Journey to Love

Journey to Love 32-35

Journey to Love

Chapter Thirty-two

House Cleaning for Fun?

by Sequoyah

edited by Cole, Peter and Scott

Preface warnings apply.

©Sequoyah

The next morning, Sharky told me Mrs. Crandall had asked about an excursion to Dry Tortugas for the group. “Tell Mrs. Crandall or Mrs. Metzer we cannot take the group, but can take one if they are willing to sleep on the open deck where the crew will sleeping. The boat is full and we’re doing very, very well on this trip. All of the group have been there except Michael and Wolf, so flip a coin to decide which of them gets to go.”

“I’d really like Wolf to go,” I said, trying to sound innocent.

“From what I saw before and during dinner last night I suspected that might be true, but it’s important that we be fair about this. Something going on between you two?”

“Something, something important I think. There’s a possibility I’m in love, but I’m pretty confused. I need to talk with you two. I think you can help straighten me out.”

“We’ll have a lot of free time during the excursion to talk. Sharky and I do some of our best talking lying on the open deck at night. From what I’ve seen and the way you’re acting, I think maybe you’re in love, at least there is mutual infatuation, so good luck on the coin toss. Now we all need to get out of here.” We put the breakfast dishes in the dishwasher and headed for the main gate, Sharky and Antwon to get ready for the excursion and I to have coffee at La Casa.

When I got to the big house, everyone was having another cup of coffee or tea and Mrs. Metzer immediately asked about the excursion and I relayed the message from Sharky and Antwon. I felt as though I had been hit in the gut when Michael said, gleefully, that he was in luck because he had never lost a coin toss. I was reaching in my pocket for a coin when he added that his lover was arriving while we were gone, so he guessed Wolf would have to make the trip. Marc laughed and said I looked as if I had just won the Powerball lottery and that was about how I felt.

Mrs. Metzer started talking about activities available for the day and I would have loved to be involved in any one of several if Wolf was involved, but I had work to do before we left in the morning. “I have to get some things done--laundry, house cleaning, etc, since we are leaving at 5:30 in the morning. If he’d like and it’s okay with you all, Wolf can spend the night with me so I don’t have to get up at 3:30 to come here, pick him up and go back into town.” Of course it wouldn’t happen that way. Antwon and Sharky would bring him in when they came, but I wanted to convince the crowd that he needed to spend the night with me. As I looked round, I realized I was fooling no one except maybe Wolf. He was so busy nodding his head ‘yes’ that he wasn’t thinking straight--no pun intended!

As they all decided on their activity for the day, Susan said, “You know, helping a friend do laundry and clean house seems a perfectly acceptable activity.” Wolf mouthed a ‘yes’ and nodded his head even faster. “And who wants to get up at 3:30?”

I went up to his room with Wolf and we exchanged a few kisses before he selected, with my help, clothes for the trip and packed a small bag. Twenty minutes later we were headed into town. I really did have a pile of laundry to do since I had the normal amount plus I needed to strip the bed, especially now that Wolf would be sleeping with me. I got the first load of laundry going while Wolf started cleaning the kitchen. I consider myself a very neat and clean person and attempt to make sure my surroundings are as well. Wolf was beyond generally neat and clean. He was also fast. In no time at all the kitchen was cleaner than it had been when I arrived. When he finished with the kitchen, Wolf started on the bathroom with the same results as his efforts in the kitchen had produced.

The bell on the washer indicated the first load was finished and I transferred it to the dryer and started the second load. Wolf and I both worked on cleaning the living room and we were finished with the cleaning by 12:30, just as the dryer buzzer sounded. We took the laundry from the dryer and started folding it. Wolf picked up a pair of my briefs and asked if I always wore briefs.

“I wear briefs or trunks, you know, like half way between boxer briefs and briefs.”

“I do indeed know since they are what I wear most of the time. Why briefs? Few guys our age wear briefs.”

“I’m on the dive team and spend a lot of time in Speedos. Boxer briefs and especially boxers feel as though I left my pants home. Actually, I like the tight fit and a pouch. No fly.”

“We agree on that,” Wolf said.

The second load of laundry included the sheets and pillowcases for the bed and as soon as they were out of the dryer, I grabbed them and headed to the bedroom. Wolf was right behind me and as I started making the bed, he grabbed me and tossed me on the bed as though I weighed nothing. He crawled on top of me and started kissing me deeply, passionately, with open mouth and much tongue. Damn he learned fast or had not been as inexperienced as he said. When he broke the kiss I said, “THAT didn’t seem very inexperienced to me.”

“Derek, I’m just a very fast learner, have a good teacher and want you to know how I feel about you.” The fellow was certainly more dramatic than I was! Not that I objected.

“Point taken,” I said.

It was almost 1:30 when we had finished everything and I suggested we go to Annie’s Place for a fried oyster po’ boy. “She makes the best in the world,” I told him.

Turned out he didn’t agree, holding out for a place in Elizabethton. “I’ll take you when you come down.”

“I’m coming down?” I asked.

“Of course you are. As soon as you get back.” He sounded as though that was as obvious as a three hundred pound man in skin-tight red plaid pants.

Back at the apartment, I packed for the excursion, including a couple of books. Wolf found a couple he hadn’t read that he was sure he would like and added those to his bag. I told him we probably needed to go to the boat and see if there was anything Sharky or Antwon needed doing that we could do. There was and it was close to 5:00 before the boat was fastened up for the night.

“I think I need some red meat,” Antwon said as we left the boat. “How about you two?”

“They probably need red meat for the same reason you do,” Sharky laughed. “Antwon needs to replace some high grade protein.” He smacked his lover on his nice ass.

“Sorry to disappoint,” I said, “but we haven’t lost any protein except for some precum. We are not rushing the sex thing.”

Very seriously Sharky said, “Just kidding, fellows, and not rushing things is a good way to go.”

“A very good way,” Antwon agreed.

When we finished dinner, Antwon and Sharky were going to take us home, but I said, “Just drop us off at the corner. It’s only six or seven blocks, the night is balmy and the moon is still pretty bright. We’ll enjoy the walk.” We did, but instead of going directly to the apartment, we walked out on a long pier and sat, watching the moon on the water, exchanging a kiss now and again and talking--getting to know each other.

“I usually do too so all’s well.” Wolf turned so his front was hidden from me, handed me the towel and asked me to please hang it up for him. He managed to crawl into bed without my being able to get a look at his cock. Disappointed, I headed for the shower.

When Wolf had come from the shower his hard cock made a large tent in the towel about his waist. I promptly sprung a boner as I rushed to the shower. When I got out and dried myself, my erection was still very much in evidence and, in fact, I was harder than before. I wasn’t about to jerk off and that was the only way Derek the Erect would become Derek the Shrunken. So I followed my cock into the bedroom and as soon as I entered the door, Wolf said, “Nice, very nice.” He was lying on his side facing me, his body covered by a sheet. I grabbed the sheet and whisked it from the bed and, I’m sure, stood gaping open mouthed at the erect cock pointing at me.

“More than nice. Man, you are packing.”

“Well, if we are going to get any sleep, I have to take care of a problem.”

“I seem to have the same problem. Any objection to helping each other out?” I asked, hoping the answer was ‘no objection.’ The answer I got was a huge smile and a hand reaching out to pull me into bed.Both our cocks were gushing precum, but I had learned long ago that slick precum quickly dries to the point where it is not slick and, in fact, much like glue. I opened the bedside table and took out the Gun Oil and put several drops of the lube on Wolf’s tool. As I carried out that more than pleasant task, I couldn’t help but think, ‘The man is certainly well-hung’. It was not only a prize winning size, but also beautifully shaped. On a scale of one to ten, ten being a perfect cock, Wolf definitely had an eleven between his legs. I finished lubing his cock and gave it a couple of strokes to spread the extra lube which I had placed on the head because his great looking cock was uncut. Unlike a lot of very large cocks I’ve seen watching porn--I hadn’t watched much, but sometimes--Wolf’s wasn’t one of those that drooped from its own weight. Wolf the Second stood tall and proud.

Wolf took the Gun Oil from me and lubed my cock as well. Prepared, my cock was now begging for action and Wolf was eager to answer its plea. In fact, I was so hot and horny it was only a matter of minutes before I exploded. I had been so hard that my head was quickly too sensitive for any more play. I am prone to spasms when I climax and I sure did this time. As soon as they stopped, I turned my attention to the magnificent tool belonging to Wolf. It took him even less time than it took me to reach a climax and when he did, he shot the largest load I had ever seen.

We cleaned up--fortunately nothing had landed on the fresh sheets--and went to bed. We exchanged some hot kisses before I called a halt knowing otherwise we were headed for a long, drawn out jerk off session and we needed to get to sleep. We exchanged a final goodnight kiss and Wolf spooned himself against my back, put an arm over my body and hugged me to himself. I was in paradise!

An emergency vehicle came down our street, siren blasting, shortly after midnight. Since it sounded as though the vehicle had driven through the living room, no hearing person could have slept through its passing. Wide awake and with the room illumined by a street light, we turned and lay facing each other, looking into each others eyes. Wolf was so beautiful I just had to lean over and kiss him, a kiss which was returned. Almost instantly I could feel his cock hardening against my groin. I was getting an erection as well. “No need trying to go back to sleep right now,” Wolf said. “That vehicle will be back by and chances are with the siren going.”

