This is a story of love between two young men. If you are under age, or live in an area where reading stories that include sex between males sex is illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave. The story begins in 1969. While the characters and their story are completely fictional, it is set at places that are real and is told against a backdrop of some real events. This was a time when all sex was safe. It isn't now, so please respect yourself and others enough to always play safe. The author retains all rights. No reproductions or links to other sites are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at NJMcMick@yahoo.com.
March 30
Billy
Sunday night after Lucy dropped us off at the dorm and we unpacked, we sat and talked to Mark for a while, outlining our week and what he could expect.
"Obviously, we both have classes all week and not at the same times, so one or the other of us is gonna be away a lot of the time. It's probably not a good idea for you to be hanging around the dorm on your own. Plus, we only have two keys to the room. We'll each write out our schedules and give you a map of the campus, so you can meet us after classes and hang out. The student center is great. You can spend hours in the music lounge. And down in the basement, they have pool tables and some bowling lanes."
"And there's a lot of action in the men's room in the basement of the library."
"Billy, Mark's a sweet kid and a virgin. I don't think his first sexual experience should be through a glory hole."
"What's a glory hole?"
"You had to bring this up, black boy. It's a hole guys carve in the partition between booths in a men's room. One guys sticks his dick through it and the guy in the other booth sucks it. Promise me you won't do that. You have to know what you're doing or it could be dangerous. Besides, I'm a romantic. I think your first time should at least include a kiss."
"Danny's not the only romantic. I think so, too. Don't do that, at least for now. Please."
"Okay, guys, as horny as I am, I want more than that too. I promise."
"Besides our classes, Danny and I each model for two art classes a week, one here and one at Douglass. You can sit in on those if you like."
"I'd love to. I'm majoring in Poli Sci, but I've got a minor in art. I'd love to be able to draw you two."
"I think that was your dick talking, but don't worry. We sleep in the nude, so in a few minutes you're gonna see everything, long before the art classes."
"Get your mind off sex for a minute, Billy. Tuesday night is the Homophile League meeting. I think you'll like that, Mark."
"It's a little political, but there are all kinds of guys there. Wednesday afternoon, Danny and I are tied up off the Douglass campus, so you can spend some time with Lucy, then we'll all eat together at Douglass."
"What are we gonna do about the poker party Thursday, Billy?"
"Poker party? What's that?"
"Well, Mark, we do all kinds of things to make a little money. One is this poker party in Plainfield. They're all middle-aged gay guys and we work as waiter and bartender and dress in sexy little outfits they pick out for us. They are nice guys and it's a lot of fun."
"I could help you guys out, Danny. It would be great to meet other gay guys."
"Don't volunteer until you've seen the outfits."
I pulled out a drawer and grabbed one of the little red swimsuits we had taken on Spring Break and held it in front of me.
"Oh, God, I'd love to see either one of you in that. I'd wear one with no problem."
"Okay, then, we'll see if the guys would mind a gorgeous third. I don't think we'll have a problem."
Danny
Mark seems to be so eager to do anything to get along and please us. I guess he's just so happy to have gay friends. I can identify with that. If it weren't for Billy, I probably wouldn't have ever come out and I'd think I was happy without ever knowing what real happiness is.
Yesterday we each met Mark for a few minutes between classes and had lunch with him. He was able to buy a one-week pass for the Commons. After classes, we all met and went back to the dorm.
"Billy, why don't you call Tim and Evan and see if they'd like Mark to help out on Thursday? And see if they could get him a swimsuit just like ours."
"Good idea, Dan. But first you're gonna have to strip, Mark."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you look about the same size as us, but I want you to try on one of our suits to make sure before they go out and buy one."
Mark looked very self-conscious.
"C'mon, man. It's not like we haven't seen you naked. First Saturday, then last night getting ready for bed and this morning in the showers."
"Yeah, but except for that first time when I was unconscious anyway, you guys were naked too. I just feel odd, stripping in front of you."
"Okay, then we'll strip, too. Danny, let's go."
