Snowplow

A Year In The Life

Jack Pine Savages Part 1

By Bix Meister

This is a story featuring gay men, and gay sex, intended for Adults, not Minors. It is fiction, and as such is not based on any actual people or events. It is a fantasy intended purely as a catalyst for pleasure. No attempts have been made to portray safe sex, but the author encourages you to practice it.

If this is your first trip to my series, I suggest you start at the beginning, Snowplow. You will get to know the characters more.

If you enjoy it, consider donating to Nifty. If you have suggestions or feedback, contact me at bixmeister57@gmail.com

The Jack Pine, or Pinus Banksiana, is a North American Pine native to the northern woods of Minnesota. They are extremely plentiful between Duluth and my Northern Minnesota hometown. Taking Highway 2 west from Duluth, you can see entire swathes of Jack Pines. They are not as strong and majestic looking as the White Pine or Red Pine, Jack Pines are scrappy. Their strength lies in their ability to grow where others can't and regenerate after a fire. In fact it is fire, or intense heat that allows the pine cones of the Jack Pine to release their seed.

Late February, 2000, I realized I was a Jack Pine, living among White Pines.

It was a few days after Valentines day that I finally decided it was time to meet with Mike and negotiate a pay raise for Fred. His leadership on my home should be rewarded, and I wanted to see it happen. I called him from my cell phone and asked to meet at the diner, a neutral place. He suggested that we meet at Pete's house so he could see the end result of the pool table installation.

I was hesitant at first, knowing what Pete felt about my interaction with Mike. However I thought it was time to bridge that gap, and bring Mike back into our fold. Plus he held the key to Fred being compensated for what he was bringing to the table. Yes I could simply pay the difference myself, give Fred a bonus, but what would happen when my project was done? Fred had quickly become an asset to Mike, one that should be rewarded down the line.

I had to step up for a friend, do something that Pete would admire, but I still felt the need to go around Pete's back. I had told my office that I would be in late, so I walked through the farmhouse remodel with Pete and Fred, then made the short drive to what had become my new home. I let myself in and did a quick check of the place. We had been too busy the last few days to put up the sling, so I didn't have to worry about that. I took some cleaning spray and buffed out the smudge that Pete had noticed on the light fixture.

I wanted to show the gift off to Mike. I think I wanted him to know how much Pete meant to me, and this was a very concrete expression of that love. Mike parked his work van, then knocked on the door. He was a bit sheepish which was always a hot look for him. I let Mike in, shook his hand, then showed him downstairs.

He was duly impressed by the pool table. "Looks like it's always been here, it's perfect. But I know that isn't the reason you invited me over."

I motioned towards the chair in the corner, he sat, I grabbed a seat on the sectional. "You are right, I wanted to talk to you because I think Fred is doing a great job at my house, and he should be compensated for all of the extra things he is doing." I shared all of my reasons for the promotion, and Mike listened. He would question me about details, but overall he paid attention to what I was saying, without interjecting.

"So what is the bottom line? What do you think this raise should be worth? Five hundred bucks a month?"

"Double it, and we're talking." I took a hard-line stance with Mike, hoping it would pay off.

"Tell you what, you beat me in a game of pool, and we're on."

"You know we both suck at pool and I dont want to do any damage to Petes new table, we'll have to figure out another wager."

Mike motioned to the workout room across the way. "Why don't we wrestle. If I pin you, he gets a five hundred dollar raise. If you win, it's a thousand. Either way Fred wins in the end. But I got a client meeting in an hour, can't get this shirt all sweaty."

Mike was so naïve he didn't realize that what he said sounded like a set up from some low budget gay porn shoot. I knew, but played along. I had the extra incentive to beat Mike, and earn Fred the raise he deserved. If I lost, I got to roll around on the mat, with a half naked Mike, and Fred would still get a raise.

I got up and approached Mike, holding out my hand "Deal?" I said.

"Deal" he said shaking my hand. He got up and undid his shirt, throwing it on the chair. I started to unbutton mine as we went into the workout room. I threw my shirt on the weight bench then faced Mike. Fuck, had I been stupid when I suggested this form of salary negotiation? He was as imposing as always standing there wearing pants and work boots.

We started to circle each other. "Okay, lets get this straight. I win, he gets 500, if you win, 1k, a draw we cut it down the middle." Mike added another level to our contest.

Talk about a win, win, win situation. If I was able to just hold out long enough, my friend Fred would get an nine thousand dollar raise over the course of the year. This was more incentive to help my buddy, and I think that incentive gave me an unfair advantage.

