Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2003 09:58:31 -0800 (PST)
From: Tim Mead <timmead88@yahoo.com>
Subject: "Dr. Tim and the Boys," ch. 37

The following fictional narrative involves sexually-explicit erotic events
between men.  If you shouldn't be reading this, don't.

In the world of this story, the characters don't always use condoms.  In
the real world, you should care enough about yourself and others to always
practice safe sex.

The author retains all rights.  No reproductions or links to other sites
are allowed without the author's consent.

Thanks as always to Tom W., my patient, hardworking editor.  Thanks as well
to Ash, Mickey, Evan, and Patrick.

timmead88@yahoo.com
Chapter 37:  Holiday Cheer


CEDRIC:

Dr. Fairchild's party was the Saturday before Christmas, which came on a
Thursday that year.  The Fairchilds lived in Ghent, which was a little over
a half an hour from campus, in an area with hills, lots of woods, and big
houses.

"Timmy," I said as we pulled up into a big circular driveway, "you've gone
into the right profession, babe.  I didn't know professors made this kind
of money."

He grinned at me.  "Gwen's making a decent salary, but it's her husband the
lawyer who makes the big bucks.  They live here because neither one of them
has to drive too far to work.  His office is in downtown Cleveland, and he
can get there in a little over a half an hour from here on I-77."

"Oh, is her husband Frank Fairchild?"

"Yeah, I think that's his name.  I've never met him."

The house had a large foyer.  A young woman, probably a university student,
took our coats and whisked them away somewhere.  Dr. Fairchild spotted us
and came to greet us.

"Ah, here you are, Tim.  Welcome."  Then, looking at me, she said, "Cedric,
it's good to have you with us, too.  My husband wants to meet you.  If
you'll excuse me, I'll find him."

A moment or so later, she came back with a tall, very distinguished looking
man with silver hair and a thousand-dollar suit.

"Frank, here's Timothy Mead, our guest of honor."

Tim smiled and shook hands with Frank Fairchild.  "I wish you'd just make
this a holiday party and play down the `guest of honor' bit, Gwen."

"Nonsense, Tim.  You've distinguished yourself, and we want to honor you
for that."

Her husband had stood there smiling.  Then he turned to me, offered me his
hand, and said, "I understand Jacob Jones is your father."

""Yes, sir, he surely is."  I said, grinning.

"Well, as I'm sure you know, Jake is one of the finest and most respected
members of the Cleveland legal community."

"I do know that, but it's always great to hear.  Thanks.  I'll tell him you
said so."

"OK, Cedric, but you can also tell him I'll whup his ass the next time we
play handball."

I laughed and said I'd do that.

Then we were pointed toward a large room off the foyer where the guests
were standing around.  I guess it was the living room.  It ran from the
front of the house to the back, with vaulted ceilings and windows at both
ends.  There was an enormous Christmas tree in front of the front window,
and there were greens all around the room.  Many of the guests already had
drinks in their hands, and the volume level was pretty high with
conversation.

It looked as if most of the senior English faculty and several of the
graduate students were there.  I think I was the only undergraduate there,
except for the guy out front who was parking cars, the gal who took our
coats, and the ones who were passing among the crowd with food.  People
were all dressed up for this holiday party, but they weren't as elegant as
the crowd that turned up for my parents' cocktail parties.  I could imagine
that it would be a very different scene if Frank's colleagues were there
instead of the university crowd.

Tim and I soon got separated.  After all, he was the man of the hour.  And
I was raised on parties like this, so I enjoyed myself schmoozing my
professors and getting to know some of the grad students better.

After grinning until I thought my face would break, I stepped behind a
large potted palm and stood there sipping on my glass of wine.  I was
approached by one of the senior faculty, Dr. Carter Frost.  He taught a
course in Beowulf that all the grad students had to take, along with most
of the senior English majors who aspired to go to grad school.  Around
sixty, I'd say, my height, with a big paunch and pendulous jowls, the prof
was wearing a sort of spruce green blazer with a solid red tie and red and
green tartan pants.  Some of the other profs had on flannel suits, and one
even had on a tan tweed sport coat with leather elbow patches and gray
slacks.  But no one, male or female, was dressed in such a garish outfit as
Doc Frost had donned for the occasion.

