Date: Thu, 21 Nov 2013 18:09:25 +1100
From: Robert A. Armstrong <rob.aa@hotmail.com>
Subject: Schoolie - Chapter 20

This chapter represents a continuation of the original story. If you have
not read the previous chapters, I suggest that you do, so that you can
fully understand the characters. Or, if you're in a hurry, at least read
from chapter 18!

If relationships between boys and men is not your scene, or if you're under
age, or if it is not legal for you to be reading this, then please leave,
now, before somebody finds out!

Otherwise, enjoy!



From Chapter 19

After showering together, Will and I are sitting opposite one another,
devouring our breakfast sausages and eggs after having already finished our
cereal. I guess that we are acting weirdly this morning. Smiling at each
other. Cheeky grins. Raised eyebrows. The odd kick under the
table. Childish giggles.

Mum suddenly breaks into our eating and small talk, "Are you boys OK? You
both seem different this morning. You appear to have a glow about you. If
one of you was a girl, I'd swear that you were both in love."

Shit! That broke the spell! My goose is cooked! Now what do I say? Silence!

However, yet again, Will replies faster than I could possibly have
contemplated, and definitely not what I would have said.

"Why would one of us need to be a girl, Mrs Grant?" He delivers the words
with such a straight face that it has the effect of freezing time! Picture
this: Mum has her knife in the marmalade. Dad has his coffee mug poised
ready to set down on the table and Sis has her mouth open to receive a
spoonful of cereal. Freeze frame!

Will keeps eating as though nothing has happened, seemingly aware of the
impact of his words. He is the only one moving. Maybe he's the only one
breathing.

Me? I want to run, but I'm paralysed with fear and about to either shit
myself or to throw up



Chapter 20

What do I do? Do I laugh? Do I joke? Do I act offended? Do I confess?

Relief comes from the most unexpected person - Amelia. "Yeh, Mum. Why would
one person need to be a boy and one a girl, just because they look happy?

Thank God, she doesn't say `love each other'!

Will stops chewing. I think that he has suddenly become aware of what he
just said, and the implication of his innocent question. He swallows his
mouthful, glances at my distressed face, then looks at Mum. "You know, Mrs
Grant, Auntie..., I don't have to be a girl to be thrilled about my new
family. I have a new Dad, a new aunt, a new uncle and two new cousins."

He doesn't let on that he knows anything further. He continues, "What is
there not to love? Do you know that I always wanted a brother? You know:
someone to play with; someone to wrestle with; someone to share secrets
with; someone to teach me brother stuff?  And Tom and I look so much alike
that we could even be brothers." Mum and Dad both grin. They probably think
that I haven't yet told him.

I think to myself, `Yeh... play with each other's body; wrestle with each
other naked; share secrets of the most personal nature; and teach each
other what thrills us and how to do it best.'

Dad joins in. "Yes, Will. I know exactly what you mean. Bill and I were
very close. We brothers had a lot of fun together. And I love him, too!"

However, Mum just can't let it go! "What do you say, Thomas? You're very
quiet all of a sudden."

I think, `Work with me here, brain!' I deliberately take another bite of
toast, chew slowly and swallow hard before saying, "Mum, after I found out
yesterday that Will and I are related, I guess that I just pretended that
he was the brother that I always bugged you and Dad to give me... no
offence, Sis!" Amelia sticks out her tongue. "And, last night, we were so
tired after everything that we just collapsed into bed together, like two
little boys." I ponder that this is the absolute truth! Then I add, "But,
it was OK. He doesn't snore!"

"Well at least one of us doesn't!" Will quips. Sis laughs. I attempt to
kick him under the table, but he is too quick and swings his legs to the
side.

"Liar!" I joke and he flashes me a playful, broad grin. I continue,
bravely, "And this morning, the `two little boys' even dared to shower
together. And, I'm not telling exactly how much like brothers we really
look!"

Will coughs.

Amelia giggles.

Mum blushes.

Dad says, "There's nothing wrong with saving water," and he winks at
me. "Your grandma always insisted that Bill and I save water too, whether
in the shower or in a bath."

I think, `Hmm. I seem to have eased into the relationship issue rather
well. I've told them that Will and I have slept together and showered
together, and still avoided discussion that might lead to disclosing our
sexuality. And I appear to have both Dad and Sis on side with us.' That
will do for now! Let's change the subject - quickly!