I lunged at Mike, took him down. At times I still thought of myself as that geeky 15 year old, and here I was, knocking a hefty slab of beef down to the ground . He struggled away from me and we both got back to our feet.

"Whoa, where'd that come from buddy? Pete giving you private lessons?"

He looked more intense as we were facing off. I conjured up the energy I used when I took down Rodney on New Years Eve, and I tackled Mike. He slipped free quickly, then jumped me while I was down on the mat. We spent the next minute grappling, trying to get control of the match. I had the upper hand and I was almost counting on a draw when Mike flipped me onto my back and raised my right leg to get leverage.

We were face to face, his crotch to my ass as he muscled me into this new position. Both of us were breathing heavily from the workout we were getting, a drop of sweat fell from his brow onto my face.

Then I felt it. Mike had a hard-on. He saw the shock on my face, he responded with a smile. "I got you now" he said then out of nowhere he kissed me.

Hell, Mike had kissed me before, that night in the bar, but this wasn't a brotherly kiss, this was tongue down my throat, hands everywhere, rolling on the wrestling mat, kissing. I kissed back, grabbing a hold of his dick through his canvas pants.

We wrestled like this for a few minutes then Mike stopped. "Shit, what have I done?"

"Yes, what the hell have you done? Is this what my lover and my friend do to me? Fuck around behind my back? Pete's voice boomed from the doorway of the workout room.

We got up off the mat quickly, speechless for a second. Mike was the first to find his voice. "It's not what you think, we were just wrestling and I got carried away. It's not Kyle's fault, he was just doing a favor for a friend."

"I saw enough to know what to think. What was that favor, give you a hand job, maybe blow ya? Hell he'd probably have his ass on that pool table for you about now if I hadn't walked in. And here we had a pact, I thought I loved him, but he's just a slut looking for the next piece of meat. Is that why Derek was so worked up the other day? God, why do I even concern myself with you?"

Pete lowered his head and shook it, he muttered "Slut" again under his breath. It cut me to the core.

Then stupidly I said "Well what about you and Justin? You've probably been fucking him on the sly. That's why he keeps sending his "Daddy" emails. Does "Daddy" spank his son's ass before he fucks it?" I was worked up, even used air quotes for the word "Daddy".

"What are you doing reading my private emails? So I can add untrustworthy in addition to Slut? For your information I wasn't doing a damn thing with Justin, I kept on brushing him off for you. What a waste of my time."

Meanwhile Mike made a gesture towards the door. "I suppose I had better leave" he said.

"Yes you should, and don't let the door hit you on the way out. What the hell kind of friend are you anyway?" Pete looked at me. "You too, leave. I don't want to see you here again. I'll start boxing your stuff up, while you go look for another electrician. And when I am done, you might have to look for another plumber and carpenter."

Pete put his head in his hands then turned away from me. For a second I thought I heard sobbing, then a weak voice said "You have a minute, by the time I turn, you had better be gone."

I didn't take a minute, I barely buttoned my shirt when I threw on my jacket. I was out the door as I saw Mike's work van head towards town.. In that moment I didn't really know where to go, what to do. Due to a momentary lapse in judgment, I just screwed up the thing that meant the most to me, my relationship, and love for Pete.

I drove the short distance to the farmhouse, left the car running then slumped against the steering wheel and began to cry. I started to see everything that had happened to me over the last few months, and realized they were all going to be sad memories.

From the warmth and safety of my car I called the office and said I would need a personal day. Jean knew from my voice that it wasn't for a good reason, she also knew better than to ask. I finally killed the engine, then girded myself to what I was going to face inside.

I walked in, my head down trying to hide my red eyes. Fred hit me rapid fire with a barrage of questions. "Where's Pete, did he find the pipe wrench, why aren't you at the office, I thought that's where you were going?"

I looked up. From the response I knew he saw the tears. "Pete and I are done. I fucked up. If you need me, I'll be up in my room." Fred opened his mouth, started to speak. I held out my hand to stop him. "Nothing to be said, nothing I can do. Just give me my time. Then maybe we can talk."

I went upstairs, removed my coat, and pulled the covers over my body. I was emotionally drained, so I fell asleep quickly. I barely heard the door open an hour or so later. I was aware of Fred stripping down to his shorts, then climbing into bed with me. "This is payback for all the times you were there for me" he said, then hugged me tenderly.

I don't think I saw daylight the rest of the day. Fred got up mid-afternoon, replaced the covers then went downstairs. I was vaguely aware that the guys were giving me space, their voices were hushed.

