Date: Mon, 1 May 2006 16:41:15 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mickey S <njmcmick@yahoo.com>
Subject: Coy Boy, Chapter 13

This story contains some explicit scenes of erotic love between males. If
you are under age, or live in an area where reading stories that include
sex between males is illegal, or if you're not into this type of story,
please leave. The author retains all rights.  No reproductions are allowed
without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at
NJMcMick@yahoo.com.

The story is set in the fictional city of Trenton, New Jersey. Yes, there
is a real city by that name, but other than being a state capital on the
Delaware River, it bears little resemblance to the city in this
story. While a few of the places mentioned may exist in reality, all of the
characters and events are fictitious.

Chapter 13

I was surprised on Sunday afternoon when Norman called to tell me I had an
appointment with Isabel Rodriguez, his guidance counselor friend, Monday
afternoon at three. I hadn't expected him to work that fast, but he'd
called her at home. I was nervous about meeting her, but maybe my age
wouldn't come up. Yeah, right.

I got up Monday, skipped my usual workout and went to the Social Security
office right after breakfast at the diner. I'd put off doing a lot of
things the last few months, some of it not my own fault, but I was
determined to take charge of my life and take care of business now. I
filled out the form for a new card and went to a young woman at the
counter, explaining that I wanted to wait for the card. I handed her my
birth certificate when she asked for ID. She looked it over and frowned.

"You really should have some kind of photo ID. This doesn't help me
identify you very well."

I was pissed. The guy I'd seen the last time had been much more
professional and helpful and he had assured me a birth certificate was
enough.

"You know, even if they'd taken a picture of me the day I was born and
stuck it on the certificate, it wouldn't help very much. I've changed just
the teeniest bit since then." I couldn't keep the sarcasm out of my
voice. She glared at me and turned to the older woman next to her, showing
her my paperwork.

"That's all he needs, dear," the other woman said. "You're here to help
people, not get in their way. Just do your job."

The girl was mad when she turned back to me, gave me back the certificate
and told me to have a seat and wait. It took nearly two hours, more because
of her attitude than anything else I was sure, but when I walked out the
door I had my new card. I existed! I was a real person!

Norman picked me up at two-thirty. On the way to Ewing High School in a
suburb just north of the city, I wondered how I was going to avoid coming
out to him as a minor. It was a huge relief to me when he mentioned that he
was planning on visiting his old friends in the history department while I
had my meeting. He introduced me to Ms. Rodriguez, a stout, serious-looking
woman with lots of gray running through her black hair, and left us
alone. We sat and she folded her hands on her desk.

"So Norman tells me that you want to finish your high school education. I
commend you for that. It's hard to get anywhere in this world without it."

"So I've noticed. How hard is this going to be? What's involved?"

"Well, you could just go back to school, although most kids who have been
out for a while have trouble doing that. There's also night school and
independent study, or a combination of the two. You could get your GED, a
diploma equivalency, that way." She picked up a pen and slid a pad of paper
over in front of her. "How far did you get in school and when did you
leave?"

There it was. "Um, is what I tell you confidential?"

"Well, it's not confidential in the way that what you tell a lawyer, doctor
or priest would be, but I try very hard to keep students' confidences. I
only tell parents and teachers what is absolutely necessary."

"Okay." I took a deep breath. "I finished my sophomore year in June."

Her eyes narrowed. "So you're how old?"

"Seventeen." I looked down at the desk. "That's what I don't want you to
tell Norman. I've told him and everyone else I'm nineteen."

"And you're living on your own?"

I told her about the rooming house and my job. She thought for a minute.

"We've got a problem here. We have to request your records from your old
high school and get you enrolled in a program here. As a minor, you need
the signature of a parent or legal guardian for both of those. Would you be
able to get that?"

"There's only my step-father and I don't ever what to see him again." I
explained about my living situation before I left home.

'He's your legal guardian?"

"I guess. He was in charge of me and always signed my report cards and
other school papers."

"Well, we can't do anything without his signature. It's that, or wait until
your eighteenth birthday."

