Trade

Trade 27 by Mark James

"I'll get you a room."

"Gene asked, "Can't we stay with you."

"Not in this hotel or this town. You need your own room for appearances sake if for no other reason."

"Go get settled in and I will meet you in the lobby in half and hour and we will go to dinner somewhere."

They came down dressed in slacks and sport coats, looking every inch young gentlemen. We went to a very upscale restaurant that the hotel recommended.

"If it is ok with you guys, tomorrow we are going to file an amended suit asking for $10,000,000 in damages and adding a charge of conspiracy to kidnap and we have charged Dean Whittaker and the campus police with attempted kidnapping. The town police should be arresting them tonight."

Bobby looked at Gene and then said, "OK. Were they really going to kidnap us?"

"Kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will. If the campus cops had shown up and taken you away involuntarily that would be kidnapping you. It appears to me that that was what the Dean had set up under the guise of legal authority, so that makes the police involved also guilty of kidnapping. Once he had his hands on you there is no telling what he would have done. We know they came looking for you and who they were because your friend George is keeping you informed.

It also looks like they were going to try to kidnap me. That would have been harder because I am a U. S. Marshall and I have a gun. That would have put them in a world of hurt. They traced my car tags and found out it is registered to the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Houston. To Dean Whittaker that made me a foreign agitator. He has been using the campus police like his own Gestapo for years according to your friend's e-mails to you."

I think we have knocked over a hornets nest. There is a whole lot more going on at that college that just unjustly expelling you.

We have also picked up some unexpected help. Amos Ripkin the best tort lawyer in the state has volunteered to be the lead lawyer in your suit, pro bono. Tomorrow will be a very interesting day.

But it is all up to the lawyers now. Tomorrow I am continuing on to my home town and presumably you will be on the way to Houston. Bill is expecting you. I asked him to put you up at my place for now. God knows I have enough room."

Bobby asked, "Can I ask you some personal questions."

"Sure, if I don't want to answer I will say so."

"How can you be a U. S. Marshall?"

"I smiled and said, "I'm not really. I'm a spy and that is part of my cover identity, but if anybody checks I really am a U. S. Marshall and that is why I carry a gun. Another friend arranged it so that if I was ever pulled over by the police, I would have a get out of free card. I carry a gun because my life has been in danger recently."

Gene said, "I'm good at puzzles. Can I make some observations?"

"Sure, go ahead."

"There was a recent coup attempt in Saudi Arabia and there was a blood bath among the Saudi princes, The Saudi Consulate in Houston was destroyed recently and apparently everybody in it was killed, you drive an expensive car a friend gave you, you saved him from assassination, your car is registered to the Saudi Consulate in Houston, your life has recently been in danger."

"And."

"I would conjecture, if I may."

"Might as well."

"You were in the consulate at the time of the mass killing and you helped somebody very, very important to escape and now somebody with vast influence always has your back."

I leaned across the table and we put our heads together.

I said, "And that conjecture could get you killed if you ever mention in again to anybody."

Bobby gulped and Gene just nodded his head and said, "You could be a very dangerous man. I'm glad you are on our side."

Bobby said, "I told you he was a genius. I have another question?"

I said with a smile, "Wasn't the first one dangerous enough?"

He ignored my question and asked, "Why did you say money was going to be worthless in a couple of months."

"Gene."

"Because the American economy is going to tank, inflation will erode the dollar until it is practically worthless. The precipitating event will probably be the financial collapse of Europe, the end of the European Union and the Euro dollar.

Sam or Randy, you seem to have two names, is probably in the process of leaving the country for a safer, more hospitable place, probably Brazil or Argentina or maybe Chile thus his visit to his hometown at this time. His car is leased which means that whoever gave it to him knows he won't need it very long in this country. There is probably an identical car awaiting his arrival wherever it is he is going.

Nostalgia made him stop to see you on the way to his home town. You must have made a hell of a favorable impression on him the first time he met you. He is trying to decide whether to ask us to go with him to wherever he is going. He thinks the world is about to end, probably in a nuclear Armageddon started by destruction of American cities by Muslim terrorists. He can't save everybody but he can try to save those he cares about."

"Jeez Gene, don't put words in his mouth."

"He is right Bobby in every particular."

"Anything else Gene?"

