Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:46:59 -0600
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Red 19

Russell The Red
By: dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)

19:  Starting Year Two

I don't think we were in the house for more than 10 minutes when Nancy
phoned.  I was most surprised that she didn't want all the details of our
trip but wanted us to report to Uncle Fred's office right away.  Kos was
doing the talking and I could only get his side of the conversation.  The
look on his face was quite interesting.  I think he was happy about
something but didn't want me to know it.  I know he was not pleased with
rushing down town, having just gotten in from the airport, after a two
plane journey, of over 14 hours.

When we got to the office Nancy and Simon were waiting for us.  Fred and
Margo joined them and us in the conference room.  I got to see myself, as
Boy In Motion, again.  I still am thrilled every time I do.  Anyway, we all
sat at the big conference table.  Fred had this pile of papers in front of
him.  After Nancy and Aunt Margo gave me several hugs and kisses and Kos
and I shook hands with the men, we sat down for some business.  I noticed
Eric, Harry and Ruth Ann were missing.

"I know we all have a lot of family socializing to get out of the way but
some of these business matters are time sensitive.  I think we should get
that done and leave the family stuff for a big BBQ, at our place on
Saturday," Fred announced.

I thought Uncle Fred had a good idea and said so.

"First Russ, I had a call from Mrs. Stemple.  She has recommended to her
principal and the principal of Bruce Jenner Junior High that you skip grade
6 and go right into grade 7.  I checked with both principals and they
agree."

Kos thought I should go for it, although skipping a grade would present
some challenges, but nothing he and I couldn't overcome.  All I know is,
when I look at BIM, I know I can do anything I put my mind to.  I wanted to
know if Shelia was also skipping grade 6, since her grades were almost the
same as mine.  In fact, I think she did better than I did in some subjects.
I didn't say anything.  Nancy piped in, "You know Shelia O'Keef is also
skipping to grade 7," and she winked at me.  I know I turned bright red.
Nancy must be able to read my mind, since we haven't been sister and
brother long enough for her to know me that well.

Simon added, "I skipped grade 5, and it was okay in the end but a bit of an
adjustment for me.  I wasn't leading the class again until grade 7.  It was
hard not being top academic dog and being physically smaller than the other
boys."

Kos looked at me.  I said, "I know, I'm sure I can do the work and after
this summer, being the smallest or youngest boy, isn't so bad.  Besides if
Shelia is, I will have at least one friend and it's not like I don't know
some of the grade 7's and 8's already."

Uncle Fred looked over his half glasses at me.  "Shelia O'Keef, that's
Judge Carter's granddaughter isn't it?  Hum, I see, didn't know you two
were that thick."

Kos was nodding and smiling and I just got so red I could feel the heat on
my face, air conditioning or not.  Simon and Nancy laughed and Fred signed
the papers and pushed a copy toward Kos. "He reports to the school Monday
morning, for orientation."

"Second, I have several offers for modelling assignments.  The work is not
for a month or so, but they want a commitment.  One is from a photographer
named Apollo Bidis out of Vancouver, Washington.  It is a fashion
assignment with location shots in California."

I know his work, he did those books about deaf children, Bjorn showed me
his pictures in several.  Photois said he was the best.  I turned to Kos.
"Please let me.  I wonder if he needs a red headed, girl model too?"

Kos laughed and everyone else smiled.

"I'll see what I can do on that score.  Are you sure Shelia will want to
model with you," Uncle Fred said.

"Oh, Ya," Kos piped in, "After the performance those two gave on Paidi
Nisi.  I think you better speak to her parents though."  Fred made some
notes and set those papers aside.

"I have another modelling job and an invitation for you and Kos to visit
the Virgin Islands.  I guess no girls this time kid.  This is from a lawyer
in VI, that represents a boy model web site, called Maney-Mahn.Com.  We
don't need to decide on that today.  They want you to contact them and they
will go over it with you first.  They said you came recommended by Photois
Papas," Fred informed.

They did wow, Photois never told me.  Several of the brothers did say they
had made friends in the Virgin Islands.

Kos added, "I don't know about this Maney-Mahn.Com but Stavros, one of the
Papas brothers, got appendicitis on their world cruise and a local VI
doctor and his sons befriended the Papases.  It turned out they were
already known to the Adonis clan.  We will tell you all about them on
Sunday."  Fred pushed more papers over to Kos.

