Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:53:15 +0000 (UTC)
From: Les Goldsmith <follies71@att.net>
Subject: Echoes From a Wishing Well Ch 13

All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or
are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language,
please exit now.

		    <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
		       "Echoes from a Wishing Well"

			 Copyright Ritchris, 2007
				  A Story
			   by Ritch Christopher
			   literary enhancement
			       by Les Martin
			       <><><><><><>
			     Chapter thirteen
				<><><><><>

 Trent's first class with Angio the next morning was Theatre History. It
happened to be the only subject taught at the High School which Trent found
boring. He had yet to find any connection between modern theatre and
musical comedy and Greek tragedy. Just who was Aristophanes? If it was
required, Trent would take the class, but he couldn't see how it could ever
affect him at all.

As soon as the class was seated, the director handed scripts out to the
class, scripts which were already opened to the page marked 'Act I' and,
after looking over the assembled class members, asked Angio to read the
role of Dionysus and Trent to read the part of the loyal slave
Xanthias. The other roles were assigned accordingly to the remaining
members of the group of fifteen.

 Angio had the first speech as he entered with Trent, but no sooner had
they set foot on the stage than a pianist played a fanfare, surprising
Trent. After a glance at the piano and seeing a music score there, he
thought, 'An ancient Greek musical'? The dialogue in the scripts was to be
delivered in between songs. Trent was even more confused until he flipped
the script closed to read the front cover to see the words, "FROGS", a
musical based on an Aristophanes play.  He saw that it had been written by
Burt Shevelove, who had also penned 'A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to
the Forum', and, what's more, it had music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
and ---William Shakespeare? Trent could hardly believe his eyes! Sondheim
had set music to a Greek play? And his 'collaborator', the lyricist, was
Shakespeare? How wonderful! This suddenly made today's Theatre History
class fun and exciting to Trent who suddenly found his mental eyes opened.

 When the class was over, Trent rushed over to speak to Angio for the first
time today.  "Wow! Wasn't that great?" Trent bubbled with happiness.

 "You mean there's actually a Sondheim score you weren't familiar with?"

Angio asked, as if he was all-knowing.

 "Yes! Did you know that he wrote, 'Frogs'?"

 "Well, I could lie and say, 'yes', that I had seen it at Lincoln Center,
but I won't lie. No, I didn't know it!"

 "Hey, I...I called you at your place last night..." Trent said, hoping it
was in an offhand manner, testing Angio's answer.

 "I...I was spending the night at Rick's!"

 "Yeah, your dad said that you're spending the whole week with Rick!"

 "Yeah. Didn't I tell you?"

 "No. You didn't!"

 "Well, I figured you'd be too busy with your backers' audition to even
miss me."

 "What's that supposed to mean? I thought we were best friends."

 "So did I, Trent, but ever since you were asked to perform with your
important friends, Rob and Tim, you...you haven't had much time to even
notice me!"

 "Aw, come on, Angio, that's not fair. They could've asked you instead of
me! It's no big deal. It's not like anyone's gonna see me at a backers'
audition!"

 "Maybe not, but they didn't ask me, did they? Heck, Trent, I know you sing
better than I, but it would have been nice to've been included."

 "You make me feel as if I need to apologize for something I'm not guilty
of. I mean, would it have made you feel better if I had turned down Rob and
Tim?"

 "No. But then my dad isn't friends with people like Rob and Tim..."

 "Now you're making me feel terrible."

 "Don't sweat it! You'll get over it!"

 "What about you spending a whole week with Rick?"

 "What's that supposed to imply?"

 "Nothing, except I've been tense all week and I thought you might come
over to my place this weekend where we both could, you know, 'relax'?"

 "I'd like to, Trent, but I've already promised to spend the weekend with
Rick..."

 "Are you and Rick helping each other 'relax'?"

 "Trent, I know we're best friends and all, but anything that happens
between me and Rick is personal and between him and me."

 "Why? I mean, if we're best friends..."

 "Because I didn't tell Rick what happened between you and me and I can't
involve without his approval!"

 "Then the two of you have been doing some relaxing!"

 "I didn't say that!"

 "Yes, but I know you, Angio, and I know your sex drive! There are things
that you wanted us to do that I wouldn't do. Did you do them with Rick?"

 "Maybe Rick's not so insecure about his sexuality!"

 "My turn now! What's that supposed to mean?"

 "Maybe that Rick might be more daring than you. Heck! I'm not in love with
Rick, but that doesn't mean that he and I can't fool around and do things
that most boys do."

 "So Rick is gay? Is that what you're saying?"

 "No, Trent. I doubt that Rick is any more gay than you, but he's so sure
about his masculinity that anything he does has nothing to do with his
feelings or lifestyle."

 "What if I change my mind and decide to do those things with you?"

 "It wouldn't work, Trent!"

 "Why not? I'm a guy, the same as Rick? Does he have more than I do in
private places?"

 "Heck, no! Face it---you're a gay guy's wet dream!"

 "So why wouldn't it work with me?"

