Lima, Ohio - August 2011

“Miss Brenna has company right now, Kurt. Maybe you could come back tomorrow?” the nurse said as Kurt walked down the hall to her room.

“Ill just step in and wave then,” he said, curious as to who her visitors might be.

He stepped in Brennas room and, seeing three young women, all wearing white lacy dresses and looking very much alike.

“Kurt! So good to see you, honey,” Brenna said, greeting her friend. “Come in, meet the Addison sisters: Flora, Violet, and Myrtice. I was their nanny years ago.”

“Nice to meet you, Im Kurt Hummel,” he said, shaking hands with the three giggling women. “It is nice to see you, Miss Brenna, but I think Ill take my leave. I can come back later and visit.”

“Okay, Kurt. I look forward to it,” Miss Brenna dismissed him, so enthralled with her guests.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

Kurt walked back down the hall, feeling rejected even though he knew Brenna loved him. He was jealous and he knew it. And he was not proud of that at all. His feet took him down the next hallway where he heard someone singing:

“Ill be there when youre feeling down
To kiss away the tears if you cry
Ill share with you all the happiness Ive found
A reflection of the love in your eyes.”

He thought he had heard that song before, but it was buried somewhere in the back of his mind and he couldnt quite place it. He followed the sound, not really surprised to find the voice belonged to Andy. He stood at the door, feeling that he was intruding somehow, even though it was plain that Andy was alone in his room.

When the verse ended, Kurt knocked on the door frame.

“Huh? Oh! Young Mr. Kurt Hummel, to what do I owe the pleasure of your company?” he asked, a bright smile highlighting his lips.

“I heard you singing...you have a beautiful voice, sir,” Kurt said, mainly because it was true.

“It isnt what it used to be, let me tell you,” Andy said, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks. “Seventy years can have a toll on your voice if you dont take care of it.”

“But you sounded so good...where have I heard that song before?” Kurt asked. It had hit a nerve with him, sending shivers down his spine in a way he didnt understand.

“Oh, you probably are mixing it up with another song. I doubt you have heard this one,” Andy tried to dismiss it.

“No...I think I know the words,” he said, amazed at himself. Where had he heard it? And heard it enough times that he knew the words because they were in his brain now. Without thought, he started singing:

“Ill walk in the rain by your side
Ill cling to the warmth of your hand
Ill do anything to keep you satisfied
And Ill love you more than anybody can.”

Andy looked at Kurt, a glimmer of a smile gracing his face. A few tears were burning and stinging their way to the surface, but he managed to control them.

“Well, what do you know...” he breathed, stars now dancing in his eyes. Kurt looked at him, feeling a bit strange.

“Who sang it?” Kurt asked, thinking that knowing the artist might spur his memory of when or where he heard it before.

“Nobody...sorry...nobody,” Andy said, now looking distraught. Kurt came over and sat next to Andys chair.

“Whats wrong? Did I say something to upset you? I didnt mean to,” he said, feeling bad he had upset his new friend.

“No, Kurt,” Andy said, laying his hand on top of Kurts, letting it linger there as he looked on. “Im fine. Hey, what happened here?” he asked, touching Kurts cheek and turning his head to see the bruise more clearly.

“Nothing...just a little accident,” he tried to brush it off. Andys grip on his arm got very tight.

“Listen, Kurt. I would like to be your friend. I like you, but we cant be friends if you tell me lies. Understand? You can tell me anything, you can keep anything to yourself - -but dont ever lie to me. Okay?” he asked, his voice desperate.

“No, Andy...I promise. I wont lie to you. No, it was a boy - a bully. He was taunting me at school and it got worse. I said some things that I probably shouldnt have said and he lost his temper. I paid the price for shouting out what was on my mind. I need to learn to be quiet,” Kurt said. He hung his head, knowing he was wrong to try and fight them.

“No, Kurt...you should always stand up for yourself. Just know how to run next time. Is this all they did to you?”

“No. They kicked me and a few other things...but I got away. It has been much worse in the past,” Kurt told him. It felt good to tell someone, he didnt want to tell his dad.

“You know you can come to me anytime, right? I have a great shoulder to lean on, Kurt. I have the feeling youre worth it,” he said, laying his hand back on Kurts arm and squeezing.

“You know, Andy...I think the truth thing goes both ways, right?” Kurt asked, still feeling kind of funny.

“Yeah, I guess it does. Why?” Andy asked.

“Who sang that song?” he asked again, this time his blue eyes searched for and found Andys hazel ones and they locked together.

“I wrote that song. In 1965, for someone I loved very much,” he confessed.

“Then why do I know the words?” Kurt asked, puzzled still.