About six or so there was a tap at my door. "Ready to face the world?" It was Charlie. I let him in, he sat on the bed. "So what the hell happened? Fred said you and Pete broke up."

"I fucked up Charlie, I was trying to help a friend and suddenly I was thinking with my dick." I didn't want to tell him everything, so I changed the subject. "Will you guys let me stay here while I figure things out?"

I finally cracked a smile at that, asking to live in my own home. "Like we could kick you out?" Charlie said. "Hey, we're about to eat, why don't you join us."

I got up, out of bed, and was greeted by Charlie's open arms. I quickly fell into his embrace. He kissed my cheek, whispered in my ear. "You'll figure this out, be back in his arms before you know it"

"I'm not so sure about that Charlie, when I fuck up, I fuck up big time, and I doubt I would have me back if I was Pete."

I followed Charlie downstairs. "Look who I raised from the dead" Charlie said. "I hope you made enough pasta for four Angelo."

"Who are you kidding, you know he always cooks for an Army" Fred said. "Too bad he doesn't have a few army buddies by for me, I wouldn't mind playing Don't Ask Don't Tell with a bulky drill sergeant."

We all laughed at Fred's joke. It was great to smile after what I had been through. I think the guys had learned not to talk about what happened, so we talked about everything but. Sharing food had always been important to us, and that pasta dinner gave me the energy to make it through the rest of the day.

Nothing helped me that night. My dreams were frenetic, disjointed. I remember snippets that were erotic, then others that bared my soul. I would wake up in effort to kill a dream, then when I fell asleep it would come back stronger.

I finally slowed my breathing enough in an effort to control my dreams. I was alone downstairs looking over the plans for the remodel. We had to change the timeline due to our new electrician. Derek came downstairs, stepped behind me and started to look at the plans over my shoulder.

Suddenly I felt his hefty dick against my ass. "These are the plans we should be talking about. The plans to bury this dick in that ass of yours..."

"Even Derek?!" Pete's voice startled me from my sleep. I looked at the darkness of my room, half expecting Pete to be there. I laid there silently for a moment, then realized what I needed.

I went to Fred's room, silently let myself in. We were both naked, but I knew I was safe with him. I got under the covers and backed up to Fred, pulling his arm around me. He woke enough to say "Anytime you need me bud, anytime" then fell asleep. A half an hour later, I joined him.

I don't remember much of the next few days. My friends and coworkers guarded me during the day to day grind. The gang at my office took control, I barely needed to show up for work, but I did anyway out of habit. Fred slowed down the remodel schedule while he looked for an electrician he trusted. On Friday he shared his news. Mike had called him earlier that day offering a raise of $750 per month. Mike considered that we wrestled to a draw. I guess I would have to agree since we both lost.

By Friday afternoon I needed centering. Charlie and Angelo left early for their trip to Vegas, it was just going to be Fred and I. I watched the nightly news and saw the forecast for the weekend, clear but cold. The lows for the early morning hours were to be in the minus twenty degree territory An Alberta Clipper was flowing down from Canada, ready for a week long residency. Throughout the broadcast area there were temperatures ranging from the minus teens to minus thirty on the Range. The minus fifteen that hovered over my hometown made it seem almost tropical.

"Wanna join me on a road trip tomorrow Fred? I need to go see my dad."

"Your dad? I thought he was dead"

"He is, but his spirit is there, just the right thing to see me through."

Fred said "Sure, I'd love to see your hometown. Been here most of my life, might as well branch out a bit."

I made no pretense about sleeping alone that night, and we made no pretense about being chaste as we held each other. What Fred and I developed over the last few months was a deep love for each other and though his hard-on might have caressed my bare flesh, it was not sexual. The loving arms holding me meant that my dreams that Friday night were safe. I do remember introducing Fred to my dad. As we left Fred asked "What does it feel like?" I awoke not knowing what that question meant.

The quiet of the farmhouse that Saturday morning was only slightly disrupted by the sound of the coffee maker, and the shuffling of Fred's slipper clad feet. I looked over my shoulder as he entered the kitchen. "Thanks" was all I could say as I poured two travel mugs.

"For what?" Fred said, taking his mug from me.

"For being there, for doing this." I poured the rest of the coffee into a thermos. "I'm sure you have something better to do on Saturday. You don't have to go, why don't you take a trip to the sauna?"

"I want to be with my friend, see his hometown. I will have plenty of time to go to the sauna later."

