Date: Fri, 6 Feb 2009 00:24:30 -0500
From: chris james <drmeta4@gmail.com>
Subject: Seasons for the Boy, Chapter 2

Dear Reader: The following is a story of adult fiction, persons under the
age of 18 may not view this material.

	And so on we go in the fictional town of New Bridge. New England is
full of sleepy little towns like this, I have several in mind as I write
this story. My visits there were glorious moments, some of them made me
feel like I had stepped back in time. But this story is about the future
and the lives of the characters as they grow. As always, your comments
welcomed. Chris James.

drmeta4@gmail.com


			 Seasons for the Boy (M/B)

Chapter Two

	The Town of New Bridge was barely on the map with a population
hovering around three hundred and twenty-seven people, it was one of the
things that had first attracted Pat. He supposed with the arrival of the
Dennison family that number would swell to three hundred thirty, the local
tax assessor would be in heaven.

	But that tiny number meant that when it came to celebrating the
Fourth of July most folks put out the flag and then went over to Littleton,
population close to five thousand, to see the fireworks.

	Mike managed to get out of his family obligations which left his
parents free to drive south to Boston once again, a better situation for
all of them. Barry had allowed his son the freedom to develop a lasting
relationship with Pat, figuring that overall the association would do the
boy some good.

	Barry had never finished high school and understood how that
limited his progress in the world. But he wanted greater things to happen
for his son, something most parents desire if they really love their
kids. And Mike was his only son which meant all the hopes he had for his
family rested on the kid's shoulders, he was grateful Pat had taken such an
interest, him being a city slicker and all that.

	He might be fairly uneducated, but Barry still wondered about
Pat. Most men at that age were married, unless of course he was gay. Didn't
seem likely that Mike would 'go gay' on him, the boy was just too tough for
something like that. But Barry held a grudging respect for Pat; they both
seemed to have the boy's best interests at heart. To his mind that made Pat
a useful tool.

	Tools were something Barry could understand. You had to use the
right tool for the job or face screwing up. Having Pat looking after the
boy's education was a good use of a tool. That whole computer business was
something Barry had never grasped, except he knew it was all part of the
future. The future was Mike's world and he had to be ready for it. Barry
harbored no illusions about himself; he was just a country boy.

	Neil, on the other hand, was a city boy and to him this move to New
Bridge was just another sign that his father was a jerk. The man just
didn't care, his whole world revolved around work. That left Neil alone
with his mother a good deal, and at least she seemed to understand her
son's needs.

	When Neil had been suspended over that alleged assault charge she
had risen up to defend him, his father had simply been furious. The whole
thing had been absurd but the principal at his former school had tried to
make sense of it. Maybe it was a good thing that Neil had taken the blame,
at least Jonas got off a rape charge.

	Jonas Keating, star athlete at Woodrow Wilson High was just lucky
his pants weren't down yet, that's what saved his ass. Neil had been
lusting after the boy since the start of the school year. That afternoon it
had all come to head. Neil had been stalking the boy for months, and he had
done everything he could to gain Jonas' attentions.

	Maybe the football coach had been a bit surprised when Neil stepped
forward and volunteered to be the water boy for the team during
practice. But Neil had tried to do his best and things seemed to go
smoothly at first. Of course that meant Neil was in the locker room passing
out towels as well after the practice. What better place for a gay boy than
a locker room full of naked boys about to become men.

	Jonas had smiled at the extra attention Neil paid to his needs. He
understood the star quality an athlete exuded, the girls at school fawned
over him for that very same reason. Having the same attention come from
another guy didn't phase Jonas, he had Neil pegged as gay from the start.

	So as the locker room emptied out that afternoon Jonas decided to
see just what Neil was all about. Not that he felt himself gay in any sense
of the imagination, but Jonas was a normal horny guy. Somewhere in the back
of his mind getting his cock sucked by Neil seemed like a good thing, he'd
heard gay boys did that pretty damn well.

	But in the quiet corner of the locker room where Jonas pinned Neil
against the lockers things didn't go the way he'd planned. The towel boy
cowered in the corner as Jonas pressed his body closer.

	"Come on, Neil...how's about you do me just a little favor," Jonas
had crooned.

	Neil had no idea it was going to happen like this, and in such a
public place. No, his dream was romantic, Jonas and moonlight in the back
seat of the jock's red Firebird was the only thought he'd had. And now he
dropped the armload of towels as Jonas pressed him back against the lockers
and a hand grasped at his growing stiffness.

