Class Reunion

"Dad!" Colonel yelled as he ran toward his father.  "It was so cool!  Chris won the game.  He scored more goals than anybody."

"I played better than I ever have before," Chris added as he joined them.  "The coach has been bit... I mean he's been telling us about motivation for weeks.  He was right.  I knew I wanted to play good for Harley and I did.  That was a great idea, Mr. Beckman."

"I'm glad things went well for you, Chris," Jeff smiled.

"How did your day go?" Colonel asked his father.

"Well, Mr. Chris and I have been discussing the changes he would like to make to the hotel," Jeff began.

"I leave you two alone again, and you still just talk," Colonel sighed in exasperation.  "Dad, you are hopeless.  Where is he now?"

"He's telling the restaurant staff to set one more place at our table for dinner tonight," Jeff answered.  "A very special friend of mine is here and I asked her to join us."

"Is it Mrs. Renee?" Colonel asked.  When his father nodded, the boy said, "Well, she's ok.  I kinda know her from talking to her on the phone."

"Her husband's grandson was born early, so she was able to make it to the reunion after all," Jeff told the boys.

"Mom says that all these people that have grandkids make her feel old," Chris giggled.

"I agree with her," Jeff said with a shudder.  "I hope I have a while to wait before I become a grandpa."

"You won't ever have any grandkids, Dad," Colonel assured him.  "Girls are gross."

"You and your partner could adopt kids," Jeff pointed out.

"Not me," Chris denied.  "I've got a little brother.  Little kids are nasty."  Colonel nodded in agreement.

"Well, it seems my youth is secure," Jeff smiled.  The boys looked at him blankly.  "Never mind, guys."

"Can we go to the pool for a while, Dad?" Colonel asked. "We stopped by Chris' house so we could get his suit and his clothes for tonight and tomorrow."

"Well then it sounds like you're already prepared," Jeff told them.  "Go ahead.  I'll come by and get you in time for dinner.  If you're not in the pool when I start looking for you, Colonel, I'll knock on your door," he added with a wink.

"DAD!" Colonel exclaimed with a red face.

As they turned to leave, Jeff heard Chris ask, "Why does your dad call you Colonel?"

"Cause he's lousy at picking out names," Colonel answered.

Just as they were leaving the lobby, the older Chris walked up.  "Where are they headed?" he asked, indicating the two boys.

"They're going up to Colonel's room to change into their swim trunks," Jeff explained.

"Weren't they already wearing them?" Chris asked in confusion.  He grinned then and added, "Oh... smart boys.  Do you think they'll make it to the pool?"

"Yeah, right," Jeff smirked.  "I think this is a birthday Colonel will never forget."

"Me either," Chris whispered.  "Hopefully, none of us will."

"That sounds promising," Jeff observed.  "It's already been unforgettable for me, but you sound as if you have an idea."

"Several," Chris confirmed.  He slowly and deliberately winked at Jeff.

"You have no idea what that does to me," Jeff whispered.

"Why don't we go someplace private and you can tell me all about it," Chris suggested.

"Let's go to your room and change into our swim trunks," Jeff laughed.

"But your suit is in your.... OH, I get it.  Okay, let's go," Chris grinned.

"I don't remember you being this blond when we were in school," Jeff teased.  "I hope the rest of you isn't falling apart as fast as your mind," he added as he returned the wink.

"You are a sick man," Chris scolded.  "It's been a long time since I've seen your fun side.  I like it."

"Hurry up and I'll show you some more of me you haven't seen in a long time," Jeff promised.

"My office is closer than my room," Chris said quickly.  "But I want this to be special."

"Our first time together will be special wherever we are," Jeff pointed out.  "Take me to your office."  He lowered his voice to a husky whisper.  "Take me in your office."

"I always wanted an office romance," Chris replied.

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"Chris, what are you doing?" Colonel asked quietly.

"I'm putting my swim trunks on," the other boy replied.  "We were supposed to go swimming."

"We don't have time now," Colonel pointed out.  "We're supposed to be in the restaurant in thirty minutes.  Do you want to shower first, or should I?"

"We could do it together," Chris grinned.  "I'll wash you and you can wash me."

"I don't think we would get to dinner on time," Colonel answered.  "My dad would definitely come looking for us."

"Oh well, we can make up for it later tonight," Chris giggled as he walked into the bathroom.  "It was way cool of your dad to let me stay tonight."

"He probably didn't want me to be lonely," Colonel told him.

