Bryan's Story, Part 1

Twelve-year-old Michael Smith stealthily reached out and twisted the doorknob to his brother’s room, the latch released with a soft click. Grinning, he eased the door open and peeked around the door – early morning sunlight was filtering through the louvered shutters over the bay window. Spears of light stabbed their way across the dim room. Glancing around the edge of the door, Michael spied his older brother, Bryan, still sprawled across the bed. Slipping around the door, Michael launched himself at the bed landing on his brother’s stomach with a cry of “Ninja attack!”

Bryan woke with a start, his breath exploding from him in a whoosh. Recovering quickly, he snaked an arm around his little brother’s neck and rolled over on top of him, laughing as he tickled his little brother. Giggling uncontrollably, Michael tried to break away. Bryan kicked free of the sheets and hooked a leg around his brother’s middle and increased the intensity of the tickling.

“Give up?” Bryan laughed as Michael’s body convulsed with laughter.

Unable to speak though his involuntary gales of laughter, Michael shook his head, his long honey blonde bowlcut hair flopping around. Grinning puckishly, Bryan increased the intensity of his tickle torture, which brought renewed convulsions of laughter from his brother. Suddenly, Bryan felt that familiar stirring between his legs and let his brother break away from his grip. Fists raised above his head, Michael danced around the side of the bed like Rocky on the top step of the art museum.

Bryan shook his head in mock dejection, “You’re getting too good for me, Squirt.”

Michael’s eye caught sight of Bryan’s bulging backpack and his face clouded over briefly. He sat heavily on the edge of the bed, looking troubled. Bryan reached out and tenderly patted his little brother’s back.

“What’s wrong?” Bryan asked, already knowing the answer. Michael was bothered that his older brother was going to be spending the summer in Mexico. Even with almost five years separating them, or maybe because of the age difference, the two boys were best friends. Michael wasn’t the typical pain-in-the-ass tag-along little brother – he always seemed to know when his presence would be an unwanted intrusion on Bryan’s time. As a result, Bryan always made sure he made to include Michael in as many of his plans as he could. None of his friends seemed to mind when Bryan brought his younger brother along to the movies, or to the beach. “Still pissed I’m going to Mexico?”

“No,” Michael said reluctantly. He turned on his brother, his puppy dog brown eyes pleading, “But do you have to stay down there the whole summer?”

“It won’t be the whole summer,” Bryan reminded him.

“Practically is,” Michael retorted. “Only two weeks left of summer break till school starts again.”

Bryan reached out and pulled his little brother backwards until Michael’s head rested on his bare stomach, “Listen, I’ve been saving for this trip since I was your about your age. It’s a good way for me to practice my Spanish for real – you don’t think I took all those language courses for the fun of it, do you?”

Michael twisted his head around to look up at his big brother, “But, your vacation is only three weeks – so why do you have to stay down there the whole summer?”

“Because …”

“That’s not an answer,” Michael protested.

“You didn’t let me finish, Squirt,” Bryan grinned. “Because, I want to get the chance to try the snorkeling down there and relax and unwind for a while. “Then, I’m moving on to that little village that got hit so bad by the storm earlier this year, remember?” Michael nodded, his soft hair tickling Bryan’s belly as he moved his head. “In a way, it’s because of you I’m spending the rest of the summer down there.”

“Huh?” Michael sat up suddenly, giving his brother a strange look.

“Remember how you and your class raised all that money to send them so they could buy materials for a new school building and clinic?” Bryan asked. “Well, now they need help building those places. That’s what I’m going to be doing the rest of the time I’m down there – moving all those cinder blocks and bags of cement the money you raised bought.” Bryan paused, thinking. He smiled suddenly. “Tell you what, I’ll take my camera down there with me and make a photographic journal – you can take it to school and show everyone what they helped to make possible for those kids down in Mexico.”

Michael brightened, “Hey, that’d be cool.”