I direct the conversation back at Mum. "By the way, Did Uncle Bill say
where he's been for the last three years?" I'm sure that Mum would like to
continue her own train of thought concerning Will and me and our `good
mood' this morning, but yields the pursuit of her interest to my question.

"He didn't say where he has been exactly, but he did mention North and
South America."

Dad chimes in, "He told me that he had been photographing some Aztec and
Inca sites among the many things that he had wanted to capture both
digitally and on film."

I further direct the conversation away from the starry-eyed lovers... "And,
do you know where he's heading next?" I have a vested interest in this
piece of information - for both Will's sake as well as my own.

"No idea!" Dad says. "Who ever knows what he's thinking? He seems to just
do things spontaneously. You'll have to ask him!"

I need to get away before Mum takes control again. "Hey, Sis, do you want
to come for a stroll with Will and me while we check out the waves?

She looks shocked and says, "Did you just ask me to do something with you?
Or are my ears malfunctioning?"

Now, Amelia has good reason to question me. Even though we get along well
together, I've never really included her in anything that I've done,
outside of compulsory `family stuff'.

"Yes, I did. Why? Don't you want to come for a walk," then I add, "... with
Will?"

I've seen her infatuation with him, firstly because of his talent, secondly
because he is her `new' (and only) cousin, and then, not to mention how
handsome he is (although she would almost certainly deny, to that extent,
any similarity with me). LOL.

She shoots back, "Sure, I do!" and she starts to rapidly clear the table of
the breakfast dishes.

I say, "OK. We'll meet you outside in five minutes." Then, glancing at Mum,
I add, "I'll just go upstairs and tidy my room first. C'mon, Will, you can
give me a hand." We take our own dishes to the sink and head for the
stairs. I glance back at Mum. She is staring at me. I fear that I haven't
heard the last of her interest in her nephew and her son.

As I open the door, I am shocked at the smell. The room reeks of sex! Will
screws up his nose and looks at me. "I'll get the deodorant," he
smirks. While he sprays, I quickly make up the bed, pick up our
hastily-discarded clothes and put them into neat piles on the camp
stretcher.

Satisfied, I walk to the bathroom to take a pee, only to be confronted by
the enema device lying next to the toilet. `Shit!' I think. I'll have to be
more careful.' If Mum were to come snooping - as mothers on a quest tend to
do - I can't leave anything incriminating lying around, and that includes
the lube and condoms.

Will agrees to stash everything in his bag. Even Mum would not take the
liberty of looking into his belongings. I inhale the now-sweet air, open
the windows then carefully scan the whole room. All good! I close the door
behind us and we head downstairs. I call out, "Back soon!" to nobody in
particular and make a hasty exit.

Amelia's not down here yet. Will and I stand by my car. I stare into his
eyes and raise an inquiring eyebrow.

Will responds, "Tom, I'm really sorry! I nearly blew it, didn't I?"

I reply, "Yes, but thank God for Amelia!"

At that moment she appears, closing the door loudly behind her. "Did you
just say something about me, Thomas?" she says, poking out her tongue.

"Yes, Sis. As a matter of fact I did. As much as you may not believe it, I
was just telling Will how much I appreciate you." Will nods his
confirmation.

She stops in her tracks and gives me a very strange look. "Mum was right -
you are weird. I don't know what's changed, but I do prefer this Thomas to
the old one!" No poked tongue. Maybe this could herald a thawing of the
juvenile cold war relationship between the two of us.

For no apparent reason, I ponder the fact that my sister is also my
cousin. How does that work? She and I have the same mother, but different
fathers who just happen to be brothers! Sister or Cousin? Being both is
just downright confusing!

I'm brought back to reality by Sis's clicking fingers in my face and her
raised voice. "Thomas! Snap out of it! Come back to us!"

Will chimes in, "He's been doing a fair bit of that lately. Weird, eh?"

"Yeh, downright queer, if you ask me!" Her casual use of the word `queer',
which is also a derogatory colloquialism for `homosexual', actually hurts
me more than any of her usual intentional insults.

I surprise even myself by avoiding the real temptation to engage in a
verbal skirmish with her about her `queer' caricatures and her `queer'
friends, and simply reply, "If you say so, Sis."

