Dr Tim and the Boys

The following fictional narrative involves sexually-explicit erotic events between men. If you shouldn't be reading this, don't.

In the world of this story, the characters don't always use condoms. In the real world, you should care enough about yourself and others to always practice safe sex.

The author retains all rights. No reproductions or links to other sites are allowed without the author's consent.

Thanks as always to Tom W., my patient, hardworking editor. Thanks as well to Ash, Mickey, Evan, and Patrick.

timmead88@yahoo.com Chapter 37: Holiday Cheer

CEDRIC:

Dr. Fairchild's party was the Saturday before Christmas, which came on a Thursday that year. The Fairchilds lived in Ghent, which was a little over a half an hour from campus, in an area with hills, lots of woods, and big houses.

"Timmy," I said as we pulled up into a big circular driveway, "you've gone into the right profession, babe. I didn't know professors made this kind of money."

He grinned at me. "Gwen's making a decent salary, but it's her husband the lawyer who makes the big bucks. They live here because neither one of them has to drive too far to work. His office is in downtown Cleveland, and he can get there in a little over a half an hour from here on I-77."

"Oh, is her husband Frank Fairchild?"

"Yeah, I think that's his name. I've never met him."

The house had a large foyer. A young woman, probably a university student, took our coats and whisked them away somewhere. Dr. Fairchild spotted us and came to greet us.

"Ah, here you are, Tim. Welcome." Then, looking at me, she said, "Cedric, it's good to have you with us, too. My husband wants to meet you. If you'll excuse me, I'll find him."

A moment or so later, she came back with a tall, very distinguished looking man with silver hair and a thousand-dollar suit.

"Frank, here's Timothy Mead, our guest of honor."

Tim smiled and shook hands with Frank Fairchild. "I wish you'd just make this a holiday party and play down the `guest of honor' bit, Gwen."

"Nonsense, Tim. You've distinguished yourself, and we want to honor you for that."

Her husband had stood there smiling. Then he turned to me, offered me his hand, and said, "I understand Jacob Jones is your father."

""Yes, sir, he surely is." I said, grinning.

"Well, as I'm sure you know, Jake is one of the finest and most respected members of the Cleveland legal community."

"I do know that, but it's always great to hear. Thanks. I'll tell him you said so."

"OK, Cedric, but you can also tell him I'll whup his ass the next time we play handball."

I laughed and said I'd do that.

Then we were pointed toward a large room off the foyer where the guests were standing around. I guess it was the living room. It ran from the front of the house to the back, with vaulted ceilings and windows at both ends. There was an enormous Christmas tree in front of the front window, and there were greens all around the room. Many of the guests already had drinks in their hands, and the volume level was pretty high with conversation.

It looked as if most of the senior English faculty and several of the graduate students were there. I think I was the only undergraduate there, except for the guy out front who was parking cars, the gal who took our coats, and the ones who were passing among the crowd with food. People were all dressed up for this holiday party, but they weren't as elegant as the crowd that turned up for my parents' cocktail parties. I could imagine that it would be a very different scene if Frank's colleagues were there instead of the university crowd.

Tim and I soon got separated. After all, he was the man of the hour. And I was raised on parties like this, so I enjoyed myself schmoozing my professors and getting to know some of the grad students better.

After grinning until I thought my face would break, I stepped behind a large potted palm and stood there sipping on my glass of wine. I was approached by one of the senior faculty, Dr. Carter Frost. He taught a course in Beowulf that all the grad students had to take, along with most of the senior English majors who aspired to go to grad school. Around sixty, I'd say, my height, with a big paunch and pendulous jowls, the prof was wearing a sort of spruce green blazer with a solid red tie and red and green tartan pants. Some of the other profs had on flannel suits, and one even had on a tan tweed sport coat with leather elbow patches and gray slacks. But no one, male or female, was dressed in such a garish outfit as Doc Frost had donned for the occasion.

There was something lizard-like about him as he came around the palm, sidled up to me, and said, "Well, young man, I understand you are a senior English major."