There was something lizard-like about him as he came around the palm,
sidled up to me, and said, "Well, young man, I understand you are a senior
English major."

I turned the smile back on and said, "That's right, sir."

"How come I don't know you?"  He stepped a little closer.  I would have
backed up, but I was trapped between the palm and the wall, and there was
no place to go.

"Um, well, I'm going to law school next year, and, though I'd have really
loved it if I could take your Beowulf course, I just haven't been able to
fit it in."  I could hear my Mama saying I'd go to hell for lying.

"Where have you applied?"

"I've got applications pending several places, Dr. Frost, but I'm hoping
that Michigan will accept me."

"One of the best.  Good luck."  He raised his highball glass in salute and
took a hefty swallow from it.  "You know, Cedric, I'm teaching a course in
Anglo-Saxon literature second semester.  There are many fascinating works
from that period besides the Beowulf.  I wish you'd consider signing up for
it.  I think you might find it very interesting."

About that time I heard someone tinging on a glass with a spoon.  It
sounded as if Gwen was about to say something.  I assumed she was going to
recognize Tim.

"Uh, that'd be nice, sir, but . . ."

I didn't finish what I was going to say because Frost interrupted me and
said, "I really wish you'd think about taking my course."  At the same
time, the bastard cupped my balls with his free hand.

My first reaction was to deck him.  But I didn't want to ruin Timmy's
evening.  I grabbed the offending arm, squeezed his wrist so hard I could
see the pain registering on his face, and said, "I'm so sorry professor.  I
think Dr. Fairchild is about to talk about Tim's new book, and, since he's
my partner, I want to be there to applaud him.  Please excuse me."  I
released his hand, and he gasped.  As I walked away, I asked, "What have
you published recently, professor?"

Gwen, looking regal in a cobalt blue sheath with a stunning diamond
pendant, was eloquent in talking about Tim's article.  She had obviously
read it, and she made several references to points that she thought were
especially significant.  Then she mentioned that it was quite an honor for
Tim and for the University that Stanford University Press was publishing
his book, and she said how much she was looking forward to reading that
when it came out.  Apparently while I was getting felt up behind the palm,
someone had distributed flutes of champagne to all the guests.
Dr. Fairchild offered a toast to Tim, everyone said things like "hear,
hear," and drank up.

When I reached Tim's side, I put my hand on his shoulder and whispered in
his ear how proud I was of him.  He was expected to respond to
Dr. Fairchild's remarks, and he did so with poise and grace, I think,
saying something about how he was grateful for all the encouragement and
help he had gotten from his senior colleagues in the department.  The only
clue that he was embarrassed was something he couldn't hide.  His words
were perfect for the occasion, but poor Timmy had one of his blushes.  I
knew it wasn't just his face that was blushing, but that he'd be blushing
all over.  And that thought gave me a hardon.  Then I thought of that
sleaze Frost trying to feel me up, so I didn't quite get the last few
sentences Tim spoke.  Soon, however, he was being applauded, and he came
back to me.  I wanted to grab him and kiss him right there, but I knew that
would be a no-no.  He surprised me when he took my hand and said, "I need a
real drink."  So we walked hand in hand to the bar, where he got himself a
Jack Daniels on the rocks.

A string quartet from the University music department started playing
Christmas music, and we began to circulate again.  Tim said he'd like to go
home, but that it would be rude to leave so early.  We got separated again.
I thought about having another glass of wine, but I was driving, so I
decided not to.  Instead, I had a glass of some wonderful cranberry-based
punch.  Then a couple of grad students I knew came over to me, Angie
Erskine and Billy Cary.

"Hey, Ced, we didn't know you and Tim Mead were partners."

"Well, this is sort of our coming out."

"Cool!" Angie said.  "You must be really proud of him."

"You know it!"

"Well, that was a pretty nice thing he said about you."

`Huh?  What did I miss?'

"Uh, what was that?"

"You mean you don't know?  Where were you when he was thanking
Dr. Fairchild?"

"I heard most of what he said, but I didn't catch the last of his remarks."

"Well, after thanking the faculty and the university generally, he said he
couldn't have done it without the support and encouragement of Cedric
Jones, his partner."

My God!  He'd done it.  If anyone had missed the fact that we were there
together, he'd made it clear to the whole damned department just what our
relationship was.  And I'd missed it because of that friggin' troll Frost.

