Tweens

Forbidden Fruit – Chapter 5
By
Caliboy1991

“Catch the door, Isaiah. I’m getting the casserole out of the oven!”

The boy had already bounded off the couch and was nearly to the door when he heard his mom’s voice. “I got it!” his voice echoed through the duplex as he swung open the door.

Even though less than an hour had passed since he’d seen Adam at church, it didn’t keep Isaiah’s face from lighting up, “Hi, Adam. Mom’s in the kitchen. Come on in.”

A moment later, Amanda’s head poked around the corner, “Boys, dinner will be ready in about ten.”

There were shadows under Adam’s eyes. Isaiah had noticed them during Sunday School, but he hadn’t wanted to say anything at church. Perhaps the other kids hadn’t noticed, but something was wrong with Adam. He had been distracted during his lesson on the talents. Worried, the boy took Adam by the hand, “Come on, I got a new poster I want to show you.”

While it was true, he had gotten a new poster, the look in Adam’s eyes worried Isaiah. He grabbed the young man’s hand and pulled him back toward his bedroom. Once Isaiah had Adam in his room, he ignored the poster. It was the newest Ghostbusters poster. The movie was still in theaters and was blowing up on social media. The boy didn’t care about any of that.

Instead, he rounded on the twenty-year-old. “What’s wrong?”

Adam’s eyebrows arched in surprise. “Why would you think something’s wrong? I’m fine.”

Still holding onto the young man’s hand, Isaiah said, “Your voice is off, and you don’t look like you slept at all last night. That good enough reason?”

Adam sat on the lower bunk, “It’s nothing you need to worry about. We’re cool.”

Isaiah climbed onto the railing of the bed and used his hand on the top bunk to balance himself, “I thought we were friends. Was I wrong about that?”

Adam shot up, “God, no. I’m still your friend, Isaiah. I promise. Just working through some sh- stuff.”

Isaiah’s lips curved upward at his mentor and youth pastor, nearly slipping into profanity. Adam’s response was the most like himself he’d sounded. More than that, he believed the young man. But Isaiah didn’t understand why he wouldn’t share. He tried again, “If it was me that was bothered, would you let it go?”

A tired smile ghosted across Adam’s face, “Maybe not. Even though we’re friends, there’s stuff an eleven – excuse me, nearly-twelve-year-old boy doesn’t need to be bothered with.”

Isaiah wasn’t convinced, but he let it go as he pointed out some bits of trivia about a couple of other movie posters on his wall. It wasn’t long before his mom knocked on the bedroom door, “Dinner’s ready, boys.”

When they settled around the table, Isaiah sniffed the air. There was a hint of barbeque sauce in it. His mom’s meatloaf was one of his favorite meals. Of course, it couldn’t hold a candle to her homemade macaroni and cheese, which was placed next to the meatloaf. He was ambivalent about the green beans. Even with chunks of bacon in it, it was still green beans.

The problem with round tables is that nobody sits at the head. Of course, that had never bothered the boy or his mom. Now, with his mom on one side of him and Adam on the other, even if his friend was hiding something, Isaiah hadn’t felt better in a long time.

His mom took his hand and said, “Adam, would you do us the honor of saying grace?”

Adam’s lips grew thin before he pasted a smile on his face, “Sure, Amanda. I’d be glad to. Unless, of course, Isaiah would rather…”

His mom laughed, “Be careful what you wish for, Adam. With Isaiah, he’s more likely to say ‘rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub’ than anything meaningful.”

Isaiah gripped his mom’s hand more firmly, “That’s not fair. I can say a prayer, too. ‘Bless this food before us set, it needs all the help that it can get.’”

His mom groaned, “Oh, Lordy. See what you started, Adam. I prefer my prayers without insults added to the mix.”

Before he could launch into another ditty, Isaiah found his other hand engulfed in Adam’s as the young man gave him a wink before saying, “Well, we can’t have insults. At least until dessert. Let’s pray…”

It was easy to get bored waiting for adults to pray for a meal, but Adam was brief. Still holding the young man’s hand, the boy said, “You can always tell when a preacher’s hungry.”

Smiling back at him, Adam said, “How’s that?”

Grinning mischievously, Isaiah said, “The shorter the prayer, the hungrier the preacher.”

Adam released his hand so that he could hold his plate up while his mom dished out a serving of meatloaf. “Clever boy you’ve got Amanda. Quite the wit.”

His mom handed back Adam’s plate and grabbed his own, “Perhaps. Sometimes though, I think you’re only half-right.”

Realizing his mom was poking fun at him, Isaiah stuck his tongue at her, “Be nice, Mom. I’ll pick your retirement home.”

Amanda leaned over and pinched his cheek, “Oh, that’s cute. You think you’re going to survive long enough to pick where I retire.”

This was even more fun than the last time his mom had invited Adam to join them. By the time Isaiah finished his plate, some of the stress in Adam’s eyes was gone. His tired eyes were all Isaiah needed to see to know his friend was bothered and hurting. When Adam put down his fork, Isaiah decided if he and his mom worked together, maybe together, they could help him feel better.

“So, Adam,” Isaiah said, looking at his mom, “taught about the parable of the talents in Sunday School today, Mom. We learned about how the more you’ve been given, the more you should do to help others.”

Amanda leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, “Sounds interesting. What did you get out of it?”

Adam’s eyes drifted between his and his mom’s as Isaiah said, “Well, maybe it’s not exactly like talents, but God has given me an awesome mom and a really good friend. I’ve learned that I should do more for them because of how much God has given me.”

Isaiah’s mom put her hand over his, “Does this mean you’re going to start cleaning up your room without being told?”

He flashed a smile, “Maybe. If I can remember.” Then his smile faded, and he looked over at Adam, “But when my one friend, who means almost as much to me as my mom is hurting, I want to help, even if it’s… how’d you say it? Stuff, a nearly-twelve-year-old boy doesn’t need to be bothered with?”

Adam squirmed in his seat, as even Amanda’s attention fell on him, “I wondered if something was off, Adam. You look worn, like you’re not getting enough rest. What’s wrong?”

The young man sighed, “It’s nothing, really. Certainly, nothing to ruin a fantastic dinner over.”

Isaiah sent Amanda a pleading look. It didn’t matter to him the age difference between him and Adam. The young man meant so much to him. And while he might not ever get to share a kiss with Adam, Isaiah realized, the young man had captured his heart more completely than Josh ever had.

Amanda said, “It won’t ruin anything to admit you’ve got problems, Adam. I’ve had problems bigger than what I could manage on my own. So has Isaiah. So, please don’t pretend you can carry whatever is going on by yourself. You wouldn’t let any of the kids in your youth group do that. Would you?”

Adam shook his head, even as it hung low over his chest. “No, I guess not. It’s just I don’t want to burden either of you with my problems.”

Amanda sigh and leaned back in her chair, “Then you’ve made the wrong friends. I’ve gotten to know you pretty well over the summer. But nothing compared to how well Isaiah knows you. I wish he made friends easier, but that’s not how Isaiah works. And you’re the one person he counts as a friend. Trying to mask whatever is going on, you’re just hurting him.”

Isaiah’s heart swelled at his mom’s spirited attempt to help Adam. He dared not get his hopes up when the young man lifted his chin. All the boy wanted was to be there for his friend. Just as he was certain, Adam would be there for him if their roles were reversed. Biting his lip, Adam shook his head as tears misted in his eyes. “My girlfriend dumped me, and I’m getting kicked out of my apartment.”

Isaiah had heard Adam talk about Becky before. But he hadn’t realized how important the girl was to his friend. But the idea of Adam being homeless horrified the boy. “What happened? How did you get kicked out?”

Adam pushed the empty plate away and crossed his arms on the table, “My roommate’s dad sold it. My roommate wants me to move into a new place, but the rent’s more than I can afford.”

The chair scraped underneath Isaiah as he got up and came around behind Adam. He threw his arms around the young man’s neck and hugged him. He had no idea what to tell his friend about losing a girlfriend. He’d never been through something like that. And, at least to Isaiah, girls weren’t very interesting. But his mom had been evicted a couple of times when Adam was younger. He knew how bad that could be.

Like a flash of light, a solution came to Isaiah. “Mom, can Adam stay with us?”

Adam’s head jerked up, “I couldn’t impose, Isaiah.”

Amanda worked one of her fingers in her hair, a thoughtful expression on her face, “We’re not going to let you become homeless, Adam. I don’t know why you couldn’t stay over here for a few nights on the couch.”

Isaiah stood up to his full four and a half feet, his arms still on Adam’s shoulders, “Mom!” he squawked, “I’ve got bunk beds in my room. Why can’t he stay with me?”

A touch of crimson reached Amanda’s cheeks, “We’ll see, sweetie. First, though, Adam, when you have to move out of your apartment, I want your skinny ass over here if you don’t have somewhere else to go. Alright?”

Adam craned his neck around until Isaiah could see his eyes. “Say, ‘yes,’ please.”

Then he looked across the table at Amanda. “Okay. Fine. I’m sure something else will open up before then. But if it doesn’t, then the couch would be fine.”

***

Adam heard the sound of Isaiah’s PlayStation in the living room as he took one of the plates and set it in the dishwasher. “I really appreciate the offer, Amanda, but I don’t want to be a burden.”

Amanda rinsed a bowl in the sink, “Stop it, Adam. I like you. I think you’re really good for Isaiah. Having you around until something else opens up will be good for my son and maybe even for you.”

Sure, he had confessed Becky’s breakup with him and being homeless, but there was no way he could explain the feelings Isaiah stirred inside him. With Becky gone, he had banked on putting the whole experience at Wakefield, even his friendship with Isaiah, behind him in the fall. If he lingered on, he wasn’t sure he could be strong enough to resist temptation.

Something on his face must have given something away. Amanda turned off the water and tapped him on the shoulder, and beckoned him toward the backdoor. The backyard was small, a patio with a grill on it, and a few square yards of grass, divided by a small fence from an identical yard. Amanda leaned against the back door, “When you finished up your job next week, were you planning on staying around?”

Adam’s shoe dug into the grass, as his hands dug into his pockets, “I don’t know. Sometimes, I think it would be easier for me to put Wakefield behind me this fall.”

