Pass the Turkey and the Pigskin
Author: Nelson – with lots of help from Alex
Nov, 2003
“I DON’T want to,” Ben said defiantly. His face wore a scowl, and he crossed his arms, telling Vic with his body language that his emotional “feet” were firmly planted. Maggie sat beside him, her little body pressed against his leg in moral support.
Vic rose from his place on the sofa and paused sorting the mail when he heard Ben’s comment. Vic crossed his own muscular arms and looked hard at Ben. “What did you say to me, young man?”
Ben’s stance began to relax a bit when Vic showed his own determination. Ben uncrossed his arms but he still held eye contact when he spoke. “Viiic. I don’t want to go to your mother’s for Thanksgiving. It’ll be boring just like last year! I’ll miss the game!!”
“We’re a couple. How would it look to my mother if I went alone? I always spend Thanksgiving with her. Your family isn’t here; there’s no reason you can’t spend the holiday with my family.” Ben looked away and tried to think of a viable argument to Vic’s comments. He was ready to snap again and his scowl deepened as he started to speak. Vic read the angry expression and interrupted him before he could say something to get himself into trouble. “Benjamin, watch what you say. We’re not arguing about this.”
The warning was heeded and Ben tried to calm his temper before he spoke. Instead of uttering the smart aleck retort that was on his lips, he decided it would be in his best interest not to say it. He tried another tactic and said, “Get Nelson to go with you…”
“Nelson is not my partner. You are.”
“But, I don’t WANT to…”
Rather than bully Ben to agree with him, Vic appealed to his common sense. “How would my mother feel to know you can’t spend ONE afternoon with her? Are you trying to hurt her feelings?”
Ben tried to make his argument sound plausible and said, “She knows I like her. I just don’t like missing Thanksgiving Day football to talk to her. It’s MY vacation too, you know. Why are you trying to make me miserable? Can’t we go Nelson and Zach’s? They’ll watch football, at least, and they aren’t going to Nelson’s parents until Friday.”
Vic was quickly tiring of the argument and he sighed heavily. His voice was uncharacteristically calm when he spoke, which in itself, spoke volumes to Ben. “Benjamin. I’m NOT trying to make you miserable. We had plans to spend Thanksgiving with my mother. I don’t know why you’ve suddenly changed your mind. Now, if it’s because you want to spend time with Zach and Nelson, maybe we can invite my mother here and you can invite them, too.”
Ben grunted at his lover and explained, “But, she’ll talk during the WHOLE GAME whether we’re at her house or here. Both games! And, you’ll make me listen! Then, I won’t be able to watch, JUST like last year.”
“It’s common courtesy to listen when others are talking, Ben. I wouldn’t expect you to ignore her to watch football. So, I suppose you’re right about that.” Vic said, “Indulge her, please. She’s alone now and I want to make her holiday pleasant.”
Ben’s frustration level was on the rise and his temper began to flare again as he recognized he wasn’t going to get his way. He snapped at Vic, “Indulge ME for a change!” A perfectly firm pout graced his lips for effect.
Vic’s eyebrows raised and he said in the best warning tone he could muster, “I’ll indulge you, young man. You just try flaring at me like that again and you’ll wish for less ‘indulgence’, I promise you. I don’t want to deal with your temper or smart aleck comments today.” He paused for effect and let Ben take in the warning.
“Can’t we celebrate with your mother on Friday or something? Plleeaaasse….?” He flashed his best attempt at puppy dog eyes at Vic, still trying to change his mind.
Vic was used to Ben’s tactics and ignored the pleading eyes. “No, we cannot. I’m not doing that to her. And, neither will you, by the way. You’ll be courteous and try to have a nice Thanksgiving.”
“NO,” Ben uttered defiantly.
Vic’s eyebrows rose high enough to blend with his hairline. “ExCUSE me?”
Ben gulped audibly before he spoke. His tone had a little less fight but not his words. “I said ‘no’. And, you can spank me a hundred times and I’ll still spend Thanksgiving the way I want to.”
“Come here,” Vic said, pointing to an area of the floor directly in front of him.
Suddenly wishing he had kept his mouth shut, Ben said “I don’t want to come over there…”
“Come. Here,” Vic repeated with a click of his fingers. Ben shifted from foot to foot in his same place without moving. Vic warned, “If I have to come over there…”
Ben didn’t want to go to Vic, but knew it could only get worse if he didn’t. He willed his feet to go forward but he stopped just outside of Vic’s reach. Vic’s voice sharpened and he said, “Benjamin David!” Ben jumped slightly and took the last step that would place him in directly in front of his lover and within easy reach. Vic grabbed his wrist and pulled him to the sofa. Maggie sensed the tension in the room and wisely stayed on the other side of the room.
“Wait…Vic, I’m sorry,” Ben began even as Vic worked his pants and underwear off his hips. “Please, Vic!”
Vic pulled his petulant lover across his knees and pushed him forward onto the couch to get his bottom up and in place over his right leg. His hand and his words pounded out a response to Ben’s rant. “You don’t tell me ‘no’. Not now, not ever. Do you understand me?” Maggie came running to Ben’s defense when Vic started spanking him and she barked her displeasure at him.
Vic paused the spanking long enough to address his four-legged charge. “Maggie, that’s enough,” he said sternly. She stopped barking immediately and went to the far side of the room. Vic kicked himself for not handling things in the bedroom to lessen Maggie’s stress. She had gotten so attached to Ben that she didn’t handle it well when he was spanked. Once she was settled, he resumed spanking Ben’s bottom.
Ben was breathing hard and he struggled to answer. His anger was quickly fading with the attack on his backside. His heated temper was being overtaken by a heated behind as Vic continued to spank him. While Vic continued to fuss and wear his tail out, Ben was becoming convinced of the dim view his partner took to being told ‘no’. Vic’s heavy hand continued to fall and Ben was repentant soon enough, and he tried to tell Vic around his tears.
Confident he had made his point, Vic ended the spanking and pushed Ben off his lap. Ben went to his knees and buried his head against Vic’s leg, and Vic stooped to pull him to his feet. He adjusted his clothes and pulled his formerly-angry lover to him in a hug, then he kissed Benji’s head and waited for the tears to subside.
Finally, Ben was able to speak. “I’m sorry…”
“Are you finished arguing with me?” Vic asked while he held Ben.
Ben still wanted his way but was less inclined to argue about it any longer. “I don’t want to argue with you. But, you make me so mad. It’s just you always get your way. Just once, I want to decide how to spend my holiday.”
Vic was once again surprised at the drama his lover enlisted when he had a point to make. “Benji, you act like this has been a problem for years. This is only the second Thanksgiving we’ve spent together so it’s hardly like I’ve forced my will on you for years and years.” He brought Ben’s face up to his own and gently kissed his cheek. “Besides, you had already agreed to go to my mother’s. Where did all this come from?” Ben looked away and shrugged. “Benji…”
He sighed heavily, breath hitching as it escaped. “I didn’t know Nelson and Zach were going to be home before.”