So we all took off our clothes. I sprawled on the bed and Billy sat at his desk while Mark tried on one of the suits. It fit him perfectly and he really looked sexy in it. He had just taken it off when there was a light knock on the door, the door opened and Jeff slipped in. His jaw dropped when he saw the three of us in the nude.
"Oh shit, it looks like I'm interrupting something. Sorry guys, I'll come back later."
"You're not interrupting anything, Jeff. You don't have to leave. Our friend Mark was just trying on one of our swimsuits and felt self-conscious being the only one naked. By the way, Mark, this is Jeff. He lives across the hall. Jeff, this is our friend Mark. He's on Spring Break from Boston College and is staying with us for the week so you'll probably see him around a lot."
Naked Mark and clothed Jeff shook hands.
"You know, guys, I'm the one feeling a bit self-conscious, standing here fully clothed while you three are totally naked."
"Well, Jeff, there are two solutions to that. The three of us could get dressed, or you could get undressed. The second sounds easier to me."
"I dunno, Billy. You know I'm straight. I'm not into what you guys are."
"There's nothing sexual happening here. And did anyone say Mark wasn't straight?"
"Since you put it that way. After all, we're all guys. And you do look comfortable."
I was really surprised when Jeff began to take off his clothes. He has a really nice body. He's bigger than the rest of us, maybe 6'1", and 180 pounds with a well-developed chest and slim waist. His dick was soft when he first started to pull down his pants, but rapidly began to harden. By the time he was naked he was fully erect. His cock was average length but kind of thick. Billy laughed.
"Four naked guys in a room together and it's the straight one that gets a hardon."
"Sorry. It happens all the time. And I thought you said Mark was straight."
"No, I just pointed out that no one had said anything about him, one way or the other."
The sight of Jeff's boner was too much for Mark. His dick started growing and standing out until he was completely hard. Man he is huge, almost as big as Billy. The sight of those two hard cocks in front of us began to turn on Billy and me and pretty soon there were four hardons in the room.
"Looks like we've got a problem here, boys, or should I say four problems?"
"How about a circle jerk?"
"What's that, Jeff?"
"Well, when I was in junior high a few friends and I used to sit around all the time and jerk off together. Sometimes we'd make up punishments for the one who came first and the one who came last."
"I think we can do without the punishment, but I'm surprised that you did something so gay."
"It wasn't gay, Danny. All of us were straight. And we never touched each other. We all just liked to jerk off a lot."
"Well, I'm up for it, actually we all seem to be up for it. How about you guys? Mark? Danny?"
Mark and I both nodded. Billy joined me on my bed. Mark and Jeff sat on opposite ends of Billy's bed. We were all sitting across the beds, leaning back against the walls, with Billy and me facing Mark and Jeff. We all began stroking our hard dicks. Watching a straight boy jerk off was a real turn-on. So was watching Mark tug on that huge white cock and the feel of Billy's leg against mine. I was glad we had ruled out punishments 'cause I knew I was gonna be the first to pop. Billy recognized by my breathing that I was about to cum and bent over and took me in his mouth a second before I began to shoot and sucked my dry.
As wrapped up in my orgasm as I was, I could see both of the other guys' eyes bug out at Billy going down on me. As Billy sat back up and began stroking again, Mark began to shoot stream after stream of cum. Man, he must not have cum in a month. The first shot went over his head and hit the wall; the second hit him in the face. The rest landed on his chest and abdomen. The sight of Mark's massive orgasm erupting pushed Billy to the edge and I returned the favor by taking him in my mouth and swallowing his load. As soon as he was done, I heard Jeff begin to moan. I looked over and he was shooting his juice all over his chest.
"Hang on, guys, I'll get you a couple of clean towels to clean up your messes. Billy and I are good at not leaving a mess."
"Oh man, I guess if I ever doubted that you were really gay, that was the proof. I can't believe you sucked each other like that."
"Yeah, that was so hot. I can't wait until I have the chance to try it."