 "Trent, think back to the things we said to each other in Boston."

 "OK. I remember!"

 "What was the deepest, the most meaningful thing I said to you to which
you replied in the same way?"

 "You said that you loved me."

 "Yes, and you told me that you loved me as well."

 "So...?"

 "Trent, don't you see? If you and I have real sex...love has to be
involved. We love each other. We just wouldn't be having sex for fun, we'd
be making love to one another."

 "And...?"

 "Damn! Do I have to spell it out for you, Trent? IF we make love..., that
means we're lovers and you'll''ve admitted to me and to yourself that
you're gay."

 "Then if I were ready to make love to you...does that mean you couldn't
make love to me?"

 "Look, stupid---of course I want to make love to you. I love you. Trent,
I'm in love with you! But I know damned well that you're still in love with
Ronnie--or with Ronnie's memory. I can fight a person but I can't fight a
memory!"

 "Don't you remember standing me in front of a mirror, making me say that
I'm alive and Ronnie isn't?"

 "Yes, but I'm not sure if I got through to you."

 "I think I realized it last night in bed imagining what you and Rick were
doing to each other. I got so jealous, I threw both of my pillows across
the room, hit the dresser, and broke a lamp. I mean, if Rick makes me
jealous, then my feelings for you must be real!"

 "Trent, are you trying to say that you're in love with me and not Ronnie?"

 "I...I think so..."

 "That's another really decisive answer! Either you are or you aren't!"

 "All right! I am!"

 "You're sure? No 'maybe's!'?

 "No, I'm sure, Angio. I'm in love with you!"

 "You wanted me to spend the weekend with you?"

 "Yes, I did..."

 "How about tonight?"

 "What about Rick?"

 "Screw Rick!"

 "Did you?"

 "Did I what?"

 "Screw Rick?"

 "I...I don't remember and even if I did, it wouldn't have meant a damned
thing to me!"

 "Would you screw me?"

 "Not until you give the word. I won't ever go beyond your boundaries!"

 "Saying that, I guess you do love me..."

 "I said it, didn't I?" Angio's voice had a new sound to it, a controlled
intensity.

 "Close the door, Ange! I want to kiss you!"

 "Trent, we're already late for the next class!"

 "I know, but this is more important!"

 Angio looked at him for a moment, then turned, closed the door and walked
to Trent, putting his arms around him. He was about to press his lips to
Trent's but Trent held up a hand and stopped him.

 "Now what?"

 "Are you still angry about my doing the backers' audition?"

 "No..."

 "Why not?"

 "Because, you Tennessee hick-slash-future Broadway star, there's going to
be lots of auditions and shows in the future that'll separate us
temporarily. We both, especially me, better get used to it!"

Trent jumped up, straddled his legs around Angio's waist, and kissed him
solidly on the mouth. Angio began turning round and round, holding on to
Trent without breaking the kiss.

 "Wanna skip the next class?" Trent whispered.

 "Jesus! You wanna go to your apartment to make love now?"

 "Maybe, but we have to go to Brooks Brothers first!"

 "Where?"

 "Brooks Brothers! Daddy Art wants us both to get fitted for tuxes!"

 "Tuxes? Tuxedos? Trent, we're not getting married, are we?"

 "No...but I'll sure keep that in mind! No, we have to look good for Daddy
Art's opening night!"

 "You mean I'm going too?"

 "Yep---House seats, sixth row center on the aisle...and we're going in a
stretch limo with my Uncle Dean and Uncle Cyrus!"

 "My gosh! You're not kidding me, are you?"

 "I wouldn't go anywhere without my boyfriend!"

 "Trent, I'm not your boyfriend, I'm your lover!"

 "And I'm your lover!"

 "I can't believe it! I'm in love and my lover just gave me the best
present of my life...tickets to a Broadway opening night!"

 "Oh, it gets better!"

 "How? How could anything make it better?"

 "Wait until we get into bed together tonight!"

 "Shut up and kiss me again!"

 They kissed again and then snuck down the stairs onto Fifty-second Street
and hailed a taxi to take them to Brooks Brothers!

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
 Back at Granny Dee's, the two youngsters kept grinning, inwardly, each at
himself and then at each other. Jody and Laurie couldn't have been more
proud of their gifts from Dean and Cyrus if they had won the lottery or the
Irish Sweepstakes.

Dee also offered her thanks to Dean and Cyrus for the kids' clothing, but
said she hoped the two men hadn't spent too much on her new charges, but
Cyrus asked her in return if she could specify just how much is 'too much'
for two teens who had lost everything in their young lives? She nodded
sagely and, wiping her eyes, started rummaging around the house to find
enough coat hangers, especially for Laurie's new dresses.

Both youngsters had thanked their new 'uncles' a dozen times in a dozen
different ways and Jody all but insisted that he had to find some way to
pay them back, some way to do something for them.

 Cyrus, turning to Jody, replied, "All we want you to do is to take care of
your Granny Dee and help her around the farm any way that you can."

 "Sir, that's understood, Uncle Cyrus," Jody assured him.