“Did you not hear me say you could invite them over? See if they want to come, and if so, I’ll let my Mom know. Okay?” Ben nodded his agreement and let Vic pull him close again.
Ben sniffed against him then willingly let Vic settle them on the sofa, pulling Ben into his lap. Maggie tentatively came over to check on Ben and hopped onto the sofa when Vic patted a spot next to them. She licked Ben’s hand and he glanced at her then scratched behind her ears. He was comforted by her presence and Vic’s. After a few minutes of silence, Ben said again, “I’m sorry.”
“For what? Acting selfishly or for telling me ‘no’?”
In spite of the sting in his backside, Ben said, “I wasn’t behaving any more selfishly than you were, but I shouldn’t have told you ‘no’.”
Vic frowned at Ben’s words and he patted his leg with enough force to deliver a warning. “Hey.” Ben ducked his head at the cautionary tone and tap. Vic asked, “How is looking after my mother being selfish? I would expect my partner to understand. We should never have had to have this conversation.”
Ben flushed and looked away. “I know you don’t want your mother to be alone. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right; it’s over now.” Vic patted his leg again, but gently this time. “Do you want to go call Zach and see if they want to come over?”
Ben nodded and said, “I will in a minute.”
Vic understood his reluctance to call at the moment. He sat quietly holding his partner until he was ready to leave his lap.
*******
Vic was giving the house the once-over for the last time before their guests arrived. The smells from the kitchen were succulent and Ben’s stomach started growling at the input his brain was receiving from his olfactory senses.
“Benjamin,” Vic said to Ben lounging on the sofa, “get your shoes and socks up off of the floor, please. Our guests will be arriving any minute.”
“But, Vic…I don’t feel so hot. I feel like shit.”
“Would you like an appetizer of soap before lunch? Come here.”
“Sorry. Are you going to poke at me?”
His frown deepened and he said, “I’m not poking at you. Come here.” Vic waited until Ben occupied the space in front of him. His hand went instinctively to Ben’s forehead and he began to worry. “You don’t feel warm.” To verify what his hand was feeling, Vic pulled Ben’s head to him and he put his lips to his forehead.
“But, my stomach’s crampy. Can’t I go lay down?” Ben said, squirming under the scrutiny.
“Your stomach? Anything else?” Vic asked, not finished with his assessment of Ben’s health.
“My head, a lot.”
Vic’s hands went to Ben’s stomach and touched just under his ribs, then moved to his navel. “Here or here?”
Ben jerked back when Vic touched his stomach. “OW! Somewhere in the middle.”
“Sharp pain?” Vic asked getting more worried by the second.
Ben stepped back tentatively, “When did you become a doctor? Stop poking me.”
“I did NOT poke you, Benjamin. Do you think Nelson needs to check you out?”
“NOOO!” Ben exclaimed. Vic mentally kicked himself for even suggesting such a thing aloud. “I just need to lie down. Please?”
“I hate for you to be sick, but especially on Thanksgiving,” Vic sighed. “Go upstairs and lie down. I’ll be up there in a minute. You might as well get into something comfortable while you’re up there.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Ben hurried up the stairs, fully expecting Vic to come up to check for a fever. He ran into the bathroom and ran the water as hot as he could stand it, gulping it before Vic came up. He turned the water off, hearing Vic in the bedroom, and scurried out quickly with Maggie close behind.
“I told you to get comfortable,” Vic said, holding the thermometer in his hands. “Sit down.”
“I AM. I haven’t been up here that long…” Ben complained then took a seat on the bed as Vic asked. Maggie jumped up on the bed beside him.
The two of them watched as Vic shook down the mercury. “Open up,” Vic said. Ben opened his mouth and let Vic slip the thermometer under his tongue. Vic busied himself pulling sweats and a t-shirt out of the dresser for Ben to change into when he was finished. “I hope you just ate something that didn’t agree with you and you aren’t getting sick.” Ben nodded on the bed and felt a brief pang of guilt at deceiving his lover.
Vic pulled the thermometer from Ben’s lips and his face showed a confused frown. “102?? You don’t even feel hot.” He put his hand back to Benji’s forehead and was surprised to find it even cooler than before. “Not at all.” He looked back questioningly at the thermometer and shook it down again. “Try it again.”
Ben worried knowing the hot water trick was surely wearing off and knew the thermometer would give him away. Four minutes later, Vic was even more confused. “It’s almost normal now. Something’s obviously wrong with this thing. Why don’t you roll over?”
“NO! I just need to lie down. Leave me alone, okay?”
“Go on, now. I’m not arguing with you,” Vic said as he exited the room.
Ben began to squirm and hoped desperately that Zach and Nelson would arrive to distract Vic. He changed his clothes while he waited, glad to be in loungewear. He heard Vic’s approach and watched him re-enter the room with the “other” thermometer and Vaseline. Vic said, “I told you to roll over, Benjamin. Go on.”
Ben gulped and stared at the items in Vic’s hands. “But…”
“Don’t argue with me. I know you don’t like this, but something is obviously wrong with the other one.”
Ben sighed heavily and did as he was told. “Hurry up! You know I hate this!”
Vic slipped Ben’s sweats and underwear below his bottom and said, “I know, pumpkin. I’ll try to hurry up.” He lubed the thermometer and quickly parted his lover’s cheeks then slipped the thermometer in.
Ben groaned in protest. “It hurts!”
“Benji, you know it doesn’t hurt.”
Ben was relieved when he heard the doorbell, knowing Vic would have to get the door. Vic looked at the thermometer then towards the door, trying to decide how to be in two places at once. Ben whined, “Viiic! Get it out and answer the door!”
“Look, I have to get that. Just settle down and lie still. It won’t go anywhere if you’re still. I’ll be right back.”
“Hurry UP!” Ben commanded from his pillow.
“I will. I promise.” Vic quickly headed for the front door to welcome their guests.
As soon as Vic was out of the room, Ben reached back and removed the thermometer, his face contorted in a look of disgust. He scooted out of the bed and clicked on the bedside lamp and held the tip of the thermometer up to the warm light, looking quickly over his shoulder and listening for Vic. He pulled the thermometer back and looked read it. “Oh, FUCK! Too high. He’ll KILL me!” Ben quickly shook the mercury down and tried again. “CRAP! 100? I can’t get this right,” he complained and turned the light off to reduce the heat a bit.
He held the tip of the thermometer close to the bulb again and checked it after a few seconds. Close enough to 102 degrees. He crawled back into the bed on his stomach then jabbed the thermometer into the still open jar of Vaseline before reinserting it. He winced at the warmth of the little glass rod when he slid it in. He heard Vic approaching just as he finished.
Vic re-entered the room, glancing at his watch as he did so. “I came back as quickly as I could,” he said approaching the bed.
“It’s about time, Vic!” Ben complained although it was almost not long enough. He nervously waited for Vic to remove and read the thermometer.
Vic frowned as he read Ben’s temperature. “I don’t understand. This says 102, as well. A bit lower, but close. I don’t suppose they are BOTH wrong.” He felt Benji’s head once again. “How can you not feel hot?”
