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 is illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave. The story began 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.
I would like to thank all of those who have written to me with comments, suggestions and encouragement, especially my fellow writers in the Nifty Six. The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at NJMcMick@yahoo.com.
July 1972
Billy
Before Aunt Connie left for Puerto Rico with Lucy she gave Danny and me a tour of the house, top to bottom, to make sure we knew where everything was in case of an emergency. We'd spent so much time in that house but had never paid much attention to details, like the fuse box or water shut-off. She went over what bills had to be paid while they were gone and left enough money to cover them. We told her we could front the money for her but she insisted. By the time they left we knew that house inside out.
After spending nearly all day every day for a month with Lucy we were a bit out of sorts when she left. We still worked three nights a week and Sundays and took our walk every morning but other than that it looked like it was going to be a long summer. Mark and Peter were busy getting settled into their apartment in the city. Just about the only time we saw Mark was at work so back home in Morristown it was just me and the white boy.
A few days after Aunt Connie and Lucy left we were leaving for our walk when we noticed a For Sale sign in front of the house next door.
"What's going on with the Kramers, Dan? I didn't know they were moving."
"Yeah, Aunt Connie mentioned that Mr. Kramer got transferred to Texas. She said they'd probably be gone before she and Lucy got back."
"We never really got to know them but they were friendly enough and pretty much left us alone. I hope the new people are good neighbors."
"Maybe it won't matter much, Billy. We've only got a year left of school. Once we start teaching we'll probably move to a bigger place. I love our little apartment but I think we could use some more space. I really don't want to leave here, though."
We continued on our walk, up around the courthouse, down through the Hollow and back across town. The last few weeks I'd wished we hadn't decided that it would be better to be less open in public. I thought back to right after our parents found out about us and what we went through then. It was so painful, but when we started holding hands while walking around campus it felt so comforting. It would have been nice to be able to experience some of that feeling while walking through town but we had to save it for when we were home.
As had recently become our habit, we didn't talk much as we walked. An idea had begun to form in my head and I wondered if it could work. When we got back home I stopped for a minute in front of the Kramers' house again. It was a big old colonial, a mirror image of Aunt Connie's house with a front porch that wrapped around the side. When we got up to the apartment I mentioned my idea to Danny.
"How about we buy the house, Danny?"
"Us? Are you nuts? That's a big house and we're just a couple of kids."
"We're not kids anymore, Danny. We've been on our own a long time and we've grown up a lot. You said yourself we could use some more space and that you didn't want to leave the neighborhood."
"Yeah, but I was thinking about a one bedroom apartment somewhere in town. We couldn't afford a house."
"How do you know? We've been making really good money the past two years and we've saved nearly half of it. And then we've got that money from the porn movie, too."
"What got you thinking of this, Billy?"
"You did when you talked about getting a bigger place. This would be perfect. We love it here. It's our home and Aunt Connie and Lucy are our family. Lucy's going to need us more than ever now so we can't leave, not that we want to. And what would give our lives more stability and security than our own house?"
"But we don't even know how much it costs, Billy. Okay, we're not exactly kids but who's gonna sell a house to a couple of twenty year olds? We may not be old enough to buy it even if we could afford it."
"Why don't we talk to Tommy at the poker game tonight? He's in real estate and should be able to tell us if it's possible and what's involved."
"We've got his card in that drawer in the kitchen. We can call him at work right now and he'll tell you it's impossible and then you can forget it."
I called Tommy and gave him the information on the house so he could look it up. He said he'd look into it and let us know what he found out at the game.
Tommy was already there when we got to Tim and Evan's house in Plainfield.
"They're asking forty thousand, guys, but they'll probably take thirty eight."
"You see, Billy, I told you. We've only got twenty three thousand in the bank, nowhere near enough."
"Fuck! Where did you boys get that kind of money? We thought you were broke, or close to it."
"We were broke when we met you all, Tommy. But tips are really good at work and Danny and I don't spend much. We put every penny we can in the bank."