 Cyrus sat at Dee's kitchen table drinking a tall glass of her homemade
apple cider while she went into Laurie's room to admire the new clothes and
to help Laurie put them away and Dean went into Jody's room to help him
hang up his new wardrobe.

 As he picked up a brand new shirt, he stopped silently a moment, then he
turned to the older gentleman and, looking directly into Dean's eyes, he
said simply, "These are the nicest clothes we've ever owned, Uncle
Dean. And you've made my sister so happy. I'll never forget. Thank you.".

 "Jody, maybe one day, you'll realize that we got just as much pleasure
from it as you kids did. But just remember you're a growing boy and during
the next few months, you're going to sprout up like one of Granny Dee's
corn stalks. So promise me that if you find out that you're outgrowing your
jeans, your shirts, or your shoes, please just let me or your Uncle Dean
know about it and we'll make a trip back down to Miller's Dry Goods. The
same goes for Laurie. Be sure and tell her, will you?"

 "Why did you do this, Uncle Dean? You only met us last night...."

 "Do you know what I mean by the word 'platitude'?"

 "No, sir, I don't."

 "A platitude is like a familiar saying or an obvious remark. So I could
use a platitude or two to explain why we took you shopping...such as,
'Clothes make the man' or 'Teenage boys grow as fast as weeds', or 'It's
better to give than receive' or maybe, 'When you've got a lot of money,
what else are you going to spend it on?'."

 "So, in your case, sir, what's the correct platitude?"

 "I'm reminded of a platitude Thornton Wilder wrote in his play, 'The
Matchmaker'. He wrote that money is like manure, it's not worth anything
unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow'."

 "Hey, that's a good one! I gotta remember that one!"

 "There's lots of things Cyrus and I can teach you, Jody. I know how tough
it is for a young boy to grow up without a father. If it's all right with
you, Cyrus and I, or either one of us, can be your mentor and help you with
guy-things."

 "Can I ask you something that might be embarrassing?"

 "Embarrassing to me or to you?"

 "Well, both of us, probably."

 "Then ask and see if I'm too embarrassed to answer."

 "Have either you or Uncle Cyrus ever been married?"

 "No, we haven't."

 "You're not related, are you?"

 "Not in the blood sense."

 "Yet you two live together like two married people..."

 "Yes, I guess we do."

 "Here's the embarrassing part..."

 "You want to ask if Cyrus and I are gay? Is that it?"

 "Well---well, yes..."

 "Since you asked...or tried to ask, then I suppose you know what 'gay'
means?"

 "Yes, sir. There were some older boys at one of the shelters who were
gay."

 "Did they try to do anything to you?" He was suddenly ready to kill anyone
who abused these youngsters.

 "Oh, no, sir. I guess they thought I was too young."

 "Well, since you're honest enough to ask, there's no reason to lie to you,
Jody. Yes, Cyrus and I are gay. We're a couple and have been for many
years."

 "Were you gay when you were my age?"

 "For many years, Jody, it was believed that a man or a woman chose to be
gay, not that they were born gay. Science now teaches us that gay people
are gay from the time they're born. One doesn't just 'choose' to be gay or
straight."

 "So, when you were my age, did you know already that you were gay?"

 "You're fifteen, right, Jody?"

 "Yes, sir."

 "Yes, I knew it many years before I was fifteen."

 "How did you know it?"

 "Well, I didn't have a boyfriend at that age, but I knew I was more
interested in boys than I was in girls."

 "This is real personal, so don't answer if you don't want to."

 "What is it, Jody?"

 "Had you, well, done things with a boy when you were my age?"

 "Well, as best as I can remember, I had done a few things with boys my age
that I didn't want my parents to know about."

 "But at least you had parents to keep secrets from..."

 "Jody, all these questions...do you think you're gay?"

 "I...I didn't think so--until last night."

 "Oh? Why last night?"

 "I guess you know that all boys my age...well, we play with ourselves when
no one else is around."

 "Jody, men my age do the same thing...when no one else is around. But what
happened last night?"

 "I...well, I...being that I have my own room now, I...I had a chance to
play with myself without the fear of being caught. I've never had so much
privacy."

 "I'm glad you have your own room now. Every boy deserves his privacy. Go
on, Jody."

 "I know Laurie knows about what I do. I used to have to wait for her to go
to sleep since we'd always shared a room. I saw her watching me several
times, but she didn't say anything to me...and once I saw it was okay to do
it, well, I just pretended she wasn't there."

 "Did you ever see Laurie doing it to herself?"

 "Girls do it too?"  He had never even considered this possibility.

 "Sure they do. They just keep it to themselves. Women have ways of finding
more privacy. You know, women have private booths in bathrooms whereas boys
usually don't. So, are you avoiding telling me what happened last night?"

 "First of all, let me ask you something...". Jody reached over to the
dresser and picked up the photo of Dee and Trent. "This boy in the
picture...this is Trent, isn't it?"

 "Yes, it is..."

