THE MOOSE HEAD LAKE KIDNAPPING by Ben Ezra Jacobson
Chapter 2
The first week flew by. We had caught and eaten so much fish...that I did not think I could eat another. Sam and Keith had fried the fish, baked it with salsa and black beans, grilled it with honey mustard and chopped it and made fish cakes. I think we had fish every day for seven days. Enough already, I thought. No more fish for awhile.
Our host, Charley Bivens, paddled his canoe over to see us on a Monday morning of the second week and asked if we needed anything from town? Yes, I had told him. We needed beef, pork, chicken, hot dogs, hamburgers and chocolate. He laughed at me.
"What's the matter there Ron...you tired of fish already," he asked.
"Yes," I said. "Even peanut butter and jelly sandwiches sounds better than any more fish for awhile. I am on fish over load."
"Those things cost money up here," he had responded with a chuckle.
"I've got money," I replied. "My parents were always generous with allowances, gift checks, birthday checks, Christmas checks. Money always took the place of their time with me."
Everyone looked around, uncomfortable with the bit of personal knowledge that I had just blurted out.
"Sorry," I said. "I should not have told you that...but it is true. I have money and I'll spring for anything that is not fish."
Charley laughed, "Enough to get in the sea plane and fly into town?"
My heart leaped up into my throat. Damn...I had not considered that. I would have to fly in the plane. I turned to Sam.
"If I go in the plane, will you come with me," I pleaded.
"Yes," he responded, "if you want me to."
"I do," I responded. "I am so afraid of flying...but if you go with me, I think I can handle it."
"How soon do we have to be ready, Mr. Bivens," I asked?
"That depends on how soon your pilot wants to leave. What do you say Jim? How much time do they have before you need to leave?"
Jim looked at his wrist watch. "If we are in the air by 9:30...we will be in town by 10 AM. You can get your errands run and we will meet back at the wharf at 2 PM and a half hour flight back here. I can delay the return by up to an hour if you want."
"But Jim, if we have fresh meats...they will need to be purchased just before we leave so they won't spoil."
Our pilot laughed, as did everyone else.
"Ron...up here, you do not buy fresh anything. It is always frozen or canned. If you want fresh chicken, beef or pork...you have to get it from a local farmer," he said. "I have several large coolers that we can pack your frozen things in, with ice and they will still be frozen when we return. I will promise you that."
"OK," I said. "Sam and I will be on the docks at 9:30 to catch a ride with you.
. . . . . . . . . .
"You got your seat belt fastened, Guys," our pilot, Jim Cooper asked?
"Sure do," I responded.
"Me too," Sam replied.
"Here we go then," Jim said as he started the prop plane engine.
After sufficient warm up, we started down the lake, picking up speed and suddenly we were air born. I noticed that with Sam next to me...I was not so scared.
"I owe you a big Thank You," Sam said to me as we looked down on Moose head lake while Jim made his pattern over the area and then headed south.
"What for," I asked?
"The professors all bet me $5 each that you would not do it," he said. "I double dog dared them to double their bets...and they did. When we get back...they owe me $70. I'm going to give it to you to help pay for the supplies that you want."
"You scamp," I said with a laugh. "Did you really?"
"Sure did, and they bought it. Man did they buy it."
"Well, you don't have to give me the money if they pay you. The food is my treat," I answered back.
"Never the less," said Sam... "I want you to have it."
He leaned as close as he could while Jim was talking on the plane's C.B.
"Besides, I have better ways of collecting from you," he whispered with a wink.
"Any time," I responded. "And I mean it."
He reached over and patted my knee while Jim was looking out the left window. It seemed like our flight was over almost as suddenly as it had started. We landed in the harbor and eased up to the long dock where a dock hand tied the pontoons.
"You guys know you have to walk a plank to get onto the dock. If you fall in...you have to walk back to the camp," he grinned with a big smile.
"Sure Jim," Sam said winking at me. " He is as full of shit as a Christmas Goose. That's reason everyone likes him so much."
We both walked the plank to the dock with out any spills.
I had heard that the people of Maine were quiet and not terribly social, but I found them to be very kind and quite friendly. Perhaps the difference was how I reacted towards them. My parents, the professors, had always been aloof. I was not. It never seemed to amaze me what a smile and some manners could do to open doors.
