The following story was originally written for a german website and later printed in my first book "Der Neuanfang". After I translated my story "Never saw a miracle" into english and getting lots of good feedback, I decided to translate this story, too. Some readers wrote me that I don't have to apologize for my English -- so I won't anymore g.
The story is set in Germany, so of course there are a few things unfamiliar to people from other countries. As example temperatures are given in degrees centigrade: 0 C are 32 F, minus 5 C are 23 F and so on. If there are any things you don't understand, please feel free to ask me about it. I love getting emails anyway, and I'd like to say my thankyous to all of you who already wrote me.
There are two other stories of mine published here on niftys:
"Never saw a miracle" in the gay/highschool section
and
"Different" in the gay/no-sex section
If someone is interested in reading the original german story, it's here:
http://www.nickstories.de
Look for "Peter's Stories". And if some is interested in buying my books (in german language, of course): they can be bought directly from me, even with my signature which will be worth millions when I'm a Nobel prize winner someday -- lol...
I'm sorry for the delay, but the holidays are over and I'm back to work, so I haven't that much time for the translation anymore. This part is a little shorter, but it was a good point for a break. The next one will be longer again.
But now let's the play begin...
--*
A new beginning -- Part 10
Copyright 2001-2006 by Peter Conrad, Peter_Co@web.de
At this moment we were interrupted by the doorbell...
"I guess that's Thomas, he comes to do his homework here."
"Why, does he need your help?"
"No, he only needs a quiet place. I only say: three sisters. And for your information: the one your age is already taken."
Tims answer was a flying pillow heading for me and hitting it's target exactly when Thomas stepped into the room. Because of the door I was momentarily distracted, so the pillow hit me straight in the face.
"You just wait!"
I jumped on Tim, trying on him was his dad did to me that one awful evening. And I can swear to god that my stepfathers son is at least as ticklish as I am!
Meanwhile Thomas was standing in the middle of the room, looking at us disapprovingly.
"Shit, and I thought that this was the right place to do my homework. But if you behave like little kids I could have done them at home, different place -- same chaos."
I decided to stop my attack on Tim -- I had to remember that Thomas still was my best friend for years and I couldn't just put all my attention on my new brother. Of course, Thomas would have to live with quite a few changes because of Tim and Reinhardt moving in with us, but in my heart was enough space for all of them.
"Sorry, we'll be quiet now. Sit down, I'll join you in a minute, I just have to get my stuff."
I stood up from Tims bed, took my backpack and everything else I would need and sat beside Thomas at the desk.
"Sorry, Tim, but we have to work for a while."
"No problem. While you work I'll shower, all that shopping and carrying around stuff was exhausting and I'm afraid I stink a bit."
"Okay, have fun."
I turned back to the desk, and shortly later Thomas' and my head were smoking. The math problems weren't as difficult as Thomas made them look, as always he was a bit exaggerating, and twenty minutes later we were done already. Thankfully the other teachers didn't give out homework today.
"How's Caren? Is her arm better?"
"She's well enough to order the rest of us around all the time. Bring this, switch that on, put in the cd -- I don't even try to imagine how she would be if she didn't hurt an arm but a leg! I'm a bit out of her way, but you can't imagine what's going on in the girls room. The chinese idea of the on-kid-family is quite appealing to me at the moment."
"Ahem... Maybe you forgot it, but in this case you wouldn't be on this nice planet. You have an older brother who would have been that one single kid."
"Oh well, but for a nice, cute boy like me my parents would have made an exception."
"Dream on. By the way: are your parents working on the next kid already?"
"Please not! Only if they want me out of the house! Then I move in with you."
"Sorry, but we're filled up now. But you still could try moving in with Christine. Didn't you tell me that her parents really like you?"
"Yes, they do. But moving in there? No. They got a giant alsation dog!"
Since Thomas was bitten by a dog he was totally afraid of these creatures. Ironically it wasn't a dog matching his own body size, meaning a big one like a german shepherd, no, it was a small pekinese! I still don't know how this dog with the size of a guinea pig managed to byte my friend in his butt. Anyway, since this day Thomas gave every dog a wide berth, no matter if it was a big dane or a barking rat.
"Hehe, a real Anstands-WauWau ((german saying, meaning something like chaperon dog))."
"Absolutely. As long as this beast is around I don't even dare to touch Christine."
"Poor Thomas..."
My friend couldn't answer, because at this moment Tim came back from his shower.
"I'm back!"
While I put away the school stuff, Thomas turned to my brother, looked at his watch and again at Tim.
"You and Danny fit together. More than half an hour in the shower? Almost as long as Danny."
"Well, we're clean people!"
"Tell that someone else. What are you doing with all the time? Ah, forget that I asked, I already know."
"What?!?"
"I didn't say anything! Only ... it's better with a girl. Or in Dannys case with a boy."
Thomas was grinning cheekily, while Tims face turned redder and redder. I guess Thomas hit a tender spot there! My brother decided that it was best to change the topic.
"And, all homework done?"
"Yes."
"Shall I check it?"
"Haha, you little boy are a year below us and want to check our maths homework?"