“Any idea about how we might pass the time?” I asked.

“Three guesses and the first two don’t count,” Wolf laughed.

“Might the activity start something like this?” I pushed the sheet to the foot of the bed, reached for the Gun Oil on the bedside table and for the second time tonight, lubed Wolf’s cock. When I finished, he lubed me and we started stroking each other. Since we had gotten off only a couple hours before, we were not as trigger happy as had been earlier. I guess it was by mutual understanding since we did not discuss it, but we didn’t simply stroke each other to a climax, but brought the other to the brink and then backed off. Half an hour after we had backed off the first time, we nodded and stroked each other to a second climax. We were just cleaning up when the vehicle passed and as Wolf predicted, the siren was blasting. Sated for the second time and wrapped in each others arms, we slept.

At 4:30, the sound of the alarm was unwelcome to say the least. Nonetheless, we dressed quickly and were ready to go. We were picking up the excursion members at the club house of a very exclusive condo development up the coast from the city. As there was no dock at the club house, The boat would be anchored offshore and the passengers ferried to it by dinghy.

The plan was to cast off at 5:30, be at anchor offshore from the clubhouse by 6:30, have breakfast and be ready to ferry the first passengers by 8:30. “We can skip breakfast if something delays us. Picking up passengers at the clubhouse is an indication of the money they were paying for this excursion. They certainly wouldn’t expect to wait while something is fixed,” Antwon had said. We were at anchor shortly before 6:30, took the dinghy ashore for a delicious breakfast and were back at the boat by 8:00. Sharky returned to the club house to pick up the first passengers. The ferrying of all twelve passengers was completed by 9:30 and we were underway. Wolf and I took and delivered drink orders--Bloody Marys and Mimosas--while Antwon finished preparing breakfast. As the passengers finished their drinks, we collected their glasses and in most cases, served a second or third. With twelve people, the dining table on deck would be a bit crowded, but they decided they’d rather be cramped than eat in shifts. When they had finished breakfast, they scattered about the ship, most taking another cup of coffee.

The trip to Fort Jefferson usually takes just over two hours, but the passengers wanted a leisurely cruise, so it would be 1:30 or later before we arrived. Once we were underway, there was very little for us to do. The passengers understood that the bar would be open at specified times and cold water, soft drinks and juice was available in a cooler in the stern at all times. Wolf and I went forward and lay on the deck where a sail was rigged to provide shade. As dark as I was, I sunburned and I knew Wolf would. We were very generous with the sunscreen, maybe because we loved the feel of the other’s body under our hands as much as for protection from the sun.

We dropped anchor off Fort Jefferson and served a late lunch before ferrying the passengers to Garden Key where Fort Jefferson is located. Sharky again did the ferrying. Once the passengers were on the key, they were on their own until pickup which was scheduled for 8:30, over four hours hence. The three of us remaining on the boat cleaned up from lunch and cleaned the heads. We had finished by the time Sharky returned from depositing the last ferry trip.

We spread two blankets on the deck and lay down—Wolf and my feet pointed to the stern of the boat and Antwon and Sharkey’s to the bow, one couple facing the other. “So, Wolf, missing not being with your friends?” Antwon asked.

“Not really,” Wolf said, a bright smile on his face. “I’m sure they are having a great time, but I’d much rather be right where I am.”

“Derek seems to think there is something going on between you two,” Sharky said. “I guess that’s pretty blunt and my question is even more so, but, is he correct?”

I had to laugh when Wolf turned bright red! He was so light the blush was easily visible. Sharky and Antwon laughed as well and Sharky said, “I guess you have answered the question, Wolf. What do you think is going on?”

“Since it’s something I have never experienced before, I’m not at all sure.”

“Well, I kinda have,” I said and told of how I had been in love with Jeremy. ”But there is a major difference. I fell in love with Jeremy gradually. When I first saw Wolf at La Casa, I was practically paralyzed. I felt as though my heart fell to my stomach, I couldn’t speak and was afraid I was going to hyperventilate. Was it love at first sight? If it wasn’t, I don’t think I could survive the real thing.”

“My experience at seeing Derek headed toward me was very different. What he describes is a kind of shock to his system. My experience was more that of a warm, comfortable feeling invading my body, the feeling of gentle fingers touching my face, my back, my chest. My lips tingled and I thought, ‘So this is what falling in love feels like.’”

“So both of you think that maybe you are in love or falling in love?” Antwon asked.

Wolf and I looked at each other, smiled, exchanged a quick kiss and said together, “Yeah.”

“Love or lust?” Antwon asked. “Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference, especially in the heat of lust. Sometimes the raw power of lust and sex can convince you are in love when all that’s going on is a desire to get laid.”

“Hey, I won’t deny there isn’t a lot of lust involved and a desire to get laid,” Wolf laughed. “We are eighteen and nineteen, healthy American boys. We are always horny and can pop a boner watching paint dry, but there’s more and we know it.” He glanced at me and said, “Last night?” and I knew he was asking permission to talk about yesterday and last night. I nodded slightly.

Over the next half hour, Wolf and I told our mentors about our day together from cleaning the apartment to the excitement of being awakened by a siren. After we had told about the siren yanking us out of sleep, I had a sudden revelation. “We were awakened by a siren and it was the prelude to making love . . . making love, not getting off.” I looked at Wolf as I spoke and when I finished, his eyes were sparkling, his face wore a slight smile as he leaned toward me and covered my mouth with his in a soft, gentle, loving kiss.

The four of us talked about being in love, sex, and finally Antwon said, “So you have a week together here, then what?”

I watched as Wolf went from a radiant young man falling in love--in love--to a shy teenager, unsure of where he was and where he was headed. He glanced at me, then dropped his eyes. “If Derek wants me and if you two would permit it, I’ll call my parents and get permission to stay with Derek until he has to go back to Norfolk.” I was surprised both by Wolf’s statement and how tentative he was. Of course I wanted him to stay and thought he should know that and I was positive Antwon and Sharky would have no objections to his staying. He had seemed utterly self-confident until this moment; now, he was more like a frightened little boy than a confident young man. I leaned over and kissed him gently, letting him know with a kiss were I stood on the question.

“Well, I’m not sure about that,” Antwon said. “I’m afraid we’ll not get a lick of work out of Derek if you stay over. You’ll probably wear him out and he’ll never want to get out of bed.” Antwon maintained a serious look on his face as if he was trying to figure out how having Wolf around would work out.

“We can be as celibate as monks if that’s what’s required,” Wolf said, very seriously.

“Would almost be worth asking you to do it to see how you’d manage,” Antwon laughed. “In case you haven’t noticed, you are two handsome, hot young men. Sleeping together, your naked bodies pressed together, being in or falling in love and then trying to keeping you hands off each other? Fat chance.” He looked at Sharky who winked and then said, “Wolf, no problem with your being here or there being enough to do to pay your way. Give your parents a call when we get back.”

“Yeah, Wolf, do that and I’ll speak with your parents if they have questions,” Sharky said.

“Could Antwon do that? Speak to my parents I mean? Dad’s being a bit of a racist these days. I straightened him out, but I think a black voice might go over better than white one.”

“See your point,” Sharky said.

“Sharky and I are firm believers in slow and easy, Derek, Wolf, especially for a couple who know little about each other,” Antwon said. “I mean, if you were just in it for the sex, it would be different. If Wolf stays over, I think it best he stay at our place. You’ll be together much of the time, working, passing time while our guests fish, explore, and do the things we are paid to enable them to do. Plenty of time to work at getting to know each other. Of course, an occasional sleepover would be expected.”

Not what I expected, but in a logical, rational way, it made sense. “Not what I’d like, but I see the point,” I said.

“Fine. Wolf, call as soon as we get back and I’ll speak with them.”

For the rest of the excursion, Wolf and I spent time talking, making love--still in our self-limited, just bringing each other off way--and talking with Sharky and Antwon as time and occasion permitted. They were a wonderful two days. Did I still feel uncertain about my feeling for Wolf? Hell no! I was falling ass over tea kettle in love and was sure my love was returned. I was positive about both.

At anchor again offshore from the clubhouse, we took the passengers’ bags--they had to pack food and water for Garden Key and all swim gear and fresh clothes--up to the deck, helped the first four into the dinghy and loaded the luggage and Sharky ferried them to the clubhouse. As soon as he left with the last group, Wolf went forward, took out his phone and called home. He talked for fifteen or twenty minutes, then handed the phone to Antwon. Wolf was back on the phone until just before Sharky returned after his last trip to the clubhouse. “I got no answer one way or the other about staying over,” he said and I couldn’t tell whether he was hopeful or not.

Chapter Thirty-three

Sailors and Lovers

by Sequoyah

edited by Cole, Peter and Scott

Preface warnings apply.

©Sequoyah

Back at the marina, we cleaned up the boat, refueled and stocked it for two half-day fishing trips the next day. When we finished, we all headed for La Casa, Antwon and Sharky going home and Wolf and I rejoining his friends. Antwon and Sharky said they could handle the fishing trips very well so Wolf and I could have the day off. Wasn’t sure what we would do afterward, but I was going to La Casa with Wolf for dinner.