I turned the smile back on and said, "That's right, sir."

"How come I don't know you?" He stepped a little closer. I would have backed up, but I was trapped between the palm and the wall, and there was no place to go.

"Um, well, I'm going to law school next year, and, though I'd have really loved it if I could take your Beowulf course, I just haven't been able to fit it in." I could hear my Mama saying I'd go to hell for lying.

"Where have you applied?"

"I've got applications pending several places, Dr. Frost, but I'm hoping that Michigan will accept me."

"One of the best. Good luck." He raised his highball glass in salute and took a hefty swallow from it. "You know, Cedric, I'm teaching a course in Anglo-Saxon literature second semester. There are many fascinating works from that period besides the Beowulf. I wish you'd consider signing up for it. I think you might find it very interesting."

About that time I heard someone tinging on a glass with a spoon. It sounded as if Gwen was about to say something. I assumed she was going to recognize Tim.

"Uh, that'd be nice, sir, but . . ."

I didn't finish what I was going to say because Frost interrupted me and said, "I really wish you'd think about taking my course." At the same time, the bastard cupped my balls with his free hand.

My first reaction was to deck him. But I didn't want to ruin Timmy's evening. I grabbed the offending arm, squeezed his wrist so hard I could see the pain registering on his face, and said, "I'm so sorry professor. I think Dr. Fairchild is about to talk about Tim's new book, and, since he's my partner, I want to be there to applaud him. Please excuse me." I released his hand, and he gasped. As I walked away, I asked, "What have you published recently, professor?"

Gwen, looking regal in a cobalt blue sheath with a stunning diamond pendant, was eloquent in talking about Tim's article. She had obviously read it, and she made several references to points that she thought were especially significant. Then she mentioned that it was quite an honor for Tim and for the University that Stanford University Press was publishing his book, and she said how much she was looking forward to reading that when it came out. Apparently while I was getting felt up behind the palm, someone had distributed flutes of champagne to all the guests. Dr. Fairchild offered a toast to Tim, everyone said things like "hear, hear," and drank up.

When I reached Tim's side, I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered in his ear how proud I was of him. He was expected to respond to Dr. Fairchild's remarks, and he did so with poise and grace, I think, saying something about how he was grateful for all the encouragement and help he had gotten from his senior colleagues in the department. The only clue that he was embarrassed was something he couldn't hide. His words were perfect for the occasion, but poor Timmy had one of his blushes. I knew it wasn't just his face that was blushing, but that he'd be blushing all over. And that thought gave me a hardon. Then I thought of that sleaze Frost trying to feel me up, so I didn't quite get the last few sentences Tim spoke. Soon, however, he was being applauded, and he came back to me. I wanted to grab him and kiss him right there, but I knew that would be a no-no. He surprised me when he took my hand and said, "I need a real drink." So we walked hand in hand to the bar, where he got himself a Jack Daniels on the rocks.

A string quartet from the University music department started playing Christmas music, and we began to circulate again. Tim said he'd like to go home, but that it would be rude to leave so early. We got separated again. I thought about having another glass of wine, but I was driving, so I decided not to. Instead, I had a glass of some wonderful cranberry-based punch. Then a couple of grad students I knew came over to me, Angie Erskine and Billy Cary.

"Hey, Ced, we didn't know you and Tim Mead were partners."

"Well, this is sort of our coming out."

"Cool!" Angie said. "You must be really proud of him."

"You know it!"

"Well, that was a pretty nice thing he said about you."

`Huh? What did I miss?'

"Uh, what was that?"

"You mean you don't know? Where were you when he was thanking Dr. Fairchild?"

"I heard most of what he said, but I didn't catch the last of his remarks."

"Well, after thanking the faculty and the university generally, he said he couldn't have done it without the support and encouragement of Cedric Jones, his partner."

My God! He'd done it. If anyone had missed the fact that we were there together, he'd made it clear to the whole damned department just what our relationship was. And I'd missed it because of that friggin' troll Frost.