Shaking her head, Amanda said, “I don’t give a damn about Wakefield, Adam. But there’s a boy in the other room who is having a hard time figuring out his emotions, but trust me, he adores you, maybe even more than he does me. And if you disappear from his life, it will devastate him. If that’s what you’re going to do, please, just go. Don’t go back in there and pretend to be his friend if you’re going to be gone in a week. I can pick up the pieces. I’ve done it before, and I can do it again. But, please don’t make it worse.”

Shamed by Amanda’s prescience, Adam didn’t know how to respond. He loved the boy. And that was part of the problem. The last thing he wanted to do was break Isaiah’s heart. He feared he wouldn’t be strong enough to not sin with the boy. If he failed there, not only would he destroy the boy, he would ruin his own life.

As Amanda stared at him, Adam managed, “I don’t want to see Isaiah hurt, Amanda. Never.”

Amanda smiled wistfully. “I know. I can see it in how you look at him. That’s why I don’t what you to go. I don’t know why you’re hurting, but if you can see past your problems, my son’s life is better with you in it.”

Adam felt the shame of his attraction to Isaiah and knew he couldn’t begin to explain it to Amanda. Yet her plaintive cry touched him. He didn’t know how he could avoid the temptation Isaiah represented, but as much as he didn’t want to give himself over to his desires, he also wanted to be in the boy’s life, despite the danger it posed to both of them.

With a shaky sigh, Adam said, “Alright, Amanda. When school starts up, I promise I’ll still be Isaiah’s friend. And I promise I’ll keep looking for a place closer to campus.”

Amanda came across the patio and hugged Adam, “Thanks, sweetie. I’m about to burn up out here. A boy is waiting for you inside.

***
Author insert here: I debated whether to include this next section. But it’s important context to who Adam is and where he comes from. A lot of what one of the characters talks about are things that most of us would rather not hear because it conflicts with how we view the world and our place within it, but because that’s the world Adam belongs to, it would be dishonest of me to pretend something like this wouldn’t happen to him.

Adam handed the keys to the van over to the pastor. “I think that’s everything, Pastor Rich.”

The Pastor of Wakefield Community Church set the keys on his desk. “I hope the summer was everything you expected, Adam. You were a hit with the kids in the youth group. Shame you’re not staying on for the fall.”

Adam looked at the amount of his last check. It would help tide him over until his grant and scholarship money came in. “It was a lot of fun. You’ve got a good bunch of kids.”

“Did the job help you decide any more about your calling in the ministry? Some of the larger churches in town want that religion degree even for their youth pastors.”

Strange how a summer changes people, Adam realized. He’d started the summer gung-ho about pastoring a youth group. And at the end of the summer, he knew he wasn’t cut out for it. The feelings for Isaiah were too strong to shake. And even though he was determined to avoid letting things get out of control, Adam knew at some point, he would have to publicly confront his sexuality.

He said, “I enjoyed the job, even working with the kids, Pastor Rich. But I’ve realized that perhaps I was mistaken about a calling. I don’t think God is leading me into the ministry, after all.”

Pastor Rich gave a short nod and knitted his eyebrows together, “There’s more than a few men who won’t ever admit that they got into this for the wrong reasons. If you’ve come to the realization that your path is down another direction, then far be it from me to discourage you.”

Sitting in the pastor’s office, Adam hated the attraction he felt for Isaiah, even as he knew he loved the boy. Still, it nagged at him that God would hate him for the way he felt. And no matter what he told himself, his faith was in crisis. Fearful of the reaction, Adam still felt compelled to say, “Um, Pastor Rich, can a person still be a Christian and be, um… gay?”

The pastor took his glasses off and grabbed a bit of cloth from a drawer in the desk, “That’s not a question I was expecting, Adam. I guess I can see why you might not want to explore the ministry if you’re grappling with more pressing issues in your life. Let me ask you this, can you still be a Christian if you’re divorced?”

Adam said, “Well, my mom’s divorced. She’s a good Christian woman.”

Pastor Rich said, “Fair enough. Doesn’t the Bible say that if a person remarries and they’re divorced, it’s the same as adultery?”

Adam blanched, “My mom’s never committed adultery. Well, not to my knowledge.”

The pastor chuckled, “Point taken. What about the glutton who weighs four-hundred pounds? Not talking about somebody with health issues. Just some run of the mill fatso who won’t stop eating. Can they still be a Christian?”

Adam thought about the men and women who took up two or even three spots in the pews, even at Wakefield.

He said, “Because gluttony is a sin?”

Pastor Rich nodded, “Yep. Or what about the church gossip? Is she still a Christian?”

Adam wasn’t sure the point the pastor was trying to make. “I suppose they’re all still Christians. But those are all different than gays.”

The pastor’s eyes arched, “Really? Why do you think that?”

“Well, the church is always telling people that homosexuality is a sin.”

“So is greed, lust, gluttony, gossip, and a bunch of other behaviors that get between us and our Creator. The difference is that most of those other sins nobody argues about. Most sins don’t create much conflict. The difference is that gays don’t want to be told they’re sinning, so they get upset. Of course, it doesn’t help when other Christians tell folks they’re going to hell.”

A chill ran down Adam’s spine, “Can a gay person be saved?”

Pastor Rich said, “I sure hope so. Because if they can’t, what hope does Aunt Myrtle, the church gossip have? Or my dentist, who’s working on his third marriage, and he sits in the fourth pew every Sunday. Really, the only person who can answer that question for you, is you. I may spend a lot of time listening to God. But the more I listen, the more I realize each of us is responsible for our own salvation, Adam. Sure, I’m a pastor, and my job, however poorly I perform, is to be an arrow pointing to Heaven. But the rest is between you and God.”

A weight of uncertainty lifted from Adam’s troubled shoulders. “Thanks, Pastor Rich. That really does help. So, what options does a gay person have in the church to be part of the ministry?”

The pastor leaned back, “You remember my dentist? Gifted guy. Has wrecked two marriages, so far. Working on his third. Does he fit the criteria for leadership?”

“No,” Adam admitted.

“Why?”

“Because he keeps cheating.”

Pastor Rich nodded, “Fair enough. What about my Aunt Myrtle? Bless her heart, she’d be on the phone spreading every rumor and tidbit of news if she could get away with it. Would you have her leading a church?”

Chuckling at the image of an old woman chattering on the phone, Adam shook his head, “No. Probably not. What’s that mean for someone like me?”

“Look Adam, if you’re trying to figure your sexuality out, no matter how you decide, I hope you’d always feel welcome here at Wakefield. The only thing I care about is what is between you and God. But let’s say that you wanted to become a member of the church. There are certain things that you agree to believe to be a member of this church. For instance, you can’t believe that most of the Bible is crap, and only a little bit is true. That wouldn’t be consistent with our beliefs. Or if we’re looking for a new deacon, in our church, we don’t permit divorced people to serve as deacons. As much as I like my dentist, he’s disqualified from serving in that capacity. There’s other stuff, that’s just an example.”

Adam rubbed his jawline, “That seems a bit harsh, Pastor Rich.”

There was a twinkle in his eyes, “Try cheating on your taxes, Adam. We’ve got nothing on the IRS. I had a friend who I graduated with from seminary. I’ve got a brass tongue compared to his silver tongue. He was at the top of his game, pastor at a big church in Houston. About ten years ago, he left his wife for another woman. Much younger and very good looking. What he did wasn’t much different than what a lot of powerful men do. The world outside the doors of the church would say, no big deal. But his church fired him, and rightly so. And you want to know something, Adam, if he’d been like my dentist, sitting quietly in his pew week after week, he might have gotten some nasty glances from other people in the church, but mostly he would have been left alone. But more is expected of a church leader, so now, my friend is selling insurance in Dallas.”

The pastor glanced at his watch, “The budget committee meeting is about to start, Adam. If you want to talk some more about what you’re going through, call the office and get on my calendar. I’ll always make time for you.”

When Adam left, he felt better. At least now, he knew God didn’t hate him, and that left him feeling a lot better, even as he realized he needed to think about what he was going to do after college. He headed back to the apartment. This was the last day before the movers were to arrive. While he had tried to find other options, at least for the next few days, he had a place to sleep over at the Claytons.

Copyright 2019 – Caliboy1991
All rights reserved

Forbidden Fruit – Chapter 4
By
Caliboy1991

“Adam.”

Adam’s eyes itched behind his fluttering eyelids as the voice repeated, “Adam, are you awake?”

Groaning, Adam managed, “I am now.”

He cracked his eyes open. Isaiah stood next to his bed, his rich brown hair a messy tangle of morning head. The boy’s chest was tan, with a tinge of pink on his shoulders from the previous day’s sun. He must have taken his shirt off during the night.

Isaiah held up his cell phone, “Sorry. It’s almost ten, and I thought you’d be up already.”

Moaning, Adam threw the covers back and swung his feet out of bed. “I guess I was pretty tired.”

His brain was slowly coming awake. Memories of the previous night’s thoughts crept back in. That’s when Adam looked down and realized his morning erection strained the fabric of his underwear. As casually as possible, he pulled the bedspread onto his lap. Isaiah’s cheeks were tinged in crimson as he offered an embarrassed grin.

Adam felt himself twitch as his stomach fluttered at the thrill of the moment. “Um, like I said, it still happens to me pretty often, too.”

Isaiah giggled, “Yeah. I guess so. I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?”

Still feeling his erection through the bedspread, Adam nodded, “Yeah. Give me a sec, and we’ll see what I’ve got.”

Thankfully, Isaiah headed out the door, giving Adam the privacy to slip on a pair of shorts. Things were back to normal down below by the time he found Isaiah in the living room. The kid stared at the large flat-screen TV fixed to one of the walls. “That’s freaking huge, Adam. Is it yours?”

“No, belongs to one of my roommates. Ryan.”

In the kitchen, Adam opened the fridge. Like most college students, his refrigerator was spartanly stocked. But he did have a half-gallon of milk on the top shelf. Opening it, he took a whiff. “Good news, the milk isn’t spoiled. Let’s see what kind of cereal I’ve got.”