Her response is, "WHOA! Definitely WEIRD! Who are you? What have you done
with my brother? And where did you stash his body?"

Will and I laugh, and I say, "Come on, let's go and see if the waves are
any good for teaching Will to do a bit of surfing."

Amelia grabs Will's hand and takes off with him towards the pedestrian
crossing. Will glances over his shoulder at me and shrugs
apologetically. I've never had any reason to be jealous of my pesky little
sister, until now - seeing her fingers interlocked with Will's and swinging
his arm as they walk together. It should be me by his side, looking so
happy!

However, I console myself by watching Will's curvaceous butt in his tight
shorts, then muse that perhaps Amelia has done me a favour, after all. I
call out, "Hey... I love you... Sis!"

She says to Will, loud enough for me to hear, "What has he taken? What's he
on?"

I chuckle in my own mind, `If you just knew! The only thing that I've taken
recently is my brother's virginity!'

Will must be on the same wavelength. He replies to her, "Nothing that I
haven't taken as well, I'm sure." Then he looks over his shoulder at me and
gives me a very broad smirk. I wink back.

The strong salty smell of the ocean, separated from me for months now,
evokes positive memories of years of romping with mates, surfing before
school and even back to my childhood as I recall Mum and Dad lifting their
little boy high above each wave as it swirled around us before flattening
out up the golden sand.

This morning, the rolling swells are relatively small and gentle - perfect
for giving Will an introduction to body boarding.

I'm aware that Will has never seen or felt the ocean. His only experience
with water has been in the river at the weir or at Jake's place.

"C'mon!" I say, "Take your sneakers off." I remove my sandals and head
across the stretch of sand, freshly groomed by the local council officers
with their large tractor-like `toys' that both pick up debris and leave the
sand smoothed behind them.

The fine sand squeaks as I plant my feet heavily into it. The high-pitched
footsteps of Will and Amelia are close behind me. The soft dry sand turns
into that which is firmer and wet, and I walk straight down into the water
and stand calf-deep.

"Hey, it's cold!" Will exclaims as he follows and stands next to me. Sis
plants herself next to him.

"It's not that bad, really. You get used to it pretty quickly," I tell
him. We stand and I feel the ebb and flow of the water around my legs. Each
time it retreats it seems to scoop out some sand from around my feet and I
feel my heels sinking. We periodically step out and watch as it takes only
three or four waves to erase every trace of our previous footprints.

Sis spots a school friend and hurries off to join her jogging. "Back soon!"
she calls to us.

The sun is sufficiently high to be shimmering off the ocean's rippled
surface. The flashes of light are only broken by a body-boarder taking
advantage of the appropriately-sized swells. "Would you like to have a go
at that?" I ask Will, indicating the young guy on his board, coasting past
us right to the shore. The athletic lad of about 14 stands, tucks his board
under his arm and hurries close to us back into the deeper water, smiling
as he passes, his wet green and white Speedos clinging to his body and
leaving nothing to the imagination, front or back. His body instantly
reminds me of Karl and Kurt.

"Hell, yeh!" Will chirps.

Having followed the direction of his gaze to the boy's Speedos, I
remonstrate with him "Hey. I meant the board, not the boy!" I reprimand him
playfully by digging him in the ribs with my elbow. Then I think that I,
too, had checked him out! We are so much alike, Will and I.

"C'mon, let's go back home and get some boards. I have a collection in the
garage. I also have some Speedos that will have people checking out your
wonderful body." Then I add, "We can wear matching ones."

Will adds, giggling, "And I'll be checking you out too!"

I manage to catch Amelia's eye as the two girls, still at a distance from
us, head back in our direction, and give her gestures to indicate that Will
and I are heading home. She waves acknowledgment.

Entering the house, I immediately lead Will down the internal stairs to the
garage. My boards are right where I left them months ago. I select two,
give one to Will and explain that the velcro'd leg rope, apart from
contributing to the boards being referred to as `tea-bags', is to stop the
board from being swept away by a wave in the unfortunate circumstance of
you and it becoming unceremoniously separated.

We head straight up to my room with the boards, avoiding any potential
encounter with Mum. I fear what she may confront me with or ask me.