Shit! How was I going to explain this to Norman? My mind was racing,
scrambling for an idea. If only I'd had these school papers with me when I
went to see Aunt Aggie. I could have had her sign them. Maybe that would
have worked. Nobody would know she wasn't my legal guardian. Then I thought
about Mom's letter to the lawyer. Maybe there was something in that I could
use. Maybe this Ian O'Hanlon would be able to help me.

"Look, I've got an idea. Would it be okay if we filled out the paperwork
and I took it with me? Maybe I can arrange something."

"You're not thinking about a little forgery, are you? Because I can assure
you that wouldn't be a good idea."

"No, I wouldn't do that." Actually, I hadn't thought of that and now that
she mentioned it, it seemed like a pretty easy way out. "I want to take
them to our family lawyer and see what he says."

"Family lawyer? That sounds good to me. Let's get started."

She got out the forms and I filled in all of the personal information and
she did the rest. She then put them in an envelope with her name and
address on it.

"Here you go. Get them signed and send them right back to me. I'll take it
from there. And don't drag your feet on this. Classes start in January and
I'd like to get you into them."

I thanked her and she told me how to get to the history department to find
Norman. On the way home he questioned the envelope I was carrying.

"I didn't have all the information she needed, so I've got to get it and
send the stuff back to her." That was close enough to the truth and he
bought it.

When the alarm went off Tuesday morning it was still dark. I'd decided to
try to get to the law office in Philadelphia by the time they opened. It
would probably be hard to get to see Mr. O'Hanlon without an appointment,
but if I was there early he might squeeze me in. The ride on the SEPTA
train reminded me of the day I met Marcus. I leaned back, closed my eyes
and remembered looking him over, checking out every inch of his sexy
body. By the time the train pulled in to Philly there was a smile on my
face and a bulge in my jeans. I found the office building on JFK
Blvd. without any trouble and went up to the 18th floor only to find that
the office wasn't open yet. I sat on the floor in the hall and waited. A
couple of people arrived in a few minutes and they unlocked the door. I
followed them into the large reception area. There was no one at the desk
yet so I sat down again, this time in a comfortable chair. There was a
steady stream of people coming through the door and finally a young woman
stopped at the desk, put her things down and started to get settled in. I
gave her a minute and then approached the desk.

"Hi, I'd like to see Ian O'Hanlon as soon as he gets in."

"Mr. O'Hanlon? I don't think so."

"But it's really important. I know I don't have an appointment but I'll
only take a few minutes. If he wants me to come back later I will, but if
there's any way he can see me today I'll wait."

"There's no way you're going to see Mr. O'Hanlon. You'll have to make an
appointment with someone else but I can assure you that it's not going to
be today."

People kept arriving, most of them nodded and said hello to the
receptionist. She seemed to be paying more attention to them than to
me. Obviously, a kid like me didn't matter to her.

"Look, my great-aunt is Agatha Farrell. Mr. O'Hanlon is her lawyer. She
gave me some papers to give him. I have to see him."

I was starting to get a little worked up but trying not to cause a scene. I
had the feeling that it wouldn't take much for her to throw me out. A very
dignified looking old man with thick gray hair had just come in the door
and stopped next to me.

"Did you say you had something from Agatha Farrell for Ian O'Hanlon?"

"Yes, she was supposed to give some papers to him for my mother."

"Come with me," he said rather abruptly. He turned and headed down the
hall. I had to hurry to keep up with him. I followed him into a huge corner
office and sat down where he pointed while he hung up his coat and sat down
at the big desk.

"My name is Timothy Boyle. Ian O'Hanlon and I were the founding partners in
this firm. He passed away last year."

My heart sank.  I was too late.

"I don't want to give you the impression that I'm familiar with all of our
clients, far from it, and Agatha Farrell is not one of our major clients by
any means, but Ian took special care of her. They were related by
marriage. Her husband and Ian's wife were brother and sister and I know Ian
was very fond of Agatha. Now how can I help you?"