I invited Sam to join me for lunch. He knew of a restaurant called THE LUMBERJACK in town. The place had all kinds of lumber camp memorabilia hanging on the walls. The waiters and waitresses all came to take their customers orders wearing red and black plaid flannel shirts and black ball caps. It was quaint and the steaks that we ordered were very good. After leaving the restaurant, a nap sounded better than grocery shopping...but that was the reason for the trip. We got a cart and pushed it through the grocery store. I bought what I thought would be a two week supply of meats, some cheeses, potatoes for baking and a lot of chocolate items. When we got back to the dock, Jim, true to his word had coolers for most of the frozen items.
"I should have told you to go light on the food stuffs. We want to be able to take off," he jested.
"Jim, you had eight of us plus yourself... in flying to camp. Now you have two of us plus a little bit of food. I'll bet you can do the job in a proper manner with plenty of lift left," I chided back.
"You do, huh? Well, I sure can't put anything over on you, can I professor."
He gave the bill of my cap a slap knocking it down over my eyes, all in good humor. We got the food loaded and the supplies. Jim extended his hand to help us on board. Securing the door. He started the plane's engine and gave it the run through in preparation for take off. The tie lines were tossed back to the dock hand. He waved all clear. We started taxing into the harbor. Even with all the coming and going of sea planes...there is always a group of looker's on who waved as we rose out of the water and started the test pattern before heading north to camp.
Sam and I talked about getting the food to the cabin. Would it take a few trips to carry it up there. As luck would have it. Charley Bivens was waiting for us with a small boat. We loaded the food and climbed in. He took us right up to the wide dock where the others came to carry up the supplies.
That night Keith fixed barbecued pork roast with mashed potatoes, a barbecue style gravy and an assortment of vegetables. He had acquired some apples from an obliging orchard near by and had made several large apple pies. We did not know until our return that he also had acquired a 20 pound block of ice from a local ice house and had got the old oaken bucket ice cream churn out of his storage barn. Apple pie and ice cream. Life was good.
Keith set a pot of coffee on the table to have with the ice cream to help prevent brain freeze. While he was at it, he said to the professors, "OK you guys...you said you were going to do it...so cough up the dough."
Biff's dad, Dr. Biffle explained.
"Ron...your gesture to add to the food larder is noble to say the least, but we all bet that you would not get on the plane. I guess that Sam knows you better than we do and we have been around you all your life. Any way...we owe Sam $70... and Sam, here it is."
Professor Biffle handed him seven well worn ten dollar bills.
Also, we saw that you spent $120 of your own money for food supplies. We all chipped in $20 each for the food you bought. So here is $140...the extra for your lunch and trouble to go get the supplies."
Everyone at the table applauded.
"Gosh Dr. Biffle, I can't accept your money," I responded.
"Course you can boy...and you will. You know, we sort of kidnapped you so you could spend the summer with us and have some fun. Your parents wanted you to be with us because they knew you would be safe...but even more so than that, they knew we would provide you the support that they have not been able to do. You are part of our family, Ron. You are an important part of our family...and we want to see that you are well cared for. Forgive us, if we have offended you in any way, and trust us to take good care of you until your parents are reunited with you in late August."
Again, everyone at the table applauded. Even Keith and Sam.
A few tears leaked from the corner of my eyes. I tried to wipe them away with my hand, but they continued to slip out. Brian...Biff, handed me a handkerchief from his pocket. I wiped my eyes again.
"When you have some time Ron, I would like to talk to you about some other things. No hurry, just when every you feel up to it," Professor Biffle said.
Turning to the rest of the group, he said, "You know, Ron will be seventeen on July 7th. That is a few weeks away...but I think we should start preparing now on how we are going to initiate him into pre-adulthood."
The cheers went up.
Hugh stood up.
"Ron...I have to return to campus in a couple of days. My wife and I are flying to California for the Christening of our first grandchild. I won't be here for your birthday...but if you will permit me...I have an early birthday gift for you."
Hugh walked to the mantle piece and took down a book.
"As a literature professor these many years, I want to give you an autographed copy of Charles Dickens' DAVID COPPERFIELD. It belonged to my grandfather...and I want you to have it. I have others for my daughter and however more children she might have. This book is for boys...and I think you should have it."