I warmed up the car while Fred got dressed. There was no agenda, just drive home, see the town, visit the cemetery, maybe grab a bite to eat. Fred joined me in the front seat, throwing a backpack into the back. We got on the road about 8:00. I stopped at a gas station and picked up a few Twig Bakery donuts. We drove silently, listening to the oldies station.

We were just short of an hour out when we drove through Floodwood. Like my hometown, it's just a blip on the map. "Hey, isn't this where Charlie's from?" Fred asked.

That question was all it took to get the conversation going. I told him of our old rivalry with Floodwood. I remember their school, their gymnasium. I always remember it as being rundown. "You know Fred, when I was young I thought people from Floodwood were poor. There were a lot of loggers, and men who made the trip to work the mines. It was just a quick judgment I made as a young kid, but I never get that impression from the people I know now, who grew up there."

"Maybe it's because they were the ones who got out" Fred pointed out.

I mulled it over for a bit, and saw his point. We were about six miles out of town when we saw a whole stand of Jack Pines. They had a rust hue to them which I pointed out to Fred. I told him what I knew about the Jack Pines. How and where they grow. What they're used for. What animals like their habitat. But the thing that always impressed me was their resiliency.

"See that rust? Sooner or later that is going to take over, leaving these trees to die. There will either be a fire, or the loss of needles will mean that sunlight will finally reach the pine cones. The heat of the fire or the warmth of the sun will release the seeds from the cones, and a new generation of trees will start growing."

"My Uncle Hal used to call he and my dad "The Jack Pine Savages." They knew this area forwards and backwards. Growing up here during the Great Depression was tough, but they grew tougher because of it. They lived off the land growing up, not easy to do around here, and they hunted for food, not sport."

"They both enlisted for World War II like many of their friends. Luckily they came back alive possibly because of the skills they learned in the Jack Pines. My dad had opportunities after the war, but he decided to head home. I'm glad he did because that is where he met mom, they had me, and now I have a great friend like you."

"What does it feel like?" Fred asked. I almost hit the brakes at that question. It was straight out of my dream from last night.

"What does what feel like?" I countered.

"To have a father that you can look up to?"

I drove in silence, not sure how to answer it. My little bit of nostalgia had taken up a good portion of our trip and we were minutes from my hometown. I pointed out the changes in habitat, trees, and elevation. I started to see the houses where friends lived. I felt a sudden sorrow not knowing who lived here now, and even more sorrow when I saw the evidence that some of these childhood homes were abandoned.

It was just before ten when we saw the lake, my hometown perched on the hill on the other side. I saw the city limits sign and chuckled at what was written at the bottom of it. Pop. 469. I had worked in buildings that had twice that in employees. Then there was also that number, 4-69. It was a number I could get behind.

"So this is it? This would just be a neighborhood in Duluth." Fred was spot on. We took a right and drove up the hill to the downtown, or what was left of it. There were a few cars, but no one I recognized.

I took a right and drove a few blocks then stopped the car, pointing to a small two story house. "Can you believe that 6 kids and parents lived in that house? Look at what I own right now compared to that, and it was just me for almost three years. Look at what Pete and I have.. Uh had."

I caught myself, Fred did too. "You are going to have it again, you just have to work it out." Fred saw optimism where I saw none. I started the car, drove him around the compact town I knew as my universe. I showed him my cousin's place, the town park and beach, the boulevard that hugged the lakeshore.

I again struggled to remember who lived where, but certain homes stuck out. I remembered which home had a dirt basement, perfect for Tonka Trucks. I remembered which of my mom's friends always made bread that she would share with me. I knew which house my best friend lived in, and which house we would sneak peeks at Playboy while we had our first beers.

"You mean your whole life wasn't "Leave It To Beaver?" I thought you were living in a sixties sit-com for a while there buddy. But you looked at straight tittie mags and drank beer?"

"Their house was a bit on the freer side. The sister also had Playgirl and the older brother had the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers comics, so I could sneak some peeks at dicks too while sipping the stolen beer."

As I gave him the grand tour, I started to see life. Some of the people looked familiar, then I realized it was one of my schoolmates. I smiled since the years made them look like their parents had looked back in the day. I wondered if they saw me and thought of my dad. However, my dad was the only thing I could think of, so we drove out to the cemetery.

The cemetery is pretty bleak in Winter. Few headstones poked out of the deep snow carpeting it, but I knew where my dad's plot was. I parked the car and sat there, letting the engine idle.

