Daniel Keyes is an orphan, fostered by the Walkers. The product of a lonely childhood, he is thrown into the chaos of the Walker family and into the life of his new foster brother Jamie.
This story is the journey of Daniel and Jamie finding their place in the world. Through Jamie being a victim of hate crime to coming out to family and friends, there are many decisions the boys have to make before they become men.
Smashwords :: Amazon :: Love Lane Books
* * * * *
EXCERPT:
Daniel arrives at the house…
Chapter 2
Daniel let himself be dragged along by this boy called Jamie,
who pulled him into a room at the end of the corridor at the corner of the
house, overlooking the yard and with views of California hills. It was far from
a large room, but it held a bed that looked soft and welcoming, and just like
he’d said, Jamie had put posters of people up on Daniel’s wall. Not sheet
music, not a pinboard of timetables and practices, but some guys in uniform
with a ball. Basketball, Daniel thought. What team he wasn’t sure. He didn’t
actually know a whole lot about sports, and the idea of a contact sport where
he might hurt his hands had always scared him. Well, scared his mom anyway. Athletics,
group games, had inevitably clashed with extra practice for this recital or
that exam. The boy—Jamie—dropped to the bed, waving a hand and enthusiastically
indicating the whole room.
who pulled him into a room at the end of the corridor at the corner of the
house, overlooking the yard and with views of California hills. It was far from
a large room, but it held a bed that looked soft and welcoming, and just like
he’d said, Jamie had put posters of people up on Daniel’s wall. Not sheet
music, not a pinboard of timetables and practices, but some guys in uniform
with a ball. Basketball, Daniel thought. What team he wasn’t sure. He didn’t
actually know a whole lot about sports, and the idea of a contact sport where
he might hurt his hands had always scared him. Well, scared his mom anyway. Athletics,
group games, had inevitably clashed with extra practice for this recital or
that exam. The boy—Jamie—dropped to the bed, waving a hand and enthusiastically
indicating the whole room.
Daniel thought he detected excitement, and swallowing, he
pasted a smile on his face and hoped he looked enthusiastic enough for what he
had been given.
pasted a smile on his face and hoped he looked enthusiastic enough for what he
had been given.
“It’s fine,” he said gently.
Don’t cause trouble. It’s
only for a few months. You can do this, you can talk to people, you can form
words and look happy, you know you can because you have been practising in
front of a mirror.
only for a few months. You can do this, you can talk to people, you can form
words and look happy, you know you can because you have been practising in
front of a mirror.
“Cool, wanna play Madden?” the boy asked, crossing
to the room opposite his and coming back with a gray box trailing wires, tripping
into the room with a broad grin.
to the room opposite his and coming back with a gray box trailing wires, tripping
into the room with a broad grin.
“I’m a bit tired,” Daniel said softly. That answer
always worked now. Those few words were guaranteed to get sympathy and were a surefire
way to get people to leave him alone.
always worked now. Those few words were guaranteed to get sympathy and were a surefire
way to get people to leave him alone.
“Okay.” If the boy was upset he didn’t show it. He
just dumped the confusion of wires on Daniel’s bed and flopped down after it,
sprawling completely over the quilt.
just dumped the confusion of wires on Daniel’s bed and flopped down after it,
sprawling completely over the quilt.
Daniel coughed and looked at the boy, at his height, his
long, lanky arms and legs, with his short, spiky blond hair and his smile. What
was his name again? Jamie. It didn’t go down well to not remember names. But
with a head full of music, things like names weren’t a priority. Okay. He could
do this.
long, lanky arms and legs, with his short, spiky blond hair and his smile. What
was his name again? Jamie. It didn’t go down well to not remember names. But
with a head full of music, things like names weren’t a priority. Okay. He could
do this.
“Where’s my piano?” Daniel asked softly, his voice
a little husky from lack of use.
a little husky from lack of use.
“Oh yeah, it was delivered on this huge ass truck, and
they were swearing and everything when they put it in my den. Well, like, it’s
not my den now. It’s your den. Whatever, come on then.” Jamie started to
leave the room, looking back expectantly. Daniel blinked then followed, down
the stairs, past the kitchen where Sue and the social worker sat drinking
coffee, and through a door at the back, leading out to flooding sunshine and
warmth.
they were swearing and everything when they put it in my den. Well, like, it’s
not my den now. It’s your den. Whatever, come on then.” Jamie started to
leave the room, looking back expectantly. Daniel blinked then followed, down
the stairs, past the kitchen where Sue and the social worker sat drinking
coffee, and through a door at the back, leading out to flooding sunshine and
warmth.
