Room 304 Burge Hall

Room 304 Burge Hall by David Lee © 2023

Two very different young men, thrown together by circumstances beyond their control, discover that they're not so different after all.

In outward appearance, the new occupants of the room on the third floor of the old residence hall were like salt and pepper. Erik Nelson's hair was so blond that it was almost white. His complexion was creamy color and his eyes were as blue as a Norwegian sky. Dominic Perez had a light brown skin tone, eyes like dark chocolate, and hair that was black as midnight.

However, they shared some traits in common. Both were physically fit and good-looking. Each had some ancestry which included fierce warriors, Vikings for Erik and Aztecs for Dom.

In addition, neither of them was shy. By the time they'd finished setting up their college dorm room, after their parent's had departed, they were already learning a lot about one another. That continued over their first shared meal in the cafeteria.

At present, they had the same major in mind, but of course, they wouldn't need to officially declare that for a year or two – after they found out how they did in their foundation courses.

While they hadn't been hesitant about revealing many details about their lives, they tended to be modest when it came to getting ready for bed that first night. Neither was eager to undress in the other's presence because they both remembered being teased about their foreskins when they were in middle school. They'd become less self-conscious in high school since there were a few other boys in locker rooms who hadn't been circumcised. However, in a new situation, they were still kind of wary.

Before they walked down to the shower room that first evening, they stripped to their underwear and gathered their towels and toiletries. Dom put his in a Walmart bag, while Erik had his in a little plastic pail that a kid might play with at the beach.

"Wow, that's a cool idea," Dom commented. "I wish I'd have thought of it."

"My dad said his buds and he did that when he was in college. Um, I thought it might look strange, but if you like it, you're welcome to have one too. Dad said I should bring an extra one for my roommate as a kind of ice breaker."

"Your dad is cool! Tell him I love it. But I don't think we really needed anything to break the ice. We seem to be good buds already."

"Yeah, we do. This is going to be a great year!"

In the first couple of weeks, the pair found themselves becoming less modest in each other's presence. Having seen some of their dormmates sitting naked in their rooms with the doors open, they had become desensitized. It was an all-male floor after all.

When Dom complained about his `nads being strangled by his sleep shorts, Erik admitted to the same problem, saying that he normally slept nude at home. They had grinned at one another and stripped completely before climbing into bed. In that brief moment, they discovered that they both were uncut.

After that experience, they felt comfortable about sharing a few more intimate details. Dom explained that he was petrified at the thought of getting a girl pregnant and messing up his life.

"Practically from the day I hit puberty, my dad warned me to keep my dick in my pants," he said. "He messed around and became a daddy before he graduated from high school, so he didn't get to go to college right away and ended up having to work a dead-end job, initially."

"So, you're a love child?"

"No, my sister is. I came along a couple of years later.

"He eventually went to night school and got a better job, but he's always felt he should have held off having kids until he was more financially stable. Fortunately, my mom and he truly love each other, so it all worked out. But he didn't want me to even have sex with a girl until I finished college."

"So, does that mean you're a virgin?"

"Yeah, but please don't spread it around.

"Who would I tell? Besides, maybe I'm one too. I've always been scared to take a girl to bed. I dated some in high school, but I always went with girls who wouldn't be likely to put out."

"Jeez! The more we talk the more we have in common," Dom exclaimed.

Erik and Dom found that they had several classes in common and even more of the same core courses but in different sections. They decided to make the most of that by studying together. Ignoring most of the things that often distract freshmen boys, including babes and beer, they kept on track. A lot of their self-discipline grew out of mutual support.

They had additional assistance from Chad Walters and Zander Fosdick who lived in the room next door. The four of them often ate dinner together as well as forming a study group before midterm exams.

All four of them were pleased with the grades they'd earned by the middle of the semester. Those first tests are often the make or break moment for students in their freshman year of college.

Chad and Zander were considering joining a fraternity. They had been invited to an off-campus party to unwind from their weeks of intense study. There would be girls and a keg. Both were eager to tie one on and maybe do some serious making out, if not actually getting laid. Since the frat brothers had asked them to invite other guys they thought were cool, they asked Dom and Erik to join them.