Tommy and Tim started asking all kinds of questions about money and our jobs at The Restaurant and did some figuring.
"You guys should be able to afford it with no problem."
"But we haven't got enough money, Tim."
"No one pays cash for a house, Danny. You take out a loan, a mortgage."
"Yeah, I know that, Tim. My parents have a mortgage. What I meant was that nobody's gonna lend us that kind of money so since we don't have enough to pay cash we can't do it."
"I can help you with a mortgage at the bank. You two may not have any credit history but you've been at The Restaurant over two years with good incomes and you've got a fifty per cent down payment so there shouldn't be a problem."
"Why don't I come over and take you through the house tomorrow, boys? Then if you really want it I can make an offer for you."
We went through the house and found that while it was very similar to Aunt Connie's it hadn't been kept up quite as well. Even so, those were only cosmetic things so we decided to go for it. The Kramers accepted our offer and wanted to close the deal in a hurry. Tim rushed our mortgage application through the bank, worked with Tommy and Clay and set a date at the end of July. It was hectic and a little bit crazy but it was just the kind of thing we needed to keep us busy and take our mind off our grief. We had the closing in Clay's office. Danny and I must have signed a million papers. It was kind of scary being so wrapped up in legal paperwork but when it was all done we owned a house.
"Now that you're homeowners I think I should probably do some more legal work for you two."
"What do you mean, Clay?"
"At your age you may think it's crazy, but you really need wills. If I'd known how much money you had in the bank I would have recommended it sooner. I know it's not something you want to think about but you want to make sure that if anything happened to either one of you the other would be taken care of, especially since neither of you gets along with your family. Right now, according to the law, your parents are your next of kin and would inherit everything."
"Danny and I don't even want to think about that but I guess you're right, Clay. How about making wills for each of us leaving everything to the other?"
"I'll get to work on it, Billy. I'll have them for you in a few days."
Clay gave us a bottle of champagne to take home to celebrate. It seemed the perfect end to the day. We'd bought a house but still wouldn't be able to buy booze for another couple of months.
August 1972
Danny
All summer Billy had to keep reassuring me that we were doing the right thing. Buying a house is such a huge responsibility and we're both so young. And my emotional state has been so fragile since May when we got the news about Brad. I still felt a little bit stunned, like I was paralyzed in a way. When I was able to shake my uncertainties and get excited about the house, I felt guilty for feeling happy. I know Billy was feeling the same way and we took turns helping each other through it.
After the closing at Clay's office we went home to our new house to celebrate. Of course the house was completely empty but that didn't matter. We brought a couple of small glasses down from the apartment and toasted each other with the champagne Clay had given us. We wandered from room to room, sipping champagne, making plans. Downstairs was a hall and stairway just inside the front door. On either side were the living room and dining room. In the back was the kitchen and sunroom. Upstairs was huge. There were four bedrooms and the largest had its own bathroom.
"What are we gonna do with all this space, Billy?"
"I'm sure we'll think of things eventually, Danny, but we don't have to fill it all up right away, just the rooms that we need."
"I keep thinking that, in spite of everything else, our parents would be so proud of us. Look at what we've managed to do, with a little help from our friends, of course."
"You're right, Danny. We should be proud of what we've done. It hasn't been easy, but together we're building a life. I didn't say anything earlier but this whole house-buying thing had me really nervous. My parents always rented, they never owned a house. I still can't believe that we've done this."
"Yeah, Billy. My parents owned that house I grew up in since before I was born but this place is even bigger than theirs. Of course, it's lots older too, but it's a great house. I just know we're gonna be happy here for a long time."
Going through the process of buying the house had seemed like a lot of work but once we owned it the real work began. Billy and I painted all the rooms ourselves and then hired someone to refinish the floors and woodwork since we had no idea how to do that. The house looked fantastic except that we still had no furniture. We'd ordered bedroom furniture as soon as we had set a closing date but it wasn't going to be delivered until almost the end of the month, just before Lucy and Aunt Connie were due back. We got the biggest bed they had. They called it king size but I called it a playground.