I close the door and lean my board against the wall next to it, then head
for my drawers. I rummage through the one containing underwear and swimming
costumes and extract two pairs of pale blue Speedos. I know how revealing
these are when they are wet. LOL. They are slightly different sizes and the
smaller pair will sit on Will's slimmer hips perfectly. I hold them both up
fo show him then toss him his pair.

Facing him, I drop my shorts and underwear and discard my
T-shirt. Starkers! I watch his eyes as they widen, scan my body and focus
below my waist. Then he teases me my removing his shirt first, then his
shorts. He turns sideways to show off to me the bulge in the front of his
undies, then pulls the waistband down at the back to cradle and lift his
butt cheeks. He knows what turns me on.

"Need a hand with those?" I ask. "They seem to be stuck on something."

"Yeh," He smirks.

I reach for the sides and pull them as far down as possible while still
allowing his erection to restrain any further movement without it popping
out. "Hey, there's still a snag here somewhere."

Then, running my hand down his abs and through his bushy pubes, I rest upon
his stiffness, which jerks at my touch. "Aha! I found the problem." I
liberate his steeliness, then push the clothing downwards to his ankles. He
steps out of them. I run my hands back up his legs, cup his balls with one
hand and jerk his cock a couple of times with the other.

He pushes his body against mine, initiates a close-quarters sword fight,
rubbing and thrusting while, at the same time, reaching around and grasping
my butt cheeks.

"Hey, bro. We could go back to bed for a while," he rasps seductively.

"Yeh, right! And have Mum asking why we took so long upstairs? No thanks!
I'm sure that she's already suspicious. Besides, you need to leave me some
energy for tonight."

He smiles alluringly at me and replies, "Yeh. You're gonna need it!"

I back off, pull my Speedos on and struggle to stow my engorged cock. I
decide to just let it stick out of the top of the waistband, face Will and
say, "See what you do to me?"

Will does the same, his extra length reaching higher and pointing straight
towards his navel. "You do it to me even more," he jokes.

"Come on. We need to cool down before we head downstairs, in case Mum is
there." We set about doing anything that will distract us from each other's
body. I even wash my face and hands in cold water.

With a semblance of respectability regained and cocks concealed, we grab
our boards and head down. "If you see Mum, hold your board on the side
between her and your body. She can't possibly see anything, then," I tell
Will.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I spot Mum in the kitchen and call out,
"Just taking Will for a surfing lesson. Won't be long!" then I head out
without allowing any time for a response.

The water seems initially cold and dispels all residual chunkiness. The
young guy is still here and has been joined by a few others, one wearing
multi-coloured Speedos and the other two in thin-fabric board shorts.

We stand hip-deep in the water which rises to almost neck level with each
swell, then subsides, sometimes well below crotch- (to almost knee-) level,
revealing the obvious outlines of a pair of natural cock-and-ball bulges
that, I notice, catch the eye of more than just one of the surfers.

We watch these guys for a few minutes and I explain to Will what they are
doing to catch the waves and ride them in. We venture deeper. I help Will
grasp his board and give him a helping shove as the next swell passes. He
glides all the way to the shore then stands, looks as me and lets loose an
excited, "Hell, yeh!"

I follow closely behind him. He's already on his way back out to catch
another wave, paddling on his board as he has seen the others do. I catch
half a dozen rides and decide to sit and watch my handsome young brother
for a while. I lay my board a few metres from the water's edge and take a
seat on it. My feet are flat on the sand, with my arms supported by my
raised knees.

Will appears to be enjoying himself immensely. Not only has he mastered
steering from side to side across the swell but it's also obvious that he's
made some new friends. He and the other four guys are all talking and
laughing together as they alternately paddle out and ride back.

I also can't help but notice them regularly checking out each other's
packages, and not bothering to be at all discrete about it. There is even
some pointing and comments that I can't make out, but lots of good-hearted
laughter, probably resulting from a few of them, including Will, getting
noticeably chunkier in their Speedos and board shorts.

I decide to rejoin the fun, introduce myself to them and, as Will's
`obviously' brother, am accepted readily into the teenage group.

At one point in the frolicking, somebody suggests doing `tandem' runs. I'm
not sure what they mean until I see one guy remove his leg strap and leave
his board on the sand. Then I watch as the two of them head out with one
board.

