Date: Fri, 21 May 2004 00:22:43 EDT
From: RitchChristopher@cs.com
Subject: lush-life-2

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.

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                                   LUSH LIFE

                                       by

                                Ritch Christopher

                                   Chapter Two

                                     "Clay"

                        * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

              "Sing a song of sad young men, glasses full of rye.
               All the news is bad again, kiss your dreams goodbye.

               All the sad young men, sitting in the bars,
               Knowing neon nights, missing all the stars,
               All the sad young men, drifting through the town,
               Drinking up the night, trying not to drown.

               All the sad young men, singing in the cold,
               Trying to forget that they're growing old.
               All the sad young men, choking on their youth,
               Trying to be brave, running from the truth.

               Autumn turns the leaves to gold, slowly dies the heart.
               Sad young men are growing old, that's the cruelest part.

               All the sad young men seek a certain smile,
               Someone they can hold for a little while.
               Tired little girl does the best she can,
               Trying to be gay, for a sad young man.

               While a grimy moon watches from above,
               All the sad young men play at making love.
               Misbegotten moon, shine for sad young men.
               Let your gentle light guide them home again,
               All the sad young men..."

                    "The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men"
                       from the Broadway musical, "The Nervous Set"
                       Music by Tommy Wolf, Lyrics by Fran Landesman
                       Copyright 1959.


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	Clay Lawson had graduated in the upper ten percent of his class at
McNair High School in Plantation, Florida, one of the 38 or so
municipalities which make up Broward County where Fort Lauderdale is the
mainstay. His parents had moved there in the mid-seventies from Charlotte,
North Carolina.

	Elizabeth Lawson, Clay's mother, had fallen in love with Plantation
at first glance. Of course, at that time, Plantation was a small community
of houses built on either side of the main thoroughfare, Broward Boulevard,
which stretched east from downtown Fort Lauderdale as far west as it would
go. At the fortieth block westward, the boulevard crossed State Road #7,
also called Highway #444, where the city limits of Plantation began. The
well-traveled street had only two lanes at the conjunction but there were
high piles of dirt and clay on either side with Caterpillars, steamrollers
and shovels working daily to make it wider for the tremendous growth
Plantation expected to encounter during the next thirty years. Thousands
and thousands of homes, hospitals, malls, shopping centers, businesses,
parks, and playgrounds would be built on what was once green pastures and
swampland.

	To Elizabeth, Plantation didn't resemble any other city or place in
the state of Florida. As a child, all but forced to visit her grandparents
in Jacksonville each and every summer, she had hated the heat and the
sand. At her grandparent's house, there was no lawn...no green grass, only
sticky sand which clung to her sandals and which she and everyone else
tracked into her Grandma's living room. Elizabeth had all but hated
Florida.

	Then one year on college Spring Break, she and John, her soon-to-be
husband, came to Fort Lauderdale and one night decided to drive west to see
the Everglades. As luck would have it (so the couple claimed later), they
'ran out of gas' and woke up in a section which is now known as
Plantation. There was NO sand...no sticky salt air...no Florida heat...just
trees, bushes, and green grass as far as they could see. The area was
composed of tremendously wide ficus trees, extremely tall Australian pine
trees which resembled bottle brushes climbing 40, 50, 60 feet in the
air. Colorful blossoms of crepe myrtle, red poinciana blossoms, orange and
yellow frangipani bushes, orchid plants. Both Elizabeth and John felt they
had awakened in Eden. This was the closest place to a paradise either one
had ever seen. It was on THAT morning that they decided, when they married
and chose to raise a family, it would be HERE in the Garden of Eden.

	They did just that! They moved to Plantation after John got his law
degree and passed his bar exam. John opened his office in the small but
growing city, but practiced law at Broward County Court House where he was
a defense attorney. During the next three years, he would be elected to the
Plantation Town Council. Elizabeth's love for flora and fauna would make
her president of the garden club. She got pregnant and had hers and John's
only child, a son, Clay.

	As Clay grew up in the Plantation community, his parents became
active politically, choosing to become liberal Democrats. They joined the
local Episcopal Church where Clay was christened and later confirmed on his
thirteenth birthday. The main present he asked his dad for was a puppy. So
John drove his son to the Broward County Animal Shelter and told him he
could chose two (and also save them from impending euthanasia). Clay wanted
at least a dozen, but finally decided on black Scottish Terrier which he
named "Jocko" after the Scottie in "Lady And The Tramp" and a yellow
Labrador Retriever who was a dead ringer for "Old Yeller". Clay called him
"Fred" and made sure he was inoculated against rabies and not have to
suffer the doom of the Disney dog.