"After you have talked to them just let me know what to do," Fred said.
"Now it is your turn Kos.  You have been collecting commissions at a rate,
which suggests you will need to clone yourself.  In addition to the work
you picked up in Greece, I have a request for 12, 16 by 20 portraits from
some fellow named Klass Henderson, in Calgary.  It was his Chicago office
that contacted you.  They also insist you keep the commissions confidential
until next June."

"That must be Drew Handerson's dad, you got to do them, you know."  Kos
just gave me that look of desperation.

"I know, I'll bet he wants them for Christmas right," Kos asked?

"No, June next year.  He did want Christmas but when I told him that would
be impossible, he came back with June.  It is some kind of surprise for his
nephews and sons, on their birthday," Fred said.  He looked puzzled as did
everyone else but Kos and me.

"I'll tell you about them at the BBQ.  Yes, make the contract.  Did you
give him a fee yet," Kos asked?

"Not exactly, he offered 100 K for the lot and will look after framing
himself."  Kos just smiled at that, for it is about 25% over his usual fee.

"Oh, that reminds me Kos, Russ, we expect you to bring Shelia and Nadine on
Saturday.  And one more thing, someone sent a video of you boys singing at
some party, to the Fine Arts Dean, who passed it on to the symphony music
director and he wants to include you three in a performance this spring.  I
guess he is inviting a pair of boy sopranos, one from Wisconsin and one
from Minnesota and he wants Russ, Kos and Shelia along with your boy's
choir, to perform that song and probably some other stuff," Aunt Margo
informed us.

I was dumbfounded.  I mean, I knew they, well Photois, was filming
everything but how did he or did he?  I'll bet Professor Albrecth had
something to do with this.  Or maybe it was Ed.  He knows the Dean and the
music director.  If memory serves, he and Aunt Margo are both on the
symphony board of directors.  Hum, this plot is getting thicker by the
minute.  I better talk to Shelia right away.  I could see something was
bothering Simon but he didn't say anything.

As soon as we were in the little red car heading home, I was on my cell to
Shelia, Kos was on his to Nadine, even if you're not supposed to talk and
drive at the same time, and I could see Nancy was on her phone, too, but
Simon was driving.  Simon and Nancy were right behind us, bringing dinner
with them.  I guess the party starts in a few dozen blocks.

By the time Kos and I got to bed we were both too tired to even consider
sex.

Not quite accurate, they did consider it but were way too exhausted to do
much about it.  (Russ here: "Some times I want to fire the narrator but he
does have his value and the author won't let me, he does have a cute butt
for an old fart.")

When we crawled out of bed in the morning Mrs. Hampel was already in the
kitchen, making breakfast for us.  I was ready to head back to bed and drag
Kos along with me, when Nadine and Shelia called to announce their imminent
arrival.  They must have known Kos and I would have gifts for them.  Mom
had seen to it that we were armed with the latest in British fashions, in
the form of wool sweaters.

Sheila and I both had school on Monday but Kos and Nadine did not start for
another week.  It seemed like the phone would just not stop; one or both of
us seemed on the thing all day long.  Eric and Clarence stopped over late
in the afternoon to make sure we were ready for the next Ganymede meeting.
Clarence was much impressed with my report on Piadi Nisi and our rings.  I
also noticed we had both grown quite a bit over the summer.  Eric talked
Kos into taking all of us to the mall for school clothes.  I was not keen
on it but Shelia liked the idea of having a hand in my selections.  Nadine
and Jessica were right into both Clarence and I, so no one asked my
opinion.  It turned out they had more than a hand in it.  They just took
right over selecting everything but my undies.

..................  I knew that Eric and Kos wanted to get it on together
and I had no problem with sharing a little boy love with Clarence.  I
wanted Shelia too and I know Kos wanted some sack time with Nadine.  I had
no idea how this was going to work out, but I just knew it would.

Clarence had to be home early, if he was to attend the BBQ on the following
day, so when we finished at the mall Eric, Jessica and Clarence headed off,
leaving Kos, Nadine, Shelia and I to our own devices.  Nadine couldn't stay
the night because her parents were in town and Shelia had to be home by 9
anyway.  That would mean we had about 3 hours of private time, if Kos put
the pedal to the metal.  He did.