The party took place in a facility which had once been a roller skating rink. It had housed several different businesses over the years but had recently been converted into a party venue. It was popular with the Greek houses because it was within walking distance of the campus, wasn't on university property, had a few lounge rooms which were fairly private, and didn't operate under the same rules as the fraternities themselves. On top of that, no one checked ID's carefully enough to ensure they were valid.

Dom, Erik, Chad, and Zander arrived as a group in Zander's car. They all agreed to get back to the dorm on their own instead of making Zander leave before he was ready. He had another friend who would be their driver if Chad and he had too much to drink.

The event was well attended, and there was music for dancing, food to snack on, and of course, plenty of beer. Dom was especially careful in how much alcohol he consumed. Erik appeared to be too. Chad and Zander seemed to be imbibing quite a bit more.

The ratio of males to females was more of less equal. Most of the girls were interested in dancing and having a good time. A few seemed to be intent on taking things further. There was quite a bit of flirting. With a mixture of horny boys, attractive girls, and cheap beer, what could possibly go wrong?

About an hour into the evening, a pretty blonde coed latched onto Dom. He began to feel trapped. Because of his limited experience with the opposite sex, he wasn't sure how to extricate himself from the situation without losing his dignity.

Erik could see the look of panic in Dom's eyes, so he decided to do something about it. He lurched over to where the two were sitting on a loveseat and spoke to Dom with slurred speech.

"I'm gonna be s-s-shick. Can yous ghet me back to the dorm?"

Dom was quick to come to his aid, telling the girl he was sorry, but he needed to be responsible for his roommate because Erik's mother had made him promise to watch over him.

The girl wasn't thrilled to have Dom leave, but she figured she shouldn't put up a protest. There had been too many incidents in recent years of drunken students dying because they'd been neglected. She wrote her mobile number on a scrap of paper and stuck it in his shirt pocket as he supported Erik on the way out of the door.

"Erik, I didn't realize you were drinking that much. I should have stayed with you. You've just gotta to be okay. You need to get some of it out of your system. I'll stop near a storm sewer if you want to puke."

Erik just grunted and kept staggering on for about a block with Dom clinging tightly to his side after he nearly fell from tripping on a place where the concrete had heaved because of tree roots. In that period of time, each was aware of how good it felt to be so close to his roommate.

When they got to the middle of the next block, Erik stopped and looked back toward the building they'd left.

"Okay, I think we're out of sight of anyone at the party," he grinned.

"You faker! You're not drunk at all, are you?"

"Just feeling a mild buzz."

"How come...? Oh, I get it, you were trying to preserve my virginity."

"Um, did I make a mistake? I thought you looked uncomfortable. I'm sorry if I broke up something you wanted to do."

"You did the right thing. I was sweating bullets. She was way too aggressive. If there had been a bedroom in that place, I think she would have dragged me in there and climbed on my dick. I don't know how I could have avoided getting laid without looking like a wuss. If I'd have thought about acting smashed like you did, that could have worked. Thanks for your help; I owe you."

They continued their walk discussing aggressive females. Erik cringed at the memories it stirred, but it was too dark for Dom to notice.

Back in the dorm, they decided to shower, brush their teeth, and make an early night of it. Despite the alcohol, or perhaps because of it, they didn't fall asleep immediately. After the lights were out, they lay in their beds discussing the scene at the party and each of them appeared to be on the verge of saying something important, but neither did. Even after they stopped talking, both were restless, wrestling with feelings they hadn't dealt with.

Erik felt a twinge of guilt for the tripping incident. He could have avoided the high spot in the sidewalk if he'd paid more attention to where he was going. It was almost as if he'd purposely started to fall so that Dom would hold him tighter. Had his body forced their closer contact? What had he been thinking?

Dom, in his bed was also mulling over the feelings he had toward his roommate. They'd become as close as brothers in the short time they'd lived in the same room. He wondered if his attachment to Erik was one of brotherly love, or if it ran deeper.

Saturday morning found the two eating a late breakfast in the cafeteria downstairs. They were joined by Tom who lived on the floor below them. He was in a chipper mood, as where they. None of the three had consumed enough beer the night before to cause a hangover.

"Hey Erik, I'm surprised to see you standing tall this morning. I figured you'd be hugging the ceramic punchbowl half the night," Tom joked.

"May I tell him?" Dom asked.

Erik's shrug signaled his okay. He was confident that Dom would tell the story without making it sound weird to Tom.

"Erik kinda pulled the blotto scene to help me get away from that chick."