	Clay's mother had bought him a huge aquarium for his room and every
Friday, he looked forward to the salt-water-filled clear plastic bag his
father brought him on his way home from work. John would stop at a pet
store and buy a large assortment of tropical fish, small sea creatures, and
an array of tiny plants to add to his son's oceanic menagerie.

	Clay loved science. He loved the world where he lived. Plantation
had loads of mysterious bugs and things that crawled and each of them
fascinated him as he grew up. It was common to see Palmetto bugs, lizards,
chameleons, snakes, opossums, frogs and toads...even the ones with
poisonous bumps on their backs which sometimes caused the death of a pet
cat or dog should they put the toads in their mouths. Occasionally, in the
morning he might see a fox, a wild hare, or a raccoon in his backyard,
trying to get a morning dip in the Lawson swimming pool.

	The Lawsons were not wealthy, it's just that practically all the
older houses in Plantation, no matter how big or small, had various sized
swimming pools. That went along with the dress code. All the kids, except
when they were at school, wore nothing but swim trunks, shorts and tank
tops for the girls. And for shoes? Flip-flops! What else?

	Thus Clay matured into a very handsome young man. Like most kids in
Florida, he had a natural tan. But he also had golden hair, dark eyes, with
long velvety lashes, smooth skin with a slight muscular build in spite of
the fact Clay had played little or no sports at school.

	Clay's good looks would turn all the girls' heads with a teen lust
and the boys eyes, green with envy. Girlfriends? Boyfriends? Pubescent sex?
Nah! Who needed them? Who had time for them? All Clay wanted was to hurry
home every day to Jocko and Fred. They had been inseparable all through
junior high and high school. They swam in the pool together every day until
dinner time, after which, Clay would do his school homework, with a dog at
each foot. The three of them would watch a little TV and share a bowl of
popcorn, followed by a nightly bath...again, with all three in the
tub...Clay, Jocko, and barely enough room for big Fred.

	When bedtime came, Clay would have a snack...Jocko and Fred had dog
biscuits, and the three of them would go to Clay's room and bounce upon
Clay's queen size mattress, curl up, and fall asleep together. This was
Clay's world and his family and he felt no need for outsiders, friends or
buddies.

	One day when Clay was eight years old, a neighbor had purposely
stepped on a Palmetto bug (most people would call them large
cockroaches). Seeing the yellow insides spill out of the insects made Clay
cry out and rush home in tears to his mother. Clay could not stand for any
animal, fish, or insect to be harmed. He loved them all. God put them on
earth for a purpose and Clay felt God had placed him on earth to protect
them...ALL of them!

	When Clay was fifteen, his dad bought him a Radio Shack DOS
computer with many science programs. Clay focused his attention on biology
and human anatomy. His love of animal life was inherited,it would seem,
from his mother's love for plants and nature.

	It didn't take a psychic or a fortune teller to predict Clay was
born to become a doctor. His house was located between two hospitals,
Plantation General and a smaller HMO clinic. When he was old enough to be
permitted, he volunteered at the larger facility to assist in pushing
wheelchairs for those patients who wanted to go outside or that were unable
to assist themselves going to meals or activities. Before assuming this
responsibility, he took Jocko and Fred into the living room and sat the on
the couch to explain he was needed for short periods of time to help
others. Being satisfied that his two best friends understood, he did his
hospital work as often as possible. This task became even more enjoyable
when the activity director at the hospital told him that Jocko and Fred
could assist with pet therapy. This was better than Clay could dream.

	By the time he was sixteen, he had become a paid worker, a teen
orderly, filling ice buckets, water pitchers, and occasionally emptying a
bed pan. He was paid two dollars an hour up to twenty hours and upon
receiving his first paycheck, he came home to show his mom and dad, as
proud as if he'd won the lottery.

	Elizabeth had no worry about their son. He was perhaps the
best-looking kid at McNair High with a 3.75 GPA. He socialized from time to
time with a group of his peers by going to the Plantation Cinema on
Saturday afternoon. Spending all his free time with his two pet dogs, Clay
didn't get involved with a close buddy or a girlfriend. He showed no sign
of depression or being socially ostracized; he was merely happy in his own
world. Why should anyone be concerned? He tried out for the senior play and
got the lead, memorizing the entire script in four hours.

	If some social agency were to scrutinize the life of Clay, the
report would come back as his being nearly perfect. Drugs, alcohol, sex,
wild parties, fast cars...NONE of them caught Clay's interest. But if he
felt old Mrs. McIntire, a patient at BGH, needed someone to read her mail
to her or a passage from a new book or from the Bible, he would rush on
foot or bicycle to be by her side. John and Elizabeth could not have been
more proud of their son.

