Mentoring, chapter 5
Monday morning found Aidan and Neil at school packing up their rooms before the custodial staff began summer cleaning. Jared, Bret, and Caleb were at the store, and Gabe was helping teach swimming lessons at the city pool.
Neil was in his classroom with Aidan discussing his frustration with trying to find a summer job when Roy Walters, the custodian, popped his head into the room.
"Did I overhear you say you're lookin' fer a job? If you don't think it's beneath you, maintenance needs to hire someone to clean school rooms this summer. The guy they were countin' on went off to Colorado to help his brother raise pot. So, we'll be short-handed come Wednesday morning. The pay's good and it's not backbreaking or anything."
"I'd be pleased to do it. Whom do I contact."
"I'll give you Mr. Hanson's office number and you can tell him Roy recommends you. He trusts my judgment, and I know you're a good worker."
"Thanks, I'll get right on it."
Bob Hanson wanted Neil to come in for a job interview that very afternoon. He indicated it was for the purpose of filling out paperwork, and the job was his if he wanted it. Neil was elated. Before the afternoon ended, he had his summer employment sewed up.
Now we have only tomorrow together before I have to share you with the district again," Aidan lamented.
"We'll have all the weekends, and a few days over the 4th of July. I'm sorry, but I'll feel much better if I can make extra payments on my loans. I have to be debt-free if I'm ever gonna be marriage material."
"You know I'll marry you regardless, or am I presuming too much? Perhaps you're holding out for a better prospect," Aidan teased.
"Come to the bedroom with me and I'll show you where my interests lie!"
"Damn, you know how to get through to me. Let's do it before Jared comes home."
Although Aidan would have enjoyed having the option to make love anytime the mood struck them for the rest of the summer, he could understand Neil's point of view. In truth, not having him around as a distraction would make it easier for Aidan to study for his graduate courses to earn his MA which, in turn, would help him move up on the salary schedule.
And so, being busy with their pursuits, the rest of month of June passed rapidly.
Neil's workdays began early and ended by three in the afternoon. That meant there was time for the two lovers to lie naked in the sun if they chose to. Sunning didn't always lead to the loss of seminal fluid, but there were times they made love with abandon.
On one of those afternoons, Jared came home early because a suspected gas leak closed the store for the rest of the day. When he looked out the sliding door, he saw his benefactors lying on a lounge pad in the 69-position. He quickly averted his eyes, but the scene inspired him so much that he nearly unzipped his slacks on the spot.
Instead of taking himself in hand, he texted Gabe to see if he was home yet. He was, and he said they had more than an hour before his parents would be there.
Jared left immediately.
Aidan and Neil were invited to spend Independence Day with their friends, Sydney and Peter in the southern part of the state. They felt bad about leaving Jared on his own until they learned he had been asked to Gabe's home for the holiday.
Gabe's parent went so far as to invite him to stay overnight. Having the parental blessing on their relationship meant a lot to both boys. They wouldn't have to sneak around to share their love. It felt like a new plateau had been reached. Obviously, Jared wouldn't miss Aidan or Neil.
The drive west and south took about three hours, and the guys arrived in time for lunch on the third of July.
Pete and Syd had a lovely place for entertaining. Their guest room featured a queen-sized bed with many decorative pillows which coordinated with the other accessories in the room. In addition to the bed, there was a TV, a recliner, and another straight chair, rather like the place Grandma Rose had. With the bathroom located conveniently across the hall, it was almost like a hotel suite.
Their hosts had planned several activities, including an outing to the food-fair and the fireworks display in the park at the edge of town.
All in all, it was a good visit and the men felt that the reliving of their spring break experiences would make them friends for the rest of their lives. Neil and Aidan might have stayed longer, but they had plans to visit Grandma Rose since they were partway to her house already.
Very early the following day, they got on the road. Starting from southern Iowa saved them several hours on the trip and they reached Grandma's house well ahead of dinner. She had been expecting them and was finishing preparations a few minutes before they arrived.
Her hospitality was just like it had been during their visit in the spring. She treated Aidan as if he were also her grandson.
One of the first things she did after dinner was to present Neil with a check for $5,000.
"My financial advisor did very well by me this year. I had an investment that paid off handsomely when the contract reached maturity."
"But, you'll need to keep it for yourself," Neil remonstrated.
"No, I won't. This is only part of the gains I made, and I'm already well fixed against the cost of nursing homes and the like. I want you to have this, so you won't have to live with your college debt until you retire!"
"Grandma, you don't know what a boost this will give me. My summer job and your check will allow me to be debt-free by next spring, if all goes well."
"Then, maybe he'll consent to marry me," Aidan grinned. "I told him he didn't have to pay off all his bills as a condition to becoming my husband."
"Well, if that amount of money will bring you happiness, I'll have to hope I make a killing on some other investments," Grandma Rose smiled. "I can share more than this anyway."
"I won't accept any extra, but I do thank you and will use this money to get closer to my goal," Neil told her.