And there she was, standing in the corner, his only real link
to his parents.
to his parents.
He crossed to her and sat on the seat, running fingers over
highly polished wood.
highly polished wood.
He was aware of Jamie watching him curiously.
This is wrong.
He and the piano both belonged in shadows and musty rooms,
rooms that his music stayed in, rooms where he felt safe. Sitting in sunlight,
breathing in California air, was all wrong.
rooms that his music stayed in, rooms where he felt safe. Sitting in sunlight,
breathing in California air, was all wrong.
He wouldn’t be able to play here. That much was certain.
If he couldn’t play, he wouldn’t be happy.
It’s only for a few
months.
months.
He just wouldn’t play.
It will kill me, but
it won’t be for long.
it won’t be for long.
Jamie looked at Daniel, his head to one side. “You going
to play?” he said curiously.
to play?” he said curiously.
Daniel didn’t look up even as Jamie launched into more
words.
words.
“‘Cause Ellie can play like this Chinese thing, and she
got up and did it in ’sembly, and it was rubbish. ‘Cause like, Ellie, she has
this piano at home, and she has this man come over and show her how to play,
and she has had lessons for three years, and if that Chinese thing is all she
can play, then that is just rubbish.”
got up and did it in ’sembly, and it was rubbish. ‘Cause like, Ellie, she has
this piano at home, and she has this man come over and show her how to play,
and she has had lessons for three years, and if that Chinese thing is all she
can play, then that is just rubbish.”
Daniel looked up at the boy who couldn’t seem to stop
talking, blinking at him from under his long fringe. “I’m not going to
play,” he said softly.
talking, blinking at him from under his long fringe. “I’m not going to
play,” he said softly.
“Oh.” Jamie looked flummoxed and then frowned. “Why?”
“I can’t—”
“My mom said you might not play ’cause your mom died. Is
that why? Megan likes nursery rhymes so can you play them? Josh likes rock. It’s
really noisy, and I kind of hate it, but I guess if you can only do that
Chopsticky Chinese thing, then other stuff would be way too hard. Can you do
nursery rhymes… hmmm?”
that why? Megan likes nursery rhymes so can you play them? Josh likes rock. It’s
really noisy, and I kind of hate it, but I guess if you can only do that
Chopsticky Chinese thing, then other stuff would be way too hard. Can you do
nursery rhymes… hmmm?”
“It’s too sunny in here,” Daniel blurted out. The
talking that Jamie was throwing at him had started to sound too confusing—just
a jumble of noise. Nobody talked to him like that; they talked quietly and
firmly and didn’t make him want to talk back at all. No one mentioned his mom
being dead. Or his dad.
talking that Jamie was throwing at him had started to sound too confusing—just
a jumble of noise. Nobody talked to him like that; they talked quietly and
firmly and didn’t make him want to talk back at all. No one mentioned his mom
being dead. Or his dad.
“Huh?” Jamie looked confused, looking out of the
window. “We can play Star Wars in
here, and yeah, sometimes it gets hot with the sun, but not all the time. Maybe
you can go under the piano and just play the pedally things at the bottom? It
would be cool under there.”
window. “We can play Star Wars in
here, and yeah, sometimes it gets hot with the sun, but not all the time. Maybe
you can go under the piano and just play the pedally things at the bottom? It
would be cool under there.”
“I … I can’t… can’t play, the sun… it’s not right.”
“Okay. So under would be a good idea? I think that’s a
good idea. I get ideas all the time. Well, mostly good. ’Cepting the time I
broke my ankle jumping off the garage roof. Hang on, I got an really cool one.”
good idea. I get ideas all the time. Well, mostly good. ’Cepting the time I
broke my ankle jumping off the garage roof. Hang on, I got an really cool one.”
Daniel didn’t move one inch. He was absolutely frozen to the
spot with confusion. Jamie left the sunroom and then bounded back in to a startled
Daniel.
spot with confusion. Jamie left the sunroom and then bounded back in to a startled
Daniel.
He busied himself, placing the items he had collected on the
floor under the piano, and then popping back up, a huge grin split his face.
floor under the piano, and then popping back up, a huge grin split his face.