"Oh, yeah, I saw that Lauren had you in her clutches. She's such a ho! Rumor has it that she's spreading the clap. I don't know if it's true, but she seems to sleep around a lot. You're lucky you got out of there when you did, for more than one reason."

"Really?" Dom asked. "What happened?"

"The cops came right after I got Chad and Zander out of there. I had received a text from someone, who must remain anonymous, that there was going to be a raid. Zander was about three sheets to the wind and handed over his keys without being asked."

"Wow! The party got busted?" Erik exclaimed.

"Yup. I'll bet there will be a lot of fallout. My source told me that the owners of the place will have their liquor license suspended for sure. I guess a lot of people there were underage. I wonder if the place will survive financially.

"Some students had poorly made fake ID's and they'll be in trouble too. There's no telling what will happen to the frat. They were already on probation from an incident last year."

Just before the serving line shut down to clean up and prepare for lunch, Zander and Chad straggled in, walking gingerly and wearing sheepish grins.

"Thanks for being an angel of mercy, Tom," Zander said in greeting. "Mom would have had a shit-fit if she'd been called to bail my sorry ass out of jail. Knowing her, she might have stalled awhile so I'd have more time to dwell on my sins and be remorseful."

"Is she mean to you?" Tom asked.

"Nah, she's a kind person, but she always expects us kids to be responsible for our behavior. She wouldn't turn me in for having a fake ID, but she would expect me to pay the consequences if I got caught with it."

The guys were all thankful that they'd avoided a brush with the law.

During the rest of the term, life went on without any dramatic turns. Dom didn't run into Lauren again because he avoided places where she was known to hang out. He had wadded up the slip of paper with her number on it and discarded it right after he got back to the dorm on the night of the party.

Almost before they knew it, the first term of their college experience was ending. The guys didn't have much time together after finals were over. Dom's mother was making the long drive from the northwestern suburbs of Chicago to pick him up because it was a lot less expensive than a plane ticket. He was eager to go home to see his family, but he wasn't looking forward to a period of time without seeing his roommate. As he awaited his mother's arrival, he voiced his feelings.

"Erik, four months ago, I had no idea you existed, other than your name on a piece of paper saying I'd be rooming with you. Now, I can't imagine my life without you. I'm going to miss you big-time!"

"I feel the same. At least we can text often. If you could convince your parents to let you come back a week early, you could be our guest for New Year's Eve. I could even come to get you. I know my family would love to have you here. We might have to sit home and watch the younger kids while they go out, but that wouldn't be bad. I don't have anyone from high school that I'd want to party with anyway."

"I don't have anyone to hang with either because I changed schools my senior year. I'd love to see the new year in with you, but I'd hate to impose that long."

"It wouldn't be an imposition. Like I said, my family likes you."

Their conversation was interrupted by a text message from Dom's mother saying she had arrived and would be up to get him in a couple of minutes. Impulsively, Dom hugged Erik closely.

Both guys reacted emotionally to their contact as a warm feeling spread through their bodies. They gazed onto each other's eyes and Erik was tempted to kiss Dom, but the moment was lost when Anita Perez knocked on the door. (Perhaps it was just as well. He didn't know how Dom might have reacted.)

They did, however, take one another's hand and pull into a kind of half-hug before Dom left. The significance of it wasn't lost on Dom's mother.

Christmas vacation at both households was joyous and festive. Siblings as well as parents had missed the guys and were eager to be in their company. It was almost like the return of a prodigal son but without the circumstance which had caused the separation in the biblical story.

As they'd planned, the roommates texted often. They missed one another's company. Of course, they kept each other abreast of their celebrations.

Erik's big gift from his parents was a leather jacket that he'd wanted but hadn't assumed he would receive. There were also presents from his younger brothers, including his favorite aftershave and other items for college.

Dom was overwhelmed at being given his grandmother's used car. It was far more than he'd anticipated, although his sister had received a similar one a couple of years before. With both of them in college, he had thought the finances might be tighter than they were. But his dad had been promoted to a higher position in the company since moving to the Chicago area and was making a lot more money.

Dom's parents thought it might be practical for him to drive himself back to school which would save his mom a roundtrip now and in the future. He was all for it. With transportation, he could even come home when his schedule included a long weekend.