"What do you mean?  Where is he going to be?" Chris called from the shower.

"He'll be staying the night with Mr. Chris, I hope," Colonel replied, as he walked into the bathroom and sat on the closed toilet so they could hear each other.

"What's he going to do there all night?" Chris questioned.

"The same thing we'll be doing here," Colonel answered matter-of-factly.

"You mean that your dad and Mr. Chris are boyfriends?" Chris gasped.  "No way!"

"They were kissing last night," Colonel informed him.  "Even if they are here tonight, I doubt they'll even notice us."

"Suits me fine," Chris stated.  "I won't be paying any attention to them either."

"Chris, do you really like me?" Colonel asked nervously as he looked at his reflection in the mirror over the sink.

"What kind of question is that?" Chris asked as he stepped out of the shower.

"You don't think I'm a little dork fag boy, like the kids at school?"

"If I ever hear anybody call you that, I'll kick a goal with their balls," Chris vowed.  "Colonel, I like you.  I mean I like you like you.  I want you to be my boyfriend."

"I like you like that, too," Colonel assured him.  "I want us to be boyfriends, too."

"Does that mean I can kiss you?" Chris whispered.

"We just decided to be boyfriends and before that we spent the whole afternoon playing naked stuff in the bed together.  I think it's okay to kiss at this point," Colonel grinned.

"Shut up and let me kiss you then," Chris told him.  The boys drew closer and touched their lips together briefly.  In unspoken agreement, they each intensified their embrace.  When they pulled apart, Colonel spoke first.

"That was as much fun as the other stuff," he said, breathing heavily.  "How come kissing you feels different than kissing anybody else?"

"I don't know, but I feel the same way," Chris returned.  "If you're a fag boy, then so am I."  He hugged Colonel tightly and then took a step away.  "But I smell better.  Hit the shower, dude."

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"Dad, why were the people at the front desk looking at you and Mr. Chris like that?" Colonel asked as everyone was getting settled at the table for dinner.

"Your father and Mr. Chris did something naughty today and got caught at it," Renee supplied as the older Chris and Jeff blushed.  "I'll bet they check the intercom next time they go in the office."

"Dad!" Colonel gasped.  He stared at Jeff with his mouth open.

"I'm sorry, son," Jeff started.  "If you're uncomfortable with this...."

"You must have done more than kiss this time," the boy grinned.

"According to the desk clerk, they did a lot more than kiss," Renee announced happily.  "They were going strong at it for over an hour, at their age.  Shameful," she scolded with a grin of her own.

"Mom and Dad do that too," Little Chris announced.

"Christopher!" Jennifer gasped.

"Well, I do feel old now," Renee complained jokingly.

"You are a grandmother," Jeff teased her.

"At least she's a new grandmother," Sam pointed out.  "Blake has grandchildren in school already."

"I'm a step grandmother, if you please," Renee retorted.  "Besides, Blake had a head start.  Their daughter was born when we were all in the eighth grade."  She suddenly got up from the table and grabbed her gargantuan purse.  As she rummaged in it, she said, "Speaking of children, I have gifts for two of the boys at this table."  She heard Colonel take a deep breath, but she kept talking.  "Sam sent me a tape of a group of boys singing in a garage," Renee said, but was then interrupted.

"Dad, how did you get a tape of us?" Chris demanded.

"I stood outside the window," Sam confessed.  "Then I sent it to Mrs. Renee.  She owns a radio station and I asked her to do you boys a favor."

"I was happy to do it, too," Renee told the boy.  "I had the station's sound engineer work on it.  He edited out the sounds of Sam slapping the mosquitoes and the car horn from the street.  He also added a little work of his own.  He used the computer to add some music to your songs."

"Cool!" Little Chris exclaimed.  "Do you think I could hear it?"

"I brought you a copy of the CD, Chris," Renee smiled at him.  "I've got three copies for each boy in the group, in fact.  Mr. Chris, do you think we could play the CD now?"  The older Chris nodded to one of his staff and within a couple of minutes the sound of young Chris' voice filled the restaurant.

"That's my song," the boy whispered in awe.  "I wrote that one.  It's the poem I did for school."

"That is your poem," Jennifer agreed.  "I remember the words."

"Chris, I want you and your friends to come to my television studio and record a real demo," Renee said quickly.  "I know some people who work for a recording company and I would like to send a video of you boys to them."

"Wow! My boyfriend's going to be a pop star!" Colonel bragged.

