This is a story about some young gay men and their families, and what they experience learning about gay life. Thanks to Tim Mead for all his help. Comments welcome to Cgard43@hotmail.com
THE OTHER BOYS OF SUMMER
-8-
I'd called home and my Dad had said it was fine if I stayed at Rafe's that night. I'd stayed there often enough that it wasn't really an issue; I just needed to let them know.
"Oh, by the way, Dad, Rafe's coming to dinner next week." My Dad laughed heartily.
The next morning, after another round of sweet lovemaking, it suddenly dawned on me that I didn't know Drew's phone number and therefore couldn't check on Eric if he'd stayed there overnight. I explained to Rafe.
"Relax, Babe," he said, "I've got you covered." He walked over to his desk and opened his personal telephone book and pointed to the number. Then he climbed back into bed again. I didn't even bother to ask how Rafe happened to have Drew's number; I knew Rafe well enough to know that getting Drew's phone number was just the kind of thing he would have done at some point.
I glanced at the clock. It was almost nine o'clock, so I decided to wait a few minutes before calling. When I did, an unknown voice answered the phone.
"Drew?" I asked, certain that it wasn't.
"No, I'm his roommate Terry. I don't think he's up yet, but if you want to leave a message I'll be glad to give it to him." So that's what I did.
"Oh, so you're the Andy that Drew keeps talking about. It's nice to meet you even if it's just by phone. I'll see that he gets the message."
Rafe had heard my end of the conversation so when I hung up the phone, he threw back the covers and pointed to the space next to him in bed. I was there in a flash.
"I just want you so badly," he said with a catch in his voice. "I'm sorry again about everything. We should have been together all this time."
"Shhhh," I said and quieted him by kissing him.
A few minutes later I asked the question which had been on my mind since awaking that morning.
"So, how do you feel...uh, you know, back there?" Rafe laughed and kissed me again.
"I feel terrific, Andy. No problem at all. Thank you again for making love to me like that. You just keep making me the happiest guy in town." How's that for a compliment?
Just before ten o'clock the phone rang and Rafe answered it. Of course it was Eric and Rafe handed me the phone.
"No," I said and pushed the button on his phone for Speaker so we could both hear what he had to say at the same time.
"Hi guys, how ironic finding you two together," he said with a laugh. Rafe and I just ignored it as Eric went racing on.
"We had a great fun evening. We watched a movie that Drew had rented and we made out on the couch. Then we went to bed and had more fun than I've ever had in my whole life. It was terrific."
"Me too," Drew shouted into the phone. "It was great."
"Well," Eric said, "That's the report. We're going to get dressed now and go to church."
We hung up and Rafe and I just grinned at each other.
It was later that afternoon that I got the full report from Eric, and it sure sounded hot to me. Not as hot as my night with Rafe, but hey, they're newbies.
Eric's Story:
"Oh God, Andy, it was incredible. After we'd made out on the couch for a while, he led me to his room. He had me sit down on the edge of the bed and then he kissed me again for several minutes.
"He was very gentle and so sweet. He started undressing me and I found that so sexy. He took off my shoes and then he looked up at me and kissed me. Then my shirt and we'd kiss again. Finally he pulled me up to stand and then he quickly opened my pants and pushed down both those and my shorts at the same time. Then we kissed some more.
"Let me now," I said, and did the same for him, remembering to kiss him each time I removed an article of clothing. When we were both naked, we lay down on the bed and just sort of rubbed against each other as we kissed.
"He's got a very sexy body, by the way. Anyway, after a few minutes Drew moved away from me."
"That's getting way too hot for me," Drew said. "I don't want to come right away, okay?"
"Sure," I answered, and so for several minutes we tried just lying there, lightly kissing each other and barely touching our fingertips together." Then Drew kind of moaned and put his arms around me again.
"Oh Hell, let's go ahead and make each other feel good," he whispered. Soon we were making out like crazy again. It was amazing; I could feel his hot tool against me, and both of our penises were rubbing against each other and our bodies. We just couldn't help ourselves and soon we were both covered in our stickiness. We kept kissing and kissing, and it was wonderful.
"A few minutes later, Drew giggled as he got up and went to the bathroom for a towel."
"So much for taking our time," he said as he cleaned us both up. "But I'm hoping you'll stay and I promise to make it even better later on." Then it was my turn to chuckle, but I just smiled and nodded.
