Aging Out

Aging Out: 2

The alarm rang and Tyce reached to turn it off. He wrapped an arm around Austin and asked, "How did you sleep?"

"I think better than I ever have."

"That's good," Tyce said and pulled Austin closer. "For what it's worth, I really want you to take the job."

"Dirk and Jay have to offer it to me first."

"Oh, they will offer you the job. You were a hit with Jay yesterday."

"Yeah, but if I don't get up, Dirk isn't going to be impressed."

"Come with me," Tyce said, "we can at least shower together. ... Oh, shit, am I moving too fast ... I'm sorry ... you might not even want ... I mean ..."

"And I thought I was socially awkward." Austin said with a chuckle. "Here, does this answer your questions?" Austin took Tyce's hand and slowly lowered it until he was touching Austin's hard cock. Tyce moaned.

Then Austin continued, "But here's the thing, I have to first get the job, and second I am going to need some time."

"I know you're going to get the job, and I can wait until you're ready."

"Oh you can?" Austin wiggled his hips and Tyce moaned. Two layers of cotton underwear weren't doing anything to hide Tyce's boner.

"Shit, let's get in the shower before this thing goes off prematurely." Tyce led Austin to the outdoor shower and soon they were laughing, horsing around, and checking each other out.

"What are you looking at?" Dirk asked.

Jay was standing at the back window of the main lodge with a cup of coffee and looking out. "Whatever the rub was between Tyce and Austin it seems to have worked itself out."

At breakfast, Dirk said, "Just a heads-up Austin, Sunday's are pretty hectic around here. Weekenders are checking out and we have to turn the cabins around quickly for the guests who are arriving to start their vacation...."

Peter and Paul sat down each with a heaping plate of food. "Sorry we're late" one of the twins said, "but duffus here couldn't get his pecker to shoot this morning. I think he's worn it out." The table burst into laughter.

Dirk said, "It's a good thing you guys only come to staff meetings on Sunday's. Otherwise, I'd have to write one of you up ... well, I would if I could figure out which was which."

Austin smiled and pointed, "That's Peter, and that's Paul."

"Damn, how do you do that?" Paul asked.

"Okay, back to business. Tyce you will be working with Jay and the Things at The Ledges. If you get a chance, Jay and I are meeting with Austin, Edgar and Tim at three, I think you should be there as well." Tyce gave Austin a squeeze on the leg under the table.

"Austin, you'll be working with Elsie. She'll show you what we have to do to get the cabins ready for new guests. Are there any questions? ... If not, let's finish breakfast and get busy."

After breakfast, Elsie took Austin to a little building with a sign that said housekeeping. "Dirk will radio us when a cabin is ready to be cleaned. This building is where we keep the cleaning supplies and equipment, and the guests welcome gifts. It is also our laundry. We can start making up some welcome baskets for the cabins. We keep a list of what goes into each basket over on that wall. There are two baskets for each room. One goes on the table in the main room and one goes in the bathroom. You can work on the bathroom baskets. Here's the list."

Austin started going down the list: designer soap, shampoo and conditioner, massage oil and lotion,..... "Dude wipes, condoms, and lube?"

"Yes," Elsie said, "You do know this is a gay resort, and gay guys come here to have a gay time?"

"I know that. I just thought they would bring their own ... supplies?"

"Most do, but sometimes people forget, and no one wants to drive 20 minutes to the nearest Walmart at 10 p.m. to buy condoms and lube from a teenager."

"I guess not," Austin said a bit awkwardly.

"Look kid, when you work in hospitality you quickly learn that people are going to have sex and you are going to have to clean up after it. It's not like people are pigs, well at least most of them, but sometimes shit happens ... oops, I should have saved that bit of info."

Austin laughed.

"See that's what you got to do. Just laugh. I've seen and found some pretty crazy stuff in these rooms. But my motto is: If it feels good, and no one gets hurt, then just do it. It will also get easier when someone takes your cherry."

"How do I know I'm a virgin?"

"O come on boy, your ass is so tight you could join the Junior League. Now, finish up making those welcome baskets so we can load up and be ready when Dirk says the first cabin is vacant."