"You only recently came into money and are in the process of figuring out how to use it. You didn't have to sue the school to help us. You could have just paid our way to go somewhere else, but you saw a festering sore in the school's operation and knew you could make us each relatively wealthy, and bring down a corrupt school regime if you could sue the school for us and win. That would put us on more or less equal footing financially and we wouldn't look to you as a sugar daddy but as equals."

"I never really thought about it like that but you are right again."

Suddenly Gene looked unsure of himself and asked in a meek voice totally unlike the voice he had been using, "You aren't mad are you? Usually people get mad when I do that."

"No, I'm not mad. But let me ask you a question. Is that commentary something you deduced through the use of your remarkable brain or are you channeling another entity. You seem to become somebody else when you pontificate like that."

"It's like I am outside of my body watching my body talk. I usually am aware of knowing everything I say except sometimes I say things I never knew. Then suddenly I am back in my body and am aware of talking, but don't know what I've been saying."

Bobby said, "I tell him he is the only 15 year old going on 80 I have ever known. Although he is 19 sometimes he acts like he is 15 and then when he is, what you call it, channeling it's like he is 80. It's spooky, but I wouldn't trade him for another model for anything."

Gene said, "But anyway we want to go to Brazil with you. I've heard about the beaches in Rio."

"How did you know that was where I was going?"

"I don't know I just did."

"You're right it is spooky."

"You know they speak Portuguese in Brazil."

"That's all right we both speak Portuguese."

"I told you he spoke 9 languages, 10 if you count English, 16 if you count dialects. I only speak 4."

"There is no use enrolling in school here if we aren't gonna be here."

"Wait a minute, nothing has been decided yet."

"Yes, it has. We are gonna live in the most remarkable house on the beach. And in the mountains, a house built on the edge of a cliff that blends so perfectly into its environment that you could fly right by it and not even know it was there. Bobby will fall in love with the architecture. Rooms full of gold and silver. A mansion in Rio itself. The estancia is breathtaking and the land goes on forever. In Chile there is another cliff house with a view so spectacular you can't believe your eyes. There are 9 of us."

We were both staring at him like he had two heads.

He shook his head, saw us looking at him and said "What?"

"What do you remember?"

"I said, "There is no use enrolling in school here if we aren't gonna be here." What's weird about that?"

"That's not all you said."

I told him what he had said.

"I used to do that all the time until I was 15. I haven't done it since."

"I just got back from Rio and we bought a mansion downtown."

"What about those other places."

"I don't know. To hear you describe them it would take more money than I have to build most any one of them."

Gene had on his meek demeanor again and said, "Well, if it helps any, nothing I have ever said when I get like that has been wrong."

"That's enough questions if they are all gonna end up like those. Who wants dessert? That's what I figured."

I called the waiter over.

Just as we arrived at the hotel Greg called and said the Dean and the campus police had been arrested and were in jail on attempted kidnapping charges and that the College legal counsel had called and wanted to talk.

We agreed to meet for breakfast at 9:00 in the hotel dining room and went to our rooms.

I tried to go to sleep and ended up tossing and turning so I got up and tried to read a book. I couldn't concentrate. At 11:00 the phone rang.

I answered and said "Yes."

The phone went dead. A few minutes later there was a knock on the door. I opened it and let them in.

"We couldn't sleep."

"I couldn't either."

"Can we just cuddle?"

"We went to bed and were asleep almost instantly wrapped around each other."

I woke at 6:30 and felt somebody sucking my dick. Bobby and Gene were taking turns sucking my cock.

"Good morning, you know that is a piss hard."

"Yeah but isn't it a nice way to wake up."

I went to the bathroom and peed and brushed my teeth. I went back to the bed and they took up where they had left off. I could get used to waking up like that. They took half an hour and had me begging to come before Gene sucked me off and they shared my load.

They went into a 69 and 15 minutes later they came at almost the same moment. Then they cuddled on either side of me and we drifted off to sleep again.

We woke at 8:00 and they went back to their room to shower and get dressed. We had breakfast and by 10:00 they were on the way to Houston and I was on the road back to Allenburg, my old hometown.

As I drove along the road I wondered why I was going back. There was nothing there for me. I almost turned around and went home, but I didn't. I guess I rationalized. What the hell I was almost there.

When I drove into town it was just as I had left it, but now it seemed small and provincial. I truth it really was. Its only reason for its existence was to provide a place for farmers to fulfill their needs for services. If the farms ever went the town would dry up and blow away.