	For his part Jonas was surprised at his reaction to the swelling in
Neil's shorts, it seemed to turn him on.  OK, the boy was turned on and
that seemed to encourage Jonas' thoughts. His hand swept down Neil's thin
gray gym shorts and damn near tore the jock off the boy. Neil gasped as a
strong hand grasped his balls and cock.

	The wooden bench was right there and Neil was forced down on it,
his acquiescence assured by that hand holding onto his most precious parts.

	"My, my...what a pretty little ass you have," Jonas said.

	Jennifer Riggs hadn't given him a thing yesterday and Jonas was
horned up to fuck something...and there it was. Gay boys liked to be
fucked, didn't they?

	Neil was terrified and thrilled. But he harbored no illusions
either, Jonas was going to fuck his tight little virgin ass and it would
hurt.

	"No, Jonas...don't," Neil begged.

	A hand spread his ass cheeks and Neil heard Jonas laugh. "Damn...it
even looks like a pussy."

	Neil heard Jonas' belt buckle and he screamed for help. Jonas had
to stop undoing his pants to control the struggling boy and his hand
squeezed Neil's balls. Of course that was the wrong move, now Neil really
had something to scream about and he did.

	From around the corner came the sound of the locker room door
slamming open and Jonas backed off. His foot hit the pile of towels and he
slipped, falling on his ass against the wall where he banged his head.

	"Hello...who's in here?" A voice called.

	Neil struggled off the bench, his balls ached something fierce when
he moved and he quickly sat back down, hands clutching his crotch, shorts
around his ankles. And that's what Principal Thomas saw when he rounded the
corner.

	The man had been checking the halls in preparation for locking the
outer doors when he heard the screams and came running. Now he saw his star
athlete sitting senseless against the wall and Neil there with his shorts
down holding his cock, what was he supposed to believe?

	One on one in the office, Jonas said Neil had pushed him against
the wall and then started to undress. Neil's story was different but the
principal could hardy believe Jonas was about to rape anyone, not his star
athlete. He suspended Neil immediately and Jonas was taken to the hospital
for an examination of that bump on the back of his head.

	Neil cried in his mother's arms and refused to go back to that
school. Nora had known about Neil's sexual awareness for quite some time,
never quite sure how to discuss it with her son...until now. The boy was
almost seventeen, a gifted student and never an ounce of trouble; this
could hardly be his fault.

	Explaining it to her husband was a different matter. Nora felt it
was her obligation, not wishing for Neil to endure the disbelief or distain
she was sure his father would feel. And she had been right, her husband had
ranted...until she shut him down.

	Clayton Dennison could hardly argue with his wife, she held the
purse strings. Her family's money had brought them this far, Neil was her
son and she would tolerate no punishment towards the boy. Clayton did the
only thing he could think of, he offered to let them move.

	Neil's joy at discovering another boy in town was gay was soon
tempered by the understanding that Pat had been there first and that Mike
was in love with the man. It took some thought but he finally
understood. Mike had solved his feeling of isolation here in tiny New
Bridge; Pat had been his only choice. From what he saw, the man was just a
wonderful person, and that made him fairly envious.

	Neil had never considered a relationship with an older man,
thoughts of peer experiences was scary enough. But Mike seemed happy and
his friendship hadn't waned, if anything Mike seemed to go out of his way
to include Neil in his life. That was sweet, it made Neil feel loved, and
especially since he knew every minute Mike spent with him was time he
wouldn't be with Pat.

	Neil's father was still a hundred and fifty miles away in Boston
when the Fourth of July dawned in New Bridge, he didn't miss the man at
all. Neil knew the source of love in his family came from his mother; his
father was away even more now that they lived here. If anything, the
incident with Jonas had only made the man more distant.

	So Neil rose from his bed and stepped into the shower. He was
careful with his grooming and a little miffed that the nearest hair salon
was in Littleton. Not that the half hour drive bothered him much, if not
for that license he would be a basket case by now.

	His mother had agreed to apply to the Bradford Academy, and Neil
had checked them out online. The glossy photos of the campus and modern
classrooms had shown him one very interesting thing; the boys there were
simply yummy. Being a day student at an all boys boarding school conjured
up all kinds of images, and even now the thought gave Neil a raging
erection.

	He preferred to masturbate in bed but the shower was always an
acceptable choice, especially when his head was filled with naked
boys. Jonas had been such a damn fool to attempt something like that, a
little patience and romance would have brought him so much more, but that
was all in the past.

	Sex was still a great mystery and losing his virginity to one of
those cute boys in the Bradford photos would be a pleasure. For now Neil
turned the shower spray against the wall and lay down in the tub. He poured
conditioner in his hand and raised his legs, spreading the slippery goo on
his anus and then his cock.