“And, I’ve got a little surprise for you,” Bryan announced. “I asked Aaron to start teaching you how to sail this summer. I think he said something about taking you out for the first time on Thursday.”

“That’s way cool,” Michael exclaimed, giving his brother a big hug.

Bryan’s hands shot out, grabbing his brother’s torso – his fingers mercilessly tickling him again, sending Michael into paroxysms of laughter once more. Twisting and turning, Michael tried to escape the tickle torture and almost managed to break loose, but Bryan dragged him further onto the bed, never letting up on the tickle assault.

Then, it happened again – he felt a stirring between his legs. Bryan suddenly pretended to let Michael escape once again as he pulled the sheets around him to cover the bulge that was sure to show under the light material of his sleep shorts. Michael staggered out of reach, his face flushed a brilliant crimson and his floppy bowlcut in disarray gasping for breath.

“Mom says to come down to breakfast,” Michael puffed, still short of breath.

“Okay, I’ll be right down as soon as I grab a shower,” Bryan said, swinging his feet to the floor on the opposite side of the bed, careful to keep his back to his little brother. He glanced over his shoulder, “Hey, when are you going to get a real haircut, Squirt?”

Michael flattened out his hair, a slight hurt look springing into his eyes,” What’s the matter with it?”

“Nothing,” Bryan grinned over his shoulder. “Just yanking your chain, Squirt.” He winked conspiratorially and pointed a finger towards his little brother’s belly. “Gotcha!”

A wave of relief washed over Michael’s face and he returned his brother’s grin. Bryan watched him scamper out of the room and sighed. He kept forgetting Michael was getting touchy about being treated like a little boy anymore. He was at that point where he wanted to be treated like a teen and still afraid to really take that big step from boyhood to teenager.

Bryan padded across the thick carpet to the bathroom, yawning and stretching as he went. Unconsciously, he bent over to raise the toilet seat so he could relieve himself. He had the seat half raised when he suddenly stopped and lowered it again. Sliding his boxers down around his ankles, Bryan turned around and sat down to urinate. At first, he found it hard to release his bladder and found he had to concentrate for a moment before his usual heavy morning stream began. Finished, Bryan slid back the frosted glass door of the shower and turned the water on, letting the steam build up as he brushed his teeth.

Finally stepping into the shower, Bryan was enveloped in clouds of steam as the water beat down on him. As he lathered his body, with the steam swirling around him, Bryan was reminded of the gay video clip he’d watched on his computer the night before. A hunky swimmer with golden blonde hair and a smooth body had been in a shower, the billowing steam surrounding and swirling around him – just like Bryan was experiencing now. As soon as the image flashed through his mind, Bryan felt his own penis twitch and swell. Bryan looked down, watching in fascination as his tool began to rise as it hardened. In no time at all, his circumcised dick was pointing straight out from his body like an arrow.

A pink sliver of tongue appeared between Bryan’s lips as he admired the perfect mushroom head of his penis. The veins stood out sharply like a bas relief along the shaft that disappeared into the thick, curling dark brown pubic bush between his legs. His long, thin fingers trembled as he delicately traced them along the underside of his dick. Slowly, Bryan moved his index finger around the flared corona behind the head of his dick. His dick immediately responded, twitching violently up and down as if demanding even more attention. Sighing heavily, Bryan pulled his hand away and grabbed the shampoo bottle.

Filling his hand with a generous squirt of shampoo, Bryan worked the liquid through his hair and tried to turn his attention to working up a lather. He hoped concentrating on washing his hair would be enough to make his dick go limp again. But, the thought of washing his hair made him think of the thicket of pubic hair between his legs and the fact that it wouldn’t be long before that badge of manhood was shaved off. He tried to remember what he looked like before his man hair grew in so many years ago – how long ago had it been, he wondered. He was one of the first boys in his gym class to have a full thatch of pubic hair, he recalled – that must have been when he was about Michael’s age.