Housekeeping had a Mule with a trailer for hauling around supplies and equipment. Dirk called and let them know that Cabin 14 was ready to clean. Elsie gave Austin a list of things to do to clean a cabin. "We do the cabins in this order, that way we don't forget anything. First start with the kitchen; make sure the dishes are in the dishwasher, the counters are wiped down, and the fridge is empty. Next, collect the linens and put them in the back of the Mule.Then clean the bathroom shower, toilet and sink. Finally empty the trash, sweep the floor, make the beds and restock the bathroom. We got 20 minutes per cabin. So let's get a move on."

Austin had to hustle to keep up with Elsie. She was fast and there was little wasted motion. Eventually, Austin caught on to the process and Elsie had him clean a couple of cabins by himself. "Nice work kid. I'm impressed. You're going to make Tyce a nice housewife someday. Don't think I didn't see the looks you were sneaking at each other this morning."

Elsie's radio squawked, "Elsie, can you send Austin up to the lodge office."

"Sure Dirk, he's on his way.

When Austin got to the office, Edgar, Tim, Dirk, Jay, and Tyce were already there. "Have a seat," Dirk said. "I won't beat around the bush. Jay was impressed by your work yesterday at The Ledge. I talked to Elsie and she had the same assessment. I haven't had a chance to work directly with you, but I've seen enough to agree with their assessments. Tyce feels the same, but we can't trust his judgement because...well, because he's lost all objectivity."

"So this is what we can offer," Jay said, "Room, board, healthcare and $900 a month. I know that isn't a lot, but we're hoping there are intangibles that make up the difference."

Austin looked at each person in the room. When he finally got to Tyce, there was no doubt that the Walt Whitman was now home. He smiled and said, "I'll accept your offer."

After hugs and congratulations, Edgar said, "Tuesday evening is your high school graduation ceremony. I will come down Tuesday morning to pick you up and then I'll bring you back on Wednesday. I've already okayed it with Dirk and Jay."

Austin looked at the floor and said, "You don't have to do that Edgar. Graduation isn't that big a deal."

Before anyone else could speak, Tyce said, "No Austin, graduation is a big deal. You've earned it, and you deserve to walk just like everyone else." Tyce looked at Dirk and Jay. Dirk gave a nod. "Edgar, I'll bring Austin up for his graduation." Austin was about to object, when Jay put his arm around Austin and said, "It's settled son."

"Great," Edgar said, "Tim is working the late shift all next week, so you guys can keep me company. If you want, you can drive to Edmond after work on Monday, after I get off work we can all go to the ceremony, and then you can come back Wednesday morning."

"Sounds like we got a plan." Dirk said, "Now I've got to get back to the desk. I have six more reservations who still need to check in."

"Yeah, and I need to be sure The Things have everything ready for tomorrow," Jay said.

When Edgar and Austin were alone in the office, Austin threw his arms around Edgar and began to sob, "Thank you Jax. I was so scared. I had no idea what I was going to do, or where I was going to go. No matter what, you are the one person who has never let me down."

Edgar held Austin and whispered, " It was you who never let me down."

Supper was again good, it was Jay's night to cook and he made spaghetti and meatballs, salad, and garlic bread. With Tyce present the conversation was even more lively. During supper Austin was informed that starting the next week he would be added to the cooking rotation. The look on Austin's face must have been one of sheer terror, and the table broke out in laughter.

"Don't worry", Dirk said, "You can't be worse than Tyce was in his first couple of attempts. To this day I still can't figure out where the idea for spam and lettuce soup came from."

"We finally had him spend a week in the kitchen with Molly so he could learn the difference between cooked and burnt." Jay added.

"Sure, make fun of me." Tyce said. "I didn't see either of you turning down my pork chops and wild rice last week."

"No," Jay said as he tussled Tyce's hair, "You've become a pretty good cook, that's why we're assigning you to help Austin make his first couple of meals."

After dinner the four sat on the deck and just relaxed. Austin enjoyed the relaxed company of the guys. When they had something to share they did, but the rest of the time they simply sat without the need for forced conversation. Eventually, Dirk and Jay said goodnight and left Austin and Tyce alone.

The two gazed at the little points of light set in a black Oklahoma sky. The sound of crickets and the occasional bullfrog broke the silence.

"Tyce?"

"Yes."

"You know I'm a virgin."

"And you want to know about me."

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me."

Tyce took a deep breath, "My first sexual experience was when I was fifteen .... I wasn't ready. It wasn't like I was forced, but I wasn't ready."