Everyone applauded again.
"Oh Professor... it must be worth a fortune. I couldn't possibly accept such a generous gift," I replied.
"Yes you can, my boy. It would please me greatly if you would. Years from now...when you are retiring from your chosen profession...you can pass it on to one of your descendants or give it to a museum or something," Hugh replied.
I got up and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back.
"I am so honored sir," I said. "So very honored, indeed."
Hugh flew out on Wednesday. We all hated to see him go. He was the oldest of our group and yet, in his quiet and calm way, he seemed to keep us all centered on having a good time. We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. I found out by the week end that all the rest were going home except for Professor Biffle, Brian (Biff), and Dr. Tristan Fordham. Dr. Fordham was an old bachelor who loved the great camps and fishing. He agreed to stay as long as we wanted him.
Charley Bivens dropped by and we talked about moving to a smaller cabin but no one had booked the Loon Lodge for July...so we decided we would just bare the brunt of the cost and stay put. The two professors each kept their own respective rooms, but I asked Biff if he would mind if I moved into one of the other rooms with Sam. Of course he did not mind...knowing the reason for doing so. He suggested that we take the vacant room over the kitchen because it had one large bed. We did so with as little fanfare as possible.
A few days before my birthday, Mrs. Biffle flew in with her sister Beatrice. Beatrice was given the other bedroom with a full size bed and a good lock on the door and Mrs. Biffle moved into her husband's room. We all called Beatrice, Miss Bea. Biff called her Aunt Bea. She was a robust sort of lady with a great sense of humor. She brought a good deal of life to the party.
Mrs. Biffle and Aunt Bea helped Keith plan a birthday party for me that was real nice. Dr. Biffle had found a time when he could talk to me alone...and he told me that they were coming in. He said that he wanted them to be my family for the summer...and if I was not happy at home when autumn arrived...I was welcome to come stay with them. Oh, I almost forget. Mrs. Biffle brought a classmate of Brian's to spend the rest of the Summer. His name was Jin and had been a foreign exchange student the previous year. He and Biff would be freshmen in college this year and they were going to be roommates. Biff was very excited to see his friend. Later I realized why. Jin took my spot in Biff's bedroom.
The day of my birthday, the Biffle's had a cook out and invited some of our neighbors to join us. We cooked burgers and hot dogs and everyone who came brought something to share. Although Sam was working during the party, he kept popping around the corner to be sure I was having a good time and not brooding over the fact that my parents were in Europe, indifferent to my birthday.
I fixed my plate and sat down in an Adirondack chair. The food was good. Biff's Aunt Bea came over and sat down next to me.
"Are you having a good time, Honey," she asked?
"Yes, Ma'am...I am," I replied.
"There is something troubling you, I fear," she suggested?
"Does it show," I asked?
"Well, it does to me. Can I help?"
"No, ma'am," I answered her back. "I doubt that you could."
"Would you be willing to give me a chance," she asked with a kind smile.
"You see..." I started, " The Biffle's have sort of adopted me for the summer. My parents are in Europe. Both of them are professors. They have very little time for me. They've really never had much time for me. I've been pretty much on my own, since age ten. The Biffle's have invited me to come stay with them when my parents return, if I feel neglected."
"Yes, dear... I know."
"Well, there is something you don't know ma'am," I started to say, but hesitated.
"You are in love with that nice young camp guide, Sam," She returned.
I looked at her with surprise. How perceptive she must surely be.
"Yes ma'am," I whispered, " I am."
"Well, it won't come as a surprise that he feels the same way about you," she said.
"How do you know that," I asked?
"I've lived a long time, Ron. I can spot love between two people very easily. You love him and he loves you. You might be surprised to know that you are not the only two young men up here that feel that way about one another."
"You mean Brian and Jin," I asked?
"Yes...I do," she responded. "And my sister and Dr. Biffle know it and are OK with it. There main concern is that Brian is happy and successful."
I smiled at her.
"They want the same thing for you dear," she said. "Open your heart to them Ron. They are totally sincere in you becoming part of their family...if you should choose to do so."
"Thank you, ma'am," I said, "extending my hand to shake hers.
She chuckled and said, "Now, I am Aunt Bea to you too."
"Yes, Aunt Bea," I said.