I knew he was an important man and I didn't want to take up his time, so I
started talking a mile a minute, telling him my family background, my
recent past, my visit Friday with Aunt Aggie and the problem of needing a
guardian's signature for school. I handed him the envelope with my mother's
documents. He read through them and then looked something up on the
computer next to his desk. He looked out the window for a minute, lost in
thought, and then swiveled back to face me.

"This is an interesting situation. Most custody arrangements are included
in wills, but your mother had a separate document drawn up. So while her
subsequent marriage voided the will, the custody document remained
valid. At the time your mother passed away, your great-aunt was still
legally competent, even though she was living in the nursing home. If we
had had this document at that time, she would have been named your
guardian, and then when this firm became her conservator several months
later, you would have become a ward of the firm. An interesting twist,
since while your mother thought the custody document was invalid, that is
the end result she was looking for."

"So you're my legal guardian?"

"Not necessarily. Nothing was ever filed with the court on this and I don't
know what your stepfather did about it. The court at this point would be
reluctant to give custody to someone who has a conservator herself,
although we do have the letter from your mother expressing her desire that
we be legally responsible for you. As I said, it's an interesting
situation."

"So what do I do?" I didn't care how interesting it was, I wanted an
answer.

"As I said, I'll have to see if your stepfather took any steps to become
your legal guardian, but if he hasn't I'm going to act on the assumption
that this custody document is the final word. We will file it with the
court and see how it holds up. In the meantime, I'm going to assume you are
a ward of this firm and act accordingly."

"And what does that mean? Can you sign these forms so I can get my GED?" I
took out the envelope Ms. Rodriguez had given me.

"Yes, I'll sign them right now, but I want to know a lot more about your
living situation. I don't like being responsible for a minor living on his
own in another state."

I told him about the rooming house, my old job with Gert and my new one at
Minho, even my friendship with Norman. For good measure I threw in the
story of the beating Ralph had given me and how he'd taken what money of
mine he'd found. I didn't want to end up back with him no matter what.

"It sounds like you're handing things pretty well, given the
circumstances. But if I'm going to be responsible for you I want to keep
close tabs on you. I'm going to introduce you to my administrative
assistant, Nancy Blume. She'll be your contact person here. I want you to
call her every week, say, every Tuesday morning, and report in. Tell her
what you're doing, how you're doing, if you have any problems, if you need
anything. She's a wonderful woman, but don't cross her. Miss a phone call
and she'll have an APB out on you by noon."

He called Ms. Blume in, introduced us and explained the situation to
her. She acted as though she became a surrogate parent for runaways every
day. She led me out to her office and made copies of all of my papers,
keeping the originals of the will and custody agreement and giving me back
the rest. She took the school forms and promised to get them into the
mail. I gave her my address and phone number and she gave me her card. I
had to give her Norman's name and number as an emergency contact but made
her promise that she would only call him if it really was an
emergency. Since my number was a cell phone, she should be able to reach me
anytime. I liked her at once. She seemed both motherly and friendly, but
efficient as well.

On the train ride home I wasn't thinking about Marcus, I was thinking about
how much better my life was getting. I had my Social Security card, I was
going to be able to go back to school and I had a guardian who would help
my life, not get in the way. Things were definitely looking up.

I was back to working my regular schedule, Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday. Business was okay but still not great. Kate kept telling me to
have patience. It had taken a couple of months for the weekend business to
build and she was sure that once the holidays were over weeknights would be
nearly as good. I'd noticed my tips inching up each week but hadn't paid
close attention, since I had the unemployment money to supplement
them. Actually, knowing I had that little nest egg had let me get a little
careless with spending. I'd been eating more meals at the diner instead of
fast food joints. But then I'd run into a problem the week before since I
had only worked Tuesday and had to pay Lucille the rent before going to
work on Friday. It had taken all of the unemployment money to pay her, but
I wasn't worried because I knew I'd make good money Friday night. But then
between the night out at Buddies, the dinner I'd treated Marcus to at Minho
and the train fare to Philadelphia, I'd gone through all of that, too.