Ben worked to distract Vic from his confusion. “I’m SORRY! I don’t MEAN to be sick!”
Vic leaned down and kissed Ben’s forehead, checking for warmth as well as giving comfort. “Benji, I’m not mad at you for being sick. You can’t help it, pumpkin. You just lie here and relax. I’ll fix a plate for you for later.”
“But, I’ll be lonely! Send Zach up here.”
Vic paused, thinking it over. “I know you are, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea for Zach to be up here. You’re running a fever and you need your rest. He’s here, by the way.”
“I won’t breathe on him, I swear! Ask Nelson. It’ll be okay just this once. Pleaaassee?”
Vic felt sorry for Ben being sick on Thanksgiving and folded without much work on Ben’s part. “All right. I’ll ask Nelson, but I can’t promise he’ll say ‘yes’. Try to relax and feel better.” With that, Vic kissed Ben’s head again and left the room. Ben grinned to himself and reached for the remote, quickly finding the Lions’ pre-game show.
Ben heard movement outside the bedroom door and then a light tap before the door swung in to reveal Zach standing there. “Do I want to come in? I don’t want whatever you’ve got.”
Ben smiled conspiratorially. “Don’t worry. It isn’t catching.”
Zach was easily convinced and thought to himself that his friend didn’t look all that sick. He plopped down on Vic’s side of the bed and asked, “What’s wrong with you anyway? Hey, Mags.” He petted her head on the bed between them.
Ben looked toward the door before answering. He asked, “Where’s Vic?”
“Downstairs in the kitchen. He’s cooking or something.”
“Shut the door,” Ben said, pointing.
Recognizing Ben wanted privacy before answering, Zach looked suspiciously at his friend before heading over to close the open door. “What are you up to?”
“Is Vic’s mother here yet?”
“I didn’t see her. It’s just us so far.”
Ben sat up in the bed, looking very much healthy. “It was SUPPOSED to be just us, but then Vic had to go and ruin it…”
“What do you mean? You didn’t want his mother to come? I think she’s nice enough.”
“Well, at first we were supposed to go over THERE! There was NO way I was going to sit around and talk, talk, talk all day. I barely got to see the game last year because of that. Vic can’t always have his way.”
“How did you get the plans changed?”
“Vic was actually okay with everyone coming here. But I STILL don’t want to miss the games! I figured if I were stuck in bed, you could come up and it would be almost perfect!”
Zach said with a big grin, “It isn’t the big screen but we could see it up here uninterrupted. So, you’re faking?”
“Not exactly. I was REALLY sick thinking about getting stuck at the dinner table for three hours…”
“You’re mean. Vic’s mom’s a nice lady. But, I’m glad we’re going to get to watch the game.”
“She’s nice but they’ll want to ‘catch up’ even thought they talk, like, every DAY.”
“Right. This will be much better. I just hope Nelson lets me stay…You ARE supposed to be sick, you know.”
Ben had that covered. “Oh, Vic just thinks I ate something bad. He’ll let you stay. He feels sorry for me. What did you guys bring to eat??”
“Nelson brought his infamous banana pudding. I made broccoli casserole. It smells good down there. If you’re supposed to be sick, I’ll bet you get soup or something. That will suck.”
“Oh man! I didn’t think about that. You’ll have to bring up enough for both of us. I’m NOT eating soup on Thanksgiving.”
Zach patted Ben’s knee reassuringly. “Not a problem, my friend. I’ll think of something. You don’t want funky soup with all that good food down there. And, Vic’s mom is bringing stuff, too. Vic said so.”
“Cool. Hey – maybe you can get us a snack for now? Then we can play cards or something until kickoff.”
“What do you want? You’re the picky eater. I don’t know if I can get anything before we get to the table, but I’ll see what I can do.”
“I don’t suppose we can start with Nelson’s banana pudding…I think there are some chips in the kitchen. I’m starving!”
Zach slipped off the bed. “I’ll see what I can find. I’ll be right back.”
Zach trotted heavily down the stairs, two risers at a time, and went to the kitchen. He found Nelson there helping Vic with the last minute preparations and he slipped an arm around his waist. “I’m hungry. Can I get a little snack?” he asked, reaching for the vegetable tray Nelson was arranging.
Nelson playfully swatted his hand away. “We’re going to be eating soon enough. I think you can wait.”
Zach huffed and tugged at Nelson’s waist. “Come on, Nelson. Just some chips or something?”
“I said ‘no’ Zach. It will spoil your lunch and we’ll be eating soon.”
“Not for another half hour!” Zach whined dramatically. He looked toward Vic for help. “Vic doesn’t care, do you, Vic?”
Vic shook his head then nodded toward Nelson. “You need to take that up with Nelson, Zach.”
Nelson jumped in saying, “And, unless I’m mistaken, I said ‘no’.” He turned Zach away from the food and swatted him for effect. “Go keep Benji company.”
“Crap, Nelson! That hurt!” Zach complained rubbing at his bottom where Nelson swatted him.
“It wasn’t meant to be a love tap. Now go upstairs, away from the food. We’ll call you for dinner.”
“Okay! I just wanted a little snack,” Zach grumbled on his way out of the kitchen. He ran up the stairs, again two at a time, and re-entered the bedroom empty-handed.
“You didn’t get anything?” Ben asked with a frown.
“I COULDN’T. It’s wall-to-wall Tops in the kitchen and they have it under siege.”
“Damn. I should have known they wouldn’t let you get anything. I have some M&Ms stashed in my drawer! We could use them for poker bets and a snack,” Ben suggested shuffling the cards.
Zach glared at his friend. “I guess since you aren’t jumping up to get them, I have to because you’re ‘sick’?”
Ben raised his hand and put it to his head with a look of total helplessness and despair on his face. “Oh, could you? I feel like I might die.”
Zach laughed and pushed Ben hard enough for him to fall back on the pillows. “Where are they, dufus?”
“Top drawer, right over there,” Ben said, laughing himself. Ben shuffled the cards while he waited for Zach to return with the M&Ms. “Five card stud, Jokers Wild?”
“That’s fine with me. I’m hungry.
“Me, too. I can’t believe you brought broccoli into my house.”
“I LOVE broccoli. Everyone isn’t as picky as you are.”
“I am NOT picky. I just have delicate tastes.”
“Lingerie is delicate, not your taste buds,” Zach said sarcastically. “What do you want other than turkey?” He suddenly held up a hand to keep Ben from answering. He quickly threw an extra pillow across the card game and Ben stretched out under the covers. “Someone’s coming.”
About that time, the door swung open and Vic filled the doorway bearing a tray with a bowl on it. Obviously, Ben was having soup for lunch, and not turkey. “How’s my sick one?” he asked as he traveled the distance from the door to the bed. He positioned the tray across Ben’s lap and Ben’s nose curled up at the bowl of chicken noodle soup centered on the tray.
“Gross. I’m already sick, Vic. I don’t want chicken noodle soup.”
Vic’s hand slipped under Ben’s bangs that had fallen softly over his forehead and he felt for a temperature reading. “You still don’t feel hot. But, if you feel sick, you don’t need anything heavy to eat. I’ll fix you a plate and put it in the fridge for when you’re feeling better.”
