This is a fictional story. It is based on many experiences and fantasies of the authors. If you are really into graphic sex, it may not satisfy your purpose for coming here. If you like to hear of real love and real teen angst, with a little sex thrown in, you are in the right place. There may be some amount of graphic sex between males. If this is objectionable to you, or you are legally too young to be here, you are cordially invited to press your back button.
Cast of Characters:
Leonard Kirk Harston (Lenny)
Lawrence Olivier Goodwin (Rennie)
Mrs. Harston, Lenny's mom
Mr. Harston, Lenny's dad
Mr. Goodwin, Rennie's dad
Mrs. Goodwin, Rennie's mom
Joy -- Rennie's older sister
Jennifer -- Rennie's younger sister
Bobby -- Joy's husband
Seth -- Lenny's friend
Luke -- Seth's lover
Chris -- Seth's Brother
Criag -- Chris's lover
Jake Smith -- Seth and Chris's cousin.
Colin -- Jake's husband & Bobby's brother
Morty -- Rennie's Cousin
Ursula -- Jake & Colins daughter
Uri -- Jake and Colin's son
Carrie -- Jake's sister
Uncle Jake -- Jake's dad
Aunt Lindy -- Jake's mom
Renate -- The Goodwin's housekeeper
Etta -- the Smith's housekeepe
Shelley -- Friend at University
DeVon -- Shelley's cousin
Marcus -- DeVon's brother
Arthur -- A team leader at the shelter
George - Ren's tennant
Ty -- new friend from Oklahoma
Ricky, Ty's cousin
David - Toyota Dearlership owner
Jason, waiter
Suzanne -- Jason's wife
Jamie Hocking -- A new friend from school
Kevin -- Jamies brother
From Chapter 20:
When we were done, I turned back to the top of the bed, and we kissed each other sweetly and passionately as our woodies grew soft, slipping against each other.
"Wow!" he said. "That was -- hot!"
I wanted to tell him there was more -- but I held my tongue. Save it for another day. But I was by this time hungry for him to be in me. I realize this is totally selfish, but sometimes we need to be.
I took him out to breakfast at Denny's before taking him back to his place. We didn't talk much, but kept looking at each other, both with sappy smiles, while we chewed our food. He seductively picked up a sausage and evilly kept my attention as he sucked it and finally put it in his mouth and chewed it up. I wondered exactly what he was thinking about. I knew what I was thinking -- I was imagining that he was chewing on something else!
Chapter 21
The lab flew by. I only had two hours to go anyway. I actually finished my own the first half hour, but one of the other guys was having trouble, so I helped him. I always did my lab during the week, so this was a different group.
"Thanks a lot for your help, dude! I couldn't have done it without you. I'm sure there were places you coulda been!"
"No problem. I've seen you -- probably on campus I guess."
"Yeah. I walked up as you were helping your friend who got attacked. That little guy could really handle himself -- when there weren't two big guys on him!"
"Yeah. He's pretty strong." I said.
"Do you know why they were -- beating on him?"
"Yeah. But that's not important. No one should take advantage of someone else like that." I didn't want to come out and say it.
"I've seen those two ass holes around before. I just stay the hell away from them!"
"Are you - - afraid of them?" I asked a compassionately as I could.
"They're just mean. I've seen them bothering other guys -- always guys smaller than them."
"Your not so small!" I said. He was about one inch shorter than I am.
"No, but I'm skinny -- and not very strong -- and DEFINITELY can't fight!"
He is pretty skinny when I looked a little closer. He has brown hair, and freckles, and blue-gray eyes. I wasn't paying that much attention until now. His hair was longish, and slicked back. His glasses were like Harry Potter's. He really looked cute that way.
"I think one of them smashed my windshield!" I exclaimed.
"No shit!! Do you drive a Sequoia?"
"Yeah."
"I saw it. You see why I'm a little afraid?"
"No. As long as you mind your own business, they -- hey!"
"What?"
"Would you be willing to tell what you told to me to the campus security?"
"No way! I like my neck!"
"But if they just keep getting away with this crap -- and if you are afraid of them to -- for whatever reason -- then - "
"I -- I -- I'm gay" he whispered. "That's why no one in here will ever help me with my labs. It's difficult for me, but they seem to guess about me and just stay away. It's nice to see that not everyone is like that."
"That's what I'm talking about -- if we don't at least stick together -- stand up for each other -- they will always get away with it!" I was angry now.