I told Angie and Billy again how proud I was of Tim and then excused myself to go find him. When I located him, he had just turned away from the person he'd been talking with and was momentarily alone. I went to him and said, "Hon, you have to go to the restroom, don't you?"

"Not really, babe," he said, looking puzzled.

"Yes, Tim, you do. Find the restroom, and let me in when I knock twice."

"You have a message for me from MI-5 or something?" he asked, grinning.

"Shaddup, Timmy, and just do it, please!"

"OK, OK. I hope you have hanky-panky in mind, but this is a little risky."

A couple of minutes later, after checking to make sure there was no one looking, I tapped twice on the door of an upstairs bathroom. He let me in.

"Now, Cedric, why all the urgency? You want me to hold it for you while pee?"

I grabbed him and pulled him to me. Speaking softly into his ear, I told him about what Professor Frost had done and that I had been so upset by that that I missed his thanking me in his response to Dr. Fairchild. I didn't tell him I was also struggling with a hardon thinking about his full-body blush. I explained that I didn't know until someone told me what he had said.

With tears in my eyes, I said, "Timmy I love you SO much. I was about to bust my buttons just now when you stood up there and received the honor you have coming for your scholarship. And at that very moment, you acknowledged to the whole department that we are together, a couple." Then I kissed him.

When we broke apart, both a little short on oxygen, he said, "Cedric, I love you so much I just couldn't hide it any longer. And since Gwen wanted to do this for me, I thought it was time to let everyone know how important you are in my life. I'm glad you didn't mind."

"The only thing I mind, lover, is that I didn't actually hear you say the words. I want to go grab Carter Frost and yank his balls off."

"Hey, he may eventually have to vote on my promotion to associate professor, so let's not antagonize him. Besides, I think your response was very appropriate. You told him that we're partners, so he knows now you aren't available to become one of his boys."

"You mean . . . ?"

"Well, one hears rumors."

We left the bathroom singly and returned to the party.

When we thought we could appropriately do so, we hunted up Gwen and Frank to say our thank-you's.

"Tim," Gwen said, "It took courage to do what you did tonight, but you did it with grace and conviction. I hope there will be no repercussions for either of you. You know I'm on your side. Now, thank you for coming. I hope you have a beautiful Christmas. I assume you will be together?"

"Yes," I said, "Tim's going to spend Christmas with my family."

"Wonderful," Frank said. "Please give my best to Jake and your mother."

In the car on the way home, he nudged me and said, "I didn't know I was spending Christmas with your family."

"Well, you weren't planning on going to Belpre, were you? Of course you'll spend it with us."

"Have you cleared this with Angel and Jake?"

"I was ordered by Angel to tell you you were expected. We've been so busy this week I've forgotten to tell you. Besides, I just assumed you'd know."

He rested his hand in my lap, and my foot twitched on the accelerator, causing the car to lurch. "Woops! Sorry about that. What I was going to say was, I'm glad I've got those presents for Angel, Jake, and Keesha."

I laughed. He'd obviously been sure he'd be invited to our place, sure enough to get presents for my family.

Later, as we were undressing, I said, "Well, babe. That was memorable. And, except for one bad moment, a pretty nice affair."

"Yeah. It was great of Gwen to combine her annual holiday party with a gesture to me."

"Well, one big evening down. I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, too, though you may not be."

"Now, Cedric, you know better than that. With Max and Mark both involved, I wouldn't miss it for anything."

The next night was the Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. People representing different facets of the community would read parts of the nativity story, and the choir would sing Christmas music in between the readings. Max was assisting Father John, and Markie had been selected to be the university student who read. I think the whole crew was going to turn out for that. Rebecca had even said she'd come to sit with Lori, and Steve had been persuaded to come to sit with both of them.

JARED:

Dante was giving me my first real kiss and I was about to cream in my pants when he pulled back and said we shouldn't be doing that because I was "jailbait."

"Aww, fuck, man! What's that supposed to mean? That was sooo good!"

"Yeah, Jared, it was good. But, don't you see, I'm over eighteen and you're under eighteen? I could go to jail for having sex with you."