There were boxes of cereal from the end of the spring semester on one shelf. Above it was a box of Fruit Loops from a couple of weeks back.

Before long, he and Isaiah sat around a small dining table, eating the sugary breakfast.

“Your mom let you eat breakfast like this?”

Isaiah nodded. A rivulet of milk ran from the side of his mouth down his chin and onto his bare chest. “Sometimes. Especially on the weekend when she sleeps in. Do you eat this every day?”

Adam grimaced, “No. Sometimes I’ll nuke a packet of oatmeal or grab a breakfast bar. When I’m feeling lazy, though,” he knocked his spoon against the ceramic bowl, “Cereal it is.”

After breakfast, Adam called Amanda. She hadn’t left her friend’s yet and asked if she could swing by his place later in the afternoon once back in town. When he got off the phone with Isaiah’s mom, Adam said, “How about we watch a movie on that TV in the living room? Have you ever seen The Karate Kid?”

“What’s it about?”

Adam laughed as he queued up the movie, “It’s in the name.”

He settled onto the couch, leaning against a throw pillow on one of the padded armrests. Isaiah sat next to him, and before Johnnie and his gang first beat Daniel up, the boy was leaning against Adam’s arm.

Something felt right about the boy leaning against him. The warmth of Isaiah’s skin felt good against his own, and even though he tried to forget about the things he’d done with Jacob and Clint, those feelings bubbled below the surface, no matter how often Adam reminded himself they were sinful. But being so close to Isaiah and his budding sexuality was an intoxicant Adam felt powerless against, even as he worried, he was a moth being drawn to a fire.

Two weeks, he reminded himself, just two more weeks. Then it’s back to school. I’ll be back over at First Church, and Isaiah will be here. Becky will be back too, and all will return to normal. I can handle being close to Isaiah until then. I’m strong enough to keep things in check. I won’t let anything happen between us.

Knowing he could balance his attraction with his responsibility for what little time remained, Adam shifted the arm Isaiah leaned against and wrapped it around the boy’s shoulders. His young charge responded by moving a bit closer and resting his head against the side of Adam’s chest. Then Isaiah glanced up and smiled as he stretched his arm across the young man’s chest. He murmured, “I wish I could stay over here with you all the time.”

Touched by Isaiah’s words, Adam squeezed his shoulders, drawing him a bit closer. “Thanks, but I don’t think your mom would approve.”

Isaiah craned his neck to see Adam’s face, “No, it’s true. Since Six Flags, she’s always asking about you.”

Adam thought about how friendly Amanda had been those times they had talked. “You don’t think she has the hots for me?”

Isaiah giggled, “I wondered about that, too. She said she didn’t, but I’m not sure I believe her.”

The boy’s face grew somber, “I told her you’re my best friend. Really my only friend. I think that’s why she likes you.”

Touched by the boy’s vulnerability, Adam felt a familiar stirring in his heart. What he’d felt for Clint and Jacob hadn’t been merely sexual. Friendship and love were mixed in with his adolescent hormones. Two weeks. That’s all he needed to manage his feelings for the boy. He could let the friendship and love through and lock away the sexual.

Adam reached around with his left arm and hugged the boy, “You’re my friend, too, Isaiah. Although I doubt I’m your only friend. Jason likes you.”

“Jason likes Meredith. He was just being nice.”

To acknowledge what Isaiah meant to Adam opened up the young man’s heart. It hurt him to hear the boy admit he had no friends. “I know you moved to town this year, but surely you made friends at school.”

Isaiah’s eyes fell, “I thought I had. But I did something stupid, and now he hates me.”

Hearing the pain in Isaiah’s voice, it felt like a knife slicing into Adam’s heart, and he held the boy even closer, “I have a hard time believing anyone could hate someone as cool as you. Why do you think he hates you?”

Isaiah shook his head and rested it on Adam’s chest. They sat like that through the movie’s championship fight and the credits. In the middle of a lunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Adam’s cell phone rang.

In a cheerful voice, Amanda chirped, “I’m pulling out of Tyler now. I should be there in less than three hours. How’s Isaiah?”

The boy’s lips were ringed in grape jelly. Chuckling, Adam said, “Really good. You want to say hi?”

The boy, his sandwich half-dissolved on a paper plate, took the phone, “Hi Mom.”

A smile danced across his messy mouth as he looked at Adam while listening to his mom. “We had so much fun at Schlitterbahn. Me and Adam rode almost all the water rides. It was so sick!”

The boy was silently laughing, “Come on. You know sick means cool. You know, like how sick Adam is.”

Adam stuck his tongue out as the boy held the phone to his ear. “I’ll remind him. And yes, he’ll text you his address. Bye. See you in a bit.”

When Isaiah handed Adam the phone, the boy said, “Can you text Mom your address?”

As he shot off his address to Amanda, Adam said, “What’re you supposed to remind me about?”

Isaiah got off the couch, “Dinner at our place after church on Sunday.”

Adam pretended to slap his forehead, “D’oh, how could I possibly forget?” He winked at Isaiah as the boy disappeared into the kitchen. After washing his hands, the boy came back, and before sitting down, he unlocked the front door.

When he snuggled against Adam’s chest, he said, “That way, Mom can come in, and you won’t have to get up.”

Firing up the second Karate Kid movie, Adam wrapped an arm around Isaiah, letting the boy rest his head against his chest, like during the first movie. Before long, they were both engrossed in beautiful scenes set half a world away in Okinawa.

By the time the movie credits rolled, Isaiah’s even breathing confirmed the boy had drifted off to sleep at some point. Adam’s thoughts drifted to his plans for the fall. His junior year was the first semester when all his classes were back on campus, now the country had finally put the pandemic in the rearview mirror. Still, he was only taking five classes. That would give him plenty of time to reconnect with Becky. Sure, he would be sad when the end of summer and his internship at Wakefield ended. But given how he felt about Isaiah, getting back into the swing of things with school and Becky was important. If summer were a few weeks longer, Adam lacked the confidence in his self-control and worried he would give himself over to the sin he felt in his heart for the boy.

Deep in his own heart, he had to admit his feelings for Isaiah were really fucked up. When he was twelve and thirteen, with Clint, he had frequently wondered if he were gay. After all, the way the older teen would touch his penis excited him like nothing else could. Except for touching Clint. All of those thoughts and feelings had gone dormant until his senior year with Jacob. What had started as a passionate kiss had ended with sucking the other boy off until Jacob’s watery seed had filled his unsuspecting mouth.

Even at seventeen, he knew what he had done with Jacob was wrong, even as it made him feel so good. And yet, when he headed off to college, he denied feeling gay. It had been a phase. All boys go through it, he had told himself. Lounging beside Isaiah, those same fears were back. God, why couldn’t Becky be back already? She was the salve that made those feelings go away.

Or was she just a bandage used to cover up something he couldn’t accept? He couldn’t be gay. He just couldn’t. To acknowledge that would destroy his thoughts of going into the ministry. Wouldn’t it?

Drawing in a ragged breath, Adam prayed for strength. He couldn’t help how close he felt to Isaiah, but he could control his actions. At least for a couple of more weeks.

The boy stretched his arm around his chest, “You okay? Your heart got fast.”

Adam rubbed eh boy’s shoulder, “Yeah. I guess I was just thinking about how much fun this summer has been.”

There was a knock at the door, followed by a ring of the doorbell.

Before Adam could say a word or shift Isaiah away from him, the boy called, “The door’s open.”

Adam froze as the door swung open. Amanda said, “Knock, knock.”

Laughing, Isaiah said, “Aww, I was hoping you were gonna be so late, I’d get to say with Adam tonight too.”

The moment to shift away was gone, now that the boy’s mom was closing the door behind her. As if his right arm casually hugging the boy and Isaiah’s right hand resting on Adam’s chest was the most natural way for friends to do, the young man plastered a smile on his face, even as he worried the woman would scream at him to get away from her son.

Amanda smiled at them as her eyes adjusted to the living room’s low light. “I’m sure Adam needs a break, kiddo. There’s Sunday School and then dinner. You’ll get to spend plenty of time with him then.

Standing between the sofa and the TV, she added, “What’d you do this afternoon, other than hang out on the couch?”

The boy seemed reluctant to sit up and retract his hand from Adam’s chest, but as he did, he said, “We watched an old movie called the Karate Kid and a sequel.”

“How cool is that? I grew up watching that movie. It was my mom’s favorite. Head and shoulders above that garbage of a remake. Why don’t you go ahead and get your stuff so we can get on out of Adam’s hair.”

Groaning at his mom’s directive, Isaiah shuffled from the room, leaving Adam all of Amanda’s attention. She sat down on the couch and said, “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you watched Isaiah last night. Not having many friends in town yet, I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

Adam felt his tension ebb away, “It wasn’t a problem, Amanda. Isaiah’s an awesome kid, and I’m glad I could help.”

The young woman’s hand rested on Adam’s knee, “Isaiah adores you. More than you know, Adam. He doesn’t make friends very easily. And even though I don’t expect you to see it the same way, you’re his best friend. I was so afraid when Josh told Isaiah he didn’t want to be his friend anymore that this summer would be hell for my boy. But you made sure that didn’t happen. You were heaven sent, Adam.”

Am I? he thought. I want to kiss your son’s lips, to feel his heart race as I caress his chest, to put his penis in my mouth. I’m not the man you think I am. Instead, Adam said, “I like Isaiah. I’m sure I see things differently than he does, but he’s my friend, too. I’m really going to miss him when the internship is over in a couple of weeks.”

Sure, I’ll miss him, but God, I need to get my head screwed back on straight. I really miss Becky. I can’t afford to let things get out of hand here.

Amanda’s face fell, “I… know. I wish you were going to stay on as the fall youth intern. You’re so good with Isaiah.”

Adam felt his lips twist up into a wistful smile, “Thank. When the internship is over, I’m going to miss him too.”

Isaiah came back into the living room with his backpack in one hand and his shirt in the other. “Thanks, Adam. I hope we can do this again soon.”

The look in Amanda’s eyes was wishful as she stood to leave. “We’ll see you Sunday.”