I don't know if the girls talked or what but Nadine just assumed Shelia and
I would entertain ourselves while she and Kos entertained each other.  That
was okay with me and I could see Shelia was in agreement.  While dad's big
car has this console in the front seat, the back just has a fold down
armrest.  I don't think we were even out of the parking lot before we were
playing kiss-face and crotch feel with each other.  Let's hear it for large
garages with opaque doors, since we were almost naked by the time Kos got
the thing closed.  We spilled out of the car and were in my bed "faster
than a speeding bullet".  This was not romantic, like in the sail boat
cabin; it was lust, pure and simple.  Short on the preliminaries and long
on the action of interaction.

We had a quick shower together.  That was fun.  I think we will have to
shower together more often and with a lot more time.  Anyway we cleaned up
and got dressed and I walked her home.  She made me dress in my new
clothes, so she could show me off to her family.  I didn't mind, for it is
just another form of modelling.  Even her sisters were impressed.  All I
had to do was promise to bring Kos and Nadine to dinner on Sunday, so we
could tell them all about our summer.  Well the parts one can tell your
girl's parents, that is.

My girl.  Now that is a phrase I had not used all that much before, is it?
Yes, Shelia was my girl and I was her boy there was no doubt about that.
We were lovers or in Nancy's terminology lusters, if nothing else.  We had
found sex and what we found was good.  Good things tend to get repeated.
I'm for that and after her performance this evening, so is she.

Kos was in a very lusty mood, as was I.  One would think that after making
ardent love to our women, we would not be so interested in each other.  We
put that speculation to rest on the junk heap of reality.

We slept in.  After a long hot shower, sharing of course.  Dem had given us
strict instructions about making sure we not only cleaned ourselves
regularly but that we take good quantities of all the supplements he and
Simon had prescribed.  I guess there is a danger of not retaining
sufficient nutrition with frequent cleanings.  After we dressed, which was
a project in itself, given all the tickling and such that was going on; we
gathered up our photographs, videos, Kos' sketch books and went to pick up
the girls.

Fred and Margo had about fifty people, including all the family and the
O'keefs, Ed and Clarence.  Kos, Shelia and I held court most of the
afternoon, showing pictures and telling stories about our adventures.  I
could see that Clarence and Eric were both just a little jealous of us,
when they saw all the handsome boys we were privileged to spend so much
time with.  Having been told about them in emails, even with snapshot
attachments, is one thing but seeing Kos' and my high quality digital
photographs, is different.  Yannie had given us a DVD with the recording of
our Ode to Zeus evening performance and some of the less pornographic
scenes showing the statue and the building along with our talent show
performances.  All the other males seemed to get the idea right off.  I
know they were all jealous of us too, even the ones like Fred and Harold,
that aren't interested in boy-boy sex.

Kos assured Eric that we would show this and a lot more to the Ganymedes at
our next meeting.  He had some real big blow ups of the statue to present,
as soon as they were printed.

Kos had some very high resolution photographs that would be printed up as
4' wide and 8' high color prints but he needed the large plotters at the
school to make them on.

My second cousins, some as old as Shelia and I, are mostly girls but Ruth
and Harold both have one boy each.  They are quite a bit younger than me.
Anyway, all of them took to Shelia as quickly as they did me and we had a
great old time.  I think they liked Clarence too but the younger ones
didn't quite understand his position.  All the adults seemed to understand
Eric' role as coach-mentor to the boy and since Jessica treated him as a
younger brother, so did they.  The young boys seemed to accept him as they
did me and gave us both that older cousin respect and little boy attention.

My stock with the girls rose to new heights when Shelia told them how
romantic I was, explaining the presence of the flowers on Eros' statue.
They giggled a lot about the fact the god was naked too, causing their
mothers and grandmother to roll their eyes several times.  Nancy just said
something about her little brothers being more romantic then she had ever
imagined.  I didn't tell them about Seb translating my request.  I did fill
Clarence in later.  He thought I was being romantic too.  Ed asked Shelia
if the flowers had helped and all she did was get very red.  I guess that
answered that.