Suddenly, Bryan found himself wondering about his little brother – was Michael beginning to grow pubic hair? He knew from observation that Michael’s arm pits were still smooth and bare – but then, his own had remained hairless until he was almost fourteen, even though he had an impressive bush. Bryan shook his head, trying to dispel the image of his younger brother with pubic hair from his mind. His penis twitched again, as if to remind him it was still erect and needing attention. Breathing heavily, Bryan reached down and gingerly slid his index finger around the mushroom shaped head of his penis.

One by one, his slender fingers wrapped themselves around his dick. Bryan gulped at the feel of his hand surrounding the shaft of his dick. Was Michael already jerking himself off everyday? Bryan had started when he was only eleven – a year younger than Michael was now. Bryan promised himself that he was just going to hold his dick and not begin pumping it. Just holding it wasn’t the same as masturbating, Bryan told himself. It was okay to just hold his dick for a few moments – he wouldn’t be breaking his personal promise not to jack off for the next couple of days if he only held his penis in his hand.

His dick twitched again, more insistently – as if urging Bryan to do something.

Bryan slowly became aware that his hand had already begun sliding up and down the shaft of his penis, slipping over the flared head of his dick. All of his resolutions melted away as the familiar tingle of pleasure building in his groin. Shivers of electrical excitement centered in his groin and spread out through his body. His nipples woke, growing hard as they demanded attention of their own. Bryan’s free hand slid along his chest and found his left nipple. Circling his soapy finger around the button of flesh, adding to the mounting excitement that was making his whole body quiver in anticipation. Bryan squeezed the nipple between his thumb and forefinger, intensifying the sensations that were building up exponentially. Sliding his hand across his chest, Bryan turned his attention to his right nipple sending new waves of pleasure cascading through his chest.

Bryan’s breath began to come in ragged gasps, he could feel his testicles move and churn inside the loose skin of his scrotum. His whole body was trembling as he felt his dick begin to shudder in preparation for the spasms it was about to undergo. Bryan’s mouth fell open as his orgasm exploded – all the waves of pleasure he had been experiencing spread outward in waves that seemed to converge in the pit of his belly. His knees turned rubbery and unstable as he ejaculated again and again, his sperm shooting across the large shower stall to splatter against the tile wall.

Bryan wanted to rage silently at himself over his failure to keep his pledge to himself not to masturbate for the next few days. But, he just couldn’t – the pleasure he experienced had just been too great. All he could think of was how fantastic he still felt in the afterglow of his most recent orgasm.

Strolling into the kitchen, Bryan paused to kiss his mother’s cheek before taking a mug from a hook under the cabinet and helping himself to coffee. He apologized for taking so long in the shower, before sliding onto a stool at the island counter in the middle of the kitchen. Bryan was midway through his eggs when his father bustled into the kitchen pulling the knot of his tie tight. Standing up, he wolfed down a piece of toast and washed it down with a gulp of coffee from his wife’s cup while apologizing that he wouldn’t be able to accompany Bryan to the airport.

Mr. Smith explained that a last minute deposition on an important trial case he was working on meant he needed to head to the university early in order to grade final exams in time to post grades. Bryan understood, both his parents were lawyers and it wasn’t unusual for their schedules to get hectic. His father was also a professor of law at UCLA, which demanded additional time from his already busy schedule. Passing Bryan, Mr. Smith asked his eldest son to walk out to the car with him.

Before his father could apologize again, Bryan headed him off and assured him that he understood the sudden change of plans. His father was one of the main reasons that Bryan had already decided he wanted to go to law school after he graduated high school and college. In addition to his normal duties at both offices, Mr. Smith regularly took pro bono cases for the poor. Both Smiths believed devoutly in community service, and were pleased that their sons seemed to naturally follow the examples they set. The school and hospital projects in Mexico were the big reason they had agreed to let Bryan have a vacation down there all alone when he was only seventeen and not yet a senior in high school.