***

After a long shower, Adam collapsed on his bed in nothing more than a pair of green briefs. He scrolled through his contacts until he found Becky’s number. He was stunned to realize it had been more than two weeks since they’d talked last. And he’d called her then.

She answered on the third ring, “Hey, Adam. How’s the youth group thing going?”

In the background, he could hear music playing. It was rap. A faint feminine voice called out, “Hey Becks, what color should I wear.”

Wondering where Becky was, Adam said, “Winding down. Just a couple of more weeks. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

Becky said, “Hey, turn that shit down. I’m trying to have a conversation here.” Then, lowering her voice, she added, “Sorry. Having a slumber party at Linda’s.”

Adam vaguely recalled the name. The last time he’d talked with Becky, she had said she was catching up with a few friends from high school. Linda was one of the names she’d mentioned. “Sounds fun. I miss you, Becky.”

The volume of the music diminished. But it was followed by a loud shriek on the other end of the line, “Don’t touch me with that. Can’t you see I’m busy?” Then in a normal voice, Becky said, “Yeah. Me too.”

Images of Isaiah in the shower at the waterpark crept into Adam’s mind. “I really miss you, Becky. I can hardly wait for you to get back into town.”

The music continued thumping, albeit at a lower level. Another voice faintly said, “Hurry it, girl.”

Then after more than a handful of seconds passed by, Becky said, “Ah, about that, Adam… I’m not coming back in the fall.”

Adam shot straight up in bed, “What? But we’re dating. You’re my girlfriend.”

Becky’s voice was strained, “Am I? Adam, we were friends. And I liked you like a friend. I mean I like you like a friend. But I always felt like we were just treading water with each other. Not really going anywhere. It didn’t take me long when I got home to figure out why. You were my shield. Pretending to be your girlfriend, I could ignore what I had been denying for the past couple of years.”

Shocked at Becky’s words, Adam stammered, “W-what are you trying to tell me?”

A loud, long sigh emanated from the phone. “I like girls. Spent the past year with you, trying to deny it. But Laura showed me how wrong I have been.”

Adam pulled the phone away and looked at it almost as if it were a five-headed hydra. He needed Becky. She was his own shield. When he put the phone back to his ear, Becky was talking, “…Know it’s a surprise, Adam. But better to tell you now. Anyway, now that you know, you can stop hiding behind me.”

A cold lump of ice landed in the pit of Adam’s stomach, “What are you saying?”

An exasperated sigh pierced his ear, “If you really like girls, Adam, you’ve got a weird way of showing it. You only kissed me twice in all the months we dated. And both times, it felt, I don’t know, you were kissing your sister.”

Feeling suffocating at Becky’s words, He strangled the words, “But… the church, Becky. You can’t… I can’t…”

Adam didn’t know how to finish. Becky’s laughter was strangled, “I don’t know about any of that. I’m tired of being miserable, even miserable with you. I don’t know what I think right now, but the one thing I know is that Laura makes me happy. So, if you want to keep being miserable, keep on doing what you’re doing, Adam. Otherwise, go find your own happiness.”

The dial-tone caught him by surprise. Becky was gone. And she wasn’t coming back. Adam fell back into the bed, absorbing the conversation. She had dumped him. And for some girl with whom she went to high school. Worse, as far as he was concerned, she had seen through the veneer of their dating relationship. She had been an anchor, helping him to stay grounded.

He cursed Becky. It was a lot easier for her to give herself over to Laura than for him to acknowledge what had been staring him in the face since Six Flags. No matter how much he might want it, it was simply impossible for Adam to acknowledge his feelings for Isaiah. Nobody, least of all, the boy’s mom, would understand. And he knew enough to know what happened to people who touched little boys—very bad things.

***

Saturday evening, still trying to forget the trauma of his conversation with Becky, Adam sat cross-legged on his bed with a notepad and his Bible. Even though Becky’s words haunted him, he had made some progress on Sunday’s lesson plan. He’d always liked the parable of the talents. He wanted to start with how Jesus had recruited Matthew, a tax collector, to be one of his disciples. Then, to discuss the parable of the talents. He was getting pretty good at getting the kids to discuss whatever topic he’d chosen.

While he focused on preparing for the next day, the fears of not having Becky in his life were held at bay. Adam was deep in thought about how he would transition from discussing Matthew to talking about how the parable of the talents related to the kids in the youth group. So deep, he barely felt his phone vibrate, even though it was lying next to him on the bed.

Feeling an idea slip away as he reached for the phone, Adam sighed unhappily as he answered the phone. “Hey, Ryan. What’s up?”

“Dude, I’ve got some good news and some not so good news.” Ryan’s voice had a perennially Southern California vibe.

Ryan had been his roommate during their freshman year. And his father, a west coast real estate developer, owned the apartment he, Ryan, and their friend Zander lived in. His lesson plan forgotten, Adam felt a disquiet in his belly, “Um, okay.”

“Dad got a new condo, right off-campus in the new Aspen development.”

Adam was familiar with the development. It was a large planned community, the gate of which was only a block from campus. Everybody who was anybody had been trying to get on a lease since the developer started selling condos.

Adam’s last train of thought about the parable of the talents fled, “Okay. Well, then what’s the good news?”

Ryan scoffed, “Dude, that’s going to be the happening place, and we’re going to be in it. There’s space for four of us.”

Between his scholarship, loans, and grants, Adam barely made ends meet. The rent Ryan’s dad charged on their current apartment set Adam back nearly five hundred dollars a month. “What’s the rent?”

A long silence came from the other end of the line, followed by an embarrassed chuckle, “Well, the condo cost a lot more than the apartment. Dad’s asking nine hundred a month from each of us.”

“Nine hundred?” Adam exclaimed. He chose to ignore Ryan trying to include himself as a renter. It didn’t even merit a comment. “Ryan, if you think this is the good news, I’m not sure I want to hear about the bad.”

Oblivious to Adam’s distress, Ryan was chipper, “Dad’s selling the apartment to another developer. This guy’s got a crew coming next week to move our stuff over to the new condo, and then they’ll be patching and painting for the new tenants.”

Adam wanted to cuss his roommate for dumping the news on him but knew he’d regret it if he let his emotions loose on Ryan. Instead, he replied in measured words, “Fine. I’ll make sure I’m ready by then.”

Adam killed the connection. He didn’t care to hear the rest of what Ryan had to say. He tossed the phone by the foot of the bed before slamming the Bible closed. Why was the whole world arrayed against him?

His eyes stung as he shouted out to an empty apartment, “What is happening to me? My body hates me, my girlfriend dumped me, and now I’m homeless?”

He shook his fist at the ceiling. “You’re not supposed to test me more than I can stand. I’m past that point, God. What the fuck?”

Adam let his head fall into the crook of his arms, at a loss for what to do. Everything had been going so well, despite the feelings he tried ignoring about Isaiah. And then everything had gone to hell, all in just a couple of days. There was simply no way to stretch his meager income to cover nearly twice the rent as before. Perhaps if Becky hadn’t flaked out on him, he could have crashed at her place. But that option was gone.

Closing his eyes, Adam didn’t feel like praying. Didn’t feel like anything. A couple of hours passed by before he realized it was getting late. He glanced at the notebook and the closed Bible. His brain felt like mush, and he set them on the nightstand. Maybe after a shower, he could finish. He had a job to do the next day, and he owed it to the kids to be ready, no matter how he felt.

In the bathroom, Adam stripped out of his clothes. The tan from the waterpark looked good on his shoulders, even as he wished they were wider. His muscles were wiry and small across a chest he wished was broader than it was. Except for a few stray hairs around his nipples, he was smooth down to his bellybutton. A few hairs picked up the trail just above his abdomen, growing into a patch of thick pubic hair above the base of his penis. Staring at himself, he shook his head. Of course, Becky had never liked him for his body. Sure, he was thin, almost to the point of gauntness. But that’s not what girls want.

He chuckled bitterly as he adjusted the water flowing into the bathtub. “No shit. Sure as hell not what Becky was looking for.”

He flipped a knob, sending the water cascading from an overhead showerhead. The warm water felt good on his skin as he tried to stop thinking about Becky’s betrayal or Ryan yanking the apartment from under him. He closed his eyes, pushing the anger away. In his heart, he knew nothing good would come from holding a grudge against either of them. Instead, his thoughts went to Isaiah. Ignoring his anger at Becky and Ryan was easier than ignoring his feelings for the boy. By the time he finished washing his body, his penis was hard, pointing up at a slight angle.

I shouldn’t, Adam thought as he wrapped his fingers around his erection and thought about a beautiful boy with brown hair. In his mind’s eye, they were back at the waterpark, in the changing room’s showers. Isaiah was naked, standing next to him. The boy’s small three inches pointed to the ceiling, quivering under Adam’s gaze. In the theater of the young man’s mind, he reached across the short distance and took the boy’s small erection and jacked him off. Of course, only in his mind could he get away with it.

In reality, Adam’s erection grew sensitive as a familiar tingling sensation radiated from his penis. He sped up, his fingers flying up and down his shaft until he closed his eyes and let the eruption between his legs wash over him, not seeing his semen splattering on the bottom of the bathtub on its way down the drain. When he stopped, at least part of him felt better. However, the guilt that came with thinking about Isaiah that way wouldn’t leave him alone.

After a mostly unnecessary shave, getting dressed for bed, and then finishing his lesson plan for the next morning, Adam wasn’t quite able to shake the guilt that came from masturbating to images of the boy. When bedtime came, he turned out the light and closed his eyes. Long before sleep could come, Adam pulled his underwear down and thought of a naked nearly-twelve-year-old boy as he jacked off again.

Copyright 2019 – Caliboy1991
All rights reserved

Forbidden Fruit – Chapter 3
By
Caliboy1991

The van wasn’t as crowded as it had been on the trip to Six Flags. There were only ten junior and senior high students in the Econoline as Adam pulled into the parking lot at Schlitterbahn. The drive had been longer than the trip to Six Flags. Because of highway construction, closer to three hours than two. The younger teenagers pressed their faces against the windows, trying to get a look at one of the water rides rising into the sky.

Treble voice edged with enthusiasm, Jason said, “Hey, Meredith, let’s do that one first!”

The girl sitting by his side scoffed, “Yeah. You can tell me about it when they haul your butt out on a stretcher.”