Erik was pleased with Dom's good fortune. He already had a vehicle of his own which he'd been given when he turned 16. He hadn't taken it to the university in the fall because of the hassle of finding a place to park it. He had recently received the coveted parking permit sticker at the end of first term, but he thought he might pass it along to Dom if he was going to bring his car to school.

Both young men found that their lives were about to change because of having frank conversations with their parents over the winter break. The causes of those chats were completely different but led to basically the same outcome – that of coming to grips with one's orientation.

"Did you hear about what happened to one of your former middle school teachers, Erik?" his father, Lars, asked a couple of days after Christmas.

"I haven't kept up with news from school at all. Did he get in trouble?"

"SHE has been arrested on the charge of statuary rape for molesting one of her male students in the school where she transferred to when she left here. You had Ms. Schmidt, didn't you?"

At the mention of the woman's name, Erik's fair skin went even paler. He shut his eyes tightly hoping to control his tears.

"Oh my God!" Lars exclaimed. "Did she do something to you?"

Erik nodded, not being able to speak at the moment."

"Why didn't you tell us?"

"I was ashamed," he sobbed. "I didn't want anyone to know that I wasn't stronger. I shouldn't have tried drinking. I knew better. I'm sorry!"

"You have nothing to be sorry for. She was the adult in the situation. You were a vulnerable young teen who can't be held responsible. I'm sure I couldn't have resisted at your age, especially if I'd had a little alcohol. Your mother and I love you just as we always have. You haven't disappointed us."

Lars held his distraught son until the waterworks subsided.

"It would probably be a good idea to report it to the authorities."

"Isn't it too late?

"I don't think so. I believe they've gotten rid of the statute of limitations for sexual crimes against kids, and it hasn't been 10 years yet anyway. I'll be happy to accompany you to the police department and to find help for you if you want to see a counselor."

"Thanks, but I'm not sure I want to relive any of it. I thought I'd buried it completely until recently when an aggressive girl was after my roommate making him uncomfortable. Now, knowing that Schmidt has been caught, it's going to give me bad dreams again."

"I guess that's my point. Sometimes you have to dig things out in order to heal. Remember when I had my knee scoped? The doctor might have given me cortisone shots to temporarily stop the pain, hoping it would settle down, and God knows the therapy wasn't easy, but having the bone chips and damaged cartilage removed made all the difference in the world. Sometimes, the same benefits can come from cleansing one's memory."

"I get what you're saying. Maybe a shrink could help me face something else too. I've recently been questioning my orientation. I've been trying to screw up my courage to tell you, and I guess this is as good a time as any. I don't think what Schmidt did to me had anything to do with how I feel about the opposite sex."

"You know your mother and I will support you, whatever road you choose. Um, wait, let me rephrase that because it sounds like I'm implying that you made a conscious decision in the matter. We will love you whatever your destiny – however you've been created."

"Thanks, Dad! I feel lighter! Now, I'm going to have to be honest with Dom too. I hope he'll take it as well as you have."

At Dom's home, it was his mother, Anita, who initiated a conversation which initially made him quite uncomfortable. She didn't stop to think how her teasing might be taken or how close it was to the truth.

"Dominic, you're so eager to see your roommate again that it's almost like he's your girlfriend."

For a second, Dom's expression resembled that of a deer caught in the headlights of an on-coming vehicle. He quickly recovered, however.

"What makes you think that? He's not fem in any way."

"No, he doesn't appear effeminate. I guess it was the way you two looked at each other when I came to bring you home. It was almost like he had a crush on you, and you on him, come to think of it.

"It seems a bit unusual that you want to spend New Year's Eve and the following week with someone you've only recently met instead of some friends from high school."

"Mom, I spent only a year in Hoffman Estates High School after we moved halfway across the country. I'm not close to anyone here, and I'm far away from anyone I hung around with back in Wichita. I've lived with Erik for over four months. We not only share a room, but we have several classes in common, and we eat almost every meal together. We're so much alike that we can finish each other's sentences."

"You guys sound a lot like your father and I right after we started going together. We really clicked."

"Okay," Dom sighed. "You're right, as usual. I do feel a connection with Erik. It's stronger than I've ever felt for someone else, male or female. It's like a brotherhood but maybe deeper. I'm afraid to tell him because I'd be devastated if I lost him."

"From the way he looked at you as we were leaving your room, I don't think that would happen. I think he feels the same about you."