	He reached for his favorite hairbrush, the one with the soft
rubbery handle, and rubbed it slowly around the opening to his tight little
butt hole. The sensation always gave him a thrill and he felt the opening
relax. Sliding it into the depth of the four inch handle Neil smiled and
grasped his cock.

	The handle rubbed his prostate as Neil stroked and closed his
eyes. In his mind a large sweaty boy was hovering over him, cock straining
to fill his ass until they both reached the point of orgasm. Neil had been
working his ass for a long time, even before Jonas fumbled the ball. He
knew the real thing would feel so much better but the brush always did the
trick.

	The face on the boy was always changing, the feeling Neil got
didn't. Somewhere in his imagination the boy was Jonas, or sometimes even
Mike. The nameless boys in the photos inspired the fantasy, but Neil always
came back to the boys he knew...until now.

	For as his left hand worked that brush in and out, his right
stroked the length of his cock bringing forth all those wonderful
feelings...and Neil conjured up an image of Pat. Having the man fuck him
would be a thrill, for a guy like that had experience and knew how to
please.

	Neil held back a groan at the thought, unsure if his mother was
aware of what happened here in the shower. She knew he jerked off, she
didn't mind so long as he didn't leave the evidence stinking away in his
soiled laundry. But she didn't know about his hair brush, she never would.

	And as Neil's actions became more intense, more violent, all that
stroking and penetration caused him to speak his thoughts. "Fuck me,
Pat...oh fuck me to death." And with those words he finally felt the rush
that rubbing his prostate gave him combine with the surge from his scrotum,
and he almost screamed with pleasure. "Fuck me...ahhhh."

	The surge sprayed out on his body, plastering his neck, chest and
stomach, leaving Neil trembling on the bottom of the tub. He lay there,
feeling the fullness the brush gave him, the pounding of his heart and the
throbbing in his half swollen cock.

	Whoa, that had been quite a rush...but Pat? Where had that come
from? But he knew quite well, it was all part of the envy he had for what
Mike must be getting from his lover. He could never voice that envy, Mike
wouldn't understand. And today, today he would have to endure their
company.

	He was grateful for their companionship; it kept life in New Bridge
from boring him out of his skull. But just watching them together was hard,
even though they were careful in public. Neil had seen them look at one
another. Even if they couldn't touch he knew that love was being shared.

	Neil finally stood, pulling the brush from his ass and smiling at
the emptiness it left behind. He tossed it through the curtain and into the
wash basin; he always cleaned it carefully and doused it with rubbing
alcohol afterwards. No sense in letting his mother find any traces of where
it had been...he sure didn't want to have 'that' talk.

	He finished his shower and dried off, now he had to choose clothing
for the day. It wouldn't do to be too flamboyant in this hick town, no need
to arouse interest in any of the male beings he would see today. Neil
imagined the three of them might be the only gay creatures in the whole
crowd, now there was a depressing thought.

	But both Mike and Pat dressed much alike, dark colors and work
shirts, the local flavor he supposed. Gawd, he didn't own a single plaid
shirt and entirely too many pinks and purples. Neil had accepted that he
came off as a bit girly, but it was just his nature. He was pretty sure
Mike didn't like the image but Neil didn't plan to change. Today he would
wear white board shorts and a blue shirt. He considered a red bandana
around his neck to complete the flag colors, but that would really make him
look like a fag, better not.

	His mother smiled when he came downstairs. "Off to the
celebration?" She asked.

	"Yeah, Mike said they were going into Littleton and I thought to
get a look at the town before this fall," Neil replied.

	"That would be nice, the school said they were sending me the
application," Nora said.

	"You think Principal Thomas will put something bad in my school
records?"

	Nora smiled. "I've already seen them; our lawyer arranged it before
we left Lansing."

	"And...? Jeez, Mom, what the hell did he have to say?"

	"Nothing much, the record of your suspension is there, but he was
very careful not to throw around any allegations. It just says you got in a
fight with another student and were judged to be the guilty party."

	"That's stupid, it wasn't like that at all. You heard what the
doctor said about the bruises on my ba...my testicles." Neil was pissed,
that asshole principal.

	"Neil, we're away from there now. Like I told you, the best way to
treat this is as a sexual harassment incident, you were just defending
yourself."

	"If Thomas hadn't come by it would have been a full blown rape,
Jonas wasn't kidding," Neil said.

	"But honey, you told me you were attracted to him; he is a handsome
boy after all. Sure you didn't encourage him just a little bit?" Nora
asked.