Adam chuckled at the back and forth. Over the past seven weeks, he’d gotten to know all the kids in the youth group reasonably well. Jason and Meredith were “dating.” Not that the boy’s father approved. Still, Adam hadn’t seen either of the tweens do anything he’d have called them on.

“I’ve got the tickets, Adam,” Isaiah, sitting in the passenger seat, waved an envelope with the group’s tickets. With summer more than half over, Adam knew he’d miss the job as youth pastor for the little group. But he’d miss mentoring Isaiah. The boy had really warmed up to him over the past month. Moreover, he felt like he was drawing the shy boy out of his shell. Even some of the other kids were starting to talk with him more.

After they piled out of the van, Adam grabbed his backpack and called everyone over. After a quick prayer, he said, “Pick your groups, guys. Nobody goes off on their own, and make sure you’re back at the main gate by seven this evening. Don’t forget, when we leave here, we’ll swing by McDonalds for dinner.”

He let Isaiah hand out the tickets, and when Jason took his, he said, “You wanna come with Meredith and me?”

Delight danced in the boy’s eyes, “Uh, thanks, Jason. But someone has to keep an eye on the old man. No telling what trouble Adam will get into by himself.”

Even the eighth-grader, Meredith, got in on the action, “I know. Leave him alone for five minutes, and he’d have dozens of college girls just swooning over his big muscles.”

Everyone laughed at how the girl swayed from side to side, pretending to swoon.

Adam didn’t mind being the butt of their jokes. Still, he didn’t want to make himself too much of a target, “Alright, you little whippersnappers, just remember, there’s water over there, and I’ll baptize the next one who pops off. I’ll hold you down until I know you’ve repented.”

With tickets in hand, groups of two and three made their way over to the waterpark’s gate, leaving Adam alone with Isaiah. Putting a hand on the boy’s now-familiar shoulder, he said, “You didn’t have to do that. Jason and Meredith would have been fun to hang out with.”

Isaiah snorted, “Yeah, right.” He modulated his voice into a soprano, “Oh, Jason. You’re just so muscular. Take me out behind the bleachers and show me that the pastor’s kid knows how to kissy, kissy.”

Adam chuckled, “That’s not even close to how Meredith sounds. I guess nobody wants to be the third wheel on the bicycle.”

Isaiah sidled up beside him, “Right. Plus, someone’s gotta keep an eye on you. What would we do if you got kidnapped by a bunch of college babes?”

Adam had a hard time believing how much the young boy had opened up since Six Flags. When the youth group had helped out with the church’s vacation Bible school, Isaiah had been his gopher, running errands and shepherding the younger grade-school children between the various arts and crafts stations.

Of course, Adam had come through as best as possible to be the mentor the boy needed. In fact, this next Sunday would mark the third one where he would be eating Sunday dinner with Amanda and Isaiah. After dinner, he and the boy would probably go outside and throw a football or baseball around. Or if it were too hot, then maybe they’d watch a movie or play the boy’s console.

After handing over their tickets, Adam went through the turnstile, with Isaiah right behind. A sign pointed toward the changing rooms. With his backpack still slung over his shoulder, he headed that way. The changing room was large. There were a few stalls to one side for the modest. But in the middle of the room was a long low bench. On the opposite wall was a long open row of showerheads.

Isaiah sat down and rifled through his small backpack until he extracted a deep blue swimsuit. Adam dug into his backpack, trying hard not to look at the boy as Isaiah pulled his shirt off and shoved it in his backpack. Or when the boy slipped his shorts down his narrow hips, revealing a small pair of white briefs. But he failed miserably at turning away as the boy pulled those briefs down and off, revealing a smooth middle. Adam tried not to gape at the boy’s small penis. Nestled against a tight scrotum, Isaiah was a bit under two inches long.

The boy stood, causing his little noodle to swing about, as he slipped on his swimsuit. Adam hadn’t realized he had been holding his breath until the boy’s little jewel disappeared behind the swimsuit’s dark material. The young man was stunned at the ease with which the boy had changed in front of him. Adam’s mind was a riot of confusion as he pulled his shirt off. Even though he felt embarrassed at the boy’s lack of inhibition, Adam felt the most appropriate thing was to pay it no mind. Or rather at least to pretend he hadn’t noticed Isaiah.

He pulled his shorts down, revealing a pair of red briefs. As he gripped the waistband of his underwear, Adam realized at least part of him was acutely aware of Isaiah’s brief nudity. The fleshy tube of his penis was clearly outlined, and delaying things wasn’t going to make it go away. Glancing at the boy, the young man pulled his underwear off and grabbed his swimsuit, desperate to cover his seriously chubbed penis. That’s when he realized Isaiah’s eyes were glued to his midsection.

Without saying anything more, Adam shoved his clothes in his backpack. Once his stuff was packed away, in a strained voice, he said, “Ready to go? There are lockers nearby where we can stash our clothes.”

Isaiah followed after him in silence.

Walking over to the lockers, Adam wondered what the boy had thought. He remembered being Isaiah’s age. How he had tried to steal glances at other boys, just to measure himself against them. Then he recalled Clint. Sixteen-year-old Clint. The first time he had seen the older boy naked, Adam had been intimidated by the thick six inches between his legs.

At twenty, Adam had no illusions about his body. Part of what made Meredith’s joke so funny was he was about as an average a guy as possible. Sure, he had a little muscle tone, but not much. The only reason his stomach was flat was that he only weighed one-fifty. It wasn’t because he lifted weights or worked out. The less said about the rest of his body, the better. Some guys are lucky to have a field of chest hair by the time they’re in college. Not Adam. Aside from a few stray hairs around his nipples, the only hair on his torso was a thin trail starting a couple of inches below his belly. Even his penis wasn’t much to look at, he thought. Even when rock-hard, it wasn’t quite six inches.

When they reached the lockers, a part of Adam’s mind, where he had successfully locked away all the feelings he’d shared with Clint all those years before, was laid bare as he thought about Isaiah and the feelings he felt himself developing for the boy.

He’d done everything in his power to forget about how the older boy had taken him under his wing and made him feel welcome, how Clint had invited him into the older boy’s circle of friends. And eventually, how Clint introduced him to sex.

Adam’s hand froze on one of the lockers. He reminded himself he wasn’t like Clint. He could be there for Isaiah, just like a good mentor should. Maybe it was getting harder to ignore what he felt for the boy, but that didn’t mean anything. He could be Isaiah’s friend and mentor for the rest of the summer. And in the fall, when school was back in session, life would return to normal. Becky would come back, and the feelings disturbing his conscience would fade.

“Adam, can I store my backpack with yours?”

The young man’s hand unfroze, and he pulled the key from the lock, “Uh, yeah. Sure.”

Before he could put his backpack in the locker, Isaiah smacked his forehead, “Gosh. I nearly forgot.”

He opened the top flap of his backpack and pulled out some sunscreen. “Mom’ll kick my butt if I get sunburned. Can you spray this on me?”

Adam took the can, “Sure. Let’s start on your back.”

As evenly as possible, he sprayed the boy’s back, going side to side. Then, as Isaiah turned about, he sprayed the boy’s chest and belly. Then he knelt and covered his legs.

“That good enough?” he asked.

Isaiah rubbed the lotion into his chest, “Thanks. Can you rub it into my back, please?”

Thoughts of Clint touching his own twelve-year-old body filled Adam’s mind as the boy offered his back. He forcefully reminded himself he wasn’t like Clint. Steeling his mind against anything he might think of as sinful, Adam’s fingers traced over Isaiah’s shoulder blades, kneading the sunscreen into the boy’s skin. Once he reached the lower back, Adam declared, “There you go. Ready to face the fierce Texas sun.”

Isaiah took the canister back, “Thanks. You want me to spray you down? You’re like really white.”

Adam smirked. He hadn’t been swimming in a while. “Yeah. I guess so.”

Isaiah attacked the pale skin on Adam’s chest with the spray-on bottle. Then he moved around and sprayed his back. The spray ended, followed by a moment of silence. Then the boy’s fingers touched his back as he rubbed lotion into the skin. Adam wouldn’t admit it, even to himself, but Isaiah’s deft fingers felt good as he worked his way down to Adam’s lower back.

Once done, Isaiah returned the sunscreen to his bag and let Adam lock everything away. Then the boy grabbed the young man’s hand, “Come on, we’ve gotta do the Master Blaster first. I saw a Youtube video, and it was totally sick!”

By the time they reached the line to the Master Blaster, Adam was winded and thankful for the sunscreen. Not quite noon and the day was already a scorcher. As they reached the ride, an attendant put a two-seater inner-tube on the loading chute.

“Keep your hands and feet inside the tube, gentlemen,” said the young woman wearing a red Baywatch style one-piece swimsuit under a pair of red shorts.

Isaiah took the front seat, leaving Adam to sit behind him. The young man slid his legs on either side of the boy. Then the young woman nodded at them and flipped a switch, propelling their tube down the ride. Rushing water and gravity forced the innertube down the fiberglass route, through twists and turns and tunnels until, more than a thousand feet later, they ended up at the bottom, near a small lazy river that circled around the rides.

Climbing out of the tube, Isaiah wiped the water from his face, “That was cool. Can we do it again?”

The pure happiness on the boy’s face was enough for Adam as he nodded and headed toward the path leading to the ride’s entrance.

***

One thing sunscreen doesn’t protect you from was the way the hot sun saps your energy. And Isaiah was ready for some shade by the time his belly rumbled. It was early afternoon, and he and Adam had ridden all the rides on this end of the waterpark.

“Adam, can we take a break? I’m hungry.”

The young man offered a tired smile, “It’s about time. Been so long since I’ve eaten, my belly’s rubbing up against my backbone.”

Over by the lockers, Isaiah saw a shack selling barbeque sandwiches. “I’ve got some money in my backpack. Let me grab it, and we can eat.”

Adam, shaking water from his hair, said, “Come on, I’ll get it. My treat.”

Isaiah’s mom had given him enough money for lunch and dinner. As much as he liked Adam, the last thing he wanted was to be a burden. As they neared the shack, the boy said, “It’s okay, Adam. I’ve got enough money.”