"It was the most sexy but relaxing time then. We cuddled together and talked about everything, stopping just to kiss some more, for over an hour. I could feel both of us getting aroused again."
"Eric," Drew whispered then, "May I suck you?" I felt myself tremble.
"Oh yes, Drew," I said very quietly, "I'd like that and I'd like to do that for you too."
Andy's Story:
At this point, I interrupted.
"Eric," I said, "I neither need nor want to know those details. I don't want to know how well hung he is or how well you or he performed. Those are private things just between you guys and I respect that privacy. And for the record, so should everyone else. Keep those memories for yourself, okay?
"Okay," Eric said and it was almost a whisper.
"Just answer this: was it as good as you'd hoped it would be?"
"It was so much better than that, Andy. It was spectacular. I mean I know sex is fun and feels good, but I never knew sex with another guy could be as intimate and exciting as that. He was so gentle and yet so strong and though I won't tell you all the nitty-gritty, let me just say that he knows what he's doing very, very well." I tried not to show emotion at this point and spoke flatly.
"And did Drew enjoy it too?" At that point, Eric sort of giggled which delighted me.
"Oh yeah, I think it's fair to say that he did. At first I was a bit nervous because he's so...uh, skilled, but if it's any indication of how quickly he...uh, well, you know, I guess I must have done it alright." I swear I could almost see him blush over the phone.
On Monday, Willie and Pedro and I were working along and had stopped for a coffee break. Well, in this case, and in this summer heat, it was a cold drink break. I favored iced tea, but both of them went for big bottles of lemonade that we kept in a cooler along with my plastic bottle of iced tea.
Both guys seemed in a good mood and Willie asked me why I didn't like to drive the mower. I laughed.
"Because I don't like that big machine," I told him in Spanish, trying to remember the words to explain about both the anxiety and the hard-on. I did recall the word for tension but couldn't possibly figure out how to explain about the hard-on. Both Willie and Pedro just laughed.
Later, Eric stopped by the jobsite and seemed still to be in an ebullient mood. He walked over and said hello and shook hands with Willie and Pedro and then shook my hand too.
"Everyone have a good weekend?" he asked, sounding very happy. The guys nodded and smiled and I chuckled. This was after I'd gotten his oral report the previous afternoon so I knew he was feeling very good. He helped me a bit with the weeding so we finished a little earlier than the other guys.
"So are you and Rafe back on again?" he asked in a whisper. I couldn't help but smile.
"Yeah, everything's fine with that. Thanks for asking. How did you know we were going through a patch?"
"Oh, it was something Rafe said to me once about how much he missed being with you more," Eric said with a sweet smile. That subject was too close to home for me at that point so I changed the subject.
"Eric, there's something that I'm puzzling and thinking about," I went on. I think it caught him off guard.
"Assuming that you and Drew continue to date, have you thought about how you're going to handle that when you go back to school?" The look on his face was mild panic.
"Not really," he said very quietly. "We did talk about it a bit, but I'm not sure what to do."
I'd been thinking about this for a couple of days. The situation is that Eric went to the same university Rafe and I did so I could advise him on this.
"Well, Eric, when I was at Uni and Rafe was at the local college here, we traded off every couple of weekends and managed it pretty well. You can make it work, if you want to."
"Thanks," he said, "But to tell you the truth, I can't imagine being away from Drew for even a day, let alone a couple of weeks.
"I know the feeling," I countered, "But it's only for a school year and believe me the weekends you're together are mind boggling, and the phone calls are often pretty hot too. You'll know soon enough if you and he are capable of the long-term."
"I hadn't thought about that," Eric said, "Oh hell, just when I find someone I'm in danger of losing him."
"Oh, don't be silly, I said, "If Drew feels as strongly about you as I think he does, you two can make it work out. But, we need to get back to working on how you're going to deal with your parents." He looked very serious now.
"You're right," he said. "If Drew and I try to do that every other weekend thing, I'm going to need to iron out some issues with my folks. I wouldn't like to have to sneak around to see Drew; I want them to accept him as my boyfriend. But I don't know how to begin?"