When I got home from work Thursday night I counted my money and found I had
just enough for the rent with almost nothing left for food for the week. I
thought about asking Norman for a small loan. He'd made it clear I could
come to him if I needed help. The problem was, I was making almost enough
to get by on, but there was no way I could pay back even a small loan. I
knew he'd let it go and not expect to be paid back, but he was already
doing so much for me. I couldn't take his money, too.

I thought about what Mr. Boyle had said; to let Nancy know if I needed
anything. I wasn't sure what he meant by that, but I was pretty sure he
didn't mean money. Just because the law firm was going to be my guardian
didn't mean I'd get an allowance. The money had to come from somewhere and
I didn't have an account with them they could draw on. Besides, what would
it look like if I asked for help within days of meeting them? And thinking
about the law firm and money gave me something new to worry about. I
probably owed them a huge fee. I knew lawyers charged a lot for their
work. They hadn't said anything, but Mr. Boyle had spent a lot of time with
me and so had Nancy. How was I ever going to pay them?

That kind of debt was too much to think about. It wasn't pressing,
anyway. I needed money for food, right now. I thought about the park. One
blowjob and everything would be okay. Norman would have a fit if he knew,
but he didn't have to know. It's not like I promised him I wouldn't do
it. In fact, I'd said I would if I had to. So Friday evening I started down
to the cruising area. Halfway there, I changed my mind. I was feeling
guilty and I hadn't even done anything yet. I'd experienced a little guilt
before when I was working the park, but this was different. I'd been
desperate then. Now that things were going well for me and Norman had
helped me so much, I felt like I shouldn't be doing that any more. I felt
like I was taking the easy way out, the lazy way. I knew better, of
course. I wasn't lazy, as standing at a sink scrubbing pots and pans 40
hours a week proved. Waiting tables was a little easier, but it was still
hard work. I didn't mind working at all and would do anything to support
myself. But I couldn't shake the feeling that tricking in the park for
money was wrong. Mom hadn't been a churchgoer and due to her experience
with her family didn't think much of people who expressed morally superior
attitudes, but taking money for sex didn't make me feel good about
myself. And on top of everything else, there was Marcus. I so wanted for
him to be my boyfriend. He'd made it clear that at this early stage in our
relationship we were each free to see others, but I really didn't want to
make it with anyone but him, for money or pleasure. I made up my mind that
I wouldn't do it for money again unless I absolutely had to.

I went back to the house and counted my money again. If I ate carefully
from the dollar menu at McDonald's over the weekend I could make it. I'd be
having dinner at Norman's on Monday and at Minho the rest of the week, so
as long as I didn't mind being hungry during the day, I could do it.

When I called Nancy on Tuesday morning to check in, she had news that got
me worried.

"We filed the custody papers and a hearing has been set for next Monday
morning at ten. If you can't make it we can reschedule, but it would be
better if you made every effort to be there."

"A hearing? I have to be there?"

"There is always a hearing for custody matters. In routine cases they only
last five minutes, but this is anything but routine. We have to convince
the judge that you are doing fine on your own with us keeping an eye on you
and that this is better than the other options."

"What kind of other options are there?"

"Either return you to your stepfather, or make you a ward of the state and
put you in foster care."

"I can't do either of them. I won't go along with that."

"You may have to, but I wouldn't worry about it just yet. Mr. Boyle is
going to handle the hearing personally and he is very good."

Somehow, that didn't make me feel any better. I wasn't exactly a smashing
success on my own, but it was my life and under my control. I didn't want
to give it up and go back. I considered not going to the hearing. What
could they do to me, anyway? I was in another state. Maybe I was out of the
reach of the Pennsylvania courts. But Mr. Boyle was taking the time to try
to help me, even though he was important and probably very busy. The least
I could do was show up. I could always run away again if I didn't like the
outcome.

