Date: Sat, 3 Apr 2004 05:59:55 -0800 (PST)
From: Mickey S <njmcmick@yahoo.com>
Subject: Billy and Danny 2, Chapter 11

This is a story of love between two young men. If you are under age, or
live in an area where reading stories that include sex between males is
illegal, or if you're not into this type of story, please leave. The story
began in 1969. While the characters and their story are completely
fictional, it is set at places that are real and is told against a backdrop
of some real events. This was a time when all sex was safe. It isn't now,
so please respect yourself and others enough to always play safe.

I would like to thank all of those who have written to me with comments,
suggestions and encouragement, especially my fellow writers in the Nifty
Six. The author retains all rights.  No reproductions are allowed without
the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at NJMcMick@yahoo.com.

April 1971

Mark

I think things are looking up for Peter and me again. We had such a great
time in Ft. Lauderdale but he really fucked things up that last night. What
made it worse was that he didn't seem to realize why I was so upset about
what he did. Things were a little tense between us on the ride home. Once
we got back to school we had a long talk about what had happened, where our
relationship was and where we were going.

At first he seemed to think that my bad reaction to his behavior in the
men's room was just insecurity on my part and my paying too much attention
to what others thought. I had to admit that insecurity did have something
to do with it. After all, who isn't somewhat insecure in the early stages
of a new relationship? And I do care what my friends think, not because I'm
unsure of myself or needy, but because I respect their opinions. I pointed
out that what I objected to wasn't so much that he was living his life as
he always said he would (well, I do object to that but I guess I can live
with it for a while) but that he was being insensitive to my feelings.

Peter finally admitted that he cared a great deal for me, that he had never
felt like this toward anyone else and that it unnerved him a bit. He said
he was not only terribly attracted to me physically, but that he liked me
more and more as he got to know me. That was so good to hear, but when he
added that he respected me, I called him on it.

"You may think you respect me but if you did you wouldn't have been on your
knees blowing a stranger in the next room while we were out on a date."

I think he finally got it. We were able to move on and discuss the
difference between being in an open relationship and being an insensitive
pig. It was clear to me that it wasn't going to be the kind of relationship
that I really want, the kind Billy and Danny have, at least not yet. But we
came up with an understanding, one that we could both live with. Basically,
it came down to this. We're dating, but not exclusively. We're both free to
see others, not that I want to, but we're on an equal basis in the
relationship. We don't have to tell each other what we do when we're apart,
in fact, I'd prefer not to know about some of the things he does. But when
we're together, we're together. I'm hoping that as things progress, we'll
become more exclusive. Like in high school dating. First, casual dates,
then going steady.

And it's been going well ever since. Peter was always very attentive to me
when we were together but he's been even more so. We spend one evening
during the week and most Saturday nights together, plus the weekly gay
meetings at Harvard. Regardless of how he feels about it, everyone there
pretty much treats us like a couple and I love that.

Thursday night he took me out to dinner for my birthday. It was so
romantic. We went to a great restaurant near the Boston Common. It wasn't
fancy, but was very nice, sort of like The Restaurant, though the other
customers all seemed straight and the food wasn't quite as good. Peter held
my hand on the table most of the time we weren't eating. He never took his
eyes off me. He was all mine, even if just for the evening. Nights like
that give me hope.

We both had early classes Friday morning so after dinner we had to head
home. I got my bus back to the campus in Newton and he got one back to his
apartment in Cambridge. Before parting we made a date for Saturday night.

"Now that you're twenty-one I want to take you on a tour of the bars of
Boston, baby. I'll show you all the hot spots and we'll end up at a dance
club. Make plans to stay at the apartment afterward. I owe you a birthday
fuck."

"We can skip the tour if you want, Peter. We wouldn't want to wear
ourselves out before the fun begins."

"Don't worry, I'll make sure we're not too tired. I've been dreaming about
that bod of yours all week."

Saturday night was another great date, though it was a little disconcerting
at times. We stopped in a few bars before getting to a large dance club. At
each stop, Peter knew lots of people. Guys kept coming up to him, acting
very friendly and affectionate. Peter responded to them in kind, though he
never abandoned me. He either held my hand or kept an arm around me all
night, and introduced me to several guys as his boyfriend. He even seemed
aware of what was going on in my head.

"You know, Markie, I've been around and slept with quite a few guys and I'm
gonna sleep with more, but I don't fuck every guy I meet. Most of these
guys are just casual friends or acquaintances. Yeah, I've tricked with a
few of them, but you're the guy I'm with tonight and the one I'm taking
home. You're the guy I was with Thursday and you're the one I'm gonna be
with next week at the meeting. Tricks are just tricks. You're special, the
most special guy in my life."