"Kyle, you never told me what it's like, having a dad that was there for you. One you can look up to"

"It was all I knew at the time. Fred, this was my universe. We would leave a few times every year, go see relatives for vacation, but this was all I knew about. I knew some kids who had parents who were alcoholics, or abusive, but in my universe I had love and acceptance."

Fred reached into the back seat, grabbed his backpack. Out of it he pulled a small flag, one you might carry on the Fourth of July. "I remember you once said he was in World War II. He deserves this on his grave. It will bring some color to this cold winter morning."

Fred was right. Winter had robbed the landscape of it's color. It was almost like we were in a black and white world. Grey skies, white and grey birches, even the pines took on a dark grey hue. I let the car run as we got out. There was only a tip of the Veteran's cross sticking out of the snow, signifying his plot. We trudged through the snow and planted the flag there. I hugged Fred as we walked back to the car. The simple gesture he made meant everything to me.

We drove back to town, pulled into the parking lot of the local diner. I was about to walk in, when I saw my sister's best friend, Rhonda.

"DUKE, what are you doing here?" she walked toward me, throwing her arms out for a hug, "and why didn't you call me?"

"Just had a need to see the old home. We were about to have lunch, want to join us?"

"I have a better idea, come out to my house, I got enough food for an army, I can throw something together for the two of you.

When Rhonda says that, you just play along. "Change of plans" I said to Fred. "She insists on feeding us. But you'll like her home, great view of the lake."

When we got to her place, I introduced each other. There was a slight hesitance when I said Fred's name. Fred mentioned he needed to use the bathroom, so I pointed the way. "I thought your lover's name was Pete, Kate, John and Mandy told me all about him. He also isn't as tall as I expected."

"Right now I am not sure if he is still my lover. I kinda screwed up. Fred is just a good friend who happens to be there for me when I need him, and today I really need him."

Fred joined us in the kitchen as Rhonda rooted through the fridge. She pulled out some salads, chicken and bars. Yep, this was always the case. She could put on a smorgasbord at a moments notice. Fred and I piled our plates, then joined her in the living room which looked out onto a frozen lake.

Rhonda put her right leg on the sofa cushion, then sat down on it. Her petite frame belied an outsized personality. We started sharing childhood memories as we ate. Fred took interest in people he didn't know. "So what was Kyle's dad like? I asked him and he won't say."

"He's just being modest. Roy was the smartest, best looking man in town that wasn't related to me. He worked hard, and was proud of all of his kids, even when they weren't perfect. If you really want to know what Roy was like, you just have to look at Kyle there. I can see a lot of Roy in him."

"That I believe" Fred said. "Kyle, I haven't told you this before, but you and Pete are the closest I have ever had to a real father. Yeah, I had the guy who donated his sperm, but no one to look up to. I'm not gonna blame being a drunk on him, that is all on me, but I doubt he would be here to support me like you two have."

"Oh that is one thing Roy certainly wouldn't have dealt with. He wasn't too big on drinking. He just didn't realize that all of his kids snuck away. I think your mom knew, didn't she?

"Oh mom was aware, but she too thought it was always someone else who poured the beer down our throats. "Who did this to you? "She said one time when my brother came home drunk." We all laughed at that.

"You are lucky both of them cared enough to even do that. My dad probably would have stole my bottle."

"Well you are lucky Duke is in your life now. I love him like a brother."

The feeling was mutual. Rhonda offered us coffee to drink while we had some of her tasty bars. We spent the better part of the afternoon chatting while watching snowmobilers crisscrossing the lake, while others were out ice fishing. The day had warmed up to a very crisp zero, but that just meant everyone on the ice had another layer of clothing keeping them warm.

As the sun started to set, creating a pinkish-yellow glow over my hometown across the lake, we realized it was time to leave. Rhonda threw together a few sandwiches and bars for our trip, then refilled our thermos with coffee.

"Promise me two things Duke. You'll work on getting Pete back, and when you do, you will bring Pete and Fred back to visit."

"I will do my best" I said.

"Try keeping me away" Fred added.

Just outside of town I saw a row of pine trees. "They were planted when I was young, now they're thirty feet high. Where has the time gone?"

The oldies station was our soundtrack for a while. Songs that were new when those trees were planted, had stood the test of time. Neither of us were good singers, but we would hum or whistle along. Suddenly we were by the Jack Pines outside Floodwood.

"Duke" Fred said. "It's time you start working on getting Pete back. Be like the Jack Pines and let those pine cones open. It's time for a rebirth. You inherited that spirit from your dad."