Baxter and Josh On the Run
Chapter 8
“Jerry, I miss you so much” I whispered into the predawn dark. “I am so sorry you felt you had to leave. I won’t tell you that I am sorry for our love; I would give nearly everything I can imagine having you here with me again. But I am so sorry that I caused you to feel you had to go. If I could only hold you one more time, tell you how beautiful you are, how happy you made my heart,” I breathed out to the quiet morning sounds of loons and frogs, the lightening of the sky that chased all but one small star from its guardianship. “You would like Matty, I think. He reminds me of you with his love-filled heart,” I whispered to my forever love. “I sure wish you could be here now. I need you to tell me what to do. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I sure don’t have anyone to ask for advice.” I gazed off into the lightening sky, pain a bit less sharp, a bit less crippling, but the wound still open after all these years. “I love you, Jerry”, I whispered to the mournful cry of the distant loon.
~
Quietly, realizing he'd invaded a painful moment for his new friend, Brian stopped in the dark woods and waited. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but seeing the quiet tears etch their way down Frank’s face in the light of the single interior lamp as he talked to this Jerry, this one he evidently loved and lost, piqued his curiosity. Caught between come or to go, he heard the agony of the man speaking clearly to the memory of his former love, and now felt guilty for his trespass upon such a home, he saw Matty come out to join him and was uncomfortably jealous of his new friend and the love he was able to have in his life, even a love lost, that Brian never would know.
~
“Hi Daddy,” Matty softly said as he crawled into his lap. This had become a regular morning thing these past few days, and Matty looked forward to the quiet dawn he shared with his new Dad. He wasn’t sure just when that name became right for him, but it just fit now. Matt felt “right” sitting in his lap, wrapped in his yellow blanket that still smelled of lake water, and the new name felt “right” in as much as he could understand this new feeling. Near purring in contentment, Matt cuddled into his new Dad.
“Hi Baby”, I whispered into his hair, kissing him on the head as I pulled the warm little body in. “Did you sleep good, sweetheart?”
“Yeah,” Matt responded absently, cuddling deeper. “Who were you talking to?” Matty whispered into his chest.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to hear that. I was just talking to Jerry, telling him I miss him and love him,” I said, a bit chagrinned that he heard me. “I guess it’s silly, but I feel better when I do that. I know he’s gone, but love is forever, right?” I said, squeezing my little boy softly. I didn’t hear Matt’s response. He was mostly still sleeping, wrapped in his little cocoon of yellow.
The morning sun finally found us, bringing a pink and orange warmth to our little porch by the lake. Matty yawned in his cocoon, working his way out. I set him on his feet in front of me with a touch of regret that the cuddle time was over for now and watched as he stretched himself awake in the streaming light. It was a bit surreal watching the little guy reach out to the sky in his waking, and I couldn’t help but to smile as he absently scratched at the seat of his sagging briefs while he let a morning pee arc off the porch.
I stood up and folded Matty’s blanket, smelling deeply into the weave as I did so and enjoying the smell of my boy in the soft fabric. Heading inside, I set the blanket on the bed and began to make a simple egg breakfast. Matt helped with the bread and butter. It reminded me again that I needed to make a trip in for supplies, including a toaster. Odd the things you come to miss like toast. We also needed a laundry run. Despite Matt going without clothes by the cabin more often than not, he was near out of clean shorts and undies, and I was wearing yesterday’s clothes now.
Breakfast over, we shared the duties of washing the dishes in the lake. Sand does a great job of a skillet, and a bit of soap and shampoo along for the trip gave us a chance to take a morning bath as well. I gave up my concerns about Brian seeing us naked after I saw the boy looking at us around the cabin wall that first morning. I’d not seen him since but got the feeling of being watched numerous times. Whoever it is, no complaints for our morning constitutionals have been shared with me, so I’ll not worry about the small stuff. Then a quick run into the nearby small town to do laundry and get groceries and ice. Matt made a mad dash for the lake upon our return, clothes flying in his wake, as he again took up his self-appointed task of minnow chasing.
I put the groceries away and returned to my favorite chair on the porch with a glass of water. To my surprise I was soon joined by Brian and Sammy, bringing a thermos and two coffee cups. Now that was another thing I’ve been missing, coffee! I pulled him up on the porch with a welcoming handshake and grabbed another chair so we could sit and keep an eye on my mighty hunter there in the shallows with the welcome feeling of hot coffee. Sammy quickly made himself content on the porch, the fat pooch likely exhausted from the walk.