I told Angie and Billy again how proud I was of Tim and then excused myself
to go find him.  When I located him, he had just turned away from the
person he'd been talking with and was momentarily alone.  I went to him and
said, "Hon, you have to go to the restroom, don't you?"

"Not really, babe," he said, looking puzzled.

"Yes, Tim, you do.  Find the restroom, and let me in when I knock twice."

"You have a message for me from MI-5 or something?" he asked, grinning.

"Shaddup, Timmy, and just do it, please!"

"OK, OK.  I hope you have hanky-panky in mind, but this is a little risky."

A couple of minutes later, after checking to make sure there was no one
looking, I tapped twice on the door of an upstairs bathroom.  He let me in.

"Now, Cedric, why all the urgency?  You want me to hold it for you while
pee?"

I grabbed him and pulled him to me.  Speaking softly into his ear, I told
him about what Professor Frost had done and that I had been so upset by
that that I missed his thanking me in his response to Dr. Fairchild.  I
didn't tell him I was also struggling with a hardon thinking about his
full-body blush.  I explained that I didn't know until someone told me what
he had said.

With tears in my eyes, I said, "Timmy I love you SO much.  I was about to
bust my buttons just now when you stood up there and received the honor you
have coming for your scholarship.  And at that very moment, you
acknowledged to the whole department that we are together, a couple."  Then
I kissed him.

When we broke apart, both a little short on oxygen, he said, "Cedric, I
love you so much I just couldn't hide it any longer.  And since Gwen wanted
to do this for me, I thought it was time to let everyone know how important
you are in my life.  I'm glad you didn't mind."

"The only thing I mind, lover, is that I didn't actually hear you say the
words.  I want to go grab Carter Frost and yank his balls off."

"Hey, he may eventually have to vote on my promotion to associate
professor, so let's not antagonize him.  Besides, I think your response was
very appropriate.  You told him that we're partners, so he knows now you
aren't available to become one of his boys."

"You mean . . . ?"

"Well, one hears rumors."

We left the bathroom singly and returned to the party.


When we thought we could appropriately do so, we hunted up Gwen and Frank
to say our thank-you's.

"Tim," Gwen said, "It took courage to do what you did tonight, but you did
it with grace and conviction.  I hope there will be no repercussions for
either of you.  You know I'm on your side.  Now, thank you for coming.  I
hope you have a beautiful Christmas.  I assume you will be together?"

"Yes," I said, "Tim's going to spend Christmas with my family."

"Wonderful," Frank said.  "Please give my best to Jake and your mother."


In the car on the way home, he nudged me and said, "I didn't know I was
spending Christmas with your family."

"Well, you weren't planning on going to Belpre, were you?  Of course you'll
spend it with us."

"Have you cleared this with Angel and Jake?"

"I was ordered by Angel to tell you you were expected.  We've been so busy
this week I've forgotten to tell you.  Besides, I just assumed you'd know."

He rested his hand in my lap, and my foot twitched on the accelerator,
causing the car to lurch.  "Woops!  Sorry about that.  What I was going to
say was, I'm glad I've got those presents for Angel, Jake, and Keesha."

I laughed.  He'd obviously been sure he'd be invited to our place, sure
enough to get presents for my family.

Later, as we were undressing, I said, "Well, babe.  That was memorable.
And, except for one bad moment, a pretty nice affair."

"Yeah.  It was great of Gwen to combine her annual holiday party with a
gesture to me."

"Well, one big evening down.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow night, too,
though you may not be."

"Now, Cedric, you know better than that.  With Max and Mark both involved,
I wouldn't miss it for anything."

The next night was the Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Peter's
Episcopal Church.  People representing different facets of the community
would read parts of the nativity story, and the choir would sing Christmas
music in between the readings.  Max was assisting Father John, and Markie
had been selected to be the university student who read.  I think the whole
crew was going to turn out for that.  Rebecca had even said she'd come to
sit with Lori, and Steve had been persuaded to come to sit with both of
them.

* * *

JARED:

Dante was giving me my first real kiss and I was about to cream in my pants
when he pulled back and said we shouldn't be doing that because I was
"jailbait."

"Aww, fuck, man!  What's that supposed to mean?  That was sooo good!"

