What an amazing, beautiful story!! The way you described the closeness between the three boys and the developing friendship between the three men was perfect. There was nothing overly sappy or contrived, all of it felt real and beautiful. In a sense the boys and the men rescued each other. All of them needed to be loved and to feel that their lives have worth; they found that in each other.

Awesome, awesome story & I can't read what other works you've written.