Dylan - Walt Disney World 2015 - Part 5
We got through Ellen’s Energy Adventure and what I expected to be a boring ride was fun with a first timer. Dylan was enthusiastic from beginning to end and that made the ride experience enjoyable. Even the prehistoric animatronics delighted him. Dylan was snuggled up to me for the entire ride and was appropriate from beginning to end.
“That was awesome Walt, how long before Epcot closes?” he asked as we were getting out of our seats and walking back into Future World.
“We have until midnight, so we have to keep moving to get as many rides in as possible,” I said as Dylan grabbed my hand and dragged me to Mission Space. “I guess we are going to Mission Space?” I said sarcastically but enjoying his enthusiasm.
We had so much fun running from ride to ride and walking on without line-ups due to it being Extra Magic Hours. By the time it was park closing, we managed to also squeeze in Test Track, Journey into Imagination (and he has been singing that ride’s theme song all night), Soaring, and Spaceship Earth. Dylan was the perfect touring buddy.
After exciting Spaceship Earth, the park was closing and as we walked towards the Monorail station, we doubled back and popped into Mouse Gears, the massive Epcot Disney Store filled with all sorts of Disney Branded Merchandise. Dylan was bouncing from shelf to shelf looking at everything and was basically in Disney fan heaven.
“What are you going to get Tiger, they are going to close soon too,” I said.
“I don’t have any money left.”
“I didn’t ask how much money you had, I asked what you were going to get. Go ahead and choose something… anything… my treat.”
“THANK YOU, WALT,” he exclaimed as a cast member heard and replied, “Yes indeed, thank you Walt Disney.” We both giggled and Dylan started to really shop. He picked out a Mickey plush doll, a classic Walt Disney World opening day t-shirt, a pair of Donald Duck boxer briefs and a Monsters Inc. onesie pajama.
“Is this too much, I can put some back,” Dylan asked so cutely… he had no intention of putting anything back.
“No Tiger, you can have it all. I get a discount with my annual pass,” I replied.
“Well then, I should get more if you get a discount. Just kidding…,” Dylan joked.
We went to the cash register and paid for our stuff and headed towards the Monorail.
Dylan’s head was swiveling from side to side, looking at all the sights with this massive smile on his face. As wonderful as a Disney Park is during the day, they are a sight to behold at night with the beautiful illumination.
This was not being lost on Dylan. “This place is so pretty at night. It is more beautiful than I imagined. Thank you again Uncle Walt,” Dylan said as he grabbed my hand and put it around his shoulder. We looked like father and son strolling through the park and we were both happy and content.
As we passed Spaceship Earth again it just dawned on me that I now have to deal with being alone with the boy in my room. I hadn’t really thought that through. How was I going to get through this night without horny Dylan trying to get me to “play” and how was I going to resist devouring his cute and gorgeous body once back at the Contemporary.
I looked down at Dylan hoping I would see a sleepy little boy struggling to keep his eyes open but instead he looked like he was wide awake and ready for more!
“Where are we going now Uncle Walt?” Dylan asked.
“Why are you calling me Uncle Walt now?” I asked.
“I like to call you uncle. Makes me feel like we are more than friends, that we are like family. Also, that is what people used to call Walt Disney back in the 60’s and I think that if he were alive, he would be just like you. Kind, caring and fun,” Dylan responded.
“Ok, Uncle Walt it is, Nephew Dylan. As for what we are going to do now, I think everything is closed so we should head to the hotel. We can go to Captain Cooks at the Poly first if you are hungry.”
“Can we get a snack from room service?” Dylan asked.
“Sure, I guess. What do you think you want?” I asked.
“I want a hot dog and milk,” the boy replied. I hope that was an innocent food request and not some kind of sexual come on. Man, I have a dirty mind.
We arrived at the Monorail station just as the train arrived. The cast member said our timing was perfect as it was the last Epcot train of the night and it looked it. Nobody got off and we were the only ones to get on. We boarded and took our seats and the cast member chatted with us while the pilot left the cab, presumably to go to the washroom.
“Where are you guys from,” Remi from Montreal, the cast member asked. “Michigan,” I responded and glanced at Dylan to make it clear he was not to reply with his home state so as not to raise questions. Dylan started to speak “pouvez-vous parler français.”