"Yeah, Jared, it was good.  But, don't you see, I'm over eighteen and
you're under eighteen?  I could go to jail for having sex with you."

"Just because of a kiss?  I don't think so."

"Well, what did you think that kiss was leading to?"

"I know what I hope it was leading to.  Geez, Dan, you admitted you wanted
me.  And now we have to just stop?"

He glanced at his watch.  "Look, Jare, we've been in here too long.  (We
were in a big linen storage closet.) They'll miss us, if they haven't
already."

"Dude, we've got to talk about this."

He took both of my hands and looked at me with those soulful brown eyes.
"Yeah, we do.  Meet me at my car when we get finished?"

"Well, yeah, sure, I guess."

He adjusted his boner, opened the door, looked both ways, and then left.  I
stayed there for a few minutes because I didn't want anyone to see us
leaving the closet together and because I needed time for my own hard cock
to go down a little.

I don't remember much about the rest of my shift.  I do remember being glad
the scrubs were loose and that the shirt hung over my pants andhelped hide
my stiffie.  I was leaking so much I was afraid it would make a spot on the
front of my pants.  As I worked, I kept thinking about what had happened.

Was Dan just saying that because he didn't like the kiss?  It was my first,
after all, and I didn't know anything about technique.  Well, he did have a
big woodie when he left the closet.  If he really did like me, as he said,
how could we wait until my birthday in March to be with each other?  I
began to picture what it would be like to be with that hunky little
musclestud.  By the time my shift was over, there really was a wet spot on
the front of my cotton scrub pants.  I was glad it was cold and I had my
parka to pull on when I went to find Dan's car in the hospital employees'
parking lot.

He wasn't there when I got there, but he came jogging up right behind me.
He unlocked the old Civic, and we got in.  He started up the motor, but it
was cold enough inside the car that we could see our breath for a while
until the heater took the chill off.  I thought it would be nice if we
could hug each other until the car warmed up, but I didn't say anything
because I didn't want Dan to freak.

"Jared, like I told you, man, I really think you're hot.  And in the short
time we've been working together I've gotten to know what a really sweet
guy you are."

"Hey, Dan, you know why I'm working here.  How could you think I'm
`sweet'?"

"I know what you did to that Metz dude was wrong, but you're paying for it.
And you told me he'd forgiven you for it. The Jared I see is not some kind
of thug who goes around attacking people.  The Jared is see is smart,
sunny, gentle, and kind.  You think I don't see how you work with the
patients?  That's the real you.  And I've, well, let's face it, I've come
to have real feelings for you."

Trust me to be a total wimp.  Tears began to stream down my face when he
said that.  I was hoping it was dark enough in the car that he couldn't see
them.

"Here, babe.  What's this?  Tears?  Did I say something wrong?"

"No way, Danny.  It's just that I've felt the same way about you from the
beginning.  You were so helpful showing me the ropes and so patient with me
when I screwed up.  Here's this sexy wrestler dude going out of his way to
be nice to me.  I think my feelings for you are different from what I've
ever had for anybody else.  So when you said you liked me, I just kind of
choked up.  Sorry!"

He took off his glove and put his hand on my face, wiping away some tears
with his thumb.  "OK, guy, it looks as if something special has happened to
us.  We've got a thing for each other.  I just know it's going to be great.
But, hard as it's gonna be, we can't do anything physical until you turn
eighteen."

I giggled.

"What did I say?"

"Oh, it's going to be hard, all right.  All the time, I'm afraid."

He chuckled.  "Okay.  We have to figure out how we can spend more time
together away from the ER.  There are so many things I want to find out
about you.  Think we can set up a time this weekend to get together?  I
know, what with school and working here, you don't have much spare time.  I
don't either, but we need to talk.  When and where can we do that?"

"Well, if you came to my house, we'd have to get past my sis, and then
there'd be a zillion questions.  What about your place?"

"That might be a possibility, but my folks are home most of the time on
weekends, along with my two kid brothers.  Besides, it might be safest it
we weren't in a bedroom together for a while.  I don't know how much I can
trust myself around you."

"OK, I've just had an idea.  I usually get together with Steve Metz for a
burger at noon on Saturdays.  How about I explain to him that I need to do
something else this Saturday, so you and I could meet at Mickey D's or
someplace?"

"Hey, you don't want to piss him off.  Do you think he'd understand?"