Ben rolled his eyes and grunted. “Okay, but don’t say anything if I barf it up.”
“I won’t,” Vic said with a wink and kissed Ben’s cheek before leaving.
Ben shook his head and picked up the tray. “Here. Hold this for a second,” he said passing the tray to Zach. Ben grabbed the bowl from the tray and went into the bathroom. Zach could hear the sounds of liquid hitting liquid and figured Ben was flushing the soup. The “swoosh” of the toilet flushing confirmed his suspicions.
He called to his friend, “I don’t think he meant for you to feed it to the toilet.”
Ben came back out holding a half-full bowl of soup. “I’m sure he didn’t.”
Zach noticed there was still soup in the bowl and asked, “Why didn’t you flush it all?”
“Because last time, that got me in trouble. Well, that and the fact it didn’t all go down. I made sure not to make THAT mistake again.”
“No ‘floaters’ this time?”
“Nope. I learned my lesson,” Ben said.
Zach fell back on the bed laughing. “I highly doubt that was the lesson Vic had in mind for you to learn!”
Ben snickered and crawled back into bed after placing the tray on the floor. He glanced at the alarm clock and exclaimed, “Oh! It’s time for the kickoff!” He turned up the volume and Zach uncovered the card game. They both looked toward the door when the doorbell sounded and Ben said, “There’s Vic’s mom. I’m ready to eat.”
“You HAD soup,” Zach pointed out.
“Yuck. You can HAVE the rest of it! But first, go see if she brought anything good.”
Zach glared at Ben, “What am I, your butler?”
“Just go, Zach. You know I can’t. And, I’m hungry.”
Zach hesitated trying to decide whether he wanted to jump at Ben’s every whim, then decided he was hungry enough to see what she brought, as well. He slipped from the bed and made yet another trip downstairs. He was halfway down, taking the steps in his usual manner and caught a glare from Vic at the door. Vic said, “Zach, don’t bring my stairs down, please.” Nelson was looking at him hard as well and Zach slowed his pace.
When Zach got to the foot of the stairs, Nelson grabbed his arm and pulled him close, draping an arm across his shoulders. “And, you remember my partner, Zachary, who is always in a hurry coming and going down stairwells”
Zach blushed at the dual attack from the Tops and said, “Hi, Mrs. Tanner. Can I help you bring your food from the car?”
“Of course, I remember Zach. How are you doing, sweetie?”
“Good, Mrs. Tanner.”
“Call me, ‘Annette’! You make me feel like an old woman,” she said with a smile.
“Okay, Annette,” Zach replied.
“But, you ARE younger than I am, so I’ll let you get the food out of the car. It’s in the backseat.”
Nelson asked, “You want help, Zach?”
“Nope. I got it,” he said and exited toward the car. His belly growled as he looked over the dishes in the backseat. His eyes landed on a basket full of homemade light rolls, and he pulled two out from under the tea towel, slipping them under his shirt. He surveyed his work and thought his shirt was bloused enough not to reveal the hidden treasure. He carried the basket and the dish full of sweet potato casserole into the house. He juggled the food and made it into the kitchen without incident, placing the containers on the cabinet. He was on his way through the living room when Nelson caught his arm as he passed.
“Just a minute, Zach.” Zach immediately worried that the bulges in his shirt were noticeable after all.
“What?” he asked.
“It’s time to get the food on the table. Then, we’ll eat. Come help us get it done.”
“I was thinking I should eat with Benji. He’s all by himself up there.”
Nelson started shaking his head before Zach even finished talking. “No, Zach. I think you can sit at the table with us for a while. Ben will survive.”
“But, Nelson!”
“What, Zachary?”
Zach grunted audibly. “Why can’t I eat upstairs with Ben?”
“Was I talking to myself when I said ‘no’?”
Zach pouted and frowned at his lover, “You don’t have to be a smart aleck.”
“I shouldn’t have to explain myself, Zach. But, since you insist, I want you to be sociable first. You can go back up later if he feels like it.”
“I can go after I finish eating?”
“Yes, you may. Now, let’s get in there and help Vic and his mother before they get it done by themselves.” Nelson turned Zach and put his hands on his shoulders, pushing him forward in front of him.
Zach felt the warmth of the fresh rolls against his stomach but couldn’t see a way out of helping. “Wait a second,” he said, turning out of Nelson’s grip. “I have to go to the bathroom. I’ll catch up in a minute.”
Nelson turned to go back to the kitchen then heard Zach ascending the stairs. He couldn’t believe Zach was going upstairs after he just told him not to. He headed over to the stairs and leaned on the banister. “Zachary?” he called, immediately halting Zach’s steps. “Didn’t I just say you weren’t to go back up there until you’re done eating? There’s a bathroom down here, so don’t even try to tell me that’s why you were going up there.”
Zach paused on the stairs and looked back at his lover, thinking quickly for an answer. “I’m NOT. I, um, I just need to tell Ben where I am. He’ll wonder.”
Nelson could hardly argue with the logic. “All right. Hurry up about it,” Nelson said before going toward the kitchen. Zach breathed a sigh of relief as he ran back up the stairs.
He pulled the rolls out from under his shirt before opening the bedroom door and grimaced at the condition they were in. Their fresh crusts were too soft to protect them from damage and they showed evidence of having dishes mashed against them. Zach opened the door and hurried over to the bed, tossing the rolls to Ben who caught them like a pro. “Thanks,” Benji said then frowned at the crumpled rolls. “What happened to them?”
“Just be grateful for them. I have to go. Nelson won’t let me eat up here and I have to help set the table.”
“You have to get me something else to eat. I’m starving!”
“Then quit faking and get your ass downstairs with the rest of us. I’m sick of running up and down these steps.”
“Then walk.”
“Ha. Ha,” Zach said sarcastically. “I have to go. I’ll try to figure something out.”
Zach hurried to the kitchen and helped set the remainder of the food on the table while Vic put ice in the glasses. Finally, everything was finished and the crew settled around the table, passing food and helping their plates. Nelson happened to notice as Zach piled a mound of turkey on his plate. “Zachary!”
“What?” Zach asked innocently, batting his big blues eyes at Nelson.
“Don’t take more than you can eat.”
“I’m hungry!!”
Nelson’s eyes didn’t waiver and he said, “That’s enough.” He took the plate of turkey from his lover’s hands and passed it to Annette. “There’s a little left if you’d like some.”
“Nelson!” Zach said and punched Nelson in the bicep. Nelson just smiled and rubbed the sting out of the spot. Zach waited until everyone was caught up in conversation and eating to try to slip the extra turkey under the table and into his shirt. He managed to get it under the table, then Nelson decided to engage him in conversation before he could get it tucked away.
“How was Ben feeling when you left him?” Nelson asked him. The question brought all eyes on him and he had to hold the turkey where it was under the table.