When we arrived at La Casa, I was introduced to Sandy who had finally arrived. In a way, Sandy and Michael reminded me of Wolf and myself. Michael moved slowly, carefully, thoughtfully. Sandy had the energy of a puppy and was just about as aimless. Well, Wolf was energetic, but certainly not aimless. He knew what he wanted and went after it, like getting to stay over in Key West with me although he still didn’t have an answer from his parents.

Before dinner, Wolf had told Mrs. Crandall that Antwon and Sharky didn’t need us tomorrow and asked about my staying over. She had responded, “Of course. Derek is always welcome at La Casa.” When he told me, I was ecstatic!

After dinner, Mrs. Metzer was in charge of making arrangements for the following day’s activities. Justin and Michael said they’d like to go sailing which meant Sandy would as well. I glanced at Wolf and then said, “If there’s room, I’d love to go. I have never been sailing.”

“I guess that means Wolf has a new and sudden interest in sailing,” Marc laughed. “Justin, think you and I could handle the catamaran? It would carry six easily.”

“Don’t know why not,” Justin answered and that was settled.

The sail turned out to be a great adventure. Since we were all males, at one point we decided to work on an over all tan. No package was a cause for embarrassment, but Wolf and Sandy were number one and two--the two smallest guys packed the biggest guns. There was a sudden squall which scared hell out of us, especially Michael who almost slid off the deck into the sea, but it was a great day.

As we were returning from sailing, we were all commanded to get to the library on the double and when we arrived found all hell had broken loose because Michael had been outed at a church revival in North Carolina. ****

I was amazed as the North Carolina troop set to work to rescue Michael from being sent to a hellhole in Alabama to be changed from gay-to-straight. I was also scared shitless when I realized my Wolf, in his female persona, was a major part of the rescue operation and in danger, but all turned out okay.

Wolf’s parents finally gave him permission to spend the next three weeks with me. Marc and Justin really were like fathers to Wolf as Sharky and Antwon were to me. The four were afraid we were moving too fast as both of us were pretty inexperienced with this love and sex thing--we both had some sexual experience, I more than Wolf, but tossing in the love factor made it a more explosive mixture, Marc observed. He and Justin, as had Sharky and Antwon, insisted, we not live together. Of course, we were free to choose otherwise, but we agreed: Wolf would be living with Antwon and Sharky at La Casa and I would be in my apartment. They did say they expected sleepovers.

One afternoon, after we got back from the Dry Tortugas, we met the others for tea and to see the exhibition they had been working on. Wolf and I bought each other a medallion at a place known for them before going to see the exhibition, and we had dinner afterward.

After a week in Florida, the Clan left on Monday, Michael and Sandy went to a hunting cabin on the estate to hide Michael and for a honeymoon. Wolf and I spent the afternoon on the boat helping with a half-day fishing trip.

We got back, took care of the boat and Antwon looked at the booking for the next couple of days. We had two half-day fishing trips Tuesday, and a day-long cruise Wednesday. Antwon said since we had an overnight to Dry Tortugas Thursday, he and Antwon would be staying aboard the boat Wednesday night and suggested Wolf stay with me. “Wolf, you’ll need to pack for the trip tonight when we get home as we’ll not be going to the cottage tomorrow.” Wolf and I didn’t even bother to pretend we weren’t excited. We all had dinner, then I went to my apartment and the three left for the cottage.

The morning fishing trip went well, but sad to say, the same was not true of the afternoon one. The four fishermen had a mostly liquid lunch, I suspect, and were not going light on the booze on the boat. Antwon warned them that should they become drunk, we would go in. “We will not be responsible for some drunk falling overboard,” he said. “You were told when you signed the contract you’d be brought ashore if you got drunk.”

The drinking did not stop. One guy was especially obnoxious and kept making a pass at Wolf. So long as it was simply words and gestures, we all chose to ignore it beyond Wolf telling him he did not appreciate his remarks. The remarks and gestures did not stop and then the touching started. I was getting steamed; Antwon was getting pissed; Sharky was working up to an icy rage. Wolf seemed indifferent except to tell the guy to stop touching him and avoided the guy as much as possible. When the fellow walked up behind Wolf and grabbed his ass. Wolf turned to him and said, “I told you to keep your hands off. Apparently, you do not understand English. Let me put it to you this way, you touch me in an inappropriate manner again and I will floor you.”

“Big talk from a puny little black boy.”

“I suggest you pay attention, sir. The puny little black boy can do exactly what he said,” Antwon said.

“Just another black boy bragging,” the man said and reached out and grabbed Wolf’s cock and balls. What happened next happened so fast I didn’t see it. One second the man had Wolf’s cock and balls in his hand and in the next he was writhing on the deck, clutching his own cock and balls.

“This black boy does not brag,” Wolf said and turned and walked off. Sharky had seen the whole episode as well. As soon as the man grabbed Wolf’s manhood, Sharky headed for the pilot house and had the boat underway by the time Wolf walked away.

Antwon, Wolf and I collected the fishing gear, taking it from men who had been fishing and were stowing it when one of the men, drunk, started arguing with Sharky because the trip had been cut short. Sharky reminded him that he, and most of the others, had not stopped drinking when they were drunk and finally one of them had sexually assaulted a crew member. “You will be lucky if you are not arrested for public drunkenness and Wolf doesn’t charge one of your group with assault.” What Sharky did not add was that he had alerted the authorities about possible DUIs if anyone on the boat got in a car after we landed.

Since we got in early, the boat was cleaned and provisioned long before it would have been. Antwon had ridden his motorcycle in and Sharky and Wolf had their jeep. When we had everything ready for the next day’s excursion, Sharky and Antwon hopped on the motorcycle and headed for their cottage. “Dinner will be at 7:30,” Antwon said just before they sped away. It was 5:30 and the trip to La Casa took forty-five minutes. We had an hour and a quarter to make love. We used it well.

Wednesday we had an excursion among the Florida Keys--Antwon called it meandering among the mangroves, but I found it very interesting. The passengers were a group of retired school teachers who were interested in the habitat and both Antwon and Sharky were very knowledgeable about it. The caterer had done an excellent job with lunch. The day with the teachers ended with a sunset cruise and, again, excellent food. By dinnertime, the passengers had adopted the four of us and has us eat with them after we had the meal laid out.

As we were eating, one of the ladies said, “As handsome as the four of you are, you all must have girls all over you. You all have girlfriends?”

I looked at Antwon in panic. I had never expected such a question and ‘I don’t believe that is any of your business’, wouldn’t be an acceptable response.

“Afraid not, Ma’am. See, Antwon is my husband and Wolf and Derek are engaged,” Sharky said as though it were an everyday response.

“Well, you certainly had me fooled,” the lady laughed. “Best wishes to all of you.” I breathed again.

We were late getting the boat ready for the next day’s excursion and when we had finally finished, Wolf and I headed for the apartment. As we were leaving, Antwon said, “Remember, we are going to be underway at 6:00, so don’t stay up all night. Get some sleep,” and laughed.

We walked to the apartment, I packed my bag for the next two days and showered and it was only 8:00 when we embraced in the bedroom. We were both hot and hard as we kissed and our kisses had just got hotter when I picked Wolf up and carried him to the bed. I‘ve already said Wolf moved like a cat and he could be as quick as one which he proved as soon as I lay down. Before I knew what had happened, he was between my legs, my cock engulfed in his hot, wet mouth. “Beautiful Boy, I don’t think that’s slow and easy!”

He looked up at me with those big green eyes and grinned. Without speaking, he started kissing his way up my body, stopping to nip at one nipple, then the other. Finally, he covered my mouth with his, traced my lips with his tongue which then demanded entry. Once his tongue was in my mouth, it started exploring. I had never been as hot in my whole life. Finally he broke the kiss and said, “Derek, you and Levi sucked each other’s dick for almost a semester. For a couple years, a fellow involved in drama and I sucked each other every chance we got. So, the two of us have exchanged blowjobs with a good friend and a casual acquaintance, but we are holding back with someone we are probably in love with. Where’s the logic in that?”

I had to admit it sounded more than a bit foolish. “But the idea was that we not let sex interfere with getting to know each other.”

“Derek, I want to get to know you; I want make love to you where I can see your face.” He kissed my neck and shoulders, nibbled at my ears before covering a nipple with his hot mouth. He sucked it, then the other one until both were hard and pointed. He buried his face in an armpit, then gave it a tongue bath before continuing kissing a trail toward his goal. He made a stop to stick his tongue into my bellybutton, then moved down and took first one, then the other of my balls into his mouth. After bathing my balls, he focused on my cock, licking the shaft, swirling the head with his tongue. Finally, he engulfed my cock with his hot mouth, and looking into my eyes, his tongue and gentle sucking had me in paradise.

Unfortunately, paradise was short-lived as I soon started blasting into his willing mouth. Wolf’s eyes were sparkling as he bathed my cock with his tongue, cleaning up any cum left on it. Realizing I was so sensitive any further attention to my still hard member was painful, he scooted up and started kissing me. I could taste the remains of his making love to me when my tongue probed his mouth.

“Wolf Lancaster, where in the hell did you learn to suck cock like that?”

“You like?”

“I like very much, but I find it hard to believe you’ve only sucked a guy off a few times. How did you learn how?”

“First, you have been taken by a very smart boy. Second, don’t say porn can’t be educational. Third, bananas aren’t just for breakfast,” he laughed.

“You’re shitting me.”

“Gospel truth. I decided I couldn’t learn to fuck by watching porn, but with the help of a banana, I could learn to suck cock.”