"Well, we don't generally like putting on sex shows, but since we were all already jerking off, it wasn't that big a deal to go one step further, Besides, I love the taste of Danny's cum and hate to see it go to waste. And Mark, now that you've cleaned yourself off, how about licking that stuff off the wall?"
Mark looked at the big blob of his cum stuck to the wall over his head and then looked at Billy as if he were crazy.
"Haven't you ever tasted your own cum before?"
"No, I've never tasted anyone's."
"Well try it. You're gonna have to get used to it sometime."
The three of us watched as Mark very tentatively stuck out his tongue and touched the blob with the tip of his tongue and then put it back in his mouth. After a second, he stuck out his tongue out and lapped up all of the cum on the wall.
"I really like that. I could get used to that very easily."
"Man, you guys are really something. But I've got to admit, this was a lot of fun. Maybe we can do it again sometime."
"Jeff, you may not like hearing this, but I think you moved up a notch on the Kinsey scale today."
"Naw, it was just guys getting off."
"Okay, if that's the way you want to look at it."
April 1
Billy
I was surprised Danny was cool with what happened in the room Monday afternoon. I mean, he'd really freaked over that party in Short Hills and I didn't handle that very well myself. We were real basket cases on the train on the ride home that night. I'm sure we shocked the others on our car, riding together, wrapped in each other's arms. I think the only thing that kept our heads together was that guy Eric and the way he talked so sensibly, and the jobs he offered us
But this was a whole different thing. Then, we were being forced to put on a show in front of strangers, mostly straight. This time, we were with a couple of friends who were getting off themselves, putting on a show for us as we were for them. It was a very mutual experience. Like Jeff said, it really was just a few guys getting off. Tonight, we went to the Student Homophile League meeting. Mark was a big hit and of course, Reggie was all over him.
"Hey man, you are one hot stud. Bro, I thought you said you didn't have any gay friends."
Man, that brother is horny. I can't blame him for moving in on Danny or Mark. They're both gorgeous, but Reggie goes after someone new almost every week. He is a nice guy, though it's taken us a while for us to learn it and believe it. He's just so needy. He really needs someone to be his. I hope he finds him.
"Reggie, this is Mark. Mark, Reggie. Mark is spending the week with us in our room."
"Woof! I thought you two were monogamous. What is this?"
"Just what it looks like, Reggie. Three friends. Billy and I sleep in one bed, Mark in the other."
Reggie pulled me aside.
"Then it's okay if I move in on him? You won't mind?"
"It's okay if you talk to him and show interest in him. But don't make any of your moves. He's just coming out and has had a hard week. Go easy, please."
No one at the meeting knew anything about gay groups at colleges in Boston, though everyone agreed the best bet was Harvard. Our group, four months old, was only the second one in the country after Columbia, so there weren't too many around. Maybe we can get some more information for Mark in the city on Saturday. Reggie paid lots of attention to Mark, but noticed I was watching him. Toward the end of the night, he came over to me.
"What's with that protective stare? We're getting along just fine. I think I could have him if you'd just let go."
"You don't get it, Reggie. Mark's special, not just to he had. He needs to be loved, and I just don't think you're ready for that scene yet. Stick to those who just want to be had. There are plenty of them around."
Lucy
The boys brought Mark over to Douglass after lunch, left him with me and did their usual disappearing act. God knows where they go and why they won't tell me.
"Okay, Mark, it's just you and me for the next couple of hours. You know, I really had a crush on you for a while in high school and felt really bad that you never paid much attention to me."
"I didn't pay much attention to anyone in school. Girls, because I wasn't interested, guys, because I wasn't supposed to be interested."
"How would you like to model for me, Mark? I've reserved a studio just in case."
"What do you mean?"
"Like Billy and Danny do for art classes, but for photos instead of sketches. You know I've been a camera freak since we were kids. It's no big deal. I've done Billy and Danny a few times. The first was a long shoot here in a studio, but I've caught a few candid shots here and there, and then now and then they've flashed me for a few shots."
"You mean you have all kinds of pictures of them nude?"