“I guess he was okay. He said that he,” Zach stopped talking suddenly when he felt Maggie munching at the turkey in his hands. He jerked back to get it away from her then looked to see if Nelson noticed. The confusion on his face indicated he had, so Zach quickly said, “Maggie licked my fingers.”
Everyone at the table laughed, and Vic peeked under the tablecloth to see what Maggie was doing. Zach cupped the turkey to him so Vic wouldn’t see.
Vic said laughing, “Magnolia. You know better than that, young lady. You aren’t getting any turkey.”
If he only knew, Zach thought. He took the opportunity of everyone being focused on Vic to slip the turkey between the buttons on his shirt then returned to his meal. He figured he’d have to find another way to get food to Ben because the shirt thing wasn’t working too well. He worked on his dinner with determination so he could get back upstairs.
Nelson noticed and said, “Zach, slow down. You’re eating like you’re starving.”
“I want to go back upstairs,” he said with imploring eyes. “I could eat more slowly if you let me take my food upstairs.” Nelson said nothing with his mouth but his eyes more than communicated he wasn’t going to argue about it. Since he didn’t actually SAY anything, Zach decided to press on. “I’ll bet Benji’s reallllyyy bored up there all by himself. It’s Thanksgiving.”
“Why don’t you eat with him?” Vic’s mother asked. “You don’t have to stay here with us.”
Zach cast a triumphant glance at Nelson who now wore a look of defeat. He said simply, “Don’t spill anything.” Zach’s face lit up and he loaded his plate once more. “Are you still that hungry?”
“Yep,” Zach said, grabbing his plate and his drink.
Vic called after him when he saw Maggie trailing Zach out of the dining room. “Don’t let Maggie have any.”
Zach balanced his plate on top of his glass so he could pull the turkey from his shirt. He looked down in time to see Maggie licking her lips expectantly. “Don’t tell him you had any,” Zach said to her. He came into the bedroom once again.
Ben turned half-lidded eyes toward the door, prepared for Vic, then bolted upright when he saw it was Zach. “About time! What took so long?!”
“Quit bitching. You’re lucky I got here this fast. I got you something to eat. We can share off my plate then I can go back for more.” Maggie jumped onto the bed and sat expectantly between the guys, hoping for a dropped nugget of Thanksgiving dinner.
“None for you, Maggie,” Ben said when he saw her watching them. He said to Zach, “It’s not even halftime so you haven’t missed much of the game.” Zach handed Ben the turkey, including the half-eaten slice that Maggie had already nibbled on, and Ben looked it over. “Did you try this already or something?”
Zach grinned at him and said, “It won’t kill you.”
Ben shrugged and dug in. “Mmm. We might need more of this…” He glanced at Maggie who was licking her lips, and saw something lodged in her coat. “What’s on your coat, girl? I just gave you a bath yesterday.” He gently pulled the object from her coat and examined it closely. “Is that turkey?” he asked her as if she could answer. Her head tilted in response to the question. Ben looked at the piece of food then remembered the half eaten piece of turkey he just consumed.
He looked at Zach with a frown. “Zach! Did you feed turkey to Maggie?”
Zach couldn’t stop the grin that spread across his face. “She sort of took it herself. I didn’t GIVE it to her.”
“She ate off my turkey?!” Ben exclaimed.
“What??” Zach asked in response. “Dogs are supposed to have the cleanest spit of any living being. She’s not nasty!”
“You gave me food that Maggie had first??” Ben asked again incredulously.
“I didn’t think you’d mind…”
Ben looked shocked. “Mind?! Yuck!”
“Well, you let her lick all over you…”
Ben gave Zach a shove and he fell over laughing. “NOT funny, asshole. Did she eat anything else?” Zach was laughing too hard to answer and could only shake his head in response. He wiped his hand across his eyes to rid them of tears, then managed to get himself under control so he could eat.
The boys cleared the plate of all the food, between the two of them, and Zach belched approvingly. Ben laughed at him and said, “Feel better?”
“Yep. What else do you want?”
“Just refill it and get some dessert, too. Banana pudding.”
“No pumpkin pie? Vic made one, you know.”
“Mmm. Bring both. Get Cool Whip for the pie.”
“Will thahr’ be annathin’ else, suhr?” Zach said in his best English butler imitation.
Ben threw a pillow at Zach, who was able to jump out of the way without being hit. He ran down the stairs again, trailed closely by Maggie. He was busy loading his plate while the others looked on. He said, “Everything’s good, Vic.”
“It must be,” Nelson said, noting the previously-empty plate piled high again. “You’re eating too much, Zach. You’ll make yourself sick.”
“I’m fine. Where’s the dessert?”
“We’re going to wait a little while on dessert,” Nelson said. “Let our food settle a bit first.”
Vic looked at the food on Zach’s plate and said, “I can’t believe you have room for more. Are you eating for two?”
“I’m not pregnant, just hungry - and it’s all so good. I wanted to get dessert now, though. I don’t want to wait.”
“Zachary, that is too much food. It isn’t healthy. IF you finish all of that on your plate, you will need to wait awhile for any dessert,” Nelson pointed out. “How’s Ben feeling?”
Zach glared at Nelson for refusing him dessert before he answered. He was trying to let him know how he felt without making a scene in front of Vic’s mother. “Better.”
“It isn’t bothering him to smell all that food with an upset stomach?” Nelson asked, returning a look of his own.
“He’s fine.”
“Did he eat his soup?” Vic asked.
Zach couldn’t bring himself to lie outright so he answered, “Um, I don’t know. The bowl is almost empty.”
Vic was suspicious of the vague answer and said, “I should go check on him. I’ll follow you up.”
He could hear Ben through the closed door exclaim to the TV, “DAMN it! Catch the frickin’ football! It’s what they PAY you for!”
He paused his rant when he saw the door swing open and Vic step inside. “Watch your mouth, Benjamin. It sounds like you’re feeling better. Are you?” A guilty look rushed fleetingly across Ben’s face, and he flopped limply back onto the pillows without an answer. “If you’re feeling better you can come downstairs.”
Ben quickly tried to do some damage repair and avoid missing the game. “Um, the game is helping. It takes my mind off my stomach and my head. I don’t think I can stand up for very long.”
Vic’s eyes narrowed and he looked again at Zach’s plate. “But, you’re well enough to eat Thanksgiving dinner?” Ben’s eyes tried to find something else to look at, telling Vic he was onto something. “You’ve been eating off Zach’s plate, haven’t you, young man? Did you even touch the soup?” he asked peering into the half-full bowl.
“Well, I TOUCHED it…”
Vic put his hand to Ben’s forehead again and said, “You don’t feel the least bit hot.” He stood towering over Ben and crossed his arms accusingly.
“But, I’m still weeeeak,” he whined.
“I’m beginning to wonder if you were sick at all.”
Ben bolted up in the bed to argue his defense. “I’m STILL sick.” He watched as Vic went into the bathroom and returned with the thermometer. Ben’s eyes went to Zach’s for help but Zach just gave a “you’re on your own” shrug of his shoulders.
“Open your mouth,” Vic said.
Ben began to panic, knowing he wouldn’t have a chance to tamper with the reading. “You already took my temperature – TWICE!”