“You learned well, Beautiful One. You learned well. I’m almost afraid to return the favor now,” knowing full well Levi had done a damn good job teaching me to suck cock.

“You do what you do and I’ll love it. It may not just be the thought that counts, but the thought is a major part of lovemaking, so just think about loving me. That’s what I do, not just when we are having sex, but every time I see or think about you.”

I did return the favor and got nothing but moans and groans of delight from Wolf.

Later, Wolf said, “Derek, how about we do some permutations of sixty-nine!”

We laughed and giggled as we played before finally settling down in a sixty-nine to make love to our--dare I use the word?--lover’s cock. Levi had taught me well, so it was no surprise that I was better at making love to Wolf’s cock that he was to mine, but, man, he was not bad. Wolf finally moaned and said around my dick, “I’m there!” and started filling my mouth with sweet tasting cum. The amount of cum matched the sizable dick from which it poured. Once I swallowed the last of his man’s juice, I focused on the pleasure he was giving me and shortly after he had filled my mouth, I warned him that I was cumming. He locked his lips around my shaft and drank the nectar I gave him.

We lay in the afterglow, arms about each other, eyes locked. Wolf slowly moved to me, kissed me with the gentlest kiss and said, “Derek, I love you.” He kissed me again, softly.

“I love you, too, Wolf.” We drifted off to sleep, wrapped in each others arms only to awaken a couple hours later. Still wrapped in our lover’s arms, our eyes met and smiles covered our faces. Seconds later our tongues were engaged in a lovers’ duel where losers were also winners. We were both very hard as we started grinding our cocks together. “Hang on, Wolf,” I said as I stopped moving. I reached into the nightstand and retrieved the Gun Oil and spread lubricant on my lover’s stomach, lubed both our cocks extremely well and spread lube on my stomach. I pulled Wolf’s body atop mine and he knew immediately what was needed and started sliding up and down, rubbing our cocks between our stomachs. Although we had each had a wonderful climax only a couple hours earlier, it wasn’t long before I felt hot cum on my belly as Wolf’s man’s seed erupted between us; his hot seed was a trigger for my own eruption. Our bodies went into spasms as we pumped hot cum between us. We didn’t drift off to sleep this time as the hot cum became a cold, clammy mess. Instead, we cleaned up and went back to bed, exchanged a goodnight kiss and wrapped in arms and legs, for the second time the night we professed our love, we slept.

We hadn’t paid a lot of attention to the suggestion we get a lot of sleep, but didn’t object when the alarm went off at 4:30 since we were still aglow from our love making. We popped out of bed, brushed our teeth, embraced and truly began the day with a kiss. Neither of us could keep the smile off his face.

We were at the boat before 5:00, stowed our bags and joined Sharky and Antwon for the shipboard breakfast Antwon prepared. “If I didn’t know otherwise, I’d say you two are basking in the afterglow of having been laid last night,” Sharky said.

“I guess that would depend on your definition of being laid,” Wolf said. “See, I met a guy several years ago at the state drama festival and due to circumstances beyond his control, he was without a room and stayed with me. He loved sucking cock. Over the next year or so, we got together from time to time and he sucked my cock. The last couple times we were together, I returned the favor. Derek, on the other hand, had a guy living with him and they exchanged cock sucking duties whenever they liked. Now Derek and I have a very special feeling for each other, deeper than either of us had to the drama guy or housemate, yet we were supposed to do nothing more than help each other out with a hand job. Now I ask you, does that stack up logically? Of course not! Having realized the foolishness of it all, I suggested we work several things including permutations of sixty-nine of which found several, probably not all and I’m sure we will be working on those again.” Antwon and Sharky were laughing like fools by the time Wolf has finished.

“That’s a hell of a long speech to say, ‘We’re adults and we decided you two were fools to think that two hot guys wouldn’t get it on sleeping together naked,’” Sharky said. “It does explain the bright eyes and bushy tail you two are sporting. Just be responsible.”

“Sharky, Antwon, Wolf said the L word last night,” I responded and somewhat sheepishly added, “I did too.”

“Well, you’re two great guys. I hope you have a long, loving life together,” Antwon said.

Over the next two and a half weeks, I had a chance to see gracious and charming people, assholes and bigots, in other words, a cross section of middle and upper income people. Wolf and I also talked a lot, made love a lot and got to know each other. Our love grew and grew.

Finally it was the night before Wolf and I were to go home. Mrs. Crandall invited us to La Casa for a farewell dinner and we would stay over. Antwon and Sharky had kept the morning free so they could have breakfast with us and take us to the airport. Mrs. Crandall had arranged for Wolf to fly to Norfolk with me, then spend a couple nights before I drove him to Elizabethton. I was anxious for Auntie and my friends to meet Wolf, but I was not exactly looking forward to meeting Wolf’s parents. They were of a social bracket several notches above mine and that was as important, if not more important, among some African-Americans as it was for certain groups of whites.

When we sat down at dinner with Mrs. Crandall and Mrs. Metzer, Mrs. Crandall said, “Wolf, Derek, I think the two young men heading back north are very different from the two young men who arrived from there. I’m sure spending time with Antwon and Sharky accounts for some of that, but maybe only a small part. Would I be amiss if I said I think the two young men who came down have been transformed into two young men in love?”

“Not amiss at all, Mrs. Crandall,” Wolf said.

“Not at all,” I added.

“I wish you much happiness,” she said. She asked a hundred questions about our time in Florida and about what we would be doing when we got back. She knew about my responsibility to Auntie, so I said, “Well, I’ll be back in time to do the second session of summer school and will take a couple of classes. With my AP credit, I’ll be a junior second semester if I do. Jeremy will be moving into his room at Levi’s house as soon as the first session of summer school is over. I’m going to be lonely in my place by myself. Wolf and I are trying to figure out some way for him to be at OCU after the first semester, but out-of- state tuition is a killer. Auntie had some IOUs from OCU for some reason and I saw her work miracles with one before. Maybe she can help.”

“Wolf, how will your parents take your having a boyfriend? Do they know you’re gay?”

“They have known since before I did,” Wolf laughed. “It was never a problem even when I went off the deep end being gay; they accept that being gay is just the way it is. A boyfriend is another matter altogether. Marc and Justin have never seemed to bother them, but they are not African-American nor are they their sons. Who knows?”

After dinner, Mrs. Crandall had Mavis bring flutes and champagne and pour six glasses. “To young love and to friendship,” she said as she raised her glass in a toast.

When she lowered her glass, Wolf raised his and said, “Truly to friendship, to love in all its myriad forms, to La Casa, Mrs. Metzer and the Mistress of La Casa, Mrs. Crandall.”

Later, Wolf and I went up to the suite that had been Justin and Marc’s and took advantage of the Jacuzzi and playing around in it. When we went to bed, Wolf said, “Derek, we are at La Casa where we met and fell in love. This was our beginning. Are you worried about our future?”

“Not at all, Beautiful Boy. We can make it work. We will make it work. Now let’s make love.” We did.

We were up at 7:00, had breakfast and it was time to go. We hugged Mrs. Metzer and Mrs. Crandall and thanked them profusely for a wonderful month. Mrs. Crandall assured us we would be welcome back. Sharky and Antwon took us to the airport and after long hugs, each of them kissed us--on the mouth--and we headed for security.

We landed in Norfolk at 2:30 and it was 3:00 before we met Jeremy. “Jeremy, my best friend, Wolf, love of my life. Wolf, Jeremy.”

As the two shook hands, Jeremy said, “So this time you did find boyfriend material. Wolf, have you tamed this wild animal?”

“Well, he hasn’t been wild with me or no wilder than I wanted,” Wolf laughed.

“You sound local,” Jeremy said.

“From the Valley of Humility between the Two Mountains of Conceit,” Wolf replied.

“Valley of Humility between two Mountains of Conceit?” Jeremy asked, puzzled.

“Yeah, we’re stuck between pretentious South Carolina and pretentious Virginia,” Wolf responded.

“Oh.”

“How are things with Levi and Telvin?” I asked.

“Like pigs in the mud. The house was finished before you left, right?”

“Yeah. They were doing interviews the Saturday after I left.”

“Well, I got the first room, of course. For the time being I’m living alone. Don’t know that I’ll change that. They have asked me to help with the house maintenance and all that and I’m getting the room for half price anyway. I moved in the same time they did. Turns out they had rented all the rooms by the time they finished interviewing. They had space for ten more and had twenty to interview. Louis and Caroline, his girlfriend took one as did Philip. A grad has one and two undergrads have the other. I had Levi and Telvin keep a sharp eye out for you and now you go off to Key West and return with a boyfriend. So how did you two meet? How did the romance develop? Hey, Wolf, this man would be my lover instead of yours except for my tragic flaw. I am hopelessly straight.”

“But he did teach me to kiss,” I laughed.

“You did one hell of a job of it,” Wolf said.

“So you’ll not be on the couch tonight,” I said.

“Nope. And should I ever find a woman, I’ll not have to send someone to sleep on your couch.”

“So when did you last see Auntie?”

“An hour ago. I went over to get the car.”

“Nice car,” Wolf said.

“It’s Auntie’s,” I said.

“Don’t let him kid you, it’s his. Auntie hasn’t driven in years.”

When we arrived at the house, Auntie was waiting with open arms. “Derek, Baby, so good to have you home! Good time away?”

“Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful time,” I replied.

“And this beautiful young man beside you had nothing to do with that.”

“He has almost all to do with it. Auntie, Walter Stepphenwolf Lancaster from Elizabethton, North Carolina...”

“Your great-grandmother Hester Lancaster?” Auntie asked.

“I think so,” Wolf responded.

“Derek, I won’t go into all the linage, but you and Wolf have ancestors in common, but are not yourself kin. It’s all complicated. Doesn’t matter since you’re not blood kin so no incest involved.”

“Incest?” Jeremy asked, obviously as confused as Wolf and I were.

“Well, I’m assuming from observing you two that you are more than very good friends and you both have that newly-wed glow about you so it’s good that no incest is involved, but I guess it’s not terribly important since you’re not likely to reproduce.”

Jeremy was practically rolling on the floor, Wolf appeared in shell shock and I reminded myself that it was Auntie we were dealing with. “Think you’ve got it all figured out, Auntie,” I said.

“We’ll talk more later. Derek, run your and Wolf’s bags upstairs and hurry back. Dinner is ready. Jeremy, you’re staying, of course.”

“Thanks, of course.”

I picked up our bags and Wolf started to go up with me, but Auntie said, “Wolf, you are needed here.” He was needed so Auntie could question him. I took our bags upstairs and when I came down, Auntie was placing food on the dining room table and when we were seated, said, “Okay, tell me about this Florida trip and how a Virginia boy got connected with a North Carolina boy.” There were a lot more questions from Jeremy and Auntie as we told them about my month in Florida.

<>

**** The story of Michael’s rescue is told in The Saga of the Elizabethton Tarheels beginning in the middle of Chapter 65 and will not be told here. Saga is found on the Awesome Dude website, sequoyahsplace.com and on Nifty, High School, Aug. 27, 2010.

Chapter Thirty-four

ESU or OCU

by Sequoyah

edited by Cole, Peter and Scott

©Sequoyah

When we finished our story, Auntie said, “So you just finished high school, Wolf. What’s next?”

“I’m enrolled at ESU in Elizabethton and plan to go into mass communications. I have had a radio show for several years and am interested in TV as well. I’m also active in the community theater, especially backstage work--set design and construction, makeup, costuming, lighting, all of that. I have done some acting, but really enjoy backstage work more.”

“He just pulled off a major acting job,” I said. “Saved a friend of ours. Did you see the mess at the Atlanta airport that resulted in the further downfall of Brother Fitzgerald and his gay-to-straight clinic?”

“Oh, yes,” Auntie said. “Did my soul good.”

“Well, Wolf’s friends from North Carolina hatched up the scheme which overturned the good reverend’s applecart. Remember the two women involved?”

“The one who called that poor boy?”

“Yeah, that was Wolf.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Jeremy said. “Anyway, you didn’t mention that. What’s the story?”

We had to tell Auntie and Jeremy the whole story and I ran upstairs and brought down photos of the transformation of Wolf and Michael.

“So where is the poor boy now?” Auntie asked.

“Last we saw of him, he and his lover Sandy were on their way to a hunter’s cabin in the Florida wilderness, hiding from Michael’s father and on a honeymoon. His family was still trying to get him into one of those hell-holes to make him straight, but his boyfriend’s adopted father and his law partner are working to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

“Was everyone in Elizabethton gay?” Jeremy laughed.

“Hardly,” Wolf said, “but we were five to their four. It’s kinda complicated, but Marc and Justin, and also Sandy and Michael were definitely out after last year’s prom. They were being shunned as you can imagine and I felt I should support them. In addition to the five of us who are gay, there are two other straight couples.”

Auntie asked more questions and suddenly I realized it was after 8:00 and I had not seen Eloise. “Where’s Eloise?” I asked.

“She had a date after work today. She has been seeing a really nice young man who really cares about her and she him.”

“So how long have you been alone?”

“Actually, the last granddaughter left on a flight just before yours landed, but even if she had not been here, Levi, Telvin and Jeremy have checked on me and remember, their backyards and mine adjoin.”

Jeremy quickly added, “Yeah, and Levi had a gate put in the fence between the two and an intercom system connecting the houses. Seems Auntie has acquired some new grandkids. So what’s on your agenda?”

“Wolf is here tomorrow and tomorrow night, and then I will take him home and spend a day there if I can be sure you are being looked after, Auntie.”

“We can take care of that,” Jeremy said. “Levi, Telvin and I all owe you and Auntie and besides, it’s no big deal for us. No worry about that. You sure one day in--where? Elizabethton?--is enough?”

“Two days would really be nice,” Wolf said. “Small place, but there’s a lot to show a boyfriend.”

“Two days it is,” Levi said.

“Tomorrow I want to show Wolf around campus here. He’s enrolled in ESU in Elizabethton, but OCU has a superior mass communications program as well as an excellent drama program.”

“Thinking about enrolling here?” Auntie asked.

“Since Derek and I are in this for the long haul, I would love to, but the extra expense may well make that impossible. I will be living at home if I follow the original plan and, of course, pay in-state tuition. The out-of-state tuition at OCU will be three times what I expected to pay.”

“Think you might look into that, Auntie?” I asked.

“Maybe, maybe.”

“Then there’s the extra expense of room and board.”

“I suspect Derek could figure a way around that,” Jeremy laughed. “Well, I’ve got to go. Finals for the first summer session coming up. You still planning on taking courses second session, Derek?”

“I am. Already registered. Second session starts Monday, right?”

“Right. Nice to meet you, Wolf, and know you have a good one in Derek. Hang on to him. He deserves a lot of lovin’.”

“That’s my plan,” Wolf grinned.

After Jeremy left, Wolf and I went upstairs. As we walked through my apartment, Wolf kept saying, “Wow!” When he’d seen it all and we were standing in the library, he said, “Derek, this is magnificent!”

“Some of my friends call it my palace,” I said, laughing.

“I can understand why.”

Toward the end of first semester, I’d had an intercom installed as there had been no other way for Auntie to contact me except by rapping on the banister with her cane--which she still does. We had just finished our tour of the apartment when the intercom buzzed and Auntie’s voice said, “Drinks ready when you are.”

I let her know we were on our way.

“Wolf, Derek, I think a celebration is called for.” There was a silver tray with strawberries, champagne and flutes sitting on the coffee table in the living room. “Derek, would you please serve the wine,” Auntie asked. I nodded. “So, Wolf, your parents know you are gay, but do they know about my Derek?”

“They only know he’s a friend I met in Florida who is coming for a short visit before starting summer school here.”

“And just when do you plan to make the boyfriend announcement?”

“When I introduce him, I think.”

“Have you even hinted he might be more than a casual friend?”

“Subtly, I have.”

“Think they suspect anything?”

“I would have suspected something had my son suddenly asked to spend a month working on a boat,” Wolf grinned. “I would be especially suspicious when I knew he had always been pampered and never really worked. Also, that he didn’t like to get his hands dirty and especially when I knew, as my Dad knows, about bait and deep sea fishing and what the crew does. Yeah, I think I would have been suspicious, very suspicious.”

“Well, I hope your announcement is not too much of a blow. Their son is lucky to be getting Derek. Derek, you taking us out for a decent steak?”

I knew what that meant and we were soon seated at an upscale steakhouse. When Wolf insisted on paying, Auntie allowed it.

The next morning, Levi called over and invited the three of us for breakfast, but Auntie begged off. She and Eloise had some things to talk about, she said.

Levi and Telvin were absolutely glowing with happiness and I was pleased. When I introduced Wolf, Levi said, “Wolf, I’ll admit I would never have picked you as Derek’s type, but seeing you together? You are a good match. Much happiness.”

“Yeah,” Telvin agreed, but didn’t seem quite as happy about the situation as Levi, but maybe it was just how Telvin was.

“So how about a house tour?” I asked. “Well, of the public areas, of course.”

“You can see some of the rooms as well,” Levi said.

Jake, as he had done in my place, had done a wonderful job with the house. The rooms were large and the furniture was nice. Peter had selected the draperies and bed coverings and done a great job, individualizing each room as much as possible. “So who’s living here?”

Telvin said, “Before we started the interview process, we told Jeremy he could have first pick and he chose the room downstairs. Philip asked about a room and said Peter would paying half the rent. No need for an interview there. He, of course, would be living alone except when Peter came down. Louis had an application and no way were going to loose him and his invaluable advice and help. He did bring his girlfriend Carolina over for an interview.”

Levi said, “I underscored the fact that she would be living in a houseful of men and that she should expect a lot of male carrying on.”

Telvin said, “We made sure she understood the problem of sharing a bathroom with three guys.”

“Telvin told her she may as well get used to the fact that the toilet seat would always be up! She laughed and said she had four brothers, two to six years older. We ended up with only two unfilled rooms. Casey and Alex were, hands down, Levi’s and my pick. When Louis learned they were being considered, he added his recommendation as well. They are a gay couple who have been together two years in high school before coming to OCU. I think they were in one of your classes last year, Derek, but given the size of freshman classes, I’m not surprised the names mean nothing. Two grad students have the last room.”

After the tour, Wolf and I went back to the house and told Auntie we were going to the campus. We had walked around for almost an hour and were sitting in the student center having a coke when my phone rang. It was Auntie’s number and that always frightened me. When I answered, she said, “Derek, you and Wolf need to stop by the Dean’s office at 10:30,” and hung up. She had delivered the message and had nothing else to say.