I had no intention of seeing my father, Gene was dead and I had no friends I could visit. Again I almost turned around and left and again I didn't. I would have to leave before dark. The closest motel was in Anderson and that was 100 miles away.

I passed the county sheriff's office and immediately doubled back and parked on the curb. The sheriff had always been good to me, while I was here I could at least say hello. I got out and walked up the street to the sheriff's office and went in.

I didn't recognize the female officer manning the reception desk. Had it really been only 2 years since I left?

"Hi," I said, "is the sheriff in."

"Yes he is, may I have your name?

"Sam Hamilton."

"Just a minute," she said and dialed the sheriff on the intercom.

He came out and said, "Sam, how are you boy. Come on in the office."

"You are looking good so you must have landed on your feet after you left here."

"Yeah, I've managed. The town hasn't changed much."

"No, it has just gotten a little seedier. I'm sorry about Gene; I know how close you two were."

"Thanks," I said with a croak in my voice as I fought to keep from crying.

"Coffee." he said, trying to give me a chance to compose myself.

"Yeah, thanks."

He poured two cups.

"What brings you back? I'm sure it isn't your father."

"No, to tell you the truth I don't know why I'm back. I've been asking myself the same question. I'm moving to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, probably next month so I guess it was just nostalgia that brought me back. I would say to wind up any loose ends but there aren't any that I know of."

"Gonna avoid the coming economic disaster are you?"

"Yeah, kind of, you think that too?"

Anybody with half a brain can see it coming; the housing debacle was just the start. That has already brought this county to its knees. Half the homes in town have been foreclosed. The owners were all talked into refinancing with adjustable rate mortgages when the value of houses were doubling or tripling in value in just months. Now that the bubble has burst, interest rates have tripled and the owners owe more than their houses are worth and they can't or won't make the payments. Our hometown bank is on its last legs, they didn't benefit from the federal bailout and now all of their deposits are tied up in foreclosed properties that are just sitting there and can't be sold at any price.

That has made the county's income from property taxes less than half of what it used to be. I had to lay off half of my deputies, the schools lost half of their teachers, and there are no sports programs or extra-curricular events for the students. The dojo is closed. The Sensei left for greener pastures.

Europe is teetering on the edge of self destruction financially and when they go so will our economy. Massive inflation has to hit eventually and all of our savings will be worth practically nothing.

I think this one will be worse that the great depression. The only advantage that towns like this have is when there is no purchasing power to the dollar we will still have our gardens to feed us. I really don't know where the people in the cities will be getting their food from.

That about the way you see it?"

"Yeah, depressing isn't it. For what its worth, if you haven't already thought about, is if you have any savings I suggest you buy gold or silver. The value will skyrocket as the dollar crumbles."

"That what you did."

"Sheriff," a deputy said as he stuck his face in the office, "there is a new Porsche 911 parked at the curb down the street."

"So."

"What's it doing there I thought, those things go for a cool $250,000 a pop. I ran the plates and it is registered to the Saudi Arabian consulate in Houston. What's an Arab doing in town? You know anything about that?

"I said," It's my car."

"Sam this is Deputy Stevens, Carl this is Sam Hamilton, and he used to live here and is back for a visit."

"Sorry, Mr. Hamilton, I didn't know. That sure is a beautiful car."

"Sheriff, I said, I've got to make a call, I'll be right back."

He gave me a shrewd, appraising look and said, "OK I'm not going anywhere."

I stepped out and called Prince Ali's number. I got an answering machine.

I said, "This is Sam, we have a problem, Please call me."

As soon as I hung up my phone rang.

Hi Sam, "what's the problem?"

"My car plate has been run by the police in two different jurisdictions in the last two days and it always comes back as being registered to the Saudi Consulate in Houston. Looks like somebody screwed up."

"They sure did. I'll take care of it. How do you like the car?"

"It's wonderful, I said wistfully."

He chuckled and said, "I thought you would like it. I gotta go, bye."

I went back inside.

"Where were we?"

"I had asked you if that was what you did."

"Yeah, in Rio. You know it's not just the economic disaster it's the damn Muslim terrorists. I am afraid they are gonna nuke one or more of our cities and set off a nuclear Armageddon."

"Yeah there's that too."

