Love Means No Boundaries - Andrew Grey

He hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket. He could really care less about whatever benefit his mother was planning now. Feeling around, he located the trowel and went back to work. He finished the second plant and moved on to the next.
    Joey finished setting the tomato plants by the stakes. “Can I ask you a question?”
Robbie moved and sat next to the stake and began to dig.
“Sure.”
“Were you born blind?”
“No. When I was twelve, I got really sick, and they thought I wasn’t going to live. I did, but I lost my sight. The disease damaged the optic nerves.” He continued working.
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“So you know what it’s like to see?”
    “Yeah, I do, sort of.” Robbie stopped what he was doing and knelt on the warm ground. “In some ways it would be easier if I’d have been born blind. Then I wouldn’t know what I’m missing. But yeah, I know what it’s like to see. I understand most sight-based references and what colors are.” Robbie explained further. “Most blind people can’t understand color because it’s strictly based on sight.”
    “How do you learn music if you can’t see it?”
“I get it in Braille. But I have to memorize it, because it takes two hands to play.”
“Wow,” Robbie heard the wonder in the other man’s voice.
“That’s awesome. It must be wonderful to be so talented.” Robbie went back to work, feeling the ground vibrate slightly as Joey moved around behind him.
     
“What is it you’re planting?” He heard the sound of something shaking.
     
“Carrots.” The shaking stopped. “I’ve already planted the cucumbers, and I’ll plant squash, beans, some sweet corn, and radishes.” Robbie felt that Joey had stopped working and was looking at him. “You’re doing great.”
    “Thanks.” He finished another plant, the soil feeling good in his hands, and moved to the next stake. “Can I ask you a question?” “Turnabout is fair play.” Robbie heard a note of apprehension in Joey’s voice.
    “Did something happen to you?” Robbie finished smoothing the soil around the tomato. “When Arie saw you today, he gasped, and I heard a slight gasp yesterday from Mrs. Peters.” He heard Joey take a deep breath and release it slowly. “I was in an accident and hurt my face. A couple of cars hit each other, and 28
    Love Means … NO Boundaries
I couldn’t stop my bike in time. I was lucky. I ended up with a few broken bones, but my face got cut up pretty bad.”
“I take it from the strain in your voice that you don’t want to talk about it.” It was obvious to Robbie that he didn’t, but he couldn’t help thinking that talking about it might be good for his new friend.
    “Not really.”
Robbie nodded his head and continued working. Moving to the last stake. “What do you want me to do next?”
“You want to plant corn?” He could hear the tension leave Joey’s voice.
    “Sure.” He was having a great time. He rarely got to do things with other people. At home if he needed something, people often got it for him, and when he practiced, he was alone. This was different and a lot of fun. Finishing up the planting, he sat back and waited for Joey. He didn’t have to wait long, and he felt that gentle, firm touch on his arm, helping him to his feet and guiding him to the next location in the garden. Joey’s hand slid along the skin of his arm and Robbie felt something different, something he’d never felt before.
He became excited, from a simple, soft caress. He felt Joey guiding him back to the ground, and he had to be careful because his pants were suddenly really tight. Every time Joey touched him, he reacted.
    He had to get his thoughts on something else.
Thankfully Joey didn’t seem to notice, and he went about telling Robbie what he needed to do to plant the corn.
    They spent the remainder of the afternoon working together in the garden, sharing stories and jokes. It had been a long time since Robbie had laughed with anyone like he did with Joey. It was great working together, and he just wished he’d be around to see the fruits of their labors, so to speak.
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“You ready to go in for a while, maybe get something to drink?” Robbie nodded his agreement and Joey led him back inside and into the kitchen. Robbie couldn’t remember feeling so tired and exhilarated—or spending the afternoon in the sunshine and fresh air.
    “Did you have a good day?” Geoff asked, as he moved around the room. Robbie thought Eli was