Business continued to improve Tuesday and Wednesday. With tips like those
every day, I would be back to making nearly what I was working full-time at
Frank's. That wasn't great, but at least it would give me a little
stability. But then on Thursday Mother Nature did me in. It had been
raining all day, but in the afternoon the temperature dropped suddenly and
it changed over to sleet and freezing rain. By the time I left for work the
streets and sidewalks were covered with ice. It was treacherous out. I
nearly fell twice on my short walk to the restaurant. The entire night I
served dinner to one table, a couple of regulars from the
neighborhood. They left me a generous tip, but it wasn't a night's pay. I
knew I was screwed even before I got back to the room to add it to the rest
of my week's earnings. I was ten dollars short for the rent. Now I was
desperate.

Friday afternoon I went to Lucille and gave her what I had and promised to
give her the rest the next day. She wasn't happy.

"Why are you doing this to me, honey? You know I can't make exceptions to
my rules."

"It's not really an exception. It's not like I have nothing or I'm asking
for a week's extension. I'm giving you over ninety percent of the money and
I'll have the rest for you tomorrow. I promise."

"You're a good boy and a good tenant, but I can't be doing this. If word
gets out everyone will want me to do it for them too. I've got 21 men
living here. Do you know what a mess if would be if they all decide to pay
whatever they wanted whenever they wanted?"

"Please. Just this once. It'll never happen again. And I won't say anything
to anyone about it. Please." I felt like I was going to cry.

Lucille sighed and thought for a minute. "All right, dear, just this one
time. But don't ever let it happen again." I felt like kissing her. In
fact, I grabbed her hand and kissed it, thanking her over and over.

I tried to think of another way out all afternoon. The only people I knew
well enough to ask for a loan were Norman, Kate and Dora, and they had
already done so many favors or me. I felt like such a loser. With all they
had done for me, I still couldn't make it. How pathetic was that? Besides,
it wasn't just the ten bucks for Lucille. I needed food money for the
weekend and train fare to Philly on Monday. I'd never be able to pay all of
that back out of next week's pay. One blowjob in the park might not even be
enough. I had no choice, so around seven o'clock I walked to the park.

It wasn't quite as cold as it had been the night before, but still I was
shivering in my light jacket. I was going to have to get a heavier coat for
winter, but I didn't even want to think about where I'd get the money for
that. One thing at a time. The cruising area was dead. I felt bad enough
about having to do this and I knew I wasn't going to be able to be picky
about who I went with. Even so, when some gross old guy propositioned me an
hour after I got there, I turned him down. I hung around a little longer,
hands crammed in my jeans pockets, stamping my feet to keep warm, but there
was no one around at all. Finally, I left the park, walked up to the diner
and got a cup of coffee to go. I hated to spend one of the only two dollars
I had, but I needed something to warm me up. I sipped the coffee as I
walked back into the park, holding the cup in both hands to keep them
warm. A couple of cars drove through, slowing down as they passed me, but
neither one stopped. I guess I wasn't what they were looking for. It was
nearly eleven o'clock and I was about to give up when a dark Lexus sedan
pulled up and stopped by me. The window lowered and the driver, a
good-looking man around forty, smiled.

"You look like you're freezing out there. Hop in."

"Um, I'm working."

"I assumed as much. Nobody's that horny that they'd stand out here in this
weather for the fun of it. Come on."

I was relieved he didn't want to do it in the bushes. I was already
half-frozen. I hopped in the passenger seat and started to thaw as soon as
I felt the heat. He drove on down the road. There were a couple of wide
spots further along where guys usually pulled over to do it but he kept
right on going until we reached the highway.

"Whoa, where are we going?"

"I don't live very far away. Just relax and we'll be there in a few
minutes."

"I don't go home with guys I don't know. Can't we just park somewhere?"

"Sorry, I haven't been into car sex since high school, and don't even
mention the bushes. I'm Derek, by the way."

"I'm Coy, but I don't think I want to do this."

"Why not? We know each other now so that's not a problem. I promise I don't
bite and I'm not into kinky stuff. You're safe with me."

He pulled over to the side of the road and stopped. He fumbled in his
pocket and pulled out a business card. It said Derek Sloan, Political
Consultant. "You see, I'm on the up and up. I' m just looking for a little
hot sex and comfort, and you want to make a few bucks. It's a match made in
heaven. Unless you'd rather go back and freeze in the park, that is."