“I dont know, Kurt. I dont know,” the old man said, breaking eye contact and shaking his head. “I get confused sometimes, kid. I know I wrote that song, and I know I only ever sang it to the person I wrote it for. It makes no sense that you know the lyrics, but I believe you when you say you do. I guess there are things in this old world that we dont understand, right?”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Kurt agreed, a funny pain in his chest easing a little as he sat and talked to Andy.

After that, Kurt would often visit Andy when Brenna was busy. As she got sicker, she would ask him to go visit Andy instead. She got tired easily now and so many of the children she had helped to raise would come to see her and tire her out more. As far as Kurt knew, he was the only one that came to see Andy.

“Hi, kid,” Andy greeted him one Saturday morning.

“Andy, how are you today?”

“Just fair. I was wondering if I might ask you for a favor?”

“Sure, anything, just name it,” Kurt replied, anxious to be of any service to his new friend.

“I cant seem to read anymore. They are going to do cataract surgery, the doctor told me, but in the mean time I cant see to read. Could you maybe read to me?” he asked. “I can pay you.”

“First of all, you will not pay me!” Kurt said, sounding offended. “Second, of course I can read to you. What would you like me to read?”

“Vickie reads the newspaper to us in the morning at breakfast, but I find myself wishing I could go back to the days when I lost myself in books. It doesnt have to be any particular book – mystery, western, drama, fantasy. Anything. What is popular now?”

“Well, I know most people liked the Harry Potter books. Did you ever read those?”

“No. I heard about them, and I saw a movie of the first one, but its hard for me to watch a movie. I cant see the screen very well. Is it possible for you to read me one of those?” Andy asked, a smile on his face now.

“Sure. I have the whole set. Ill bring in the first book tomorrow morning, okay?” Kurt asked, excited to have a project to look forward to. Plus, he got to share one of his favorite books with Andy.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

Several months later, Kurt was reading the fourth Harry Potter book to Andy one day. He came five days a week now, the school day stretching out forever until he could come to Kenton Home to share time with Andy.

“Kurt, something is wrong, isnt it?” Andy asked, concern wrinkling his old face.

“No...why do you ask?”

“Kurt. You know our agreement,” he said, seeming indignant that Kurt would try to get something past him.

“Okay, yes. Something did happen last night.”

“AAAUugggh!” Kurt huffed, unable to stop the noise his lungs made as he hit the backstop of the baseball park. He closed his eyes, wondering why on earth he thought it would be safe to walk home this way. His car had failed to start and a look under the hood found a missing distributor cap. He looked through the cardboard box of old parts like belts and spark plugs that he kept in the back of the SUV - just in case he needed something, but no distributor cap.

The fat boy that had pushed him into the backstop wasnt done, so Kurt balled up, placing an arm in back of his neck and his chin to his chest to try and minimize damage. He prayed someone might walk by, but it was fall and nobody was playing baseball in the park any more this year.

“Stand up and fight like you arent a pussy,” the boy said. Kurt might have gotten up, but there were three other boys there, and they were among the bullies that routinely tossed him into dumpsters and smashed him into walls or lockers at school. One of them had tripped him last year during an assembly and he fell off the stage and broke his wrist.

It was not too long before his savior came, though it was not in a form he had been imagining. It was a big, shaggy dog. Long legs ran under a rough brown and gold coat, a heavy head and large liquid brown eyes. The huge dog must weigh close to 200 pounds. He loped over, sniffing as he went and stood next to Kurt, showing his teeth to the tormentors. For once they paused, looking at the dog.

“That your mutt, Hummel?” the fat boy asked.

“No...never seen him before, but he seems to have taken a dislike to you,” Kurt said. He could never keep his sarcastic mouth shut.

“Call him off, faggot, or Ill cut him,” the boy dug a switchblade out of his pocket and brandished it at the dog.

“I told you – its not my dog,” Kurt snapped, trying to get enough breath to stand up and try to make a get away while the dog was distracting the bullies.

The cowards started to move away when the dog stood up, pacing back and forth, his eyes challenging them. One step towards Kurt and the dog lunged, the boy barely getting back in time as the dogs teeth snapped together on thin air. He growled low in his throat and lowered his head, ears back. The bullies took off across the dark park.

The dog came back to Kurts side, licking across his cheek, and barking once. Kurt startled, the noise was incredibly loud so close to his ear. His hands automatically covered his ears and he closed his eyes. When he opened his eyes a split second later, the dog was gone.

I know that sounds like a story, but it isnt. Ive never seen that dog before – he was huge. He was maybe part St Bernard, but...”

“Maybe part Buick?” Andy asked, a smirk on his lips.