“Look, I know you’ve been saving up for this vacation,” his father said, digging deeply into his pocket. “But, I figured you could use a little extra,” he shoved a wad of bills in Bryan’s hand. “Don’t argue,” his father warned. “You should enjoy yourself as much as possible – besides, your Mom and I are proud that you’re giving up two-thirds of your vacation to help an entire community. Just do me a favor and don’t mention this to your mother.” He shook his son’s hand before impulsively pulling the teen into his arms for a generous hug.

Watching the silver Jaguar roll down the driveway, Bryan counted the money his father had slipped him. He almost fainted when he discovered his father had given him three hundred dollars. Bryan’s father had no idea how useful the money would be to his son.

Returning to the kitchen, Bryan finished his breakfast and excused himself. He promised to be ready to leave for the airport in time, saying he needed to make his journal entry. His mother smiled, secretly proud of the dedication and discipline her son showed in keeping a daily journal. He had been inspired to keep a journal when he was only eleven after learning that his maternal grandfather had kept one all his life. Her father had been proud that he had never missed making a single entry in his life, and Bryan had vowed to do the same thing. He had started with a school notebook, which was soon replaced with entries on his computer.

Slipping in front of his keyboard, Bryan called up his password protected journal. Bryan knew his mother was proud of him for imitating her father and keeping a daily journal. He wondered what she would think if she knew he was keeping not one, but two journals. He called up the first journal and began typing:

4 June 2000

first full week of summer vacation. leaving for mexico today – will be gone the whole summer … first three weeks at the resort in baja … after that, will spend the rest of the time at the building project … not sure what my job will be there, probably just shifting the cinderblocks from one pile to the project site. Dad slipped me $300 … said not to tell mom … pretty cool of him, huh? i hope he knows how much i appreciate it … squirt still a little bothered we won’t spend time together this summer …arranged with aaron to take him snorkeling … squirt is getting pretty good … i’ll miss him hanging around

Bryan closed out the entry – since he was taking his notebook computer along with him, he could make an update later that evening. He opened his secret personal journal – not only was it password protected, but the password was encrypted to make it harder for anyone to break the code. The second journal was reserved for thoughts he’d never share with anyone else – this journal was almost a form of therapy for him. He was able to spill out the secrets that would otherwise have probably driven him crazy by now. Sometimes, he thought having this journal to confide in had prevented him from committing suicide.

He entrusted secrets no one else would understand – Bryan remembered the feeling of catharsis he had felt when he had admitted to the journal that he was gay. That was four years ago, when he was thirteen. His mom and dad were pretty liberal, but Bryan knew they’d have a problem understanding that. He trusted them enough to know that they’d still love him, and always be there for him. But – he also knew there would be tears, probably some shouting, and the inevitable trips to child psychologists. And, they sure as hell would never understand his other secret. Bryan began typing:

4 June 2000

well, leave for mexico today … should reach the clinic sometime late this afternoon … i don’t know if i’ll see the doctor today or not … guess i’ll find out when i get there … in a way, i hope i don’t see them right away … when i do, i’ll have to totally commit to IT and there’ll be no turning back … IT will happen, i know it will … i can’t even go one day without masturbating at least once (more like 3 or 4 times) … even got hard twice playing around (not that kind of playing, tho) with squirt this morning … and in the shower no matter how hard i tried, it still happened … wanked off even when i promised myself i wouldn’t … just writing about it now is making me hard all over again!!! can’t believe that …might have to toss off again this morning before we head to the airport … maybe once i’m at the clinic where i know they’re really going to cut my dick off … maybe that will give me the incentive to try to control myself for a whole day … that’s my new limit … if i can last only 24 hrs without getting hard all the time and jerking off (i know, the original deal was to last a whole week … but that was prob. a little too much to expect … 24 hrs does seem doable and reasonable) … so that’s it then, if I can really go 24 hours without tossing off once, then I will back out of the surgery and go snorkeling and stuff … but, i think i have to be totally honest and admit that by the end of the week i won’t have a dick anymore … that doesn’t mean i’m not going to try hard as i can, but i can track my failure to stop jerking off all through this journal

Bryan stared at the words he had just written on his computer screen. He remembered when he first decided a penectomy was the only way to stop his constant erections and masturbation – at the time, he had been excited by the idea. Of course, the excitement made him hard and he had immediately begun masturbating. Over the years, his feelings about being penectomized vacillated between elation over taking control of the one part of his body that simply refused to submit to any kind of discipline or self-control. It was as if his penis could override any mental discipline Bryan tried to exert over it – it was the one area of his life where he just couldn’t effect a change in behavior.

