Benny touched his hand, letting him know he understood, but that he was there.

181.

Chapter Nine.

Time pa.s.sed, and it was good time. Daniel felt better every day, his stomach settling down, and he'd even gotten excited over some of the other good food at the diner. He and Benny were getting closer, and they enjoyed talking to Franklin at night when he got back from the garage. Mano dropped him off at work every day before he went in to the dance studio and picked him up at the end of the day. Franklin seemed to love his work, though he said he wasn't doing anything important yet, but that Mr. Jenkins was nice to work for and was teaching him as they went along.

About a week after he'd been working there, Franklin came in the diner and Daniel asked where Mano was.

"Oh, I told him I didn't need a ride today. I had a way home." Franklin was almost bouncing on his toes.

Boddy came up and said, "What's wrong with you, boy? You got ants in your pants?"

Franklin grinned, something he didn't do very often, and reached into his pocket and handed Daniel a set of keys.

"Your car's out back." Daniel and Benny whooped and went running out to look. Sure enough, there sat the dark green car, a Taurus, and it looked like new.

"Did you paint it?" Benny asked, eyes big.

"Nah, we just washed it. It was really dirty, and you don't want to know some of the stuff we cleaned out of it. It's all clean and ready to go, drives like a dream. Mr.

Webster came by and paid for it today, and I heard Mr.

Jenkins tell him that I was doing a good job for him. I Take It Slow 182.

can't believe how much a life can change in just a few minutes. If you hadn't seen me that day and come looking for me, I would still be on the streets and hungry all the time, if not dead from another beating." Franklin was looking back and forth between Benny and Daniel and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know how to thank you."

"I do," said Daniel. "Did you have any friends, guys like you who need help? I'm not talking about the bad ones who beat everybody up, but other young guys, gay or not, who are too young to be out there on their own but have nowhere else to go?"

Franklin looked haunted for a few seconds and then said, "Maybe, a couple."

"Would you like to ask them to come here, to Mama Sasy's? We can't just go do a full sweep and round up kids, but she has dedicated her whole life to helping young gay guys who've been thrown out, abused, neglected, or whatever. It's what she has that warehouse for back there. Think about it." Daniel said, not wanting to pressure Franklin.

"Yeah, it's not like you are taking up two beds, is it?"

Franklin asked, grinning slightly.

"That bother you?" Benny was quick to come back.

"h.e.l.l, no. I don't care a bit. I get the whole situation, and I'm cool with it. I shouldn't have said that. It sounded snarky and disrespectful, and I don't need to be that way, especially with you. I'm sorry." Franklin looked genuinely embarra.s.sed.

"No big." Daniel said, raising his hand for a high five and getting one from both boys.

"So, what are your plans for your car? Dates?"

Franklin asked.

"No, we were hoping to put some supplies in it and take it out a few nights a week looking for others like Take It Slow 183.

you." Daniel leaned back on the fender and looked at Franklin. "Would you like to help us a little? You know where to find those two you were thinking of?"

"I'll think about it. They're tight, together, you know?

Like, tighter than you two. They definitely come as a pair."

"Can we talk to Mama Sasy about it, see if she's okay with us going out and recruiting boys for her place? I don't think she'll mind, I mean, it's what she does. If she's okay with it, will you go out with us tonight after we get off work? We'll let you talk to them, if we find them, so they won't freak out. But you could give them some stuff, like coffee and sandwiches and so on. We'll make up a pack and put in enough stuff for two. Sound like a plan?" Daniel was getting excited about this. He really thought this was what his life should be from now on. He wanted to find a way to help and this was it.

"You're just all into this, aren't you?" Franklin asked.

"I am. I really am. Benny is, too. He wants to work as a lawyer for causes like this. My dad's going to help him with that." Daniel realized as he said the words that he was proud to admit that.

Maybe he ought to talk to his dad about what he wanted to do with his life and see if Nick had any ideas for him. He'd talk to Benny about it and see what he thought.

Boddy was at the side door to the kitchen waving at them. "Boys, we need you in here. Nice car."

The three headed back in, Franklin branching off to go shower while Daniel headed for the kitchen and Benny grabbed a dish tub and started clearing tables.

While Daniel worked, his mind raced, trying to think of ways to talk to Mama Sasy.

