how long it would be before his emotions smoothed out and stopped taking him on this roller-coaster ride. Farr stood next to my chair running his fingers through Luke's hair, making soothing sounds.

Dr. Steve tousled Luke's hair as he handed him a couple of tissues.

"To finish up here, the blood tests will take a couple of days. I'll call you when I get the results. Take this boy home and feed him. He needs more flesh on his bones."

Luke stood up and offered his hand to the doctor. "Thank you, Dr. Steve."

The doctor took Luke's hand, dropped to a knee and pulled him into a hug. "You're a very brave young man, Luke. I hope the best for you."

Luke nodded and pulled away. The doctor stood and shook hands with Farr and I. "I'll be calling you as soon as I get the results."

Even though the prognosis of the overall exam was good, our mood was a bit somber when we left the doctor's office… I suppose it was the waiting for the test results. This was going to occur monthly for the next six months.

On the drive home, I envisioned us having to nurse Luke if his tests came back positive. Well, I was committed to doing that if necessary. I glanced, past the boy sitting between us, at Farr, who looked to be having the same thoughts. He looked at me and hugged Luke. I knew he felt the same commitment.

Farr

It goes without saying these days that before one engages in sex with another man that one's health is discussed. John and I had shown each other our test results in the beginning days of our relationship. After my run-in with that bastard Robertson, we both got thoroughly tested. I went through a bad guilt trip after insisting that John fuck me without a condom that first time I went up to Shelter Cove to find him. We tested regularly for six months before I'd let him in bare again. It was bad enough worrying those months, but I felt so guilty for letting - no, insisting that John fuck me without a condom. I was never more relieved than when our final test came back negative. I still feel guilty when I think about it.

Now here we were again. It was worse this time. This young boy… it just wasn't right that he might have this dreaded disease. God knows he'd been through enough already. I thought of hunting down his father and torturing him if Luke's results came back positive.