Shut In

Grandpa's Smooth Trick

Dameon shaking stands and looks about, it's the middle of Summer... almost everyone outside saw... poor guy... he is blushing hard as he starts to fumble in his jean pockets until he snags a pack of blue moon ice cream flavored gum. His porcelain but scarred hand maneuvers the package about his palm until he finally manages to get one of the diminishing pack's blocks out. Then he uses his fingernail on his right hand to gently peel back the foil. He really takes good care of his nails, so it's quite easily done for him. The soft pads of his numb fingers bring the small, blue block to his thin lips and then he starts chewing on it. After noticing my gaze, he turns a deeper hue of red.

"Joshua... qu-quit... l-looking at m-me like that already," his fear of outdoors is making him stutter like a little girl... but this manly six foot four mammoth is way cuter... Plus, over the years he's grown very open with me too. I smirk a little bit.

Dameon looks up at me since he's already leaning heavily on me anyway, "There's a ton of garage sales..." He deliberately changes the subject he brought up.

"You wanna go?" I smile. When we were in middle school, we used to frequent garage sales. He would always drag me away. Then one day he quit... I think his Dad must've done it... Though I only think that now that I know about the whole situation... well not everything, but more than other people do I imagine...

"Yeah," he nods at me.

I smile, "You have pocket change, then yes?"

He nods, "A few hundreds... some ones... some fives... a few twenties..." I face palm at how stupid he can be, "And I have some Yen..."

"Yen? What for?" I laugh a bit as Dameon pulls his wallet out to count how much cash he has silently... I worry his social conception for money is a bit off since he has never hurt for it... I know he knows who to give it to and who not to, but he's a bumbling idiot rather when it comes to what is a lot and what isn't... I'm worried he may offend someone. I know he can handle a fight, he's trained himself and he's had personal trainers... but... one offense could cause someone to decide to bring up an old trauma that I don't wanna deal with.

"Every now and then, a renter comes with a kid and the kid thinks Yen is awesome," Dameon laughs, "Then both the renter and the child are happy. Business is easier that way."

"I see," I nod and we start walking across the street. Dameon seems as though he was going to die from fright whenever a noise goes off... wind... car... the highway... his head keeps frantically turning about... trying to keep a steady note on every single bird and person...

"Here," I guide us over to the house directly across the street. It's one of Dameon's renters and he's an elderly man who fought in quite a few wars; especially World War Eleven.

Dameon's eyes light up. He's a secret World War Eleven fanatic, "Dude... he's selling memorabilia..." No one else was there really, so Dameon was even more comfortable.

"Dameon!" the 80 year old with an oddly young appearance yells, "I'm honored to see you."

Dameon was obviously stunned, "Ni-ni-nice to see you, too, Grandpa..." Huh? Grandpa?

Then man walks over, "This your boy friend?"

Dameon nods, "Ye...yeah."

The old man holds his hand out to me, "Call me Grandpa. Dameon used to comeover to my house when he was young. Who're you?"

"Joshua," I shake his hand.

"Dameon, we need to visit more than phone calls and me coming over," Grandpa laughs, "Joshua too, we all do."

Dameon smiles, "I think so too... though I do enjoy our monthly dinners and sunday coffees..." He was actually calming down? I thought I was the only one who could do that... what the hell?

"I've been trying to entice you over for a few years with this garage sale," Grandpa laughs, "I won't sell to anyone else."

Dameon was still trembling as he spoke, "Thank you."

"Take a shot before you throw up again, "Grandpa pulls out a bottle of liquor, then two shot glasses follow, "You got your own?"

Dameon nods and pulls a shot glass out of jean pocket... that's what that's always been... why didn't I ever know that? I thought I knew everything about this guy... I don't...? "Like you taught me, I always carry one."

Grandpa laughs while filling all the glasses, "There we go!" we all take a shot glass, "To Dameon's new era!" The of us all laugh and down it, Grandpa laughs loudly, "Woo!"

Dameon laughs, "Thanks Grandpa."

"Joshua, did you know I taught him to do that when he was six," Grandpa smirks, "So that if I forgot mine I could use the one he had. That and I'd give him a shot before he went home so it was easier for him to handle."

"Oh..." I nod, mind still trying to process what new information I was gathering.

Dameon looks off to the side, "Grandpa..."

Grandpa eyes Dameon, "You barely explained... didn't you?" Dameon nods and Grandpa sighs, "Joshua... Dameon grew up in a broken home. Even that fire hurt him, it was the best thing that could've happened. His mom and dad were gunna kill him! Mother never loved him other than to flaunt him off at her parties and the dad would beat him if he 'displeased' the mother or himself or the family...." Grandpa's eyes are cold and angry, "If that poor excuse for a human ever shows up again, I'll kick his lily ass!"

I smile, "I promise I'll help, I recently found out."

Grandpa smiles, "I got two shovels."

"I rent a nice yard from Dameon, the garden could always use more fertilizer," I laugh.

"I like you," Grandpa pats my shoulder.

"Thank you!" I smile.

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Once Grandpa got Dameon talking... he never shut up... Of course boozing him up helps out. Grandpa got him to relax by getting him to drink. Dameon isn't drunk, but he's got enough in him to relax quite a bit.

"Grandpa," Dameon smiles, "Thanks for the sales."

"It's all been writing for you," Grandpa pats his head, "So learn to love the outdoors again."

Dameon nods, "Hai."

"You should visit Joshua at his work tomorrow. Make him a lunch, then bike it over," Grandpa laughs.

Dameon blushes and I try my best to keep from smirking to myself. He's so cute, I wish I could jump him right here and now. But that'd be bad... And I want him to beg a bit... Grandpa noticed my gaze as Dameon answers, "Really?"

Grandpa nods, "Make a bento."

Dameon nods and Grandpa laughs. My heart fluttered a bit just now.... A bento... Brought to me by the man I love- wait... Earlier he agreed that I was his boyfriend!! Oh damn... My boyfriend is bringing me a bento~~