Daniel still waffled back and forth, not knowing how he felt about her. He thought his dad might be in love Take It Slow 184.

with her, and he did know that didn't bother him. He knew that she and her family here had given him a life after they rescued him that day. He owed her so much.

"So d.a.m.n much. I owe her so d.a.m.n much," he muttered to himself as he worked on some dishes, taking them from the washer to the shelf. They were still pretty hot, and he turned to grab a tea towel and b.u.mped right into Mama Sasy.

"You don't, you know. Owe me anything." Mama smiled at him, patting his shoulder.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean--" Daniel was busted.

"I know what you meant. It doesn't sit well with you that you've had to take help from me. You're not sure how you feel about me because of your father. I told you, I understood that and it was okay."

"Mama, how can you be so good all the time? I feel like a total s.h.i.t, I mean, a punk, you know, for taking so much from you and not..." He certainly didn't know how to finish that.

"Not love me as much as you do Rosa?" She smiled at him again, and he ducked his head. He hadn't meant to hurt her.

"Honey, I have love in my life, so much of it. I'm happy to share you with Rosa, and I get why you can talk to her. But, if you ever need anything, I hope you won't hesitate to come to me." She patted him again and started to turn away.

"Mama, uh, wait. There is, uh, something. Can I talk to you later?" Might as well get to it.

"Sure, baby. I'll talk to you after it slows down. You come find me and we'll take a rest in the booth. Mano and Easy have a date tonight. I don't expect them to show up in here at all. I love that boy and what he's done for my son." Mama went off, a soft grin on her face as she thought about Mano and Easy.

185.

Benny came in, dropped some dishes and headed out with an order pad.

"Hey," he managed, on his way to the door.

"Hey, you. Gonna talk to Mama later tonight about what we were talking about. You want to join us?"

"Sure. Good idea, Daniel. We can find out how she feels and then maybe go out later on with Franklin. I hope he agrees to talk to those two he knows. Gotta go,"

he said and scuttled on through the door to take orders.

They were swamped that night. Franklin came in and worked in the kitchen, taking over for Daniel, who went out and helped Benny. He was getting a little more comfortable working in the diner. He took orders, delivered them, scrambled to help in the kitchen, and even helped both Mamas with the cooking when they asked for something.

Hours later, he and Benny dropped into the family booth where Mama Sasy sat with a full plate and a cup of coffee.

"Did you boys eat?" she asked, putting her hand up before they could say anything.

"No, ma'am, no time." That was Benny. Daniel shook his head. He hadn't eaten, either.

"What in the world is going on tonight? Why so busy on a Thursday night?" Daniel asked, stretching his shoulders.

Before she could say anything else, Boddy was standing by the booth with two full plates in his hands, steam rising, smells wafting. Benny's stomach growled, competing with Daniel's. They laughed. Boddy set the plates down in front of the starving boys and went back for their drinks.

"Dig in, boys. What's on your mind, Daniel? Do you need something? Are you happy?" Mama asked, setting Take It Slow 186.

her cup down and picking up her fork, going for more roast and carrots.

"No, ma'am, I mean, yes, ma'am." Daniel felt like an idiot. "I don't need anything. And I'm happy. I've been thinking about what I want to do with my life, you know? I don't fit in with the plans I used to have, and I know what I want to do." Daniel tucked into the potatoes on his plate.

"Well, that's wonderful, Daniel. I'm happy for you,"

she said, draining her coffee cup.

"First, I have to talk to you about something else.

Benny and I were talking to Franklin today, and we asked if he knew of any other young guys like him, too young to be on the streets. He said he knew two, but they were together, you know? I asked if he wanted to ask them if they wanted to come here, but then I got worried that it wasn't my place to offer that." Daniel hoped he hadn't overstepped.

"Honey, I don't care how they get here. I just want to help them. Certainly, if he knows of two young boys who need help -- wait. How are you going to find them?"

"We thought we'd go out tonight and take Franklin with us. He knows them and might know where they'd be. He said he'd go with us if it was okay with you. He said, though, that these two boys were together, that they were like a couple." Daniel hoped that wouldn't matter to her.

"Why would that make a difference? I mean, we're not set up for a couple in love, but we can work around anything. We'll figure it out. If they need help, and you can find them, bring them home, Daniel. I'm really proud of you. I can see it in your eyes, how important doing this is to you. Am I getting a glimpse of what you want to do with your life?"

