happier_bunny (happier_bunny) wrote in qaf_scavenger, @ 2009-10-30 18:12:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009 fall contest |
Post # 15
Title : Three Autumns
Author:jule1122
Challenge Category: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Leaves
Notes: Thank you to xie_xie_xie for the super fast beta and happier_bunny for running this challenge. I love you both!
Halloween
After a night spent dancing with cowboys, fireman, and disco divas and getting a lot more than their necks sucked by the vampires in the backroom, Brian and Justin wandered along Liberty Avenue, pointing out some of the more outlandish costumes to each other. They were approaching the diner when Justin stopped dead in his tracks.
“Did you come up with this?” Justin asked pointing to the large sandwich board that declared:
“This year don’t just Trick or Treat, Treat Your Trick. 2 for 1 specials all night long!”
“Hell, no. That’s all Debbie.”
Justin eyed the crowd spilling out the open door. Halloween was always a busy night for the diner, but not this busy. “Considering the results, maybe you should offer her a job.”
“That will be the day,” Brian snorted as they fought their way to the counter.
They ordered a couple of sandwiches to go, and when their order came up, Justin handed the bag to Brian, preventing him from reaching for his wallet. “It’s on me tonight,” Justin said with a smile.
“I could go for a treat,” Brian replied in a neutral voice his amusement betrayed by the slightest lift of his eyebrow.
Later sprawled out on the table with Justin’s dick pounding into his ass, Brian spared a brief moment to be thankful that sometimes there was truth in advertising.
Thanksgiving
The first year Justin spent Thanksgiving with Debbie, he was terrified she’d make them hold hands and share what they were thankful for. Saying he was grateful for Brian’s dick wasn’t really appropriate, and he’d be too embarrassed to say how grateful he was to Debbie and Vic for taking him in and accepting him exactly as he was. When the dreaded moment never arrived, Justin was too relieved to question his good fortune.
Justin didn’t think about it again until years later when Daphne complained about having to share why she was thankful at her current boyfriend’s house. Justin laughed as Daphne described some of the intensely personal and inappropriate things Greg’s relatives claimed to be grateful for.
It was so easy to imagine the scene taking place around Debbie’s table. Ted would ramble on about being thankful for some complicated tax shelter, Hunter would say he was thankful he didn’t have to let smelly old men fuck him any more, and not to be outdone, Brian would give his thanks for pre-lubed condoms. The Ben would say something profound that didn’t quite make sense, but still made the rest of them feel like idiots. Debbie would beam proudly while Carl tried to pretend he hadn’t heard any of it.
Equally horrified and amused by the spectacle such a tradition could become, Justin decided he was most grateful he’d been spared the trauma. At the same time, he wondered why. It seemed like such a Debbie thing to do yet not once had she ever tried it. But watching Debbie at the diner one day, as she teased and encouraged with hugs and headslaps, he found his answer. Debbie didn’t need to force them to think of something to be grateful for every Thanksgiving because she had a way of reminding them of their blessings every day.
Leaves
“The leaves are changing,” Ben said one fall morning as Michael joined him on the porch and handed him his coffee.
“It will be time to rake soon. Hunter’s going to love that.” Michael said with a laugh, eying the trees in their yard. In early October, the mornings were already cold, and he moved closer to Ben.
“Many authors portray this time of year as bleak, a beginning of the decay that leads to the death that winter brings, a time when life and hope slowly fade away.” Ben spoke quietly, without turning to look at Michael.
“Is that what you see?” Michael asked, his heart clenching at the thought.
“No.” Ben wrapped his arm around Michael, pulling him close. “Every season is both a beginning and an ending. It means the end of summer, but I have a new set of memories. Another Pride, bike rides with you and Hunter, taking JR to the beach, sex under the stars. But it also means new things to look forward to. Getting to know my new students, Halloween, spending cool nights with a good book, a cup of tea, and you.”
“That sounds a lot better than death and decay,” Michael said in relief.
“I don’t look for death anymore, Michael. I have too much to look forward to, too much living to do.” Ben smiled and Michael, the leaned down, cupping his face and kissing him. “With you,” he whispered.
Michael kissed him back, holding Ben’s gaze as they broke apart, finding comfort in the love he saw there. Then they settled into a comfortable silence, drinking their coffee as leaves fell and geese began to head south.
“We should wake up Hunter,” Ben said, breaking the silence. “Go get breakfast at the diner.”
As they headed back inside to get their son, Michael finds himself looking forward to the rest of the day.