	"No...I may have looked at him too much, but I didn't ever say he
could rape me, I'm not crazy."

	Nora smiled. "Do you think we should let Bradford know? I mean do
you want me to discuss your sexual orientation with the headmaster?"

	"Oh hell no, that would be a stupid way to start off in a new
school," Neal said. "It won't protect me from harassment...I'll just be
more careful who I look at."

	"With almost two hundred boys I imagine there ought to be a few gay
boys there as well," Nora said. "But you're right, just be careful."

	She gave Neil a hug and brushed the hair back off his face. "I know
its hard sweetie; it must be very difficult for you at this age. You'll be
off to college in two years, that's when you'll find yourself."

	Neil kissed her cheek and snagged the car keys. "Back later...sure
you'll be all right?"

	"Yes dear, your father might be home later...we'll have a quiet
evening. Enjoy yourself."

	"Thanks, Mom." And then Neil was gone.

	Nora stood and watched her son drive away; he was such a good
kid. She hadn't told him the whole truth; she couldn't bring herself to
reveal everything that bastard Thomas had said in his report. Neil was not
a sexual predator, even though Thomas had suggested that the boy had been
stalking Jonas.

	It was particularly absurd because Jonas was a head taller and
twice as strong. No she agreed with Neil's description, Jonas had tried to
rape her son. And if the creep had succeeded she would have paid a fortune
to have him killed.

	But the headmaster at Bradford would read those words and Nora felt
like she had to discuss it with the man. She had saved the photo from the
school year book because it showed the truth. There was Jonas and two other
boys from the football team, between them stood Neil. To think her son
could be the predator, shit...Thomas had to be blind; Jonas was leaning on
Neil's head for Christ's sake.

	The road to Pat's house led through town and Neil smiled at all the
pretty flags thrown up everywhere. He supposed if he had to live in a small
town this one was pretty good, still it was boring as hell. If he didn't
have his internet connections Neil knew he would be a basket case. The net
was his lifeline.

	The sites he visited were full of gay boys just like him, well
almost. The chats they had were graphic, stuff that took him a while to
accept, but he was one of them now. Becoming one of the foremost online
sluts, Neil had managed to attract all kinds of kinky boys, most of whom
thought he was still in Michigan.

	Through these chats on camera he'd shared his body with a few of
them and received shocking images in return. Boys would do anything to
prove their devotion to him, Neil was their god...their bodies were his.

	At first he was repulsed by it all, the boys seemed creepy, out of
control. He eventually turned all of them towards sex, even the straight
ones...or so they said. There was a fine line between kinky and gay to
these boys, there were seven at the moment. Any one of them would jerk off
for his approval if he asked; he had dozens of such episodes captured on
his computer drive.

	He would have shown them to Mike, assured that the boy would get
turned on by it. But that moment had never come, Mike had crashed the
relationship before it even had a chance to fly. Now all Neil had were
freaks scattered across the country, it was no good...no good at all.

	Pat was out in the yard when he arrived and Neil flashed back to
that moment in the shower this morning. Yes, he could see making it with
Pat, but it would never happen. The man was devoted to Mike and that's
where it ended. Neil understood how important Mike might be to his life, he
might need that promise to defend him. No, he wouldn't do anything to
jeopardize that.

	"Hey, Pat...Happy Fourth," Neil said as he got out of the car.

	"Same to you, sweetie... you look nice today," Pat replied.

	"Thank you...where's the brat?"

	Pat laughed. Neil seemed to understand just what a little monster
Mike could be on occasion. "He's inside rummaging in my closet for a shirt
that I vaguely remember packing, I don't even know if I still have it. Red,
white and blue you know."

	"Ah, patriotic to the core," Neil said.

	"I just think he likes the idea of stealing my clothes," Pat said.

	Mike came out of the house waving a shirt with all the right
colors. "I found it...Hey, Neil."

	"We could have just wrapped you in a flag," Neil said.

	"Lord no, not here, the VFW would be all over my ass for
that. Desecrating the flag and all that crap, not goin there," Mike said.

	The shirt was white with red and blue stars all over it, and Mike
slid off his t-shirt and tossed it to Neil. The sight of his small body was
enough to give Neil a thrill, the kid was all smooth skin and muscle. Mike
slid on the new shirt and smiled.

	"What do you think?"

	"You'll be a hit," Pat said. "I figured some lunch before we
go...we'll find nothing but junk food later on in Littleton."

	He fed them soup and sandwiches before they piled in the
Subaru. Neil sat in back and leaned between the two front seats to stay in
the conversation.