"Colonel!" Chris hissed.

"Chris, is there something you want to tell your mother and I?" Sam asked quietly.  Chris sat totally still, staring at his plate, as tears began to flow down his cheeks.

"Son, there is nothing you can tell us that will ever change how we feel about you," Jennifer soothed.

"Chris, everybody here already knows about us," Colonel whispered.  Chris' eyes grew wide as he stared first at Colonel and then at each of his parents.

"You know?" he whispered.  Sam and Jennifer nodded.

"You're our son," Jennifer told him.  "Did you really think that we didn't know you?"

"Son, you can't help the way you are," Sam added.  "This is how you were born.  If I get mad about this, it would be like getting upset that you have crazy blond hair that won't lay down, or sparkling brown eyes that always make me think you're up to something, or that cheesy grin that proves that you have."  He saw the look of reprimand on his son's face so he stopped there.  "The point is that is all part of who you are and so is this.  Most importantly of all, you are my son, all of you."

"We're proud of you for everything you are," Jennifer told her son.

"You mean it's ok for me to like boys?" Chris asked his parents.  "You're not mad at me because Colonel is my boyfriend?"

"Your brother was your age when he started liking girls," Sam pointed out.  "I don't see a difference."

"I sure do," Chris quipped.  "Girls are nasty.  Oh sorry, Mrs. Renee.  Some girls are nasty."

"Hey, I'm a girl too," Jennifer pointed out.

"You're not a girl, you're Mommy," Chris' little brother Paul announced, sending everyone into laughter.  The little boy turned to his older sibling seriously and added, "Chris, if you like boys, does that mean that you like me?"

"YUCK!  No!  You're my brother," Chris retorted.  "I put up with you, but I'll never like you like I like Colonel."

"Good," Paul returned.  "Tiffany Belding says she's going to beat up anyone that likes me but her," he added.

"Is Tiffany your girlfriend?" Jeff asked the boy.

"She thinks so," Paul answered.  "I just eat lunch with her everyday because she buys me extra dessert."

"That's my boy," Sam beamed.  "That's how your mother and I got together."

"I don't want to marry her!" Paul protested.

"You have plenty of time to decide who you'll marry, Paul," Jennifer told him.

"Colonel, I would like for you to have one of my CD's," Chris said softly.  "It's not a birthday present; it's a boyfriend present."

"I'll listen to it all the way home tomorrow," Colonel told him sincerely.  "Or at least until Dad makes me turn it off," he added, grinning at his father.

"All the way home is fine with me, this time."  Jeff added extra stress to the last two words.

After the dinner was over, everyone from the reunion gathered in the restaurant for the last meeting.  Chris Doss, Sam, and Jennifer sat a table on a raised platform at the front of the room.  As the class officers, they presided over the election of the committee to oversee the next reunion.  The three of them were unanimously re-elected.

Sam and Jennifer read the list of class members who had passed away since graduation.  Jennifer and a few others were wiping tears by the time they finished.  Chris then stood up to announce the selection of class favorites from this reunion.

"Chris," Blake called out.  "May I speak to the group about the ballots?  There seems to have been some mistakes made."

"Go ahead, Blake," Chris told him somewhat nervously.  He couldn't imagine what the big man was thinking.

"Folks, there were only two couples listed for the title of cutest couple at the reunion, but there is a problem with that," Blake began.  "There is also an issue of the most changed class member.  One of the names that was presented for that award doesn't belong on that list.  I'll start with that problem first."

"Ten years ago, we voted that the class member most changed since graduation was Chris Doss," the man continued.  "I believe that decision may have been due to my influence.  The thing is what I meant as a mean spirited joke at someone else's expense shouldn't have passed the way it did."

"I was shocked to find out that Chris Doss wasn't the man I thought he was," Blake confessed.  "I can see now that by making such a big deal over something that was none of my business, I really hurt a great football player, a terrific team captain, and a man I hope I can still call my friend after this."  He paused as he cleared his throat.  "Chris, I apologize for an act of stupidity and cowardice on my part.  I truly believe that you are more of a man than I ever knew.  I am proud to know you, and sincerely hope that I can still call you my friend."

Chris was about to speak, but Blake stopped him.  Amy sat next to her husband with tears flowing freely.  Blake took her hand in his as he stood silently for a moment.  When he spoke again, it was obvious that he was struggling to contain his emotions.