"Will you give me a ride back here afterwards?"

"Of course. I'm a gentleman. I'll take you right to your door if you like."
He gave me a dazzling smile. From his clothes and the car it was clear he
was very well-off. That didn't mean he was safe, but it didn't hurt. There
was something comforting and secure about him, though. Maybe it was just
the total confidence he exuded.

"Okay, let's go." I sat back and enjoyed the warmth of the heater as he
pulled back onto the highway. We headed north and passed under I-95 and
kept going. I was starting to get nervous again when he slowed down nearly
five minutes later and turned into a dirt driveway. It wound up though a
wooded property to a large one-story house. All of the houses along here
were set way back from the road and were far apart. He pressed a button and
one of the garage doors opened. As he pulled in I saw a BMW Z4 convertible
in the other side of the garage.

"That's my summer toy. Maybe I'll take you for a spin in it in the spring
if you like."

In the spring? This was going to be just a blowjob. It wasn't going to last
ten minutes, much less until spring.

The door from the garage led into a laundry room and I followed him into a
beautiful modern kitchen with granite counters, stainless steel appliances
and dark wood cabinets.

"I'm going to have a brandy, Coy. Would you like to join me?"

I'd had brandy once before at Norman's house and I remembered that it was
strong and burned all the way down. I figured I could use something that
would both relax me and warm me up, so I agreed.

He poured a large amount of the brown fluid into two round glasses and led
the way into a very large living room. The room was incredible. It wasn't
really very fancy or anything. In fact it seemed very masculine and very
comfortable. But it looked like everything in it had cost a fortune. He
noticed me looking around.

"I had a decorator, gay of course. Do you like it?"

"Yeah, it looks comfortable. I love the piano." He had a baby grand like
Norman's at one end of the room. "Do you play?"

"No, it's for my daughter when she comes to visit." He sat at one end of a
couch and I took a chair nearby. "So what's a nice boy like you doing in a
business like this?" he smiled.

I felt a little embarrassed as I explained about my job and how I'd run
into a little cash-flow problem. When I mentioned being a waiter his eyes
lit up.

"So that's why you look familiar. You work at Minho, that Portuguese place
on Mercer Street. That's one of my favorite restaurants."

I panicked a little when I realized he had connected me to my real life. I
looked at him closer. He had wavy dark brown hair, great bone structure and
a dazzling smile. He was probably about six feet tall and on the thin side,
though he looked in great shape. I realized I had seen him at Minho the
Friday I'd worked after Thanksgiving.

"You were there with a preppy looking kid a couple of weeks ago, weren't
you?"

"Yeah, he's the asshole I was out with earlier tonight. He was nothing but
a gold-digger looking for a sugar daddy, so I dumped him. I was feeling
horny, so I swung through the park on the off chance someone interesting
would be out. I got lucky."

"You dumped him because he was looking for money, but then you picked me
up? That doesn't make sense."

"With him it was supposed to be a personal relationship. With you, it's
pure business, right from the start. Both are good in their own way, but
they're very different. Speaking of business, how much is this going to set
me back?"

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"What are you into and how much do you charge?"

"Oh, well, mostly I just do oral, thirty dollars each way. I'll let you rim
me if you want but that's forty."

He frowned. "No fucking?"

"Not for business. That's personal with me."

"Well, first, I think your prices are far too low. You're a little hottie
and you could get so much more. Second, I wish you would consider
fucking. You've got a hot little ass. Let me put it in restaurant terms for
you. I'm not into a la carte. I always order the complete dinner."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"I mean, let's just go to bed and see what happens. I won't push you to do
anything you don't want to do, but I'll try for everything I want. And one
flat fee for the evening, no matter what we do."

I thought about it. If we went to bed, naked, we'd probably do a lot more
than I usually did with customers, so it would have to be more money.

"How much? And whatever happens, it has to be safe."

"Don't worry about that. I insist on safe myself. And as far as the money
goes, I've already told you I don't think you're charging enough, so I
think you'll find I'm very generous."