Adam’s hand rested on Isaiah’s bare shoulder. “I know. Your mom told me. And I don’t mind picking up lunch for us. Do you want a barbeque sandwich or a turkey leg?”

Despite having the kindest face the boy could imagine, Adam also seemed determined, and Isaiah didn’t want to upset him. In ways Isaiah didn’t understand, he felt similar about Adam as he had about Josh, even though his relationship with the young man wasn’t anything like his friendship had been with Josh. “Okay. But I get to buy dinner this evening. Alright?”

After they ordered and received their food, Adam led him over to a covered picnic table. The barbeque sandwich wasn’t anything special. His mom made better. A lot better, he thought as he took a second bite.

Content to eat in silence, Isaiah thought back to when he and Adam had changed into their swimsuits. He had surprised himself by changing right in front of the young man. Over the past year, he’d begun to complain when his mom opened the door to the bathroom when he was bathing or showering. Being around Adam was different. And even though he’d never let himself make the same mistake with the young man as he’d made with Josh, there was still a thrill undressing in front of Adam.

He’d known Adam could have responded with some comment about covering up, but the young man hadn’t said anything. He just stripped down and put his swimsuit on. Biting into his sandwich, Isaiah felt himself blush, recalling just how big Adam was. And even though he was thin, pale, and smooth, except for the thick, curly hair above his penis, the young man seemed perfect to Isaiah.

“A penny for your thoughts?”

Adam had finished eating and was looking at him expectantly. Isaiah felt himself flush, recalling how stiff and big the young man had seemed earlier. “Um, n-nothing. Just glad you’re my friend.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when Isaiah realized how stupid they were. Adam was an adult. Already a college student. The only reason he spent time with him was because it was his job. Feeling a wave of confusion wash over him, he added, “You are, aren’t you? N-not just because it’s your job?”

Adam’s eyes rose in surprise. “Of course I’m your friend. Why wouldn’t I be?”

With his eyes facing the table, Isaiah said, “Because I’m just a kid. And you’re in college.”

Adam’s hand pressed against his, “What’s that got to do with anything? My job is to be the youth intern. Lead the class in Sunday school lessons, and plan stuff like this. But when I get to spend time with you it’s because I like you. Not because of my job.”

“Really?” Adam felt something with Adam that eclipsed what he’d once felt for Josh. Even though he didn’t know what to do with this feeling rising inside him, one thing was for sure. He couldn’t handle a second rejection. No matter what, he’d not mess up and try to kiss Adam. He was sure the young man would disapprove.

Adam squeezed his hand, “Yes. When your mom told me you were a special kid, I thought she was just talking. Every mom thinks their kid is someone special. It must be in some Mom Code. But she was right. You’re an incredibly special boy, Isaiah. And I’m glad you’re my friend.”

When they finished with lunch, Adam said, “They’ve got a lazy river ride. What say we get some innertubes and let our lunch digest while we float along?”

The hike to The Falls was short, the line to get an innertube even shorter, and within a few minutes, they were whisked away on the fast-flowing river. As the water bubbled around him, Isaiah had to raise his voice to be heard over the running water, “I thought you said this was a lazy river!”

Flowing along a few feet in front of him, Adam rolled his shoulders, “I’m not doing anything. Feels pretty lazy to me.”

They went through rapids, slow spots that felt pretty lazy, as well as expansive slides that conveyed their tubes between the ride’s levels. Most of the time, Isaiah’s tube floated along right next to Adam’s, and they talked about the young man’s favorite movies. Lord of the Rings, of course. He found out Adam’s favorite subject in school had been English. When he told his youth leader that he liked listening to some of his mom’s Outlaw country songs, Adam mimicked an air guitar as he yodeled badly Ghost Rider in the Sky. “Yippie I oh oh oh, Yippie I aye ye ye, Ghost riders in the sky!”

Laughing at the horrible impression, Isaiah said, “Do you know who sings that song?”

“Johnny Cash?”

Isaiah smirked, “Yeah. Next time, let him.”

Adam grabbed his chest, “Oh, cut to the quick. Such a fast tongue. Who knew he could talk with it, too?”

Isaiah’s eyes bugged at Adam’s comment. He wasn’t sure, but there seemed almost something adult in the meaning. Although to see the young man’s expression, he was laughing at him. For a moment, the boy’s mind went back to that moment with Josh when he had tried to steal a kiss. He had failed badly at being quick with his tongue, if that’s how Adam intended it. Still, as the boy searched the young man’s face, there was no reproach nor disapproval.

Content the comment wasn’t about kissing, Isaiah stuck his tongue out before firing back, “And stick it out at people who can’t carry a tune in a bucket.”

He had so much fun, simply talking with Adam, they rode the forty-five-minute ride three times before finally getting out. While he hadn’t told the young man about his feelings for Josh or the kiss, there wasn’t much he hadn’t shared. In return, he learned about all of Adam’s vacations as a kid, about how he had attended a youth group at a church very similar to Wakefield. Isaiah learned he even had a girlfriend, although she was halfway across the country, visiting family during the summer break. He even learned why Adam had become the youth intern for the summer.

The rest of the afternoon flew by, and before he knew it, Adam wrapped an arm around his shoulder, “We’re supposed to meet everyone else at the entrance in a little bit. Let’s get our stuff and get changed.”

The changing room was mostly empty when they stepped inside, and when they placed their backpacks on the long, low bench, the young man said, “I smell like the Comal River. I think I’m going to take a quick shower before getting dressed. I don’t want to smell like this for three hours in the van.”

With that, Adam dropped his swimsuit and headed over a long bank of showerheads. Isaiah found himself watching the young man’s pasty white globes. Adam really was much better looking than Josh.

The boy shook the thought away. It wouldn’t do to think like that. Still, that didn’t stop him from stripping off his swimsuit and heading over to join Adam in washing off the river water. Between every couple of showerheads were soap and shampoo dispensers, and Adam was scrubbing his scalp with lathery suds as Isaiah took the showerhead beside him.

Even as the boy lathered himself with soapy suds, his eyes stole glances at Adam. Unlike earlier, Adam’s junk was soft. But it was still huge to his eleven-year-old’s eyes. Would he ever be that big?

Uh-oh. Seeing the young man like that, Isaiah felt something twitch between his legs. When he tore his eyes away from his youth pastor, Isaiah saw his own fleshy tube rising from the suds. Before the boy knew it, his three erect inches pointed upwards. Mortified at his body’s betrayal, he shifted his feet, turning so that his body was slightly facing away from Adam.

That worked all of about twenty seconds. Someone else who had come into the changing room walked over and claimed the showerhead a couple of spaces over. Faced with exposing himself to a perfect stranger, who appeared to be older than his mom, or Adam, he shifted around until his erection was exposed to his youth leader.

Finished, Adam turned off the water, “I’ll grab you a towel.”

A minute later, his own towel wrapped around his waist, the young man came back into the shower area and handed Isaiah a towel. Grateful but still mortified at his body’s cruel betrayal, the boy hastily wrapped it around his skinny frame. “Thanks.”

While getting dressed in his street clothes, Isaiah felt close to tears. The last thing he wanted was Adam to think he was gay. And what else could he think? And he’d had so much fun riding the rides and hanging out with the young man.

Wrapped up in his shame, Isaiah jumped when Adam put a hand on his shoulder, “That stuff happened to me when I was your age. All the time. Heck, sometimes it still does.”

Relief at hearing those words nearly overwhelmed the boy. “Really? Oh, God. I thought you’d be upset and think I’m…”

The word died on his lips. Isaiah liked Adam more than anyone else. Except maybe his mom. What if that did make him gay? No, his mind rebelled against the idea. It wasn’t an option. Not after Josh.

Adam, leaning close, said, “What? Horny? What twelve-year-old boy isn’t?”

Scandalized at the suggestion, Isaiah’s eyes were as round as saucers. “You’re the youth pastor, Adam. You can’t say that?”

Adam chuckled, “Maybe I was speaking as your mentor, not your youth pastor.”

A look came over Adam, and he shook his head, “No, even as a youth pastor, I’d tell you the same thing. What happened back in the shower is normal, Isaiah. It’s just part of puberty. Nothing to worry about.”

With that, the young man swung his small backpack onto one of his shoulders, “Let’s go see if we’re the first back to the entrance.”

***

The drive back home was long. Three hours, and mostly after twilight. Still, Adam wasn’t too tired. He thought as he reached for the McDonalds cup. A sip of Dr Pepper moistened his sun-dried lips. Although the kids had mostly grown quiet after the light fled the western sky, before then, all they talked about was how much fun they’d had at the waterpark.

None of the other kids had challenged Isaiah for shotgun, and now the boy’s head rested against the window. He was sound asleep. Part of Adam knew getting to know the boy better was playing with something better left alone. The last couple of years had been hard but good. Becky helped keep him on an even keel. Without her, he wasn’t sure if he’d have been strong enough to repent for the things he’d done to and with Jacob, and before that, with Clint.

Yeah, he thought, I can manage my friendship with Isaiah until the end of the summer. I can be the mentor he needs without fucking it up.

A thin smile crossed his features as Adam kept his eyes open for the exit ramp. He’d never swear in front of the kids. Wouldn’t even do it around Becky either. Still, his thoughts were his own, and his filter was his mouth, not his brain.

He took another glance at the boy before flipping the blinker and exiting the interstate. A few minutes and they’d be back at the church. Nothing I can’t handle. Just a couple of weeks until Becky returns, I’ll be back at my church across town, and school will back in session.

His cell phone buzzed when he came to a traffic light a few minutes away from the church. A glance showed it was Amanda, Isaiah’s mom.

“Hi Amanda, we’re only a few minutes late. I’m about five minutes from the church,” Adam said, with his phone to an ear.

“I’m glad I caught you before you got back, Adam. I had an emergency come up with one of my girlfriends, and I’m stuck in Tyler tonight,” said the voice on the other end of the phone.

Worried, Adam said, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. I think so. Probably just an overreaction. How’s Isaiah?”

Another glance at the sleeping beauty. “Sleeping. He had loads of fun today.”

“That’s good. Did he hang out with you?”