"Yeah but -- what?" he started. "what did you say about -- hey! Are YOU gay?" He whispered.
Then I smiled. "Is a three dollar bill queer?"
"There isn't any - - oh! I guess!"
"Listen Jamie, Let's keep it a secret for now. As far as you know -- does anyone know you're gay?"
"Well, not for sure. But - "
"Those idiots think I'm a `fag-lover', but they don't know about me. I think we can hurt them where it counts."
"Whadaya mean?"
"They're on the football team. If we go through proper channels, they may be persuaded' by their coach -- or get dropped from the team. Trust me -- I KNOW football players! They will do anything the coach wants. And especially creeps like that. Shoot, the coach is probably already banging em in his office!"
"Hee hee hee! You think so?"
"Not really, but it wouldn't surprise me, either!"
"Sooo -- what should we do?"
"If I talk to security and the counseling office -- AND the coach, will you back me up? It will be completely confidential."
"How do you know?"
"My ex used to be a wrestler -- that was he who was being beat up the other day. He was on the swim team and wrestling. And trust me, I've heard some stories about how coaches control their boys!"
"No wonder he could handle himself. But with those big footballers - "
"They're just big oafs -- dummies that do as their told -- if they're smart!"
"Hahaha! Smart dummies, huh?" He said. "Well -- okay -- if you say it will work -- well -- you seem to be a lot smarter than I am, anyway."
"How did you get here today?" I asked.
"I ride a bike -- I live about ½ hour away."
"Can I take you out to lunch? You can put your bike in the back of my car."
"Um -- sure!"
"What -- you had something else to do?"
"No. I just -- it's nothing."
"It's not nothing -- but we can discuss it over lunch! How much time do you have?"
"No hurry, actually. I should let my parents know. Why?"
"Ever been to Solvang?"
"I LOVE Solvang!"
We dropped off his bike at his house. He insisted I come in to meet his mom. "Mom, this is a new friend I met today, Leonard. He helped me with my lab."
"Nice car you have there, son! Who got your window?" Jamie's dad walked in.
"Dad! I though you were at work today."
"Finished early."
"Dad, this is Leonard."
"Hello Leonard. You guys go to college together?"
"Sort of. Nice to meet you, sir."
"Sort of?"
"We take different chemistry classes together." I could see that Jamey was sweating a little. "We had a lab together. We kind of help each other out." I said.
"He helped ME out! He's a super-brain!"
"Wow. A super-brain AND a drug dealer, huh?"
"HUH!!??" both Jamie and I exclaimed.
"It's just that -- you don't often see a kid driving one of those. Sorry, I guess it's none of my business. I was just being a smart ass."
"We're going to Solvang -- for lunch."
"Why don't you go AFTER lunch? I almost have it ready!" Jamie's mom said.
"Oh!" I said. "Well, okay! Thanks!" Jamie looked a little perplexed -- and a little panicked for a moment. "We can go and maybe stay for dinner, Jamie. What time do I have to have him home, ma'am?"
"Haha! Well, I guess we won't be expecting him for dinner. Well, just let us know if you're going to be late -- or decide to come home tomorrow or something -- so we won't worry." She smiled. Jamie looked incredulous.
After lunch, as soon as we were away from the house, he said, "Shee -- yit! I've never stayed overnight anywhere! I can't believe she said that."
"You've never stayed over even at a friends house -- when you were little?"
"I couldn't. I wet the bed! And when I was older, I was afraid I might give myself away if I stayed the night with anyone."
"Jamie -- who knows you're gay?"
"You!"
"ME!!?? Why did you tell me?"
"I decided just last night I was going to tell someone! You were so nice to me -- you got elected."
"So -- your parents don't know?"
"Nope!? Do you think I should tell them?"
"That's a completely personal decision. I told my parents and got disowned!"
"Really!!?? OH! I'm so sorry! But how - " he said as he looked around at my car and felt the leather seats.
"My ex -- is a billionaire. Actually a multi-billionaire."
"He bought this for you?"
"No. I bought it. It's complicated, but we are on -- friendly terms. We still love each other. But we -- or, uh -- I decided we were too young -- to stay together. We may get back later -- after we both grow up a bit. In the mean time -- well, let's just say he didn't want me to be uncomfortable."
"Oh! Wow. He looked familiar -- who is he?"
"Do you remember the big earthquake down south last year?"
"Yeah."
"His family were all killed in it."