We continued living in the apartment until the bedroom furniture was delivered. The day it finally arrived we moved all of our stuff down from the apartment. The house looked a little weird. The only furniture on the first floor was a table and some chairs in the kitchen. Upstairs, our bedroom was completely furnished including curtains, pictures, the works. The rest of the place was still empty but we had some plans.
It was nearly ten when we finished setting up the room so we decided to break in the new bed. Billy and I undressed each other and I started to get into bed.
"Not so fast, white boy. There's something we have to do first. Come out into the hall."
We walked naked out into the hall and I stopped next to Billy. He scooped me up in his arms and carried me back into the room.
"Technically, I think we're supposed to do this at the front door but the neighbors might object if we go out on the porch in the nude."
"I love being in your arms, Billy, but I hope you're not implying that I'm the bride here."
"Well, you are the one who's gonna get fucked tonight."
"Hey, I definitely want you to make love to me tonight but no way am I your wife. I'm your husband, just like you're my husband. We're both guys here."
"Just the way I like it, Danny."
Billy kissed me and slowly lowered me onto the bed without breaking the kiss. He lay on top of me and we just kissed for a while. Our hands lightly ran over our bodies, squeezing, kneading, caressing. Billy swung around into a sixty-nine position and we swallowed each other's cocks and nursed on them for a bit. I came up for air and made a suggestion.
"I seem to remember someone saying something about somebody getting fucked tonight."
Billy moved around, knelt between my legs and got me into one of our favorite positions. He sat back on his heels and pulled my butt up onto his thighs with my legs on either side of him. Billy grabbed the lube and spread some on his dick with his left hand while the fingers of his right hand played with my ass, opening me up a little. He leaned forward a bit and positioned his big hard club at my hole, then gently pushed. He didn't seem to go anywhere for a few seconds; I just felt him stretching me. Then he popped through and he slid his big dick inside me. He began long slow thrusts. With each push he pressed against my prostate, sending shivers through me. Now and then he bent forward, kissed me and tweaked my nipples. He kept the pace slow but made sure that each thrust went as deep as it could. Billy put some lube on my dick and stroked it in time to his hip thrusts. Twice I was near the edge and he sensed it and stopped stroking until the sensation passed. A couple of times he stopped pumping into me and just lay forward and kissed me. We'd been at it over half an hour when Billy looked down at me and smiled.
"Are you ready, Dan?"
"Oh, God, am I ever. Do it, Billy."
With that he started thrusting harder into me, stroking my dick in rhythm. In no time I was shooting cum all over my face, chest and stomach. I could feel his dick expand inside me as he began to cum. He kept thrusting, over and over again, until he finally collapsed on top of me.
"There is nothing in this world as great as making love to you, baby."
"I'm just glad you like it so much so that I get to enjoy it, too. But I think that tomorrow night you're gonna be the one who gets carried into the room, Billy."
"Mmm, something to look forward to."
Lucy
August was rapidly coming to an end and Aunt Connie and I had to go back home to New Jersey. I wasn't feeling much better but at least I wasn't drowning in grief and self-pity the way I was when we arrived in Puerto Rico. I knew my life wasn't over but I had no picture of my future, no plans, no dreams. I could only take things one day at a time.
Billy and Danny picked us up at Newark Airport. It was so good to see their smiling faces as we came through the gate. We all exchanged hugs and kisses and, of course, shed a few tears.
"Damn, girl, you look great. Danny and I have missed you. You too, Aunt Connie."
"Thanks, Billy. I've missed you guys too."
"You must have spent a lot of time on the beach, Lucy. You're nearly as dark as Billy."
"I may have gone from mocha to brown but I've got a ways to go to match Billy. You're not very tan though, Danny. Haven't you two been to the shore much this summer?"
"A few times, Lucy, but we've been busy indoors most of the time."
"I'm not sure I want to hear about that."