	"So, what do they do to celebrate?" Neil asked.

	"Food and games, lots of craft displays, it's a fair really," Mike
said. "Last year they had some kiddie stuff set up and a Ferris wheel, I
like the bumper cars best of all. Fireworks after dark, the usual stuff."

	"I was hoping to get a look at Bradford if we could swing that,"
Neil said.

	"Sure, I'd like to see the campus as well, how's the application
process going?" Pat asked.

	"Haven't received the forms yet, Mom says they have my transcripts
at least so that's progress. Two years, that's all I have left to endure,"
Neil said.

	'So what do you want to major in at college?" Mike asked. "You are
going to college, right?"

	"Sure, long as the parents are paying why not? I was thinking of a
major in gay studies."

	"Gay studies? You're joking," Mike said.

	Neil laughed. "Yeah, I am...I just figure after living here for two
more years that will be my first chance to hook up with anyone meaningful,
I have no idea about a major."

	"Give Bradford a chance," Pat said.

	"Oh I will, believe me. I have pretty good gaydar, and it's not
like people take long to figure me out. I just hope I can be out there,
this hiding in the closet business is getting old real fast."

	"I never even knew what that meant," Mike said. "Not like I had
anyone to focus on until Pat came along."

	"Well you're lucky; I'll definitely keep my eyes open at Bradford,"
Neil replied.

	The campus of the Bradford Academy occupied a large space less than
a half mile from the center of Littleton. The proximity meant the boarding
students had the run of the town on weekends, and since their business was
as good as anyone else's they fit in.

	The chain link fencing along the street gave way to an elaborate
brick and stone entranceway, complete with a huge iron work gate and the
crest of the school. The first buildings they came to were residence halls,
much like on a college campus. The sidewalks criss-crossed a quad towards
more modern buildings that housed the classrooms.

	Here and there the campus was dotted with nice homes, these were
set aside as faculty housing. The campus seemed deserted, only a few cars
in the parking lots, so Pat drove along the road which seemed to loop
around the buildings.

	The gym was an obvious building, with playing fields stretching off
into the distance across the road. Small green signs labeled the buildings
by their use, a swimming center, a theatre, everything an upscale school
might need to attract the students.

	"Impressive," Pat said.

	"Wonder where the center of gay life is located?" Neil said with a
snicker.

	"That would probably be in the dorms, you know what they say about
boarding schools," Mike laughed.

	"I only hope that's right. This place will be such a bore of it's
nothing but straight boys," Neil said.

	"I don't think that will be a problem," Pat said. "Look over
there."

	Like many of the other buildings in town, the American flag was on
display across the campus. But there across the road was a faculty home,
and on the porch was the familiar red, white and blue flag, beside it hung
the rainbow flag.

	"Oh sweet," Mike said.

	"Jeez, they have a gay faculty member? Diversity here we come,"
Neil laughed. "Oh yeah, I want to go here now."

	Pat was pleased as Neil seemed to perk up at the gay symbol. It was
about time something good came of this transition in the boy's life. Having
an openly gay faculty member would do so much for the boy's self esteem.

	As they drove past, a man came out of the house carrying a guitar
case towards the car in the driveway. He waved when he saw them looking.

	"Shall we stop and say hello?" Pat asked.

	"Oh, I don't know...won't we be intruding?" Neil replied.

	"Never know until we ask," Pat said, and pulled over to the side of
the road.

	A second man came out of the house and looked their way as Pat got
out, followed by Mike and Neil. Pat walked up the drive and smiled.

	"Nice flag you have there, so glad to see it flying," Pat said.

	The first man smiled and stuck out his hand. "Tom Boswell, and this
is my partner, Jack."

	"Pat Stevens, and this is Mike and Neil...Neil Dennison, he will be
attending your school this fall I believe."

	"Then you're most welcome," Tom said, stepping forward to shake
first Neil's and then Mike's hands. "Just stop in to look at the campus?"

	"Yes sir, that flag got my attention," Neil said. "May I ask what
you teach?"

	"Music and theatre, you interested?" Tom asked.

	Neil laughed. "I'm gay, do you even have to ask? What's it like
here, I mean, what kind of experience will I have?"

	Tom frowned. "I gather your last school wasn't such a good
experience, was it?" Neil shook his head in response. "Bradford is an
academically focused school, the rules are easy to follow and the classroom
work is hard. You stay focused and there won't be any problems here."

	"I'm a good student if I don't have to put up with a lot of crap,"
Neil said.