The rest of the evening was much more cheery. I ate too many burgers, too much potato salad and too much cake...but what a great evening it had been. Back in our room, I stepped out of my clothes and crawled into bed next to Sam. He kissed me and held me close to him.
"Ron...I have a particular question to ask you."
When the Biffles go home... would you stay here with me if I asked you to. You could be part of my family too.
"What's brought this on," I asked?
"I heard Miss Beatrice talking to you about coming to live with them. I don't want you to go. You could finish your last year of high school here with me. I could get us an apartment or a trailer...and I would work and you would go to school...and graduate this next year. You could come join Keith and me and work for Charley Bivens running the great camps."
"Gosh Sam...there is little that I would rather do...but professor and Mrs. Biffle are set on me coming to stay with them if my parents are too busy for me. Right now...I need parents. You understand, don't you? If I were twenty, like you, I'd jump in head first...but right now, I need a little more direction in my life."
"Yeah, I guess I do understand. It is going to be hard to get along without you being here," Sam replied.
"Well, we haven't left yet. Let's just enjoy the time we have together now...and let the future take care of itself," I suggested.
"Right now, I would like to focus on some intimate time with you," he said.
"Sam, I have something I want to ask you about. When we arrived, you spoke with a broken English... but I find now that your English is as good as mine...what gives?"
"The tourists expect us to be Indians. They also expect the stereotype communication like the television and movie Indians. My father was a graduate of the University of Maine."
"Was," I said? "Is he still living?"
"No...he was killed a few years ago in a hunting accident. That was when I quit school and went to work."
"I'm sorry to hear that, for two reasons. One that he is gone and the second that you had to quit school. Were you a senior in high school?"
"No, I was a freshman in college. I went two quarters when my father was killed. Since then I have worked and supported my mother and siblings."
"Where are they now," I asked?
"They live about ten miles from here. Charley pays us good money for the summer. In the winter, I do the skiing circuit. It really pays well because of the cold weather work."
"That's another reason I should not stay with you here. I would interfere with your work," I chided.
"Possibly," he responded, "but you would keep me warm at night in bed."
I laughed as he dove under the covers.
With Mrs. Biffle across the hall and Aunt Bea down a room, there was no shouting during sexual excitement. Sam turned in the bed and pulled me over top of him. With my balls hanging in his face, I was an easy suck. I went down on him and found that I really liked the 69 position. He slowly moved around to the erogenous parts of my body until I was so hot and sensitive that I did not think that I could last much longer. When he put a lubed finger into my ass and tickled my prostate gland...I fired giving him a mouth full. I rolled over on my side out of breath and afraid to say anything for fear that I would scream out with excitement and pleasure.
"Get up on your hands and knees, Ron. I want to tickle your innards," he said with a slight whisper.
He lubed his penis with Vaseline and then anointed my pucker before sliding in. I could not see my wrist watch on the bed side stand...but he must have enjoyed himself for a good half hour before filling me up with hot semen. He too was exhausted afterwards. I slipped into the bathroom adjoining our room to drain and to pee. When he returned from the bathroom, he slid as close to me as he could get.
"Don't go, Ron. Stay here with me."
I drifted off to sleep with his arms around me.
. . . . . . . . .
Professor Biffle asked me a few days later, how I was doing. I gave him some vague answer about hating to see the summer end.
"You are wanting to stay here with Sam, aren't you." he asked?
"Well, that is what Sam wants," I replied.
"But I am asking you what you want, Ron," Dr. Biffle asked again.
"I need someone looking after me a little bit longer, Dr. Biffle. I need to go home with you."
"What if I could arrange for Sam to come on to the university staff as a maintenance worker. He could go to school part time and still get his degree while he worked on staff," he said. "I asked him what he makes in a month and how much he sends to his mother for his siblings. We surely can do much better than that."
"I think that would be great," I replied. "He has been reared here in Maine. He may be unwilling to go home with us."
"That is true... and if that is the case, we know where we stand, don't we?"
"Yes, Sir... we would. If he will come with us, perhaps I could work part time somewhere and help him."
"No Ron...you have enough to focus on finishing your Senior year at high school and moving on to college. If Sam thinks enough of you to come home with us... it must be with the understanding that you finish your education."
"Yes, Sir."