	In spite of his choice to be socially isolated with his peers, his
parents knew that the day would come in the future would he would meet that
"right" girl and his life would change, but until that time arrived, let
him be happy living the life he chose.

	John had approached his son when he was beginning the first stage
of puberty with the subject of the birds and the bees, but as most
father's, John soon learned that Clay was better versed on the topic than
he. Although Clay attended mass every Sunday and loved reading Bible
verses, especially Psalms, Song of Solomon, and Ecclesiastes, he was not a
religious fanatic and yet, he told his dad during their private
conversation that he wanted to wait until marriages to attempt sex.
	Due to the onslaught of AIDS, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other raging
STD's, many of Clay's classmates had selected this 'no sex before marriage'
idea which relieved Elizabeth and John to no end. 'Masturbation'? That was
fine. Clay had indulged in self-pleasure since he was thirteen and even
told his dad about it openly. He had studied about its need on one of the
anatomical programs on his computer and had approached masturbation as a
scientific, medical, AND emotional need for every young guy and it was
healthy, causing NO harm to the body nor to the young male psyche.

	Only Jocko and Fred had seen Clay performing his naked masturbatory
ritual, but his parents were aware of it and never mentioned it since it
was the natural thing to do.

	In other words, CLAY'S WORLD WAS PERFECT! There was nothing he or
his parents could want more out of life. Then one day his father came home
early from work and went to bed earlier than usual because of a "tired"
feeling.

	The following day, John felt almost too weak to go to work. It was
if his muscles didn't want to work. He spiked a fever and Elizabeth became
very concerned. By midday, John's condition had worsened. She tried to get
him to walk to the car so that she could take him to the hospital, but he
couldn't stand on his own and she was unable to pick him up. She dialed 911
for an ambulance.  Fifteen minutes later, John was on a gurney at PGH with
two doctors and three nurses examining him.

	Clay was on the fourth floor at PGH doing his afternoon rounds when
he heard the news that his dad was in the ER. He rushed down the stairs
instead of waiting on the elevator to be by his dad's side. His mom was in
the waiting room talking to one of the examining physicians. As Clay
approached her, he heard the words, 'Hodgkin's Disease'. Clay knew he had
read about it on his computer but he couldn't remember anything more except
he was sure it was serious.

	He was only two steps away from Elizabeth when he saw her place her
hand over her mouth to muffle her saying, "Oh, my God, NO!". She seemed to
crumple to the floor as if to faint. Clay ran to catch her and succeeded
before her head reached the cold hard tile.

	This would be a day Clay would never forget for the rest of his
life. Not only was it the first time he'd ever experienced the heartbreak
of reality, it was the first tinge of unhappiness and disappointment he'd
ever known. Life was NOT perfect. There are bumps and curves in the
road. After leaving his mother at his dad's bedside, Clay rushed home to
tend to his best friends' supper and go to his computer to read more about
his dad's impending doom.

	'Hodgkin's Disease'...usually fatal. Fatal? Death? His dad? How
much or how little time would they have together? Should he attempt to go
to college? It was assumed that he would go to the University of Miami,
just a 45 minute drive from his house, but there was the problem of
tuition. Would or COULD his family afford it? He remembered hearing a news
item on ABC about how the costs of going to college rose higher each
year...forty...fifty thousand dollars! Clay had never known the need for
money. His dad had always given him anything he wanted gratis. His mom
didn't work. He couldn't support her, his dad, and himself on the meager
salary he made at PGH. How could he even pay for Jocko's and Fred's upkeep?

	It had been years since Clay had any reason to cry but with his
whole world crumpled by two words, 'Hodgkin's Disease', he sat on the floor
and cried. His best friends sensed his sorrow as each began comforting him
with huge kisses and licks on both sides of his face.

	Five days later, John returned home from the hospital looking,
pale, weak, and emaciated. His smile that Clay and Elizabeth both loved had
vanished and the three of them were filled with fear.  John was still
young, only 42 years old, and unfortunately for his family, had never
bought life insurance. He had alwaysplaced a certain amount of his monthly
earnings in a trust fund for Clay's college education but it appeared that
that might have to be used for household expenses instead.

	Clay wanted to put off going to college for at least a year or
until his dad... He didn't want to think about that just yet, nor did he
want to leave his dad's side. Clay had learned to take care of sick people
in the hospital and now he would take care of his dad as long as he could.

	John wouldn't hear of Clay's decision. His son HAD to go to college
and that was final. So, after much discussion, Clay compromised and agreed
NOT to go UM, instead he would go to Broward Community College for two
years for a fraction of the tuition costs. He would go to school for four
hours each morning and spend the rest of the day tending to his dad, whom
it appeared grew weaker, his condition worsening, daily.