“Oui. es-tu jeune français?” Remi replied.
“Non, je viens de l'apprendre pour pouvoir aller un jour à Disneyland Paris,” Dylan replied.
“Génial. Eh bien, vous avez une nuit magique,” Remi said as he left the car just as the pilot walked by and signaled, they were ready to go.
“You are full of surprises. Let me get this straight, you learned how to speak French, fluently, so you can go to Disneyland Paris?” I asked, astonished at what I heard. I understand French, but my ability to speak is so bad that I avoid even trying.
“Parlez-vous français aussi?” Dylan asked.
“No, but I do understand it,” I replied as the doors closed. The Monorail started up and the PA system immediately started up.
“Please stand clear of the doors. Por favor manténgase alejado de las puertas.”
“Welcome aboard the Walt Disney World Monorail System. We’re traveling to the Transportation and Ticket Center. For those of you standing, please hold onto the handrails throughout our journey, and stay clear of the doors. For the comfort of others, no smoking please. Thank you.”
“The spirit of Epcot, has guided the design of all 28,000 acres of the Walt Disney World Resort. You’ll find the application of leading-edge technology evident throughout, as we demonstrate our philosophy: if you can dream it, you can do it.”
Dylan snuggled up to me and asked if he could sit on my lap. He promised no funny business, just a cuddle between Uncle and Nephew. I agreed. He climbed up and sat sideways with his feet on the seat. He just melted into me as we silently glided along the monorail beam for the 15-minute trip back to the TTC. He was true to his word and we just enjoyed the closeness, the peace and the movement of the train.
“Uncle Walt, remember when I said I love you earlier. I really meant it. I really love you. I wish you were my dad and I wish we could be together always,” Dylan said.
I am glad it was dark in the train as my eyes started to leak and I simply said, “You are a very special boy Dylan and I love you too.” He shifted, put his arms around my neck and kissed me sweetly on the cheek. Not some kinky pornographic kiss, a sweet little kiss of affection that a father and son might share. He rested his head on my shoulder, closed his eyes and quietly started singing that darn song again, again and again!
Imagination, imagination.
A dream, can be a dream come true.
With just that spark, in me and you.
We pulled into the Ticket and Transportation Centre and had to switch trains to the resort loop. As we got our seats, the same man and son from the washroom at Epcot got on with us. “Hey, nice to see you again,” the man said.
“Sorry, I don’t…,” I started to say. “They walked into the washroom at the American Pavilion at Epcot as we were leaving Uncle Walt,” Dylan said.
“Your nephew has a good memory!” the man said. “He sure does,” I replied.
“Where are you guys off to?” the man enquired.
“Back to our hotel.”
“Where are you guys staying?”
“The Contemporary.”
“That is where we are staying too!” the man said.
“You should come up to our room and check it out. It is a huge suite! We could all get a snack from room service,” Dylan said.
“Can we dad? I am not tired. Please?” the boy said.
“If it’s ok with Uncle Walt, but only for a little while,” the man said.
“Sure, that would be nice. I am Walt Furman by the way.”
“Rob Masters, and this is my son Ryan. Pleased to meet you. Where you guys from?”
“We are from Michigan, you?” Dylan replied.
“Alaska,” Ryan responded. My dad is a pilot with Alaska Airlines.”
“Wow, a pilot that is so cool! What kind of planes do you fly?” Dylan asked.
“Mostly Airbus A320’s. My main route is Anchorage to Orlando. My boy here sometimes flies down with me when I have a few days off and we hang out in Disney. We are kind of Disney nuts,” Rob said with a chuckle.
“I am so jealous,” Dylan said.
Dylan moved across the car and started to talk with Ryan about stuff that 12-year-old Disney nerds talk about just as my phone rang.
“Hello, Walt Furman,” I answered. A voice on the other end of the phone started to speak, “My name is Rhonda Shultz and I am a social worker at Celebration Hospital. I understand you are acting as guardian for Dylan Butler, the son of Teresa Petrov.”
“Yes, I am, is everything all right?” I asked. “Is Dylan with you now and can he hear this conversation?” Rhonda asked. “Yes and no,” I replied.