We had half an hour before we needed to be in the Dean’s office and were close to Professor Simms’ office and on the off-chance he was in, I decided to stop by. Actually I had finished a year with him as my official adviser and had never met him. Today was not to change that since as usual he wasn’t in, but Louis was. “Did my summer school classes reach minimum enrollment?” I asked as we walked in. “Oh, Louis, Wolf Lancaster, my boyfriend.”

Louis stood, shook hands with Wolf and said, “You are a lucky man, Wolf, and if looks count, Derek hasn’t done badly either. Welcome to OCU. You a student here?”

“No, I’m entering ESU in Elizabethton in North Carolina this fall. Wish I were here, but that looks impossible right now.”

“Have any idea of your major?”

“Mass communications and/or drama.”

“Looking for an easy ride or serious stuff.”

“Serious stuff.”

“Not a nice question, Louis,” I said.

“But realistic. Too many in those departments are just here to--no pun in tended--play, but the departments here are strong and you would do well to reconsider, Wolf.”

“Hey, you don’t have to convince me, but my parents are another story.”

“Well, pick up some materials at the admissions office before you go. Would like to see you around this fall, if not before.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’ll see me before,” Wolf laughed.

“Before we go, Louis, my classes?”

“Both have the necessary number enrolled and you are duly registered.”

The Dean’s office was close by so we had no problem showing up on time after leaving Louis.

“Derek Wilson for the Dean,” I said to his receptionist.

“Of course, Derek. The Dean is expecting you.” She buzzed the Dean and he told her to send us in. “That door,” she said pointing.

As we walked in, the Dean stood, and extended his hand. “Derek Wilson, Dean,” I said, extending my hand, “and Wolf Lancaster.”

“You, I know, Mr. Wilson, even though we have never met formally. I have followed the aquatics teams having been a swimmer in college myself, and anyone who knows our team knows Derek Wilson who turned it around. Wolf,” he said, shaking Wolf’s hand. “Gentlemen, have a seat. Derek, Wolf, I had a call a short time ago from Amelia Kingston. I have heard others of the faculty and staff talk about her. She seems to have a lot of influence around here for reasons no one wants to discuss. The Dean of Student Life knows her well and I understand has seen her in action and been rather directly involved.”

“I’ll confess, I was the instigator of that bit,” I said.

“You were present?”

“I was. I called her when I saw the pigsty Levi Epstein was being forced to live in.”

“Then you can answer a question for me. The rumor among the faculty is that she gave the Dean a whack on his, uh, bottom.”

“She did. She most certainly did.”

The Dean laughed. “Well, she seems to have taken an interest in you, Wolf, and is insisting that a way be found for you to enroll here at OCU without paying out-of-state tuition. I don’t suppose you are a basketball or football star. Play any sports?”

“Afraid not unless you count martial arts. I don’t exactly ‘play’ at martial arts as depending on which one you are talking about, I have a black belt, second degree, or the equivalent.”

“Accomplished, I see. Unfortunately, we don’t award scholarships in the martial arts. What are your plans for a major?”

“Mass communications and/or drama.”

“Experience?”

“I have had a Saturday morning radio program for several years which is carried on two stations. I’ve been involved in every community theater production in Elizabethton since I was nine, on stage or backstage. I have been a part of the high school company which made it to the state finals or semi-finals three out of my four years in high school.”

“Quite an impressive record.”

Thinking it couldn’t hurt, but Wolf would never mention it, I said, “Perhaps you saw part of his recent successful appearance on CNN,” I said.

Wolf looked daggers at me and I just grinned.

“Oh, I don’t guess I did.”

“You missed the CNN report on Brother Fitzsimmons and his gay-to-straight clinic in Alabama?” I asked.

“No, no. Of course I saw that.”

“You recall a young woman who got the guards’ attention and called out a man’s name just before the attempted kidnapping of the young man?”

“I do,” the Dean was looking very puzzled.

“That was Wolf. His courage and bravery saved a friend from being sent to that place.”

“You’re not going to leave me hanging like that. I have an appointment coming in shortly, but meet me at the faculty dining room, lunch on me. Noon OK?”

“Sure,” I said.

Wolf gave my arm a pounding as soon as we were out of the Dean’s office. “Derek, why did you bring that up. They’ll put two and two together, know I am queer and likely you are more than just a friend and I will be as welcome as dog shit at a lawn tea party.”

“Wait and see,” I said. “There is free lunch, the Dean said so.”

We had an hour to kill and I suggested we have a look at the theater since it was in easy walking distance of both the Dean’s office, where we were, and the student center, where we would need to be at noon.

Wolf was duly impressed by the theater and even more so when we ran into a drama grad student who offered to show us around after he asked if we were thinking about majoring in drama and Wolf said he was. When we finished the tour, it was 11:45 and we started wandering toward the student center.

When we reached the faculty dining room, I told the hostess we were guests of the Dean and she said, “Of course, Mr. Lancaster and Mr. Wilson,” and showed us to the table where the Dean was sitting with two other men.

“Mr. Wilson, Mr. Lancaster, may I introduce Dr. Cleveland, head of the mass communications department and Dr. Olstein, head of drama. Gentleman, Messrs Wilson and Lancaster.” We all shook hands and sat down. “I have asked the two department heads to join with us in an effort to solve the out-of-state tuition problem, but first, let’s order because I am sure you two are hungry. People your age usually are,” he laughed.

We ordered and a student waiter brought our drinks and salads. As he placed them on the table, Dr. Cleveland said, “I understand you have had a radio program for a few years. How did that come about, what is its format and how did you train for it?”

Wolf laughed. “Well, the owner of the station saw me in a play, liked my voice and felt he needed to raise his teen audience rating which couldn’t have been lower. He asked if I’d do a teen show Saturday morning. I was free to do what I pleased because, as he said, had he known what teens wanted, he’d have had an audience already. I, of course, play music, do interviews with people who impact teens’ lives, have discussions, do commentary, do a bit of just about everything.”

“Obviously the format is working if you are still on the air.”

“It’s good enough that it is also on another, larger, station he owns.”

“Training?”

“Aside from the training I got from participation in the community theater, knobs were labeled until I learned which did what, showed how the mikes and CD players worked and told, ‘Go to it.’ Lot of bungling for awhile, but then that’s OK since we teens do a lot of that and are reassured when the world doesn’t end. If you can bungle on the radio and still have a program, there’s hope when you spill your tray in the cafeteria.”

“Interesting. I would never have thought of that,” the Dean said.

“I guess that’s why Mr. Lancaster has a teen show and we don’t,” Dr. Olstein said with a laugh.

Our salad plates were taken away, drinks refilled and our entrees) placed before us.

“So, Mr. Lancaster...”

“Dr. Olstein, I’m an eighteen-year-old. You are, I assume a PhD or DFA, so can we drop the mister? I’m Wolf and Wilson is Derek.”

“As you wish, Wolf. Not short for Stepphenwolf by any chance?” Dr. Olstein asked.

“It is,” Wolf said. “My full name is Walter Stepphenwolf Lancaster. Both Dad and Mom were great Hesse fans.”

“So, Wolf. I understand you were involved in overturning Brother Fitzsimmons’ milk cow--his tax-exempt revival business and his gay-to-straight clinic. Just how did this come about?”

I spoke up before Wolf could respond. “Dr. Olstein, I think I can tell the story pretty objectively. Wolf will not. He will downplay his role and, truth be told, the success of the project rested solidly on his shoulders.” Wolf again looked daggers at me and I just grinned and started the story.

Chapter Thirty-five

African-American Experience?

by Sequoyah

edited by Cole, Peter and Scott

Preface warnings apply.

©Sequoyah

When I finished, Dr. Cleveland said, “As head of the mass communications department, I do have contacts who have contacts . . . well, you understand. Don’t ask me how I obtained them, but after the dean told me you had something to do with bringing down Brother Fitzsimmons, I made some phone calls. I’ll have some interesting video we can view later, but you don’t happen to have photos of your transformation, do you, Wolf?”

“No, I don’t. They’re not something I would feel comfortable carrying around.”

I gave Wolf an evil grin and said, “Dr. Cleveland, Dr. Olstein, dean, I could have a set in half an hour.”

“Well, let’s finish our lunch and by the time you get back with the photos, I should have copies of tapes for us to take a look at. Wolf, you need to get rid of your reluctance to toot your own horn when you have something to toot about. Exposing Brother Fitzsimmons as a fraud and tax dodger, rescuing those poor guys from his clinic and putting a stop to it are all worth tooting about,” Dr. Cleveland said.

I was surprised at the comment since Wolf hadn’t been reluctant to talk about his achievements, which were considerable. Then I realized he had been very reluctant to talk about Michael’s rescue and his part in it, fearing it would out the two of us, and that was certainly not something I would be want to be sharing with our lunch companions!

“Do you have tapes of any of your broadcasts?” he asked.

“Video or photos from plays you’ve worked on?” Dr. Olstein asked.

“I do,” Wolf said, “but they are in Elizabethton.”

“How long are you going to be here?” the dean asked.

“I planned on leaving tomorrow morning.”

“Could you postpone your return? Would it be possible have tapes and videos couriered here?”

“I suppose.”