"OOOHHh! Now I remember! He and -- was it his brother -- were left alone!"
"Actually his brother-in-law. Bobby lost his wife and son."
"Shit! That right. Now I remember! O God! How does someone ever get over that?"
"I don't think they ever do -- altogether." I said.
"Wow. What a downer."
"Yeah."
We drove along silent for awhile after that. All of a sudden he said, "OH! Pull over here!" I complied. "This -- um -- park here -- I used to play in it when I was little. Can we stop for a few minutes?"
"Sure." I pulled over and found a parking place. We got out and walked around the park. There were some animals inside a fence - like it was a zoo or something. But they were very tame and came to the fence to see us.
We walked around the perimeter of the park. When we got to the swings, he was looking longingly at them.
"Go ahead. Sit down! I'll push you."
He grinned and I started to push him As I pushed higher and higher, he started to breath harder and harder. "I -- I'm getting -- di -- dizzy!" He exclaimed. I quickly slowed him down and grabbed him, holding him so he wouldn't fall off.
"You okay?" I asked.
He looked into my eyes, still in my embrace -- and said, "Is a three dollar bill queer?" he said, smiling shyly.
I looked around the park. We were alone. "Were you really dizzy?" I asked.
"Not very." he said, and he kissed me on the lips, as we peered into each others eyes. "Sorry -- I always wanted to do that -- to somebody! I'm glad it was you!!"
"I -- um -- I guess! I guess I am too." I said, still holding him. "Man, for a shy guy -- you definitely got some balls on you!"
"How do you know?" He started and looked down at his crotch. "Oh! You mean - haha! Yeah -- well -- I decided that last night too -- that I was going to do something crazy. But I didn't know it would be this soon. I hope you didn't mind."
"Did I ACT like I minded?" And I initiated it this time. This "being a teen" was getting better all the time! We kissed long and deep.
"Oh god! I think I'm in love!" He said.
"You're not!" I said, maybe a little too defnesively. "But I know how you feel."
He stood away from the swing, and pulled me into an awkward -- but close -- hug. He just held me like that for a long time. "God this feels great! It's like -- this is what I was born for!" He said. I could think of a few more things that might make him change his mind about that -- but I remained silent. When he took his face away from mine, he was grinning ear to ear.
"Thanks -- for not freaking out. I know you must think I'm a freak! And you probably have a boyfriend!"
"Actually no on both counts."
"You DON'T?"
"Well -- not just one! I like to date lots of guys."
"Hrmph! You can afford to!"
"Yes -- I can -- but that's not why. I got hurt once -- thinking I was in love. I'm just hangin' loose for awhile. Playin' the field."
"I don't know enough guys to make a field!"
"You will now!" HE grinned.
"Shall we go to Solvang?"
"I guess." He said, clearly not ready to let this moment pass easily.
We walked all over the town. Even Rennie didn't like to shop like this! I did! We ate dinner at a Danish restaurant. That's about all there is there. After wards he said he wanted to go to one of the Danish bakeries. "My mom gave me some money to get her some things there."
"Give your mom's money back. Today is my treat! To pay her back for lunch."
We loaded up a bag for his mom, and I loaded another to give to Etta for the Smiths. It was dark as we were driving home. He called and told his parents he was staying the night. We went to the video store, and rented "Radio". He said he heard it was good. It was! It is a true story! Cuba Gooding Jr. plays an excellent mentally impaired guy.
As we watched the movie, he got more and more comfortable on the couch -- and on my chest. I was liking it, too. We both were crying at the appropriate places and at the end, when they showed the real dude.
When the movie was over, he turned to face me and we just made out like -- well, like a couple of teenagers. It was so nice. No pressure, no expectations. Oh. It was obvious that he -- and I -- were both hard, but we didn't act on it.
"Let's go to bed!" I announced.
"Oh! Darn! I didn't bring anything to sleep in." He said facetiously.
"That's okay, I have something you can wear." My jammers fit him fine.
We were lying on opposite sides of the bed, both on our backs with our hands behind our heads.
"So this is what it's like. Dang! I missed a lot growing up didn't I? Well, g'nite!"
"Huh!" I said in mock surprise.
"What?" He said.
"When you stay at my house, you have to hug the host before going to sleep."
"Oh!" he said, obviously delighted. "Okay!" He came over and put his arm around my neck, not knowing what to do next. I lifted him on top of me. His body immediately became rigid and stiff.