 "Last night when I went to bed, I tried getting myself excited and then I
spotted this picture of a boy in overalls. I figured it was Trent since he
was in the picture with Granny Dee. So I placed the picture on my
nightstand...right over there by the bed...and I...well, I started having
strange feelings about him. That hole in the knee of his overalls, his leg
showing through, that got me excited...just looking at his naked knee. Then
I...I started looking at his crotch and began to wonder what he looked like
without his overalls...and all of a sudden, I...I got off!"

 "Jody, that's called fantasizing. All guys fantasize about someone or
something to help them reach an orgasm---you know, 'get off'"

 "Yes, but I began thinking dirty thoughts about him...things I thought
maybe he must've done in the same bed I was lying in. I'd never looked at
any boy that way...especially just a boy in a picture."

 "I don't think you did anything wrong, Jody. Lots of boys look at Playboy
or Penthouse with pictures of naked women and they fantasize what they
might do if the women were there with them."

 "But I don't think a picture of any woman would've made me feel the way I
felt when I was looking at Trent."

 "You've never done anything with another boy?"

 "No, sir---never!"

 "...and because you had dirty thoughts about Trent, is that why you began
wondering if you were gay or not?"

 "Yes, sir."

 "What if the picture had been that of a naked woman?"

 "I don't think I would've felt the same way. I mean I've seen Laurie naked
lots of times. I know she's my sister. Don't tell her I told you, but she's
started getting hair around her---well, down there...and I know all about
girl's periods because Laurie explained it to me when she began wearing
those cotton pads. I...I saw her replace one once and it was covered in
blood and I couldn't understand why men would want to...well, you know, put
their things into a girl for fear she might start bleeding."

 "A woman only has her period for a short time each month."

 "Yes, but how does a boy know when she's gonna start? I mean, she doesn't
have a calendar pasted on her stomach to let a boy know when it's time."

 Cyrus' laugh was loud and relieved. "Oh, boy! I see we do need to have a
little talk...lots of little talks."

 "You're the first man I've ever had a chance to ask such things."

 "You know, don't you, Jody, that people might say that I'm the wrong man
to ask since you know that I'm gay, as is your Uncle Cyrus."

 "Who else is gonna talk to me? I sure can't ask Granny Dee...and I don't
know any other men."

 "Jody, whatever we talk about must be kept a secret between us. If you are
gay, people will talk and say that I influenced you and I don't want to
give anyone that impression, especially you."

 "I trust you. I...I don't feel unsafe with you. I mean, you have a gay
person that you already live with. I don't think you'd try anything with a
teenage boy."

 "No, I wouldn't, Jody, but there are a lot of men who would."

 "Well, what do you think about what I told you...you know, about my
feelings for Trent?"

 "It is possible that you might be gay. That's something you'll have to
find out for yourself since I can't read your mind or know your personal
desires."

 "I heard that Trent's coming home for Thanksgiving...and I...well, I might
have to share this bed with him...and I...I don't want to get a hard-on
every time I see him. If I did and Trent found out about it, I...I think
I'd run away during the night."

 "No, no, no! You're not going to run away. I know Trent pretty well...and
I think since he's your age, he just might understand. Trent's very wise
for his age. He wouldn't want you to run away and leave Granny Dee. None of
us want you to run away.....for any reason."

 "Uncle Dean, you won't tell Granny Dee or Uncle Cyrus what I told you,
will you?"

 "No, of course not! And I don't want you to think about running
away. After you've spent a day or two around Trent, if you want to tell him
about your...your problem or if you want to talk to Trent with me present
while you tell him. I think it'll be all right. I'm quite sure that Trent
had fantasies as all boys do. I believe all boys go through a period in
their teens when they have a crush on their best friend. It's funny but
they usually find out that the best friend had the same crush on them...and
it's normal, Jody,...even for straight boys."

 "You think?"

 "I know!"

 "Do you think I should hide that picture in the drawer and keep it out of
my sight?"

 "No, you can't run away from something that bothers you by stuffing it
into a drawer."

 "Then you think it's all right if I keep looking at it when--when I'm
alone?"

 "Absolutely. You might even find after a night or two, the picture doesn't
turn you on any longer and you'll find other things to fantasize
about...other people...whether it's boys or girls."

 "I'm pretty sure it's boys. That's why I thought I might be gay."

 "Jody, if you are gay, then we should have talks of a different
nature. There are many things which you must learn before you have actual
sex with a boy or a girl."

 "Like what?"

 "Well, with girls, you have to think about getting her pregnant. If it's
with girls or boys, you have to be careful not to catch some kind of
disease."

 "You can get diseases from both girls and boys?"

 "We call them, 'S.T.D.`s'...sexually transmitted diseases. Thereare many
variations, most are curable while some are not."

 "You mean like AIDS?"

 "AIDS is one. There are others...hepatitis 'C' is more widespread than HIV
or AIDS. Others are manageable while being non-curable, such as herpes or
venereal warts. Women have yeast infections which can transfer to their
male partners."

 "Gosh! That's why men wear condoms?"