“Yeah.”

Some of the stress in Amanda’s voice faded, “I’m so glad. Speaking of Isaiah, I need a favor, please.”

Amanda was two hours away from town. Adam didn’t need clairvoyance to know what was coming. Without letter her finish, Adam said, “Yeah. Of course, he can stay with me. All my roommates are gone. He can crash on one of the spare beds tonight.”

“You’re a lifesaver, Adam. Right now, I adore you even more than Isaiah does. And that’s a lot.”

Flushing at what he thought was unearned praise, Adam said, “No problems. Call me when you’re back in town tomorrow, and I’ll bring Isaiah home.”

He was pulling into the church parking lot when he disconnected his phone. The sharp turn disturbed most of the sleeping kids, including the boy riding shotgun. Adam raised his voice, “Alright, the final ride of the day is over. Don’t leave your trash behind. I know who’s got the bag of Fun-ions. Leave them behind at your peril.”

It was almost déjà vu after the last car pulled out of the parking lot, leaving Adam alone with Isaiah, who was still sitting in the van’s passenger seat. The boy let an unhappy sigh escape. “I guess mom’s late again. Sorry, Adam.”

The young man, leaning against the frame of the van, said, “Oh, did I forget to tell you, your mom called while you were asleep. She got stuck in Tyler tonight. Asked me if I wouldn’t mind letting you stay with me.”

The sad expression morphed into a wide, if tired, grin, “No way! That’s so cool. So, can I?”

Laughing at the transformation, Adam said, “What kind of friend would I be if I said no? Come on. Let’s lock the van up and get out of here.”

The drive to Adam’s apartment was twenty minutes across town. By the time he arrived, the boy was asleep again. It was all he could do to wake him and get him into the apartment Adam usually shared with two other guys from college. Adam’s housemate, Deacon, was due back in a couple of weeks. He had the bedroom next to his, and that’s where Adam deposited a sleeping Isaiah.

After laying the boy on the bed, Adam thought about how much more comfortable Isaiah would be if he undressed the boy down to his underwear. So much more comfortable than his cargo shorts and T-shirt. In the end, he pulled the covers over the boy. Two weeks to go, he reminded himself. He could control the urge to see more of the boy until the temptation was gone.

Once undressed and in his own bed, Adam stared at the whirling blades of the ceiling fan. He reminded himself how proud he should be. An entire day spent in close contact with a gorgeous not-quite-twelve-year-old, and Adam had done well. But as sleep eluded him, he didn’t feel proud. It was all he could do not to get up and go into the boy’s room, take off Isaiah’s clothes, and gaze at his amazing body.

Adam muttered, “What the fuck, dude. He’s just a kid. You’re not the sick pervert who would take advantage of him. Go to sleep.”

What was it one of his professors had told him? It’s okay talking to yourself as long as you don’t start answering back. That didn’t really help either, as he whispered, “Only a sick fuck would molest Jacob or would want to touch Isaiah, too. You’re not that guy. Not anymore.”

Adam turned onto his side. It was only exhaustion that let him eventually drift away into a troubled sleep.

Copyright 2019 – Caliboy1991
All rights reserved

Forbidden Fruit – Chapter 2
By
Caliboy1999

Setting his notepad down, Adam glanced at the clock on his phone. Becky should be home by now. The lesson plan for Wednesday evening youth group could wait. The past couple of days had been rough. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t keep old memories locked away.

He cycled through the contacts on his phone until he found Becky’s. As he pressed her number, he thought about their relationship over the past year. He had met her the first week of his sophomore year. They’d met at church but had become friends when they found themselves in the same Intro to Physics class. He was interested in the ministry, and Becky wanted to become a teacher, and neither was very good at physics, so naturally, they teamed up as study-buddies. By the end of the fall semester, Adam asked Becky out, and they’d been casually dating ever since.

“Hey, Adam, how’s Wakefield treating you?” came the voice from the other end of the call.

“Sup, Becks? Not bad. Wish you’d stayed in town for the summer. I don’t know what to do with myself when you’re not around.”

The laughter on the other end brought a smile to Adam’s face. She said, “I know the feeling. I felt the same way. Then I ran into some of my old girlfriends. We’re going to go catch a movie this Friday night.”

“Sounds fun,” Adam said. He really did miss his girlfriend. Whenever Becky was around, the creeping feelings locked away were gone. No, not entirely gone, but certainly held at bay and under control. Now, a week and a half after starting this summer youth pastor gig, he felt shaky and afraid that everything he’d done to put his old self away was slowly unraveling. If Becky wasn’t half a continent away, he knew he could conquer these unbidden thoughts.

“When are you planning on coming back into town for the fall semester?”

More laughter, “Jeeze, Adam, the summer’s barely underway, and you’re already trying to get me back to out there. Probably won’t make it back until mid-August. You think you can manage without me until then?”

Adam put more cheer into his voice than he felt, “Of course, Becks. Did I mention I’m taking the kids up to Six Flags tomorrow?”

“Better you than me. I don’t like roller coasters.”

“Note to self, no dates that include roller coasters,” Adam said with a chuckle.

By the time Becky had to get off the phone, Adam felt better, back in control. He told himself there wasn’t really any reason for him to feel the way he had. None of the kids in the youth group looked at all like Clint, and he had nothing to worry about. But the less he thought about Jacob, the better.

***

“Mom, do I have to?” Isaiah said as his mom pulled into the church’s parking lot.

“Yes. You’ll have fun, I’m sure of it,” Amanda said as she parked the car.

Isaiah wasn’t sure, but it wasn’t like his mom was giving him any options. When he climbed out of the car, she handed him a couple of twenty-dollar bills. “For meals. Don’t spend it on the midway, until after you’ve eaten. Promise?”

“Yeah,” Isaiah said, although he wasn’t sure what a midway was or why it would cost money. Looking at the two bills in his hand, he added, “Didn’t you say that money’s tight. If I don’t go, you’d save forty bucks.”

Chuckling, his mom gave him a quick hug, “Think you’re getting sneaky. Go on, have fun.”

The older kids sat at the back of the fifteen-passenger van while the younger took the seats toward the front. That put Isaiah on the seat right behind the driver’s seat. Jason, the preacher’s kid, sat next to him. Beside him sat one of the girls from the eighth grade, whose name Isaiah couldn’t remember.

The drive on the interstate was uneventful. Their driver, Adam, stayed in the right lane almost the entire way. And Isaiah was miserable the whole time. He glanced at his seatmates from time to time. Jason was interesting. Even though he was only twelve, he looked more mature. He even had a bit of fine hair over his upper lip. And, he was even more attractive than Josh. And that left Isaiah with a painful lump in his throat. There wasn’t any reason to say anything. The girl on the other side of Jason occupied the other boy’s attention.

The ninety minutes it took them to arrive at Six Flags felt like the longest ninety minutes of his young life. The other kids were obviously friends with one another and were ready to go on the rides as soon as they could get their tickets and get inside the park.

When they assembled by the Econoline’s sliding door, Adam came around and gave everyone their tickets. “Hey, everyone. Your parents expect me to have you home by eleven. That means we’ve got to meet up in front of the carousel no later than eight-thirty. That still gives you upwards of ten hours.”

As Isaiah fingered the edge of his ticket, the youth pastor added, “Next up, nobody goes off by themselves. Buddy up into groups of 2 or more.”

The boy’s heart sank as the other kids grouped themselves together, leaving him standing next to Adam. He felt something burn at the back of his eyes when he felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He glanced up into Adam’s face. The young man squeezed his shoulder, “How about the two of us buddy up, Isaiah?”

That kindness reached from his green eyes to his red lips, and Isaiah felt that constriction in his throat loosen. Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Adam raised his voice, “Alright, before we all run off to ride the Titan, everyone gather round, let’s say a quick prayer first.”

The boy felt his heart thunder in his chest when Adam took his hand. It didn’t lessen the moment when everyone joined hands as Adam said, “Heavenly Father, thanks for letting us make it up here safely…”

While the young man prayed, Isaiah tried to listen to the words, but the fact was, he was thankful Adam had stepped in as his buddy for the day. Adam hadn’t said anything weird to him since his mom buttonholed him in the fellowship hall a week and a half before. Maybe his mom hadn’t said anything about how he’d fallen out with Josh.

No sooner were the words “amen,” out of Adam’s mouth, than the group broke up into their smaller groups as everyone made their way toward the park’s entrance.

Adam fell in beside him as they followed the other kids. They were halfway across the expansive parking lot when he spoke, “You have a favorite ride?”

Isaiah shook his head, “No. Mom’s never had the time or money to take me. What about you?”

“Yeah. It’s old school, but I like the Shockwave. It’s been here since my parents were kids. You okay with riding the roller coasters?”

The boy felt an icy grip on his heart. The only roller coasters he’d ever seen had been on YouTube videos and TV. And they looked scary. He shrugged, “Dunno. Are they safe?”

Adam chuckled, “Very. Unless you’re pregnant or have a bad heart. Either of those a problem for you?”

Isaiah laughed, “No. Don’t be silly. Um, I guess we can try one.”

It took almost as long to get into the park as it took them to cross the parking lot. Even though the pandemic was under control and a vaccine available, there were still people wearing face masks and observing the old social distancing rules. It was easy enough. The blue circle with feet were placed every six feet from the start of the concourse, all the way to the gatehouse where attendants still took people’s temperatures before allowing people through the turnstiles.

Once they were inside the park, Adam pointed toward the carousel, spinning around with little kids and their parents. “Is that one you had in mind?”

Isaiah could hear the mirth in the youth leader’s tone. The boy squinted up at the young man before shaking his head, “I don’t think so. You’re too short for that ride.”

Laughing, Adam placed a hand on his shoulder, “Fine, let’s go find the Shockwave and see if it’s still as fun as I remember it.”

The walk over to the Shockwave would have been worse if the park had been crowded. For a Thursday morning is was surprisingly empty, just a few thousand souls enjoying the park’s thrills and rides. Isaiah stopped in the middle of the concrete path leading to the Shockwave as he watched a train of cars zip along through the double loops for which the ride was famous.

Adam’s hand returned to his shoulder, “You okay with this? We can start with something easier if you want.”