"I know you didn't come to see your father, but you might be interested in knowing that he has just disappeared. By the way he never did file a theft complaint against you for taking your car with you when you left. About 2 weeks after you left he started drinking heavily, he got picked up on DUI charges one after the other until 6 months of mandatory jail time took him off the streets. Of course he lost his job and his house. When he was released he got a job working with Pat Johnson, doing farm labor.

When Gene died, his father blamed your father. He said if your father hadn't been such a sanctimonious homophobic asshole you would have never left town and Gene would have been with you and he wouldn't have been trying to fill a void in his life with one worthless asshole after another.

One day your father didn't show up for work and completely disappeared. About that time Gene's father packed up and left town. Although there is absolutely no proof we think he killed your father and disposed of the body."

By that time I was just sitting there sobbing uncontrollably.

The sheriff locked the door and used the intercom and told everybody to stay away.

He sat a glass of water on the desk next to me and just waited as my catharsis ran its course.

"I am really sorry," he said.

"So many lives ruined and for what?"

"I see it everyday and I've stopped trying figure it out."

"I'm sorry I had to tell you like that; there was no way to sugarcoat it."

"Gene wanted to come to Houston to be with me, but I was living on the streets. I couldn't ask him to do that, although in retrospect he probably would have if we could have been together. There was always a reason and then he was dead. I wanted to die; I wandered the streets in a drunken stupor for days hoping somebody would mug me or run over me until a friend found me and took me home. I've always blamed myself for Gene's death."

"Well if it's any consolation I think your father regretted his own actions: it is apparent from the way he acted after you left, but of course you were gone by then."

"But like I said when you walked in it looks like you landed on your feet, no matter how you started out."

"I'm sorry for wasting your morning and inflicting my emotional trauma on you."

"You didn't waste my time. Anyway isn't that what friends are for. Maybe this was the reason you came back: a loose end that you had to tie up."

"Maybe, I smiled."

"Let me walk out to your car with you, I want to see what got Carl so excited."

As we walked out he said, "Carl ran your name. He has an insatiable curiosity I didn't ask him too do it. You have an interesting history. You didn't tell me you were a U. S. Marshall. Other than that he couldn't find out anything about you. Your data is restricted and access was denied. It said to contact the U. S. Marshall's office in Washington D. C. if further information was needed."

"I just shrugged."

"I don't suppose you want to tell me why your car is registered to the Saudi Consulate."

I looked at my watch and said, "I don't think it is. I think the deputy made a mistake."

"Ah, yes, the phone call. You did more than just land on your feet. It probably wouldn't be smart to call the Marshall's office would it?"

"Not if you want to live."

Prince Ali had set it up that I had U. S. Marshall credentials. I didn't really know where further inquiries would lead, but I really didn't want to entangle the sheriff in my predicament. It could literally get me killed and him too.

"If I remember correctly there was a terrorist attack on the Saudi Consulate in Houston a few weeks ago, wasn't there?"

"Sheriff, please, some questions can get us killed. It was nice to see you but sometimes I'm dangerous to be around. You might tell Carl it would be in his best interest to quell his curiosity. Now, do you want to drive it?"

"Hell Yes."

So we took it out on a county road and he goosed in up to 150 mph.

When we were back at the station he said, "Goddamn that was fucking exciting. Only $250,000 you say, and smiled."

"I thought all cars had a built-in governor to limit the speed you can go."

"I shrugged."

I hadn't known it would go 150 miles and hour. If the county sheriff hadn't been driving it I might never have known. A shrug can be a very serious comment.

"I know, you could tell me but then you would have to kill me. I was just joking. Obviously you are hiding in plain sight, which is effective until some inquisitive soul asks the wrong question to the wrong person."

I looked seriously alarmed.

"Ok, Ok, there is nobody here but us, I'll shut up. I know you are serious. You might go by and see Mrs. Adams before you go. You are probably ready to show this town your heels, although when you think about it you might be glad you decided to come. She was always asking me if I had heard from you."

"Yeah, I think I was her favorite of the boys in the neighborhood. She made me a care package to take with me when I left. It didn't bother her that I was gay."

"Her house was just foreclosed so she is going through a rough patch."

He got out and I got in the driver's seat.

"Good bye Sam, it was good to see you."

"Good bye Sheriff, thanks for everything."

I'm Amos, Sam, call me Amos.