 "Exactly. That's one thing you should remember whether your partner is a
boy or a girl. Many such diseases aren't noticeable and it might be months
or years before the disease manifests itself...and then, often it's too
late. A person has a disease and gives it to his partner without either of
them knowing."

 "Well, one thing for certain...when and if I ever have sex, I won't have
it unless I'm wearing a condom!"

 "You've just learned one of the best lessons of your life!"

 "You see? I wouldn't have known that unless you told me."

 "Boys and girls your age have parents who are supposed to teach them about
condoms, diseases, and such, but parents are often too shy, too embarrassed
to talk to their kids about sex. When a teacher tries to tell them about
it, the very same parents get angry and say that it's not up to the
teacher, that things such as sex should be taught in the home...only they
never teach it!"

 "Well, since I don't have any parents, I'm real glad I have you to teach
me...but what about Laurie? Will you teach her?"

 "No, Jody. I think such matters should be taught to a girl by a
woman. I'll have a little talk with Granny Dee and see if she'll have a
talk with Laurie about what I just told you."

 "As long as someone tells Laurie. I...I don't want to see her get pregnant
or catch someone's disease."

 "I'll see to it that it doesn't happen! Don't you worry!"

 "Uncle Dean, do you think Trent is gay?"

 "I don't know, Jody, but when you get to know him, why don't you ask him?"

 "Ha! I'd be too shy! Can you see me asking Trent if he's gay while I'm
standing there with a hard-on, talking to him?"

 Dean laughed. "I don't think that will happen."

 "But if it did....?"

 "Jody, by the time Trent comes home for Thanksgiving, you might be
fantasizing about Jessica Simpson or Jennifer Beals."

 Jody dropped his head. "I...I've already tried to have dirty thoughts
about Jessica Simpson."

 "And...?"

 "I...I lost my hard-on."

 "Okay. That's enough sex talk for one lesson. Let's finish putting your
clothes away and go see what Granny Dee has made for lunch! Are you
hungry?"

 "Only slightly. I don't eat much...remember?"

 "Well, that's something you have in common with Trent. He eats like a
bird."

<><><><><><><><><><><><>
 Trent and Angio had no problem picking out black tuxedos, pleated white
dress-shirts with studs, but they couldn't decide on which cummerbund to
wear. Brooks Brothers had a wide variety, everything from black to gold
lamé to Scottish plaids. Trent liked the solid bright red one, but
then, so did Angio and, since neither wanted to dress like the other, they
both put the red ones back. Finally Angio decided on a royal blue
cummerbund with flecks of silver threads and a matching bow tie. Not to be
outdone, Trent picked up an orange cummerbund, to see what Angio would
say. Sure enough, Angio thought Trent's choice was hideous and finally
convinced him to choose the red one instead. They both chose black patent
leather opera slippers with black silk knee-length socks.

Since both pairs of trousers had to be hemmed, they said they would pick up
their attire the day before the opening. Both were more than satisfied when
they left, feeling quite debonair, really grown-up, having just shopped at
the most illustrious men's' shop in New York City, Brooks Brothers!  "Where
to now, Trent? Your apartment?" Angio asked.

 "Don't you think we should eat first? I mean we need food to build up our
stamina!"

 "Ha! You wouldn't eat a big meal if you were forced. Tell you what---let's
go to Nedick's and get a hot dog and an Orange Julius!"

 "Orange Julius? I've never heard of one, much less had one!"

 "Buddy-boy, you're in for the treat of your life. You've learned to eat
bagels, but now it's time to eat real New York food!".

 They hopped a cab down Broadway to West 33rd and walked the rest of the
way to the famous frankfurter establishment.

 "What should I order?" Trent asked.

 "You leave that to me!" Angio replied with authority. The counterman
walked over to Angio who said, "Give me two hot dogs all the way and two
Orange Juliuses!"

 "All the way?" Trent asked. "Doesn't that mean with onions?"

 "You're worried about your breath? Mine's gonna smell like onions too, so
you better eat the onions in self-defense!"

 They wolfed down the hot dogs and the orange drinks and Trent loved them
both. Angio could've eaten two more, but Trent was full after eating just
one so they agreed it was time to go to Art's apartment to see what was
going to happen.

 When they arrived, Colette wasn't there. At Art's request, she'd been
going to Art's office daily to do the many things needed before next week's
opening. So Trent and Angio found that they had the apartment all to
themselves.

 In his bedroom, Trent took Angio's coat and hung it in the closet along
with his own leather jacket, keeping his face turned away to hide his
insecurity, but when he turned around, he saw Angio standing next to the
bed.

 "So?" Trent replied.

 "Are you tired?" Angio asked.

 "Nope!"

 "I thought we might want to lie down to take a nap," Angio said in an
overly-casual tone.

 "When I lie down, it won't be to take a nap!" Trent said.

 "Oh?" Angio's voice became honestly solicitous. "What do you want to do,
Trent?"

 "I...I wanna undress you!"

 "Boy! That's a first!" Angio said, a bit surprised.