My dear Thomas, I'm afraid this wasn't a good idea. That comes from not knowing that this little boy was a straight 1 student. ((A 1 is the same as an A in the US school system.))
"Want to bet?"
All my subtle attempts to stop Thomas didn't work.
"Sure! What do you bet?"
"If I win, if I find a mistake, you have to ask this Philipp if he wants to be Dannys boyfriend."
O my god, not this! He couldn't be serious! I didn't want to bet, why should I be the victim?
"Forget it, Tim. If someone has to ask Philipp then I should be the one, okay?"
"Sorry, I just wanted to help you!"
"Thanks, but still, that's something I have to do myself."
"Okay. Hm. I know it: when I win Thomas has to wait on me in the schools cafeteria for two weeks."
"Deal. And when I win you have to walk Christines dog for two weeks so I have a little quiet time with her."
"Walk her dog?"
"Yes. That's the problem: when we want to go out we almost always have to take the dog with us. You'll meet us and take the dog, Christine and I have a little time alone, and later we meet again and you bring back the beast."
"Okay, I love dogs anyway."
"I don't! Now look at the homework and see if you can find a mistake. I promise you, you won't finde a single one!"
"We'll see."
Tim bend over the desk, studying the homework. Well, I guess it was an all-win-situation for him, if he really loved dogs. On the other hand I guess it wouldn't be so bad for Thomas to fall down on his butt for once. Hm. But this would mean that I had made a mistake, too. While Tim was checking the work, Thomas was grinning very confidently of his victory, till ... well, till Tims eyes sparkled up and the corners of his mouth twichted upwards.
" I think you should look at this problem again."
"Never!"
The unbelieving Thomas, how matching. Of course Tim was right, we didn't need long to find the mistake. The worst was, that it only was a simple typo! But however, a mistake was a mistake.
"I hope you like the waiting business, Thomas."
"Haha. You didn't see the mistake, too! To be fair you should wait on him for a week also."
"Forget it. You were the one who bet him, now you have to live with the consequences."
"Tim? Do I have a way out?"
"No chance."
"Shit. You know what? This place is too dangerous, I better go before I make the next stupid thing."
Our eyes jumped to Thomas' face, but he was smiling, and we were relieved.
"Just kidding. But I really have to go, or I'll have to face a hundred questions where I was all the time, when my poor little sister was laying on her death bed."
"What's with your sister? And which sister, Caren?"
"Yes, Caren. It's a long story, Danny can tell you."
Thomas took his stuff and went to the door."
"I'll find out myself. See you tomorrow."
A moment later we were alone.
"I hope you're not mad at me because I found the mistake."
I smiled.
"Hehe, absolutely not! It was fun. And I guess Thomas will never underestimate you again."
I turned on the tv, we sat on my bed, and just when I started to ask Tim what we could do with the rest of the day, someone knocked on the door.
"Come in."
The door went open, and mom pushed another visitor into the room. Hm, I didn't hear the doorbell this time.
"Boys, Ralph was just about to ring the bell when Thomas left the house."
Now I knew why I didn't hear it.
"Hi Danny, Tim. I hope I don't disturb you."
"No, come in, sit down. Why do you honor us with your visit?"
"Hm... I ... I'd like to speak with Danny for a moment. Alone, if possible."
I gave Tim a short look, and he understood me.
"I'll go down to the kitchen to find something to eat."
Now my mother had something more to say.
"Tim, would you please dress up again and go to the supermarket? I just noticed that we're out of milk."
"No problem, I just have to dry my hair first."
"Oh, did you shower? Than you'll better not go out, it's freezing cold again. You stay here. Ralph, could you talk with Danny on the way to the supermarket?"
"Sure, no problem."
"Fine. Now, Danny, dress up. You'll get the milk."
Great, out into the cold again. But I knew my mom, there was no way talking her out of it. I started to put on my warm clothes again, and only half an hour later I was ready to face the elements. Okay, it didn't take me THAT long. At the door my mom gave me money and a shopping list -- of course I had to bring more than a box of milk.
"Can I take the Mercedes?"
"Haha, dream on. Now move, I need the milk. And hurry, or the potatoes will be frozen over when you get back."
I guess I'd never get to drive her favourite toy, even if I aced the driving test. Ralph and I started to walk to the supermarket in silence, and after a few minutes my young friend finally started to work.
"Danny, I'm sorry about what happened at school today."
"I'm sorry, too. But I hope that Matthias is much more sorry!"
"Are you mad at me because I didn't say anything? I mean, I could have outed myself, taking a little pressure from you."
Why was everyone asking me if I was mad on them? Especially when there was really no reason.
"No. Listen: it's your, and only your decision when and who you tell it. I know how hard it is, and I would never expect you to do it only because you think you have to do it for someone else. When you do it, do it for you! At your time."
"Okay, thanks. I'm not sure I'm ready yet."
"As I said, it's your own decision. But what I'd like to know..."
"Yes?"
"How did the others in your class react to the news?"
"Differently. Most of them were happy that Matthias finally managed to attack the wrong person."
Hm. I guess Matthias' unpopularity was my advantage, taking a bit attention from my big outing.
