Part One: The Boyhood
Chapter VI: The Best Christmas Gift
--
When the big yellow bus dropped him off down the street, he felt
nothing more than pure dread as he walked home to find the car gone and
a note full of instructions for him to follow. Angry, he threw the note
away without reading any of it. He knew perfectly well what the note
said. It wasn't as if he didn't see it coming. A list full of chores,
to keep him busy until the horrible Judge came home.
There was no way in hell he was going to do that fucking chore list. In a state of rebellion, Greg walked up to the fence and called his horse. It had been a long while since he's ridden her, he was sure he had long since forgotten how, but it was clear by his eagerness that he hadn't forgotten and carried him off far into the fields.
He knew he was going to be in hot water when he returned to the house. He knew he'd be beat for not following the master of the house's rules. It was after dark when he patted Hope back to the pasture to graze. In the house, the lights were on and Greg knew he was in for it this time. There was no escape, so he sauntered right on in and faced the music.
"Where the fuck have you been, boy?" his eyes glared red with anger. Greg swallowed hard, for he was fully aware of the fact that he was going to have to pay for this. His eyes dropped down to the floor in submission of his body. Now, he was at the mercy of his adopted father. His figure stood massive before Greg, and the small boy shrank in the wake of his enormous shadow. With great force, Bill took him by the arm and pulled the small teenager behind him back to the old woodshed.
The sound of the whip zipping through the air was a sound Greg knew well. The sting of the leather touching his skin hurt, but no more than a prickle as he was concerned. He would never give him the satisfaction of making him cry from a whipping.
Greg's ass was sore and bruised so it hurt to walk after Bill's hard whipping. There was a sting of pain that flashed throughout his face. Without thoughts of dinner, Greg passed the dining room, marched with a shuffle up the stairs to his room, shut the door and fell in a fit of tears. Without Jillian around to shield him from Bill's hatred, life was miserable for him. Especially, at times he sat in alone in the attic and had the time to think about Nick. The worst part about it for Greg was that there was nothing he could do about it. He was open to Bill's punishment whether that was starvation, or solitary confinement.
This time around, Bill decided that Greg didn't deserve food. So, for days Greg was left up there foodless and starving, hungry with a rumbling stomach.
There might have been some hope when Lily Knotweed walked up to the door. His hopes were high that maybe he'd be permitted to see her. However, he knew better. When he saw her walking away, he immediately knew he was in trouble again. He wanted to scream for her to rescue him. He wanted her at least to toss up some food. However, there was nothing he could do except for stroke his black starving mewing cat Spook.
"Shhhh," he hissed trying to sooth him with his hand. "You're going to get us in trouble again."
"Mew," the cat answered and arched his back into his hand.
"I know you're starving," he said pointlessly to the cat, who couldn't understand him. "I don't have any food either."
Clunk, clunk, clunk, clunk heavy boots stomped on the rickety steps to his attic. Clunk, clunk, clunk, and his heart began to race. The lump grew thicker with each new clunk. The hatch opened and Bill finished his ascent into his room. His eyes were blazing with heated fire directed straight at him. To his memory, he had never seen him madder.
"What business is it of yours to tell your friends to come here?" his face now was nearly two inches away and his hands were within striking distance, yet remained stationary.
"I'm, I'm sorry sir," his head drops automatically.
"You will be sorry," there was a little spark in his eyes. It was something he had hoped not to see again, and yet there he was, being pulled out of the room.
"I didn't tell her to come here," said Greg in a desperate attempt to stop what followed. Out to the shed again, the first time he had been out of that room for days and it was a repetitive whipping over the ass.
The following days were spent by Greg sitting in an old rickety chair. His stomach rumbled and his hand as he watched John Stokes walking up the walk. He was a muscular man, as high as his father, and always a pleaser. Bill loved him and favored him since Nick let him down. The commentaries downstairs were pleasant and it made him even sicker to his stomach.
Out the window, there was Nathan Stokes, with that beautiful wife of his latched onto his arm. The perfect bleached blonde with the tight hourglass figure and as air headed as they come. Nathan wasn't exactly in the favor of his dear dad, but he was accepted and welcomed with open arms nonetheless. He was a knobby Stokes, by all means, and his athletic prowess was pretty much nil to none. However, he made the family proud to be reaching a high level of income designing computer components to help police officers everywhere.
There was Matthew Stokes. He was the classic Stokes, in Greg's opinion. He was just muscular enough not to be over commanding, great at athletics and a wonderful police officer if Greg ever saw one. The last that Greg had heard was that he was becoming a District Attorney, and oh was dear daddy Bill ever proud.
James Stokes walked up next laughing and giggling. James was constantly on Bill's nerves. He was a prankster and a goof-off. Bill always did enjoy lecturing him on how he'd blown every chance and telling them that Matthew has excelled in the police department. Bill enjoyed instructing him. What was better is James never listened.
Then the most unexpected sight befell Greg's eyes. His lovely Nick Stokes, walking with his head tilted down. No longer was he in his father's blessings. He hadn't been since the day he was kicked out of the best prep school in the state. Greg thought he looked miserable, and it was nothing short on how he felt. He wasn't even expecting him here, but it didn't matter because Jillian was in the hospital, Bill was off for the break, and he was stuck foodless in the attic.
The conversation downstairs certainly was merry. People were excited, except for Nick, whose voice was not heard through the floor. The sun disappeared and replaced by the darkness of night. The voices died down as people teetered off into bed. He lay back in his cot and pulled his holey blanket over his body. This was miserable.
It might have been three in the morning when he heard the trap door open. Fearing it was dear Bill, he bolted upright.
"Calm down," the familiar voice sounded. "It's just me."
The smile was huge that crept over his face.
"Come in," said Greg. "Did you bring food? I'm starving."
"Yeah, I brought some food," smiled Nick handing the plate of leftovers.
"Thanks," answered Greg taking the plate and began stuffing his face near desperately.
"Whoa there," he chuckled. "You're eating as if you haven't eaten in three weeks."
"I don't think I have," Greg concurred, pushing more leftovers through his mouth.
"I'm sorry," his eyes flashed with a strange sympathy. "I know dad can be a jerk sometimes."
"Yeah and all of it directed towards me," sighed Greg.
"Do you want me to get you some more food?"
"Please."
It was just a little wait in the loneliness of the attic before Nick returned. The sight of Nick was probably the best sight he had ever seen in his entire life. "Hey, that wasn't so long was it?" Nick entered the room and plopped beside Greg wrapping his arm around him tightly.
"I got you something," he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box wrapped in decorative paper and a small bow.
Greg's eyes grew wide with the gift in Nick's hands. For a long time now, Nick was aware the treatment Bill Stokes gave Greg. He had been only too aware that Greg was not privileged to receive gifts, or even to be in the same room when gifts were received.
"I thought it was time for you to get a present," he punctuated it with a loving, gentle kiss to his cheek. Greg's whole face livened into a very gracious smile. He eyed the gift and delicately began to open it. With each tear of paper, his eyes widened just a bit further as he flipped open the box to find a simple silver ring glistening inside.
"I thought you would like to have something that was yours. That I gave you. I saved up all year to get you this," he kissed him again.
"It's beautiful," marveled Greg.
Morning came all too quick for both Nick and Greg's liking. Even though Greg would have loved to follow him out, he couldn't. Moments later, Nick was gone.
Greg had hoped that Nick would have snuck up again, but he never saw him again that break. Alone in his room, his heart was breaking piece by piece, and yet, he wore Nick's ring dangling from a small silver chain proudly around his neck. He still had the heart of Nick and to Greg that was all that really mattered.
To Be Continued...