“Hope you don’t mind my little wild man,” I grinned at Brian, gesturing towards Matt’s bare behind aired in our direction as he chased those pesky minnows.
“Nah,” Brian laughed. “He’s not the first little nudist this lake has seen, and he won’t be the last, I hope. When I was a youngster, we rarely wore shorts unless we were taking the boat out and away from the campground. There’s private homes not far from here, so I would suggest it if you were away from the shore, but there’s no need for it here,” he said with a grin.
“Well, that’s good, because I’m not sure I could convince him to put any on” I laughed.
I got that odd feeling of being watched again, soon finding the movement in the bushes a ways away as the probable culprit. “Brian, is it just you and us here or do you have other campers?” I asked, wondering if I needed to go grab Matt from his hunt. At Brian’s questioning look I nodded an indication towards the bushes about 10 yards away.
Brian’s confused look cleared quickly. “Jacob, would you get out of those bushes, boy!” he hollered. I don’t think Matt realized he was here with me because he squeaked a bit and quickly sat down in the water. Out of those bushes shuffled a boy of about twelve, looking at his shoes in shame for being caught. “Come here. Least you can do is introduce yourself to Frank and Matty,” Brian chuckled at the boy.
“He’s a good kid,” Brian said to me as Jacob made his way over to us. I looked over to see Matt still sitting in the water, his hands in his lap trying to hide his bits and pieces. “His father is an asshole of epic proportions and I’ve had to trespass him from the property already. But the boy is welcome here. I figure he comes around more to get away from the old man than anything else. He’s shown up a couple of times as I was working. Sammy only woofed once to tell me he was there, then always greets the boy with a happy tail, so I took my cue from him and found the kid a real delight. Sammy absolutely hates Bruce, the asshole,” Brian said, reaching down to scratch Sammy’s ear. “If you see him, let me know. I caught him near the cabins, likely looking for something to steal.”
About that time Jacob made his quiet way up to the porch. The boy was dirty, having an unkempt look that even pushed the bounds for summertime. He was wearing an old pair of dirty overalls, one strap broken and swinging, with no shirt or shoes. He immediately sat down and hugged Sammy, to the dog’s tail-thumping pleasure.
“Jacob, this is Frank,” Brian introduced, earning me a small smile from the shy kid. “And, out there is Matt,” Brian indicated with his coffee cup. Jacob lifted his hand and waved shyly. Matt grinned and waved back, then quickly realized his bits were showing and stuffed his hand back into his lap.
“Jacob, Brian tells me you are a good kid. Is that true?” Jacob solemnly looked up at me and slowly nodded his head. “Ok, then you are free to come here anytime, but no sneaking, ok?” I grinned my question to him, trying to take the sting out of anything he may find scary.
Jacob grinned back at me and nodded more energetically. “Can I play?” he asked Brian. Brian smiled and just pointed at me. I laughed and said yes, laughing again as Jacob jumped up and raced to the lake, leaving his overalls laying in the sand. His bare dirty butt bouncing brought a laugh from both Brian and I again, but Matt’s eyes were wide and round at the naked boy charging at him. Jacob quickly sat down and incongruously suddenly became shy as he faced Matt sitting in the shallows opposite from him. I watched carefully for any problems, but soon both were romping and laughing together as boys will, bits and pieces no longer hidden behind shy hands.
With a wave, Brian and Sammy soon went on their way. I got up and began lunch preparations. I didn’t ask Jacob if he was staying for lunch. I just assumed that, like all boys, he was always hungry. I set two large ham and cheese sandwiches with a cup of Kool-Aid out for each of the boys on the porch and called them in for lunch. Neither bothered to dry off, much less dress, and grinned at me around their sandwiches as they giggled with each other. I smiled, enjoying the show, then moved back inside to make the bed and do a bit of clean up.
This, quite simply, began a tradition. Brian stopped by around 9:00 am every morning with a thermos of coffee and two cups, Sammy happily huffing along. Jacob was often already there, occasionally arriving before Matty made it out of bed. I typically sent him in to cuddle with Matty, allowing me to enjoy my morning in peace. In time I put up the tent and the boys spent most nights out in the tent, giggling as little ones will do with shared secrets. Once Jacob became very comfortable, he began to bring his young cousin, Bobby-Joe, around with him as well. This little one was 7 and 3 months. He made that very clear to me when I asked his age. On just his second visit, the boys playing out on the beach and me inside doing the lunch dishes, I overhear a “whispered” conversation between Jacob and Bobby-Joe.