	John's favorite pastime was listening to jazz music. He had a huge
assortment of vinyl LP's, most of which Clay had never listened to due to
his obsession with science and anatomy projects. So every afternoon, John
would choose a jazz artist of the day and he became a musical tutor for his
son...Basie, Coltrane, Getz, Kenton, including many vocalists such as Ella
Fitzgerald, Anita O'Day, June Christy, Chris Connor, and especially a jazz
vocal group called, "The Hi-los" which became Clay's favorite. Clay found
there was a correlation between science, math, and music. The two of them
spent a week listening to the irregular time signatures of Dave Brubeck,
putting five beats into one measure or twelve/four and it was great fun to
hear Dave play in 4/4 time while his drummer Joe Morello played in 3/4 all
at the same time. Jazz opened a new world for Clay which was very important
since the world he knew with his dad was drawing to an end.

	Not many eighteen year old kids could honestly say that their
favorite tunes were "Little Girl Blue" and "The Boy Next Door", but Clay
could.

	There WAS a 'boy next door' that Clay knew, had played with, had
attended the same schools for twelve years...Scott Parsons. Clay and Scott
were next-door neighbors and friends, but not best friends. John had the
foresight to know that, when he was gone, Clay would need a best friend to
confide in or "pal around" with. So one afternoon, he told Clay to invite
Scott over to their house for an afternoon jazz session. Clay objected as
he didn't want anyone to usurp the little time he had left with his dad,
but at John's insistence, Clay invited Scott to his home.

	Clay was not even aware that Scott was a musician. He could play
piano, trumpet, trombone, and a wee bit of clarinet and alto
saxophone. When Scott reluctantly came to visit Clay and John, he was
pleasantly surprised for the reason. Scott loved listening to John's music
and his commentary. It was during these afternoon musical interludes that
he and Clay became close friends. Scott didn't mind doing things for Clay's
dad. He became an assistant to Clay in taking care of John's needs. Soon
his occasional visits became a daily routine, Scott spent EVERY afternoon
at the Lawson residence. His interest in music equaled Clay's in science.

	Before long, Clay and Scott became best friends. Even Jocko and
Fred approved and loved jumping into the swimming pool with their next door
neighbor. John said a silent prayer of thanks every day that Clay had found
someone, other than Elizabeth and himself, to share his young life
with. Both boys were having fun getting to know one another in spite of the
tragedy inside the Lawson house.

	The first night that Scott was invited for a sleepover with Clay,
another world opened for Clay. At bedtime, Clay, Jocko, Fred, and Scott
piled into Clay's huge bed to watch a VHS tape. John had recommended Judy
Garland's "Meet Me In St. Louis" to listen to the Ralph Blane/Hugh Martin
musical score, filled with many songs they had learned earlier in the day
from jazz recordings.

	Judy sat on a window sill looking at her next door neighbor, played
by Tom Drake, and yearnfully began to sing, "How can I ignore the boy next
door?" ending with "I just adore him. So I can't ignore him...the boy next
door." The melody and the lyrics somehow created a bond between them two
boys, sharing a bed for the first time. It was a magical moment as they
turned to look deeply into each other's eyes. As the instrumental
arrangement of the song continued Clay and Scott drew their faces closer
together and their lips touched...slightly, but very tenderly. Neither of
them knew why they did it, nor were they ashamed. It just seemed like the
right and natural thing to do. They kissed again with a bit more passion
and for the first time in both their lives they felt what it meant to
love. No matter how long Clay lived he would never forget that song. It
would haunt him the rest of his life.

	After the second kiss, Clay held Scott's hand for the remainder of
the film. Scott gave Clay's hand a special squeeze when Judy sang, "Have
Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" to Margaret O'Brien. Both of them knew
that this Christmas would be different. Clay feared his dad might not be
with him while Scott felt that he had someone special to spend his next
Christmas with. The movie ended and Clay turned off the VCR and the TV by
remote control. Then he reached to his bedside table and flipped off the
light.

	The two boys had loved the movie and were still lingering in the
reverie of the two kisses. They scrunched down under the covers, leaving
only their heads out. Each wondered what the other was thinking. Should
they take their fantasy to another level or was it best to leave things as
they were for the time being? Both were virgins and had no idea of what to
do or how to take things further even if they were both agreeable.

	The first word spoken was by Clay. "Did you like the movie?"

	"I loved it!" Scott replied. "especially the music!"

	"Yeah, the songs sounded different from Dad's jazz recordings. I
mean, putting them into context...the way they were used in the story. I
don't know why they stopped making Hollywood musicals."