A couple of days later Simon called me on the phone.  He asked if I was
following Dem's instructions on supplements.  I assured him I was following
his instructions to the letter.  I could tell from the tone of his voice he
was concerned about something.  He finally said if Kos and Eric were unable
to make the daily deposits he was willing to assist.  I could tell he was
saying this more from duty and love than desire.  I assured him, if he was
truly needed I would ask and not to be concerned.  Then I suggested he make
sure both Eric and Kos had lots of those yellow pills, just in case.  He
laughed and assured me he would.  I guess he was just a bit nervous that he
may be called upon to help out.  Now that is a possibility but I assured
him only in an emergency.  I knew that if we missed a day or even two, no
harm would be done.  As I understood Dem, no real medical benefit may even
result from the deposits either.  In fact, he did not know for sure.  It
could be, that just living in close contact with one or more virile males,
may even be sufficient.  I guess I am part of a larger study, evaluating
the effectiveness of the treatment in general.

Mom and dad would be home toward the end of next week and Nancy was
organizing another large party, a week after that.  This time it would be
at our place not Uncle Fred's.  I guess Aunt Margo and Nancy had the
wedding plans all finalized.  Kos and I did not even have a clue about a
present.  We knew mom and dad would have some very special and expensive
thing for them and so would Simon's family.  We both knew something unique
was expected from us, not expensive but unique.

Kos drove me to school on Monday morning in the red sports car with top
down and everything.  Bruce Jenner is only about 8 blocks away, so I could
easily walk or ride my bike, but Kos figured I might as well impress the
other 7th graders.  I was not sure about this but it turned out he was
quite right.  Not only did all the boys that saw us want to introduce
themselves but they wanted to know all about it and the handsome driver.
Of course all the former grade sixers from our old school knew Shelia and
me and so the word spread real fast.  Not just that we were both brains and
boy/girl item but that I was the boy that took down the big, bad, gang
leader last spring.  It was real strange, in grade school, since I was in
grade 5, those same kids would hardly even talk to me but now that we were
all in the same grade, it was like we were old buddies.  I guess we were
all on the same footing now, low men on the totem pole and it was all just
as strange to them as to me.

This was orientation day for just grade 7 and transfers from other schools
in 8 and 9.  I only saw a few of them around.  The place works like a high
school where we all had "home rooms".  Each home room had about 25 kids in
it and grade 8's had 9's had home rooms too.  Our class has about 200
students and the school has about 600, so I guess each grade is about the
same size.  Shelia and I are not in the same home room but it looks as
though we will be in many of the same classes, at least for the first
semester.  As we came in some teachers handed us a map of the school and we
gave our names, and they told us what home room we were assigned to.  It
was reasonably easy to find them.

My home room teacher turned out to be Mr. Fitzpatric, the science teacher.
"He must be 90 years old," I thought.  He is a small man, with snow white
hair.  On his desk was a stack of envelopes and on the white board he had
placed his name and a note, "Take a seat".  This room was outfitted with
tables not desks and I could see the walls were lined with cabinets.  On
the walls were all kinds of science charts, like the periodic table and the
solar system map.  He was sitting at his desk reading and didn't look up.
I took this to mean seating would not be assigned.  As I walked by his
desk, on my way over to the window side of the room, I noticed a seating
plan that was blank.

When the bell rang he stood slowly and waited for the noise to drop off.
"My name is William Fitzpatric and this is Home Room number 4".  He looked
at the clock. "They will be making their stupid announcements in about 10
seconds."  He held up his finger as a signal.

"Good morning students, I want to welcome...."  You could see that Fitz was
not impressed with this announcement stuff and seemed rather annoyed by the
process.  He picked up his seating chart and starting at the first table by
the door, asked each student his or her name.  I was in the front row by
the window at the second table so the fourth student.  I gave my name and
he wrote it down and said, "Kosmos and Nancy's brother?"

"Yes sir," I replied.

"They were both outstanding students, as was your mother.  That will be a
hard act to follow.  Art or science?"

"Science/Engineering or maybe math," I replied.  He smiled for the first
time.  Fitz continued, for half the students he had some comment, about
having taught their parents or siblings or both.  I guess he has been at
this a long time now.  He handed out the envelopes.  Each one was addressed
to one of us.  He proceeded to review the student handbook and answer a few
questions, then the period ended.  In each envelope was our class list, so
we all scattered down the halls looking for different rooms.  In each class
we were given our text books, met the instructors, were given a list of
materials, reading assignments and so on.  In PE we got our gym lockers
assigned and were issued our kit.  Shelia and I both had music, since that
is one of the classes that incorporates all three grades.  We didn't do
much, except tell the instructor what our experience was.  Shelia and I
found our lockers were just a few steps away from each other; that's a good
thing I think.