"Well, pal, I'm not completely sure either, but I'm thinking that one thing you might do would be to set up a meeting with the MCC pastor. He might have some advice to offer." I had been quite impressed by the guy at church and I was sure he was gay so I felt okay about Eric meeting to ask for his help.
"That's a good idea," Eric said, "I think I'll ask Drew to help me set it up." I nodded at what seemed like a good plan.
He'd been helping me weed as we talked so I got done in plenty of time not to hold up my guys.
When I got home there was a message on my room phone from Eric.
"Drew and I are meeting with the MCC pastor tomorrow night. Call me. I need some input on what I want to come out of this." I decided to discuss it with Rafe and luckily found him at home.
"I think it's a fine idea," Rafe said. "I think he should fully explain his past history and his family's church connections. Many of the pastors in town know each other very well and something might work out that way." I agreed and said I'd pass the word along to Eric.
"I also think he and Drew should ask the pastor for advice on their 'relationship' if you know what I mean. There are difficulties with being three or more hours apart as we both know."
"Thanks for all your help, pal. We're still on for dinner Wednesday night, right?"
"Yes we are, boyfriend, if you still want me to come. What should I wear, by the way?" I laughed.
"I always want you to come. Just wear something casual, Rafe. It's not a dress-up affair. See you about 6:30, okay?" He laughed.
I talked to Eric early in the evening and we talked about the focus of their meeting with the pastor. It was straightforward and I told him I'd be home tomorrow evening after the interview for feedback.
The next morning cell phone rang before my alarm went off. I grabbed the thing as quickly as I could.
"Andy, it's Drew," he said. "Sorry if I woke you. Eric and I were talking last night and we both would like it if you could join us when we meet with Reverend Robinson this evening. Is that possible?" Just as he finished there was the sound of my alarm going off. I hit the snooze button.
"Sorry about that," I said, "Guess it's time for me to get up anyway. Sure, I'll go with you guys, but I have to ask why." Drew hesitated in answering.
"Andy, you don't know what going through those conditioning sessions does to a guy. It just screws up your self-confidence something fierce. The bottom line is that both Eric and I are very nervous about the meeting. No, I'm nervous and Eric is terrified. But you always seem to know what to say to anyone. That's why we'd like your help."
"As I said, I'll be glad to go, but I have to point out that this man is the pastor of your church, Drew. You shouldn't be apprehensive about meeting with him. Neither should Eric, come to that."
"I know that on an intellectual level, Andy, but this goes deep after all those years of being told I was bad." That did it for me.
"Okay, then, calm down, go and get dressed and go to work. You can count on me. When you check in with Eric, tell him to call me about the timing and where. Okay?" He agreed and I went to the bathroom and then showered and got dressed. I admit I didn't remember what time they were meeting and I didn't know where so I had to count on Drew to get in touch with Eric.
Eric showed up at one of our job sites that day and handed me a piece of paper. They were meeting at the church office at seven o'clock. I nodded and winked and stuck the paper in my pocket.
"Thanks for coming tonight, Andy," Eric said. "It was Drew's idea but I'm very relieved that you'll be there with us." I smiled and told him everything would be okay.
After work I went home, showered and changed, as usual trying very hard to get the dirt from my fingernails. Then I asked my Mom if we could eat a bit earlier than usual and she agreed.
"Where are you off to this evening?" she asked. I've been trying to be better at communicating with my parents about my life since I'd come out, so, without going into all the details, I explained the way I had been trying to help Eric this summer. I didn't mention the programs he'd been in, but my Mom did ask a few questions as I went along, and when I was nearly done I glanced up to see that she had tears in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" I asked. She just looked at me and shook her head. It was half a minute before she spoke.
"Oh Andy, you make me so proud sometimes. You've spent your summer helping this boy instead of having fun. What a fine young man you are." That almost made me cry, but instead I just walked over and hugged her.
"What's going on here?" my Dad asked as he walked in from work. I guess it might have looked odd to see me hugging my Mom like that so I had to go ahead and explain the whole Eric situation to him too. When I was done, he gave me a great big hug and patted me on the back.
"I guess we did alright raising you if you're willing to do all this for a friend," he said quietly, kissing me on the cheek. "I'm proud of you, son."
So I was on something of a high as I climbed into my car to go to the meeting with Eric, Drew and the pastor. I still wasn't sure what my role was, but I knew that if they needed me, I'd be there for them.
To be continued.