"Hey!" I said, "Loosen up! Relax, guy!"
He relaxed and became limp and molded himself to my body. I could feel both out parts springing to position. He still just lay there, after readjusting so our "boys" could get comfortable, nuzzling my neck -- and I, his. He took a deep breath and when he let it out, he breathed right in my ear. My manhood flexed big time, and was answered by his.
"OHhhh!" he whispered. "This is heaven!"
"I know." He started to climb off me and I said, "What's your hurry?"
"No hurry," he said, as he relaxed against me again.
"Just stay here until you get uncomfortable."
"You sure I'm not too heavy?" He asked.
"Dude!" I exclaimed. He was so skinny -- he can't have weighed more than 120 lbs.
When we woke up he had slid off me. "I gotta pee." He said.
"Hurry back!" I said. When he got back, I went. By the time I got back he was asleep again. I kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and mumbled something.
When I woke up -- like Ricky, he was staring at me -- and smiling. "Hi. You're cute when you sleep."
"Thanks."
"Leonard -- I have to tell you something."
"Sounds serious -- what?"
"I think I'm in love with you."
"! Jamie -- we only met yesterday! I'm the first guy you ever touched. You're not in love!"
"Then I have a major crush! I never felt this way about Mr. Sharpless!"
"Who?"
"My junior high gym teacher. I had a crush on him. And ... I think he used to like to watch me in the showers. I liked that, - But it didn't feel anything like this!"
"Well, you're older and your hormones are much more active now! Believe me -- you're not in love!"
SHEESH! Am I the only one to realize this?
"Is someone at the door?" Jamie said.
Then I heard the quiet knocking. I went to the door. It was Jason. His face was tear streaked. I opened the door.
"I told my parents why Suzanne and I were having trouble."
"Uh-oh." I said.
"Yeah. Now they have kicked me out, too."
"Jamie -- c'mon out here." I didn't want Jason to say anything that he would not want Jamie to hear.
Jamie came out slowly -- shyly. "Jamie -- this is Jason, my friend. He's married with a couple kids."
"Three kids!" Jason said. "And my wife kicked me out for -- hey! Are you -- you are! Jamie Hocking!"
"Wow! I'm afraid I don't know you - - ?
"I graduated two years ahead of you from Dos Pueblos!"
"I was a nothing at that school! How did you know me? You were two years ahead and you knew me?"
"I knew a lot of guys like that. There's something about seeing a guy in the locker room - "
"Oh my God, no! Please don't remember me in the locker room!" Jamie was laughing now. "I was even skinnier than I am now."
"You were! I remember that! But you weren't this tall in tenth grade, as I remember!"
"O my g- you have a memory!"
"That's not all I remember!" Jason said staring at Jamie's crotch! He obviously -- at least momentarily -- forgot about his other problem.
"Oh no! You don't -- you didn't - "
"Oh yes I do! You were this little skinny kid with a huge dick to grow into - and as I remember -- you were completely hairless -- which made your dick look ever longer!"
"I don't believe this! I seriously do not believe this!"
"Wanna know what else I remember?"
"I -- AM -- SO -- Afraid -- to find out!" Jamie said. Both guys were cracking up over this.
"Everyone was making bets -- on whether you were gay -- or straight!" Jamie stopped laughing. "Hey! It's okay -- I'm gay!"
"Well, I'm not!" Jamie said, after a long pause. Now Jason stopped cold.
"OOoooH Wow! I'm sorry dude." Jason said. "I just assumed -- I mean -- oo -- my fuckup!" Jamie then burst out laughing! "You ass hole!" Jason said. And they were laughing again. "I should have known with that huge cum stain on your pajamas!"
Jamie jerked his head done to look at his own crotch. If there was a cum stain, it was inside, and not visible. "Okay -- ten Charger demerits for you!" Jamie said.
"Gladly accepted -- if you accept twenty Charger demerits -- for falling for that! Made you look! Hee hee!"
"Charger demerits?" I said.
"Dos Pueblos are the Chargers." They said in unison.
"Are you guys -- dating?" Jason asked. Jamie looked at me.
"I -- er - guess you could call that a date last night." I said.
"And all day, yesterday!" Jamie said.
"Dude -- do you mind if I -- um -- take him home -- did you have anything else planned this morning?" Jason asked.
I looked at Jamie to try to determine if that was okay with him. I couldn't tell.
"We didn't have anything planned." Jamie said. "Do you mind?" He asked me. All of a sudden I felt -- like I had been kicked in the balls.
