"Thanks, Mr. Jenkins. I appreciate the information."

Daniel couldn't wait to tell Benny what he'd found out.

They were both working that night, so they'd have to wait until tomorrow to go looking for Franklin Dugan.

He hoped he could convince the kid to come to Mama Sasy's.

He got another surprise when Mama Rosa asked him to take her outside for a break a little while later. He jumped at the chance, since he'd come to care for the little lady with the big heart and warm smile. He made sure she had a sweater on, and they headed out the side door to the back of the property where the table now stood alone, since the car was at the garage.

"You've got something on your mind, my boy. Do you want to talk about it? I know you and Benny have been going out at night. I don't think you're partying."

She smiled at him and waited.

"No, ma'am. No parties. You know my story, kind of, right?" When she nodded, he kept on. "Well, when Take It Slow 140.

Benny and I took the car to the garage with Easy we saw this kid. He was looking for work and evidently it wasn't the first time he'd asked, but the garage owner sent him away. I don't blame the man. He said he's not making enough to make it himself, so he couldn't pay anyone else. The kid, though, he haunts me."

"You see yourself." It wasn't a question.

"I can't help it. I was lost, you know? I couldn't get a job. I had no identification, well, there were a lot of reasons, but I hated the feeling of being... lost is the best word for it." Daniel couldn't believe he could talk to her like that.

"I understand. You were raised by a working man, and you expected to work, too. You don't seem the type to want a free ride. So this kid, you want to help him, I take it. How are you going to do it? Do you all have a plan?" Mama seemed awfully interested.

"Not much of one. We just want to find him. I thought I'd tell him about Mama Sasy's deal here. It's generally for gays in trouble, I know, but I don't think she'll turn him away even if he's not." He looked at her, pausing, then added, "You don't think she'll mind, do you?" Daniel was still warring with his inability to warm to Mama Sasy like he had immediately with Mama Rosa. He was taking so much from Mama Sasy.

"No, darlin', I don't think she'd mind at all. She really cares about all 'her boys' as she calls them. I think it's a good idea as far as it goes. I wonder, though, if maybe something couldn't be done to help this boy get a job. I take it he likes working with cars, since he's asked for work at that garage?"

"Yes, that's what it looks like. I don't know how I could help, though." Daniel was more worried about getting the kid to safety and then thinking about the other things he'd need.

141.

"You might want to think about if there's a way your father can help," she said, then held her hand up to him, before he could say what was on the tip of his tongue.

"Don't get all heated now. I know you're still uncomfortable around him. You might need to ask yourself what it would take to feel more for him. I don't want to push you, and I have no particular feeling for him, other than to recognize love when I see it. You have no idea how much I love my Manolito. I see that same love in your father's eyes as he watches you. He tries to stay out of your way, Daniel, and you have to admit, he has done a good job at it."

Daniel ducked his head, but out of respect for her, he nodded to show he had seen the effort his father had made to leave him alone as he'd requested.

Mama Rosa put her hand on his and he looked up at her. "I'm not saying you need to accept him with open arms, but maybe a small gesture, perhaps a request to help this boy, would get you working together on something without the awkwardness of trying to mend your relationship. You could get a feel for each other without any expectations emotionally right now."

"How'd you get so smart? I'll think about it. It all depends on whether Benny and I can find this Franklin guy."

Daniel and Benny were walking slowly down Tanner, talking in soft voices, when they heard a scuffling noise coming from an alley a few feet ahead.

Neither being stupid, they moved to the middle of the street, which was empty of vehicles, and hurried to look down the alley.

142.

"Benny!" Daniel exclaimed when he saw the kid they were looking for being pushed up against the wall by a taller, bigger guy whose yelled words they could not clearly hear. The last word, "f.a.ggot", they got clearly, though. Daniel's instinct was to rush in, but Benny clutched his arm, shaking his head. Daniel eased back and nodded. Benny leaned in and whispered into Daniel's ear and again Daniel gave a nod in understanding. Benny held his hand up and counted down three fingers. When the last one went down they both yelled, as if calling for a policeman.

"Hey, Officer! Stop! There's a man beating on another one in there," Benny yelled.

"Hey, you, stop that!" Daniel yelled, heading toward the alley. As Benny drew closer he took the small bat out of his sleeve and whacked it a couple of times on the lamp post, making a lot of noise.