"You don't know how that mistake has haunted me and hurt my family," Blake finally said slowly.  "Our oldest son is gay, though I didn't know it at the time.  He ran away from home rather than tell me that he was gay after the way I behaved at the last reunion.  We have been looking for him for five years now."  At that point, Blake's emotions got the best of him and he wept openly for a moment before he could continue.

"I said all that to say this," he finally managed to get out.  "Jeff Beckman was on the list for the person the most changed this year.  That's bull crap, pardon my language, ladies.  Jeff is and was always nothing but good to me.  I will not stand by and see another person hurt by our ignorance, not our age, or any other," he added with a pointed look at Little Chris and Colonel.  "Please remove Jeff's name from that category.  I defy anyone in this room to show me how Jeff has ever changed.  I see the same honest, caring, and dependable guy that I knew in school.  His only problem is that he doesn't have enough gray hair yet."  At that, the room echoed with giggles from men and women alike.

"Now the first problem I mentioned is related to that one, which is why I brought them up in this order," Blake announced cheerfully, but still firmly.  "I didn't want any misunderstanding about why I'm saying this.  Me and Amy were nominated for cutest couple at this party.  I want to withdraw our names in favor of another couple.  I figure we just got on there because of the way we carry on with the grandbabies," he added.

"I was playing with the grandkids in the lobby of the hotel this afternoon and overheard another couple... well, let's say they were talking," Blake continued.  "After I got the grandbabies out of earshot, I listened in a bit.  I couldn't help it, with the loudspeaker going like that."  Jeff and Chris Doss were beet red at this point.  "It seems that this couple was in love with each other when we in school, but they just got together at this reunion.  I would like to nominate them for the cutest couple at the reunion; Chris Doss and Jeff Beckman."

Jeff and Chris blushed even more profusely as their classmates all began to cheer the nomination.  When the excitement died down, Amy was standing beside her husband.  Blake sat down, but she didn't.

"Did you want to say something, Amy?" Jennifer asked her.  Amy nodded and then swallowed hard before speaking to the group.

"I would like to nominate Blake for the person most changed," she began.  "It's taken more than twenty years, and it's been harder on both of us than you will ever know, but I think today for the first time some of you can see the Blake that I fell in love with when  we were all kids."

That suggestion brought as much positive response as Blake's had.  Blake and Amy's nominations were approved unanimously.  Several people offered to help them find their son, but the couple held little hope after so long.

Colonel and Chris made their exit to the hotel room as soon as they could.  Jeff and the older Chris visited with friends for a while longer.  Renee eventually chased them to more private quarters as well.  They decided to spend the night in the owner's suite in order to have more privacy for themselves and for the boys.  Jeff wanted to check on the boys before he settled in for the night, though.

He found the boys lying on Colonel's bed, wrapped tightly in each other's arms.  He silently pulled the sheets up to cover the sleeping lovers.  After kissing them both, he turned out the light and closed the door.  He left them a note explaining where he was, and then went to meet his own lover.

Chris meanwhile had been preparing his quarters for the evening.  He had Kenny G playing softly on the stereo.  There were candles to provide both romantic lighting and soothing aromatherapy.  He planned to make the night as romantically pleasing as the afternoon had been physically satisfying, if mortally embarrassing.

Jeff was suitably impressed, although he did have one request.  He explained to Chris that Hope had insisted they make love while listening to Kenny G.  Since then, although he liked the musician and his music, it was difficult to listen to it.  Chris switched the saxophonist for Yanni eagerly.  With that alteration made, Jeff agreed that the mood for the evening was perfect.

They sipped wine as they discussed their day.  Chris asked about the boys, and smiled warmly as Jeff told of tucking them in.  Being a parent on his son's birthday, Jeff began reminiscing about Colonel and told of all the circumstances of Colonel's birth, including how he and Kyle came to admit their feelings for one another.

"Jeff, are you sure you're okay with us?" Chris asked seriously.  "I don't want you to rush into something for me and then hate me for it later."

"I could never hate you, Chris," Jeff assured him.  "But Colonel is going to hate me in the morning."

"Because of us, tonight?" Chris asked fearfully.

"No, if he had a problem with that, he would have said something about it this afternoon," Jeff explained.  "Once again, he has left us alone and all I've done is talk.  I guess I should remedy that," he said looking at Chris seductively.

"You have no idea how long I've wanted to see that look in your eyes for me," Chris whispered.

"Yes, I do," Jeff corrected.  "Now shut up and kiss me."  Chris was only too happy to obey.

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