A note from the author

Several readers have suggested that my characters could not possibly fall in love within the confines of a short story, but consider this if you please: A boy may have unfulfilled desires and fantasies that develop from childhood. And unlike adults they have an advantage, they have their whole lives ahead to explore these thoughts and feelings.

If the boy discovers himself to be gay at an early age those thoughts must surely prey on his mind for a long time without a means of expression. In that frame of mind when two boys of like mind collide there will be fireworks. (I love fireworks) And like two speeding bullets they hit the target at the same time and all sense of time shatters, they glory in the moment, they share love.

"When beauty needs to see in the dark ... I hope it has your eyes. For if I had to choose one place to be ... it would be in the reflection of your love."

Danny Briggs.

"Do you think they'll 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 ... or fall off the train. She had seen the boy's reaction to Danny when the cake was offered. It was sweet, and a lot more acceptable than that older guy 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; the man hadn't been around in years...not in a real sense. The boy had no real 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 overnight in a sexual sense and if she'd known what was on his mind ... she probably couldn't have stopped it. Having a gay son wasn't difficult, dealing with his urges was.

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; Andy had used charcoal 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 where the pain is transitory 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; 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 smiled. "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 with the dolls, overwhelmed by having so many dollies at her disposal at one time.

"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 yourself down; 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 of Andrew's most talented mouth ... when the door rattled.

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

"Damn it all," they heard 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 enough look out. They bolted from the room, sliding the door behindvthem. They hurried towards the coach car and fell in their seats.

"Looks like we're stuck here," Danny said.

"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, 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 bad that 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 feelings of love 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 in a low voice that they would be stopping in Tucson. Danny yawned, five hours to El Paso ... he could hold out that long.

Andrew slept peacefully while Danny dozed on and off. The sunrise grabbed his attention because it revealed a different landscape than the day before. 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 pee, the urge 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. El Paso came up and they stopped in the station. Danny watched as a bunch of passengers got off the train.

"Was 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; 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 like 30 minutes to straighten things out and you may have it when we leave this station."

"Hurrah, a real bed," Andrew yelled.

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 just 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, 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, and then he giggled. "Or maybe the Love Unlimited."

"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 re-entered 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 up."

"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 thoughts 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. "Ok, 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 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, his head on Danny's lap. The thought of what lay under his head had been arousing, but the place had been all wrong. Andrew 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.


On to Chapter Four

Back to Chapter Two

Chapter Index

Chris James Home Page

"Artificial Sky" Copyright © 30 Nov 2008 by Chris James. All rights reserved.
    This work may not be duplicated in any form (physical, electronic, audio, or otherwise) without the author's written permission. All applicable copyright laws apply. All individuals depicted are fictional with any resemblance to real persons being purely coincidental.

Home Page | Authors | Stories by the Writer Suggested Reading | Suggested Viewing | Links Privacy Policy | Terms of Service Send a Comment All Site Content © 2003 - 2024 Tarheel Writer unless otherwise noted Layout © 2003 - 2024 Tarheel Writer