Suddenly, the big guy sprinted out of the alley, long hair flying out behind him, and took off down the street without even looking to see if there were policemen or not. In seconds, he'd disappeared. Daniel turned to the alley, looking for Franklin Dugan.

"What do you want?" The question was less than welcoming, despite the save.

"One thing, to help you. That's all, I swear it." Daniel said, not coming any closer to Franklin. He knew how the kid's heart must be pounding, how the fear must still be fresh.

Benny spoke up, "We really are here just to help.

Will you talk to us? That's all. We'll even stay over here." Benny clearly knew, too, that Franklin would not welcome anyone else coming close right now.

"Help how? With your little bat?" The sneer was clear in the voice.

143.

"Hey, don't make fun of my little friend. It helped scare off that a.s.shole, didn't it?" Benny teased back.

Franklin didn't say anything, but Daniel noticed he was watching them closely. Daniel gave him a minute.

"Are you okay? Did he hurt you?" he asked.

"Not yet. Not this time."

Daniel sighed, relieved. "Listen, I don't have a good history with alleys, so would you walk with us, out here? We want to tell you about a place."

Daniel saw Franklin draw back, as if the thought of walking with them scared him.

"Hey," Benny said, "I'll let you carry the bat." They heard a snort from Franklin, but he took a step toward them. Daniel held his breath. He and Benny were standing back in the street, a little ways from the alley.

When Franklin came closer, Daniel could see the bruises on his face and arms. d.a.m.n.

Franklin stopped a few feet from them and looked them both over, and Daniel knew exactly how he felt.

How were these people going to hurt me? What do they want from me?

"So what's your deal? Do-gooders? Thrill seekers?"

Daniel understood his skepticism. "In different degrees, we've both been where you seem to be," Daniel started. "I had two years of h.e.l.l, and Benny got some help after only a summer on his own."

"So now you're out looking for homeless boys to join whatever group you're in?" More skepticism.

"It's not quite like that. Seems my father's been searching for me and some friends of his saw me and they hatched up this big rescue plan. They brought me home just a while ago and I'm still adjusting. Benny had heard of the place we're staying from his uncle, who's a policeman, a good one." Daniel knew he was rambling, Take It Slow 144.

but he was trying to get the most info out in the least imposing manner.

"So what is this place?" Franklin asked.

"It's called Mama Sasy's. It's a truck stop. The diner is where we work until we get help finding more long-term work. There's like a dorm behind it, in a warehouse, but it's really nice. Right now Benny and I are the only ones staying there. The thing is, they don't expect anything from you. They feed you, and very well, and let you stay in a safe place until you feel like you want to help out. They've helped a lot of people find work and well, a life again."

"I don't know, man. I'm not into the group thing and touchy feely stuff." Franklin looked like he was about to book.

Daniel sighed, afraid to let Franklin go. He tried one more time.

"I have to admit, there's some touchy feely stuff.

From what I have learned, Mama Sasy started the place, something about the rainbow that's on her diner sign.

Someone showed up needing help and it went off from there. Evidently she's helped lots of boys like us."

"Like us? What makes us alike, dude?" Franklin was heading toward belligerent.

"Listen," Benny said, taking Daniel's arm and pulling him toward the sidewalk under the streetlight as there was a car coming. "We couldn't hear much that punk was yelling at you, but we heard what he called you."

"So?" Franklin stood taller, which was hard, since he was about five feet eight inches tall. He stood facing them, his brown hair an uneven mess, and his dark brown eyes full of fear, bravado, and fatigue.

"So, nothing. We're gay. That's what Mama Sasy's is, a place where young gay men can get a start after being lost. That's a word I use for my life the last two years, Take It Slow 145.

not anything about you. It's a safe place. You won't be hounded for anything. The touchy feely stuff comes from the two Mamas that are there. Mama Sasy's son, Easy, is gay and his lover lives with him behind the warehouse in an apartment. They just brought his mother up from Tampa, and her name is Mama Rosa, and I have to admit I have a soft spot for her. They might smother you with love, but they won't ha.s.sle you.

Come on, man, it's better than getting beat up all the time. I've, we've we've both been on the street. It sucks. Give it a chance." both been on the street. It sucks. Give it a chance."

Franklin just stood looking at them, not saying anything. Finally, he asked, "Why me?"

"I saw you at the garage, and you wanted to work, and you reminded me of myself not too long ago. I don't want stuff for free, but I hated living in fear all the time." Daniel hoped his sincerity showed through.