"Are you okay with that? I mean, what if it turns into a relationship? What if I'm gay?"

"You have to be who you are, Dominic. You're smart, sweet, and good-looking. Erik appears to be a lot like you in those ways. You're old enough to make up your mind without the influence of others. Papa and I will always love you no matter whom you fall in love with."

Neither guy wanted to come out to the other via Skype or text. This was something that needed to be done in person. As a result, both tossed and turned before going to sleep on December 29th. Eventually, they convinced themselves to relax and not fret about the outcome. They began to feel that they knew each other well enough to know the outcome would be okay.

On the 30th, Dominic got into his car about 8:00 AM to make the four-hour drive to Erik's house in Cedar Rapids. He passed the time on the road listening to some Thelonius Monk CD's which Erik and he both loved. It calmed his nerves as he rehearsed the speech he'd outlined in his mind. He would arrive around noon, and the two of them were going out to lunch together.

Being aware of their plans, Erik's parents were taking the younger kids out to eat and to see a movie they'd wanted to take in during vacation. They figured that Erik and Dom might like to have a period of time alone.

Dominic arrived right on schedule. He parked in front of the third garage as Erik had suggested. Leaving his bag in the trunk lest he'd find himself unwelcome after he came out, he took a deep breath and made his way to the door. It opened before he'd reached the bell.

Once in the foyer, he began his speech.

"Erik, I hope you won't hate me when I tell you what I have to say..."

He didn't manage to utter another word before he was enveloped in a tight embrace. Erik's kiss on the lip kept him from continuing. For a few minutes, the guys stood in each other's arms shedding tears of joy. Any fear or trepidation had melted away because of the love they felt.

"Um don't you want to hear the rest of what I was going to say? I've run it over in my mind for hours."

"Let me say something first, and then you're welcome to tell me the rest if it's a lot different from what I have to say," Erik requested.

"First, I came out to my parents a couple of days ago and they're very understanding. They're fine with the feelings I've developed for you. I hope we can be boyfriends."

"We are so much alike!" Dom exclaimed. "Had you let me continue, I'd have said almost the exact same thing! Some would say we're too young to know our hearts, but I think we can make it together. My parents fell in love when they were even younger and they've been together for 22 years, married for 20."

"I have something else I need to confess," Erik continued. "I guess I'm damaged goods because I'm not a virgin. I kinda fudged the truth when we first discussed the subject. After that girl came onto you at the party, it opened up old wounds, so to speak. A teacher got me drunk in middle school and took me to bed. She was recently arrested for doing that with a boy in Iowa City. I'm sorry."

"No apology necessary! You aren't responsible. You're as pure as a fresh flake of snow in my eyes."

"Thanks! I'm not sure if I like being thought of as a snowflake," Erik joked, trying to cover his emotions.

"I'd love you even if you were a flake," Dom said fervently. "You complete me."

"I think we complete one another.

"Let's grab a quick bite to eat so we have time to, um, snuggle before the `rents come home. We could go out to Culver's or we can make lunch here. What would you prefer?"

"If we eat here, we won't have to censor out tongues in public, and we'll have more time to snuggle."

Erik had anticipated the possibility of eating in and had an assortment of lunch meat and cheese to make sandwiches. With lettuce, chips, and fruit, they quickly made their meal. Sitting side by side at the kitchen table allowed them to hold hands, something which they wouldn't have felt as comfortable doing in a restaurant at this point.

When the kitchen was put to right, Dom went out to his car to retrieve his bag, and the guys adjourned to the family room to cuddle.

And cuddle they did! Taking advantage of the reclining love seat, they lowered the backs and snuggled under a big Afghan enjoying the close physical contact that each had longed for. Their kisses became more passionate, raising their level of desire, along with parts of their anatomy, in the process.

Considering that Erik's family might return and catch them in a compromising position, they felt they should remain fully dressed. Their resolve lasted for only a short time. Wanting to lick Dom's nipples, Erik pulled his shirt up far enough to gain access. Not surprisingly, Dom also had a nipple fetish. They took turns stimulating one another, feeling like they could reach orgasm without being touched below the waist. This all came to a halt at the sound of the garage door going up. Quickly, they got their clothes in order and moved apart on the love seat, while bringing it to an upright position again.

Due to the panic of nearly being caught making out, their dicks had gone most of the way down before Erik's family entered the house through the kitchen door.