I spoke to Sam that night while we shared our bed. He mused the idea in his mind and said that he would sleep on it and let me know shortly. We were already into the first of August and would only be at Loon Lodge another week and a half. I hoped he would think well of it in a timely manner.
. . . . . . . . . . .
Sam put a few more logs into the fire both in the great room and the dinning room fire places. It had been raining for several days and the air had become cool. This morning we were having some lightning with thunder. I had always liked the stormy days because it gave time to read and practice piano.
Keith and Aunt Bea were in the kitchen fixing breakfast. The sausages that they were frying in the skillet emitted a wonderful aroma throughout the lower part of the cabin. I could smell coffee on the stove. It smelled good, but I never cared for the taste. Mrs. Biffle had lit some scented candles that smelled like pumpkin pie and spice. We had a potpourri of scents that were very stimulating to the nostrils. Keith called us all to the table to eat. Biff and Jin came down from upstairs in jeans and sweat shirts. The way that Biff was bulging...it was obvious that they had been interrupted in the middle of some sexual play.
I was happy for them. I knew that he and Jin had been very close friends since Jin arrived at our school as a foreign exchange student. We had heard rumors that Biff was gay...but he was so popular with all the students, both the girls and the guys... that no one seemed to care. I have also learned that straight guys often have sexual interactions with other guys and as long as you don't quit girls entirely...you are still considered straight. This summer, knowing Sam and talking with him has enlightened me considerably about sexual things. Perhaps, it is safe to say that my knowledge of proprieties has increased many fold.
After breakfast, Biff and Jin returned to their room. It is logical to think that they were going to finish what they had started before being called to breakfast. Sam and Keith cleared the table and started the clean up process. Dr. Farnham and Professor Biffle became engaged in a game of chess and the ladies got out their knitting and were busily engaged in talk about getting packed to go home at the end of the week. I went to the piano and played a few songs off the top of my head. They flowed from memory like water down an incline. After a few minutes, Sam came over and sat down next to me. His shoulder was brushing mine. As I played on, he put his arm over my shoulder. He felt warm next to me.
"How you doing Sam," I asked?
"I'm OK," he said with a sad inflection in his voice.
"What can I do to cheer you up. You sound low," I returned.
"Want to slip upstairs for another quick fuck," he whispered in my ear.
"You bugger," I teased. "What has it been, an hour and a half since we last enjoyed that?"
"Can't help myself white man, Indian love you," he whispered back.
I stopped playing the piano and said, "Let's go upstairs."
Back in the room, Sam embraced me and held me tight.
"Dr. Biffle has invited me to go home with you. He said that both of us could stay with he and Mrs. Biffle... like live in their house with them and share a bedroom with each other."
"Sam...I would like that better than anything, but I also know that it would be a hardship for you to leave your mother and siblings and to leave Maine."
"That could be tough," he said... "but my mom told me to do what I thought best. Dr. Biffle said I could probably triple what I make each month here. He said the university maintenance job would let me go to school to continue my degree free as an employee, and have medical benefits."
"Big decision," I said.
"Yes... very big decision," he said. "I want to think it over very carefully."
"Anything I can do to help you with it," I asked.
"Yes, hold me tight and just love me."
I held him tight with my face pressed against his. We stood that way for a long time. I expected him to want to get naked and enjoy each other's bodies...but he said nothing of it. He finally broke the embrace, kissed me on the side of my face and quietly slipped out of the room to return to his chores.
At lunch time, our cook had made a big pot of Moose Chili. I was not sure I liked the taste of Moose meat...but it was surprisingly good. Keith had baked yeast rolls that were to die for. As we sat down to the table, I noticed that Sam was not there.
"Did you send Sam on errands," I tried to causally ask?
"Don't know where he went," Keith said. "He mumbled something about some chores to do and I haven't seem him since. Under his breath he mumbled something about `the little shit had better not leave him to all the clean up.'
It rained all day. At times the thunder seemed to rock the roof. Aunt Bea jumped every time the flash of lightning and thunder were close together.
"I sure hope it does not hit the cabin," she said. "Here on the island, we could be sitting ducks for electrocution."
"That is not likely," Keith told us. "The water is a better conductor of electricity than solid matter. The lightning will go down a wet tree to the water before it will hit a wood cabin which is much closer to the ground."