 "And then I want you to undress me!"

 "Gladly!"

 Trent walked to the far side of his bed where Angio was standing and began
to unbutton his shirt, all the while looking directly into Angio's eyes. He
removed the shirt with ease and draped it on a chair beside the bed.

 "Sit down so that I can take off your shoes and socks."

 Angio sat on the side of the bed as Trent knelt and took off Angio's shoes
first, and then his socks.

 "What now, Jeeves?" Angio was trying to sound offhand, but he failed
miserably.

 "Stand up!"

 Angio obeyed and Trent undid Angio's belt, unbuttoned the top of his pants
and unzipped the fly. The trousers slid south and Trent stooped to remove
them as he followed them down to the floor. Angio helped by stepping out of
each pant leg while leaving him standing in his white t-shirt and Calvin
Klein briefs.

 "What next?" Trent's eyes sparkled with mischief, knowing now that Trent
was truly serious.

 Indicating the tighty-whities, Trent grinned, "Why don't I leave those
on--until you catch me up with you!"

 Angio grinned as he took the hint and quickly reversed roles, undressing
Trent down to his underwear. Trent turned, pulled down the bedspread, the
blanket, and the topsheet of the bed, and gave Angio a slight push backward
onto the bed.

With Angio's head on the pillow, Trent lay on top of him so that their
bodies were touching from chests to toes. And Trent learned that, to him,
this just felt right. He leaned forward to gently kiss Angio's lips. Angio
gladly succumbed to Trent's advances and slowly put his arms behind Trent's
back to embrace him. After the first long kiss, Trent reared up to sit on
Angio's lower torso while he removed Angio's t-shirt and then quickly
removed his own, all the while looking into Angio's eyes....

 Once again, Trent lowered himself toward Angio until now their naked
chests touched. Both could feel the excitement building inside their white
briefs as Angio carefully began to grind his crotch into Trent's.

 Trent moved his mouth to kiss Angio's cheek and then his ear. This had
never been a particularly sensitive spot for him but with Trent, it drove
Angio into a wild frenzy. Trent stuck his tongue inside Angio's ear and
left a saliva trail down Angio's neck, his sternum, and down to his navel
where Trent inserted his tongue.

 "Oh, God, Trent!" Angio gasped. "I'm not gonna able to stop---are you sure
you wanna do this?"

 "Shut up, my love!" Trent said as he plunged his tongue back into Angio's
navel.

Trent sat up again, only now he was straddling Angio's thighs and knees, as
tugged at the elastic waistband of Angio's briefs. Slowly, Trent pulled
them down until they freed Angio's erection which sprang up and hit Angio's
lower abdomen. Trent continued to scoot lower on Angio's legs until he had
completely removed the underwear.

 "Now look what you've done!" Angio exclaimed, laughing quietly. "How are
you gonna fix it?"

 "Oh, I'll find a way, just as soon as you get me out of my underwear."

 Angio rolled over, pinning Trent beneath him and took off Trent's briefs
in the same manner in which Trent had removed his. Trent's organ popped
free, just as Angio's had and Angio leaned forward to kiss it. He looked up
at Trent to ask, "Is that all right? Stop me if I go too far, too fast."

 "Angio, look at me! Tell me that you love me!" Was he merely asking or was
he pleading?

 "I do love you, Trent! I swear!"

 "Then take my body and do anything and everything you want to do with
it. Make me yours, Angio. I want to belong to you!"

 "My God, I can't believe this is finally happening, Trent! Do you know how
many nights I've lain in bed, dreaming of doing this with you?"

 "I don't need to know, Angio, as long as it was me that you were thinking
about and not anybody else."

 "Sweetheart! There is nobody else. Honest! It's only you and from now on,
it's you and me...me and you...only!"

 "I love you, Angio. You're here and you're alive! You're not a memory of
Ronnie! I want to be yours and I want you to be mine!"

 "Forever?"

 "Forever!"

 Angio removed Trent's underwear all the way and then softly lay his body
on top of Trent's and they made love for the rest of the afternoon, first
ferociously, then again, but this time gently. By the time Colette arrived
three hours later, Trent was no longer a virgin. He now belonged to
Angio. And Angio belonged to him.

When they had napped, showered, and dressed, , Angio called Rick to say
that something had come up and he wouldn't be able to spend the rest of the
week with him. Then Angio called his dad to tell him where he was.

<><><><><><><><><><><>
       There's nothing bigger on Broadway than the opening of a new
show...especially a musical. Opening night tickets are sold out weeks in
advance. Everyone who's anyone has managed to secure a pair. Hollywood has
its red carpets for premieres and award shows where all the stars and
starlets dress to the nines in designer clothes, or un-dressed to the tens,
whereas, a for Broadway show premiere, the 'first night' , gowns, furs,
jewelry get trotted out, dusted off, shined, polished, and cleaned. It's
still one of the few occasions to which an elegant New York lady can wear
mink, sable, ermine, or even chinchilla, without giving a rat's ass for
anyone who criticizes her in what newspaper or tabloid. Hollywood fashion
designers seldom provide outerwear, due partly to the Southern California
climate, but mostly to reveal as much skin as possible, but in New York,
during the fall season, the temperature might drop into the 40's, the 30's,
or even into the teens by the time the show lets out at 10:30pm. Then the
theatergoer is glad to wrap herself up in a full length mink coat and
bedamned to who sees her!