The guys rose to greet them.

"Mom and Dad, you've met my roommate back in the fall. I'd like to reintroduce him with a different title. Please say hello to my boyfriend, Dominic Perez."

"Hi Dominic, welcome to our home," Maurine smiled.

"I'm pleased to meet the young man who has made my son happy," Lars said by way of greeting.

"Thanks. I'd be pleased if you would call me by my nickname. I'm Dom to most of my friends and family, though Mom doesn't use it much."

"And these are my brothers, Bjorn and Gunnar, Erik continued the introductions. "BJ is a sophomore in high school and Gun is in eighth grade and will be up there next year. See they have nicknames too. There's not much you can do with `Erik.'"

"We could call you `Rik," Don grinned as he dapped fists with Erik's siblings. That brough smiles to their faces as well.

Conversation over the dinner table that evening was relaxed and comfortable. Dom felt right at home. Whatever trepidation he might have felt in meeting the "in-laws" was soon dispelled.

After their meal, the family participated in a game of Tripoley. Gunnar was thrilled to have won the most chips at the end of it. Those with the fewest were good sports, congratulating the youngest member of the household.

When it was time to go to bed, Dom wondered where he would be sleeping.

"Would you like to share my bed?" Erik asked, hopefully.

"Um, what will your family think? I'm sure BJ is old enough to suspect what two guys might do in bed together."

"He knows I'm gay," Erik said. "I don't think it will bother him. Besides, he sometimes sleeps in the guest room with a buddy when they do an overnight."

"I'll bet they use sleeping bags. That wouldn't be any more intimate than camping in a small tent."

"Perhaps. But I've already told my parents that we'd share that bed if things turned out like I hoped, and they can certainly tell that we're okay together. So, they won't be shocked."

Having said that, Erik drew Dom close to him and kissed him on the lips. Dom didn't resist.

"Okay, since you're the guest, you should be first in the shower and I'll use it when you're done. I suppose it would be a little too obvious if we took one together."

Dom couldn't figure out why it wouldn't be alright to share the shower if they were sharing a bed, but he didn't ask.

Dom was sitting on the edge of the bed, dressed in sleep shorts, when Erik entered, in similar attire, toweling his hair.

"I didn't know which side you sleep on, so I didn't get under the covers."

"You choose; you're the guest. I don't really care as long and I get to hold you."

Before they got under the covers, Dom stood and they embraced again. The bulges that they felt pressing against their thighs left no doubt about what they were feeling.

"I know you hate to get your nads strangled in your boxers," Erik said, as he slipped his thumbs into the waistband of Dom's short, pulling them down.

Dom grinned and did the same to Erik's. They tumbled into the bed with their arms around each other.

"Um, I thought we were going to take things slowly," Dom whispered.

"We are. I'm not planning to rape you."

"I know you wouldn't do that because you're a gentle, loving guy," Dom insisted.

"You know me well. I know you'd never force me either."

Although they'd agreed not to rush into a sexual relationship too quickly, their hormones had different ideas. Erik lay on his back and pulled Dom on top of him. He arranged their hard cocks to lie side by side.

"Which of these terms are in your vocabulary – frottage or Princeton Rub?"

"Both," Dom snickered.

That was the end of their conversation while they kissed deeply as they rubbed their bodies together. It wasn't until their mind-blowing climaxes that either spoke again.

"Uh, what's you mom going to think when she changes the bed," Dom asked.

"She'll be proud that her firstborn was prepared," Erik grinned as he pulled a hand towel out from under his pillow.

The boys kissed, nuzzled, and talked in the afterglow.

"So, does this mean will be rooming together next term?" Dom giggled.

"And the year after that and so on until we graduate."

"And then what?"

"Unless you get tired of me, I'm hoping to make it permanent."

"Roommates forever!" Dom exclaimed. "I'm good with that."

-----------------------------END---------------------------------

Author's notes: Thanks for reading this story. If you enjoyed it, please feel free to contact me a dlee169@hotmail.com and let me know. Your emails are the only reward I receive for writing. Please put the story title in the subject line in case your email goes into the spam folder.

Thanks to David S for editing. He finds typos and missing words! He also makes valuable suggestions.

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Thanks, David

Ps: I have a chronological list of all my posted stories which I can email to you if you have an interest.