"Get that out of your head, Marky. I know in your state that you have trouble thinking of it as asexual. Believe me, those two boys are so hot I have trouble thinking of it as asexual. But I'm photographing human beings. Some of the pictures turn out erotic, but most are just art. Want to give it a shot?"
"Well, maybe for the sake of art, maybe just because I'm so damn horny. Just show me where to take off my clothes and where to point it. But wait, can you keep the bandage on my wrist out of the pictures?"
"Leave it to me, we'll hide it."
Mark was a wonderful model, except that he was hard too much of the time. I didn't know which I was more tempted to do, throw cold water on it or throw myself on it. But, as crazy as I was about him in high school, and as huge and sexy as he is, he is Brad's cousin and I really do love Brad. Plus, he's gay. So it's not like it's me he wants. He's probably just horny from spending a couple of nights in the same room as Billy and Danny and showering with them every morning. I know where that would put me.
I made sure his bandage didn't show, sometimes having his left arm behind him, sometimes covering it with another part of his body. He was good, doing everything I told him to do instantly. Through it all, we talked about high school and the other kids we knew. That seemed to put him at ease and soften his dick a bit. God, I really can't believe how big he is. He is going to make some guy very happy. After a few rolls of film, he got dressed and we headed toward Cooper Hall.
"So where have Billy and Danny been this afternoon?"
"God knows. It's the one secret they keep from me. I was hoping they said something to you."
"No, they just said they would be tied up for a while off the Douglass campus and it would be a good time for us to get to know each other better."
"Well, that worked out just fine, I know you so much better than in high school. Are you doing all right, dealing with being gay?"
"I've been trying to deal with it since I was 12 with no success, as you can see by the bandage on my wrist. But the last few days have been a whole new world to me. I feel like there's hope; that maybe there is a happy future ahead of me. I know it's a long shot. But I have to go for it. I see how good Billy and Danny are and I keep thinking, maybe, just maybe I'll meet a guy and be that happy."
"Billy and Danny are pretty special and were lucky to stumble onto one another. But I think you are kind of special too, and there is someone special out there for you too."
"Thanks, Lucy. I know I was always a bit distant in school, but I always admired you. Your support means a lot to me."
"Hey, Mark, in high school, I just thought you were a hot stud I couldn't get to first base with and I didn't know why. And if I knew back then, I probably would have treated you badly because I didn't know anything about gay people then. But now I do and I understand. I really want the best for you."
"Thanks, Lucy, you're pretty special, too."
Danny
As Billy and I were crossing the Douglass campus heading toward Cooper, we spotted Mark and Lucy approaching on our left. We met up and went inside to eat.
"So did you and Mark have fun this afternoon, Lucy?"
"Yeah, Danny, I got a studio and he modeled for me. I think I got some pretty good shots, though he was so hard so much of the time that a lot of them are more porn than art."
"I can't wait to see those, Luce. We've seen him hard a couple of times and it's a sight to behold."
"Hey, c'mon guys, you're talking about me and my dick like I'm not even sitting here."
"Well, have we said anything that isn't true? I think the guys are gonna love you at the poker game tomorrow night."
"Speaking of which, something occurred to me while I was modeling for Lucy this afternoon. If all we're going to be wearing are those little swimsuits, they're gonna see the bandage on my wrist. I don't want to have to explain that to them."
"Then we're going to have to think of a way to cover it up."
We ate in silence for a minute until Lucy spoke up.
"I have an idea, guys. There's a fabric store on Albany Street. You might be able to get a couple of yards of satin ribbon the same color as the swimsuits, maybe two to three inches wide and some small safety pins. You could make six wristbands and no one would know that there was a bandage under one of them."
"That's a great idea, Lucy. If we all wear them, it will just look like a little added touch to the 'uniform.' Nobody will suspect a thing."
Mark just looked at the three of us. For a minute, I thought he might cry.
"You know, I really love you guys. A week ago I didn't even know you and now you're the best friends I've ever had. There's no way I can ever thank you for all you've done for me."
"No thanks are required, bro. Everything we've done is because we wanted to. We love you too."