"Just because of a kiss? I don't think so."

"Well, what did you think that kiss was leading to?"

"I know what I hope it was leading to. Geez, Dan, you admitted you wanted me. And now we have to just stop?"

He glanced at his watch. "Look, Jare, we've been in here too long. (We were in a big linen storage closet.) They'll miss us, if they haven't already."

"Dude, we've got to talk about this."

He took both of my hands and looked at me with those soulful brown eyes. "Yeah, we do. Meet me at my car when we get finished?"

"Well, yeah, sure, I guess."

He adjusted his boner, opened the door, looked both ways, and then left. I stayed there for a few minutes because I didn't want anyone to see us leaving the closet together and because I needed time for my own hard cock to go down a little.

I don't remember much about the rest of my shift. I do remember being glad the scrubs were loose and that the shirt hung over my pants andhelped hide my stiffie. I was leaking so much I was afraid it would make a spot on the front of my pants. As I worked, I kept thinking about what had happened.

Was Dan just saying that because he didn't like the kiss? It was my first, after all, and I didn't know anything about technique. Well, he did have a big woodie when he left the closet. If he really did like me, as he said, how could we wait until my birthday in March to be with each other? I began to picture what it would be like to be with that hunky little musclestud. By the time my shift was over, there really was a wet spot on the front of my cotton scrub pants. I was glad it was cold and I had my parka to pull on when I went to find Dan's car in the hospital employees' parking lot.

He wasn't there when I got there, but he came jogging up right behind me. He unlocked the old Civic, and we got in. He started up the motor, but it was cold enough inside the car that we could see our breath for a while until the heater took the chill off. I thought it would be nice if we could hug each other until the car warmed up, but I didn't say anything because I didn't want Dan to freak.

"Jared, like I told you, man, I really think you're hot. And in the short time we've been working together I've gotten to know what a really sweet guy you are."

"Hey, Dan, you know why I'm working here. How could you think I'm `sweet'?"

"I know what you did to that Metz dude was wrong, but you're paying for it. And you told me he'd forgiven you for it. The Jared I see is not some kind of thug who goes around attacking people. The Jared is see is smart, sunny, gentle, and kind. You think I don't see how you work with the patients? That's the real you. And I've, well, let's face it, I've come to have real feelings for you."

Trust me to be a total wimp. Tears began to stream down my face when he said that. I was hoping it was dark enough in the car that he couldn't see them.

"Here, babe. What's this? Tears? Did I say something wrong?"

"No way, Danny. It's just that I've felt the same way about you from the beginning. You were so helpful showing me the ropes and so patient with me when I screwed up. Here's this sexy wrestler dude going out of his way to be nice to me. I think my feelings for you are different from what I've ever had for anybody else. So when you said you liked me, I just kind of choked up. Sorry!"

He took off his glove and put his hand on my face, wiping away some tears with his thumb. "OK, guy, it looks as if something special has happened to us. We've got a thing for each other. I just know it's going to be great. But, hard as it's gonna be, we can't do anything physical until you turn eighteen."

I giggled.

"What did I say?"

"Oh, it's going to be hard, all right. All the time, I'm afraid."

He chuckled. "Okay. We have to figure out how we can spend more time together away from the ER. There are so many things I want to find out about you. Think we can set up a time this weekend to get together? I know, what with school and working here, you don't have much spare time. I don't either, but we need to talk. When and where can we do that?"

"Well, if you came to my house, we'd have to get past my sis, and then there'd be a zillion questions. What about your place?"

"That might be a possibility, but my folks are home most of the time on weekends, along with my two kid brothers. Besides, it might be safest it we weren't in a bedroom together for a while. I don't know how much I can trust myself around you."

"OK, I've just had an idea. I usually get together with Steve Metz for a burger at noon on Saturdays. How about I explain to him that I need to do something else this Saturday, so you and I could meet at Mickey D's or someplace?"

"Hey, you don't want to piss him off. Do you think he'd understand?"