187.

Daniel felt he had to be strong enough to look her in the eye and answer. "Yes, ma'am. I want to help young boys on the street. I know how your place works. I mean, that all over in big cities around here people know that young gay guys who need help can come to Mama Sasy's. It's a wonderful thing that you do. The network thing is kind of awesome. I'd like to do something like that. I just have to figure out how. I thought maybe I'd ask, uh, I'd talk to Nick about it."

"I think that's a great idea. He might have some ideas.

But, tonight, you all be careful out there. Watch out for whoever beat Franklin. I don't want you all coming home hurt. What can we do to help?"

"When we went out and found Franklin, we took a backpack with us with some food and a Thermos of coffee and a few essentials. I thought we could fix up another one with enough stuff for two and at least give it to them if they won't come in. Franklin had to think about it. They might not be ready to come here." Daniel was so excited at the idea of finding two more young men who needed him that he was almost shaking with the feelings.

Mama reached across the table and touched his hand.

"Honey, don't get your hopes up. A lot of these kids are afraid of offers of help because of what's been done to them before. Don't expect them to come with you right away. It may take a while and some coaxing. I just don't want you to be too upset if they don't seem happy to see you or want to listen to your ideas."

"Okay, you're right. I know what it's like to suspect everyone of being out to get you. Been there, done that, you know?" Daniel wasn't looking for sympathy.

"I do know. How did it go with your dad today? I know you all spent some time at your old house." Nice Take It Slow 188.

the way she called it his old house instead of his home, like she got that it wasn't home to him anymore.

"It was good. Actually, it was kind of weird, but having Benny there helped a lot. We brought back some stuff that he had bought for me. We're going to share some of it with Franklin, too, shoes and stuff like that. I thought Benny could use the laptop in his school stuff when he starts. It's something that's kind of missing--"

Daniel stopped. s.h.i.t. He hadn't meant to say she didn't supply everything they needed.

"It's okay," she tried to ease his mind.

"I didn't mean to infer that you hadn't..."

"Imply," Benny said, quietly.

"Hmm?" Daniel turned to him.

"You said infer, you didn't mean to infer, but you meant you didn't meant to imply something. You imply, she infers from what you say."

"Yeah, brainy one. I remember something about that from school. I got them mixed up. Duh." Daniel hated feeling stupid.

Mama spoke up then."I think it's cool that Benny knew that. That reminds me. Are you interested in getting your GED? I'm sure you don't want to go back to high school for it, and we're used to helping guys study for it. Looks like maybe Benny could help you study, huh? But Nick is used to helping with that, getting it set up and scheduled and so on. What do you think?"

"Definitely. I want to do it, especially if Benny will help me."

"Sure I will. It'll be easy. We can go online and look up some stuff and get started. If Nick can get the information for when it's going to be given again, we'll know more about what we need to do. Here comes Franklin. Want to see if he's ready to go looking for his friends?"

189.

Franklin came, a bit hesitantly, to their table, and Mama scooted over so he could sit with them. He looked surprised at the move.

"Oh, relax. I'm not going to bite you. The boys tell me you might know about a couple of young men who could use our help. Please, Franklin, feel free to extend an invitation for them to come here. Explain that we are not interested in separating them, but we'll have to figure out what to do about them. Don't worry, we'll figure that one out. Right now, they need to be safe and warm and fed. Do you know much about them?" Mama was a force to be reckoned with when she was in planning mode.

"A little. They've had a lot of trouble because they're so...beautiful? They're the most gorgeous boys I've ever seen. The first time I met them, they'd just been in a fight. Seems that this big guy liked the way they looked and wanted to, uh..."

"I get the picture, hon; go on." Go, Mama, Daniel thought.

"Anyway, they're used to staying kind of hidden because they can't help drawing unwanted attention to themselves. You'll see, if we find them. I don't know what will happen to them if they don't get help. Sooner or later, they're not going to be able to fight back. I helped them a few times. I know one place they stay a lot, but last time I talked to them, they said they were afraid some bad people knew about their place."

Franklin looked worried.

"Well, don't waste time here, go find them. You get the car, and Boddy and I will make up a pack for you to take in case you can't talk them into coming back with you." Mama shooed them all away to get ready to leave.

Daniel looked at Benny and saw the same look of determination that Daniel felt inside. He felt good Take It Slow 190.