Posted by Tangie on September 15, 1998 at 09:35:27:
 
 

Tonight's mission was one of mercy. BR's mom called that her vacuum cleaner was broken and could I bring mine over. Well, one excuse is as good as another, so off I went after supper for another Bunny Rabbit (and Storm Boy, as it turned out) evening.

When I got to the apartment building Storm Boy and a bunch of friends were playing in the lane. I walked over and as I approached one of the other boys started yelling "Tangie Tangie, it's Tangie" (using my real name of course). SB turned and ran towards me, jumping up and hugging and kissing me. Well, that was too much for his friend A (who has very fair skin and bright orange hair - natural). A also came running over and he hugged me and kissed me too! That was a bit of a surprise since he's never done that before. It was also a bit of a surprise because his mother was there watching the whole thing. Her reaction? She came over and introduced herself and said how pleased she was to meet me; she had heard so much about me.

I stayed and talked to the boys for a while, but what they were interested in most was did I have Bozo in the car with me. I had to promise to bring him tomorrow; it was the only way they would let me go.

So I went upstairs carrying the vacuum, and spent the next while with BR and his brother and sister. They aren't allowed to play outside unsupervised like the others, partly because BR's and SB's mothers are feuding. Each says the other's boy is a bad influence on hers. BR's mom is right, in my opinion.

I was sitting in an armchair with my hands on my knees, and Mouse (BR's little brother) climbed up and put his bare feet on top of the backs of my hands. So I just lifted, and he rose up, precariously balanced and squealing madly. Well. Then the rest wanted it too. But I used the palms of my hands for the next tries; and BR really loved it. He has such soft, graceful feet (as I told Ozy the other day) and it's really a pleasure to hold them.

Then Vee (the little sister, 3 years old) demanded to be taken to my house. She wouldn't take no for an answer and was on the verge of tears. Well, I had to buy her off. So away we four went to the store for ice cream. On the way we passed by SB's friend's house, and the gang had moved there. I had to intervene to prevent some pushing and shoving, and continued on my way. Then I discovered that I was about to buy a lot more ice cream than I had expected to! As I walked, A came up beside me. He wanted to walk leaning on me and holding my hand. Why do boys do this? They seem to be really striving for affection (his father is long since gone, as is SB's).

So I bought 7 ice cream thingies of one sort and another, and the group milled around me on the way back. At one point the cops stopped beside us, but they immediately started up and left. I think they thought is was a group of boys bent on vandalism, and were reassured by the presence of an adult. I hate it when the old paranoia kicks in. Anyway, last I looked ice cream is still legal here.

I left the boys at their apartment and headed back home, having promised everyone that they'd see Bozo tomorrow.

Tangie

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BR-08 Brief Report - June 25, 1998

Thanks to those of you who emailed me and posted asking me to continue. I've never been able to talk to a blank wall before, and it was getting harder and harder to do so.

I really don't have all that much to report, but last night when I was talking to Storm Boy he insisted that I come back today with Bozo. I didn't really feel like it, but I brought him around 8 tonight. SB was sitting on the concrete step just outside the French window of his ground floor apartment. He was alone, but his mother was talking on the phone just inside. He saw me arrive with Bozo, and was very excited. The next few minutes I spent sitting on the step talking to his mother, while boy and dog went walking up and down the long lane and barking at other dogs. Umm... the DOG was barking, not the boy. His mom was very concerned about his poor performance and poor behavior at school. He actually goes to a special school for children with learning and behavior problems, and I don't know how much good it is doing him.

The sad thing is that I could make a big difference in his performance and behavior, but I'm not in a position to do so. It would require him being with me all the time, i.e. living with me, and preferably away from his mother, who is not really competent to bring up a boy. Her older son, SB's half brother is now 20, and has recently retired from being a prostitute to become a petty theif. SB adores his older brother as the only older male frequently in his life, and I have a pretty good idea that he'll follow a similar path. It's surely only a matter of time, under his brother's tutelage, before he discovers just how much that beautiful face and delightful smile are worth, not to mention the body that goes with them.

But, as I say, there's very little I can do. I can only visit occasionally; the ironic thing is that Youth Protection thinks that he's much better off with his mother than he would be with me. It simply isn't true, but there's no way they'll ever believe that. And I have to keep my distance, for when he gets into trouble (which I really think he will) I want to be WELL out of the picture.