Feeling better with his youth pastor’s hand on his shoulder, Isaiah swallowed hard, “Yeah. I think so. Will they let us sit together?”

Nodding, Adam led him toward the ride.

The line started a couple of hundred feet away from the turnstiles that accessed the platform where the cars were unloaded and loaded. Most people ignored the blue markers for social distancing, and only a few wore masks. Isaiah didn’t miss his. The speed with which riders were whisked through the ride meant he and Adam soon were waiting their turn to load onto the next set of cars to cycle through.

As the roller coaster’s steel frame shook as the train of cars zoomed by overhead, Isaiah’s anxiety grew until, without realizing it, his hand gripped Adam’s.

“If you don’t want to ride this, we don’t have to,” the young man said, bending down close to his ear.

The thing was, Isaiah felt like he had to. Not just for himself, but to show Adam that he wasn’t a little baby. “I want to,” the boy growled as the gates separating the queue from the cars swung open.

Once they were seated and the mask-wearing attendant lowered the bar that secured the two of them in place, Adam must have felt him shaking with nerves. He reached out and put his larger hand over Isaiah’s smaller, “You’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Then the cars shook as they rolled forward. Isaiah felt the car jolt as a long metal chain pulled the cars up a steep incline. He felt the rattling of the chain all the way into his teeth, as foot by foot, they pulled the train of cars upwards. Ten seconds, twenty seconds, thirty seconds, they continued to climb. Then, when it seemed as though the whole world was on display below, they reached the top. The cars, propelled by nothing but gravity, went around a hundred-eighty-degree arc. No sooner had they turned a sharp corner then the floor fell out from under Isaiah. At least that was the sensation when the tracks fell down a steep drop. Isaiah’s hands gripped the bar resting against his lap even as Adam’s shout sounded joyous as he raised his hands in the air.

And then it was on them. The first loop came up faster than the boy could prepare for it, and as his head was forced against his chest, adrenaline shot through his still-eleven-year-old body. By the time the car took the second loop, Isaiah added his voice to Adam’s as he screamed, just for the heck of it. This wasn’t as bad as he feared.

With so much force propelling the cars forward, the boy was surprised when more controlling chains gripped the cars, throwing him and Adam against their harnesses and slowing the cars down, before letting them continue onward, around another sharp bend. With a few more twists and turns as well as a couple of more sharp drop-offs, the train of cars looped back around to the starting point.

Once they were out, Isaiah, still on his adrenaline high, yelped, “That was freaking awesome! Can we ride it again?”

***

The change in the boy’s demeanor brought a wide grin to Adam’s face as they queued up for the Shockwave again. The line was even shorter their second time around. Now, as the car lurched forward and started up the long climb to the top of the ride, he glanced at the boy sitting beside him. Gone was the fearful expression. In its place was an intense look of expectation. The only thing remaining the same the second time up the steep climb was Isaiah’s hand clenched to his.

After the cars careened around the U-turn, they plunged a hundred feet toward the ground before heading into the first loop. Taking Isaiah’s hand in his, Adam raised it into the air as his voice was ripped out of his lungs on the plunge down the roller coaster’s steel-shod tracks. Around and around the two loops they flew. The five Gs of gravity forced his head against his chest until they shot out of the second loop. The boy’s giddy laughter was music in Adam’s ears. He had come close to making one of the other groups of kids take Isaiah with them, but as they were shaken around the track, instinctively, Adam knew he’d made the right choice.

The rest of the morning flew by as they rode Mr. Freeze and the Tower of Power rides. As they came off the Tower of Power for the second time, Isaiah seemed to wilt a bit under the hot north Texan sun. It was, if Adam was honest with himself, time to hydrate and eat.

Resting his hand on the boy’s shoulder, he said, “How about we get a drink and food? There are lots of places around here to eat.”

“Yeah. I could eat. But I’m pretty thirsty.”

“Sit down or grab-and-go?”

The boy’s expression grew thoughtful, “Can we rest for a bit?”

Adam nodded as he guided his charge through the thin crowd. He took the boy over to Johnny Rockets, one of the park’s larger sit-down restaurants, where they ordered hamburgers.

After finishing his burger, Adam found his eyes taking in the boy’s every detail. His dark brown hair was a darker shade than the milk-chocolate of his eyes. At a shade under four and a half feet, Isaiah was the shortest kid in the youth group, although sitting down at the moment, it wouldn’t have been noticed. His cheeks were tanned, although, at times when embarrassed, crimson would flush away the light brown of the boy’s tan. The boy, Adam’s subconscious mind decided, had perfect skin, unblemished by puberty’s cruelty.

Without realizing his mind going there, it wasn’t Clint to whom Adam compared the boy, but to Jacob. When he realized what he was doing, Adam tried to shut the thoughts down. Although all Isaiah shared with Jacob was his age, that was all. With a slight shake of his head, Adam amended the thought. There was nothing to compare. Not at all.

Still, his mind wouldn’t entirely let go of that unhealthy thread. In the deep recesses of Adam’s subconscious, his brain worked over the connection. Then, as the boy finished his meal, the youth pastor saw, not Clint, not even Jacob, but himself in the features of the not-quite-twelve-year-old. As they left the restaurant, despite the near one-hundred degree heat, an iciness gripped Adam’s insides as his mind worked over the implications. Was he Isaiah’s Clint?

Oh, God, no! Adam quietly prayed even as his young charge was entirely oblivious to his newly awakened fear. Isaiah said, “Isn’t there a train that goes around the park?”

There was. Pretty much the only ride to survive the parks’ more than fifty years of operation was the railroad. Fortunately, the walk toward the nearest depot was only a few minutes. And their timing couldn’t have been better. A few other people waited as the train pulled into the station. It was an old-style steam engine pulling three passenger carriages. A few people got off the train before the depot attendant opened the gate and let the handful of people, including Adam and Isaiah, find their seats in the open-air carriages.

Isaiah ran on ahead, climbing aboard the middle carriage. When Adam joined him, the boy leaned against his arm as they waited for the train to depart the depot. After a bit, the carriage jolted and rolled forward. Isaiah murmured, “I was worried I wouldn’t have a good time. But this has been so much fun. Thanks.”

Adam had walled away his fears. He knew he didn’t have anything to worry about. The boy was as safe with him as he’d be with his own mom. “Me, too. Now that you’re no longer afraid of roller coasters, which one do you want to do next?”

“Can we try the Giant? It looks huge.”

“Yeah. You bet.” He enjoyed the feel of the youngster leaning against his side. Despite errant mental wanderings related to Clint and Jacob, the balance of Adam’s mind wondered if he could be a positive role-model for Isaiah. The way the boy clung to his side left him convinced he needed a positive role model.

The wait for the Texas Giant was the longest so far, but it was still only fifteen minutes. They rode it twice before they headed over to the Titan. By the time evening rolled around, Adam and Isaiah rode the train around the park a couple of more times, although the boy’s head rested against Adam’s chest the last go-around as he slept.

Adam wasn’t surprised that a couple of the groups of kids didn’t show up until almost nine. Knowing how he was at that age, he’d budgeted more time to collect everyone.

The drive back to their hometown was a lot quieter than the drive up. Most of the kids were asleep before they left the metroplex. He could see Isaiah in the rearview mirror, with his head lolled back on the seatback. He could also see Jason and Meredith, also on the front row. The tall seventh grader’s head rested against the girl’s bushy red curls. Both were passed out. As ninety-minute drives went, it was peaceful, with only the occasional murmured voice breaking the silence.

The church parking lot was half-full of cars when he pulled into the van’s normal space. Parents leaned against the sides of vehicles, quietly talking among themselves, patiently waiting for their kids to spill out of the van, in their zombie-like trances.

One by one, cars pulled away, taking their tired charges home until Adam found himself alone. Or nearly so. As he opened the van’s sliding door, Isaiah slept, his head tilted back. The youth leader spun around, scanning the parking lot and surrounding streets. They were empty.

What the hell? he thought. All the parents knew they were supposed to pick their kids up no later than eleven. Another glance at his watch showed it was already ten minutes after.

Adam opened the passenger’s side door and grabbed a notebook full of permission slips. When he found the one signed by the boy’s mom, he put the number she had left into the phone. But before he could press the dial button, an older model Chevy pulled into the parking lot. Amanda Clayton climbed out of the car, her hair a disheveled mess.

When she came over to Adam, her cheeks were aflame with embarrassment, “I’m so sorry, Adam. I fell asleep on the couch. When I woke up, it was already eleven.”

Her eyes roamed about, “Where’s Isaiah?”

His lips turned upwards at the woman’s distress, Adam opened the sliding door, revealing her sleeping son. “All safe and sound.”

Relief washed over the woman’s face, “Oh, thank God. Had me worried for a moment. How’d he do? He wasn’t too much trouble, I hope.”

Adam shook his head, “Not at all. He was a delight.”

A note of relief in her voice, Amanda said, “That’s good to know. He doesn’t make friends very easily. I was a bit worried the other kids wouldn’t take to him.”

Uncertain how to respond, Adam pressed his lips together before finally admitting the truth, “Well, he didn’t really bond with the other kids, Amanda. When they broke into groups, he ended up with me. I hope that’s okay.”

Staring at her son, still asleep in the seat, Amanda’s brows knit in worry. “I guess. After he lost his friend, Josh, I kinda hoped he’d make more friends in the youth group.”

Adam didn’t want to pry, but the boy’s mother had strongly hinted whatever had happened between Isaiah and his friend still troubled her. “Give it more time. He’s a really sweet kid. He’ll make more friends.”

Amanda smiled and rested a hand briefly on Adam’s arm, “Thanks for looking out for him, Adam. I’m grateful you see how special he is. I know you’re only here at Wakefield through the end of the summer, but I’ll be forever grateful for any mentoring you do.”

Seeing the sleeping boy, Adam felt a desire to protect the boy from the harshness of the world. For now, there wasn’t any thought about his own troubled past or how similar Isaiah was to himself at that age. He simply wanted to be there for the boy.

Adam said, “My pleasure, Amanda. How about we get him awake so you guys can get home.

Copyright 2019 – Caliboy1991
All rights reserved