“Call your parents and see about delaying your departure. Would they know how to find a selection of tapes and videos?”

“Of course, they are all cataloged. I’d need to check my database to select radio programs.”

“It’s 1:15 now. Call your parents and ask permission to stay over. I’ll speak to them if it will help and make arrangements to have them courier the materials.”

“Sir, I notice cell phones aren’t permitted here,” Wolf said.

“I forgot. Come with me, please.” They walked through French doors onto a patio and I saw Wolf making a call. The dean took the phone at one point and talked several minutes before returning it to Wolf.

Dr. Cleveland had spoken to a waiter and as Wolf and the dean returned, a man brought a laptop to the table. “Wolf, I took the liberty of having a laptop brought in so you can check your database. Dessert and coffee are on the way, unless you want something else,” Dr. Cleveland added.

Wolf logged onto an online storage website, brought up a database and quickly started listing tapes. He selected five radio programs and four plays: one in which he had a major role on stage, one for which he designed the set, one that featured costumes and make-up designs he had created and one showing his lighting skills. He emailed the list to his parents and the dean had him send one to the courier company. He had made arrangements to have the tapes picked up and delivered to his office. “We should have the material by four at the latest. Wolf, if you and Derek can get the photos together and be at the mass communications screening room by three, we’ll have a look at the rescue before the other materials arrive. You can then do highlights from the tapes and video from Elizabethton. The three of us can spend more time with them if we wish, but you should be free by five.”

I drove Wolf back to the house, we picked up the photos and spent half an hour talking to Auntie about what’s going on. “Wolf, they are taking the bait, now set the hook,” she said, as excited as she could be. “Maybe I should go along, or better yet, bring the stuff home and we’ll have a radio and video evening.”

When we got back to campus, we found our way to the mass communications department and went into a conference/screening room. Before we sat down, Wolf told Dr. Cleveland, “Mrs. Kingston wants copies of the tapes and videos and I have learned it is wise to do as Mrs. Kingston asks.”

“It will be done,” Dr. Cleveland said.

The photos of the transformation of Wolf were passed around. When all had seen them, Dr. Cleveland said, “We have tape. The first is a surveillance tape of Wolf and his friend Michael arriving at the Key West airport and later as they are boarding the commuter flight.” We watched as a macho Michael entered the airport and then saw the beginning of Ms. Henderson and Queen LaKisha at the boarding gate. When they arrived in Miami, they went to the restroom and Ms. Henderson and Queen LaKisha emerged. The transformation was amazing.

Even more amazing was the transformation from Ms. Henderson to Baby Doll and Queen LaKisha to a more slutty version. The tape included the whole episode from the time the two came out of the exit gate until they disappeared in the crowd.

“Amazing acting, Wolf, and the makeup is equally amazing.”

“Ms. Felicia Kim-Simmons, a female impersonator from Key West deserves much of the credit.”

“But not on the trip itself,” Dr. Olstein said.

The courier arrived with the tapes and video just as we finished talking about the rescue.

Wolf started with the radio tapes, doing highlights. He seemed to remember within a few minutes where things were on the tapes. We listened to him doing interviews with students, important educational and political figures, community religious leaders. There were panel discussions on a wide variety of subjects and confrontations between leaders of opposing sides of issues. There were also examples of Wolf announcing music which ranged from rap to country. When he finished with the radio tapes, Dr. Cleveland said, “I can see why small radio stations do well if that’s the quality of programming they put on the air. That’s far superior to the theme stations, all news stations and other wide-audience programs.”

Dr. Olstein wasn’t very interested in Wolf’s radio talent and was pushing to get to the video. Again, Wolf did a masterful job of presenting the material and did it, as the dean commented, without preparation.

A student brought the copies of the tapes to the dean as we were ready to leave. He handed them to Wolf and said, “You’ll hear from me before noon tomorrow.”

Back at the house, Auntie asked what was going on and I said, “I think the dean is working to get Wolf admitted here and Dr. Cleveland and Dr. Olstein are practically fighting over who gets him.”

“Wish I thought that was true,” Wolf said, “but I do think I might be able to get a scholarship next year. I suspect I’ll be at ESU as planned come September.”

The day had been exhausting and we had an early supper, then watched excerpts from the tapes of plays and listened to selections from radio broadcasts before we headed upstairs. A soak in the Jacuzzi followed by a long shower relaxed us so completely that we crawled in bed and had only exchanged a couple of kisses before we drifted off. At midnight, Wolf woke me with kisses and we were soon working on the permutations of sixty-nine again. We were definitely getting better at it and as we became better, the resolution took longer and longer. We had been playing for almost an hour before we presented each other with our gift. In another half hour, our kisses and explorations of each other’s body had us ready for more. I took the Gun Oil out of the bedside table and we again brought each other off by rubbing our cocks between our stomachs. By the time we had showered, we were half hard again, but also sleepy and decided to save our next round for the morning. Morning proved we had made a good choice.

After we had playtime in the bed, we had playtime in the shower.

The dean called at 10:00 and asked us to come to his office. “I think I have good news,” he said.

When we arrived, in addition to the dean, Drs. Cleveland and Olstein, another man was present. “Wolf, Derek, this is Mr. Campo, financial aid officer. Mr. Campo, the floor is yours.”

“Mr. Lancaster, coaches frequently bring all the pressure they can on me because they want an athlete of one kind or another. Aside from coaches, I seldom hear a peep from faculty around here. When the pressure started in regard to you, I thought you must play at least six different sports. Turns out I was wrong. The dean recounted your situation and the fact that the major problem is out-of-state tuition. I’ve tried every idea I could come up with as a way around that and had the college legal staff working on it as well, but it seems there is no escape.

“However, there is a way through and that is to pay it. The question then becomes how to do that. I understand that a loan is unacceptable. Since you have been accepted at ESU, I assume there is a college fund of some kind?”

“There is. So long as I am in-state it will see me through a master’s degree at least.”

“Good, good. Now, some details. Dr. Cleveland was very impressed by your radio show. The campus radio has taken a very far back backseat to campus TV. Dr. Cleveland suggests a work-study scholarship for you. You would, in return, do a thirty minute radio program each week. Of course with planning, taping and all the leg work involved, the position qualifies for a significant number of hours.

“Dr. Olstein also wants you. He had forgotten about a scholarship for design he hasn’t used for two years, so it is worth a nice sum. For it, you will, during the year, be expected to produce the design for a production--not necessarily one that will actually be used, although that would be a plus. The design would include a model set, costume sketches, makeup designs and lighting plot.

“You will still have the expense of books, room and board. Books you would have at ESU, so I’m not including them in our discussion. The dean informed me he thought you have your room covered. Is that correct?”

“It is,” Wolf answered. Something was going on with Wolf. He not only didn’t look as happy as I thought he should be at what was developing, but also was becoming increasingly nervous.

“Fine, fine. The dean has some monies for discretionary scholarships--frankly, they’re usually given to sons and daughters of generous benefactors of the university, sons and daughters who do not need them and could not earn them. ‘My daughter has just received a dean’s scholarship at OCU,’ makes a good impression at cocktail parties and is like bread cast on the waters. It is returned a hundredfold.” Mr. Campo chuckled. “The dean will be granting you a scholarship equal to the cost of the university meal plan. You are free to spend it for food as you wish.”

“And all of that means?” Wolf asked.

“It means you can attend OCU, a school with superior mass communications and drama departments, for a hundred dollars a year less than it would cost for you to attend ESU. Of course, you will have no transportation costs living as close to campus as you do unless you need to buy a bicycle.”

Wolf waited till Mr. Campo was finished and everyone’s eyes were on him. He was fidgeting in his seat. Then he took a deep breath. “Gentlemen, I certainly appreciate your efforts on my behalf. I am not prepared to give you an immediate answer as this is something I must discuss with my parents. Is there a deadline?”

“Well, obviously the absolute deadline would be the beginning of the fall semester, but realistically, the funds involved are tied up until released to you or back into the scholarship pool. The sooner the better, but I do realize you need time to speak with your parents. Could you make a decision by next Monday? That gives you almost a week.”

“I am sure that will be possible. I have one other question. Is there some provision for someone from out-of-state to attend summer school? If I decided on OCU, I would like to take a course or two during the last session of summer school.”

“I am sure something can be arranged. Just get enrolled as soon as possible as classes become full or are withdrawn because of lack of enrollment quickly.”

Wolf again thanked them all and we headed for home. I could hardly contain myself, but Wolf seemed withdrawn and in a strange mood.

His mood didn’t change when we got back to the house where Auntie and I were all excited about OCU making it possible for Wolf to attend. As soon as we were upstairs, I said, “OK, Wolf, spill it. You have just been handed an almost free ride at OCU which, saying nothing against ESU, simply has more money and therefore superior equipment and facilities. I can’t speak for the faculty, but even if they are equal, your field is better served by OCU. Additionally, I hope the fact that I am here and we will be living together would add a bit of sweetener to the pot, but you are acting more like you have lost your last friend.”

“That’s the whole problem. Living with you, having equipment I dream about, of course that is ideal, but there is a fly in the ointment. Dad. I don’t know what Dad’s problem is, but he has been very racist in some recent remarks. I wasn’t sure he’d let me go to Key West because I was going with ‘honkies’. I called his hand on that and he apologized, but one of the remarks he made was that I would be going to ESU which is a historically black school and would finally have the black experience. I am, to be honest, trying hard not to think too much about coming to OCU. I don’t think it’s going to happen, so I don’t want to get my hopes up.”