Lucy

Brad decided he wanted to celebrate my birthday with me again this year,
though he didn't try to surprise me this time. The actual day was Tuesday
so he planned to come down from school the next weekend. On my birthday
itself Billy and Danny picked me up after our classes were over and brought
me home for dinner. Aunt Connie outdid herself on the meal and it was just
a great little family celebration. The boys gave me a beautiful pair of
earrings and a bottle of expensive French champagne.

"We got it from The Restaurant so we know it's good but it didn't cost us
too much, Lucy."

"Yeah, we know Brad's taking you out Saturday night and Danny and I thought
maybe you two would like to continue the celebration when you get back here
afterwards."

Brad drove down from Ithaca Friday afternoon and we went out on a regular
simple date, a movie and then burgers at the diner afterwards. He promised
Saturday would be special and told me to dress up for it. Even with that
warning, I was surprised though pleased when Brad showed up in a beautiful
suit. In all the time we'd been dating he'd always been dressed casually,
sometimes sloppy, sometimes nice, but always casual. He made quite a
striking figure in a suit.

"Hey, I'm the birthday girl; I'm supposed to be the beautiful one."

"You are, Lucy. You're absolutely gorgeous. Every guy is gonna wish he was
me tonight."

We had dinner at the Grand Café, a very chic French restaurant in town that
I'd heard of but had never been to. It was so elegant and romantic. We had
a long leisurely dinner and must have been there for hours. It seemed like
the other customers were staring at us all night. Most of them were at
least twice our age and the way we looked we might as well have had 'Young
Love' stamped on our foreheads. I felt like I could have just stared into
Brad's beautiful blue eyes all night. The restaurant was nearly empty by
the time we got up to leave.

"I've got some champagne chilling at home if you'd like to continue the
party there, Brad."

"Like you need champagne to tempt me, baby. But that sounds perfect. I
don't want this night to ever end, Lucy."

At home we had the downstairs to ourselves. I could see Aunt Connie's light
was on so she was still up, probably reading in bed, but she was giving us
some privacy. Brad and I went into the sunroom.

"I'll go get the champagne and glasses, Brad."

"Hold on a bit, Lucy. Let's just relax for a few minutes."

We sat together on the couch for a while. Brad had his arm around me and I
rested my head on his shoulder. We didn't talk much but every now and then
exchanged a light kiss. What a perfect evening. I had never felt so relaxed
with another person. We didn't need to talk, didn't need to do
anything. Just being together was so right. After a while, Brad got up from
the couch. I was in such a euphoric daze that I didn't realize what he was
doing, even when he knelt on one knee in front of me and took my hand in
his.

"Lucy, there are no words to say how much I love you. You are more than my
whole world; you are my universe. I never in my life dreamed that there
would be a person who could mean so much to me, who I would love so
much. You are everything, my first thought when I wake up and my last
thought before I go to sleep. I want to spend not just my whole life with
you but all of eternity, and even that wouldn't be enough. Lucy, will you
marry me?"

Brad reached in his pocket and pulled out a small black box. He opened it
to reveal a huge, glistening diamond ring.

"Oh my God! Yes, Brad! Yes!  Yes! Yes! I want to marry you more than
anything."

Brad slipped the ring onto my finger, then stood up and pulled me up to
him, took me in his arms and kissed me. I felt like a little girl in a
fairy tale, like I was Cinderella and Brad was my Prince. The tears started
running down my face as we kissed. When we parted, I noticed his eyes were
a bit moist as well.

"Now we can open the champagne, baby. Now we've really got something to
celebrate."

Billy

When Danny and I pulled in the driveway a little before one all of the
lights were still on in Aunt Connie's house. Danny seemed to pout a little.

"Looks like they're having a party and didn't invite us."

"That's 'cause we've been at work, Danny. Let's go see what
happening. Maybe there's some champagne left for one last birthday toast."

We let ourselves in the back door and found Brad, Lucy and Aunt Connie
sitting in the sunroom, talking and sipping champagne.

"What's up, guys? Danny and I thought you'd all be in bed by now."

None of them said anything but Lucy got up smiling and waved her left hand
at us.

"Oh my gosh, our little girl's getting married, Billy!"

We each hugged and kissed her, then Brad got up and we both hugged and
kissed him, too. The two of them had these huge grins on their faces and
they looked so happy.

"Congratulations, guys! This is fantastic! Have you set a date?"