“Bobby-J,” Jacob said, catching the little guy’s attention from his very active digging in his crack, and was just loud enough to gather my attention as well. “What is your problem?”
“My bottom itches,” Bobby-Joe whined, going back to his digging and bringing a shy smile from my Matty.
“Well, come on, let me see. Did you get a bug bite or poison ivy or something?” I looked on with warring concern and interest as young Bobby-Joe very unashamedly turned his backside to Jacob and bent over, spreading his cheeks wide. “Bobby-J! You didn’t wipe at all after your last poo, did you?” Jacob scolded. Bobby-Joe quickly stood back up and faced Jacob, hanging his head and standing with both hands now covering his bottom.
“Will you do it?” Bobby-Joe asked hopefully, to a very ‘eww’ look and a shaking head of Jacob.
“Dad will do it for you,” Matt helpfully voiced. While I’m happy to stroke a little boy’s butt, I’m not all that fond of wiping poop. But, with plan in hand, Bobby-Joe made a beeline to the porch door only to stop and look at me in sudden shyness as I stood there with a dishtowel drying my hands.
“What can I do for you, little man?” I asked, allowing the young guy an out if he suddenly wanted one – and one for me as well, I hoped.
“Can you fix my bottom,” Bobby-Joe said quietly, looking at the floor. I couldn’t help myself, he was just too cute. So, sitting down in a chair, I pulled him to me and lifted his chin so he could look at me.
“What’s wrong with your bottom, big guy?” I asked, stroking his shoulder and arm.
“It itches,” Bobby whispered.
I smiled at him, understanding his shyness, and pulled him to the bathroom so I could get a wash towel and soap. Cleaning his little bottom was a lot more exciting than I figured it would be for me. The poor guy was very dirty, and this wasn’t the first time he’d not been cleaned. I gently washed his bottom, cringing at the redness and swelling. Finishing with some Vaseline to hopefully provide some relief, I asked him if he was better, expecting a nod and him to run away to play.
“No, it still itches. Inside,” he said quietly.
“Inside your bottom hole?” I asked, feeling panic at where this could be going. He nodded, looking at me with quiet hope that I could somehow make it all better. I saw nothing but red flags and angry parents in my future, but figure I’ve already crossed a line or two. In for a penny…
“Ok, well I can also put some of this inside your bottom, if you want me to?” I asked him. At his shy hopeful smile, I put a bit on my pinkie-finger and gently poked into his swollen behind. It was a bit of a squeeze, and I saw him briefly grimace as I moved my finger around and spread the jelly. “Is that better?” I asked, seeing his face lose tension. At his nod, I removed my finger.
“Ok, go play,” I said, giving him a pat on the bottom. Bobby-Joe turned back around and threw his arms around my neck, giving me a tight hug and kiss on the cheek, then rushed out to resume play. I chuckled with the weirdness of my life and cleaned my hands.
The next day, Bobby-Joe was back with his cousin Jacob. When he saw me sitting on the porch, Bobby came right up and wrapped his arms around my neck again, giving me a kiss on the same cheek. I hugged the little guy back, of course.
“How you doing there, soldier?” I asked the tyke.
“I’m good,” Bobby quietly whispered back. “Could you do my bottom again? It still itches.”
Chuckling again at my very weird life I said “Sure. Let’s take a look,” at which Bobby immediately turned and bent over, pulling his cheeks wide. Shaking my head at the absurdity of it all, I patted him on the lower back and got up to get a wash towel and the Vaseline, bringing it back on the porch where Bobby anxiously awaited by my chair.
“Well, things look mostly clean here. You’ve done a better job of wiping after you poo, huh?” I asked the bent over boy, who seemed unfazed by doing this little chore out on the porch this time. Bobby just nodded his head, still bent over as I put some of the jelly around his anus. I patted his butt, telling him he could go play. Bobby-Joe again hugged me, kissing me on the cheek. But this time he whispered in my ear if I would put some inside again.
With a mental shrug, I put some on my finger and one-handed spread his cheeks and touched off on his little anus. Bobby pressed back as I pressed forward, and soon my finger was well lodged – and there he stood, swaying slightly as he held on to my wrist with his hand and up by my elbow with the other hand. I moved my finger around a bit, then gave him a pat on the bottom and sent the little guy off to play.