Tyce and Austin sat in silence for two or three minutes. "A neighbor of one of my foster families had a son who I used to hang out with, Tyce said. He was a senior and I was a freshman. One day, I was at his house and we were kind of wrestling. I started to get hard from the touch and attention. He noticed and, well it wasn't long before we were naked ... then things just sort of happened.

"Oh."

"The first time we just gave each other hand jobs. I think I was his first. He didn't seem to know anymore about it than I did. But when I came, it felt so good. Having someone else jack you off is so much more intense. You would think it's the same, but it's not. I think it's the touch of another person, of not being in control. When he finally came I think he may have actually passed out for a bit. I have never seen so much cum."

"After that," Tyce continued, "we avoided each other for a week. His family was religious and I think he felt guilty. Then one Saturday we were both home alone. He invited me over and we were hanging out in his basement. He eventually started. Touching me, and I got hard. This time he wanted more than a hand job. He wanted me to suck him. I said I wasn't ready for that, but he was a wrestler and he easily pinned me to the ground. Then he started rubbing his cock on my face. I just kind of stopped resisting and before I knew it his cock was in my mouth. I am sure it was the worst blow job ever. But when you're a horny eighteen-year-old boy a blow job doesn't have to be particularly good. He eventually came and all I can remember was wanting to spit his spunk out and brush my teeth. He refused to return the favor. He just got up, said `thanks kid,' and walked upstairs."

What an asshole," Austin said.

"Yeah," that was the end of that. He tried to get me to suck him again, but I refused. If he couldn't or wouldn't reciprocate, I was done with him. I might be a cock sucker, but I'm nobody's bitch. A week later, I was moved to a youth home and a different school. I never saw him again."

Austin was silent, not knowing what to say to Tyce, then Tyce said, "Hey kid, the story of my first fuck will have to wait until another time. We have work to do tomorrow and then a long drive, so it's time for bed. I'll just tell you my first fuck was a lot better."

As Austin was getting ready for bed, he said, "You can sleep naked ... I mean if you want. I know you said you liked to."

"Are you trying to tempt me?" Tyce said with a smile.

"Maybe."

"I'll only sleep naked if you do too."

Austin slipped off his briefs and threw them at the laundry basket. "Okay," he said with a smile.

"Damn," Tyce said as his gaze took in Austin's long, athletic body. "You aren't going to make patience an easy virtue."

Tyce turned off the light and slipped into bed. It wasn't long before Austin slid in next to him. After a quick kiss that Tyce could feel all the way down to his cock, Austin lay his face on Tyce's left pec and a hand on his right pec. Austin absent-mindedly played with the hair on Tyce's chest, and Tyce wondered how he would ever get to sleep.

Then, Austin slowly began sliding his hand down Tyce's torso; any thought Tyce might have had of protest was smothered by an overwhelming need. After counting Tyce's abs and exploring his navel, Austin ran his finger through a forest of pubes and grasped a thick, hard, seven inch cock. Slowly, gently Austin began to stroke Tyce. As Tyce's breathing became shorter and more urgent, precum was slickening the shaft. Now, Austin's hand could easily glide the full length of Tyce's manhood. On each stroke, another spurt of pre was milked from the engorged penis. Deep inside himself, Tyce could feel a building storm. Muscles tightened and spasmed, eyes rolled back, and Tyce's testicles and cock strained to eject rope after rope of pearly white cum. Austin's face received the first blast and successive streams flooded Tyce's muscular torso.

Finally, Tyce's body went limp, the tension released, and Austin kissed Tyce with cum covered lips saying, "Now you can sleep."

The next morning, Tyce and Austin again showered outside together. Tyce was washing Austin's back when he whispered. "Thank you for last night. I would have taken care of you."

"I know you would have, but I wanted last night to be about you." Then Austin turned around and kissed Tyce.

At the staff meeting Dirk said, "We're hosting a softball tournament this weekend. The teams should start arriving Thursday night and the games start at noon on Friday. We only have a few cabins rented between now and then, so Elsie you will have plenty of time to get the rooms ready for the weekend. We will be at full capacity from Friday until they leave on Sunday. In addition to the guys that are staying at the resort, there will be around a hundred players staying elsewhere who will be on site during the day. Molly, have you been able to find additional help for the dining room?"