April 3
Billy
Mark was a huge hit at the poker game last night. We had given him the assignment of going to the fabric shop while we did our class schedule. He took one of the swimsuits with him to match the color. We helped each other wrap the satin around our wrists and pin it in place and it looked great. Tim and Evan were thrilled before we even 'dressed up.' Once we were dressed and came downstairs, the others had arrived. They all loved Mark. And Mark added to the excitement by not seeming to be able to keep his dick soft for more than a few minutes at a time. He was hard most of the night and it was really noticeable in that tiny little red thing. Sometimes it was this long thick thing wrapped one way across his hip, sometimes the other. He was constantly turning his back to adjust it. He tried to tuck it under, but it arced out, causing the most obscene bulge completely filling the little suit, pulling the waistband almost an inch out from his little treasure trail. Everyone teased him about it in a good-natured way, but he was obviously embarrassed. They kidded him a little, patted his hot round butt a lot, but kept their hands off the big hard thing. I think they were all afraid it would explode.
Tim gave us a ride back to campus.
"Thanks for a great night, as usual, guys. We missed you last week. It was a really dull game without you. And Mark, it was so great meeting you. You're a doll. I hope you realize that."
"Thanks, Tim. Tonight was a real experience for me. I'm really sorry I was so hard all the time. That was really embarrassing and I hope I didn't offend any of your friends. It's just that this is all so new to me and being so exposed really turned me on."
"Believe me Mark, no one was offended. Your hard dick gave some of those guys jerk off fodder for the rest of the spring."
"You and your friends are nice, Tim. I was really nervous, even though Danny and Billy told me I shouldn't be."
Today the three of us were just sitting down to lunch at the Commons when Mark brought up a touchy subject. I tried to head him off, but Danny seemed okay with it.
"Last week at the hospital you guys mentioned how badly your parents reacted to finding out you were gay, but you didn't say how you're dealing with it. As bad as my parents can be at times, they're still my parents and I love them. I'd have a really hard time being cut off from them."
"This isn't really a good time to talk about that Mark. Maybe over the summer we can discuss it."
"No, it's okay Billy. I know we haven't talked to anyone else about it, but I think I can handle it."
"Are you sure, baby? I don't want it to upset you."
"Hey guys, I didn't mean to pry or upset either one of you. Forget I asked. Like Billy said, maybe another time."
"No Mark, I'm all right, really. I'm getting a handle on it, I think. It's just that I didn't think it would go on this long. When my parents found out, they were shocked and didn't want to believe it. They blamed Billy for seducing me, for having too much influence over me. I didn't respond very well to them. It caught me off guard. I just wasn't prepared for them to find out. But I thought that after a few weeks, it would sink in that I was gay, that maybe they wouldn't accept it, but they would at least acknowledge it as fact and then maybe we could talk about it and begin working on an understanding."
"You mean you haven't heard from them at all?"
"Not since early January. When we started this semester and I hadn't heard anything I was really depressed. Billy is the only one I've been able to talk to about it. I don't know where my parents' heads are right now, but I've accepted that I won't be hearing from them for a while."
"Why do you think that? I mean if you don't know what they're thinking, they might still get in touch."
"I think they might still be in denial. They know the semester is paid for, so they know I don't need them financially right now. But they're probably expecting me to 'come to my senses' when the semester ends and go back home because I won't have any money to live on. That's why this job in the city is so important. When I don't go back to them, if Billy and I can support ourselves and continue in school, they'll realize I'm serious, that this is my life."
"Wow, I give you a lot of credit. I don't think I could deal with that."
"I sure couldn't do it without Billy. I get all of my strength from him."
"How about you, Billy? Any word from your parents?"
"No, and I'm sure there won't be. Like Danny, I do miss them. Part of me will always love them. But I've got issues with my parents that go way beyond my being gay. I know I never want to see my father again. And my mother's got a lot of explaining to do before I can even consider being on good terms with her again. I'm sorry, Mark, beyond that I really don't want to talk about it."
"That's okay Billy. I don't want to pry. But I want you to know how much I admire you guys. And how glad I am that you have each other."