"Umm - what will your mom think if you come home with someone else?" I asked. "And -- Oh! I wanted to give her those Danish pastries."
"He's right." Jamie said. "I should have thought of that!"
"Well, give me your phone number, dude!" Jason said. "I don't know what mine will be in the near future!" Jamie rattled off his number. I wrote it down too. Jason left.
AS soon as the door closed, Jamie said, "I'm sorry -- I'm so sorry. That was stupid!"
"What?" I asked, tho I thought I knew.
"I saw your face when I asked if you minded. I wanted to crawl in a hole! Of course you minded! I just don't know what to say."
"You just said it. I guess the lesson here is -- you go home with the guy you came with!" I smiled.
"You're not mad?"
"I have to tell you -- I was -- a little hurt -- after last night. But -- no! I'm not mad. I don't normally get mad."
"I'll make it up to you! What can I do."
"On your knees!" I commanded in mock seriousness.
He looked at me like he didn't quite believe what I was saying. I started to laugh. "No, silly! -- it was just a mistake. If we do anything like that, it won't be a payoff!"
I could tell he wanted to run and jump into my arms. I held my hands out to him. He fell into me, and pasted his face on my neck. He kissed it and slobbered all over it. I found his lips and we kissed -- standing there -- for about five minutes, our bodies melding together as close as they were the night before.
He staggered back, and said, "You are so awesome!"
I smiled. "You're not bad yourself. Call your mom." He punched in his number.
"Mom? We're on the way home. Mm? about -- ten minutes. I dunno -- just a minute." He said to me, "Mom's inviting you fro breakfast with us."
"Okay."
"We'll be there in ten minutes." I waved at him and held up my jammers. "Oh! Heh! We have to get dressed, mom. Make that a half hour. K. I love you! Bye."
I led us to the bedroom. Last night he had changed into my jammers in the bathroom, so I didn't see. But he felt free to just take them off in front of me this time. Damn he was skinny -- and cute! We both paused to look at each other. I saw his dick flex -- and I know he saw mine. He just walked over and hugged my naked body -- with his naked body. I was immediately hard. He was a close second. We fell on the bed we were so caught up in the kiss.
He started to feel my chest and I said -- "we really need to get to your parents house."
"Oh, God! I know!" He broke free of me and we got dressed.
"Thank you for these Danish. Do you mind if we have some for breakfast?"
"I'd like that, Mrs. Hocking." I replied.
"Where did you find this boy again, James? I think he's a keeper!" Jamie turned scarlet. "Oh, did I embarrass you, Jamie?" she continued, then turned to me: "James hasn't had many friends. You see - "
"MOM!" Jamie cried. "For crap sakes, I'm here -- in the room, yah know?"
"I'm sorry dear! Sometimes I forget you're so grown up now!" Well, here, have some coffee and a Danish, and breakfast will be ready in a few minutes."
I took a Danish, and Jamie asked, "No coffee?"
"I never liked it -- so I felt no compunction to force myself to drink it -- just to fit in."
Jamie led me out to their den, eating our Danish's. "Sorry about that!" He said.
"What?" I asked.
"My mom. She's a little -- nosy -- I guess."
"No she's not -- trust me! She doesn't hold a candle to my mom!"
"Oh, yeah -- your mom. She really disowned you?"
"Not her exactly. My dad. But she's too weak to do anything to go against him, so I can't see her either."
"That sucks! My mom irritates me no end -- and even sometimes my dad. But I would be hatin' it if they kicked me out."
"I know. I don't know, but if I didn't tell them, I might still be there, hatin' it even more." I said.
"Where are they?" He asked me.
"North side of town."
"I have an idea."
"What?" I asked.
"After breakfast, let's go over to your parents house."
"No way."
"What will it hurt? Your relationship with your folks? Maybe your dad won't be there and your mom will talk to you."
"I'm not sure I want to talk to her -- until she comes and asks me to."
"Whatever you want, I guess. I just couldn't stay away from my mom."
"Breakfast is ready!" Mrs. Hocking announced. We walked out to the kitchen and were joined by Jamie's dad and another guy.
"Hey, Kev! This is my friend, Lenny. Lenny, my brother Kevin."
Kevin was like a larger, older copy of Jamie. He was the same height as Jamie, also thin, but not skinny like Jamie. "Hi Lenny!" he said with a wink.
