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"BRIARWOOD"
aka "Whence Cometh My Help"
(R.S.V.)
A dramatic saga
by
Ritch Christopher
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BOOK ONE
Chapter One
FATHER CLIFF--The beginning.
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The boys' choir had just finished the last strains of Bach's "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring". The cathedral was filled with a smoky haze of the familiar pungent odor of a mixture of jasmine and wormwood, a favorite of the parish. The officiating bishop was preparing to give the eight of us, kneeling at the alter, our final charge before asking our divine inquisition for intent.
"And now, so that the present congregation may understand your minds and wills, and that this your promise may the more move you to do your duties, ye shall answer plainly to all these things."
"One. Do you think in your heart that you are truly called to the Order and Ministry of the Priesthood?"
Cliff had no trouble in responding to the first charge by answering, "I think it".
"Two. Are you persuaded that the Scriptures contain all Doctrine required as necessary for eternal salvation through faith?"
Over the past months, Cliff's faith had become shaky and hia beliefs were no longer 100%, but he thought he could still reply that "I am so persuaded" to satisfy those who were present to watch his ordination.
One by one Cliff answered in the affirmative. There was nothing so contrary that he could alter the meaning to fit his own personal philosophy, Cliff couldn't help glancing down the row of his fellow candidates, watching the conviction they were using with their answers...especially his best buddy, Roger.
Roger and Cliff had been brother-like friends since kindergarten. Cliff was always the leader and Roger, the follower. Roger had always known if he had not chosen to go into the priesthood, the thought of it would never have entered his mind. There were many other professions he felt he could've pursued with greater success...a high school coach, a auto machine shop foreman, even a policeman but somehow Roger didn't think he hadn't received a divine calling as Cliff had..
"Number five" Cliff heard the bishop announce as his mind came back to the present surrounding of events. "Will you be diligent in Prayers, and in reading the Scriptures, and in such studies as help to the knowledge of the same, laying aside the study of the world and the flesh?"
This was the first question Cliff had trouble responding to, truthfully, as he dropped his head and pretended to cough, covering his answer, hoping that the other's voices at the rail, would drown out his muted "I will endeavor to do so."
As Cliff quickly scanned back through his memories, the past eleven years he had been unable to lay aside the study of the flesh, as perhaps he had seen more flesh than anyone not seeking the order of priesthood. How much did he want to take these final vows? Was he taking them of his own volition...or was he satisfying the wishes of his family and those closest to him, who always assumed that he had been chosen by God to carry out His work? Or was it just his mother Cliff was trying to spite? She was a staunch, Southern, Bible thumpin', Billy Graham, Baptist, who was convinced that all who hadn't seen the same light as she had were doomed for eternal damnation.
Cliff recalled that at his confirmation in the Church, she had let the air out of her son's tires trying to make him late and miss the service. She was firm in her beliefs about all things outside her Baptist realm bordered on sin and no redemption. So much for her Christianity!
The phrase "laying aside the world and the flesh hit home again as Cliff smiled. looking once again at the line against the rail...all his seminary buddies...all his sex partners. Cliff had spent one or more nights in bed with each and every one of them. When it came time for him to confess his indiscretions, he chose not to profess his sins before man (the priest) but would receive his penitence straight from God's mouth without a mediator. He figured if he HAD told of his misdeeds to his priest, one of three things might have happened...first, the priest would have condemned and chastised Cliff. or second he would have found some way to report Cliff to the hierarchy and have him thrown out of the church...or third, the 'father' might have gotten turned on and tried to get Cliff to go to bed with him. All three options were bad, so Cliff opted not to tell him anything. Yep, if Cliff had sinned, then God would have to be the one to punish him,
The Bishop was nearing the seventh and final query about would one submit himself to godly judgments? Cliff guessed hr could answer that one in the affirmative and then he would pray, put the sign of the cross on his forehead, drape the shawl around Cliff's neck and say "Congratulations, Father Clifford." Cliff had waited eight years for someone to call him that...but as his mind was regressing, a small shadow of doubt invaded his consciousness...when had he first given in to the male flesh without fear or guilt, thus, continuing with many partners...some long-termed and other's just an overnight quickie. It was easy to figure out. Roger had been his first. They had both been fifteen...high-school sophomores...and both on the wrestling team. They used to stay late and practice in the gym, long after everyone else had left, even the janitor.
"OK, that's one pin apiece, wanna try for three out of five?" Cliff challenged.
"You're on!"