Mrs. Petrov is in surgery right now. There has been a complication and there are additional medical issues that the doctor can explain to you when he is finished. The main reason I am calling is to advise that Mr. Petrov has left and said he is flying home tonight. Apparently, he and Mrs. Petrov had a verbal altercation before surgery over Dylan’s care plans. We had to call security and he stormed out saying he was going home and not coming back.
“OK, I am not sure how to respond to this,” I said.
“It’s ok, you don’t have to. I just had to call to make sure that Dylan was cared for and to make sure I had the correct contact information. I am on duty until noon and I will check in with you before I go home and introduce you to my colleague who will help when I am not here. It looks like Mrs. Petrov is going to be here for a while, so my colleague and I are able to work with you as I understand you are not family and you are heading home soon,” Rhonda said.
“Let’s figure that out when we know what is happening tomorrow Ms. Shultz,” I replied. “Sounds good Mr. Furman. Please call if I can do anything for you. I recommend you not say anything about this to Dylan until the full picture is clear. The doctor will update you on Mrs. Petrov’s condition as soon as he can,” Rhonda said.
“Unless there is an emergency, can you ask him or his staff to call after 10:00 AM so Dylan and I get a good night sleep,” I requested.
“Absolutely Mr. Furman,” Rhonda said and then agreed to email me with her contact information, the doctor’s name and other details that he would need.
“Everything ok,” Rob asked in a whisper. “That did not sound good.”
“I will explain later,” and motioned to Dylan. “Meeting you may have been a very fortunate thing. I may have an emergency and need your help tomorrow to hang out with Dylan if you can swing it.”
“You got it,” Rob said immediately understanding that something serious was happening.
Looking back on it, it seems very irresponsible of me to ask a complete stranger to look after Dylan. I did not know him and for all I knew, he could have been an axe murderer. I just had a gut feeling right away that this guy was a great dad and that he and his son would be perfect to help me while I dealt with this mess at the hospital.
Throughout the ride to the hotel, Dylan and Ryan happily gabbed on about favorite Disney park things and paid no attention to the fact I was on a call or that Rob and I were whispering. I checked my email and Rhonda was good to her word and I had everything I needed. One item in the email caught my eye, she had cut and paste the admission information and beside the next of kin section, Alexi’s name was missing and Dylan’s was listed as “’Dylan Butler’, minor. No other living relatives.” I knew his father was dead, but I assumed there were grandparents or somebody else. I looked at my boy and my heart ached that other than his mother, he was all alone.
The monorail came to a stop inside the Contemporary and all four of us filed out of our compartment.
“Walt, I am going to take Ryan to our room and change. We’ll be right up. What is your room number?” Rob asked.
“We are in room 4916, it’s on the 14th floor. Take my extra key card, you will need it to get up to our floor in the elevator,” I replied.
“OK, we will see you soon,” Rob replied as they left for their room and by the direction they were headed, it must be in one of the Garden View rooms.
Dylan and I walked to the elevator and pressed the up button. Dylan buried his head in my chest and wrapped his arms around me and stayed like that while the elevator arrived and the few guests emptied into the lobby. We walked in alone and were welcomed by Mickey and Goofy’s voice. I inserted my card and pressed 14 and up we went. As the doors opened, Dylan raced ahead, obviously very excited to get in the room.
I walked in and closed the door, Dylan grabbed the bag from Mouse Works, and ran into the bathroom. I took my shoes and socks off, grabbed a Coke from the fridge and went out on the balcony to relax and enjoy the view. Within minutes, I heard the washroom door open and Dylan padding his way towards the open balcony door.
“What do you think?” Dylan asked as he modeled his Monsters Inc Sully Monster Onesie. Just as he came into view, I did a spit take with the swig of Coke I had in my mouth and laughed. “You are even more adorable as a big blue monster. Come over here and let me cuddle with my fluffy monster,” I said.
Dylan hopped up on me, lying face up stretched along my body on the chaise lounge. I put my arms around him and squeezed. “This is very snuggly; don’t you think you are going to be hot in this? We are in Florida you know,” I said.
“It’s ok, I am naked underneath. And the cloth inside is giving me a boner. Want to see?” Dylan asked.
“No, I’ll take a rain check.”
“Huh?”
He didn’t understand the expression. “Never mind. No, I have seen it before.”
We lay there for about 15 minutes until there was a knock at the door and we heard Rob and Ryan use the key to come it. “Hello, it’s us. Can we come in?” I heard Rob call.