Their intent becomes evident when one guy holds on to the board as though
he is going to ride in, and the second one swims onto his back. Four hands
on the front of the board and the top guy's package nestled firmly into the
hollow below the bottom guy's backside. Hmm.

There is much laughter, chuckling and gyrating as they ride in. The first
pair reach the beach and there is an audible `my turn' as they swap over
the leg strap and head back out.

I suggest to them all that three of us, Will, me and one of the others,
should keep our leg straps on and provide rides for each of the other
three. Then we can swap.

Joey, the lad in the green and white Speedos, volunteers to be the third.

The others all jockey for position - Will being the one in greatest demand.

In providing three rides, I am greatly aware that Simon and Luke, the two
older of the other boys, are more `firmly' excited than the youngest, Andy.

At the end of their rides, the three head for the shore to get their own
boards. Will, Joey and I swap top and bottom positions until we've each had
a ride on and under the other. Will, when on my back, whispers, "This is so
much fun. I wish that Karl and Kurt were both here with us." The thought of
Kurt and I riding on each other makes me even harder than I was a moment
ago.

The six of us stand in knee-deep water. All embarrassment about erections
and pretence about checking each other out, are gone. Then I enjoy my three
rides, especially on top of Simon and Luke who keep wiggling their bums to
feel me up. I enjoy a few gyrations and lunges of my own that are met with
groans of approval and satisfaction.

Simon announces that it's time for them to go before the sun gets too high
and too hot. Joey says that he should be going too, but adds, "I've got to
shower first to get the salt out of my hair and the sand out of my arse."

They all agree that showering is a good idea and they look to Will and me
for our intentions. Will casts me an inquiring glance. I respond with,
"Great idea, guys. We'll join you in a minute." Excitedly the quartet dash
up the beach.

My knowledge of these dressing sheds and showers is such that I know Will
is in for a treat. I say to him, "Let's give them a couple of minutes head
start. You'll see why."

As we lean our boards against the inner wall and enter the dressing sheds,
all that can be seen immediately is a row of four pegs above a wooden bench
seat that is host to two pairs of Speedos and two board shorts. I smile.

The showers, directly opposite the seat, are concealed from the entrance by
a wall, for privacy. There are four shower heads above an open space with a
shallow open-channel drain for the water. Wet sand covers the concrete
floor, rinsed from bodies and swimming costumes.

Four naked boys look at us expectantly. Will appears a little uncertain
what to do, so I take the initiative and head for the centre of the warm
showers. The guys separate to make room for me, but look a little
disappointed that I'm still wearing my Speedos. I don't keep them in that
mood for long.

I slip them down, give them a good rinse and then step back out to hang
them on a peg. There are now 5 naked erections. Will follows my lead, and
then there are 6. I hear somebody say, "Wow! Look at that one!" Who can
blame them?

Soon our six naked bodies are bumping together under the four shower
heads. There are also some convenient liquid soap dispensers on the wall
below the shower heads, provided by the local council.

One of the older boys squirts himself a handful of liquid soap and asks,
"Who wants their back washed?" Without waiting for a response he begins to
soap Will up and `washes' him from shoulder to knee, with some extra
attention to his glutes, but without any attempt at doing anything
more. There is an obvious contentment at just being allowed to do so.

I take some soap, turn to Joey, hold up my cupped hand and look into his
eyes. He nods, turns his back to me and I enjoy the feel of his youthful
back, butt and legs. It soon becomes an all-in soap-o-rama, with people
readily turning their backs to somebody else for a `wash'.

When I have also washed young Andy's back I switch my attention to myself
`up front'. Everybody watches intently as my hands soap up my pubes and
slide up and down my stiffness. The idea seems to be inspirational, or at
least `permissionary', and it takes less than a few seconds for all of us
to be enjoying a free-for-all of pseudo-masturbation.

I look at Will who seems to be `going for it', much to the amusement and
pleasure of the boys. I simply say to him, "Hey, later, bro!" then I rinse
and step out. I retrieve my Speedos and sit on the bench to `cool down',
watching the frenzy of pumping hands. Will joins me.

Simon and Luke decide to `do' each other. Joey and young Andy sit with Will
and me to simply watch as the seniors, inevitably, both cum. I clap and
whistle. The others join in the applause for the great show and the two
happy endings.