"Yeah. He knows I'm gay. I think he'd be cool with me having a boyfriend."

"Boyfriend, huh?" Dante grinned. "I like that. Now, dude, I've got to get home and do some serious studying. See ya about, what, 12:30 Saturday at McDonald's?"

I looked around to see if there was anybody in the parking lot. There wasn't, so I reached over, grabbed his head, and pulled him toward me. We spent a couple of minutes picking up where we left off in the linen closet.

"I don't care what happens, I've got to have more than that!" I said, panting. My shorts were pretty wet with precum by that time, too.

He said, "Looks like I've found me one hot stud. We are going to have to learn to cool it, you know, at least until March. See ya Saturday, babe."

"Babe." I liked that.

I had a lot of thinking to do when I got home. But first, after I stuck my head in the door of Jess's bedroom and said goodnight, I went to my room, took off all my clothes, and stroked off thinking about Dan. I could still feel his hard cock pressed against mine through our scrubs as he kissed me.

When I called Steve about canceling our lunch Saturday, I told him about Danny. He said he was happy for me. But he did ask about Dan and what he was like and how old he was. When I said he was a freshman at the university, Steve said, "Uh, Jared, you two aren't fooling around, are you?"

I laughed. "No, straight guy, we're not. Dan won't let us do anything like that until I turn eighteen in March."

"Look, Jared, Dan's right. If you got caught, or if anybody even suspected you two were doing anything sexual, you'd come out of it OK, but your friend would be in deep shit. You don't want that to happen to him, do you?"

"No way."

He chuckled. "Well, then, pup, I'm happy you and Dan have found each other. But you really do have to restrain yourselves until your birthday."

I sighed. "Yeah, I know, Steve, but that's really going to be tough."

"Hey, I know what you mean. I've got a hot girlfriend, and I ain't gettin' any either. At least nothing more than some kissing and groping."

"Sheesh! What's her problem?"

"It's a long story. Just be sure you and your new buddy keep your distance for now, OK?"

"Does that include kissing, ya think?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure about the law, but I imagine it does. So you guys be really careful, Jared. Promise me?"

"Yeah, Steve, I promise. And, thanks, man. You know, I feel like I've found a big brother."

He chuckled again. "OK, little brother, stay in touch. Maybe the three of us can have a burger NEXT Saturday. I want to meet your Dan."

Danny and I saw each other at work, and we got together when we could, but that wasn't nearly often enough to suit us. I also told Father Max about him.

Basically, Max (as he wanted me to call him) said the same thing Steve had, that Dan and I had to abstain from any kind of sexual contact until I was eighteen. But at another of our sessions, he brought up something else that hadn't occurred to me.

It was a cold, gray, windy day, and he had gone to the kitchen in what they called the parish hall and made us some hot chocolate. We were sitting at one of the long tables, sipping the cocoa and talking.

"You know, Jared," he said, smiling at me, "there's an ethical or moral question to all this you and Dante may not have thought of."

I took a sip of my cocoa and waited for him to go on.

"As I've told you, you can't help being gay. But you can choose not to have sex."

I started to say something, but he held up his hand.

"I know how eager you and Dante are. Believe me, I understand that. Sex is the natural expression of love. I have problems bigtime, though, with people just hopping in the sack together because they find each other attractive. We live in a university town. You probably have some idea what's going on in your high school. Isn't it true that straight couples are, uh. . . .", He looked around to see if Father John or anyone else was around. We were alone in that big room. "What I was going to say is, that people these days screw at the drop of a hat. And, frankly, Jared, I think that's wrong. I think sex should be something very special between two people who really love each other, who have some serious interest in being truly a couple. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Do you think Dan would come with you to one of our sessions some time?"

"Well, I know he's Catholic. And he's told me he was jealous of me because he can't talk to his priest about us. Dan says Father Donovan would shit a brick if he told him he was gay and had a boyfriend, even though we're not doing anything."

Max smiled. "Yes, I can imagine how Father Donovan would react. How about your minister, Reverend Rayburn?"