We looked at each other and raised our eye brows. Did he know what he was talking about or was he just trying to keep us from worrying. The sun set around 7:00 PM. We had become used to ignoring the clocks and watches...but it was now getting very dark outside and Sam had not returned. Keith had become irritable having to do both his job and Sam's in the kitchen. Deep down in side, I think he was as concerned about his young cousin as were the rest of us.
Thursday was still stormy. We hoped that the rain would stop so our prospective departure would not be cancelled on Friday. If the storm continued...it might be necessary to drive back to Augusta if we could get a caravan service on such a short notice. We had two weeks until school started back in Illinois...but there were things to do and preliminary meetings to attend for the professors at the college.
I said little all the afternoon but walked back and forth to the cabin windows to look out for signs of Sam. I saw nothing. By the time that it was bed time...I was almost wired. Dr. Biffle came over and sat next to me on the sofa next to the fireplace. He put his arm over my shoulder.
"Ron, this may be his way of saying good bye. Some people just can't bare the thought of parting. It may have been too painful for him," he said to me.
I looked into his face and the tears started to flow...uncontrollable. I got up and hurried upstairs. He followed me to my room. I covered my face with my hands and cried. Dr. Biffle held me in his arms until the shaking stopped.
"Your heart is broken now Ron, but it will recover. Might I suggest focusing on the good times you have had. He may still show up. Don't give up the hope until we are in the air. He may yet communicate what he plans to do."
"You're right," I answered back, "Thank you Professor."
"You're welcome Son."
The rain stopped in the night. I did not sleep. At times I walked the floor. Several times, I cried with my head under the covers. At one point...I did not know if I should love him or hate him. He might not be able to handle good byes, but a civil word would have been nice. I grabbed a shave and shower and dressed in casual clothes for the trip to Augusta where we would travel by jet to Chicago and then by train to our home. I lugged my gear down the back stairs by the kitchen...hoping that I would find Sam there making breakfast. He was not. Keith was there with Aunt Bea helping. She was her usual sweet self and he was his usual crabby self. How they worked together without a hair pulling adventure was amazing.
After breakfast, Charley Buesking came for the our luggage and gear and placed them in the boat and took them to the plane which was bobbing on the calm waters of Moose head lake. He and Charley had the gear loaded shortly. There was a fog over the lake... but Jim Cooper, our pilot assured us that it would be lifted enough to take off. Once in the air, we would fly above the fog to Augusta.
We were all standing on the dock waiting to board. Dr. Biffle suggested one last photograph of us together. Jim would take the picture as we waved back at him.
"I'm not very good at photography," he said. "I always end up cutting the feet off of the people or their heads."
After the second try and a few hell's' and damns'... he said, "One of you are going to have to try this again. I think I have ruined both of them."
Dr. Biffle pushed me forward, "Ron... you're a camera sleuth...you go take the photo for us. If anyone can get it right...it's you."
Reluctantly, I walked to the shore edge and took the camera from Jim. Big clotz, I thought. I'm not in the mood for this. They all waved and I snapped the photo. They did not stop waving and smiling. What the hell do they think they are doing. Aunt Bea caught my eye and pointed behind me. I turned and there stood Sam with luggage in hand and grinning from ear to ear. I ran to him and threw my arms around him...not caring what any of them thought. He held me tight.
"Where have you been," I whispered to him. "I've been beside myself with worry."
He whispered back. "My ancestors used to go to the top of Mount Kineo to speak to the great spirit when they had a serious decision to make. I have been there since leaving you fasting and praying."
"What did the great spirit say to you?"
"I am suppose to go with you to the university. My family will be provided for by my income working there. I will stay at Dr. and Mrs. Biffle's house and if your parents do not want you, you will stay there with me. We will share a room and you will graduate from high school and then go to college. Biff and Jin will be there with us too."
I threw my arms around him again and held him tight. From behind, we heard applause. My face turned dark red when I realized that I had just outed myself to the group...but then, as Biff's Aunt Bea had said...they all already knew it anyway.
Sam and I sat at the back of the plane. The seats are closer together there. He held my hand as Jim took off and we climbed above the fog. We were flying south to Augusta with the sun over our left shoulder. I love sunshine. It reminds me of everything good in life.