"Yeah.  He knows I'm gay.  I think he'd be cool with me having a
boyfriend."

"Boyfriend, huh?"  Dante grinned. "I like that.  Now, dude, I've got to get
home and do some serious studying.  See ya about, what, 12:30 Saturday at
McDonald's?"

I looked around to see if there was anybody in the parking lot.  There
wasn't, so I reached over, grabbed his head, and pulled him toward me.  We
spent a couple of minutes picking up where we left off in the linen closet.

"I don't care what happens, I've got to have more than that!" I said,
panting.  My shorts were pretty wet with precum by that time, too.

He said, "Looks like I've found me one hot stud.  We are going to have to
learn to cool it, you know, at least until March.  See ya Saturday, babe."

"Babe."  I liked that.


I had a lot of thinking to do when I got home.  But first, after I stuck my
head in the door of Jess's bedroom and said goodnight, I went to my room,
took off all my clothes, and stroked off thinking about Dan.  I could still
feel his hard cock pressed against mine through our scrubs as he kissed me.


When I called Steve about canceling our lunch Saturday, I told him about
Danny.  He said he was happy for me.  But he did ask about Dan and what he
was like and how old he was.  When I said he was a freshman at the
university, Steve said, "Uh, Jared, you two aren't fooling around, are
you?"

I laughed.  "No, straight guy, we're not.  Dan won't let us do anything
like that until I turn eighteen in March."

"Look, Jared, Dan's right.  If you got caught, or if anybody even suspected
you two were doing anything sexual, you'd come out of it OK, but your
friend would be in deep shit.  You don't want that to happen to him, do
you?"

"No way."

He chuckled.  "Well, then, pup, I'm happy you and Dan have found each
other.  But you really do have to restrain yourselves until your birthday."

I sighed.  "Yeah, I know, Steve, but that's really going to be tough."

"Hey, I know what you mean.  I've got a hot girlfriend, and I ain't gettin'
any either.  At least nothing more than some kissing and groping."

"Sheesh!  What's her problem?"

"It's a long story.  Just be sure you and your new buddy keep your distance
for now, OK?"

"Does that include kissing, ya think?"

"Yeah. I'm not sure about the law, but I imagine it does.  So you guys be
really careful, Jared.  Promise me?"

"Yeah, Steve, I promise.  And, thanks, man.  You know, I feel like I've
found a big brother."

He chuckled again. "OK, little brother, stay in touch.  Maybe the three of
us can have a burger NEXT Saturday.  I want to meet your Dan."

Danny and I saw each other at work, and we got together when we could, but
that wasn't nearly often enough to suit us.  I also told Father Max about
him.

Basically, Max (as he wanted me to call him) said the same thing Steve had,
that Dan and I had to abstain from any kind of sexual contact until I was
eighteen.  But at another of our sessions, he brought up something else
that hadn't occurred to me.

It was a cold, gray, windy day, and he had gone to the kitchen in what they
called the parish hall and made us some hot chocolate.  We were sitting at
one of the long tables, sipping the cocoa and talking.

"You know, Jared," he said, smiling at me, "there's an ethical or moral
question to all this you and Dante may not have thought of."

I took a sip of my cocoa and waited for him to go on.

"As I've told you, you can't help being gay.  But you can choose not to
have sex."

I started to say something, but he held up his hand.

"I know how eager you and Dante are.  Believe me, I understand that.  Sex
is the natural expression of love.  I have problems bigtime, though, with
people just hopping in the sack together because they find each other
attractive.  We live in a university town.  You probably have some idea
what's going on in your high school.  Isn't it true that straight couples
are, uh. . . .", He looked around to see if Father John or anyone else was
around.  We were alone in that big room.  "What I was going to say is, that
people these days screw at the drop of a hat.  And, frankly, Jared, I think
that's wrong.  I think sex should be something very special between two
people who really love each other, who have some serious interest in being
truly a couple.  Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, I think so."

"Do you think Dan would come with you to one of our sessions some time?"

"Well, I know he's Catholic.  And he's told me he was jealous of me because
he can't talk to his priest about us.  Dan says Father Donovan would shit a
brick if he told him he was gay and had a boyfriend, even though we're not
doing anything."

Max smiled.  "Yes, I can imagine how Father Donovan would react.  How about
your minister, Reverend Rayburn?"