"Oh, I don't think I could talk to him, either. I've never heard him mention gays in any of his sermons, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable talking with him about all of this."

"Well, have you told your parents about Dan?"

"No."

"Do you think you should? After all, they were pretty accepting when you told them you were gay."

"Yeah, they were."

"Why not talk this over with them? I mean, if you feel you could do that comfortably. I think they might give you the same advice I have, that you and Dan shouldn't have sex unless you're sure you are together, that you really love each other, that it isn't just your hormones urging you to jump each other's bones."

"Thanks, Max. I don't know whether I can get up the courage to talk with Mom and Dad about me having sex. But I hear what you're saying, and I'll talk it over with Dan."

"Well, if you two have agreed, for his sake if for no other, not to have sex until you are legal, then you have almost three months to talk about whether what you have is just a case of the hots, or whether there's something more than that between you. And, if you can persuade him to come, I'd like to meet the lucky guy. Now. You haven't mentioned your sister since you met Dante. Have you talked with her?

"Sheesh, no. I mean, I've always told Jess just about everything, but I can't talk with her about SEX!"

"Well, she's going to feel pretty left out if you don't give her some indication that you've got this guy in your life, isn't she?"

"Yeah, Father, I guess she would. OK. I'll try to figure out what to tell her."

He smiled. "Good man."

I told Danny what Max had said, and he seemed to think about it seriously.

"Jared, when so many of our friends are fuckin' like bunnies, it's hard to believe it's wrong. But I see what your priest means. Sex between two people would be a lot more beautiful and meaningful if they, like, really loved each other, wouldn't it? And you know what, blue-eyes? I'm looking forward to giving you your birthday present because I want to make you feel good. I want to make you happy. I want us to go over the moon together. I admit I don't know how we're going to work it all out, but I'm hoping we can keep doing that. You know, just keep doing it . . . ?"

I teared up again. "Yeah, babe, by the time you give me my birthday present, I'll probably be ready to explode, but it's not just going to be a moment of hot sex and then goodbye, I know. My mind tells me we're too young to be making plans, but my heart says it couldn't stand being without you." I think it was at that moment that I decided I didn't want to go away to college, that I would enroll in the University the following fall.

After that Max and I changed our weekly appointment to a time when Dan could be there, too. He liked Max, as I knew he would. After a few sessions, Max said he didn't think there was much else we needed to talk about. I felt a little disappointed that there wouldn't be any more of those great talks, but I figured he had other people who needed him. And he did say that either of us should feel free to call him or drop by whenever we had a problem. I knew I'd be taking him up on that.

Danny and I kept working together and getting together away from the ER whenever our schedules permitted. We were very careful about even innocent things like holding hands. And we snuck a few kisses when we were really sure no one was watching. But that's all. Even that created a problem sometimes.

One day we were in "our" linen closet. Dan had his hands on either side of my head, his palms covering my ears. I had my arms around his chest. We were kissing -- which we'd gotten pretty good at -- and humping our rigid cocks against each other. God, it was SO hot!

In fact it was too hot for Danny. All of a sudden, he pressed his dick against mine, groaned, and shuddered. I knew what had happened, so I jumped back. Sure enough, there was a big cum spot on the front of his blue scrubs, and it was getting bigger.

"Shit!"

"Aw, babe, I think that's sweet. Is that all for me?"

"Joke about it if you want, smartass," he laughed, "but what am I gonna do now? I can't get back to my locker like this."

"Well, I guess I owe you something for that nice display of how you feel about me," I said, chuckling. "I've got a spare pair of scrubs in my locker. Don't have any underwear there, though."

"Damn, neither do it."

"Well, hot stuff, you stay here. I'll be right back."

Being careful that no one saw me, I slipped out of the linen closet, went to my locker a floor below using the stairs instead of the elevator, and managed to retrieve a pair of green scrubs, which I took to Dan.

"OK, dude, take off your pants and your underpants and put these on."