	"You won't, I assure you. This school was founded eighty years ago
by a Quaker family who wanted a good school for their children and the
children of others like them. We don't teach religion, we teach by
example. I'm not a Quaker and neither are most of the faculty, but some
are, as is Dr. Thorne, the headmaster. Here a boy is judged by the way he
lives his life, we teach diversity and acceptance for all."

	"Oh that sounds so refreshing, why aren't you folks running the
world?" Pat asked.

	Tom smiled. "One child at a time, Mr. Stevens...all it takes is
one. So Neil, you may call me Tom. We don't hold to much formality here at
Bradford, what's in a name anyway? Well, we do call the headmaster Doctor
Thorne out of respect; he is our elder after all. You'll be in eleventh
grade I gather?"

	"Yes...Tom."

	"Good, then I'll make sure you're assigned to me as your
mentor. Each student has both a mentor and a guide their first
semester. Being gay here is not a dating license, academics come first. I
won't tell you which of the other boys is gay, that you will find out for
yourself. Let's just say you're not alone, you'll know by the end of the
first week."

	"Wow...that would be awesome. Um, do you have a coming out day or
something?" Neil asked.

	"No, as a school we don't celebrate any one set of students, there
are no 'gay days,' that happens every day. Some boys feel comfortable
enough to wear a rainbow pin, that's acceptable, but no flamboyant shirts
or anything like that. The rules forbid shirts with anything written on
them except the maker's mark, if there is one. No rock band t-shirts, no
fags-R-us shirts, your issues are yours to keep or share, your choice.

	Tom smiled. "School starts on a Monday and by the end of the week
the shock will have worn off. That's when we have Mountain Day, our fall
school picnic. It gives you a first chance to socialize, climb the hills
and just enjoy being a Bradford student. You'll enjoy the school Neil,
there's not another place like this in the country, or so we like to
believe."

	Neil looked so awestruck that Tom gave the boy a hug. Pat could see
that his little introduction had meant a great deal to Neil, the man must
be a fine teacher. It only remained to be seen if Neil could be a fine
student.

	Jack walked over with his own smile. "You about ready, Tom?"

	"Yes...you guys coming down to the celebration?" Tom asked.

	"Yes, that's why we're here," Pat said.

	"Good, look us up on the stage about eight o'clock just before the
fireworks, we're performing a few folk songs," Tom said. "And Neil, keep
your eyes open, there will be a few Bradford boys out there in the crowd as
well. Hope we see you later," Tom said.

	They all shook hands then Pat and the boys returned to the car.

	"Wow, you struck gold, Neil," Mike said.

	"This is gonna be awesome, I,'m psyched," Neil said. "I had no
idea...the brochures were just so...academic." He laughed and Pat looked up
in the rear view to see the smile spread across his face.

	"I'm happy for you, Neil. I'm sure your parents will be glad to
know you'll fit in so well," Pat said.

	"I'm not telling my father shit, he just gets to pay the bills,"
Neil said. "I will tell my mother not to worry; they don't need to know all
the details."

	"How can you keep them from knowing? You'll be spending two years
of your life here, they have to be curious," Pat said.

	"Two years, fifty grand...that's all my father will see. My mother
will see it as a good education, that's her main concern. I have my own
life to lead, at least now it seems like this place will give me some
control over my future. Gay faculty, that is so cool," Neil laughed.

	Pat drove them across town, following the signs for event
parking. The main street was shut off, detour signs moving all traffic away
from the small cluster of downtown buildings. They parked in a grassy lot
and walked back, noting the hundreds of people gathering for the day's
events.

	Neil's eyes swept the crowd, wondering how he could figure out
which of the boys would be Bradford students. His rambling moves took him
away from Mike and Pat who walked slowly in the street.

	"Jeez, Pat. That school costs twenty-five thousand a year? That's
more than my daddy makes," Mike said.

	"Yeah, it's a lot of money. I'm just sorry that Neil thinks they
owe it to him, he ought to be grateful. Why...you want to go to Bradford
now?"

	"Oh hell no, my family couldn't afford anything like that."

	"If you were my son I'd mortgage my house to get you a good
education," Pat said.

	Mike smiled up at him and Pat saw the love in those eyes. "Don't
waste your money; you give me enough all ready."

	"If I thought I could get away with it I would gladly pay your
tuition, I just don't see how we could get that past your father," Pat
said. "I think he would feel angry about it, and maybe a little
suspicious."

	"I'm doing fine at the public school, and with you helping me study
I'll have a good year, you'll see," Mike said. He looked up at the Ferris
wheel which loomed over their heads. "Come on, let's go for a ride so I can
hold your hand and scream like a little girl," Mike laughed.

