I sit down at my computer and open Microsoft internet to check my e-mail. Out of the corner of my eye I see my twenty year old son working hard at making the lawn look perfect. My mind starts to drift into a direction I've always known as a "forbidden taboo." I begin to wonder if he's had a slight thought about me and I conclude that he has indeed. I know because what person has not thought about someone in their family? Now I wonder to myself, "Did he enjoy those thoughts?" I begin to develop an idea that could possibly work. I go to sign up for a Yahoo e-mail account so I can get instant messages and emails from him. I spin in my chair thinking of many fake ID's to make up. Should I be: Jim, Rock, Jack, Gary, Troy or someone from London, like Hugh or Marcus? I figure I want to be in the same time zone and have a cool name. What's the hottest name around? I think I will be "Christo." My new age is twenty-five.
I check out the window to make sure my son is still outside working hard. I walk briskly to his room and sit at his computer chair. I open his Yahoo messenger thing and see that he is "Jeffrey_Wally." I laugh. I look around and listen for footsteps and feel relieved that no one is nearby. I minimize everything except the one site he left up which was nothing exciting. I leave and go back to my computer and figure out how I'm going to get him to talk to a "stranger." I come up with the idea that I'm fascinated with him and the way I know him is from college. Maybe he'll think I'm a Christopher he knows... no, can't be that. He won't open up to someone he knows. Strangers, he will.
It's two weeks later and I have managed to get everything sorted out. I send him the first IM, asking if he'd add me to his list and in the message box I say who I am and why I wanted to IM him. Score! He accepted.
Jeff: What's up?
Christo: Me, just kidding. Not too much really, you?
Jeff: Haha, that was funny. Nothing here, just in need of a big massage.
Christo: Aw too bad I live kind of far from you, I'd give you one.
Jeff: That'd be fine by me. My muscles are really sore and it's not like I can ask my mom or dad to do it for me.
Christo: Why not?
Jeff: Isn't it kind of weird? I mean, I'd be naked in front of either one of them.
Christo: If you had only those two to choose from, who'd you pick?
Jeff: Definitely my father. No doubt about that.
Christo: Why do you say that?
Jeff: Because... he's got strong hands and he'd make me feel good.
Christo: True, he probably would. Just ask him dude. It's not going to kill you.
Jeff: Okay, maybe soon. Hey I got to run, we'll talk later! Thanks for IM'ing me buddy.
I know knew my son had something for me. I thought this was a genius way of figuring out his needs and hopefully I could meet all those needs. I shut my laptop notebook and quickly went into the kitchen. I grabbed something to eat out of the refrigerator and turned to see Jeff staring at me. He walked closer and I saw him wincing in some pain from the straining muscles in his shoulders.
"Take your shirt off son." I stare boldly into his eyes.
"Uh ...why dad?"
"You look miserable. You've been working hard out there, thank you so much. Go to my room and lie down on your stomach. I'll be there in a minute."
"Okay, are you giving me a massage?" He looks hopeful and here I realize just how beautiful his face is.
"Yep, even as an old man, I got to find some way to still take care of you."