However, it was nice sitting there with him and adoring his undeniably beautiful features. But it couldn't last forever. Soon I went upstairs to take Bozo to see Bunny Rabbit and his siblings. To my surprise, his step father (T, my former prot‚g‚) and BR's mom were there (grandma is usually there in the evenings while they work). T was sick with bronchitis and had stayed home for the day, P (BR's mom) stayed home with him. The kids were friendly as usual, and when T asked me to go to the drugstore and get him some cough lozenges they squealed with delight and rapidly started dressing to go in the car. (They had only been wearing shorts; no socks or shoes.)

After we got back and I said goodbye (3 chocolate bars later) I ran into SB in the lane again. Just as I turned the corner, his redheaded friend A and his mother almost ran into me from the other direction. A was obvioulsy pleased to see me, and grabbed me and hugged and kissed me again; mama looking on and beaming. I said goodbye to all and headed for the car, which was about 2 blocks away. I discovered that my footsteps were being dogged, and not entirely by the dog. SB was on one side, A on the other, and he leaned on me and grabbed my hand again as we walked. Ah if the world were only different and I could spend more time with kids like this.

The only thing that marred the evening was having to listen to the two moms (BR's and SB's) each trash the other and each claim that the OTHER's boy was the cause of all the problems of her own. This whole damned thing started because they were jealous of the attention that I spent with the other boy. In all my years as a BL this is the first time I've ever had mothers fighting so that I'd spend MORE time with their boys.

Tangie

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Happy Birthday Bunny Rabbit (BR09) - July 9, 1998

It started a bit earlier than I had expected, BR woke me up just after 8 with a phone call to find out when I'd be bringing his present (selfish little bugger). I told him I'd be there in the afternoon, after I talked to his mom (who was at work). He reminded me that he wanted a "bonhomme Spiderman" i.e. a Spiderman articulated figure. I told him I'd already bought his present, but that we'd see about the other if it wasn't too expensive.

The present? Well, I got some good suggestions on BC but the one that really took my fancy was a camera. So that's what I got and many thanks to the winner; MarchHare. It was a great idea and I appreciate it. I didn't get an expensive one, but it looks expensive and not at all childish and he loved that part of it.

I ended up at his place just about 4, and he wanted the present NOW. Mom said no, but I over-ruled her (so he could take pictures of the proceedings). When he saw what it was I got an instant BIG hug and kiss, and he told me that he liked it MUCH better than bonhomme Spiderman and that he didn't want the other after all. I really felt pretty good.

Then we (BR, Mouse - his little brother - Mom and I) got in the car and headed off to get his second present; a pair of Nike running shoes. Actually he ended up choosing others, but that's OK. The street with shoestores was closed to traffic for a sidewalk/street sale (which was pretty huge, about 5 blocks long). When we got there I realized that we were going to be walking right in front of a fellow BL's place, so after a quick discreet phone call he and a guest "accidentally" met us in the street. Brief hellos were exchanged, they heartily approved of BR (who is REALLY cute, and was dressed in gorgeous clothes, he honestly looked like a fashion model - which he is). His mom gave me a dirty look afterwards (she knows I'm a BL but doesn't always approve of my friends) but she really didn't mind.

BR and I started play fighting on the way back up the street through the crowd, and it ended up with him sitting on my shoulders for part of the trip. I'm just so pleased to live in a place where open displays of affection between men and boys are met with happy smiles rather than suspicion. And why shouldn't there be happy smiles? There's absolutely nothing in our friendship that wouldn't withstand the closest scrutiny. Heck, even the youth protection people are satisfied, and they're a particularly fussy bunch!

There was some more shopping (mom wanted to buy a Nintendo 64 but fortunately no one had stock - I say fortunately because she had suggested that I would kick in another $50), and we bought a cake. The party itself was a quiet family affair, with mom, grandma, mom's 16 yo brother (whom no one can stand, myself included), me and the kids. I had bought small presents for the other two and was rewarded by a hug from Mouse and an incredible hug and kiss from Vee, their 3 year old half-sister (who is so cute I've made her an honorary boy).

I left about 8, and it was a great evening (would have been even better if the damned window glass didn't fall down into the car door). Later Mom called and had a quiet conversation with me in which she told me that she loved me so much and I was her only real friend and the only person she could really count on always, and that I should never listen to her when she loses her temper. Not such a bad end to the day.