After lunch, Danny headed down College Ave. for his last class of the week and Mark and I decided to go back to the room to pack. We were just going up the steps behind the dorm when the back door opened and Gary and a couple of guys I didn't recognize walked out. He just glared at us as we approached.
"Faggots!"
"If you want to keep your teeth you'd better watch your mouth, asshole."
"In case you can't count nigger, you're outnumbered here. You just might be the one to lose some teeth."
Living with Danny has certainly taught me a lot about restraint. A year ago I would have torn Gary's head off after a remark like that. And done a bit of damage to the other two as well.
"No way the three of you could take us. Maybe if you had a few more. Besides, there are a lot of people around. Lay a hand on either one of us and I'll make sure you're expelled. Or maybe I'll just wait and get even privately. Remember, you're the one breaking the rules you made."
"You're lucky there are people around. You and your sissy boyfriend better hope your luck holds out."
As the three of them headed down the steps I turned to Mark.
"If you don't mind, I'd rather you not say anything to Danny about this. I'll talk to him tonight."
"No problem, Billy. But damn, how did you do that? I almost shit in my pants."
"I don't know Mark. Some people just find me a little intimidating, I guess."
Lucy
I picked the boys up around three this afternoon and drove them home. Mark kept going on and on about the week, everything he'd seen, everything he'd done. He just couldn't get over it.
"You know, Lucy, so many times when one of the guys met me after a class, we'd walk around holding hands? Like I was his boyfriend, like I was someone special. No one's ever treated me like that before."
"Well, I told you before that you are special, Mark, very special and you deserve to be treated like that."
"We just wanted to let you know how much we like you and like being with you. And Billy and I were trying to put you a bit at ease about being out in public."
"We're not saying you have to be as public as we are. We just wanted you to experience the liberation of it at a place where no one knew you so it didn't really matter who saw."
"Actually, Billy, yesterday afternoon when you were holding my hand a kid from my high school class walked past and he gawked so I thought his eyes would fall out. But I really didn't care. He's the one who looked funny."
"Who was it Mark? Anyone I know?"
"Jim Metzner. Tall, reddish brown hair, he was on the cross country team with me."
"I think I know who you're talking about. Do you think it'll get back to your parents?"
"I doubt it. He lives in Morris Plains and his parents and mine don't know each other at all."
"You mean you were an athlete in high school?"
"Sure, Danny. And I've got the varsity jacket to prove it. I love to run. I'm on the team at B.C."
"You must have a hell of a time staying soft in the locker room."
"It isn't easy Billy, but the showers are the worst. At least in the locker room most guys are at least partly covered up."
When we got to Morristown, I asked Mark back to the house, but he thought he's better go home and face his parents. I stopped about a block from his house and he leaned into the back seat and kissed both Danny and Billy goodbye. Then I pulled into his driveway and kissed him goodbye.
"Don't forget we're going into the city tomorrow, Mark. Be at our place by ten. That will give us time to wander around the Village and have lunch before our 3:00 appointment with Eric. We're meeting him at the restaurant and are going to find out all about our summer jobs."
"Okay, Danny, see you at ten. And thanks for everything guys. I can't put into words how great this week has been for me."
"It was great for us too, because we made a great new friend."
"Thanks, Billy. Tomorrow, then."
April 4
Danny
A knocking on the door awakened Billy and me. I looked over at the clock. 9:55. Shit! We'd set the alarm for 9:00 and I don't even remember it going off. Billy got out of bed and opened the door for Mark.
"C'mon man, get your butt in here. It may be Spring, but I'm freezin' my nuts off."
"Damn, am I that early? You guys aren't even out of bed yet."
"Nah, we overslept. I turned off the alarm as soon as it went off and fell asleep again. Tell you what, we'll shower together in record time and you can make us some toast and pour us some OJ while we're in there. That'll save some time."
Billy and I rushed through our showers and came out of the bathroom with towels wrapped around our waists. Mark had poured two small glasses of orange juice and buttered four slices of toast for us. He'd even added some jelly.