The gymnasium was cooled by the oncoming nightfall but their bodies were heated by their efforts. Their one-piece jerseys were soaked with sweat, clinging to their muscular frames. Having wrestled hard and long, each of their young bodies gave off the aroma of the developing sexual male. Their necks, shoulders, and arms were slippery as their wet palms tried to assume a locking start position to continue the next round. Cliff was able to move his right leg forward, landing between Roger's open thighs, securing a right-arm lock, around Cliff's neck. Cliff pulled with a jerk, whipping Roger over Cliff's hip and landing flat on his back on the blue plastic mat. Once down, Cliff countered by covering Roger's body with Cliff's from hips to shoulders. Roger's legs were flailing underneath Cliff, trying to get free. He was all but helpless with the weight of Cliff's torso on top of him. Roger's next attempt at escaping was to try to move his hips from side to side, underneath Cliff's. It was then that Cliff felt a hardness in Roger's crotch, pressing into his own. Cliff wondered if this was just a ploy to confuse him, to lower his guard a bit. Not wanting to fall for Roger's trickery but feeling an urge he couldn't quite understand, Cliff responded by grinding his crotch into Roger's. Suddenly Cliff realized that his action had backfired and he was getting an erection matching that of his best friend.
Cliff looked into Roger's eyes for a signal of the meaning of what was happening. He suddenly said in a low voice, "All right, I give...That's two for you."
Roger knew Cliff actually hadn't pinned him, but had given up to retreat from his feeling, a reaction he couldn't understand.
"Hey, Roger? Did I feel you getting hard?"
"No, man! I had a cramp and had to get up." he replied, all the while trying nonchalantly to adjust his penis in his jock strap, hoping Cliff wouldn't notice his newly formed bulge. But Cliff was aware instinctually that something had happened between them, something that had never happened before and he found himself curious to see where it would lead. If Roger had not gotten sexually excited, then let him prove it.
"Hey Rog, am I turning you on?" His grin seemed to imply more that his words did.
"Yeah, you and a herd of buffalos."
"I'm serious, buddy. You were getting an erection, weren't you?"
"Cliff, I hate to disappoint you, but it'll be a cold day in your eternal home before you ever give me a hard-on."
"Yeah? Prove it then!"
"How?"
"Wrestle me Greek-style...no clothes...!"
"Shit! You're crazy!"
"Maybe, but if you don't, it proves you're a liar...Betcha ten bucks you can't wrestle me without getting a boner."
"Ten bucks?"
"I'll make it twenty."
"For twenty bucks, you're on!"
"Good...now strip...and I mean everything...jock, too."
"This is gonna be an easy twenty bucks."
"Yeah? We'll see."
Roger walked over to the side bleachers and began to disrobe, his back turned away from his youthful opponent. Cliff stayed where he was, undressing beside the mat, leaving his clothes in a pile but never taking his eyes off his buddy's back.
"Shoes and socks, too?" he yelled.
"I said EVERYTHING, or it's no bet."
"OK, but you'd better be careful. I've seen my big toe get an erection. Does that count?"
"Only if you need to put a condom on it, fool!"
When he felt he was face his buddy without embarrassment, Roger came forward to meet Cliff on the mat. They had always showered together at school over the years, so nudity was nothing new to them, but it was Rogers's aroused state during the last match that had piqued Cliff's curiosity. This had never happened before...but, if never before, why now? Cliff needed to know if he was the cause.
"OK, how long does this contest last? How long do I have to stay soft before I can collect your twenty bucks?"
"Just one pin."
"Okay, but one rule...NO grabbing or touching...you know, where it hurts."
"Settled."
Once again, the boys squared off, moving in a cyclonic direction, each countering the other in a circle, their eyes locked on each other's gaze...waiting for the other to attack. Roger made the first move by diving forward, trying to grab Cliff's left ankle. Cliff leapt into the air, causing Roger to miss and land solidly on his stomach. Cliff moved quickly spun and dropped his body on Roger's backside Cliff's dick found itself cradled between Roger's ass cheeks like a telephone receiver. Cliff forced his arms under Roger's biceps and began rocking, trying to turn his opponent over. Roger fought with all his might to remain planted but, with a big pull, Cliff was able to turn him over on his back and assume the position of topping him and, once more, their private parts seemed to be in contention for supremacy. Cliff held him there, unwilling to move as he felt Roger losing the bet, Roger's erection once more rising and jutting into Cliff's. They both knew the contest was over, but neither wanted to break the sensation they were both experiencing.
"I think you've lost." Cliff said with his face looking directly into Roger's,
"From what I'm feeling...I would call it a draw." Roger's closed eyes were unwilling to look at Cliff.
"Maybe so, but we made the bet about YOUR dick, not mine."
"Don't move for a minute, will you?"
"I hadn't planned to, but why?"
"Hunch me a little...can you?"
"Just try and stop me, little buddy."