“Do you want to do it again - twice?” he asked warningly.
Ben’s eyes flicked to Zach and he said, “Ummm, not really.”
“Open your mouth then or we’ll try it another way.”
“But, Viiiic!!”
Vic turned to Zach who was still holding his plate and watching intently. “Zach, would you leave us alone for a minute, please?” Zach mutely nodded his head and left the room. Maggie jumped from the foot of the bed and followed Zach down the stairs since he was the one with the food.
Benji was suddenly ready to cooperate, not wanting Vic to bring out the OTHER thermometer. “Okay, okay!!” He opened his mouth wide and waited for Vic to slide the thermometer under his tongue.
Vic stood with his arms folded while he waited and said, “If your temperature is miraculously normal, you’re going to have some explaining to do.”
Ben held his breath and tried to will a temperature, but it didn’t work. Vic pulled the thermometer free and read it. “Well? Any idea how you could go from having a temperature of 102 to normal in approximately an hour and a half?”
Ben shrugged and offered, “A miracle?”
“I highly doubt it. How did you do it, Ben?”
Ben adopted an innocent and shocked expression. “Do what?”
“Get your temperature so high. Don’t even begin to act like you don’t know what I’m talking about.” Ben said nothing as he tried to search for the right answer. Vic took a seat on the edge of the bed and put his hand to Ben’s leg. “Benjamin, listen to me. If you tell me you were, or are, honestly sick, I’ll believe you. But, if you were faking, I’d recommend you tell me the truth now before you get yourself in any deeper.”
Benji looked at his hands in his lap and guilt wormed its way in once again. He could easily lie and Vic would believe him. He knew Vic well enough to know that he meant what he said. If he said he would believe Ben, then he would. He also knew he took a dim view of lying, and faking an illness might be construed that way. He opted for a partial, non-committed response. “I didn’t really FAKE it, Vic. I WAS feeling bad about today…”
“But, you weren’t physically sick, were you?”
“I am now,” Ben said dejectedly.
Vic patted his leg and said, “I’m inclined to think you’ll be feeling worse later. Get yourself up and downstairs right now. We’ll deal with your behavior when our guests leave.”
Vic straightened up and left the side of the bed. Ben called after him, “I can’t come down! They’ll all KNOW I wasn’t really sick. Can’t I just stay up here??”
Vic paused in the doorway. “No you can’t. You just tell them you’re feeling better, which you do compared to what you led us all to believe. All of us except for Zachary, obviously.”
Figuring he was already in trouble anyway, Ben said, “I don’t WANT to.”
Vic silently walked back over to the bed and took a seat, holding his hand out to Ben. “That’s fine with me, Benjamin. We can take care of this now and then you can go downstairs. Which you WILL be doing, and you’ll be courteous.”
“Noooo!” Ben quickly got out of bed on the opposite side from where Vic was sitting. “I’m going, see?” He wasted no time getting to the bedroom door and was relieved to see Vic following and not demanding he return to “take care of” things.
His heart stopped when Vic caught up to him and grabbed his arm as he was making his descent. “If you are anything but a perfect host, I’ll bring you back up here and spank you for that and THEN we’ll deal with your little charade on top of it when everyone leaves. Is that perfectly clear?”
“OKAY!” Ben said, snapping in response to the stern warning. He was a jangle of nerves, and that was all it took for his temper to rear its ugly head.
Vic swatted his bottom over his sweats several times as a warning, knowing everyone was in the dining room and out of hearing distance. “I won’t warn you again. You’d better straighten up and do it fast.”
Benji reached back for protection in case Vic changed his mind about the swatting being the final warning. He quickly said a “Yes, sir” and followed Vic down the stairs. He paused in the hallway, letting Vic get well ahead of him, then he quickly snapped on the television, flipping to the game.
Vic did an about-face when he heard the TV. Vic said through clenched teeth, “Turn OFF the TV and come to the table.”
“But, Zach wants to see it, too,” he said in hushed tones since their guests were in the adjoining room. Vic didn’t respond with anything more than a hard look. Benji waited until he had turned toward the television to roll his eyes then turned the TV off, but not before checking the score.
Zach said as the two of them sat down, “Why did you turn it off? I’d like to see the game.”
Ben smiled warmly at his friend then looked expectantly to Vic. Vic wasn’t swayed by the two and said, “Sorry, Zach. We don’t have the television on in this house when we’re trying to eat.”
“But, we’re done eating. It’s time for dessert,” Zach argued.
“Zachary, it’s Vic’s house and if he wants to wait, we wait. Glad you feel like joining us,” Nelson said to Ben.
Zach shrugged at Ben having been unsuccessful. Vic’s mother said, “Me, too, Benji. I’m so glad you’re feeling better. It wasn’t the same without you. I was going to come up and see you before I left.”
“Thanks,” Ben said, feeling a little guilty for the deception once again. “I’m feeling better. In fact, I’m up for dessert.”
Vic said, “We are having dessert later.”
Zach pushed his plate away and fell back dramatically against the chair. “I’m stuffed. I feel like the turkey.”
“Are you going to have room for dessert?” Annette asked.
“Oh, yeah. I left room for that.” Zach said.
Ben tried to make conversation and said to Vic’s mother, “Your rolls were good, Annette. I stole a couple off Zach’s plate.”
“I don’t remember seeing any rolls on your plate earlier,” Nelson pointed out, looking at Zach. Great, Zach thought. He doesn’t miss a damn thing.
“I had them. You just didn’t see them.”
“Zachary, I SAW how tall your plate was piled. There wasn’t room for a roll…”
Zach glanced at Ben and blushed slightly. “I kind of had to carry them in my shirt.” A look of disgust crossed Ben’s face and Zach said in his own defense, “My plate WAS full!”
“EW! You said they got crushed in the car.”
Nelson looked at Zach disapprovingly, “In your SHIRT, Zachary?”
Vic’s mother found the whole idea hilarious and held her stomach laughing. “You boys are so silly.”
Zach snapped at his ungrateful friend and said, “I took a shower this morning. It’s not like I’m dirty or anything. Don’t freak out about it, Ben.”
“How long were they in your shirt?” Nelson asked. “I think I would have noticed you stuffing your shirt at the table.”
“Just a little while?” Zach said. Nelson gave him a look and Zach wondered if it meant they would be talking about the appropriate means for transporting bread at a later time.
He was relieved when Nelson leaned over and patted his stomach. “Anything else in there?”
He smiled at Nelson and shook his head. “No, nothing. My stomach is full, but my shirt isn’t anymore.”
“Vic, I’ll help you clear these dishes if you want,” Nelson offered.
“I’ll take you up on that,” Vic said.
“Oh, let me help you, son,” Annette said.
“No, Mom,” Vic said. “You’re not working today. Go in the living room and relax. We’ll have this done shortly.”
“I’ll help, too,” Zach said.
Nelson was busily scraping the remaining scraps of food into one dish and began to clear the table. “No, you’ve done enough transporting of food today.” Nelson kissed him to soften the message and pushed him toward the living room. “Go keep Annette company.” Both boys trailed Annette into the living room and Ben snapped the television on again to catch the score.