	Neil was off in the crowd and looking intently. If there was one
thing that thrilled him now it was Tom's statement that there were other
gay boys at Bradford. Finally, he wouldn't feel so alone. Not that he was
planning to sleep around, that would certainly blow his education out of
the water. No, he just wanted a partner...like Mike had, like Tom had.

	Seeing other gays attached to someone left an empty feeling in his
heart and mind. He'd suffered enough; he'd endured the hate...Neil felt
like he needed something good to happen. And then across the street he saw
two boys in blue t-shirts, the Bradford crest above the breast pocket. Even
from here he could see that mark of distinction, better yet, the boys
wearing them looked awesome.

	Neil found his way across the street wondering what he might say,
and then he caught that look and his gaydar flashed on. No way, could it be
that easy? The red head was staring at him, the brunette turned to look his
way and their eyes locked.

	"Hey, guys," Neil managed to say, his heart was pounding in his
chest and the words came out almost breathless.

	"Hello to you too," The red head said.

	"I'm coming to Bradford this fall," Neil said.

	The brunette gave him a big smile. "Then lucky us. Where you from?"

	"I live in New Bridge, you guys day students?"

	"Yeah, boarding is for fags...Thank God," The red head said, and
then they all laughed.

	Red's name was Wayne, although he actually preferred to be called
Red; the brunette's name was Alan, both lived in Littleton. Both were going
into tenth, making them a year younger than Neil. Red admitted he was
bisexual, Alan said he was just plain gay, something he had discovered
years ago. Then Neil had to share.

	"I'm gay, no doubt about it," Neil said.

	"Whoo hoo, that makes seven," Alan said. "Now there's a lucky
number."

	"There are seven gay boys at Bradford?" Neil asked.

	"Yup, and four of us," Red laughed. "Gets to be quite a party
sometimes. Just wait until Mountain Day, you'll see. Hell, who knows what
the new freshman class will bring us."

	"Define party," Neil said.

	Alan looked around. "Come on, this is no place to talk about our
business."

	The boys led Neil away from the noise and activity of the
crowd. Two blocks away they came to a quiet little park, eight trees and a
couple of benches where they sat down to talk.

	"Welcome to my office," Alan said.

	"Office...here?" Neil laughed.

	"Yeah, this is where I got my first blow job, right out here in the
open. Of course it was like eleven at night and I was twelve. I have no
idea how old the guy was, it was real dark, but he sucked real nice," Alan
said.

	"Jeez, Alan, that story gives me the creeps every time you tell
it," Red said.

	"What about you, blondie...does that freak you out?" Alan asked.

	"No, I ...I suppose it was what you wanted," Neil said.

	"Do you have a boyfriend...have you ever had one?" Red asked.

	"No, I'm...I'm a virgin," Neil admitted.

	Alan patted Neil's hand. "We'll work on it, OK? First times are
supposed to be special." Alan then smiled. "You're already special, do you
realize how hot looking you are?"

	Neil blushed. Yes, he knew his looks attracted guys, but all of
them had been on the internet.

	"Yes, I'm attracted to blondes," Red said.

	"Butt out Bi Boy, Neil needs a real gay man to show him the way,"
Alan said.

	"Yeah, and where's he gonna find that man, girl friend," Red
replied.

	"Guys...I'm not sleeping around, OK? I need friends, cute friends
and you both qualify. As to who I will sleep with, that comes later...much
later," Neil said.

	"Oh yeah, we'll get along just fine," Alan said.

	"So you mentioned party, is there a lot of sex going on at school?"
Neil asked.

	"Yes...and no, depends on who's playing," Red said.

	"Look, just do the math," Alan said. "Seven for sure gay boys, four
bi boys. Incoming class maybe adds two more, one to each category. And then
there are the straight boys we know who fool around, that adds another
dozen at the moment, plus a few undecided ones. That gives you over two
dozen possible playmates, cappish?

	"I don't want a straight boy," Neil said.

	"Maybe, but they're like Fritos, you can't eat just one," Alan
laughed. "Sometimes they're just fun, they're always so in awe of what
you're doing."

	"You top or bottom?" Neil asked.

	"Depends on the boy, Red is a dedicated bottom when he's in gay
mode," Alan said.

	Red blushed and Neil thought he looked a lot like a strawberry at
the moment, it was kinda cute.

	"And what do you like to do, Alan?" Neil asked.

	Alan's eyes flashed. "I give the best blow job in New England."

	Neil laughed at the ego behind that statement, but Red nodded. "He
isn't kidding."