Kurt laughed. “Yeah, he just might be. Ive never seen a bigger dog in my life. He just came out of nowhere, scared the boys off, and when I blinked my eyes he was just gone. Evaporated. I wasnt sure for a few minutes Id seen him at all.”

“I suppose it was just luck. Maybe the dog had a soft heart for the underdog?” Andy laughed at his joke, and Kurt tried to join in but it was too close to his fears and the laughter died on his lips.

Andy saw that and put his hand on Kurts arm.

“Just be thankful ol Buck came along, dont hurt your head trying to figure it out, Kurt. Just let it go,” Andy said. Kurt nodded, still confused, and got the book out of his messenger bag. He settled into the chair and opened the book to the place he had marked and started to read.

~~~KB~~~

Kurt walked down the hallway of Kenton Manor. He walked slowly, his heart dragging. Hed gotten the call last night from Andy. Miss Brenna had fallen asleep and forgot to wake up, he said. Kurt knew another woman in his life was gone. More than simply gone, she was dead.

He tried to make it hurt less by telling himself that she had lived a long and happy life, that he had given her moments that she cherished when he came and sang old Irish tunes for her, or made her Dublin coddle. He hoped with all of his heart that she was somewhere up in heaven, sitting with his grandmother who had been her childhood friend.

He closed his eyes and sent her a thought: Please, tell my mom and my gramma that I miss them and I love them.

Andy was sitting in one of the rooms that Kenton celled “Parlors”. He was at the old piano, playing “Wild Mountain Thyme” and Kurt couldnt help but sing along. This was one of his moms favorite songs and it brought back memories. Good ones.

“Are you coming to the funeral with me tomorrow?” Andy asked, his face sad. He had been close to Miss Brenna.

“Yes. Will you sit with me?” Kurt asked and Andy promised.

~ ~ ~ KB ~ ~ ~

After the funeral the next day, Kurt went back to Kenton with Andy and sat in his room. They were both so sad that there was no conversation and finally Kurt offered to read to Andy for a while.

An hour and a half later, it was time to go home. Kurt came to the end of the chapter, placing the bookmark in the pages and shutting the book.

“I guess Ill see you tomorrow, Andy,” he said.

“Kurt? Can you maybe help me before you leave?” Andy asked. He had wanted to ask this for weeks now and finally gathered the courage to do so.

“Sure, what can I do?” Kurt asked, ever anxious to help in any capacity.

“My old joints are so sore, can you just help me stand up? My hip tends to fall asleep and makes me unsteady on my feet. I just need a hand to get over to sit on my bed,” he said, his eyes hopeful.

Kurt set his things down and was there immediately. He held out his arms and steadied Andys body as he stood up, then walked by his side to the bed. When he turned to face Kurt, the boy slipped his arms around Andys torso so he couldnt fall.

Andy leaned forward, his arms going automatically around Kurts strong shoulders, he pulled Kurt tight in his embrace and hugged him with his whole body, his arms shaking. Andy had no idea he would get this emotional, and now he was afraid Kurt would be uncomfortable – but he couldnt make himself let go.

He missed being touched by another human being. The nurses took care of him here, but it was not the same as having someone to love -and Andy craved love more than most people. The man he spent his life loving was gone and left behind a space so void and empty that Andy wondered some day if he could make it one more day.

He had been on the verge of doing something about it the day he met Kurt, and it was Kurts smile that brought him back from that vast desert of hopelessness.

Andys trembling shoulders told Kurt that he was crying, and Kurts soul reached out and held him tighter, still gentle, but tight and strong and sure. He held the old man close to his chest, rubbing his cheek on his shoulder.

“Dont worry, Andy, Ill be here for you. Im never going to leave you. I promise,” Kurt whispered, trying to reassure the man, trying to make him believe that he would stand steadfast and loyal for as long as Andy needed him. It was just a few moments longer when Andy seemed to wilt a little, his muscles relaxing. Kurt guided him to the bed, helping him under the covers and tucking him in warm.

“Ill be back tomorrow, Andy,” he said as Andys hand gripped his as though he never wanted to let go. “I promise, Ill never leave you,” Kurt reassured him.

Andy was almost asleep, the emotional storm in his chest making him too tired to stay awake. He pulled Kurts hand up close, placed a kiss on the back of it with a wistful smile, his eyes already closed in drowsy sleep.

“I know youll never leave me, Buddy. I know, baby,” Andy muttered as he fell into a deeper sleep.

Kurt looked at him a minute, confused, but he was grateful for the old man. He gave Kurt someone to care about, someone who cared about him, a friend when he had need of one so desperately. He glanced over at Andy once more before he left for the night and saw the sweet smile remaining on Andys still-soft lips.