“No, we are naked!” Dylan yelled. “Dylan! That’s not cool!” I scolded him.
“No, we are not. Come on in, we are on the balcony. Grab a beverage from the fridge and join us,” I yelled.
We heard Ryan exclaim as he walked him, “Holy shit, this place is huge!” “Ryan! Language!!” “Sorry Dad, Holy… um … crud?” “Better.” We heard the fridge open and close and Ryan and Rob walked on the balcony carrying sodas, I suggested they pull up a chaise lounge and relax.
“What - are - you - wearing - Dylan?” Ryan asked.
Dylan got up and modelled his onesie for everyone, I noticed a small monster tent down below, but I don’t think anyone else did. It was only because he had mentioned it moments before I think I unconsciously checked and noticed.
I saw him adjust it and it became less obvious.
“Cool, it is Sully P.J.’s,” Ryan said. “I didn’t know you could get onesies in our size, Dad can we get one of these, it would be nice and warm back home!”
“We got it at Epcot on our way back to the hotel. Want to see what else I got?” Dylan asked.
“Yea!” Ryan said!
“Come on to my room and we will look at everything,” Dylan said.
Ryan is a cute kid, he looks a lot like Noah Hathaway, the boy who starred in Never Ending Story. He is about Dylan’s height and weight, brown hair and blue eyes. He was wearing a house coat and flip flops and showing a lot of bare chest and bare legs but the sash was pulled tight. Dylan was definitely checking him out when he wasn’t looking.
The boys went off to Dylan’s room, which is actually a lock off room #4915 that was open to my suite. I did not book it separately, but it came with the suite and I guess Dylan has decided it is his. It is a typical hotel room with two double beds, a tv and washroom but with an unlocked door to the main suite, it became a second bedroom.
With the boys gone, Rob and I had a chance to chat. Rob jumped in quickly. “So, Walt, what is the emergency and how can we help?” Rob asked.
“It is a long story…,” I started and filled Rob in on the entire situation from first encounter on the plane up to the moment we met them in the Monorail. I left out all of the salacious details of course, but he had the whole story now.
“Wow, you have had a crazy day! What are you going to need me to do tomorrow?” Rob asked. “I think I need to drive over the hospital and get a handle on exactly what is happening. I am hoping that Teresa is able to have a conversation at some point and I need to talk to the hospital social worker. Dylan does not know about the medical complications and that Alexi has left so I want to leave him out of it for now until I know what is happening.”
“So, we for are here for four more days and then I fly out late on our last day. I am happy to help and I am sure that Ryan is more than happy to have a pal to hang out with,” Rob said as he reviewed his schedule on his phone. “What is your cell number, I will text you with my contact information and you do the same so that we can stay in touch. I will send my room number as well.”
“I have one more issue to deal with just to make things even more complicated. My wife and youngest son are coming to join me day after tomorrow. They don’t know about Dylan yet and Dylan does not know they are coming,” I said and filled him in on the audition and the circumstances that led up to this surprise family reunion.
“Mothers love to take care of other mother’s kids and I am sure that your boy will be happy to have a friend too while Dylan is with you,” Rob said. I nodded and hoped that was the case, but I was not convinced that Alicia would be so accepting. I would not confide in Rob about my dark side, but I am not sure that Alicia is not just a little suspicious of my thing for boys and this could lead to very difficult questions. However, she could just accept the situation and help believing it to be as innocent as it should have been.
“I didn’t say anything about it in front of Dylan in case you were not cool with it, but there is a 24-hour pool outside our room and Ryan is wearing his bathing suit in case Dylan wants to go for a swim and that you are ok with it. I know it’s late, but Ryan has swum for the last two nights after we came back from the parks. He gets clean and it tires him out in time for bed at the same time,” Rob explained.
Just as I was about to say that I didn’t think Dylan had a bathing suit, in he walks in a bathrobe and asks if they can go swimming. “Sure Tiger, that sounds like fun but do you have a bathing suit?” I asked. “Yup, got it on under my robe,” he responded. So, I agreed to the late-night swim.
“Let me grab my suit in case I want to go in too. How about you Rob?” Ryan answered for his father and said, “dad hates the water.” Rob just smiled and shrugged his shoulders and said, “Now that is a long story too.”