	"Probably because guys like you and me really aren't aware of them
or what they're all about. I always thought it was silly for people to sing
instead of speaking dialogue. I...I always liked "The Wizard Of Oz" with
Judy Garland, but it was like a kid's movie...the kind you see on
Mr. Rogers!"

	"Did you watch that show when you were a kid?"

	"Every morning before I started school," Scott said.

	"Me, too. He did lots of science things...elementary, of course,
but I enjoyed them all the same."

	In the darkness, under the covers, once again, Scott reached out to
hold Clay's hand. Clay didn't resist. The touch reminded him of their kiss.

	"Scott?"

	"Yeah?"

	"You...you didn't get mad when we kissed, did you?"

	"No. I've never kissed anyone before."

	"Me either."

	"That's crazy. We're both eighteen...high school graduates. I don't
believe that either of us are queer but how the heck could both of us go
our whole lives without ever kissing ANYONE?"

	"It does seem stupid. I just never had the urge to kiss anyone
before. A kiss is special, I guess, and I've never felt special about
anyone."

	"Yeah, but you kissed me. Am I special, Clay?"

	"I suppose you're as special to me as I am to you if I'm the first
person you ever kissed, too."

	"Then it's safe to assume you've never had sex with another person
either?"

	"Nope...just by myself. I told my mom and dad the first time I did
it!"

	"WOW! What did they say? I could never tell my mom and pop about
doin' it!"

	"They approved. They said it was normal and all part of growing
up."

	"Can I ask you something really personal?"

	"Sure."

	"When you do it...do you fantasize about anybody? I mean, do you
have a Playboy magazine or something to help get you off?"

	"No, I just try different grips or speed until I reach an orgasm. I
never have to fantasize. What about you? Do YOU have adult magazines?"

	"Heck, no! My mom would wet her panties if she saw a girlie
magazine in my room."

	"Well, do you fantasize or just masturbate until you climax as I
do?"

	"Yeah, I fantasize."

	"About what?"

	"You won't get mad?"

	"Why should I?"

	"Because...sometimes, I think about you when I'm doin' it."

	"ME? You're crazy. How do I fit into your fantasy."

	"Sometimes I see you in your pool, swimming with Fred and Jocko,
and I peek through the cracks in the fence that separates our two
backyards."

	"And?"

	"I wonder how you look without your bathing suit."

	"You mean naked? You want to see me naked?"

	"In my imagination, you are."

	"My God, Scott! My bathing suit is only hiding my penis and my
testicles. They're just parts of my anatomy. There's certainly nothing
about them to excite anyone."

	"Well, you asked what I fantasized about and I told you."

	"Well, for God's sake, if you're that curious, I'll show them to
you. I'm going to be a doctor and I guess I'll see lots of penises,
testicles, and vaginas in my work. Is that what you want? Do you want to
see them?"

	"I'm not studying to become a doctor. I'm afraid I'd be
embarrassed."

	"That's bullshit!" Clay exclaimed, throwing down the covers and
turning on the light in a flash. He stood beside Scott's side of the bed
and without flinching he pulled off the top of his pajamas and threw them
on the floor. Then, without hesitation, he untied the waistband of the
bottoms and let them drop to his feet. Scott was astonished by Clay's
brazen attitude. What he longed to see was only two feet from his eyes.

	"There!" Clay announced. "Look all you want!"

	Scott became wide-eyed as his face turned red, then pale, then red
again.

	"Are you disappointed?" Clay asked him.

	"No, not at all...only it's bigger that I ever dreamed."

	"OK, now let's see yours!"

	"No way!"

	"Why not? Suppose some night I want to fantasize about you? I won't
have the advantage you have."

	"I...I can't show you me."

	"Why not? If you came to see me professionally in a few years, I'd
have to see you then."

	"Yeah, but...but I wouldn't have the erection then that seeing you
has given me now."

	"You have an erection now?"

	"Yeah, thanks to you!"

	"Then I DO want to see it. You HAVE to show me now!"

	"You won't laugh or make fun of me, will you?"

	"Scott! If you were my patient, I couldn't laugh...so let's see
it!"

	"OK, but you promised."

	Reluctantly, Scott sat on the side of the bed and slowly took off
his pajamas...top first, then the bottoms. He wasn't lying for Scott had a
huge raging hard on. It, too, was red with seeming embarrassment.

	"Good Lord, you've a very healthy looking organ!" Clay
announced. "Why were you ashamed to show me?"

	"Because YOU caused it! Clay, you excite me...sexually! You have
for many years. I just never got close enough to you to let you know. Then,
tonight, a few minutes ago, we kissed and I hoped against all my daydreams
that you might feel something for me."

	"I suppose I do, otherwise I don't think we'd have kissed."

	"Would you kiss me again...I mean us being naked and all?"