"He had it so bad, he had a bleeding ulcer when they finally rescued him from, uh, his situation." Benny threw in.

Franklin's brows rose, and he looked at Daniel, then back to Benny.

"I'm okay now. Well, it's better. Boddy, the cook, makes sure I have food that doesn't hurt. Look, it's getting really late. We clearly can't make you do anything, and we wouldn't try. We're offering you a chance. They'll help you find a job. It's safe there, man.

That's a promise." Daniel was feeling like Franklin wasn't going to take them up on their offer of help. He hated that.

"Where is this place? I mean, if I decide to check it out. I have to think about it, you know?" Franklin said, looking back and forth between them.

146.

Benny started to say, "What's to think--?" Daniel b.u.mped him before he could finish. He knew how hard it was to believe anything good was real.

"I understand, man. I really do. Listen, my name is Daniel Webster and this is Benny Adams. Here, I brought this for you. It's got some things you might need in it. Take it, whether you come to Mama Sasy's or not, okay?" With that, Daniel gave Franklin the backpack he'd worn, outfitted with some essentials that he knew were hard to find on the street. As he held it out to Franklin, he told him how to get to Mama Sasy's. He had begun to feel stupid letting it just hang there between them, when Franklin finally reached out and took hold of it.

Franklin mumbled, "Thanks."

Daniel and Benny watched him walk away, both arms clutching the backpack, his steps rapid.

"What now?" Benny asked. "You think he'll show up?"

Benny sounded as low as Daniel felt. "We can only hope. We've done all we can. h.e.l.l, I sounded like an advertis.e.m.e.nt for her place, huh?" Daniel said, shrugging his shoulders. Benny took his hand, and they headed back toward Mama Sasy's. It was late, but they could see Boddy in the diner, pouring coffee for a couple of truckers to go with the pie in front of them.

"Mmm, pie. Want to see if there's enough for us?"

Daniel asked, hoping there was banana cream.

"Hey, I'll help make some if there's not. I could sure use some. Come on. It was a good try tonight." Daniel felt better at Benny's words. Benny made him feel better in a lot of ways. They'd held hands all the way back to the diner, dropping them only as they walked in the door.

147.

Boddy's smile was welcoming and his response to their request for pie made them both happy. They had hope, Daniel thought. Hope, pie, and each other. Nice.

148.

Chapter Eight.

Daniel had a vicious dream about three nights after they'd met Franklin on Tanner Street. He jerked, trying to dodge Jack's fists and b.u.mped into Benny, whose cry woke him immediately.

"Ow!"

"Benny, I'm so sorry. Are you okay? Where did I get you?" Daniel turned in the bed, close quarters for sure, and tried to see if he'd done real damage to his best friend.

"Shh, it's okay. You just startled me. Bad one?"

Benny asked, and Daniel knew he was asking about the nightmare.

"Yeah, flying fists. Sorry, really." Daniel reached up to where Benny was rubbing his forehead and moved Benny's hand aside. "Aw, Benny, I hurt you." Daniel was devastated even though the b.u.mp on Benny's head was small.

"It's fine, Daniel, seriously. Just kiss it and make it better, and don't worry about it anymore."

Daniel tried really hard to see the look in Benny's eyes, but, though there was a small amount of light always left on, it wasn't enough for him to see if Benny was kidding or not. He found that he really wanted to do as Benny asked, joking or not.

Leaning over, Daniel put his lips on Benny's forehead for a second, then pulled back slowly, his eyes watching Benny to see how he responded. He was surprised when Benny followed Daniel's backward move with his head, as if wanting a longer kiss.

149.

"Benny?" Daniel whispered his question.

"Please." It sounded so soft and needy, and so unlike the Benny that Daniel had come to know. He just wanted to wrap him up and give him whatever he wanted. Wait. What did did he want? Daniel was so backward when it came to anything either romantic or s.e.xual that he hesitated, afraid of doing the wrong thing. he want? Daniel was so backward when it came to anything either romantic or s.e.xual that he hesitated, afraid of doing the wrong thing.

Benny must have thought that Daniel was rejecting him. He pulled back and ducked his head. "It's okay. I'm sorry."

Daniel couldn't have that. He reached over and put his fingers on Benny's chin, pulling his head up. Daniel was scared, but he leaned in and put his lips to Benny's, softly, afraid of his own rejection. It didn't happen.