"OK, Amos, thanks," and I drove away.

I pulled up in front of the Adams house and sure enough there was a big, ugly foreclosure sign.

I knocked on the door and eventually Mrs. Adams answered. She used to be so upbeat and now she looked beaten down.

"Yes, she said with a desultory tone and looked at me with absolutely no recognition."

"It's Sam."

"Whatever you are selling I don't want any, she said as she started shutting the door."

"Mrs. Adams, I'm Sam Hamilton. I used to live down the street."

"Sam?" she said as a question.

"But you left town."

"I came back for a visit. The sheriff said you had some troubles. I thought I would see if I could help."

I don't think she heard what I said, she just opened the door and said, "Come in, let me get you a glass of milk and I just made some cookies, you always liked my cookies."

"Yes mam."

I thought she can't be more than 50. What has life done to this sweet old lady? She wasn't old, that was just the way I thought of her.

As I sat and drank milk and ate cookies, I asked her, "What has happened Mrs., Adams?"

"They are taking my house away Sam."

"Why."

"I can't pay the interest. That's not the way they said it was going to be. I was supposed to have more money and then they kept saying I owed more and more each month. I don't have the money and they are going to take my house. I don't have anywhere else to go. I've always lived here."

"Who are they?"

She looked at me like I was retarded and said "the Allenburg bank, they hold the mortgage."

"How much is the mortgage."

"$30, 000," she wailed.

"Nobody is going to take your house, Mrs. Adams. You won't have to move anywhere."

"Stop eating those cookies, Sam you will spoil your lunch. How about eating tomato soup, grilled cheese, hot chocolate and potato chips for lunch, you always liked that."

"I've got to make a call if that is all right."

"Whatever dear, I'm gonna go in the kitchen."

I called Bill.

"Bill, Sam. How do you buy a mortgage out of foreclosure? I am not playing Robin Hood. Ok, I suppose I am. There is this sweet old lady, Mrs. Adams, who was always nice to me as a kid. I'm just trying... The Allenburg Bank. I think they are about to go under themselves. I am, she doesn't have any money. I'm not trying to save everybody. I know you just like to needle me. I love you too. I think it has affected her mind; she can't be more than 50. She is in the kitchen making me tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. I really don't care but I really don't want to pay the full mortgage either. There are vacant houses sitting all over town. I was on the way home. Today, now, if you can. I know the impossible takes a little longer. Ok bye."

"Sam, your soup's ready. Wash your hands."

"Yes Mam"

I thought, "Oh if only the sheriff could see me now." No I thought," She would be making sandwiches for 2 and we would both be washing our hands."

I sat down at the table and Mrs. Adams brought in the soup. "Here are some oyster crackers. You always liked them in your soup. Be careful, it's hot. Don't burn your tongue."

Of course I burned my tongue. She handed me a big glass of ice water.

"Boys." She said with a smile.

It was nice to see her smile.

I finished the soup and she brought in a cheese sandwich, chips and a cup of hot chocolate. Oh God it was perfect. I dipped the sandwich in the chocolate and then ate the sandwich. When I finished one there was another one ready and she refilled my cup with hot chocolate.

Then she brought in an enormous slice of homemade apple pie with vanilla ice cream. She sat down at the table and watched me eat.

"I've missed you Sam, You always brought sunshine into my life. I'm sorry about Gene; I know you two loved each other."

"Of course I started crying. She got up and stood beside me holding my head to her bosom until I regained control."

We sat around for the next 2 hours reminiscing about my childhood.

My phone rang.

"Excuse me." I said.

"Hello, hi, yeah, I've been crying a lot lately. $18,000. Half a mile, it is a very small town. Fee simple, free and clear no liens, no mortgages. There is somebody at the door. It must be them. Ok, Love you, bye."

"Mrs. Adams that is a messenger from the bank at the door. Do you want me to get it? No, don't be frightened, they are bringing the title to your house to you. I paid off the bank and bought the house back out of foreclosure. Just let me answer the door."

It was the bank messenger and he gave me the title and I had to get her to sign for it. As he left he took down the foreclosure sign.

"Here is the title to your house. You really ought to put this in a safe deposit box. No they won't be back. You don't owe anybody anything. No the mortgage is paid there will be no monthly payment. The house is yours free and clear. I did. I had the money; you needed it so I gave it to you. You don't have to pay me back. It was my pleasure.