On the way to the pool, the boys walked ahead of us and babbled on about whatever it is 12-year-old boys talk about. This gave me a chance to talk to my new-found friend.
“So, Rob, I know you are a pilot, so you win the coolest dad title, but what is the rest of your story?” I asked and cringed because the question sounded so rude.
“Let’s see. I am a senior captain for Alaska Airlines. Was in the USAF and flew in the second Gulf War. We are from Washington State, but after a nasty divorce, I took a job in Alaska as a flight instructor and then got an opportunity to fly for Alaska. Ryan lives with his mom back in Seattle, but we have a decent custody and visitation arrangement and I can pretty much have him when I want as long as I keep up his home schooling. He flies to me or I pick him up every other week, which is a huge reason I took the job with the airline… he flies for free.”
“Wow, you are a pilot and a war hero. What other super powers do you possess?” I asked in jest.
“Well, I have the superhuman ability to fuck up a great marriage and military career by having an affair with my commanding officer,” Rob said with a very sad tone to his voice. He looked down as he confessed this and seemed to want to say more.
“That really sucks. The bright side is that you have an awesome kid and you guys are clearly very close,” I offered.
“That is very true, Ryan is amazing and my best friend and my ex-wife is very supportive of our relationship so it’s not all bad.”
“I am surprised you got kicked out of the air force for that? I have heard of transfers, demotions and discipline but I didn’t think they tossed out commissioned officers,” I said knowing a little bit about Military law as I have worked with military families in my practice back home.
“You get kicked out when the person you are involved with is the same gender,” Rob admitted still staring at his feet. “Don’t ask, don’t tell only works when you are not sleeping with your boss.”
“I see, I assume you got legal advice?” I asked, always being the lawyer.
“Remember when I said the divorce was messy, well this is what made it messy. The man I was having an affair with was my wife’s best friend and she didn’t care that I was only bi-sexual and not gay. Her religion, the rumors on base, the end of her friendship with his wife and then the last straw was Ryan coming home with a black eye from a beating he took from the man’s older son. It was best to take my punishment, move on with my life and protect the only thing that now mattered, my relationship with Ryan,” Rob really laid himself bare.
“Uncle Walt, can we go in now?” Dylan asked. It was then that I realized we had arrived at the pool, I was distracted by Rob’s story. “Sure, you two put your robes on the chair here and go have fun.”
Ryan threw off his robe and stood waiting for Dylan. I was transfixed, he was wearing a white Speedo which left little to the imagination. Dylan tossed his towel and was wearing the Donald Duck boxer briefs we just bought. There was no life guard at this hour and only a very affectionate couple in the pool.
I was trying not to stare at Ryan’s gorgeous bubble but as he walked to the pool. “Ryan, why are you wearing those trunks, I told you to leave those in your backpack!” Rob yelled flustered. He turned to me and said, “He is on the swim team at school and his mother has bought him a variety of Speedos in every color imaginable but he loves this white one and I hate it as it is transparent as soon as it gets wet – just watch. I need to just accidentally lose it in the laundry. I am not a prude, but I don’t really want people perving on my kid.”
“Dad, this is what professional swimmers wear,” Ryan yelled back, did not wait for a reply and jumped in the pool. Dylan had a look of awe of his virtually naked friend and watched every move and as soon as Ryan was in, Dylan followed.
No sooner was Dylan in the water than I saw his boxer briefs float to the top of the water without him! Dylan surfaced laughing, grabbed his briefs and held them high. “I’m skinny dipping!” Dylan yelled.
“Oh no you are not,” I yelled back. “Put your shorts back on now or get out.”
“You want me to get out now?” and he started for the ladder with his shorts in his hands. Ryan and Rob were laughing hysterically. “If you really want me to show everyone my wiener, I will!”
“Go for it Dylan!” Ryan cheered. "Show us what your mama gave you!"
“No! That is not what I meant and you know it! Either way you have to put them back on. Just do it now!” I yelled totally frazzled.
“Relax Uncle Walt, I was just joking. It was an accident. I am putting them back on now.”
And with that he did and order was restored.
“Boys seem to have no shame these days,” Rob said still suppressing a laugh at my expense. “If Ryan had his way, he would be naked 24/7.”
“Yup, and I would be ok with that,” I said to myself.
- to be continued -