"I kinda preferred the way you were dressed when you went into the bathroom."
"You mean the way we were undressed, with half-hard dicks needing to pee."
"Yep, that's exactly what I meant."
"Gee, and Lucy calls us horn dogs. We'd better find some place in Boston for you to meet a guy or you'll be humping our legs when you come home for summer vacation."
We quickly brushed our teeth and threw on jeans and shirts, grabbed our coats and ran out the door. We ran practically all the way to the train station and got there just as it was pulling in. We collapsed in our seats, trying to catch our breath.
"You guys could use a little cross country training. That couldn't have been more than half a mile and you can't even breathe. I'd have to run five miles at that pace to be so out of breath."
"Hey, careful how you talk to us or we may just leave you in the big bad city."
We took the train into Hoboken, then PATH to Christopher Street. Even though it wasn't quite noon, there were lots of gay guys on the street. Mark kept staring, trying to look in every direction at once, seeing gay guys everywhere he looked.
"Be cool, Marky, you'll make us all look like tourists."
"Sorry, Billy, but I've never seen so many gay people in one place."
"The whole West Village is like this. We'll show you around so you can get used to it. Billy and I felt the same as you the first time we came here last fall."
I grabbed Billy's left hand in my right and Mark's right hand in my left and the three of us headed east on Christopher. It wasn't always easy to walk three abreast so Mark kept dropping behind me whenever we met someone going the other direction, but he never let go of my hand. Just before we got to Bleecker, Billy pointed across the street.
"They've got the best omelets in the world at David's Pot Belly and some good burgers too, but I'm more in the mood for a burger at Julius'. What do you think, Danny?"
"Sounds great to me, but first we should try to get some info on Boston for Mark. Maybe we can pick up some stuff we can read at lunch."
"There's that little newsstand/porn shop just past your place on Seventh Ave. That's on the way to Julius. They might have something."
"Your place. What does he mean by that, Danny?"
"It's a bar called Danny's, so Billy always refers to it as my place."
We turned left on Seventh Ave., walked north about a block and a half and turned into a little store. At first it looked like any little newsstand, until you looked at the magazines in the racks. There was a pile of Gay, the city's weekly gay newspaper on the floor. Billy picked one up and turned to the counter.
"You have anything on places to go or meet in Boston?"
"Nothing specifically for Boston, but check the ads in the back of the paper."
Billy paid for the paper and we left, crossed Seventh Ave and went down W. 10th St. to Julius'. He placed our orders at the grill and we went in the back and grabbed a table. I went to the bar for three beers while Billy and Mark pored over the paper, concentrating on the ads.
"Well guys, any luck?"
"Nothing at all. No mention of Boston or any student groups anywhere."
"Damn, I was sure we could find something. Maybe you can call Harvard when you get back and see if they can give you any info."
"Maybe." He didn't sound very hopeful.
After lunch we just wandered around the Village, showing Mark what little we had learned about the area. At quarter to three, we headed toward Sheridan Square to find Eric and the restaurant. A few doors off Sheridan Square on W. Fourth St., we passed a townhouse with the front door open.
"Hey, boys, come on in. This is it," a voice yelled out from inside the door.
We went back and looked in the door and saw Eric sitting at a bar in a fairly dark room.
"Come on in. This is the place. In fact, we're just calling it The Restaurant. Have a seat and I'll explain the place and the job to you. And who's your friend? We could use one more cute waiter."
Billy
I was really bummed that we couldn't find any information on Boston for Mark. While wandering around, we stopped in a few places, including the adult store at Christopher and Hudson, a place Danny and I had always been a bit leery about going into. The problem was a lack of information of any kind. There were two newspapers, Gay and the Advocate, which came from somewhere in California. And a couple of brief, already out-of-date guides to New York, but nothing else. While Mark was excited about everything he saw in the Village, I could tell deep down that he was disappointed.
Things picked up a bit when we met Eric at The Restaurant. Eric was friendly and very comfortable to be with. We introduced Mark as a friend who was going to school in Boston. The place was like no other I'd seen. There was a small bar along the left wall with six tall chairs. On the wall opposite the bar was a fireplace, surrounded by loveseats and comfortable chairs.