"Yes, my sister and cousin will be helping out. Friday night we will be doing hamburgers and sides picnic style, so that should let us feed a lot of people outside. During the day we will have several concession areas set up with hotdogs, brats, snacks, and drinks. For Saturday, Big Ed's BBQ is catering the meal, so all we have to do is drinks and desserts."

Jay was next, "We haven't scheduled any float trips after Wednesday morning, so Peter, Paul and I will be helping with getting the resort ready and hosting the tournament. During the tournament, players who are not guests of the Walt Whitman will park at The Ledges and we will use the busses to shuttle them to the lodge."

"Now for the curveball," Dirk said, "I talked to the organizers of the tournament last Friday, and they want us to open at least part of the Backwoods this weekend." Tyce, Molly and the girls let out a collective groan. "I know it's asking a lot. Jay and I really weren't going to say yes, but they sweetened the deal. We will pay each of you an extra 300 dollars if we can get the Backwoods open for the tournament."

"What is the Backwoods?" Austin asked.

"Adjoining the back of the Walt Whitman was a naturist park,"Jay said. "It came up for sale last year and we and several investors bought it with the intention of creating a clothing optional men's club. The problem is that it hasn't been in use for several years, so we are gradually making repairs and upgrades. The pool company finished repairs last week and they are going to fill it today, test the equipment, and start getting the water treated. So we need to get the rest of the pool area open."

"A couple of the co-investors are local, and they will be here today to help with the Backwoods," Dirk said. "Tyce and Austin, I want you to help them. What time were you planning to leave tonight for Edmond?"

"I'd like to be on the road by five," Tyce said.

"If you guys knock off around four, you should have time to grab a shower and something to eat before hitting the road. We need you two back by noon on Wednesday if we hope to be ready."

"Not a problem," Tyce said.

After breakfast, Dirk took Tyce and Austin to the Backwoods to get started on the clean up. There was a trail just wide enough for the Mules to navigate connecting the Walt Whitman and the Backwoods. At one point there was a gate that Dirk had to unlock. A sign said "Ouachita Naturist Center, Members Only." Dirk pulled down the sign and said, "I guess we missed this one. The first thing we did when we bought the place was legally change the name to Backwoods. The previous owner occasionally had a few tourists mistake the place for the Ouachita Nature Center, and there were surprises all around when a mom, dad, and three kids piled out of a minivan to see some wildlife and got a glimpse of the wild life instead."

Just over a rise that blocked the view of the Backwoods from the Whitman was the pool. It was a large L shaped pool that looked like a typical municipal pool; a chain link fence surrounded it and enclosed several structures. There were three men standing beside pickup trucks and Dirk drove over to them. "Hey guys," Dirk said, "I'm sorry we're late. The staff meeting went a bit long this morning."

"Not a problem," said a handsome guy about 45 with a grey beard and who looked like someone who did physical labor for a living.

Dirk made introductions, "Tyce and Austin, this is Benjamin Adams, but most of his friends call him Gentle Ben, and this is his partner Jeff Rogers." Next Dirk introduced Cory Sanders, "The pool company that repaired the pool is owned by Cory's family and he is going to fill the pool, and then show us how to keep it working."

Cory shook hands and said, "Fortunately, the previous owner was one of the volunteer firefighters for this district. So when he hooked up to camp to the Rural Water System, he decided to install a main large enough for a fire hydrant. Not only does it mean the fire department doesn't have to run all the way back to town for water, it also won't take four days to fill that pool with a garden hose. If I can get some help with the fire hoses, we can start the fill."

It wasn't long before a stream of water was filling the pool. "Cory said, "I'll be back periodically to check on the progress."

"If you are here around noon, join us at the Whitman for lunch." Dirk said. "Molly declared lunch will be a taco bar since it will be just staff, extra help and contractors eating. Oh, she did say something about strawberry shortcake."

"Thanks, I will be back anytime I can get some of Molly's cooking, and I do love strawberry shortcake."

Dirk headed back to the lodge and Ben said, "Tyce, you can help me in the club house and Austin you help Jeff get the outside ready."

"Come on Austin," Jeff said, "We can start in the shower house." The shower house was a long building that was situated across the pool from the club house. The building was at least 40-years old, and on the outside it wasn't anything special, just a painted cement block building. However the inside was a different story.

"Wow," Austin said.

"That's the reaction I wanted to hear," Jeff said. "In our spare time, Ben and I have been working on remodeling this place. We had to gut it all the way to the foundations. We even broke out the old cement floor to replace the drains."