Even now, right after writing about his impending penectomy if he couldn’t manage to control himself for at least twenty-four hours, his penis was like an iron bar inside his pleated khakis. Already, he could feel a wet spot forming in his briefs and knew unless he jerked off, the front of his trousers would be marred by a growing wet spot. Slipping away from the keyboard, Bryan retreated to his bathroom to relieve himself. Glancing at his watch, he noticed he had slightly more than an hour before he needed to be ready to leave for the airport He had enough time to do a proper job of pleasuring himself.

Bryan set a tube of hand lotion on the vanity by the sink before turning off the overhead lights, leaving only the lights on either side of the mirror burning. Taking his place in front of the mirror, Bryan slowly began unbuttoning his shirt, exposing his smooth, hairless chest. He carefully hung the shirt on a hook on the back of the door before turning back to the mirror and slowly undoing his trousers revealing the dark burgundy bikini briefs he wore underneath. Slipping out of his loafers, Bryan stepped out of his slacks, hanging them on a hook next to his shirt. Facing the mirror again, he hooked his thumbs under the waistband of his briefs and slid them off. Free of its restraint, his penis sprang straight out, the mushroom head bobbing up and down slightly.

At first, Bryan didn’t do anything at all except stare down at his penis. For the millionth time he wished he had the artistic talent of a daVinci so he could capture his penis in charcoal or maybe pen and ink. His tool wasn’t nearly as big as those on the models gracing the web pages of the gay sites he regularly visited – but, from personal observations in gym locker rooms, Bryan knew that few penises in real life were that big. At almost five and a half inches, Bryan knew he was about average in cock size – probably slightly on the low side of average, but well within the norms for average. But, the extraordinary thing about Bryan’s penis was its perfect symmetry – from base to the crown of the mushroom head, the shaft of his dick was perfectly even all around. The tender mushroom head continued that perfect symmetry – it was neither too big nor too small for the shaft. Bryan had seen enough dicks that seemed to either taper, or where the head seemed too large or small in proportion to the rest of the penis. The veins just under the delicate skin of the shaft always stood out sharply, giving his penis a three-dimensional quality that only severed to enhance its physical beauty.

Bryan watched his reflection in the mirror intently as both his hands slowly rose towards his chest, his index fingers lightly extended. He sighed softly as his index fingers traced circles around his sensitive nipples, making them grow erect. The pleasure waves radiated outward from each fleshy button, turning the sigh into a low, sensual moan of pleasure. Soon, his fingers closed around each nipple, gently squeezing each which elicited a change in the pitch of his moaning. His chest was rising and falling rhythmically as the pleasure built up in his chest. It wasn’t long before the pleasure waves reached the pit of his belly, sending tremors throughout his whole body. His head began to tilt slightly backwards as his pleasure increased. His right hand drifted down his midline towards his belly, sending goose bumps up and down his arms. Bryan let his finger work its way through the thicket of pubic hair that covered his groin, the patch of man hair that would soon – like his penis, be history. Unlike his penis, the pubic hair would grow back to its former glory – that is, if he let it grow back.