Shelia and I walked home with a knot of our new found friends.  I guess the
girls and boys at this age are about the same.  Some of them were worried
about being pushed around by the upper class-men.  I wasn't, and said so.
What can they do?  I am not embarrassed to show my body, in fact I am
rather proud of it.  The first bully to lay a hand on me or any of my
friends will find himself in a heap of shit and they all know it.  I'm sure
my reputation will get around quick enough.

I think it was during the third week of school that it happened.  One of
the grade eights started to get pushy in PE.  I stood my ground, when he
made an attempt to flatten me during our soccer scrimmage.  I side stepped
him, and he went face first into the grass.  The instructor saw it too, so
the kid just walked away.  Later in the shower I could see he had a bunch
of bruises on his back and ribs but I didn't say anything.  I knew what
they were from and had a good idea how he came by them.  I didn't know what
to do about it at first.  I went over to him on the way out of class and
stuck out my hand, "I'm Russ, what's yours?" and I smiled.  He was taken a
bit aback but grunted Omar and limply took my hand.

I didn't see him for a couple of days, well until the next PE class.  This
time we were playing badminton in pairs and coach put us on the same team.
He sure didn't look happy about it, but when he saw how well I can play,
his attitude changed real fast.  I let him play up, he is taller and I
played back.  When we took a break between sets I showed him how to get a
better grip on the handle, he was holding it too far up.  That improved his
return control a lot.  I could see he was a little embarrassed over the
other day but I figured if he didn't say anything I wouldn't, either.  I
guess it is a bit of a come down for grade eights to talk to grade sevens
but by the end of the period we were at least conversing.  On the way in
the coach said, "Way to go boys, you two are only ones to win all four
matches."  Omar's face brighten right up with the compliment and the smile
on Mr. Freeman's face.  I just turned my usual bright red.  In the shower I
saw some new bruises along with the old ones, mostly on his ribs.  Someone
is giving this boy a real hard time, that was for sure, they were punching
him with a fist.  I knew better than to say anything.  I didn't know him
well enough for that.

That was Friday and Shelia and I were coming out of the school rather late.
We had a meeting with the music teacher, about forming a mixed choral
group, in addition to the band.  Anyway the busses had left and no kids
were around.  Most of the teachers had gone home too.  I was telling Shelia
about Omar and I winning all four of our matches.  As we came bubbling out
the front door, we almost tripped over Omar, who was sitting on the steps
with his face in his hands.  It turned out he had missed his bus.  I
suggested he walk home with me but he said his step dad was supposed to be
on his way, "I don't dare not be sitting right here," he said.

"Is he the one who hits you?" He put his face deeper in his hands and
mumbled something.  Shelia why don't you call Eric and ask him to meet us
here.  I handed her my cell phone.  She took it and stepped about 10 feet
away.  "How did you know?" he whispered.

"Been there and done that.  When the Smiths adopted me, they made me
promise to never allow myself to be abused again.  You don't have to
either."

"Who is Eric?"

"He is my cousin."

"Why did you call him?"

"I ran away after my old parents beat me real bad and Eric and his dog
Sandy found me and took me to the hospital."

"But if I tell anyone he will kill me and maybe my mom too.  He told me."

"Not to worry, Omar.  My former parents are doing 10 years each, in the
state pen and I have a new family now.  I guarantee they will help you,
just like they did me."

"Eric said he was on his way, so is Kos.  We are to remain here and if
Omar's step dad shows up, try and stall him."  Shelia reported.

"It was just seconds later when an old brown Ford pulled up and tooted the
horn.  I held Omar's shoulder.  No you don't.  In that car he has the
power, out here we do.  He tooted again and Omar shook his head no.  I
could see his step father was getting very angry.  I suggested that Shelia
move away, far away, but she refused and held her finger ready to phone
911.  "Call Eric and asked dispatch to patch you through to him, they
record all the calls.  It will make good evidence."  Omar just looked at me
with a puzzled face.