Now, I don't mean to pry but do you have enough money to live on, do you have health insurance?

You have your husband's pension and health insurance. OK, you are all set. Well I've got to go. It was nice seeing you."

"Let me make you up something to take with you. Now don't be silly it will take me just a jiffy. It is the least I can do. Now just sit down. I know how hungry you kids get and that stuff you buy along the road is awful. Here is some fudge you can nibble on while you wait."

"Half an hour later she was back with this enormous picnic basket filled with everything a growing boy could want and she could hardly carry it."

"I've written my phone number down here. If you ever have a problem that I can help you with just call me. I can be reached at his number no matter where in the world I am. I really enjoyed seeing you again."

"I may appear to be a scatterbrain but I'm not really. I realize what you did for me and I appreciate it. I will keep you in my prayers every day. Tell your friend Bill I appreciate his help and hope that you two will be very happy together for as long as you live, bye Sam," and she stood on her toes, leaned up and kissed me on the cheek.

I went out and put the basket in the passenger seat, got in and drove off.

I called the sheriff.

"Amos, Sam, Would you mind looking in on Mrs. Adams in a couple of days. I paid off her mortgage and gave her the title. She really ought to put it in a safety deposit box, but I am afraid she won't without a gentle nudge. I'm a little worried about her state of mind also. Maybe knowing she has her house back will help. Maybe a visiting nurse or something or maybe just a friend visiting would help. You're the second person today that has accused me of being Robin Hood. I don't rob from the rich, it's my money. Let me give you my cell phone number. Anywhere in the world. Yes, encrypted, secure. Patrol car is gonna stop me. Why. A message. Why can't you tell me? I'm on the way out of town now. Ok, Thanks for the help, bye.

My phone rang and all the special circumstances lights were lit up, encrypted, secure. I pulled over to the side of the road.

"Hi Greg, What's going on."

"We got a settlement and it has to remain private. That's why I am using all the bells and whistles. You never know who might be listening."

"He got a settlement in half a day? I thought you were calling just to tell me the amended suit had been filed."

"The amended suit was filed this morning and the papers were served at 9:00.

I am holding in my hand two cashiers checks for $7,500,000 one payable to Bobby and one to Gene, two educational trust fund documents with you and me as the trustee's, two separate cashier's checks for $500,000 each to fund the trust, and a cashier's check for $30,000 in legal fees payable to the Equality Foundation."

"Wow that's great. I would have settled for a few hundred thousand dollars. I was afraid the situation at the college was getting out of hand and we would lose any disclosure leverage we might have had. I still don't understand how he did it in half a day."

"You've never seen Amos Pritkin at work. You know he has never lost a case in 15 years. The college legal counsel called to set up a meeting at the college an hour after the amended papers were filed doubling the amount of the damages requested and after they discovered the Dean and the campus police had been arrested for conspiracy to kidnap.

They figured they had the advantage on their own grounds and that they could probably get the whole thing quashed immediately before it made the papers. After all what kind of clout did 2 penniless college students have.

Amos showed up in a helicopter and landed on the quad right in front of the Administration building where the meeting was to take place. There were 6 trustees, and 4 lawyers waiting for him. One man went against ten others.

Amos said they seemed stunned by his method of arrival and that all of the lawyers turned white when he introduced himself as the attorney for the plaintiffs. They all knew who he was.

They knew that the college was in violation of numerous state and federal laws as well as its own internal procedures. Amos had copies of the taped interviews with the Dean and the President and copies of the e-mails the Dean had sent to the Campus police telling them to get Bobby and Gene and to bring them to his office.

The text of the e-mails was damning in its language, saying in effect, to bring those goddamn fucking queers to my office immediately whether they want to come or not and to use force if necessary and if that goddamn fucking Arab agitator was still on campus to arrest him and bring him along also.

All the college representatives in the room knew that the college was in the wrong and that it was a matter of bravado and bluff on their part to attempt to minimize the damages.

I don't know what Amos said in the meetings but after his presentation the lawyers and trustees huddled in a caucus. Whatever he said, it obviously terrified them. The trustees came out of the huddle very subdued and the lawyers essentially asked, "How can we make this go away."