	"Sure. Do you want to stand or want me to sit down beside you?"

	"Uh...sitting is better...because if we stand my...you
know... would be touching yours."

	"Oh, for crying out loud! This is anatomical, NOT emotional."

	"For you, maybe..."

	"What's THAT supposed to mean?"

	"Clay, I think I love you."

	"How can you be so sure?"

	"The way you excite me. The way you make me feel when I come over
here to your house. The way I feel right now when I want you to take me in
your arms and hold me."

	"Stand up! Please!" Clay ordered.

	With a great deal of reticence, Scott stood up slowly. His erection
was solidly parallel to the floor. Clay moved toward him and their naked
bodies touched as he put his arms around Scott and drew him near. Not
expecting it, Clay soon had an erection which matched Scott's and they seem
to challenge themselves for position like two knights meeting in a
joust. Their lips merged and Clay became even more surprised as Scott
forced his tongue into Clay's mouth.

	With an ounce of bravery he didn't know existed in his being, Scott
moved his hand to surround both their erections and slowly began to move it
to and fro. Clay couldn't believe anything like this could be so
sensual. It never occurred to him. Clay lowered HIS hand to cup both sets
of testicles which aroused both of them even more. Neither dared to
speak. They covered their unspoken words with a series of kisses with their
tongues tangling. The two boys were suddenly swapping eighteen years of
pent-up emotions. They were beyond being ashamed. With their two free
hands, they explored every possible part of the other's body they could
reach.

	Both Clay and Scott realized they had to stop kissing long enough
to breathe as they were both gasping for air. Both their chins were covered
with the other's saliva.

	"Oh, God, Clay, how I've dreamt of this. I can't believe it's
happening for real!"

	"Scott, if this has been what you've yearned for, why the heck
haven't you said something?"

	"Our friendship was rather tentative. I never thought we, or
rather, I, would get the chance to get this close to you. I didn't want to
lose our friendship."

	"Scott?"

	"Yeah?"

	"Are you hiding any more fantasies you'd like to discuss?"

	"Well.....Maybe one."

	"What?"

	"THIS!" Scott exclaimed, sinking to his knees and taking Clay's
penis into his mouth in less than a second.

	"OH, MY GOD!" Clay yelled in delight. "Don't hold back! I'm not
stopping you. Just keep doing that!"

	It took no longer than a minute for Clay to climax in Scott's
hungry mouth. Scott raised his eyes for Clay's approval and got it. Clay
put one hand in each of Scott's armpits and raised him to eye level and
kissed him firmly, tasting his own manliness for the first time.

	When the kiss broke, Clay whispered, "Scott, I've got to do THAT to
you. It's only fair." He dropped to his knees and reciprocated Scott's
action completely until Clay had a taste of Scott's love fluid.

	After the next kiss, the two of them lay on the bed, holding each
other tightly through the rest of the night. Neither of them attempted
another try at sex but each of them found himself closer to another person
than either of them had ever known possible. Had they just had their first
gay experience? Were either of them actually gay? Or were they the closest
of friends? It didn't matter. John had always told Clay that he would never
forget his first time. This was it and he would never forget! Neither would
Scott.

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	For the rest of the summer, there were many sleepovers at Clay's
house. Their intimacy never went any further than oral sex, nor did either
of them ever speak of love. Whatever happened between them was special, but
both were aware that autumn was approaching and Scott was leaving to go to
the Chicago Conservatory of Music. Scott wanted to be a band director of
some large college, perhaps the University of Tennessee and create marching
band routines, the kind that used to be seen on TV during halftime at the
football games. "Used to" because now the TV was spent with analyzers
telling the viewing audience what they had just seen. Talented kids worked
their butts off every week, even harder than the football players
practiced, but no longer got more than one minute on national television.

	Clay entered junior college in Broward County, taking as many
science courses as possible, satisfying his thirst for knowledge, while
trying to avoid the reality of his life. The week after Thanksgiving, John
died at PGH. His disease had not been caught in time and he died an early
death. The major part of his bank account went for medical expenses,
doctors, and hospitals. The little money left went toward an inexpensive
funeral, with barely enough afterwards to pay off the mortgage on their
house. Having an analytical mind due to his science background, Clay
accepted his dad's death in stride. Not that he didn't love his dad or the
realization he would miss him, especially those musical interludes, Clay
felt that death was a final resolve of nature. He never shed a tear. He
assumed the responsibility as man of the house and guardian/caretaker of
his mom.