“Get under here, Daniel; it’s dark under here.” He
looked at Daniel expectantly.
looked at Daniel expectantly.
“I can’t,” Daniel said, feeling his chest tighten
with anxiety. He was wearing his best pants. His mom wouldn’t have liked it if
he got dirty when wearing his best pants let alone the cream shirt with the
clip tie. Then his new mom, the pretend one, she would be cross, and then
everything would be ruined.
with anxiety. He was wearing his best pants. His mom wouldn’t have liked it if
he got dirty when wearing his best pants let alone the cream shirt with the
clip tie. Then his new mom, the pretend one, she would be cross, and then
everything would be ruined.
“Come on, s’fun. I have Oreos,” Jamie wheedled and
shook the bag of cookies in encouragement.
shook the bag of cookies in encouragement.
“My clothes,” Daniel said helplessly.
“What?” Jamie asked with a frown.
“They’ll get dirty.”
“S’ok,” Jamie started, and then cupping his hands
round his mouth, he yelled so loud Daniel was sure that people outside heard
it. “Mom, can Daniel play in the den with me in his best stuff?”
round his mouth, he yelled so loud Daniel was sure that people outside heard
it. “Mom, can Daniel play in the den with me in his best stuff?”
There was a pause; Daniel didn’t know what he wanted Mrs. Walker
to say. If she said yes, then this meant Daniel had no excuses not to get on
the floor; something he had not really done before.
to say. If she said yes, then this meant Daniel had no excuses not to get on
the floor; something he had not really done before.
“Of course he can,” came the reply from the
kitchen.
kitchen.
Oh no.
“See, Danny, can I call you Danny? ’Cause you can call
me Jamie. Come under with me, and then, d’ya want a cookie?”
me Jamie. Come under with me, and then, d’ya want a cookie?”
Daniel swore the other boy’s words were running into one
another. Still he gathered all his reserves of bravery and slid off the piano
chair and under the piano. It was kind of dark, and Daniel had never seen the
underneath of any of his pianos before so it was a bit intriguing.
another. Still he gathered all his reserves of bravery and slid off the piano
chair and under the piano. It was kind of dark, and Daniel had never seen the
underneath of any of his pianos before so it was a bit intriguing.
“Cookie?” Jamie crossed his legs, leaning back
against one of the piano legs and holding out squashed cookies.
against one of the piano legs and holding out squashed cookies.
“Okay,” Daniel said softly. Cookies were not often
on his menu, and the last time he had had one, it had been at his mom’s funeral
because no one told him he couldn’t have one. He bit into the dark chocolate
biscuit, his tongue poking out to gather stray crumbs as they collected at the
corner of his mouth, brushing others from his pants.
on his menu, and the last time he had had one, it had been at his mom’s funeral
because no one told him he couldn’t have one. He bit into the dark chocolate
biscuit, his tongue poking out to gather stray crumbs as they collected at the
corner of his mouth, brushing others from his pants.
“Wanna see what I can do?” Jamie asked
conspiratorially, darting a quick glance out from under the piano. “It’s a
secret though.”
conspiratorially, darting a quick glance out from under the piano. “It’s a
secret though.”
“Okay.”
“Promise you won’t say?”
“I won’t say.” Unless he really needed to.
“Solo-swear?”
“What?”
“Solo-swear. Means like you have to be Han Solo and you
can’t tell no one what you see.”
can’t tell no one what you see.”
“Okay I… er… Solo-swear… I won’t say a word.” Daniel
wondered if this is what all families in the real world were like, with stupid
promises and sitting on dusty floors in best clothes.
wondered if this is what all families in the real world were like, with stupid
promises and sitting on dusty floors in best clothes.
Jamie grinned, that goofy, sparkling-eyed, happy-with-the-world
grin and proceeded to push a whole cookie in his mouth in one go, looking kind
of like the hamster Daniel’s English class had babysat for a whole term. Crumbs
flew everywhere as the poor cookie met its demise in the cavern that was Jamie’s
mouth, and Daniel just watched, totally fascinated.
grin and proceeded to push a whole cookie in his mouth in one go, looking kind
of like the hamster Daniel’s English class had babysat for a whole term. Crumbs
flew everywhere as the poor cookie met its demise in the cavern that was Jamie’s
mouth, and Daniel just watched, totally fascinated.
Finished, Jamie leant forward, his eyes intense. “Betcha
can’t do that,” he said, throwing the challenge into the den.
can’t do that,” he said, throwing the challenge into the den.