"Oh, I don't think I could talk to him, either.  I've never heard him
mention gays in any of his sermons, but I just wouldn't feel comfortable
talking with him about all of this."

"Well, have you told your parents about Dan?"

"No."

"Do you think you should?  After all, they were pretty accepting when you
told them you were gay."

"Yeah, they were."

"Why not talk this over with them?  I mean, if you feel you could do that
comfortably.  I think they might give you the same advice I have, that you
and Dan shouldn't have sex unless you're sure you are together, that you
really love each other, that it isn't just your hormones urging you to jump
each other's bones."

"Thanks, Max.  I don't know whether I can get up the courage to talk with
Mom and Dad about me having sex.  But I hear what you're saying, and I'll
talk it over with Dan."

"Well, if you two have agreed, for his sake if for no other, not to have
sex until you are legal, then you have almost three months to talk about
whether what you have is just a case of the hots, or whether there's
something more than that between you.  And, if you can persuade him to
come, I'd like to meet the lucky guy.  Now.  You haven't mentioned your
sister since you met Dante.  Have you talked with her?

"Sheesh, no.  I mean, I've always told Jess just about everything, but I
can't talk with her about SEX!"

"Well, she's going to feel pretty left out if you don't give her some
indication that you've got this guy in your life, isn't she?"

"Yeah, Father, I guess she would.  OK.  I'll try to figure out what to tell
her."

He smiled.  "Good man."

I told Danny what Max had said, and he seemed to think about it seriously.

"Jared, when so many of our friends are fuckin' like bunnies, it's hard to
believe it's wrong.  But I see what your priest means.  Sex between two
people would be a lot more beautiful and meaningful if they, like, really
loved each other, wouldn't it?  And you know what, blue-eyes?  I'm looking
forward to giving you your birthday present because I want to make you feel
good.  I want to make you happy.  I want us to go over the moon together.
I admit I don't know how we're going to work it all out, but I'm hoping we
can keep doing that.  You know, just keep doing it . . . ?"

I teared up again.  "Yeah, babe, by the time you give me my birthday
present, I'll probably be ready to explode, but it's not just going to be a
moment of hot sex and then goodbye, I know.  My mind tells me we're too
young to be making plans, but my heart says it couldn't stand being without
you."  I think it was at that moment that I decided I didn't want to go
away to college, that I would enroll in the University the following fall.

After that Max and I changed our weekly appointment to a time when Dan
could be there, too.  He liked Max, as I knew he would.  After a few
sessions, Max said he didn't think there was much else we needed to talk
about.  I felt a little disappointed that there wouldn't be any more of
those great talks, but I figured he had other people who needed him.  And
he did say that either of us should feel free to call him or drop by
whenever we had a problem.  I knew I'd be taking him up on that.


Danny and I kept working together and getting together away from the ER
whenever our schedules permitted.  We were very careful about even innocent
things like holding hands.  And we snuck a few kisses when we were really
sure no one was watching.  But that's all.  Even that created a problem
sometimes.

One day we were in "our" linen closet.  Dan had his hands on either side of
my head, his palms covering my ears.  I had my arms around his chest.  We
were kissing -- which we'd gotten pretty good at -- and humping our rigid
cocks against each other.  God, it was SO hot!

In fact it was too hot for Danny.  All of a sudden, he pressed his dick
against mine, groaned, and shuddered.  I knew what had happened, so I
jumped back.  Sure enough, there was a big cum spot on the front of his
blue scrubs, and it was getting bigger.

"Shit!"

"Aw, babe, I think that's sweet.  Is that all for me?"

"Joke about it if you want, smartass," he laughed, "but what am I gonna do
now?  I can't get back to my locker like this."

"Well, I guess I owe you something for that nice display of how you feel
about me," I said, chuckling.  "I've got a spare pair of scrubs in my
locker.  Don't have any underwear there, though."

"Damn, neither do it."

"Well, hot stuff, you stay here.  I'll be right back."

Being careful that no one saw me, I slipped out of the linen closet, went
to my locker a floor below using the stairs instead of the elevator, and
managed to retrieve a pair of green scrubs, which I took to Dan.

"OK, dude, take off your pants and your underpants and put these on."