"Hello." I said and I felt my ears get hot.
"Where did you guys meet?"
I could see that Jamie was straining his brain, so I simply said, "In chem. Lab."
"Oh." I studied his face. On closer look, his hair was thinner than Jamie's, his chest under his tee was definitely showing the positive effects of working out, and -- his tight-ish sweats showed something that I'd like to get a closer look at. I guess I stared too long. He smiled at me strangely, as if to say, "What!!??" Lucky for me he didn't actually say it. I felt my ears and face heat up this time.
"Mmmm! Great grub, Mom. What's the occasion?" Kevin asked.
"Well?" she started, "We have company. And also -- he brought the Danish. He took Jamie to Solvang yesterday."
"Nice!" Kevin uttered. "Did you stop and swing in the park? Jamie used always beg to stop, and I used to push him on the swings. Are they even still there?"
"We stopped -- and they're still there." Jamie said.
"And -- did you get dizzy? When Jamie was younger, he always got dizzy on the swings, and I had to hold him so he -- hey! Ahhh, Jamie! You're pretty cagey!" Kevin grinned ear to ear. Jamie looked back and forth from Kevin to me and back, looking guilty and embarrassed at the same time. All at once Jamie looked panicky and then seemed to change right there in front of us.
"Mom. Dad. Kevin?" Jamie said. "I'm gay."
"What??!!" Kevin said "I was only joking!"
"I wasn't!"
"How long have you known -- or thought this, son?"
"Since I was 12. All the other guys seemed to lose interest in me -- and each other, but I -- I never did."
"We have been wondering when you would tell us, Jamie." His mom said.
"Wh -- what?" Jamied exclaimed.
"We guessed it some time ago, but didn't want to say anything until you brought it up."
"And you're cool with it?" he asked.
"We're not thrilled, son," his dad said, "but we've had some time to think about it. No one wants their son to go through that. But we'll do whatever we can to help you through it."
Jamie got up and turned to his dad -- then to his mom, trying to decide whom he should go to first. He chose his mom. He grabbed her, lifting her from her chair, and hugged her close. Then his emotions ran over. He was crying, unashamedly, on his moms shoulder. His dad came and surrounded them both with his arms.
And as if not to be ignored, Jamie's brother Kevin said, "Guys. I -- I'm gay too."
Jamie burst from his parents and ran to his brother. The parents followed him and they were standing there, as a family, crying and supporting each other. I felt so good about this -- for Jamie -- and so very alone -- for me. Jamie's dad was the first to notice me.
"Leonard. So -- are you ---?"
I nodded my head.
"I see." Mr. Hocking said. "And do your parents know -- about you?"
I nodded again.
"What's your name -- your last name, Leonard?"
"Harston."
"Oh yeah. I remember. And if I remember correctly -- your full name is Leonard Nimoy Harston, right?"
"Leonard Kirk Harston, sir."
"Oh -- of course! We gave your dad a very bad time about that when you were born. We were in the Junior Chamber of Commerce with him."
"Oh." I said.
"So, can I assume from your less-than-exuberant answers, that your revelation to your parents didn't go so good?"
"You could say that."
"I think I can fix that!"
"Hmph?"
"We are still in the Chamber. We've graduated to the regular organization. But we that were active in the Junior chamber are a tight group. We don't let each other get away with much. Don't worry, I won't embarrass you -- or him."
I was completely blown away. I was speechless. He continued: "We knew that James was maybe gay a couple years ago. So his mom and I did some research. It wasn't easy. It turns out that James -- and apparently Kevin now, too -- may not have gotten the `male bonding' that they needed from me. So -- well, this was the explanation given to us -- guys like that feel a hole in their life.
"Knowing all this doesn't seem to make much difference. Most homosexual people can't seem to change -- any more than a straight person could change to gay. Now here's the odd thing: Straight guys need as much male bonding as gay guys do! I know for a fact that you own dad craves it. It just doesn't manifest itself in a sexual way for us."
"What -- what -- will you do?" I asked.
"Our next meeting is Tuesday. I'm going to casually tell the guys that my sons are gay. I'm sure your dad won't say anything -- until a couple of the more conservative guys state their opinions. Then there will be a lively discussion. But I KNOW that most of the guys there are pretty accepting. So we will shame the others into accepting it too. The only recourse would be ostracizing from the inner group. And I KNOW your dad won't want that! He lives for the camaraderie of those meetings!"