After their short break in early July, the guys were busy enough to make the rest of summer speed by quickly too. July merged into August, and it was nearing the start of another school year when they got another breather because Aidan's courses were finished and so was Neil's summer job. This time, they stayed home and did odd jobs around the house which had been put off over the summer. That included washing windows and edging the lawn around the sidewalk and driveway. The latter chore would make snow-removal easier next winter.
They had another responsibility to take care of before public school started, and that was to see their surrogate son off to college in Ames. He didn't have a lot of possessions to take, but there were his clothes, a dorm fridge, and other odds and ends.
Gabe and he would be rooming together, so Gabe was supplying the microwave to complete their "kitchenette." They had bought a few dishes and pieces of silverware together. Gabe's father joked that the guys had better not break up or there'd be a fight over community property. His banter about their relationship made them feel even more at ease.
Neither kid had chosen to have his car on campus for the fall term. Overnight-parking for freshmen was limited to the stadium lot, and they would have to move their vehicles every time there was a football game or other activity there.
The men took Neil's car because it was roomier than Aidan's convertible, and he had a cartop cargo carrier which would hold a lot of stuff like linens and apparel.
Each boy rode with his own family. They would have enjoyed sharing the backseat of Neil's car, but since they would be spending the school year in the same room, it didn't hurt them to be apart for the couple of hours the trip would take. And Gabe's mom was beginning to feel emotional about having an empty nest.
Despite being assigned a time-slot for moving in, not everyone adhered to the schedule and the elevators were at a premium. Their room was on third floor, so they chose to use the stairs after they got their heavier things on a cart in the first load.
Once their stuff was in the room, the men moved their vehicles to free up the driveway for others. Then everyone pitched in to make up their beds and help them with settling in general. When that was accomplished, they went to a restaurant for an early dinner.
With Jared and Gabe ready to start their new adventure in life, their families departed for home.
Aidan and Neil spent the early part of the following week getting their classrooms ready for the new term. Then, it was back to meetings, more meetings, and freshman orientation.
Aidan had completed his coursework toward his advanced degree, and the extra hours would be reflected in his paycheck. That made his summer effort worthwhile. His raise would provide for a few amenities. With their combined incomes, the couple would live well, and Neil could continue to pay off his loans. By spring, he should be out from under the burden of debt and feel like a free man.
The fall term began with great enthusiasm among the students. The sports teams were doing well, and the kids were pumped. All the ones in karate club, save last year's seniors, came back. Aidan was especially happy to see Caen Pearson, Vin Mortenson, and Bob Hanover, who had once been Vin's nemesis. They had all kept up their skills over the summer and were ready to fill the shoes of Caleb and Bret who had graduated.
Several new students joined, including a kid named, Travis Britton, who was a transfer sophomore. He was a stunningly good-looking boy with shaggy blond hair, blue eyes, and a trim body. Most of the girls, and a few of the boys, thought he was hawt!
He was the topic of several noontime conversations the first full day of classes.
"That new kid, Travis, is sexy as hell," Vin exclaimed. "I'm gonna have to keep you on a short leash."
"You have no competition. You know I'm partial to redheads," Caen grinned. "Since you've noticed how hot he is, it's you who needs to be kept under control."
"Caen, you know I'm not gonna mess up what we have for some empty-headed blond."
"He may be blond, but he's no dummy. He's in my math class even though he's a grade behind us. I'd say he's pretty smart."
"I hope he turns out to be a nice as he is cute."
"Mr. Fiala, could I have a word with you after class?" Travis asked of Aidan. "I'm concerned about karate club."
"Certainly. I hope you're not discouraged by how proficient some of the older guys are. They've had a couple of years of experience and have worked hard this past summer."
"No, it's something else."
"Okay, we can discuss it before the club meeting."
"So, how may I help you, Travis?" Aidan asked.
"Um, do you think some of the guys taking karate are fags?"
"If you're asking about someone's orientation, there are better words you might use."
"Okay, I guess I can ask if they're gay,' but I don't like to use a term that means happy' for a sinful life-style."
"It's not for me to discuss someone's orientation without their permission. I'm assuming there are any number of gay kids in this school. It's not unrealistic in a population of over a thousand students to have upwards of fifty to a hundred who are."
"I was watching how Vin and Caen look at each other. It's like they're in love or something. I find it highly objectionable!"
"Really? If they are, how would it interfere with your education?"
"Well, I find it distracting! I mean, it's not right. What if one of them touches me when we get into some of our karate moves?"
"I'm sure gay football players tackle straight guys with no intent to hit on them. Like a lot of kids, you've probably been taught that others shouldn't touch your body where a swimsuit would cover it. Wrestlers touch each other, even in places like that, and sometimes they get erections. But it doesn't necessarily mean they're doing something gay."
"You mean you wouldn't be upset if a gay person touched your body?"
"It would depend on the person and on the intent of the touch," Aidan said, with a twinkle in his eye.
"So, is this all hypothetical, or has someone made you feel uncomfortable?"
"There was a guy in my old school who almost turned me gay, but my mother sent me to a camp and they cured me. So, anyone can change if they want to."