The new floor was cement stained to look like the native rock. The walls were covered in corrugated steel. In the locker room, maple wood lockers contrasted nicely with the industrial steel. The lockers were arranged to create three changing bays, which gave the large room a more human proportion and reduced the cavernous echo. On one side of the locker area were toilets and sinks, and on the other a large open shower with spaces for ten to fifteen men to shower, depending on their level of intimacy. An exterior door opened into the outside shower area and then into the pool.

Jeff said, "We need to finish removing all the leftover construction materials and then give the place a quick once over. It shouldn't take long in here." Austin and Jeff carried the extra material to a storage building just outside the pool area; then started wiping down the lockers and fixtures. It soon was getting warm and Jeff stripped off his Adams and Rogers Const. T-shirt. Austin's cock reacted to the sight of Jeff standing shirtless with streams of sweat running down his torso and disappearing into the waistband of his cargo shorts.

Jeff was about 25, 5'11", 180 pounds and chiseled muscles. His blond hair and green eyes made him a perfect candidate for an A&F model. Eventually Austin stripped off his shirt and Jeff commented with a Cali surfer voice, "Nice body, dude."

"Thanks, you too."

"The answers are yes, and yes," Jeff said.

"Huh?" Austin said.

"The answers to the questions you've been wanting to ask since we met. Yes, I'm gay. Yes, Ben and I are more than just business partners. Hell, if there were enough room on the door of that truck I would have had `Adams and Rogers Const. Co. and Smoking Hot Fuck Buddies" painted on it."

Austin laughed.

"So are you going to ask the next question?"

"What question?" Austin asked a bit defensively.

"Why Ben?" Jeff said.

"That's none of my business."

"Nope it isn't, but if we are going to be friends, I think I should satisfy your curiosity. The answer is I am hot for daddies, and Ben is a great Daddy Bear. Not just because he is so ruggedly handsome, but he is also loving and caring. I have never felt so safe as when he has me wrapped in his arms, and I feel his belly nuzzled into the small of my back."

"That I understand. Tyce makes me feel safe."

"So, you are a thing?"

"I don't know. We only met two days ago, but I have never felt so ...."

"Connected?"

"Yes, connected is a good way to describe it. It is like there is some invisible wire between us and every time he smiles or speaks it sends me a jolt of happiness."

"So is the feeling AC or DC?"

"AC or DC?"

"Yeah, an AC current flows both ways. A DC current only flows one way."

"I don't know. I hope it's AC," Austin said, realizing that he was falling for Tyce without knowing whether Tyce felt the same way.

In the clubhouse Ben and Tyce were having a similar conversation. "I hope he is into me," Tyce said. "It's just that he is fresh out of the system and well, if he is like I was, it's hard to know what you want and even harder to connect to people. You get so used to being jerked out of one place and dropped into another, you just become emotionally withdrawn. When they move you, no one sees the invisible garbage bag that you carry around your feelings in."

"That has to be tough," Ben said. "I grew up dirt poor; hell, that was everyone in this part of the state., except the bankers and the politicians. But I had a family, even if they were redneck trailer trash."

"So when did you come out?" Tyce asked.

"I don't know if I ever came out as much as it leaked out. I was in the army when I and a buddy started hooking up. We had to keep it quiet because it was still "don't ask, don't tell." My sister was the first to figure out that I was gay, and she told a few of my cousins. Eventually, someone told my parents."

"How did they take it?"

"You know, I thought they would be all ready to cast me into hell, but my daddy's comment was, I don't give a shit bout who or what you fuck.' I later learned that all the `bachelor uncles and cousins' weren't too shy to ask a woman to marry, they were just too busy shagging boys to get around to it."

"So what you're telling me is there were gay men in your family long before you."

"And women, `bachelors and old maids' are an old Adams family tradition. We've been "don't ask, don't" tell for generations."

"You said your dad didn't care; how about your mom?"

"Well she wasn't from around here and had been raised Southern Baptist; whereas, my dad's side of the family were raised in the Church of Mind Your Own Business. It took her a while, but in the end she loved me too much to hate me."

After a bit Tyce said, "Can I ask a question?"

"Okay."

"How did you and Jeff hook up?"