"Nice." I said. "My dad will HAVE to accept me. Cool!" I said with disgust.
"Well, at least maybe you can be closer with your mom."
"M-hmh.."
"Well, I won't say anything if you don't want me to. But it's a start."
"No -- it's okay. Like you said, it's a start."
After breakfast I left feeling -- well -- happy for Jamie and Kevin. But like shit for me. I came back home and of course there were messages.
BEEP! "Hey Dude, call me." It was from Ren. I just deleted it.
BEEP! "Hi, Lenny. This is Ricky. Duh! Hee hee!" "Please call."
BEEP! "_______". I could hear stuff in the background, but whoever it was didn't leave a message. I checked and the number was not one I knew. Soon there was a knock at the door. I opened it.
"Hi! I'm Suzanne, Jason's wife."
"Oh. Yeah?"
"Have you seen Jason? He hasn't been home or at his parents for a couple nights and we're worried."
"Home? I doubt he wants any of you to KNOW where he is." I didn't mean it to come out as coldly as I felt it -- but it did.
"So you know?"
"No, I don't. He was pretty distraught last time he was here." I wasn't trying to be nice!
"Please tell him -- I want -- er -- need to see him."
"So," I started, "-- just so I don't get it wrong -- you don't want to see him -- but you need to -- right?"
"I -- er -- please give him the message."
"If I see him -- I will." I closed the door. Boy that put me in an instant bad mood!
I punched in a phone number. RRIINNGG! "Hello?"
"Ricky? This is Len.
"Ohhh! Hi!!!!" Just his excited voice softened my mood. "I've been hoping you'd call! Now that I have a job, it seems the hours go even slower as I wait to start."
"Oh. Hah ha! I'm glad I could make your day. I - "
"You really have! I know I'll meet other friends here, but you are the first and -- I hope -- the best. Can you see me tonight?"
"I'd -- uhmm -- like to but -- well," I didn't want to lie to him, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings either, "I'm a little worried about Jason."
"Your married friend?"
"Yeah. He's missing."
"He's missing??!!"
"Well -- it's not as serious as it sounds -- maybe -- yet, anyway. His wife came by and she can't find him -- nor have his parents seen him for a couple days."
"Oh.! Well, you don't think he's - "
"I -- really don't know what to think. His wife kicks him out. His parents kick him out. And now they're worried about him because he doesn't check in for a couple days? Gimme a break!"
"Well, I agree with that in regard to his parents." Ricky said. "But his kids at least deserve to know where he is -- or at least be able to get a hold of him -- don't you think?"
"I -- I suppose you're right." I conceded. "Anyway, I `m a little worried. He was pretty distraught when he was here last. I wish I'd asked him to stay here -- but I don't own this place -- I'm not even paying rent! I - "
"No rent?"
"and I don't want to take advantage of Uncle Jake's good will by asking others to stay here."
"Oh. He's your uncle!"
"Well, even that's complicated."
"Well, anyway -- hey! Maybe we can search for him together. How about his work?" Ricky asked
"Um -- hmm. Maybe. Yeah. Yes! I like that idea. Let's go there tonight and see if they know anything."
"Uhhm -- Lenny?"
"What?"
"This is my last night off before I go to work. I was supposed to start last night, but they claimed that it wasn't `til Friday night. Then they called this afternoon and asked me to come in tomorrow night."
"Yeah - - ?"
"Well, I was hopin' -- maybe - "
I am SO dense! "Uh -- say! Do you wanna go out for a burger or something?"
I could almost feel his smile before he said anything. "Okay! That's what I was hopin' for!"
This guy just doesn't have any guile! I wasn't used to such balls-out honesty, I guess. "I'll be over in a half hour. Uhmm -- how's your hot water situation?"
"It's bearable."
"Bearable?"
"It's not ice cold, if that's what you mean." He said.
"I'll be right over. Grab some clean clothes."
"Cool! I'll bring my towel."
"Not necessary. See yah in a minute."
I literally ran out to my car and jumped in and revved up the engine. I took a deep breath. "Wow!" I thought to myself. "I'm more revved up than I realized over this guy. I checked my hair out in the visor mirror, and drove out of the driveway.
Notes: Our shy guy is meeting lots of people! Well, for an eighteen-year-old, that's the way it should be. Right? Comments are welcome to Steve at s4d@hotmail.com. Please put "Lenny" on the subject line. Thanks and love, Steve
Bottom line: Love will Rule in the end.