"The girls were all cool, maybe a bit disappointed that they don't have a chance to catch you."
I grinned. Since when was I the big heart throb of the girls at our school. Especially girls two years younger than I. Brrrrr. Better not think about it.
"Two or three boys played the big macho, but most were totally unfaced by it."
Two or three potential idiots per class -- I guess I could live with that.
"Sounds good, I hope it's this way in all classes."
Meanwhile we had reached the supermarket, I did the shopping, and only a few minutes later we were on our way back.
"By the way, how are the things with you and Christoph?"
"I'll join his family on a skiing trip this weekend."
Ralphs face was glowing from enthusiasm, and I had my next big jealousy attack. Shit. I just could hope that he didn't notice it.
"So there's really everything well with your parents?"
"Yes, it's great."
"And what about Katja?"
"She doesn't even dare to give me a bad face. I guess our parents made everything very clear to her after the party last year."
Well, she did deserve it. And I was really happy for Ralph that he had so much luck with his parents.
Meanwhile we hurried back home -- I didn't like the idea of frozen potatoes either. And especially I didn't like the idea of frozen Danny!
"Thanks for having time for me, Danny, I guess I'll go home now."
"You don't want to come in for a while?"
"Sorry, I'm a bit in a hurry. Chris and his parents come over this evening to talk with us about the skiing trip."
"Okay, than you better go. See you later."
"Good bye. And thanks again."
Ralph went on his way and I turned into our drive, stepping into the house only moments later. I gave mom the stuff I bought, and just when I was taking of my jacket I heard a loud cry from the kitchen.
"Danny? Didn't you bring eggs?"
"No, why? There weren't eggs on the shopping list."
"Damned! The last three I had slipped my hands. Are you sure that I didn't write eggs on list?"
"Here is it, look for yourself."
"Okay, okay, I believe you. Ah, I know what happened. I wrote them on the shopping list for this morning, but we totally forgot them. And the milk."
"Good work, mommy. You make a shopping list and still forget half of the stuff."
"I know what you want to say -- DON'T SAY IT! Don't start about alzheimers disease. I'm sorry, but you have to go to the supermarket again. I want to make egg salad for lunch, and egg salad without eggs is a big nono."
"Ha, you only want to hunt me out into the cold again!"
"I'd never do so, my poor boy. I was trying to shout after you when you left for the first time, but you were to far away already."
"Excuses, excuses. You know what? Buy me a cell phone, then you can call me whenever you want. And I won't have to go shopping twice."
"Ha, you wish! You only want to call all those 0900 sex numbers, and I have to pay your bills."
"Shit, you got my number."
"Yes. And now go!"
What else could I do? I went again to the supermarket where I searched for a box with no broken eggs in it. The cashier gave me a look like Mrs. Moeller in the morning. You remember? "You again?" I shrug my shoulders and grabbed two surprise eggs for Tim and me. I mean, mom said to bring eggs -- she didn't say what kind of eggs! After paying I carefully walked home. I knew my luck -- it wouldn't be a surprise if I fell down, breaking the eggs and having to go the supermarket for a third time in a row.
Even though the streets were icy I reached home with everything in one piece, and even my mom didn't find a reason to send me out into the cold again. I took of my jacket, scarf, hat, gloves and shoes, then I went into the kitchen to get the surprise eggs from my smiling mother.
"I see, there are still little kids in the house."
"You said to bring eggs -- I brought eggs."
"It's okay, you deserve them. I hope one of them is for Tim?"
"Of course. By the way, where's Reinhardt? Don't tell me that you forgot HIM too somewhere."
"I'm not THAT forgetful!"
"You could have fooled me."
"He is at a friends to get his computer backups."
Ah yes, he told us about it. Luckily he was smart enough to keep backups far away from home. Losing the computer was not so bad, but the data was irreplaceable.
"But he should show up soon."
"Why didn't you call HIM to take care of the shopping on his way home? At least HE has a cell phone!"
"He has enough work on his hands. Besides, you wouldn't have those surprise eggs then."
"You're right. Reinhardt would have brought as much more."
"It's enough now, Danny. Go, before I decide to use you as a kitchen help."
Good idea! I never was that fast out of the kitchen before. I flang open the door, startling Tim who was playing with the computer.
"What's wrong? You look like the devil himself is after you."
Well, that wasn't THAT wrong.
"Here, I brought you something."
I gave him the second surprise egg, and I guess my mother was right: he was happy like a little kid. How easy he was to please.
But I guess I wasn't that much better (or older), and moments later we both were busy assembling the cheap toys.
The remainder of the day went by quietly. Soon Reinhardt showed up, we had dinner together and I rewarded myself with a nice hot bath. Shortly after 10pm Tim and I were in our beds. The next day would be an interesting one, and I was really happy that I finally wouldn't be the only one going to school in the morning. Tim would join me, and I was curious if he still would like school after getting to know our holy halls.
Surprisingly after such an eventful day I didn't have problems falling asleep only minutes after Tim, who apparently was able to lay down and fall asleep instantly. Of course he didn't have a day like I had...
..*
To be continued in part 11