 Since Art had taken over the direction of 'La Di Da', there had been no
negative out-of-town press at all. Every reaction to the pre-reviews had
been positive. Forty or fifty years ago, the success of any Broadway
musical or play rested on the opinion of seven New York critics. No matter
how strong the word-of-mouth reviews among the audience members proved to
be...or how many curtain calls or standing ovations a show received on
opening night or on any night thereafter, the New York Times, the
Herald-Tribune, the Journal-American, the Daily News, the Post, the New
York Daily Mirror, and the World-Telegram and Sun...these newspapers
decided the fate of any new show.  Would it be a long run or would it soon
be posting a closing notice? Read the reviews.

 For Art's show, it was no longer the dreaded seven...it seemed now that
every publication in the country had its own critic. The New York Drama
Critic's Circle now represented twenty-one different publications. Now
potent criticism could come from the 'Village Voice' or 'New York
Magazine', 'The Rolling Stone', even 'Woman's Day'..as well as the existing
members of New York's fourth estate...among them, the 'New York Times'
still being the toughest nut to crack.

 Art recalled a Bock and Harnick musical back in the sixties, 'She Loves
Me', a Hal Prince show starring Barbara Cook, Daniel Massey, Jack Cassidy,
and Barbara Baxley. The show had received rave reviews from six of the
seven major critics after its first night presentation, but on opening
night, a stage curtain got hung up during a scene change, momentarily
snagged on a scenery projection, a minor problem quickly corrected. It
never interrupted the flow of the performance. Walter Kerr, drama critic
for the Herald-Tribune, wrote more about the curtain glitch than he wrote
about the show, the music, or the cast...thus, "She Loves Me" was not a hit
and ran less than a year. All because of 'a curtain glitch?'...get serious!
And Mr. Kerr wasn't even considered New York's most important critic. The
critical reviews carried that much weight!

 The newly written out-of-town reviews for his show had given Art and his
cast a feeling of confidence coming into New York, but one never knew what
might happen on opening night. For example, it wasn't opening night, but in
'Hello, Dolly!', Gower Champion had choreographed the male dancers to jump
from the stage to a runway over the orchestra pit during 'The Waiters'
Gallop'. One night in performance, a dancer missed and landed on a kettle
drum in the pit. Had this happened on opening night, 'Hello, Dolly' might
have closed after one week instead of having an eight-year run.

Fortunately, for Art, no dancers had to leap over the orchestra pit and no
curtain had to fly in during the second act...but there were a thousand
other things which could go wrong and be just as bad or worse. One thing,
however, was sure: with the advanced hype about 'La Di Da', there would be
lines around the theatre tomorrow morning...either to buy the hard-to-get
tickets---or to get refunds before the show folded.

 The spotlights were out on West 46th Street filling the sky with swirls of
incandescence. Limousines and taxis were stretched bumper to bumper for
blocks down Broadway, all headed for the new show. One long stretch limo
pulled up in front of the theatre and from it. emerged Cyrus Barnes, Dean
Barger, and two young friends, Trent Matthews and Angio Marcano, all
dressed in black tuxedos and looking like an ad from 'GQ'. Some of the
crowd behind the red velvet rope recognized Cyrus and Dean and broke into
applause. There were plenty of autograph seekers with paper and pen in
hand, begging for the signatures of Bernadette, Chita, Angela, Steve,
Patti, Diane and Mike, Audra, Neil Patrick, Donald, Regis and Joy, Matthew
and Sarah, Hal, Jerry, Barbara's , both C and W, and not to forget, Tim and
Rob...scads of stars from Broadway, TV, and cabarets.

 No one was more proud than Trent. It was his new dad's show and several of
the paparazzi had instantly recognized the team of Barger and Barnes and
automatically knew that the two young men with them had to be 'somebody.'
They began snapping photos of Broadway's old favorite musical team as well
as their guests. Trent was shy at first but soon realized that Angio was
eating up the attention, actually pausing to pose for the snapping cameras!
He knew Angio's parents would see the pictures would be happy for their
son, so it was fine with Trent.

 Inside the theatre, the crowd was as noisy as any ballgame at Shea
Stadium. Women were waving at one another all the way across the orchestra
seats. The theatre was packed with excitement until the house lights dimmed
to half and the roar of the crowd subsided into a tense silence as the
conductor held his baton in the air to give the downbeat for the
overture...which began with a single kettle drum roll and crescendoed to
the wail of five trumpets blaring out the first tune in two/four time.