The hardness between their two bodies grew more pronounced, more demanding as each reached full erection.
"This feels good, man, doesn't it?" Roger almost whispered.
"Shut up, man...shut up and enjoy it."
Cliff wondered why this had never happened before. It had been nothing more than a physical exercise, one that had been practiced daily, but suddenly there was an added rush in the eroticism of the action. The perspiration between their torsos squeaked as they began writhing into each other's bodies. Cliff released the hold he had on Roger's arms and rested his chest on Roger's. Cliff's head had lowered next to his friend's and his right cheek was pressed against Roger's left. Roger was meeting Cliff's downward pelvic thrusts with an upward movement of his own, their swollen organs rubbing together as they felt their sweaty scrotums rammed against each other's. This was such a manly feeling. It must've been the way gladiators satisfied each other 2,000 years ago. There was nothing gay or 'queer' about it. It was just one on one. Man against man. The two young warriors would battle with their muscle lances to the death...or at least until the weaker of the two gave in to his orgasm.
Then it felt like someone was pouring hot oil on their midsections as each of them convulsed, discharging their manly fluids at the same time. Each was trying to saturate the other with the most, as if another kind of contest had begun. When the warmth had covered their navels down to their thighs, they stopped thrusting and lay very still as Roger's chest was raising and lowering Cliff by inhaling and exhaling. Total quiet. Neither said a word as they lay there, trying to memorize the moment until Roger decided to break the silence.
"Wow...Who won the bet?"
"I think we both did, buddy."
"I think we made a mess."
"Aw, no...what makes you think that?" Cliff teased.
"There must be a gallon of semen down there sticking our bodies together."
"More like two!" A moment of total quiet, then..."Roger, can I ask you something?"
"No time like the present."
"Have you ever done this with anyone before?"
"Shit, no...You?"
"No...I HAVE thought about it, though."
"You're kidding?...You've thought about doing this...with me?"
"Who else would I wanna try it with? You're my best friend...You mean you've never thought about something...like this...happening between us?"
"Well, maybe...but not like this...not this way, at least."
"What do you mean?"
"Sometimes at nights when I jerk off and can't seem to cum...I think about you and me jerking off together and that thought usually solves my problem...I'm able to shoot and then clean up and go to sleep."
"Would you believe that I think about us, together, some times when I'm beating off, too...Only in my fantasy, we're doing other things."
"Like...like what?"
"Now don't think bad about me...but sometimes I imagine we are engaging in male oral sex."
"I've thought about that. too." Roger's voice was so quiet that Cliff thought for a moment that he had imagined it.
"Would you, uh, be willing to try it?"
"I wouldn't mind trying it if we had showered. I'm somewhat reluctant, considering the sweat and the odor of our bodies."
"Aw, Rog...that would make it more exciting...Look! I will if you will...I'll even go first!"
"All right, I'll watch you and if you don't get sick or die...then MAYBE I'll try it."
The boys' stomachs made a squishing sound as they uncoupled from the white glue that had bonded them together. Cliff shifted his body to get a close up view of his best friend's private anatomy for the first time. It was like looking in a mirror as the two were about the same length, girth and cut. This wouldn't be too difficult, it would almost be like putting his own organ in his mouth. The aroma of sweat and semen mixed together was like an aphrodisiac...a mild high. It was immediately addictive as Cliff thirsted for more. He encircled Roger's member with his right hand and slowly lowered his nervous lips over it. The touch of Cliff's lips triggered a stimulus in Roger and his erection was immediately restored. Cliff continued his action and Roger's sudden intake of breath told Cliff that he had uncovered things about Roger that even Roger, himself, had kept locked away, secret even to Roger himself. Cliff had confessed to his buddy that this had been in his nightly innermost desires, but it was only at this moment...this moment when dreams were coming realities...that Cliff realized he had a craving for male sex.
Without objecting, Roger had given Cliff the freedom he needed to explore, to try the many things that had only happened in Cliff's surreptitious masturbatory world. Cliff wanted to touch, to feel all the things that he had only envisioned... to touch Roger's scrotum...to weigh his testicles in his palm...to run a wet finger in between the perfectly shaped buttocks...find the anal opening to Roger's inner body. Roger was literally Cliff's dream come true. Roger lay back and made little utterances like, "ohhh, maaannn..." as Cliff discovered each and every new part of Roger.
"Oh, my God, Cliff...do anything you want to me...just don't stop." Roger's voice trembled as he spoke. Cliff felt more pleasure since he was proceeding with Roger's full approval. Before long, the wish was granted as Roger's fluids welled up and he burst forth in Cliff's mouth as he had the most precious secret, sacred gift he would ever receive from his best confidant.
