On The Wire
By Chris James
Little birdie on the wire,
just too tired to fly much higher?
Are you hungry, are you weak,
can you move your little beak?
Sing a song before you go,
away down south before the snow.
Fly now on your feathered wing,
return again when comes the spring.
- Anonymous
Prologue
A slender young boy stood at the entrance to the terminal beneath the American Airlines sign, a single suitcase at his feet. His eyes scanned the crowd of morning commuters rushing past, most were ignoring him, too busy to bother. The boy had been told just to wait and a man wearing a red hat would approach him. Vague instructions, but it was enough to keep him rooted to the spot.
Streaks of black and blue coloring ran through the otherwise long blonde hair which hung down on either side of his face. The dye was already fading, but the shaggy cut covered his ears and fairly well hid his face.
He wore a pair of tight low cut jeans, a dangling chain belt down one thigh and a rainbow colored T-shirt finished the look. The boy was hot looking, he was emo, and anyone who saw the bracelets on his wrist would probably know he was gay. The fact that he did nothing to disguise his look made a statement... he felt free.
His flight had arrived only a few minutes ago and he was worried about missing his connection with the red hat. He looked up at the clock on the wall behind the baggage check-in counter. Nine forty-five. It was all good, he wasn't late.
It had happened just as Kevin had said; no one was looking for him. It was going to be a clean break from his parents. Not that they cared, he felt they would probably be glad to be rid of him.
His uncle had been the first one to call him a faggot, and his older brother had taken up the challenge, occasionally beating him while saying it. He hid the bruises at school, no sense starting a riot there; the other students didn't like him anyway.
He was an outcast and had been since fifth grade. Even back then he had known he would run away if given the chance. And Kevin had provided him with that opportunity. He could laugh now, he was free. Where was that red hat?
He'd been in chat rooms online since he was eleven. Looking for friends, seeking advice wherever he could find it. Being the gay kid was tough, even online. One site after another took him in and then rejected him when he got explicit. Nothing great about logging in only to find an account closed notice. Bastards, all of them.
He had picked up the scent of something new last year when a chat room friend had mentioned this new site called Golden Hand. The webmaster, named Handiboi, had chatted with him personally. He guessed the guy to be about twenty-something from the way he talked.
So it came as a shock when he found out that Handiboi, his real name Kevin, was actually seventeen, just a year older than himself. It was so cool to know that someone was finally paying attention to him after all this time.
Kevin had asked some pretty personal information at first, sexual stuff, embarrassing things. Had he ever... did he do it every day... what did he fantasize about... how did he know he was gay? He was determined to stay; he needed the friendship... so he told the truth about everything.
In return Kevin gave him a nickname; he was to be called BL69 in all future chats. He wondered about the name but embraced it as his own.
K: you know what the BL means don't ya?
BL69: Nope
K: lol... you mentioned wanting to try some oral/anal... that turned me on so F'ing much i thought BL69 would be kewl... butt licker, get it?
BL69: OMG, lol... i just wanted you to know what i always wanted to try. i'm not a virgin, but i never did that ya know...
K: aww sweet... ya got some experience then?
BL69: yeah... a little bit, mostly oral... i never did IT... ya know?
K: think you could handle that?
BL69: dunno... pretty scary if you ask me lmao...
K: nope, that's why you got me...
BL69: i love you ... you know that don't you?
K: aww thanx... you and i... we are all about love sweetie :)
And as they chatted over many weeks and months, Kevin and the other friends who crowded around him in support felt more like his family than the real thing. He sent a photo of himself and Kevin seemed to purr with happiness.
K: gosh... you're so beautiful
BL69: hmm i don't think so... i'm ugly
K: damn boy, you are soooo cute... hot even
BL69: you really think so?
K: if you were here i would show you how much i mean that
BL69: kk... wish it could happen
Kevin asked and guided, suggested and proposed until finally BL69 said he wanted out of his world, he would do anything to escape. And it was Kevin who had explained how it could be done.
K: so you ready to get out of that hell hole?
BL69: you mean it? OMG i would do anything...
K: kk... what if i asked you to have sex with me... or someone else?
BL69: umm... with you no question... but who else?
K: friends... cause we need the money, nothing is free
BL69: uh... i never thought about it b4... is that what i would have to do?
K: sometimes... i know some nice loving guys, it's really ok, sweetie
BL69: you know these guys that wanna... have sex with me?
K: yes... it wouldn't be like you had to do it all the time... and we do get paid. buys the groceries and pays the rent ya know.
BL69: uh... LOL... freedom does have a price i suppose... if you say i gotta that's ok.
K: it won't be difficult, you'll see.
BL69: ok... yeah... i want out real bad
K: kewl... i can make it happen
BL69: how? i mean... why are you doing this? you don't have to...
K: i know... i want to meet you
BL69: really????
K: yes... i think i'm in love
Kevin told him what to pack, for it was still a bit cold up north, and told him what to leave behind. One suitcase was all he was allowed, the rest would be provided. His life was about to begin anew with Kevin by his side.
And with that decision, young Austin Frederick Morgan disappeared from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In this he was not alone... Kevin was a very busy boy. He lived on the internet and finding boys like this wasn't hard, they seemed to make themselves known in hundreds of chat rooms across the land.
But Austin was special; Kevin had felt that from the moment they made contact. Of the dozens and dozens of disaffected boys he chatted up every night, this one had touched something deep inside...
Author's Note: Have I confused you already? A few terms for clarification:
OMG = Oh My God
LOL = laugh out loud
lmao = laugh my ass off
kk = substitutes for ok, easier to type
:) = smiley face
Caps are rarely used in chats, all else is phonetic, figure it out... kk?
Use of the word "emo" here is to define a look, not the music generally associated with the term. Emo is a fad amongst gay youth, an androgynous image of the times.
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