Amos knew that we didn't expect to get the whole $40,000,000 we had filed for: that we didn't really expect to get more out of it than the tuition and living costs for Bobby and Gene to attend another school. But he also realized that he had them scared and on the run and that now was the time to make a settlement. Dragging it out could only benefit the college but the lawyers had to have some way to save face so that was the way he negotiated.

He said he negotiated all of the suits as one, dropped $10,000,000 immediately, started at $30,000,000 and let them whittle him down, trading dollars for concessions until he put he brakes on at $15,000,000. He played them like a fisherman plays a trout. It looked to the college like their lawyers had won major concessions to end up paying only 37.5 % of the initial amount requested. Most of the concessions had no monetary value except for the trust funds and legal costs and he let them whittle him down on those amounts also. He appeared very unhappy, not sure that he could get his clients to accept such a reduction in damages. But if he had checks in hand he might be able to get them to agree.

Messengers went scurrying to the bank and documents came out to be typed. In another hour, he walked out and got in the helicopter and flew off.

The settlement was for all 4 of our lawsuits. We had to drop the suits and dismiss the charges against the college, the Dean in his capacity as the Dean of Students for the college and the campus police and turn over any documentation we had as evidence and agreed not to go public with the settlement details.

The Dean, the College President and most of the campus police force were fired. The college agreed to send a letter of apology to Bobby and Gene's parents explaining that all of the things the Dean had told them about their children were lies, except for the fact that they were gay. I'm afraid that when you are out, you are out. The college also agreed to stop discrimination against gays, to actively encourage the recruitment of gays as students and to encourage the formation of gay oriented groups on campus such as GBLT chapters and to immediately bring the college into compliance with the Federal and state laws it was so egregiously ignoring.

I had Bobby and Gene's Power of Attorney to settle the suits so I agreed to the terms on their behalf and we closed the suit.

The college is filing a lien against the property of the Dean to try to regain a portion of what they had to pay out to settle the suits against him even though it seems that most of the money to settle the suit was anted up by 2 of the trustees. Since the personal net worth of either of them is in excess of $2,000,000,000 I don't think they were hurt by it.

Amos is right here. He wants to talk to the guy who started all of this."

He had some nice things to say and I thanked him for his help because I think that without him we could have lost. The campus was probably going to unravel all by itself so to get that kind of settlement in half a day was phenomenal.

Greg got back on the phone and I asked if he had told Bobby and Gene yet.

"They don't answer their phones. They probably got tired of all the messages and texts they were getting from the college. They should be arriving at Bill's door any time now. I'll let you know. Talk to you after while."

I got back on the road. About 4 miles out of town a Sheriff's patrol car ended up behind me flashing his lights. I pulled over. The deputy got out and walked up to my window. He was a big guy and I was low to the ground. All I could see was his crotch. He had a hard on and I could see the outline of his cock in his pants. I felt my dick get hard. I also wondered what was going on.

"Are you Sam Hamilton?"

"Yes I am."

"There is a road just ahead to the right. If you would please turn there and drive about two miles to the end of the road I will be right behind you. I have a message from the sheriff."

He turned and walked back to his car. This was too weird for words, but I trusted the sheriff, so I drove to the end of the road. But I also got my gun out of the glove compartment and hid it behind the picnic basket on the seat.

The patrol car stopped about 500 yards behind me and the deputy got out and blocked the road with traffic cones and drove up and stopped behind me.

He got out and came up to the driver's window again. If anything the bulge in his pants was more prominent. I licked my lips.

"I ran your plates Mr. Hamilton and your car came back registered to The Empire Leasing Company. The sheriff said to tell you, you were right, the deputy made a mistake. Does that make sense to you; I don't know what it means."

"Yes it does deputy. Thank you but it doesn't tell me why we are sitting at the end of a dirt road with the road behind us blocked off."

"You don't recognize me, do you?"

"Well. I can't see anything but your crotch."

"I'm sorry," he said backing up. I forget how tall I am sometimes."

I looked at him. With the sunglasses and cap it was hard to distinguish features.

"I really can't see your face."

He took off his sunglasses and cap and said, "I'm Barry Jensen, I went to high school with you. I was a senior when you were a junior."

"Yeah, I recognize you now. You were captain of the football team."

"The sheriff called me and said you were in town, had had an emotionally rough day and could probably use some stress relief. He knows I've always had a crush on you. He told me you were leaving town and leaving the country and that if I ever wanted to scratch my itch this might be the only chance I would ever get."