"It's cool, Luce. We'll tell you all about it later."
It was so good to be home again. The boys had kept the yard looking good and the house was just the way we left it. They carried our bags up to our bedrooms but didn't want us to unpack right away.
"We've got something to show you, ladies. It'll only take a few minutes. C'mon."
"Okay, Danny, lead the way."
I expected them to go out the back door and up to their apartment but they went out the front and led us up onto the porch of the house next door."
"Have the Kramers moved yet, boys?"
"Yeah, they left last month, Aunt Connie." Billy pulled some keys out of his pocket and unlocked the front door.
"What are you doing with keys, Billy?"
"They gave them to us before they left. We've been painting here all summer."
We walked in and the house looked practically new inside. The last time I'd been in the house was over a year ago and it was looking a little dingy then. The place looked so much better now.
"So you've been painting it for them to get it ready to sell, boys? Is that why it isn't on the market yet?"
"Oh, it was on the market right after you left, Aunt Connie. But it sold pretty quick."
"I don't understand, Danny. You've been painting the place for the new owners?"
"Yeah, Lucy, you could put it that way. Come upstairs. We've got something to show you."
Aunt Connie and I followed the boys up the stairway, admiring the paint job and the refinished floors and woodwork. They led us to the large bedroom in the back of the house. As we approached I could see through the doorway that it was furnished. Aunt Connie and I were both very impressed with the beautiful contemporary bedroom set, including a massive bed. Then I turned away from the bed and saw the picture I had given Billy and Danny, the one I'd taken the day I met them, hanging on the wall.
"What is this doing in here, guys? This picture is yours."
"Yeah, Luce, we were thinking of hanging it in the living room but decided it belonged in our bedroom."
"Your bedroom, Billy?"
"Yeah, Aunt Connie. Danny and I bought the house. You've lost a couple of tenants but gained some really good next-door neighbors. Now you and Lucy are really stuck with us."
The boys took us downstairs to the kitchen for tea and explained how they had managed to buy the place. Aunt Connie and I were nearly speechless.
"But how did you boys come up with all of that money?"
"We saved it, Aunt Connie. Back when Billy and I first moved here we were so broke we got used to living on next to nothing. So once we started making really good money at The Restaurant we didn't need most of it. We just put it in the bank."
"Yeah, once Danny's medical bills were paid off we really saved a lot. Being broke sure shook us both up. We decided the best security was having lots money in the bank. But owning our own house is even better, though we will be paying a mortgage for twenty-five years."
"Are you sure you haven't gotten in over your heads, boys?"
"Nah, this place is gonna cost a lot more than the apartment so we won't be able to save money like we did before but we can cover the monthly bills okay, Aunt Connie."
"But what about furniture, Billy? You've got so many empty rooms and it's gonna cost a lot to fill them."
"Before we made the down payment we set aside enough money for tuition for our last year of school and furniture for the basic rooms, you know, living room, dining room and a guest bedroom. We've been waiting for you to come home to help us shop for the stuff, Lucy."
"I'm still in a little shock, guys, but I'm so happy for you. And I'm happy for me, too. This means I'll have you around for a long time."
"You better believe it, Lucy. Danny and I aren't going anywhere."
Mark
I knew I was depending on the Valium too much early in the summer but I just couldn't make it without some kind of help. Somehow I couldn't make sense out of anything any more and that wasn't good because I was starting law school in the fall and I'd need all my wits about me. The pills helped for a while. They calmed me down but I knew that eventually I had to cut back on them. I kept telling myself that this had to be so much worse for Lucy and that I should stop feeling sorry for myself but it didn't help much.
I was able to get through work at The Restaurant all right. Being there actually was good for me, but during the day and on my nights off I just wallowed in my grief. Peter and I went out most nights, just for a couple of drinks but it was enough to knock me out. A few beers and a pill and I slept just fine.