Poor Omar didn't know what to make of this, as soon as Shelia began talking
I yelled, "He is not going anywhere with a child abusing, asshole like
you."  That got him out of the car.

"You little shit, you better get over here right now.  When I get you home
you are going to have hell to pay," he yelled.

"No way Jose, Omar is under our protection now and you will never have a
chance to beat him up again."

"When I get my hands on you, Omar, you are dead meat."  He was advancing
fast and Shelia was taking videos with the phone and broadcasting the
conversation.

"Stop right there fat man or you are going to the hospital before jail."

"Eric please hurry, I think Russ is going to hurt that man."

He began laughing but that stopped his advance.  "Don't worry about me
little lady, his red hair isn't enough to save him.  I'll kill both of
them."  Just as he started up the stairs.  We were on the top now standing
and he was 5 steps below us; I launched myself feet first.  Just like Elias
taught me, in our self defence lessons, on Paidi Nisi.  I don't care what
the weight differential is, when the bigger person is slightly off balance,
and my 70 pounds of pure muscle are in motion, he is going down.  Shelia
could see Omar was terrified and she began yelling at him to run.

`West', Eric shouted into the phone.  Omar dropped his back pack and did
just that.  He ran west toward the approaching squad car.

My two feet had crashed into Mr. Smailie's chest and knocked the wind out
of him.  His head hit the steps and blood was dripping down his face.  I
jumped back and took up a defensive position.  Before I could do anything
else Sandy was on him.  I mean she was standing on him and growling and
ready to rip out his throat.  Two black and whites, dad and Kos all showed
up before Eric finished putting on the cuffs.

While the cops got their work taken care of, I introduced Omar to Sandy,
Kos, dad and of course Eric.  Dad agreed to take Shelia home, over her
protests I might add.  Kos and I would follow Eric to the hospital.  It was
clear none of them were pleased with me exposing Shelia, Omar and my self
to danger.  It was also clear they were proud of me once again.  I hoped
Shelia got my action recorded on the cell phone or maybe the school has
security cameras, for I needed to let Elias know how well I did.

Before Simon finished with his examination and pictures, mom and dad showed
up and so did social services, one of Eric's fellow officers, followed by
Todd.

Todd's story was a real winner this time.  I guess he figured out the
rules.  He reported the facts.  He did not quite have all the facts, such
as I deliberately taunted Mr. Smailie, as a delaying tactic and to make him
look as bad as possible.  His head line was "Bruce Jenner Jr. High Students
Make the Famous Athlete Proud."  After a brief recitation of the facts, he
went on to show how we put into practice all the principles expounded by
the great man and demonstrated by him at the 1976 Olympics.

"The three children subdued and held the accused child abuser, until
authorities arrived.  They found the "Champion Within" that Jenner talks
about in his books and speeches.  It took courage to stand up to a much
more powerful adult but as one of them told me: `You do what is right,
because it is the right thing to do.  Adults think they have all the power.
They have a lot of power but not all of it.  Kids have power to, we just
demonstrated that.'  Another pointed out that, `Bruce Jenner is an
inspiration to all of us.'

This reporter contacted Mr. Jenner for his comments.  "I have six children
myself. I like kids because they are the most brutally honest people I
encounter.  I was honoured when this school was named for me, of course, I
am even more greatly honoured that its students take inspiration from my
accomplishments and philosophy of living.  Thank you students."

Principal Barton expressed his pride and admiration.  "I would like to
think that these students are not anomalies but representative of 600 young
people that attend Bruce Jenner."

About a week later I got a surprise parcel.  It was a small plaque with a
gold coloured winged foot on it.  "Elias' Golden Foot Award" along with a
little note to see the Paidi Nisi web sight.  I was overwhelmed.  Elias has
started issuing awards now that Kos and I, his students, had successfully
defended the safety of others.  It went on to outline the circumstances of
Kon's and my actions.  Both by the way involved using our feet.  In a few
days I had a flood of emails from people all over the world.  A lot of them
were from people I knew, the Papas boys and all the Adonis brothers, Bjorn,
but lots from other places too.  From schools and orphanages in Russia and
Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands and lots more.  They were
short and to the point.  "That-a-boy" and "Way-to-go."  I kept most of them
to myself, except for my family and Omar.  He was quite taken by all this.
I don't think Omar realized just how much support and help is available to
abused children or how much support is available for those that defend
them.  For kids the best defence, is self defence.  Part of that defence is
reaching out for help.