"We expect most of our business to be by reservation, but even at that patrons will occasionally have to wait a few minutes. We intend to make the wait as pleasant as possible. We will have one waiter assigned to serve drinks to those waiting in this area."
The bar and waiting area took up the front third of the building. Eric walked us to the back and up a few steps to the dining area. There were several tables for two and four, many in their own little alcoves or separated by plants. Nearly every table had some degree of privacy.
"We want our patrons to feel comfortable and be able to relax. We feel many of them will be older and not used to being 'publicly' gay, so we're trying to give as much privacy as possible to them. Besides, it makes for a more romantic atmosphere."
"It's fantastic. I've never seen anything like it. I think I could enjoy working here."
"Hold you enthusiasm, white boy. Remember, it's gonna be work, and we've never done anything like this before."
"Billy's right, Danny. I've put together a booklet for each of you, not only explaining the details of proper service, but also explaining how we want things done here. The emphasis is on service and courtesy. There's also a section on how to deal with rude customers, or those who may try to get a little too friendly. Just because people have money doesn't mean they have class, which is something I guess you guys learned in Short Hills."
"Yeah, what do we do if someone comes on to us?"
"Politely inform them that management doesn't permit you to become too familiar with the patrons. If that doesn't work, come straight to me or whoever is in charge that night and we will deal with the situation. Above all, avoid a scene. I don't anticipate many problems like that. An atmosphere like this tends to discourage behavior like that."
"Well, Danny and I will study everything and quiz each other and we won't let you down. When do we start?"
"The restaurant opens next Friday, but we're having a private party Wednesday at 8:00 to introduce the place. Between the partners, we've invited a good cross-section of upper middle to upper class gay society who will spread the word. We won't be serving dinner. It will be more in the nature of a cocktail party, with the waiters circulating with trays of hors d'oeuvres and taking drink orders. We'll need you here at seven. Give me your sizes and we'll have your white shirts, black pants and ties here for you. And shoes as well. We want the entire staff dressed exactly alike, so we're supplying the clothes."
"Don't worry, we'll be here and you won't be sorry you hired a couple of amateurs."
"So what about you, Mark? Would you be interested in a summer job? Have you ever done anything like this before?"
"Actually, I don't have a summer job lined up yet. And I worked as a busboy in our local diner all through high school, so I know a little about how the business operates."
"Sounds great. When do you get back from school?"
"Somewhere around the middle of May, depending on the schedule for finals."
"Well, keep in touch with Billy and Danny. As soon as you're ready, I'll work you into the schedule. Where in Boston do you go to school? I went to school there myself."
"Boston College. Actually, the reason I came into the city with Billy and Danny today was to see if we could find out anything about gay organizations in Boston, someplace I could meet people and make friends. I'm just coming out."
"Well, I'm an alumnus of Harvard and I've still got a few connections up there. I'll make a few calls and let the boys know what I find out on Wednesday."
"Would you really? Oh, thank you so much. I've been so discouraged that we haven't been able to find out anything so far. You're really great, Mr. ...?"
"Please, no Mister. Call me Eric. I'm old enough without being made to feel any older."
"Well, thanks Eric. For the help and the job. I really appreciate it."
Eric gave Mark a booklet to study. We gave Eric the hall phone number in the dorm but warned him that we might not get messages. If it was important, he should ask for Jeff and leave a message to call back. We'd let Jeff know to pass it on to us.
We wandered around the Village a little more before catching the PATH train back to Hoboken and the train home. When we got to our place it was time for goodbyes. Mark was leaving for school early the next morning. He gave us his dorm phone number and address and we gave him ours. He said he was going to write every day. We hugged and kissed and were all in tears by the time he left.
It had been exactly one week since we walked in on a naked unconscious stranger bleeding on our bathroom floor and in that short time he had become our best gay friend. As much as we're going to miss him, he's gonna miss us more, because we have each other. I hope Eric can find something for him in Boston.