I drained the last of the brandy from my glass and followed him down the
hall to a large bedroom with a king sized bed. He pulled me into a kiss and
I tensed up. Kissing was one of the things I'd never let a customer do. It
was too intimate. I know, sucking and rimming are pretty intimate, too, but
kissing is just so personal. Even so, he was good at it and after the
initial shock I enjoyed it. He had me lay down on the bed while he took his
clothes off. I was right. He was thin but muscular, sort of like me though
a bit bigger. Once he joined me in bed and began kissing me, I relaxed and
went with the flow. We ended up going far farther than I'd ever gone with a
customer. We not only sucked each other and did a little rimming, but he
finished it off with a marathon fuck. His dick was probably average size,
maybe a little smaller than Marcus, but he knew what to do with it and it
felt so good inside me.

I don't know if it was the brandy or the physical exertion of the sex, but
I fell asleep as soon as we were done. I woke up once in the middle of the
night, cuddled up against him, his arms wrapped around me. It felt so good
to be sleeping with someone. In the morning, though, I woke up alone in the
big bed. I saw the partially opened door to a bathroom across from the bed
and got up and used the facilities. He'd left a new toothbrush, toothpaste
and shampoo out for me. I took care of business and took a quick shower. I
had just crawled back into bed when Derek walked into the room, wearing a
long white terrycloth robe.

"Good morning. How did you sleep?"

"Great. This bed is really comfortable. So are you."

"Thanks. You were pretty nice to sleep with, too. How about some breakfast
before I take you home?"

"Sure, I'm starving." I was but I also realized that the more I ate here
the less food I'd have to buy later. He got out another robe just like the
one he had on and gave it to me, then went back to the kitchen. He had
everything under control there so I went into the living room and sat down
at the piano. I played around a little, just bits and pieces of things I
remembered from the last couple of times I'd practiced at Norman's. After a
few minutes Derek called me into the kitchen.

He smiled as I sat down. "A hustler who plays Gershwin. Nice."

We chatted about current events and politics over a huge breakfast of
scrambled eggs, bacon and home fries. Politics was his field and obviously
he was much more up on it than I was. The only day I read the paper was
Sunday and I didn't have a TV to watch, so I was pretty unaware of most of
what was going on in the world. After we finished cleaning up, he took me
in his arms and gave me a kiss.

"You are charming and adorable, Coy. I'm so glad I ran into you last
night. You have restored my faith in men."

"That's an odd thing to say to a hustler."

"Well, it's true. You're a sweetheart. And I hate to end it all, but I have
plans for the day so I have to get you back home." He went over to a drawer
and came back with two hundred dollar bills in his hand.

"I know I took up a great deal of your time and we did things you didn't
originally intend on. I hope this is enough."

"Enough? It's crazy. You can't pay me that much. All we did was have sex."

"Yes, we had sex, but you've been wonderful company as well and a delight
to sleep with. I've patronized a number of so-called escorts in the
past. Many of them charge $200 an hour and all they provide is impersonal
sex. You were worth every penny of this to me. Thank you."

He seemed to know what he was doing and from what I'd seen of the house he
could easily afford it, so I took the money. We got dressed and he drove me
back to Trenton. I had him drop me off at the diner.

"I took the liberty of programming my number into your cell phone when I
got up this morning, Coy. If you ever find yourself running short, I'd love
to see you again. This was so much nicer than a blowjob in the bushes,
wasn't it?"

"Yeah, it was, Derek, but like I said, this isn't what I do except in
extreme circumstances."

"Well, keep me in mind and if your circumstances get extreme, give me a
call." He leaned across the car and gave me a tender kiss.

I got out and walked into the city toward the rooming house, the two
hundred dollars feeling wonderful in my pocket. I had enough for Lucille,
food for the week and train fare to Philly. And plenty left over as a
cushion against bad weather and bad business at the restaurant. I'd done a
lot more than I'd intended, but I didn't feel bad about it. Derek was a
good guy and I'd had fun with him. Yeah, it was still prostitution, but it
wasn't sleazy. It was nice.