The change in Omar's attitude was remarkable, too.  He smiled, was
friendly, made jokes and showed a big improvement in his grades.  Social
Services came through for him and his mom.  I guess he was like me.  He
just couldn't figure out what he was doing wrong.  I was lucky, I had read
a lot, so I knew enough not to let it affect my self esteem and self worth.
He had let his step dad damage both.  Many abused people, children or
adults let that happen to them.  They take ownership of the abuser's
actions, instead of putting it where it belongs, back on the bastards.

Shelia and I were already thick but the Omar incident just added to it.  My
stock went up, way up with her and let me tell you hers with me too.  I
guess she took the words of "Stand By Me", perhaps a little more to heart
than I had imagined she would.  At first Omar didn't want to take any
credit.  He didn't think he had done anything special.  I pointed out he
displayed more courage than I did.  He knew how much his step dad's fists
hurt, but I didn't.  It's like badminton; we were a team, each playing his
part.  Your part was to appear passive, mine to appear aggressive. It
worked; he is in jail and you are free of abuse.

Professor Albrech had Kos and I come to one of his lectures and help him
explain the workings of a real dig.  I got to describe how we got the lid
off the false alter, exposing the statue.  Kos got to explain the art and
ratio part.  What I said was more or less what I wrote above, less my
personal observations and the sex stuff.  I was a bit nervous at first but
once I got started, it went well.  I think the college students thought it
odd at first but once I got into it, along with all the nice slides, they
seemed to accept me.  I guess cute cuts it, even at the university level.

After the class I spent a lot of time standing on a chair, so all the big
boys and girls didn't have to bend over or me look up too much.  It seemed
everyone wanted to at least meet me.  Those that didn't need to run off for
the next class anyway.  I know they were shocked by my use of language,
well the English language.  I threw a bit of modern Greek in too.  You see
we did learn some of the polite words.  Unfortunately I had to edit all
references to the Papas family and Paidi Nisi.  Judging from the number of
girls around Kos, I'll bet he could have gotten a whole semester's worth of
dates, if he was wasn't already otherwise occupied.

Over the summer, someone got the bright idea that the Ganymede boys,
without our men, should spend some time together, mostly naked and
unsupervised.  I.e. sex was to be the order of the day.  Not all the boys
are into sex with other boys.  Some just like it with their man or girls.
Well then there is me and I am sure a lot of others too.  We like sex, as
long as it is voluntary.  I don't know anyone who is into this bondage or
S&M stuff.  I figure some boys are bottoms, some tops and some only oral.
Most are willing to go with the flow and want to give and take.  The club
set aside Sunday afternoons for us; as long as, at least one or two of the
older boys, with life saving training, would be present and we listen to
them.  Amos and I were right into that, so was Clarence and Adam.  We would
swim and play games and fool around too.  After seeing all that lean,
smooth, naked boy flesh you just kind of get horny.

I know Kos and Eric took advantage of these times for some private action.
I think it was about the third or fourth time that Clarence and I attended
together, that we realized how much fun we could have with each other.  I
guess he is now comfortable enough with Eric that we could establish
something, like the special friendship they were hoping for.  We did.
About once a week we would meet up at the club and get a double room.  At
first we would make out with our men and then switch partners but lately we
have just let them do their thing, and we do ours.  Clarence is more of a
bottom but he will top when I ask.

Anyway I sure like our group times.  You get to just sit next to a boy you
don't know all that well and get to know him.  We have some kind of rules,
like if a couple or group is into action, you don't just join but ask
first.  I don't think anyone is ever refused, it is just polite.

The bottom line is, this group is bonded.  Everyone is known and accepted
by everyone else.  Age and attitudes aside.  You not only know them
socially and see them naked or almost naked frequently but now you have
been intimate with them and them with you.  Not that everyone is your good
buddy but you have shared pleasure with them and them with you.  You know
you can trust them and them you.  Most of all, everyone is accepted as
presented by everyone else.  You have formed a fraternal bond that only
grows with time.

..................

(Bruce Jenner was a 1976 Olympic gold medalist and your author thought he
probably has several real schools named after him.  Google couldn't find
any.  If he doesn't, he should.)