Though I had felt it a couple of times, I had never seen Danny's cock. It was even bigger than I thought, despite the fact that he'd just come. He used his white J.C. Penney briefs to wipe all the cum from his cock, balls, and belly. Then he pulled on my pants. They were pretty tight for him, and, since he wasn't wearing any underwear, I could see his dick clearly outlined as it snaked down his pant leg. The pants were a little long on him, too, but a lot of guys wear them that way, so he said it wasn't a problem.

He told me later he was really embarrassed as he finished out his shift. People teased him for having a blue top and green pants, but he just laughed and said something about laundry. What embarrassed him most, though, was knowing how clearly his cock showed through the tight pants. He said we'd not be having any more face sucking sessions in that linen closet. I pretended to be disappointed. Well, I WAS disappointed, but I could see what he meant.

MAX:

I really liked Jared and enjoyed his visits with me. He seemed very young for a high school senior. He had almost a puppydog quality about him. He was bright and open. What you saw was what you got with Jared.

Dante was very different. For one thing, he looked more than a year older than Jared. With his dark looks he could have passed for twenty. They made an interesting pair. Jared, the taller of the two by a couple of inches, was slender, almost willowy. Dante was closer to my height but heavier and more muscular than I am. Jared had told me Dan was a wrestler, and he looked it. But he was just as nice a guy as Jared, quieter, more soft-spoken, but really sweet. And I could tell by the way they acted together that they really cared for each other.

At our first meeting, Dante seemed very nervous. After I got us all Cokes, I said, "Dante, I hope you'll relax. You want to tell me why you're so uncomfortable?"

He grinned. "Sorry, Father. It isn't you. It's just that if Father Donovan knew I was here, I'd probably be in trouble."

"Well, look, I won't tell him if you won't. And I promise not to try to convert you to the Anglican brand of Catholicism."

"You people think of yourselves as Catholics?" I could tell he was interested.

"Yes, we do. `We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.' Sound familiar?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"But I just promised not to talk about that, didn't I?"

"Well, I didn't know that. Maybe someday we COULD talk about it?"

"I'll leave that entirely up to you, Dan. But for now, I'd just like to get to know you better and to have you and Jared tell me about what it is you feel you have between you."

I didn't do much but listen for the rest of that session. A few weeks later, Dante did bring up the subject of the similarities and differences in our two churches. With Jared an interested onlooker, we had a long conversation about that.

One evening not long after I had first talked with Jared about my reservations about casual sex, something in my brain accused me of being a hypocrite.

`Me? A hypocrite? What have I done?'

`What's with you and David? Are you a couple? Are you two going to make any sort of commitment to each other?'

I spent the rest of the evening mulling that over. David was a wonderful companion. We weren't together as much as I'd have liked because he traveled so much, but we spent most of the nights together when he was in town. We talked politics frequently, a subject on which we agreed. We were both democrats, and we often railed at the current administration.

I often teased him about being a hippie. He liked to deny it.

"Oh, yeah," I taunted. "Then what about those harem pants?"

"Have you ever seen those pants?"

"No, but I keep hoping."

"How do you know they weren't just a way for Chaz to embellish his story?"

I'd never thought of that, mostly because I'd never suspected Chaz of having that much imagination. "They ARE real, aren't they?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked as he flicked his hair away from his eyes.

We had long talks about some of the recent theologians whose works he'd been reading. As he had told me, he had very little use for organized religion, but he was a very perceptive reader of those writers, and I found talking with him about them stimulating, sometimes challenging. He carried through on his promise to educate me on the current pop music scene, and we both also enjoyed jazz and classical music. We decided we'd get tickets to hear the Orchestra at Severance after the New Year.

Yes, I was enjoying having David in my life. He was a wonderful companion. And, Lord knows, the sex was frequent and hotter than anything I'd ever experienced before. Andrew and I had always been very tender and gentle with each other. David knew when to be gentle and when he could be rougher, and I found I responded enthusiastically whichever way he went.