Even though we had our own place Peter and I kept going to the baths a couple of nights a week. It was cheap and an entertaining diversion. I love watching the action in the orgy room and I really get into putting on a little show for the others. Lots of guys try to join us and we're polite in pushing them away but I've reached the point that I really don't care any more if they touch me.
As August progressed and school got closer I started cutting down on the pills. I found it really didn't make much difference. My real problem was being depressed, not being anxious, so I didn't need help calming down which is what the Valium did. A few days after Lucy got back from Puerto Rico I went out to Morristown to visit. The last time I'd been there was right after Billy and Danny closed on the house and I wanted to see what they'd done since then. Plus it was the first time in a couple of months that the four of us had a chance to sit down and talk and see how we were all doing.
The guys showed me the work they'd done on the house and the furniture they'd bought for the bedroom but then we all went over to Aunt Connie's sunroom to get comfortable.
"It looks like you two have been busy since last time I was here. When are you going to get stuff for the other rooms?"
"Billy and I are going out with Lucy to look for furniture tomorrow. We want to get the main rooms done by the end of the year. By then we figure we'll be broke again. Then we'll take our time finishing up, getting things when we can afford to."
"How about you, Mark? When am I going to see this apartment in the city you and Peter have?"
"Whenever you want, Lucy. The guys have seen it a few times when they've been in the city for work. Just let me know when you're free and I'll give you the tour."
"Are you sure you're going to be able to afford an apartment in the Village for three years while you're going to law school?"
"I think so. My parents covered all of my school expenses at BC so I was able to save most of what I made working summers. They're helping out with law school and I'm going to work a couple of nights a week at The Restaurant through the school year so I should be all right."
"Speaking of your parents, have you given any more thought to coming out to them, Mark?"
"It's gonna happen eventually, Danny, but not right now. I don't think I have the strength to deal with it. Besides, the whole family is still going through such a bad time."
"Yeah, I called your uncle the other night when I got home to see how they're doing. Your aunt is really having a rough time."
"Yeah, Aunt Marcie had a complete breakdown and was in the hospital a few weeks. She's still on tons of medication. Uncle Bill's not doing so great himself."
"They always acted like such jerks but I guess they really loved Brad. It's too bad they didn't tell him."
"I think Brad knew, Danny. He was always pretty aware of what they were all about."
"Yeah, I know, Mark, but on top of everything else they're probably feeling guilty about the way they treated him and now they don't have the chance to tell him how much they loved him."
"Like everyone else they probably thought there was always tomorrow. But sometimes there isn't."
"Maybe somebody should tell our parents that, Billy."
"Maybe we should, Danny. What do you think?"
"Like Mark, I don't think I could handle it right now. Maybe in a little while."
"Whenever you're ready, baby, I'll be there for you."
"I know, Billy. Soon. Did Brad's father have any more news from the Army, Lucy?"
"The whole area is under enemy control but our guys got in there for a while in June and searched. They didn't find any trace of Brad or the other guy so they're still officially considered to be missing in action."
"It's just a technicality, Lucy. I read that thousands of guys from World War II are still listed as missing. Uncle Bill said that according to the Geneva Convention both sides are supposed to supply the Red Cross with the names of all prisoners. The North Vietnamese and Viet Cong weren't very good at following the rules in the beginning but with the peace talks going on in Paris they've been better the last couple of years. And neither of the guys has turned up on any of the prisoner lists so there's not much hope."
"I know, Mark. I guess a little part of me still has some hope but rationally, I know what the odds are so I've got to face reality."
"Aunt Marcie still can't do that. Uncle Bill wanted to have a memorial service but she wouldn't hear of it. She can't accept that Brad's gone. I have some trouble accepting it myself."
"We all do, Mark. None of us is ever going to stop loving Brad but he wouldn't want us to stop living. We just have to keep going."
Billy was right. We are all a bit crippled inside but we are trying. Lucy will be going back to work for her friend George soon. Billy and Danny have the house to work on and their senior year at Rutgers starting in a couple of weeks. And I've got law school coming up. We are all moving on, though I don't think any of us really has our heart in it.