Though I had felt it a couple of times, I had never seen Danny's cock.  It
was even bigger than I thought, despite the fact that he'd just come.  He
used his white J.C. Penney briefs to wipe all the cum from his cock, balls,
and belly.  Then he pulled on my pants.  They were pretty tight for him,
and, since he wasn't wearing any underwear, I could see his dick clearly
outlined as it snaked down his pant leg.  The pants were a little long on
him, too, but a lot of guys wear them that way, so he said it wasn't a
problem.

He told me later he was really embarrassed as he finished out his shift.
People teased him for having a blue top and green pants, but he just
laughed and said something about laundry.  What embarrassed him most,
though, was knowing how clearly his cock showed through the tight pants.
He said we'd not be having any more face sucking sessions in that linen
closet.  I pretended to be disappointed. Well, I WAS disappointed, but I
could see what he meant.

* * *

MAX:

I really liked Jared and enjoyed his visits with me.  He seemed very young
for a high school senior.  He had almost a puppydog quality about him.  He
was bright and open.  What you saw was what you got with Jared.

Dante was very different.  For one thing, he looked more than a year older
than Jared.  With his dark looks he could have passed for twenty.  They
made an interesting pair.  Jared, the taller of the two by a couple of
inches, was slender, almost willowy.  Dante was closer to my height but
heavier and more muscular than I am.  Jared had told me Dan was a wrestler,
and he looked it.  But he was just as nice a guy as Jared, quieter, more
soft-spoken, but really sweet.  And I could tell by the way they acted
together that they really cared for each other.

At our first meeting, Dante seemed very nervous.  After I got us all Cokes,
I said, "Dante, I hope you'll relax.  You want to tell me why you're so
uncomfortable?"

He grinned.  "Sorry, Father.  It isn't you.  It's just that if Father
Donovan knew I was here, I'd probably be in trouble."

"Well, look, I won't tell him if you won't.  And I promise not to try to
convert you to the Anglican brand of Catholicism."

"You people think of yourselves as Catholics?"  I could tell he was
interested.

"Yes, we do. `We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.'
Sound familiar?"

"Oh, yeah!"

"But I just promised not to talk about that, didn't I?"

"Well, I didn't know that.  Maybe someday we COULD talk about it?"

"I'll leave that entirely up to you, Dan.  But for now, I'd just like to
get to know you better and to have you and Jared tell me about what it is
you feel you have between you."

I didn't do much but listen for the rest of that session.  A few weeks
later, Dante did bring up the subject of the similarities and differences
in our two churches.  With Jared an interested onlooker, we had a long
conversation about that.


One evening not long after I had first talked with Jared about my
reservations about casual sex, something in my brain accused me of being a
hypocrite.

`Me?  A hypocrite?  What have I done?'

`What's with you and David?  Are you a couple?  Are you two going to make
any sort of commitment to each other?'

I spent the rest of the evening mulling that over.  David was a wonderful
companion.  We weren't together as much as I'd have liked because he
traveled so much, but we spent most of the nights together when he was in
town.  We talked politics frequently, a subject on which we agreed.  We
were both democrats, and we often railed at the current administration.

I often teased him about being a hippie.  He liked to deny it.

"Oh, yeah," I taunted.  "Then what about those harem pants?"

"Have you ever seen those pants?"

"No, but I keep hoping."

"How do you know they weren't just a way for Chaz to embellish his story?"

I'd never thought of that, mostly because I'd never suspected Chaz of
having that much imagination.  "They ARE real, aren't they?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" he asked as he flicked his hair away from his
eyes.

We had long talks about some of the recent theologians whose works he'd
been reading.  As he had told me, he had very little use for organized
religion, but he was a very perceptive reader of those writers, and I found
talking with him about them stimulating, sometimes challenging.  He carried
through on his promise to educate me on the current pop music scene, and we
both also enjoyed jazz and classical music.  We decided we'd get tickets to
hear the Orchestra at Severance after the New Year.

Yes, I was enjoying having David in my life.  He was a wonderful companion.
And, Lord knows, the sex was frequent and hotter than anything I'd ever
experienced before.  Andrew and I had always been very tender and gentle
with each other.  David knew when to be gentle and when he could be
rougher, and I found I responded enthusiastically whichever way he went.