But I also had to acknowledge that I didn't love David the way I had loved Andrew, nor did I love him the way I still loved Tim. So, was this just the kind of casual sex I was warning Jared about, or was this a new and different kind of committed relationship I was getting into with David? I had to admit to myself that I wasn't really sure.

For the holidays, the group were going hither and yon. As Cedric has told us, Tim planned to spend Christmas with the Joneses in Shaker Heights.

When he learned that his younger brother Robbie was going skiing in Switzerland with friends over the holidays, Trey decided not to go to Richmond, but rather to accept Chaz's invitation to spend Christmas with the Greeleys in Cincinnati.

Since Max wouldn't be able to get away at all during Christmas week, David planned to go home to see Dawn, Sammy, and their parents Christmas, but he was going back to be with Max the next day.

Geoff had to play at Nighttown the night of the Fairchild's party and the next night when everyone else was at the Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Peter's. Philip was there both nights. Both were going home to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas day with their families, but both made excuses to go back to campus the day after Christmas so they could be together for the rest of the holiday break.

Cedric had bumped into Kent at the gym one day, so he invited him to come to their New Year's Eve party. Kent said he'd like to be there, but he'd have to see what he could work out with Maurice, his boss at Stefan's, about getting that important night off.

Mark and Lori were flying to Florida to spend the holidays with Mark's Pops and his partner, Doug, and didn't plan to be back before New Year's, so they wouldn't be at the party.

Rebecca was spending the holiday break with her family in Erie, so Steve resignedly went to spend the break with his parents, though he planned to get away and come back to his apartment near campus as soon as he could. When Tim called to invite him to the party, he jumped at the chance.

"Well, Steve, there's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"It looks as if you may be the only straight guy there. And there will be no women this time, since both Lori and Rebecca will be out of town."

Steve laughed. "Tim, rather than spend it alone or with my parents, I'll gladly be at your place. Thanks for rescuing me. But I'll leave before the orgy starts, okay?"

It was Tim's turn to laugh. "Ced and I will be glad to have you with us. Meanwhile, Happy Hanukkah!"

"Thanks, Tim, but I'm afraid we don't even celebrate that in my family."

"Well, Steve, happy whatever! Give us a call when you get back to town and maybe you, Ced, and I can do something together."

"Thanks again, Tim. You and Ced are really great friends."

"Love you, Steve."

TIM:

The Sunday night before Christmas, it had just begun to snow as we set out for St. Peter's, perfect for putting everyone in a holiday mood. The church was splendidly decorated for the festival of lessons and carols. There were garlands and wreaths of evergreens everywhere, two large undecorated pine trees at the front of the sanctuary, and swags on the end of each pew.

The extended brotherhood had gotten there early enough to sit together, though well toward the back of the church. As I sat next to Cedric and looked around, I saw Trey, Chaz, David, Lori, Rebecca, and Steve sitting nearby. Sitting next to Steve were a thin young blond kid who looked about sixteen and a compact, dark, Italian-looking young man of about twenty. After thinking about it a moment, I decided that must be Jared Cousins and his boyfriend. Max had, of course, not told me anything confidential, but he had said that Jared and his friend had been coming to see him.

It had been a tiring time, what with giving and marking finals and getting ready for the holidays. Gwen's party had been fun, but I was furious with Carter Frost for what he had done to Cedric. Then Ced and I had had a sort of sex marathon back home after the party. We were now officially out, and only time would tell what that was going to mean.

My reverie was interrupted by the church bell ringing. The organ had been playing, but it stopped just before the bell began to ring.

Two boys, one blond and one with brown hair, both wearing red cassocks and white cottas came out and lighted all the candles around the altar. They looked to be about twelve, and they were adorable. When they finished, they bowed to the cross on the wall behind the altar and left.

All the chatting stopped, and the large church was totally silent. Then, behind us, from the narthex, came the voice of a single boy soprano singing, "Once in royal David's city . . . ."

I leaned back in the pew, and tears streamed down my face.

[A second holiday chapter of this story will be posted in two weeks. Whatever holiday you are about to celebrate, I hope it's a happy one. --TM]