"You had a crush on me? God Barry if you had given me half a wink I would have sucked your cock mid-field during half time at the football game. There was never the slightest indication that you had any interest in me. If anything all I ever detected from you was disdain."

"I was a vain, stuck up egotistical closeted gay asshole jock in high school. You could never take your eyes off of Gene Walker. I took the attitude that you ought to have known I wanted to suck you off and if you weren't going to make the first move "Fuck you." It took me quite a while to realize I was my own worst enemy when it came to seducing you, I graduated and the next year, so did you and then you were gone."

I've told all of this to the sheriff. He has been sort of a psychological counselor to me. He will listen and not judge. He is a good guy."

"Is that why you have been standing by my car widow with a bulging hard-on? Is it because you want me to suck your cock before I leave town?"

"Oh God no, I want to suck your cock. If you want to suck me also that would be a bonus. I have a hard-on because I get hard every time I think of you. You have no idea how many times I have jacked off dreaming of you. I used to sit in the locker room and in my bed at home with a dildo up my ass dreaming that you were fucking the shit out of me."

"I could never have said these things to you in high school. It took a long time for me to admit to myself that I was gay. Being a gay quarterback just didn't fit my image of myself. We are where we are because, if necessary, I wanted to beg you to, at least, let me suck you off if I can't persuade you to fuck me. I don't think I can beg you any more abjectly that that. It's my last chance as the sheriff put it. I think he thinks it may be good for both of us. He could have just called you with the information about your registration."

I said, "Come closer."

He moved up next to the window again. I reached out and stroked the hard on in his pants.

"Oh fuck, please, if you do I'm gonna shoot."

"Take out your cock then."

He took out a beautiful 7 inch cut cock and I just went down on him all the way. After a couple of sucks up and down his stalk he blew his load in my mouth.

"You were primed weren't you? How long before you can come again."

"Oh, I'll stay hard and if you keep on sucking it I will probably come again it five minutes, but please let me suck you."

"Let me get out."

"Please let me suck you in the car. That has always been on of my favorite fantasies."

"OK, whatever turns you on?"

While he was walking around the car I put the pistol back I the glove compartment. He moved the picnic basket and got in the passenger's seat, turned sideways, pulled out my cock and went down on me. He hummed, moaned and groaned as he licked on and sucked my cock. I thought I would come almost immediately; this was such an unexpectedly hot encounter, but I didn't. He was a good cocksucker.

He didn't deliberately edge me, I don't think, but that was the effect. Finally I had to come, so I held his head down and fucked his mouth. Oh this was good, the sensations built, my body tensed, his hands rubbed my chest and stroked my leg as he sensed my imminent release. Then I blew, he went all the way down on me and stayed there as I shot and shot. He was moaning with pleasure as he swallowed down my semen.

Finally he sat up and said, "That was fucking great, Sam."

He undid his pants and pushed them down to his ankles. His cock swung in the air as he tensed and released his groin muscles.

"I can come if you want to suck me again. I know I came awfully fast the first time."

I leaned over and went down on him and sucked. I sucked and licked and made love to his dick any way I could think of. He started taking shorter breaths, his body twitched and he moaned.

"Oh God Sam, yeah Just like that, please don't stop. Oh fucking yeah."

His ass pushed in the air sinking his cock in my mouth. He wanted to grab my head, I could tell, but he didn't, he just let me suck.

"Oh fucking shit, Oh God, yeah man, I'm coming, yeah, yeah, fuck."

My mouth was filled with his cum.

"Oh yeah, oh fuck, God Sam I love you, take my cum, eat it."

Then he slumped in the seat, finished. Tears rolled down his face.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm happy. You don't know how long I've wanted to have sex with you and now it finally happened."

He looked at his watch.

"I'm off duty in 15 minutes. Do you have to go?"

"I've got to drive to Anderson to get a motel and that's 100 miles away."

"Do you have to leave? I don't want this to end here. You could spend the night at my place. I'll fix you dinner. Please, I want you to fuck me. Please, please, please."

"You are certainly different than the Barry I used to fantasize about.

Childish begging, I love it."

"Hey you want to tie me up and fuck me, spank me."

"Fuck, please forget I said that. Please come home with me."

"You mean go home with you to come."

"Yeah, that too. I'll lick your ass. Oh please come home with me, I want you to sit on my face. Please.

"OK."