Daniel swallowed. This was a new feeling inside him, a small
nagging push to prove Jamie wrong, but it was quickly squashed by the
overwhelming need to not do anything stupid.
nagging push to prove Jamie wrong, but it was quickly squashed by the
overwhelming need to not do anything stupid.
“I can’t,” Daniel said finally.
Jamie just dropped back, his face a picture of win, and he
began munching on his next cookie. Clearly realizing Daniel was still nibbling
on his first, he emptied half of what was left in the packet into Daniel’s lap.
began munching on his next cookie. Clearly realizing Daniel was still nibbling
on his first, he emptied half of what was left in the packet into Daniel’s lap.
This Jamie? He seemed really cool. A bit odd but cool.
Daniel looked from Jamie to the crumbly sticky cookies in
his lap, hoping he could keep his pants clean and cataloguing Jamie in his mind
as being ever so slightly scary and ever so slightly odd.
his lap, hoping he could keep his pants clean and cataloguing Jamie in his mind
as being ever so slightly scary and ever so slightly odd.
When they were finally made to come out from under the piano,
they were both covered in dust bunnies and chocolate, and they had learned a
lot about each other.
they were both covered in dust bunnies and chocolate, and they had learned a
lot about each other.
Daniel had learned that Jamie loved drama, art and playing
basketball. Daniel also found out that Jamie had a girlfriend, Tina, she was
only eight, but she had a mom who, on a daily basis, sent her to school with a
decent supply of candy, hence Jamie’s attraction.
basketball. Daniel also found out that Jamie had a girlfriend, Tina, she was
only eight, but she had a mom who, on a daily basis, sent her to school with a
decent supply of candy, hence Jamie’s attraction.
Jamie learned that yes, Daniel could play chopsticks and
some other stuff with really long sounding names, no, he didn’t have a
girlfriend, no, he couldn’t swim, and horror of horrors, he had never even
watched basketball, let alone played it.
some other stuff with really long sounding names, no, he didn’t have a
girlfriend, no, he couldn’t swim, and horror of horrors, he had never even
watched basketball, let alone played it.
What really marked the difference in them as children was Star Wars.
Jamie had everything; the quilt cover, Star Wars curtains, action figures (including the Boba Fett with
removable head; Daniel didn’t like to point out that to him it just looked
broken), DVDs, books, sticker albums… the list was endless. He could quote
parts of the movies verbatim, and in fact did so on a regular basis, much to
Daniel’s confusion. He even tried to encourage Daniel to play Star Wars under the piano, but it was at
this point Daniel had to admit the terrible truth.
removable head; Daniel didn’t like to point out that to him it just looked
broken), DVDs, books, sticker albums… the list was endless. He could quote
parts of the movies verbatim, and in fact did so on a regular basis, much to
Daniel’s confusion. He even tried to encourage Daniel to play Star Wars under the piano, but it was at
this point Daniel had to admit the terrible truth.
He had never seen Star
Wars, none of them, ever, not once, not in the entire nine years he had
been alive.
Wars, none of them, ever, not once, not in the entire nine years he had
been alive.
Jamie looked alternately horrified and gleeful. Horrified
that Daniel had somehow missed this vital part of his education, gleeful that
he could start from the beginning and educate Daniel himself.
that Daniel had somehow missed this vital part of his education, gleeful that
he could start from the beginning and educate Daniel himself.
Under the piano, Jamie began to plot with Daniel, or rather
plot while Daniel listened, the plans for the great stealing of Mark’s prize Optimus
Prime, the first Jamie-Daniel prank on the older brother that Daniel hadn’t
even met yet.
plot while Daniel listened, the plans for the great stealing of Mark’s prize Optimus
Prime, the first Jamie-Daniel prank on the older brother that Daniel hadn’t
even met yet.
It was planned with so much excitement that Daniel was
caught up in it, forgetting he was in a foster home with no parents and with no
real long-term plans in place for him. He became embroiled in Jamie’s world,
and with no holding back, Jamie started to build a new family around him, a
family with a mom, a dad, a sister and two brothers.
caught up in it, forgetting he was in a foster home with no parents and with no
real long-term plans in place for him. He became embroiled in Jamie’s world,
and with no holding back, Jamie started to build a new family around him, a
family with a mom, a dad, a sister and two brothers.
Scary.
Leave a Reply