But I also had to acknowledge that I didn't love David the way I had loved
Andrew, nor did I love him the way I still loved Tim.  So, was this just
the kind of casual sex I was warning Jared about, or was this a new and
different kind of committed relationship I was getting into with David?  I
had to admit to myself that I wasn't really sure.

* * *

For the holidays, the group were going hither and yon.  As Cedric has told
us, Tim planned to spend Christmas with the Joneses in Shaker Heights.

When he learned that his younger brother Robbie was going skiing in
Switzerland with friends over the holidays, Trey decided not to go to
Richmond, but rather to accept Chaz's invitation to spend Christmas with
the Greeleys in Cincinnati.

Since Max wouldn't be able to get away at all during Christmas week, David
planned to go home to see Dawn, Sammy, and their parents Christmas, but he
was going back to be with Max the next day.

Geoff had to play at Nighttown the night of the Fairchild's party and the
next night when everyone else was at the Festival of Lessons and Carols at
St. Peter's.  Philip was there both nights.  Both were going home to spend
Christmas Eve and Christmas day with their families, but both made excuses
to go back to campus the day after Christmas so they could be together for
the rest of the holiday break.

Cedric had bumped into Kent at the gym one day, so he invited him to come
to their New Year's Eve party. Kent said he'd like to be there, but he'd
have to see what he could work out with Maurice, his boss at Stefan's,
about getting that important night off.

Mark and Lori were flying to Florida to spend the holidays with Mark's Pops
and his partner, Doug, and didn't plan to be back before New Year's, so
they wouldn't be at the party.

Rebecca was spending the holiday break with her family in Erie, so Steve
resignedly went to spend the break with his parents, though he planned to
get away and come back to his apartment near campus as soon as he could.
When Tim called to invite him to the party, he jumped at the chance.

"Well, Steve, there's just one problem."

"What's that?"

"It looks as if you may be the only straight guy there.  And there will be
no women this time, since both Lori and Rebecca will be out of town."

Steve laughed.  "Tim, rather than spend it alone or with my parents, I'll
gladly be at your place.  Thanks for rescuing me.  But I'll leave before
the orgy starts, okay?"

It was Tim's turn to laugh.  "Ced and I will be glad to have you with us.
Meanwhile, Happy Hanukkah!"

"Thanks, Tim, but I'm afraid we don't even celebrate that in my family."

"Well, Steve, happy whatever!  Give us a call when you get back to town and
maybe you, Ced, and I can do something together."

"Thanks again, Tim.  You and Ced are really great friends."

"Love you, Steve."

* * *

TIM:

The Sunday night before Christmas, it had just begun to snow as we set out
for St. Peter's, perfect for putting everyone in a holiday mood.  The
church was splendidly decorated for the festival of lessons and carols.
There were garlands and wreaths of evergreens everywhere, two large
undecorated pine trees at the front of the sanctuary, and swags on the end
of each pew.

The extended brotherhood had gotten there early enough to sit together,
though well toward the back of the church.  As I sat next to Cedric and
looked around, I saw Trey, Chaz, David, Lori, Rebecca, and Steve sitting
nearby.  Sitting next to Steve were a thin young blond kid who looked about
sixteen and a compact, dark, Italian-looking young man of about twenty.
After thinking about it a moment, I decided that must be Jared Cousins and
his boyfriend.  Max had, of course, not told me anything confidential, but
he had said that Jared and his friend had been coming to see him.

It had been a tiring time, what with giving and marking finals and getting
ready for the holidays.  Gwen's party had been fun, but I was furious with
Carter Frost for what he had done to Cedric.  Then Ced and I had had a sort
of sex marathon back home after the party.  We were now officially out, and
only time would tell what that was going to mean.

My reverie was interrupted by the church bell ringing.  The organ had been
playing, but it stopped just before the bell began to ring.

Two boys, one blond and one with brown hair, both wearing red cassocks and
white cottas came out and lighted all the candles around the altar.  They
looked to be about twelve, and they were adorable.  When they finished,
they bowed to the cross on the wall behind the altar and left.

All the chatting stopped, and the large church was totally silent.  Then,
behind us, from the narthex, came the voice of a single boy soprano
singing, "Once in royal David's city . . . ."

I leaned back in the pew, and tears streamed down my face.


[A second holiday chapter of this story will be posted in two weeks.
Whatever holiday you are about to celebrate, I hope it's a happy one. --TM]