His index finger reached the base of the shaft of his penis and continued its journey, now tracing its way along the top of the quivering shaft. He moved closer to the vanity, until his testicles were resting on the cool porcelain of the sink. Bryan took his hand away from his dick long enough to pump some of the skin lotion into his palm. Through long hours of trial and error, Bryan knew exactly how much lotion to pump into his hand. Too much and he’d loose some of the sensitivity so necessary to the perfect orgasm. Too little, and before he reached climax, his hand would get sticky and uncomfortable as it slid over the head of his dick. Bryan took his time spreading the lotion along the top, underside, and sides of his twitching penis. Slowly, his hand closed around the rigid shaft and began to slowly, deliberately pump back and forth. His hand was loose enough that it passed over the head of his dick with just enough pressure to stimulate the bundles of pleasure nerves packed into the head of his dick. Bryan took his time pumping his cock – he wasn’t above rushing if he had to, but he didn’t need to do so at the moment. He never understood why some guys just tossed off as fast as they could. Like anyone, Bryan enjoyed the climatic orgasm of masturbation – but, Bryan believed the best orgasms came with a slow, deliberate seduction of his penis.

His breathing was increasing, growing deeper and more ragged as he grew closer to climax. Bryan resisted the momentary urge to pump faster – in fact, he moderated his pace slightly, teasing the head of his penis which was twitching uncontrollably. When his knees began trembling and feeling weak, Bryan slowed his pace even more, letting his hand linger just a little longer on the pulsing head of his cock, teasing it even more. He could feel his pulse pounding like a trip hammer in his temples, he could even feel his heart pounding in his chest. His balls moved slightly, then churned – he could feel the climax growing deep in his groin. And then, his head was thrown back as his balls exploded, spewing his seed into the sink in jets of white. Bryan waited until his cock stopped pumping on its own before pumping it a few more times by hand. Opening the taps, he adjusted the water until it was at body temperature and carefully cleaned himself off. Satisfied and clean, Bryan quickly dressed and slipped into his loafers. Before leaving the bathroom, he wiped the sink down and left it as neat as it had been when he started.

Taking his notebook computer to his desk, Bryan surreptitiously glanced around to make sure Michael wasn’t sneaking around the door for another Ninja attack before separating the notebook from its docking port with extra batteries. Neatly taped to the bottom of the notebook were a plain white envelope, a student ID from UCLA, and a fake California driver’s license. According to the license and student ID, Bryan Smith was nineteen years old and a sophomore at the university. He wasn’t sure how picky the Mexican clinic was – but, he figured if he had ID stating he was a nineteen-year-old university student rather than a seventeen-year-old high school student, he shouldn’t have any problems. The last thing he needed was to get to the clinic only to have them try to contact his parents to get permission for the surgery because he was technically underage.

Bryan shook his head as he imagined the scene that would ensue – he was sure there would be shouting, tears, and then the inevitable hours and hours of intensive psychological counseling. Hell, his dad would probably have him committed to a mental hospital for his own safety. The word would spread around school and everyone would know – and Bryan certainly didn’t want any of that. Opening the envelope, Bryan pulled out the letter from the clinic confirming his appointment and the receipt of his nonrefundable deposit of one thousand dollars. He tucked the letter into a side pocket of his notebook carrying case, and then slipped the two fake ID cards into his wallet, right behind his library card. Once he was on the plane, his real driver’s license could be replaced by the fake identification.

Bringing his gear downstairs, Bryan was pleasantly surprised to find Aaron Clarke sitting in the den trying to beat Michael at a video game. Aaron gave a toss of his head to clear his face of the heavy blonde bangs that always managed to fall casually across his brow. Aaron had been Bryan’s best friend since they were in elementary school together. As usual, Aaron was dressed in baggy shorts, an even baggier T-shirt, his shell necklace loosely tied around his tanned neck. Anyone seeing Aaron would immediately peg him as the typical California surfer dude – and for the most part be right.

His naturally blonde hair was sun bleached almost white, and cut in a surfer style – buzzed almost military short on the sides and back, while the top was long with even longer bangs. In style, he and Bryan were about as different as night and day. Aaron loved the baggy surfer style, preferring his clothes to be wrinkled and rumpled. Bryan, on the other hand, could usually be found in neatly pressed khakis and polo shirts – even when casually dressed. Bryan felt unkempt unless his thick, dark hair was neatly brushed, while Aaron was content to rake his fingers through his hair by way of grooming.