	Going on nineteen, Clay took a job at PGH on the night shift as a
medical coder. He was good with numbers and Lord knows he knew every known
disease mentioned on his computer. Before long he knew all the familiar
codes from memory and his supervisor said he did an excellent
job. Elizabeth found work at a plant nursery and loved playing in the dirt
and planting dozens of small pots with flowers and ferns to be sold
later. Jocko and Fred stayed home to watch the house and they were good at
it, too. Clay took care of the chores around the house and stayed ahead of
the repairs and the upkeep.

	A year after John's death, Elizabeth branched out into landscaping
and designing people's lawns in the newer houses. She even had waterfalls,
fountains, and fishponds installed to surround her precious greenery.  One
rather large job she undertook was for a doctor in Weston, a new
development just southwest of Plantation. The landscaping took her nearly
four months in which time she got to know the doctor, have dinner with him
occasionally, eventually falling in love and marrying him. Clay liked
Dr. Robert Haskins, his future step-father and was thrilled for his mom
when she decided to marry him. What made everything even better was that
Robert was wealthy and had made many donations to animal shelters which
meant he loved Jocko and Fred and they would be welcome to move to his new
house.

	Robert had graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School in Tennessee
and wanted his step-son to follow in his track. So, college and med school
were no longer out of reach for Clay. The next year, sadly, he said "so
long for a while" to Jocko and Fred, who would be in the best of care, and
Clay went to Nashville to become a doctor.

	Clay hadn't heard from Scott for over a year. They hadn't been
lovers but each held a special place in the other's heart. Clay had
experienced sex with a very special person and felt that future sex should
be special as well. Therefore, he dived into his studies at Vanderbilt,
rarely dated, never had a sexual partner. He didn't have time or didn't
want to spare or waste the time. There was too much scientific work to be
done.

	He became friends with Tom and Rachel Weiss, two married fellow
students. Tom wanted to become a plastic surgeon, while Rachel opted for
lab study. She wanted to become a medical scientist and find cures and
treatment for looked-over illnesses and diseases. In particular, she wanted
to work on a new study on Hodgkin's Disease which made her and Clay become
closer friends. God! How he wished HE could find a cure or rather how he
wished a cure had been found when his dad was sick with the killer
disease. Clay decided that he would do graduate work in that field once he
had gotten his doctorate.

	Years passed and saw Clay graduate with honors. His mom and Robert
came up from Florida to congratulate the new doctor in the house. Time had
taken its toll on Fred and Jocko and Robert had buried them quietly in part
of his garden, unbeknownst to the city fathers of Weston. Robert couldn't
stand a house without dogs, so he went to the shelter and adopted six, all
at one time. He had even built a large spare room onto the back of his
house just for the pups.

	The night after graduation exercises, Clay took his mom and Robert
out to dinner in downtown Nashville. He mentioned to Robert his ambition of
pursuing a treatment for Hodgkin's Disease and Robert suggested that Clay
go investigate a large new experimental hospital and institute called Cole
Institute in a small town called Briarwood.

	Cole was famous for finding the cure of many strains of AIDS and
HIV and they were investigating possible cures for other illnesses as well,
including Hodgkin's. Robert knew Dr. Ed Middleton, the administrator, and
would happily call him for Clay if he were interested. Clay could also do
his residence there and continue his pursuit.

	Two months later, Dr. Clay Lawson was working in the ER at
Cole. Dr. Ed took an instant liking to Clay and invited him to dinner at
his house. Clay was dumbstruck when he found out that Dr. Ed's "wife" was a
man, a priest, whom everyone called, "Father Cliff". They were a gay couple
with two more gays living with them, Troy and Jay. But that wasn't
all...there were several "adopted" sons of Ed and Cliff, known as the
Briarwood Boys.

	A PRIEST? AN ADMINISTRATOR? Only Lord knows what else! But they
were openly gay and everyone in Briarwood loved and respected them... gay
AND straight people alike. Yet, for some reason, Clay couldn't come out to
them and admit his homosexual side, even though it had only been with
Scott. Clay had finally admitted to himself that when it came time to
choose a mate, it would have to be a 'he' not a 'she'. Clay didn't own up
to being an active homosexual but he knew he was gay just the same. He
still wasn't ready to admit it to anyone...not even to himself in the
mirror.

	Clay got to know several of the Briarwood Boys, including a very
handsome couple, Ryan and Kyle. Clay was stunned when he learned that Ryan
was a former AIDS patient, but was now suffering from...what
else?...Hodgkin's Disease--and it nearly broke Clay's heart to think about
it.

	Clay was very popular among the ER patients and he swore he cured
more psychosomatic illnesses than real ones in women patients who wanted to
be examined in the nude by this new young handsome physician. Clay took his
work seriously, although he laughed to himself occasionally, thinking, "If
I were heterosexual, I could have a field day playing with tits and pussies
all day long". There were also times when he felt himself getting a slight
erection while examining a healthy young stud for a hernia. Many times he
realized perhaps he had spent too much time handling a long penis or hefty
scrotum. Yes, he got urges, but didn't act upon any of them because he
hadn't met that 'special' person.