I wanted anything depressing my man dealt with now. I grabbed a bag and quickly packed for two days away while Wolf lay face down on the bed. When I finished, I called Jeremy and told him what was going on and he said he’d see Auntie was cared for. I then went to the bedroom and said, “Wolf, Beautiful Boy, grab your bags. We are headed south.” Downstairs I told Auntie what was going on. Fifteen minutes later we were on the road. Wolf called his parents and told them he was on his way and was bringing a friend. When I asked, he said he still had told them nothing about his time in Florida. Probably not a good move, but nothing could be done about it now.

To say we were subdued as we started our drive to Elizabethton would be an understatement. It was almost as if we were angry with each other. Finally I had had enough and said, “Beautiful Boy, I know you love and respect your parents and that is the way it should be. However, you, my love, are eighteen and have, with the help of friends, brought down a man who has been destroying lives and living well from it and captured college scholarships when there were supposedly none left. Your parents, I am sure, love you very much and are very proud of you, as well they should be. I mean no disrespect, but you are an adult and while advice from those older and supposedly wiser is to be taken seriously, it is you who have to make the decisions for your life.”

“I don’t understand.”

I wasn’t sure whether Wolf was being dense or what. What I had said was pretty clear to me, but I tried again. “Wolf, listen to your parents, but you must decide what you want to do. You want the experience of living in a predominately African-American college? Then it’s ESU. You want a better education in the fields in which you are interested? Then it’s OCU.”

“Derek, I am not sure what Dad means when he says ‘the African-American experience.’ The only African-American experience I am interested in I will have so long as you are around.” He grinned. “Maybe I am worrying over nothing, but Dad had been adamant about my going to ESU where I would experience living among my people. I wanted to go to the School of the Arts and he absolutely put his foot down. I’ll be honest, I don’t know how to deal with it. I have always got what I wanted, got my way and done things as I pleased.”

“You have always got you way and what you wanted?”

“Always except, maybe, this time.”

I found that hard to believe and even harder to understand.

We arrived in Elizabethton mid-afternoon and rode around town a bit before Wolf called his parents and told them he would be there in ten minutes.

When we walked in, mother and father were there waiting for us. Wolf had many features of both parents. His build was definitely dictated by his mother’s genes. His father was a large, big-boned man. Wolf’s features definitely resembled his father’s.

Wolf’s mom hugged him and said, “Welcome home, son.”

His dad hugged him as well. “Good time in Florida?”

Wolf nodded and I saw him swallow. He and I had not talked about how I would be introduced, but I never expected what happened. “Mom, Dad, Derek Wilson of Alexander County, Virginia and OCU, my friend, my lover_._ Derek, my mom and dad.”

“Your what?” Dr. Lancaster asked, astonished.

Mom Lancaster just got a smile on her face and I could see her think, ‘Let him deal with it.’

“Derek, welcome to our home,” Dr. Mom Lancaster said, extending her hand.

“Thank you, Dr. Lancaster.”

“Derek, since there are two Dr. Lancasters in the house, that can be very confusing. Since it appears our son intends to make you our son-in-law, you may call me Mom.”

“That will even things out,” I smiled, “as I have two dads and only one mom at the present.”

“That sounds interesting. Well, come on in. Walter, collect yourself and bring some drinks. These young men have just completed a hot drive.”

We were soon seated in the living room, Wolf had to recount his Florida trip--again I had to make sure he didn’t slight himself, then it was my time to talk about Florida. At one point, Dr. Lancaster--I had not been given permission to address him otherwise--stopped me after I had referred to their son as Wolf again. Wolf had to explain that Mrs. Crandall felt Sissy—Wolf's nickname since he was very young—was degrading even if it wasn’t intended to be and refused to allow it.

When my recent time in Florida had been more or less covered, I was put on the hot seat. I got asked a ton of questions, none hostile, but clearly they wanted to find out about this stranger who had entered their son’s life. Things did get tense when Dr. Lancaster asked, “So you live with two white queers and call them Dad?”

“My dads are white and they are gay. They also happen to be married even though it is not recognized by Virginia. They have loved and cared for me and my very straight brother as our father never did. They treat my mom as they would their mom. I am proud to call them dad and respect, honor and love them as I would have my father had he permitted it.”

“But you are African-American and strai . . . ”

“I am an American of remote African ancestry just as my boyfriend is American of remote African and European ancestry. We are gay. I will not allow myself to become a victim because of my race or my sexuality. I have seen firsthand how becoming a victim truly destroys a person far more quickly than the taunts, names and venom of hatemongers can. We are gay, Dr. Lancaster. We are gay and we are in love. We fell in love just as we would had we been straight and one of us a woman. If you can understand that, then you can understand your remarkable son and a tiny bit of why I love him and why that love grows every day. Wolf loves and respects his parents as, I have been led to believe, you love and respect him, but that love and respect can be destroyed if you have decided he needs fixing, either because he is not straight or is not black enough. I mean no disrespect nor do I intend to offend, but those are things you need to consider.”

“So you lured him to Florida...”

“How could I have lured him to Florida? We had never laid eyes on each other until we met in Florida.”

“Well, you turned him gay!”

All three of us, Mrs. Lancaster, Wolf and I burst out laughing. “Walter, you know damn good and well Wolf has been out, not just as gay, but a flaming gay, since he was in middle school. Come on, you are just having to face the fact that your son is in love and loves a man. If they are not already, they will be having sex.”

“That I absolutely forbid!” Dr. Lancaster thundered.

“And just how do you propose to enforce that?” Mom Lancaster asked. “I think chastity belts are generally not accepted and you can’t stand guard twenty-four seven. As I recall, you managed to have sex even with half the teachers in the county dead set against it unless it was with them. Walter, have you completely lost your mind? Wolf is eighteen. We can either give him a hard time and accomplish nothing but driving a wedge between us or we can trust that our care and concern and, yes, our teaching and instructing accomplished something.”

Dr. Lancaster got a sheepish look on his face and said, “You’re right as usual, Belle. So you two are in love. So what are you going to do about it?”

“Well, Dad, we’ve started. I, of course, wanted you to meet Derek. Dad, he’s a wonderful man, good student, responsible and his friends would walk over hot coals if he needed them to. You need to know that’s the kind of person he is. He’s at OCU on both diving and academic scholarships and will have larger ones next year. He’s has a 3.8 point average from last semester and will do as well or better this semester.

“Derek is responsible for looking out for Auntie, Mrs. Amelia Kingston. She in return has provided him with a fantastic apartment which has a wonderful library. Study groups meet and several students have said without the groups they would never have made it. He only got to go to Florida because Auntie’s great granddaughter and a granddaughter were in Norfolk, otherwise, he would have spent spring break making sure she was cared for.”

“So, he’s a grand guy. I wouldn’t have expected you to have taken up with a thug.”

Wolf took a deep breath and said, “Dad, I have scholarship and work study offers at OCU which will pay everything except room and Derek wants me to live with him.”

“Sissy . . . ”

“Walter, please,” Mom Lancaster said.

“Wolf, I want you to have the black experience. You graduated from a high school in which African-Americans are a decided minority. Whites determine the culture, the ethos, if you will, of the school. I want you to spend time in a culture in which African-Americans set the agenda, determine the culture.”

“Why? It is not as though I will ever be in that situation again. Why should I conform to any group? Why can’t I have the Wolf experience?”

“For once, Son, I want you to be able to be among your people where you can be who you are.” Both Wolf and I started laughing like hyenas. Mom Lancaster looked as if she thought we were on drugs or something then gradually the light dawned and she started giggling. Dr. Lancaster had a look on his face as though he had fallen through a black hole and emerged in another dimension. “I suppose I am dense, but I see nothing funny here. Would one of you care to explain?”

“Dad, stop and think. I’m probably more something else than African, but setting that aside, I am gay. Amazingly, I have suffered little from that while I was in high school, probably because I was not standard issue African-American. However, African-Americans and Christian fundamentalists vie for being crowned Kings of Homophobes.”

“My father actually claimed there were no gay blacks,” I said, “and that nonsense is spouted constantly in the African-America community. Derek might be able to be who he is so far as being African-American is concerned, but that’s only a part, maybe even a small part, of who he is. He’s an actor, backstage artist, martial arts black belt, son, high school graduate and he is gay. All of that and much, much more makes up who your amazing son is, not just being African-American. So if you want him to be somewhere where he can be himself, fine, but not where only one part of him is involved, and certainly not where that one part is to the detriment of all the others.

“Let’s be rational. Where could he more easily be his gay self, OCU or ESU? Where could he best be his actor self, OCU or ESU? Where will he have the best in facilities to enable his stagecraft self, OCU or ESU? Where can he have the widest possible opportunities to shine as a mass communications student, OCU or ESU? Where can he learn independence as a grown son rather than continuing in the protective shield he has been in all his life, OCU or ESU? Martial arts? I don’t know, but I suspect Norfolk offers more than Elizabethton. So the question is, Dr. Lancaster, do you mean what you say when you say you want Derek to be in a situation where he can be who he is or are you only mouthing a slogan which is basically racist since it implies that what we are is nothing more than what race we claim. Which is it going to be, Doctor?”

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