In a very real sense, this was a bit of a dream. But I wasn’t all that attracted to little Bobby-Joe. He was just way under my AOA, and to be honest the whole progression of this was freaking me out a bit. As I sat on the porch and watched the kids play in the shallows, Brian arrived with our coffee. I wasn’t into the conversation much, still distracted by the oddity of Bobby-Joe and his itchy butt. Still, I enjoyed the time with Brian, and he isn’t one that requires constant conversation.
Shortly after Brian left off on his own chores, Bobby-Joe came back up on the porch and stood by my chair, leaning into my chest. I naturally put my arm around his back and rubbed his back idly as we watched the other two boys wrestle in the shallows. Somehow my hand found its way back to Bobby’s itchy but and my finger rubbed away inside as Bobby swayed with the feelings. I couldn’t help but feel bothered by this, but both of us were sporting erections so I simply chalked the whole thing up to the weirdness and enjoyed the moment.
It was two days before I saw little Bobby-Joe again. Jacob hadn’t been home in three days, but Bobby-Joe would head home, where-ever that is, each evening around dinner time. Matty and Jacob were in the tent, little boy snores making a peaceful underscore to my morning dawn. A rustle of sound from the side of the house announced Bobby-Joe’s arrival. He quickly looked nervous at my questioning scowl of wonder at his being out so early. Realizing my poker-face had slipped, I opened my arms and the little tyke came running up onto the porch to give me my morning hug and kiss.
“Will you fix my bottom for me, Mr. Frank?” Bobby asked in a whisper.
“Sure, buddy. Give me a moment to get a wash towel and the Vaseline,” I said, rubbing his messy hair as I rose stiffly from the chair. I took the time to turn off the one light as I came out, no sense in putting a spotlight on this little illicit activity. I didn’t really know how to take this little boy and his desire for my finger to stimulate his butt. He seemed to like it, since he asked to have it done, but I felt guilty even still, like I was somehow taking advantage. Soon enough he was bare, cleaned and my lubed finger, the middle one this time, was moving in and out of the little boy’s bottom. I heard a small whine come from him as I moved it around and he clung tightly to my arm as he swayed around with the feelings. After a small amount of time, he became a bit unsteady so I stopped moving my finger and just held him, my finger still lodged all the way in him. After a bit he put his head down on my chest and hugged into me, still standing a bit straddle-legged next to my chair.
By the time the first fuzzy-eyed and wild-haired head poked its way from the tent I had my finger cleaned and was just slightly rubbing the legs of the little boy still hugging me about the chest as he stood by my chair. Matt came over and claimed his morning cuddle in my lap, to the less than appreciative look from little Bobby-Joe. Sorry kid, my son does come first.
Soon breakfast for four was consumed and the boys were running about the woods, playing boys games. I was in washing dishes when Brian showed up with the coffee.
“You get you another one?” Brian asked with a grin. He likely knew what was going on, but I humored him anyway.
“That little one there is 7-years and 3-months old Bobby-Joe, cousin to Jacob, friend to Matt, and early-bird extraordinaire,” I laughed as the boys raced around the cabin chasing each-other or bandits or whatever the game of the moment may have been. “He’s been coming for the past few days now, showing up today before the sun was up.”
Soon the three boys slid to a halt in front of Brian and I, patiently waiting for a break in our conversation about his plans for fixing one of the two-bedroom cabins. Neither of us were able to keep the grin from our faces as the three little bare wild-ones stood idly twisting in little-boy patience.
“What can I do for you, my three bare musketeers?” I asked with a smile at the sight before me.
“Dad,” Matt started, then stalled out.
“Yes, Matt?”
“Um… Could Jacob spend the night with us tonight?” he asked hopefully. I saw a similar hope mirrored on the other two faces before me.
“Hmmm. Well, I guess I don’t have a problem with that. But I’m not his parent and he’s a bit young. How about this: Jacob, you take Bobby-Joe home after lunch and get permission from his parents and if they are ok with it, then so am I. And,” I pushed on over their cheers and assurances that it would be ok. “And, while you are doing that, Matty and I will do a grocery run,” I said over the cheers of three boys who soon began to dance around before resuming their running game.
Brian just laughed, watching the little butts disappear around the corner of the porch. “Brave man,” he chuckled.
“Brave nothing! I’m locking the door and directing them to your house if there are problems,” I laughed in return.
TBC