Vic and Nelson brought the last of the dishes into the kitchen and Vic was busy loading them into the dishwasher while Nelson replaced the lids on the remaining containers. Vic said to Nelson, “Would you believe Benji was faking having a stomachache today so he could watch football? At least he got to eat Thanksgiving dinner, thanks to your partner’s ability to smuggle food.”
“I was coming to that same conclusion, myself.”
Vic turned to rinse a plate and said, “When everyone leaves, Ben and I are going to have a pointed discussion on the matter.”
“I’m sure you will. I’m puzzled though. I thought you said Ben had a temperature.”
“I’m puzzled about that myself. I took it several times but I got virtually the same reading twice at 102. I haven’t gotten to the bottom of how he accomplished that feat.”
Nelson had to smile. “I have complete faith that you will get to the ‘bottom’ of the mystery,” he said putting invisible quotes around the word with his fingers in the air. “I knew you said Ben was upset about today, but it never occurred to me that he took it so seriously.”
“Ben was anything but happy with me for not changing our plans to suit him. I’m sure that’s the basis for this little drama. He was making a point.”
Nelson nodded knowingly, having had his own brat make a point or two in the past. “I imagine he’ll wish later you didn’t get the point.” They finished quickly with the dinner dishes and Nelson said, “Should we continue with dessert or should I just let Zach smuggle ours home in his shirt?”
Vic answered with a chuckle, “That’s okay, really. You don’t have to do that.”
They carried the pie and banana pudding into the dining room, sitting them and the dessert dishes on the table. “Anyone ready for dessert?” Vic called.
Ben looked at Zach and mumbled, “I’ve lost my appetite.” Zach smiled knowingly at his friend and got up to go back to the dining room. Ben clicked off the television yet again, knowing he would just be sent back to do it later if he didn’t. Just as he had expected, he had ended up doing more talking than watching as Annette chatted merrily while he tried to see the game. He resigned himself to missing it as he had seen very little and it was almost over. Maybe it would be better by the time the Cowboys were on.
Vic was serving up dessert and turned to see Ben enter the dining room. “What do you want, pumpkin?”
Zach interjected, “Pumpkin pie for the pumpkin.”
“I WILL take some pumpkin pie and a little pudding, too.”
Vic said to Zach, “Zach? What’ll you have?”
“Same as Ben,” he said, sitting at the table.
Vic served himself last after offering hot cider to all. Ben was getting more nervous as they neared the end of dessert because he knew that meant the end of Thanksgiving. He knew when everyone left he was going to have a difficult discussion ahead of him with Vic.
Dessert disappeared more quickly than Ben cared for, but finally, their guests started getting ready to leave. Annette spoke up first. “Well, boys, you’ve outdone yourselves. It was a spectacular meal. The best part is, I didn’t have to clean before or after it! I think it’s time I head home.”
After Annette left and Nelson helped clear the dessert dishes, he said, “We need to get home, too.”
Ben said, “Are you SURE you don’t want to stay for the Cowboys game?”
“No,” Nelson said. “We need to get home.”
Zach knew what it meant to leave Ben alone and he leapt to his rescue, “I don’t have anything to do at home. Why don’t we stay?”
“Yeah, Nelson,” Ben jumped in, “Stay. Pleeeease? The Cowboys always win on Thanksgiving.”
Nelson knew why Ben wanted company and he gave him a gentle kiss on the cheek, “We need to go, sweetheart. Thanks for the nice meal and company.” He handed Zach his coat and waited for him to pull it on. They grabbed up their dishes and headed for their car, waving goodbye.
Vic closed the door behind them as they left and bolted it for the evening. He saw Ben heading toward the living room, most likely to get ready for the next football game. He was already settled on the sofa when Vic came in. “No, Benjamin. Go on upstairs. I want to find you in a corner when I get there.” Vic leaned over and turned off the television again.
“I SAID I was sorry!” Ben replied casting a perfectly miserable look toward his lover.
Vic pulled him from the sofa and swatted him soundly. “I am in NO mood to argue with you. Upstairs! Now!”
Ben hurried up the stairs, not anxious to inflame Vic any more than he already was. He stood quietly in the corner and tried not to think about what the rest of the evening would include. Vic left him there about fifteen minutes before pulling the paddle from the kitchen drawer and trudging up the stairs. He found Ben obediently in the corner, shifting about nervously, and Maggie sat supportively at his feet. Vic hated having to punish him on Thanksgiving but could see no way around it. “Come here, Benjamin.”
Ben turned around slowly, eyes centered on the paddle. “I don’t want to. You’re mad at me.”
“Come have seat on the bed before I DO get mad,” Vic said, pointing at the bed with the paddle. “Maggie? Come here, girl,” Vic called, ushering Ben’s protector out into the hall, and closing the door behind her. Ben sat as far away from Vic as possible on the bed, then Vic continued. “Let’s start with how you did it.”
Ben was looking absolutely miserable on the bed and he responded quietly, “Did what?”
“Your temperature. How did you get it so high?”
Ben swallowed hard. “You know, people can make themselves sick psychologically. I read about it in school.”
“Are you trying to tell me that’s what happened here? With no help from you?”
A sick feeling was settling in the pit of Ben’s stomach and he was beginning to regret eating anything at all. “Um, no. But, it COULD happen.”
“I’m not interested in what could have happened. We’re talking about what DID happen. And, what could have happened isn’t what happened, is it?”
Ben looked confused and said, “Huh?”
Vic closed his eyes slowly, taking a breath, and then spoke after opening them. “How did you get the temperature you wanted?”
“Hot water?” Ben said. “And, a lightbulb.”
“HOW, Benjamin. I don’t intend to have to drag it out of you.”
“I just TOLD you…” He curled up against the headboard, wrapping his arms around his knees.
“What did you DO with the hot water and light bulb?”
Ben spoke quickly, “I sort of… drankthehotwater…before you took my temperature.”
Vic exhaled audibly. “How about the other end? Is this where the light bulb comes in? Don’t tell me you put the thermometer up to the light bulb to get it hot.”
“Okay…”
“Benjamin! Did you?”
“Sort of,” he mumbled.
“Either you did or you didn’t. There’s no sort of.”
Ben busied himself by picking invisible dirt from under his fingernails. “I did.”
“You put hot glass inside you?! You could have hurt yourself!” Vic exclaimed.
Ben looked up quickly and said, “It was just the TIP and it cooled off!”
Vic was shaking his head. “I don’t believe you’d do such a thing, Ben. What were you thinking?”
“I just wanted to watch the game.”
“All of this gets back to that one thing, doesn’t it? You didn’t get your way so you had to develop this little scheme to a) get back at me and b) to do what you wanted,” Vic said holding up a finger in turn to represent “a” and “b”. “Does that about cover it?”
Ben sat up straight on the edge of the bed, “NO! I wasn’t getting back at you. Honest! I just wanted to watch the game with Zach and I knew you wouldn’t let me. And, you didn’t!”