Tangie

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BR10 - A Bunny Rabbit Weekend - July 20, 1998

This has been a lean summer for Bunny Rabbits. Last year he spent many weekends with me at the lake, but his mother and stepfather are working weekends this year so they haven't been there for weeks. However, his grandmother and grandfather decided to come with me this past weekend, and brought the kids along too (well, that's a chicken and egg story; had they not wanted to bring the kids I doubt that the invitation would have been issued).

After a somewhat hectic trip up to the lake during which Bozo decided to exert his authority over us poor humans, the kids decided that swimming was the activity of the day. In fact, we spent a fair bit of the weekend in the water. BR and Mouse's swimming has improved because they're going to a day camp with a pool. But they still like to use Tangie as a destination and resting post. I stand in neck deep water, and they swim out to me. They grab hold and catch their breath, then launch themselves with a strong push back towards the shallow water. This continues for remarkably long periods of time.

I can tell you that if you want a lot of very close physical contact with barely clad boys, swimming lessons are the way to go. Everybody enjoys it and it's perfectly legal. The only problem is that they have a lot more energy than most Tangies.

After one particularly forceful launch (Mouse pushing on my knee with his feet to launch himself) I heard squeals of laughter from BR, and a quick glance showed that Mouse's suit, new and somewhat loose, was residing somewhere below his knees. He joined in the laughter, and quickly pulled it up again. It actually happened a couple more times; I was tempted to help it along, but as it turned out no help was needed!

Then BR, who usually just pushes off with his hand, decided to do a jet-reaction launch by thrusting with his feet into my stomach. Only one of his feet slipped, and went straight into my suit! Now, I can tell you that there are certain parts of the human anatomy not designed for generating thrust, and he found one of them. While it wasn't excruciatingly painful, I don't think I'd want to do it very often!

One problem with having the kids up minus their parents is that I had to be reponsible for everything. Boys of 9 and 7 are not independent beings and have to be watched, fed, scolded, watched again, scolded again, and played with most of the time (if you don't play with them they play by themselves, and you end up spending hours trying to rectify the damage). Then there is all the bitching because one or the other doesn't really want to eat salad, or the other got the good chair first (it's an identical set, but who knows what goes on in their minds). This is followed by Mouse insulting BR, BR hitting Mouse, and Tangie trying to break up the squabble without hitting either of them. I preferred it when I used to be a BL rather than a father.

Saturday evening could have been worse; they curled up beside me on the bed to watch Home Alone 2 on tape. They watched the movie, I mostly watched BR's face (from a vantage point about 3 inches away). Gosh he's nice.

The next day (Sunday) was a repeat of Saturday. BR came with me while I talked to an old friend's wife, and ended up swimming with her 3 year old son for a while. Then, back at my place, I decided to take advantage of the breeze and got out the windsurfer (yes, old Tangie is actually not bad at that sport). Now these machines are unstable at the best of times, but they are infinitely worse with a small boy lying on the back of the board dragging his toes in the water. Not to mention the "I want to go back!" squeals when the wind finally picks up and you start having fun.

Just before leaving I took the garbage to the collection point in the wheelbarrow, and discovered on the way back that Mice and Bunny Rabbits like to ride in wheelbarrows too. For the trip back, to control Bozo, we put him on the front floor with short-legged BR on the seat beside me. As usual, he fell asleep, and for much of the drive my right arm served the function of Bunny Rabbit pillow, so he wouldn't have a sore neck. That, too, is a fairly common occurrence and one that I don't mind at all. And that beautiful skin; I can only end by quoting a recent email from another BC poster:

 
"Boyskin is so lovely. There is nothing else that feels so good to the touch. Whether it's his feet or face or anywhere in between. Some boys, the darkly complected especially, have flawless skin. Flawless! It is incredible. Peer as closely as your eyes can focus and you will see no imperfection, not even pores. When these boys tan, their already beautiful skin becomes even more so, taking on an almost radiant glow."

Tangie

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Bunny Rabbit: The End? - August 20, 1998

This is a sad story, but not entirely unexpected. It looks as if I may have to bid farewell to Bunny Rabbit, without even having the chance to say goodbye. I know that both of us will be the poorer for it.

Let me re-introduce the cast of characters. Nine yo BR is the son of Piranha (a man eating woman if I ever met one) and Temper (my ex-protégé) is his step-father. He has a 7 yo brother, Mouse, and a half sister, Vee (Temper's daughter). The parents are refugees from El Salvador.