Trent was very familiar with overtures and thought that 'La Di Da's'
overture rivaled that of 'Gypsy', which was probably the most exciting
overture ever written. The strings zipped through the second number and the
trombones started playing the first ballad. They were soon joined by five
saxophones, the alto wailing as if had escaped from 'Birdland'. Finally the
conductor held the final note for sixteen bars and it nearly brought the
audience out of its seats. The stagehand who was to pull the curtain for
the first scene had to delay his action due to the amount of applause for
the orchestra and its overture. Trent leaped to his feet to give it a
well-deserved standing ovation.

 The cast on stage, all in place, waiting for the curtain to rise, heard
the applause and two dozen hearts sank to the pits of their stomachs. Would
they be able to live up to the orchestra's warm-up? Art was standing in the
back of the theatre with Paul Warner, the producer. Both were ecstatic
about the audience's response.

 Paul leaned over to give Art a big hug!  "So far, so good, Art!" Paul said
over the applause. "I knew I made the right decision when I put you in
charge!"

 "Just wait, Paul. We still have two acts to get through before..." Art
replied, nervously, his voice fading away into his own personal Hell.  Art
had no reason to worry. The first act went off like magic...each number
receiving more applause than the previous one. The audience was laughing in
all the right places. During one of the ballads, Art saw several men in the
audience putting their arms around their wives as if the romantic feeling
of the leads was reaching over the footlights and working its spell on
these people who still loved good music...the kind Rodgers, Kern, and
Porter used to make!

 When the first act curtain fell, The applause was strong and sustained!i
Then people began to get out of their seats for a bathroom break, a drink,
or a cigarette. This was a signal for Art and Paul to roam through the
crowd listening for comments...and all were favorable. When the two met at
the back of the theatre for act two to begin, both were beaming with smiles
of relief and wonderment.

The second act started. The conductor started the entr'acte and it, too,
finished to thunderous applause. The second act was, as usual, thirty
minutes shorter than the first. The plot wound up just as the audience had
hoped and the chorus and leads walked downstage for the finale, ending
with, "DO RE MI FA SO LA DI DA!".

The audience didn't wait for the final curtain. It was already on its feet,
cheering, giving the show a standing ovation which was followed by fourteen
curtain calls! Art was crying. Paul was crying. Trent, Angio, Cyrus, Dean,
Rob, and Tim...the whole sixth row seemed to be crying as well. Art and
Paul hugged, then ran backstage to compliment the cast who were already on
cloud ten. The applause had elevated them far above cloud nine.

 No one had missed a cue, onstage or off. No lines or lyrics were
dropped. No steps were forgotten. The show could not have been more
perfect!

Art hugged as many members of his cast and crew as he could physically
reach! When he turned around, he saw his 'family' from the sixth row and
ran to embrace them. Cyrus was so excited, one would have thought he and
Dean had written the show themselves.

The group onstage finally broke up, heading for the dressing rooms to
remove their costumes and makeup, and get dressed to go to the opening
night party.......and wait for the first reviews to come out.

 Paul had reserved a banquet room at the nearby Belvedere Hotel, which was
within walking distance of the theatre. Trays of lobster, caviar, hors
d'oeuvres of international cuisines were the order of the night. Magnums of
bubbly were poured at every table. A fifteen-piece band was playing show
tunes in the corner as some people chose to dance. Finally, two AM arrived
and it was time for the first review to be on the stands. Paul had asked a
couple of assistants to wait at the printing plants to get copies as soon
as they were ready. The two assistants bought three dozen copies of each
paper and ran to the banquet room to distribute them to Paul, Art, and the
cast. Nervously, everyone plowed past the news sections to find the theatre
reviews. Everyone only got the first paragraph read when they starting
roaring, cheering, shouting, hugging, kissing to celebrate. 'La Di Da' was
a hit! The critics were ALL positive which meant Paul had no financial
worries for his backers, Art was praised and was set to be a successful
director from now on. The leads, the dancers, the singers, the musicians,
the stage hands, ALL had employment for months, maybe YEARS to come! Trent
hugged Art, Dean, Cyrus, Rob, Tim, and then turned to Angio and kissed him
on the mouth. No one even noticed the two new lovers as everyone else
seemed to be kissing each other as well. Art came over to the table where
Cyrus, Dean, Trent, and Angio were seated to say, "Well, guys, it's off to
Tennessee next week! I think we ALL have a great deal to be thankful for!"
The idea of Trent's leaving for the short holiday weekend brought Angio
back to reality, to the fact that he wouldn't have his lover with him for
Thanksgiving. He suddenly got a glum look on his face. Trent looked at
Angio and immediately knew what Angio was thinking. "You're going to
Tennessee with us, aren't you?" Trent asked Angio. "Am I invited?" "Are you
kidding? We're a couple now and nothing or no one is gonna separate us!"
Angio yelled and embraced Trent. Now the only one with a concerned look on
his face was Dean. What would Jody do if Trent brought Angio with him to
Tennessee?

<><><><><><><><><><><><><>

(To be continued in chapter fourteen of "Echoes From A Wishing Well" next
week!)

ADDENDUM:

The above note was written long before Ritch passed away. I'll do what I
can in his memory.  -Les