	"OK, this all sounds so loony," Neil said.

	"Naw, we're not sex maniacs, the school work keeps you pretty
busy," Alan said. "Two hundred some boys and only about a quarter of us are
day students. We three are the only 'friendlies' in the day student lot,
the rest are boarders. You'll find a lot of the boarders want to get off
campus at the weekend, that's when you party."

	"You bring boys home for sex?" Neil asked. "That's incredible."

	"Unless you have a steady boyfriend, it is what it is," Alan
said. "Works for us, doesn't it Red?"

	"Oh yeah, not like my mom would let me bring a girl home to sleep
in my room. She just thinks I'm being nice to the poor lonely bastards."

	"So they get home cooked meals and a ride on your butt, that sounds
damn friendly to me," Neil said.

	"Yes, he's a regular philanthropist," Alan laughed. "So Neil...you
want to go out with me sometime?"

	"Sure, I might learn something if you're the best," Neil replied.

	"Oh yeah, I will spoil you to death," Alan said. "You name the time
and place, OK?"

	"Sure, you mind if I introduce you to some of my friends?" Neil
asked.

	"You have gay friends in New Bridge?" Alan asked.

	"Yeah, there are three of us in town," Neil said. "They're here
with me today."

	"Three gay boys in New Bridge, that must be a record of some kind,"
Red said.

	"Only one of them is a boy, he's sixteen like you guys."

	"Oh? He has an adult lover? Wow, lucky bastard," Alan said.

	"Yeah, they're real sweet," Neil said. "Come on, let's go back to
the fun."

	Pat and Mike were just getting off the bumper cars when Neil found
them; somehow Pat wasn't at all surprised that the boy had two others in
tow. Fortunately no one was standing close when Neil made the
introductions.

	"Pat...Mike, this is Red bi and Alan gay, if you get the point. I
believe Alan and I are dating now," Neil said.

	Alan smile shyly. "Yeah, a bit awkward, I don't even have my
license yet."

	Pat smiled in return. "Driving is no obstacle to what boys seem to
need; they don't have a license for that."

	They all laughed and Alan gave Pat a grateful smile, the awkward
moment was gone.

	"Aw, you already did the bumper cars," Neil said.

	"Mike will be glad to give you a go, he already gave me whiplash,"
Pat said. "You have tickets?"

	"No, where do you buy them?" Neil asked.

	"Here, you boys take mine and go bash your brains out," Pat said,
handing Mike the handful of tickets. The boys all walked over to stand in
line and only Mike looked back with a smile. There was such security in
that little gesture; it spoke volumes about their love.

	So Neil had a boy...at last, Pat thought. Alan was such a cute one
too, he just hoped the boy had some experience at relationships, Neil sure
didn't. Neil was just a volatile beauty; but his looks belied the
insecurities under all that blonde hair and fair skin.

	It would take a strong boy to bring Neil into the real world, maybe
Alan had what it takes, it remained to be seen. The redhead was just so
sweet looking; all those freckles were so attractive. Bisexual maybe, it
might just take the right guy to make him gay. Boys that teetered on the
brink sometimes fell in love quite easily Pat knew.

	This was going to be quite a day of celebration, and they hadn't
even reached the fireworks yet...or had they. Neil and Alan might light off
a few fireworks of their own this week; he knew what Mike would want later
on this evening.

	And so it came to pass. As they sat on the bleachers off to one
side of the little stage, Pat and the four boys watched as Tom and Jack
started up an old favorite song and the crowd sang along.

	"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
         You make me happy when skies are gray..."

	Pat could have sworn that Neil and Alan sang the last word and said
gay instead of gray, but they were covertly holding hands in the gathering
darkness, no one could see. Just seeing the boys like this made him
appreciate what he had with Mike.

	"You'll never know dear, how much I love you,
	Please don't take my sunshine away."

	And Pat turned to look into the smoldering passion that Mike held
in his eyes. Yes, they had love, like no other Pat had ever
experienced. And Mike leaned into him, a hand slowly placed on his thigh, a
squeeze of affection. And then they sang the refrain.

	"You'll never know dear, how much I love you,
	Please don't take my sunshine away."

	And after that there were only fireworks.


					* * * * *


  Author's Note:

  More? Do I hear a cry for more?

  Given time, I may be persuaded to produce a Chapter Three.

  For this chapter I received several great suggestions from Kevin E. and
Philip M.

  But I must note, the best comments and suggestions to the author award
goes to R.C.

  Thank you all for the wonderful mail, you bring out the best in me. Chris
James.


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