"Jeff's family was full on Southern Baptist and when he came out, they threw him out. He was trying to hitchhike his way from Tennessee to California. I happened to be picking up a load of hardwoods from a small mill in Arkansas when I saw him on the road. I wouldn't have stopped, but it was pouring rain and he looked like a wet puppy. He was only eighteen and meals had been a bit scarce since he left home. After he got in the truck and I saw the condition he was in, I had to at least give him a meal, a shower, and a warm bed for the night."

"The next morning he told me his story and it broke my heart. I said he could stay with me until he was ready to continue on to California, then I would drive him up to I-40 where he could likely catch a ride with a trucker headed West. It turns out he was never ready to go to California."

"It sounds like Jeff got lucky that you stopped and picked him up," Tyce said.

"I think we both got lucky. At first I wasn't sure about my being so much older than Jeff. Of course I was flattered that Jeff was attracted to me, but I really didn't think a daddy fetish was something to build a relationship on. It turned out that our life together is built on so much more than I ever imagined possible. That's why I asked Jeff to marry me."

"Congratulations Ben. That is so great."

"What's so great?" Austin asked as he and Jeff stepped into the clubhouse.

Ben looked at Jeff and said, "Sorry hun, keeping it a secret was killing me and I had to tell someone or I would burst."

Jeff smiled, "I couldn't hold it any longer either so I told Austin. It just kind of slipped out."

Ben and Jeff grabbed each other and kissed, and Tyce slipped his arm around Austin's waist and pulled him closer.

A truck door slammed outside and Cory was back to check on the pool. When the four walked out on the pool deck Cory was lowering a submersible pump into the pool's deep end. He then attached an intake hose and an out take hose to two connections in the pool's mechanical room. Cory said, "The water isn't high enough to use the filtration system to run the water through the solar heater, but we can bypass it and start heating the water. If you were to jump into the pool right now, your cock would go so far into hiding you wouldn't see it until the 4th of July."

"Yeah," Ben said, "it's probably not good advertising for a clothing optional gay club to get the nickname Camp Teenie Weenie Pee Pee," and the group laughed.

Cory looked at his watch, "I'm here for some of Molly's tacos. I'm starved." The group loaded the Mules and headed for the Lodge.

During lunch, the younger guys were sitting at a table, and like often happens the conversation turned to sex.

"Four inches," laughed Cory.

"That is the same thing girls do when I tell them I have a four inch cock, they laugh. Paul said with a sad face. "Of course they stop laughing when they see it, because the truth is few girls can handle a dick that thick."

The group laughed. Then Cory asked. "So have you guys gotten any from customers?" Paul looked at Peter and smiled. "I saw that," said Cory. "Now you have to tell."

"Last summer there was a MILF who said she'd never had twins and gave us each a blow job behind the equipment shed," Peter said.

"Damn," said Cory, "Was she good?'

"She was okay," Peter said.

Then Paul added, "But her husband was better."

Tyce was in the middle of taking a drink of iced tea and that comment caused him to spray the table. When he recovered, Tyce ask so are you guys straight, gay, bi, or what?"

Peter looked at Paul, laughed and said, "I think you would call us any-sexual."

"Yep," said Paul, "Any sex and we are down."

"So how about you Austin," Cory asked.

Austin looked down at the table, and Cory said, "Oh shit, I didn't mean ... shit I've got a big fucking mouth."

"It's alright," Austin said, "I'm just old fashioned. You know, saving myself for the right guy." Tyce smiled.

Dirk stood up, and everyone knew the silent signal that it was time to get back to work. The afternoon flew by. On each end of the pool was an open air pavilion. Austin helped Jeff hang strings of lights and check the sound system. The front of the clubhouse had two doors that looked like they came from an aircraft hanger. Tyce and Ben greased the rollers and adjusted the openers so they would raise and lower smoothly. Just before four o'clock Cory came back and Ben called everyone into the clubhouse for a progress meeting.

Cory started, "I will be back tomorrow morning to finish filling the pool and reconnect the solar panels to the mechanical system. I will also start adding chemicals. Tyce and Austin, when you get back Wednesday, I'll show you how to maintain the pool."

"When can we swim in the pool," Tyce asked.

"You should be able to swim Thursday evening. The water will still be a bit cool, but it should be ready to go."

"I know Thing 1 and Thing 2 want a chance to try out the pool, and since they aren't yet eighteen, Dirk won't let them over here after Thursday evening," Austin said.