Temper has been working for several months now, and recruited Piranha to work with him. They have had a very unstable relationship for years, and she uses the police just like a 6 yo uses "mommie" as a threat and to settle disputes. She is insanely jealous; even the appearance of a woman on TV while they are both watching is enough to send her into a screaming rage (I know; they lived with me for several months).

Last week Piranha had another screaming fit at work and attacked Temper with a penknife. He defended himself and she was bruised when she fell. As usual, she threatened him with the cops, but did not follow through. He, as usual, got drunk and came to stay with me for a few days, during which time she, for the 4th or 5th time, threw out all his clothes and gave away his possessions to her family.

Last night they were both at work, and he stayed as far from her as possible. She was working in a team with his sister, who filled me in on the details. But what Piranha wanted, of course, was for Temper to beg to be forgiven. He did not, and she became increasingly angry during the day. About 9:30 last night, at a meeting at which he was promoted to assistant manager, she stormed out and called the cops, saying he had threatened to kill her. (In fact, the reverse is true; on at least two occasions in the past week she has threatened, in front of witnesses at work, to kill HIM. She has also made this threat in front of me.)

The cops (from a different station this time) came to his office and arrested him. I was called by one of his co-workers and went to the police station at about 1 AM, meeting with about 10 people from his office, including his manager, to discuss strategy. We left about 2 AM, with him still being held. At 4 AM he called and I went and got him; he was released on bail (no money required here).

Now he is back with me and will stay here for a few weeks. At the moment he is making far more money than I am, so this will help considerably. But I'm sad to say that this time there is really no choice. Piranha has been routinely breaking the law for years now, by making false accusations, death threats, and destroying Temper's possessions. This time she will be dealt with. Her credibility will be destroyed in court, and a suit commenced for the property losses. Sadly, this will put her on the street (her welfare is not enough to pay her expenses let alone settle a judgement). In her quest for revenge she has thrown away her ticket to a comfortable life.

But I'm on the side of truth, and unfortunately that will pit me against her, so Bunny Rabbit will be a casualty. I doubt that unless she has a major change of view, and seeks psychiatric help, I will ever see him again. If I had more credibility with Youth Protection I would try to have him removed from her home, but I don't.

No more boys. Oh dear; I'll have to do without hugs and cuddles. I wouldn't make it except for the incredible love of one of BC's younger posters who is giving me something I've never had in my life. I won't identify him here so as not to arm the enemy, but I will give him my thanks. You know who you are; I love you.

Tangie
 

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BR#12: You're not gonna believe this - August 26, 1998

Most of you know that I'd apparently lost Bunny Rabbit last week due to a major blowup between his mother (Piranha) and stepfather (Temper). Some of you have followed my reunion with SB and his friend Red, followed by a wonderful day with Cuz, BR's cousin.

In that case you might be interested to know that as I type this BR is sitting in the next chair with his bare feet on the arm of mine, tickling me under the arm with his toes! In fact, it is getting harder and harder as I to write this. Oh, and Mouse has propped up my other shoulder with his knee.

Today I was sitting downstairs answering email when I heard footsteps upstairs (so did Bozo). It was Temper and Piranha, with the 3 kids, all differences apparently made up. She exploded again within about 5 minutes, but it only lasted half an hour then she asked me to call the police and find out how to drop the charges she had made against him (sigh).

They seem to be staying the night; both parents are asleep upstairs and the two boys are with me. BR has never been so cuddly before; he's been tickling me with his toes all evening and I've been giving him a foot massage. They are watching the original Frankenstein movie (1931?) and seem to be enjoying it; the monster is just about to come to life.

So from zero boys a week ago I now seem to have a surplus of five, complicated by the fact that Cuz's mom doesn't want Piranha to know about me and Cuz, Piranha doesn't want me to have anything to do with Cuz, Storm Boy or Red, and SB's mom thinks I never speak to Piranha (sigh, again).

Ooooh, this is very comfortable; I had an itch and BR is scratching me behind the ear with his toes. Oh dear; Mouse is now laughing hysterically; it seems that the toe twiddling has given BR an erection, clearly visible through his light pants. I’ve just had to reassure him that it’s nothing to be embarrassed or ashamed about; apparently the same thing happened when he was patting the dog with his bare feet.

Tangie