Cliff lifted Roger's head to look at him. Their bodies were still turned in opposite directions.
"Well, asshole, how was it?"
Roger didn't answer. He had his arm stretched across his eyes,
"Well?" Cliff asked again. "Can't you at least tell me if you liked it or not?"
"I could...but I'd rather show you."
"Rog, old buddy, be my guest."
In a flash, and throwing all caution and inhibition aside, Roger exchanged positions with Cliff and proceeded to reciprocate every physical pleasure Cliff and just bestowed on him. Roger was more aggressive in many ways, and yet, more tender in others. They both began to feel this was more than just sexual gratification, it was a mere outward display of the love they shared but never spoken of.
Soon, Cliff was over the edge and had given Roger a dose of his love offering. Then Roger returned Cliff's face and Cliff laid his head on Roger's outstretched arm. Both lay there just trying to restore their breathing to a normal rate.
"Cliff? What the hell did we just do?" Roger panted.
"We got to know each other a hell of a lot better, that's all."
"If that be the case, no one will EVER know me as well as you do now."
"That's all right with me."
"Does that mean we're queers now?"
"Not as long as we don't ever do it to anyone else."
"I don't think I would want to ever try it with anyone else...You're the only guy I ever think about at night,"
"And you're the only guy I've ever dreamed about doing this with...Rog, we have something extra between us now...something we'll always remember...we're as close now as two guys can ever get."
"I'm glad it happened, Cliff."
"Me, too."
"And if it had to happen, I'm glad it was with you...Do you think we ought to...Y'know...kiss or somethin'?"
"That crossed my mind while I had you in my mouth."
"Can you still taste me?"
"Yes, but it only acts as an appetizer. I still want more of you."
Roger rolled his head over toward Cliff and pressed his lips against his best friend's. Those lips opened and their tongues found each other at the same time. Something HAD happened between them. They were no longer just 'best friends`...it was different...something deeper and more meaningful. It scared them both because they had been playing in a forbidden area where neither had ever traveled before, because the deep kissing had turned into many light touches of our lips...the way guys and gals do. This was no longer sexual...it was romantic,
Roger's voice sounded fearful and nervous as he asked, "Cliff, where do we go from here? What do we do now?"
Cliff wasn't ready to admit his inner feelings so he quipped back..."You still wanna go best three out of five?"
"Fuck, I couldn't go through another round of that just now if I had taken steroids or drank a gallon of Energizer...Man, I'm worn out."
"You wanna come over to my house and spend the night and let's see if we can do it again?"
"Do you want me to?"
"Beats Nintendo!"
"Wonder if Sony makes a cartridge like 'Sex-o-rama'?"
"I dunno, but if I thought they were going to, I'd buy stock."
"Cliff, did you feel something besides just the sex part?"
"Like what?"
"Like we really were making love or something...you know, something more serious?"
"Like we were falling in love or something?"
"Something like that...did you feel it?"
"I'm almost afraid to say, 'yes'. I just felt like I was glad it was happening and with you...You're not trying to tell me something, are you?"
"I'm not sure...but suddenly I feel different...I feel different about you."
"In what way?"
"I don't ever want you to do this with anyone but me...and I never want to do it with anyone but you...I think I'd be jealous...Does that sound strange?"
"No, but it's strengthened the bond we've always had together."
"You don't love me?"
"Of course I love you, shithead. I'm just not going to marry you."
"Fuck! And I was all set to go out and buy the ring and everything."
"You can buy me a diamond ring if you want to...and I can wear it through my nose. Better yet, buy two, one for each of my nipples."
"It's a deal...Cliff, I just thought of something else...What just happened?...Does that change your mind about going into the priesthood after we graduate?"
"No, why should it...do you feel you can't become a priest now?"
"I told you I wanted to be whatever you were going to be...and if you can go down on me and have no qualms about being a priest, then so can I."
"Hey, will you do me a favor and go tell your mom you're going to spend the night at my house so we can go. I have some more things I want to try."
"Sure." He leaned over and kissed his friend quickly.
"And, Roger...tell her she won't be a grandmother for nine more months!!"
"Go to hell!"
"That, too, may come to pass...now run and make that call!"
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Later that night and the two boys discovered there were even more and better ways to know each other and, as they were taught years later at seminary to love thy brother as thyself, they were off to a good start.
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The boys choir singing "Alleluia" brought Cliff back to the present. He smiled at Roger as he, too, was taking his final vows. It was the beginning of a relationship neither could ever expect or dream of until they later became an everlasting loving couple in a town called, "Briarwood" which would make history...and so begins the story...
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(To be continued in "Briarwood" Book One-chapter two)