"Tomorrow morning, Cory's dad is delivering two 12-person hot tubs," Ben said, "so Jeff and I will be helping get those set up. Wednesday morning Jeff and I will make sure the beer taps and cooling system is working. After that it's assembling and placing deck furniture. Thursday Jeff and I have to get back to our customers, so Tyce and Austin, you will have to finish decorating and cleaning up. I'm sure Dirk has instructions for how he wants the place organized and stocked. If there are no questions, then Tyce needs to get Austin to get to Edmond for his graduation."

After goodbyes, Austin and Tyce hurried to the lodge to get ready to leave.

After a quick shower and grabbing a bite to eat. Tyce said, "We have to go down to The Ledges. I keep my car in the equipment shed." At the shed Jay was just returning with the last group of the day. Peter and Paul tumbled off the bus and ran over to the shed.

Paul said, "We haven't seen your car since the paint job."

"Okay," Tyce said, "Let me get it out and you can take a look. The paint shop did a great job."

Tyce walked to the back of the shed and pulled a cover off his car, then slowly drove it out into the sun. Peter, Paul, and Austin were in awe of Tyce's car, a 2010 Dodge Charger SXT. It was painted a stunning metallic black.

"That is so syck!" Peter exclaimed.

"How did you get such a great car," Paul asked.

"Jay has a cousin who is always going to car auctions and she found it for me."

"She?" Paul said.

"Don't be a sexist ass," Peter said, "girls can be just as much into cars as guys." Tyce and Austin laughed.

Tyce continued, "Last winter, Dirk helped me rebuild the engine. That was actually the best part of getting this car. Doing things with a dad is something foster kids don't really get to do. So doing things with Jay and Dirk isn't really work, it's filling in a missing part of growing up."

"Shit, now you're making me feel bad for griping when dad wants me to help him do something," Paul said. "Sometimes I forget how lucky we were that someone was crazy enough to adopt Peter and me."

Tyce noticed Austin standing in silence. He wrapped his arms around Austin and said, "Hey buddy, you've got a family now." Peter and Paul joined in the hug, Peter said, "And we are your annoying little brothers."

Austin and Tyce were finally loaded in the car. On his way out the lot Tyce punched the gas and laid some rubber to the hoots and hollers of the twins.

Tyce turned up the radio and pointed the car on road to Edmond. Tyce and Austin reveled in the freedom of the road. All too soon Tyce was turning the Charger into Edgar's and Tim's driveway. Edgar greeted the two boys and warmly welcomed them. "I'm sorry Tim won't be around to see you, but they are short on staff at the hospital, and he has to work a double shift.

Edgar served root beer floats and asked Austin, "So, are you still feeling good about the Walt Whitman?"

"Better, I've only been there a couple of days and I can't imagine living anywhere else. I've made more friends in three days than I did in the last three years." Austin told Edgar about the twins, working at the lodge, helping Jay with the canoes, and working to get the Backwoods ready.

Finally Edgar said, "I need to get to bed, but you are free to stay up, watch TV, help yourself to the fridge, except for the beer. Austin you know where the guest room is. I have to work tomorrow until four, so you guys will be on your own. Is that alright?"

"Not a problem," Tyce said.

Tyce and Austin decided to go to bed as well. Austin was laying on Tyce's chest when Tyce asked, "So what do you want to do tomorrow."

It's going to sound silly, but I want to go to the zoo."

"The zoo?"

"Yeah, I know it's weird, but I've only ever been to the zoo once. I would hear kids say their parents took them to the zoo, and in my mind it was this mysterious place only kids with families got to go."

"Of course we can go to the zoo," Tyce said.

The two lay in silence for a few minutes, then Tyce asked, "Is the zoo our first date?"

Austin looked up into Tyce's eyes, smiled and nodded his head. Without thinking Tyce kissed Austin. The minute their lips met, both boys felt something more than just young lust. Neither Austin nor Tyce had much experience with love, but at that moment they began to recover what years in the system had taken from them. __________________________________

Thank you for reading "Aging Out." I hope you enjoyed it. All consider contributing to nifty.Org if you like this kind of reading.

I have a few other stories on this site in you are interested: https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/beginnings/tough-love-in-kansas-city/ https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/beginnings/quarterback-keeper/ https://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/beginnings/saving-jordan

I appreciate hearing from readers. If you would like to be notified when new stories are published, I will add you to my email list.