"That's an interesting theory, but it's not supported by reputable psychologists or psychiatrists nowadays. If it was what you wanted, and it worked for you, I won't question it. However, I know it hasn't been beneficial for everyone. Some have been harmed by programs that have tried to change them. We're all different."
"There's where I'd have to disagree with you. We're all the same because we've all sinned and come short of the glory of God!"
"Do you think Hitler and Mother Theresa are alike? One had millions of people killed, and the other spent her life aiding the poor and sick."
"Hitler could have repented, and Mother Theresa couldn't have been a true believer because she was Catholic."
"Um, okay. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. You might want to change into you gi if you're participating today. The others will be here soon."
Aidan didn't get a chance to discuss his encounter with Neil until they were driving home after school because they didn't have any time to talk when no students were present. Neil said he'd noticed Travis seemed distracted during training but had assumed it was because he was new to the group. He'd messed up some forms which were basic enough that he should have mastered them.
"Is he really that homophobic?" Neil asked.
"I think what he is, is repressed. He talked about being `cured' but I think someone's tried to program him to hate anything remotely bordering on his true orientation.
"I looked up his transcript today during my prep hour and I discovered he came from the southern part of the state. Get this, our friend Syd was one of his teachers. I plan to text him right after dinner to see what he knows."
"That's a great idea. Perhaps he can shed some light on the situation."
It was after 7:30 when Syd answered Aidan's text. He said he thought it would be better to talk directly to save his thumbs.
"Hey Syd, great to hear you voice," Aidan answered on the first ring. "I'm putting the phone on speaker, so Neil can join us."
"I'll do the same in case Peter has some input. He's dealt with the kid too.
"Let me start by saying he's pretty screwed up because his mother is a religious wingnut. There's no other way to say it. The poor boy confided in me that he thought he was gay, but he couldn't be because his mother would `kill' him. Of course, it was meant in a figurative sense, but he almost died as a result of what she did.
"His father seemed to be sane. In part, it was arguing over how to raise Travis that led to their bitter divorce. After the divorce, his mother found out Travis had feelings for other males and went ballistic. She sent him to one of those conversion therapy places in Missouri without consulting with his father, though they had joint custody.
"When his father discovered where Travis was, he raised hell and got him out, but the damage had already been done. Travis had an emotional breakdown. He loathed himself so much he tried to commit suicide. Fortunately, his dad, Kyle, found him before the pills could end his life.
"That's when his dad got the judge to grant him full custody and moved up in your neck of the woods. He left a good-paying job to give his son a fresh start."
"The man evidently landed on his feet. The school records list Rockwell as his employer. He might be making more than he was before the move.
"Anyway, what concerned me was that Travis came to me to complain about two boys he thought were gay. What he suspected is true, but he's leery about being in karate club with them for fear one of them might touch him. It's like a major phobia," Aidan said. "I tired to explain that in any sport there will be some physical contact and almost never is it meant to be intimate. I used wrestling as an example."
"It's interesting you made that choice because his mother tried to get the wrestling coach fired for patting the boys on the butt when they did well in a match. He switched to a shoulder squeeze instead. Even that didn't satisfy her, but the principal backed her off, insisting such touch was affectionate, not lascivious. He explained it was simply a part of the jock culture and suggested that perhaps wresting wasn't a good fit for Travis."
"Do you think I should talk to his father?"
"I would if I were in your shoes. You might be demonstrating a move someday and Travis might take it as an invasion of his space and complain to an administrator. If his dad's aware ahead of time, it could save you the crap our coach went through.
"Another thing I'd suggest; don't be alone with him in your room without having the door open. Better yet, have a witness or a security camera rolling. He craves affection and might hug you without thinking. He tends to act impulsively. Then, feeling guilty later, he might believe in his mind that you made the first move and came onto him. He is an adorable kid, and it would be easy to show him affection. Someone like Jerry Sandusky would be showering with him in the blink of an eye."
"You're right about his looks. He set off my gaydar, and probably several gay kids at school sensed it too. Interestingly, the two guys he's worried about are really into each other. I'm pretty sure they're monogamous and wouldn't mess with him despite his looks. Though, considering teenagers' hormones, one never knows."
The four men talked shop for a few minutes and exchanged pleasantries before signing off.
"Are you planning to contact Jared Britton tonight?" Neil asked.
"I would, but I didn't copy down his contact number before I left school and I'm sure he's not in the phone book. I'll do it tomorrow.
"Do you have anything pressing tonight?"
"I can think of one thing," Neil grinned, rubbing his bulge against Aidan's thigh.
"I get the message. We can't put this off."
The two decided to make an early night of it.
Author's notes: Thanks to all who emailed since last posting - Bill T, Ott H, Joe W, ZJS, Bill K, John L, Tim T, Wayne, Jim W, Johnathan R, Skip M, Allen, and Max P.
Thanks to my editors, David and Tom for finding typos and punctuation errors.
And, or course, thanks to Nifty for this free venue. They appreciate your donations to keep it going. http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html
David