Their personalities were like their styles – vastly different. Aaron was gregarious and outgoing, happy to be the center of attention in any crowd. Bryan was normally reserved, somewhat shy, and more content to be a face in the crowd. Aaron was a natural athlete who could excel in almost any physical activity, seemingly without trying. Bryan had to work hard to be competent at athletic activities and even then, rarely outshone others.

But, it was the differences between them that made their friendship so strong. The strengths of one, moderated the weaknesses of the other. Bryan’s reserve worked to keep Aaron from taking wild and potentially dangerous chances. Aaron’s popularity brought Bryan into contact with a circle of friends he’d otherwise not have. There was one activity where both were equals, though.

Bryan and Aaron had been jack off buddies since they were both fourteen and both were insatiable. Bryan couldn’t even begin to count the number of times the two of them had been naked together tossing off. His only regret was that he’d never had the chance to wrap his fingers around Aaron’s slightly larger cock. Although he was gay and had known it almost from the time he first started masturbating, Aaron was so straight it was sometimes painful for Bryan. He’d get a brief pang of jealousy seeing some girl in Aaron’s tanned arms, kissing him, cuddling him, or just holding hands. Bryan consoled himself by remembering that he probably got to see more of Aaron’s beautiful, uncircumcised dick than any of the girls did. Bryan preferred the look of a circumcised penis, but Aaron’s dick was almost as beautiful as his own, and he was willing to overlook that one minor imperfection.

“Didn’t think you were going to get away without saying goodbye, didja Dude?” Aaron finally asked after once again letting Michael win the jet ski race on the Playstation.

“I was just going to call and see if you could come to the airport with us,” Bryan grinned.

“Right, soon as you finished taking care of business,” Aaron shot back with a sly grin, briefly grabbing his crotch. He held up two fingers to indicate he’d tossed off twice already. Bryan winked and tapped his own chest before holding up two fingers, too.

“Not bad, Dude,” Aaron complimented him. “Not bad at all.”

Over lunch, Aaron renewed his promise to pick Michael up on Thursday for his first sailing lesson. Michael was grinning so much, he almost gagged on his sandwich. After lunch, Aaron helped Bryan carry his bags out to the car before apologizing that he couldn’t come to the airport – explaining that Donna, his current girlfriend, was expecting him to spend the afternoon with her. He stood in the drive, waving as the Range Rover rolled down the driveway.

The trip to the airport, while not really long, seemed to take an eternity while Bryan’s mom kept insisting he double check to make sure he had his tickets, that he didn’t forget his wallet back at the house, and a million other things that she always worried about before she or anyone else in the family took a trip somewhere. He promised her that he hadn’t forgotten anything, showing her the tickets just to satisfy her that he hadn’t.

By the time they found a parking place in Short Term Parking and got checked in, it was almost time for Bryan to board the plane. He tried not to grimace as he got the obligatory motherly hug and last minute instructions to “be careful.” When his mother finally released him, Bryan ruffled Michael’s hair, telling him to have a good time sailing with Aaron. At the gate, he paused for one last wave and then disappeared down the boarding ramp.

Finding his seat, Bryan felt his chest grow tight with excitement and anticipation – he was really on his way. He felt like he was in a dream and at any minute Michael would be bouncing on his belly. In a little over an hour, he’d be on the ground in Mexico where someone from the clinic would be waiting to meet him. Bryan barely heard the flight attendant giving the usual pre-flight instructions, reminding the passengers that their seat cushions could be used as a floatation device, where the exits were and so on. Only the engines starting brought Bryan back to reality. In just a couple of hours he’d be at the clinic – he began to wonder if the clinic really looked like the pictures on their Internet site. He shrugged – he’d know soon enough. As the plane taxied out onto the runway, Bryan leaned back and closed his eyes – his right hand unconsciously resting protectively in his lap.

To be continued ….