“So, you decided it was all right to lie to me to watch football?”
Shit. “I wasn’t lying. I was just…just…”
“Misleading me? Fooling me? Deceiving me?” He paused and Ben looked away. “Any of the above will fit, as does ‘lying to me’. You convinced me you were sick when you weren’t. In my book that’s a lie.”
“This isn’t fair. I can’t argue with a lawyer.”
“There’s nothing to argue about. You should have spent the day being thankful for your family and friends, not lying to stay away from them for football.”
“Zach was with me.” Vic just glared at him in response to his comment. Ben went back to working on his fingernails.
Vic finally broke the silence by saying, “If you don’t have anything else to say for your behavior, then we should get started.” Vic took a seat on the side of the bed where Ben was sitting and pulled him to his feet.
“But Vic, I’ve already BEEN punished! I missed the GAME!” Ben pulled against Vic’s grip in protest.
Vic took both of Benji’s hands and pulled him forward trying to still him. “Ben, stop it.” Ben quit struggling and looked pleadingly at Vic. “Not watching the Lions play football is hardly a punishment. You lied to me today. I won’t tolerate it, and missing a game is hardly what I’d consider punishment even if a better team than the Lions were playing.”
“But, I’m missing the Cowboys, too…”
“Do you really think that’s all you need as punishment for lying to me? Missing a ballgame isn’t going to cut it.”
“I’m sorry, Vic! You DON’T have to DO this!!”
“I think I need to impress upon you the importance of honesty in a relationship and how I expect us to treat one another. So, I DO have to do this.”
“It wasn’t a hurtful lie, if you can even call it a lie at all,” Ben complained.
“A lie is a lie, Benjamin. I will not now or ever condone lying between us for any reason.” With that, Vic pulled Ben across his lap and settled him on the bed.
“Wait! Vic, don’t. I wasn’t meaning to lie! I just wanted to spend Thanksgiving differently!” All his protests did nothing to stop Vic from finding the waistband of his sweats and tugging them down his legs. “I didn’t hurt anyone!!”
“This is not the way I planned to spend Thanksgiving either, Benjamin.” His shorts joined his sweats at his knees as Vic spoke. “I wanted to spend a nice day with the two people I love the most in this world: my partner and my mother. But, my partner wanted to spend the day with his friend in front of the television. I find that hurtful.”
Ben’s heart tore when he heard those words and he realized his lie was hurtful to Vic. Tears began to puddle in his eyes with the realization. “I’m soorrrry!” he said into his arms. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings!”
Vic rubbed Ben’s back knowing he was remorseful already. He said gently, “I’m not spanking you because you hurt my feelings. I’m spanking you for lying to me and pretending to be sick. Do you understand me?”
“But, I DID hurt your feelings!” he cried.
“Benjamin, lying does cause hurt sometimes. But, I love you. I’m not hurt badly enough to stop loving you.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you…!” Benji cried into the comforter.
“I know you didn’t,” Vic said, continuing to massage Ben’s back. Ben was working himself up with the sudden onslaught of guilt and Vic realized he needed to get the punishment done. “We need to deal with the lying and get it over with, okay?” he said firmly. Ben couldn’t bring himself to agree so he just continued crying.
He felt Vic lift the hem of his t-shirt and push it out of the way, exposing his backside. Vic began to bring his hand down against Ben’s bottom causing him to squirm after awhile. Vic couldn’t help but be moved by Ben’s obvious contrition and he delivered a far less severe spanking than he had originally intended. He wanted nothing more than to hold his weeping lover, but lying was serious, so he resolved himself to continue with the paddling.
Ben was aware of Vic pausing to get the paddle and he sobbed out, “Nooo! Vic!” Ben was wriggling and kicking to get away before Vic could bring the paddle down against his already stinging behind. Vic picked up the paddle and quickly covered Ben’s bottom, snapping it down repeatedly. Ben was crying far harder from guilt than from the spanking. Vic finished and threw the paddle to the bed. He pulled Benji up into his lap, immediately stroking him and whispering calming reassurances.
When Ben was calm enough to speak, he said between catching breaths, “I spoiled your Thanksgiving…”
“You didn’t spoil my Thanksgiving. I wish I didn’t have to punish you today, but my day wasn’t ruined. I still had a nice time with my mother and our friends.”
Ben cried new tears and said, “But not with me…”
“That’s not what meant, but I didn’t get a chance to do much with you today while you were up here acting sick. But there’s still enough time to remedy that. Why don’t we watch whatever’s left of the Cowboy’s game together?”
“Really?” Ben asked through sniffles.
Vic hugged him tight and said into his ear, “Really. Get up and straighten your pants.”
Ben was still sniffling and Vic watched him run a hand across his eyes before pulling up his pants which were crumpled around his ankles. Vic turned the television on while he waited then took Ben into the bathroom by the hand when he had his pants in place. He ran a washcloth under the tap and tenderly cleaned Ben’s face of tears.
They went back into the bedroom and Vic propped himself against the headboard with the pillows serving as support. He patted the mattress indicating Ben should get in bed beside him, “Stretch out beside me. You can put your head in my lap,” he said, knowing Ben wouldn’t be interested in sitting in the bed. Ben looked uncertainly at him, still feeling bad for what he had done. Vic interpreted the look and said, “Come on, pumpkin. Let’s enjoy the rest of the day. I’m not upset with you.”
“But…”
Vic leaned up and grabbed Ben’s hand, pulling him toward the bed. “I want to spend time with my partner. Come here,” Vic said.
Ben crawled into the bed on his knees and stretched out on his side, placing his head in Vic’s lap. Aside from the occasional sniffle, Ben was quiet against Vic’s leg, never once telling the players how to do their jobs. After the game, Ben was still quiet and Vic tugged him up to look at him. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Fresh tears stung Ben’s eyes and he shook his head back and forth honestly. Vic pulled him to his chest and hugged him tightly, “What’s wrong?”
Ben managed to say, “I feel bad.”
Vic knew Ben meant emotionally and not physically. “Don’t be upset on my account. I’m certainly fine. I’m not giving a second thought to what happened and I don’t want you to either. We’ve dealt with it.”
“But, I was being selfish,” Ben said into Vic’s chest.
“Wanting your own way is what caused you to lie, but you are anything but a selfish person, Benji.”
“But, I hurt your feelings,” Ben said.
“That happens sometimes between couples. I’m tough, I can take it,” Vic joked. “I’m not hurt anymore, Benji. Quit kicking yourself over it.”
“You’re not? Really?”
Vic pulled him up to look at him, “I’m fine. I mean it. Understand?” Ben searched his eyes and was relieved to find no evidence of hurt there. He nodded a response after he was certain Vic was serious. Vic kissed him full on the lips as added evidence and squeezed him tight. “I love you, Benji. Happy Thanksgiving.”
“I love you, too. Happy Thanksgiving, or what’s left of it,” Ben said. “Thanks for not being mad at me.”
“Think nothing of it. I don’t need a holiday to enjoy you. We have the rest of our lives,” Vic said and kissed him again.
The end.