As Simon and Luke clean themselves up, Joey pulls his green and white
Speedos over his still-excited cock and asks, "Do you guys come here often?
I haven't seen you before."

Will jumps in, "We're just here for the school holidays, but I'm hoping
that we can come for a swim every morning." Then he looks at me with
puppy-dog eyes, as an afterthought, seemingly to beg permission.

I respond to him and Joey both, "Sure, providing that it's warm enough!
What about you guys?"

"We're here every day, about the same time," Joey replies.

"OK," I say as I get up. "Maybe we'll see you again tomorrow."

"Fantastic! I will definitely be here," he chirps.

"Thanks Tom!" and "See ya Will!" ring out from Simon, Luke and young Andy
as Will and I retrieve our boards and head out.

A few minutes later I see a car parked behind mine. Is it too early for
Uncle Bill, or have we been enjoying ourselves for longer than I had
thought? And it's not the yellow `flash' that I had been expecting, but
rather a 4-seater BMW convertible - perfect for taking his two sons to
lunch. At least one of his 'rides' has to be a rental car, maybe both. He
could not travel the world and yet keep these garaged anywhere. Hertz or
Avis must love him!

Uncle Bill, Mum and Dad are at the table drinking coffee. Sis is also
there. I'd forgotten about her. She made it back before us, but then Will
and I were somewhat distracted for a while, weren't we?

Dad, the only one facing us, calls out as we enter, "Hi guys. How was the
water?"

"Fantastic!" Will replies instantly.

Amelia turns towards us and adds, "It looked as though you made some new
friends while you were there."

OMG. Was she there long enough to see us getting aroused and playful? And
did she watch us riding tandem? I am embarrassed at the thought!

My young, quick-witted, country brother saves us again. I'm definitely
gonna keep him!

"Yeh, they could tell how hopeless I was and they all wanted to teach me
how to ride a board properly. No offence to you, Tom! It was fun catching
the waves, and falling off, and riding tandem and racing the others in
pairs. I was just getting into it when it was time to head back. They
reckon that they're good enough to teach me to ride a surf board properly,
too. No offence again, Tom. Amelia's smirk bursts into girly laughter.

I throw Will one of my playful expressions that says, `Thanks, bro',
`You're a young smart arse' and `I love you'. all within the one
smirk. Then I say, "Yep, he was really getting into it. He was handling
himself like an expert at the end." My innuendo is intended purely for
Will's amusement. He does not disappoint, and smirks back.

Uncle Bill cuts in, "OK, guys, get dressed and we'll go and grab some lunch
and talk about the future, because I think that Will has a big one."

Will and I turn towards each other and smile but say nothing. I can't help
thinking, `yes, Uncle Bill, but not as big as your one, from what I hear,'
realising that I had never actually seen the `Big Willie'.

We stow the boards in the garage, dash upstairs and dress in our matching
clothes. Before we head down, Will grabs me, hugs me, kisses my neck and
says, "I love it here, and I love you, Tom."

What can I say? "I love you too, Will. If you weren't my brother, I'd ask
you to marry me."

He giggles, "And if you weren't my brother, I'd say `yes'." Hugs and
kisses!

If it weren't for the fact that Uncle Bill is waiting, this could very
easily turn into a passionate love-making session.

We say our good-byes to Mum, Dad and Sis. Will sits in the front passenger
seat next to his dad. I sit behind Uncle Bill so that I can look at Will
and, at the same time, see Uncle Bill's face in the rear-vision mirror. He
backs out and accelerates at a more respectable speed than he did in the
Ferrari last night. He drives about a kilometre and pulls off the highway
into a mostly-vacant car park overlooking he beach.

Will looks at him, then me, and pulls a face as if to say, `What's
happening?' Uncle Bill doesn't wait for the question to be verbalised. He
quickly provides the answer.

"Boys, there's something that I really need to speak with you about. I
don't know how you will react, but I have to say it anyway."

"What's wrong, Uncle Bill?" I ask nervously, thinking that he's about to
tell us that he's going to disappear again and leave his newly-found sons
to resume their previous roles while he travels the world or, worse, that
he wants to take Will away with him, now!