	One night when Clay got home to his apartment, he received a call
from his old classmates, Tom and Rachel. Tom was doing post-graduate work
in plastic surgery in New York City. Tom asked Clay if he could get away
for a weekend and come to visit them in the Big Apple, but Clay, declined
casually, not wanting to interrupt his own work or studies. After two
weeks, Tom called Clay once more with the same invitation, feeling that
Clay should see the city. Realizing Clay's potential as a doctor, Tom
wanted to tempt him with the Big Apple's delights and possibly give him
reason to move to New York to work.

	Clay had never seen New York and he finally gave in and accepted
Tom's offer after discussing the trip with Dr. Ed. That's when Clay learned
that there were two more Briarwood Boys on Broadway in the hit revival of
"Brigadoon". Cliff would call one of them and get orchestra house seats for
Clay and his two guests.

	Clay flew to New York and it was love at first sight...not with a
person, but with the city itself. Nashville was the only large place Clay
had ever visited or lived in, but Nashville seemed a wide place in the road
compared with New York. The second night of his visit, Clay took Tom and
Rachel to the Schubert Theatre to see "Brigadoon" and to meet the star and
the conductor, Rob and Tim, friends, or rather "sons", of his boss at Cole.

	After the show, Tom and Rachel hailed a cab and took Clay to
Greenwich Village for a snack, a drink, and to hear this jazz combo with,
they understood, a sensational saxophone player.

	Having spent so much time with Rob and Tim, they were late getting
to the Rustic Inn. The band was playing their third and final set. The
three of them entered and found a table up front, close to the
bandstand. In all the years of loving jazz music as his dad had taught him,
Clay had never heard jazz played "live".

	The three of them took their seats and ordered drinks. Clay sat
back in his chair to drink in the room and atmosphere and suddenly his
focus was pulled to the saxophonist. There stood the most handsome guy Clay
had ever seen. The horn player ran his fingers through his hair to get it
off his forehead and Clay saw Dave's eyes. At the same time, Dave's eyes
locked into Clay's stare and something "clicked" when they looked at each
other. Something mystical, almost.

	Dave turned around and said something to the piano player and the
pianist started playing, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" for about
sixteen bars before going into "The Trolley Song". This was too ironic for
Clay to fathom. He hadn't heard those tunes since the night he and Scott
had watched, "Meet Me In St. Louis"...that "special" night. It was a good
thing the room was dark or else Tom and Rachel would have seen every hair
on Clay's arms and hands standing on end. Then the windows of heaven opened
for Clay as the saxophonist began to play, "The Boy Next Door". Clay
couldn't believe it It seemed the song was being played for him and to him
by this tall, handsome musician. Clay could feel goose bumps popping up
over his entire body. Whether the horn player was aware or not, this moment
was special to Clay. It was as if he was meant to be there, eyeing this
guy, listening to the most beautiful sound Clay had ever heard.  Clay
didn't believe in destiny. He was a man of science...but something
miraculous was happening!

	Clay was unaware of the passage of time or that the band had
concluded its final set. He watched the saxophonist go off stage into a
room in the back. He thought that Dave would come back out front for a
drink or to mix with the crowd, but he never appeared. Clay wanted
desperately to meet this musician only to tell him how much he enjoyed his
playing... how much it meant to him.

	Clay got up from the table and excused himself. He told Tom and
Rachel he had some calls to make back to Briarwood and he would meet them
at their apartment later. Next he went to the bartender to ask for the name
of the saxophonist and was told, "Dave". The bartender also told him that
Dave might be at Washington Square, where he went sometimes to unwind after
a job. He gave Clay directions to get to the Square.

	Clay left the Rustic Inn and hurriedly walked to Washington Square
where he saw Dave sitting on a bench, smoking a cigarette. He slowly
approached Dave, who had just stood as if to leave and, once again, their
eyes locked. Each of them felt something mysterious as they gazed at each
other.

	They spoke. They talked for almost ten minutes. Something special
was revealed in their conversation. Call it fate! Call it God sent, but
each of them knew he had spent his entire lives looking for the other and
this was meant to happen! A moment later, they kissed openly in the Square
under a streetlamp for the whole world to see. They didn't care...for all
they knew and felt, the rest of the world had disappeared. No one else
existed, only Clay and Dave, alone together, as Adam and Eve in the
garden. After the second kiss, Dave flagged down a taxi and the two of them
went to his apartment.


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(To be continued in "Lush Life-3".