"Tom, you know that my life has been spent mixing with a lot of very
talented people, don't you?"

"Uh-huh," I reply with some uncertainty.

I don't know where this is going but I can feel that my heartbeat has
quickened and is beginning to pound in my chest and in my head.

"What I had no reason to tell you when you were younger is that many of
them were, and are, gay."

This is getting awfully `close to home', and I'm feeling very
uncomfortable. And, yet, our eyes remain fixed on each other's in the
mirror. I quickly glance at Will. He is staring at his dad. Now, I've never
seen a `stunned mullet' but that expression definitely seems appropriate
for Will right now.

"Yes?" I ask with an upwards inflexion as if to ask, and fear, where this
is leading.

Uncle Bill continues, "I've spent a lot of time talking with these
inspiring people, even to the point of discussing their private lives, and
how difficult it was to be gay, especially when they were younger. I asked
many what was the most difficult part for them regarding their sexuality. I
wasn't surprised to hear that, almost universally, it was the pain around
`coming out'.

"Some shared that they had ultra-religious or abusive parents who would
have thrown them out on the street if they had told them the truth at the
time. Some were terrified of school-yard bashings while others feared
losing their friends or their hard-gained places on sporting teams. Older
guys thought that their bosses, at the time, would fire them for being `a
person not fitting the corporate culture'. Even though there are laws
against this discrimination in some countries today, most have only been
enacted recently. Many guys ended up in the creative or performing arts
because therein is broad acceptance of people for their skills and
abilities, whatever their sexual preference."

"And you're telling us this because, as our father, you think it's your
duty to give us the `birds and the bees' talk?" I ask with a touch of
sarcasm but, in reality, hoping to deflect this discussion away from Will
and me.

Unsuccessfully, as I feared!

Uncle Bill merely carries on. "Boys, over the years I have developed an
acute awareness of gay guys, based on many factors. My `gaydar' has proved
to be very strong and accurate despite the facades that people put up to
`protect' themselves from detection."

I am now feeling way beyond uncomfortable! My knees are trebling
uncontrollably. There can be only one reason why Uncle Bill is telling us
this! He's going to ask one of us, or both of us, if we are gay.

Then he hits us with the shocking evidence. "I often wondered about you,
Tom, being a handsome and successful sports star without a
girlfriend. Then, having only seen you and Will together for a short while
last night and again just now, it all clicked! What I observed was the way
that you two look deeply into each other's eyes when you are talking and
how you like to sit or stand close enough together so that you can touch
one another - on the back, on the arm, and even giving each other a pat on
the backside. And, besides the physical, the language that you use is
jovial and peppered with double meanings, little sexual innuendos. Boys,
seeing you two together, especially in the matching clothes that you wear,
sets my gaydar pinging very loudly."

OMG! He hasn't said it, but he knows! There is not use in either of us even
trying to deny it now. We've been so wrapped up in each other that we've
let our guards down. He has seen the magnetism between us. And, I'm
betting, that if he has seen it, then so has Mum, especially over our
little exchanges at breakfast! Oh, no! Shit! I'm dead! We're both dead!
Please, God, let me die now!

Mind you, I'm not ashamed for loving Will, but afraid of the consequences -
not only rejection by the whole world who think that I'm just a normal,
straight guy, but also for Will. How will he cope? Especially back home in
The Village?

I look at Will. The tears welling up in his eyes trigger my own.

"Tom, Will, I want you to know that despite any fears that you may have,
because I read them on your faces now, I will be totally supportive of you
both in whatever difficult times lay ahead for you. And, I want you to feel
confident that I will never repeat my thoughts or any of this conversation
to another living soul, if that is one of your fears. Be assured that what
is said in this car, stays in this car." This is eerily reminiscent of
Marty's comforting `House Rule'.

"This is just between the three of us - a secret between a father and his
two sons. I will love you both and my wish for your lives is `happiness'
and that you will not live in fear and pain. I will do everything within my
power and resources to help that happen for you.And I will be there to
support you if you want to tell somebody else."

He retrieves two handkerchiefs from somewhere and hands one each to Will
and me. "Is there anything that either of you would like to tell me or ask
me?"

I try very hard to hold in the tears and to maintain my now-fragile
composure. But I lose the battle.



To be continued...

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