"We haven't even talked about that yet, Billy, but it won't be for a
while. Lucy's got another year of school left and I'm looking at a two year
date with Uncle Sam after I graduate next month."

"No army talk tonight, Brad. Nothing but happy news."

"Sure, baby. After all, this is the happiest day of my life."

We all sat and talked and talked. Everybody was so excited. Aunt Connie was
beside herself with joy. A little after two Danny and I had to excuse
ourselves.

"Sorry to cut out on you, but Danny and I have to be back at work in the
city at noon, so we've got to get some sleep. Congratulations, again."

"Yeah, we love you both and are so happy for you."

Danny and I went up to the apartment and got ready for bed. We just lay
there for a while, cuddling.

"What a great surprise! Not that we didn't know it was coming sooner or
later, but it's so nice that it's official now."

"Yeah, I'm really happy for both of them. They love each other so much."
All of a sudden, Danny let out a big sigh. "Billy, do you think that we'll
ever be able to get married?"

"I don't know, Danny. Gay people haven't got any kind of legal rights. And
even in places like New York, when they talk about gay rights nobody even
mentions marriage. I think if it's ever gonna happen, it's gonna be a long
time coming."

"I don't care if we have to wait fifty years, Billy, I still want to marry
you."

"Same here, babe. And wanting to get married is the important part. Loving
each other that much. That's what counts."

Danny snuggled up against me and fell asleep with my arm around him. I just
lay there for a while, listening to him breathe, once again reminded of how
much I loved this beautiful boy.


May 1971

Danny

I can't believe another school year is over already and that Billy and I
are halfway through college. This year wasn't anywhere near as eventful and
traumatic as freshman year but I really enjoyed it. Everything just seemed
to click this year. Commuting isn't very much fun and we really don't feel
like we're a part of college life much anymore but we both did well in our
classes. Billy made dean's list both semesters and I made it in the Spring.

Things are going so well at The Restaurant and Billy and I are making a
fortune. We paid off all of my medical bills a couple of months ago and
have been socking away money in the bank ever since. We could probably quit
our jobs right now and have enough to get through the rest of school but
we're not about to. Although it's a lot of work, we really love The
Restaurant. The rest of the staff have become like family and even some of
the customers are like old friends. It's as much a social outlet for us as
work. Plus, the money is great. Last year we came so close to not making it
financially that we never want to be in that position again. We both crave
the security that a big bank balance gives us.

Our continued separation from our families wasn't what we expected and we
both still struggle with it but we're moving on with our lives. Seeing
Billy's grandmother over Spring break was fantastic and we both look
forward to her letters and both write her back.

And the wonderful little family that we've put together gives us so much
nourishment. It's like Aunt Connie is our godmother. She watches out for us
all, loves us so much and we know we can count on her for anything. She
stands back and lets us make our own way, even it if means making
mistakes. But she's our safety net. Just knowing she's there to catch us if
we fall makes it easier to live each day. Although Brad is only three years
older than Billy and me I think of him as the father of our little
family. He's the man; the one we all depend on, the grownup. And Mark and
Lucy are our brother and sister. I know Billy would like to think he's the
dad but he'll have to settle for being my husband, my lover, my friend, my
brother. Anyway, that's the way I look at our group. I love these people so
much and thank God for them every day.

Everyone is doing so well, too. Lucy and Brad are engaged. Even though it's
a long way off we're looking forward to the wedding and then all of the
little godchildren they're going to give us. Brad just graduated from
Cornell and once he's done with his two years in the Army Corps of
Engineers he'll be off and running with his career with the firm he's been
working summers for. Lucy is working part time with her photographer friend
and does some freelance work now and then. I'll admit, Mark has us a little
worried. The jury's still out on Peter but Mark assures us that he really
is a good guy and is behaving himself. Even Aunt Connie is happier than
usual these days. She's thrilled with Lucy's engagement to Brad but I think
it's more than that. She says they're just friends but she's been seeing
quite a bit of Dr. Stern lately.

And then there's Billy and me. I'm not religious but every day I look at
him and say a prayer. After all this time I'm still amazed that he's
real. I keep thinking I'm gonna wake up and find out that it's all been a
dream. But he's the real thing. He's my man, the one I love who loves me
back, the one who makes my whole life possible. I just can't imagine what
life would be...

"Yo! White boy! You gonna lie in that bed daydreaming all afternoon?
Frankie and Joanne will be here in an hour and the apartment's a mess. Get
that cute little ass moving! Or do I have to prod you a bit?"

"If you're trying to get me out of bed, you're going about it the wrong
way, threatening to prod me, Billy."

We quickly straightened up (not a big job in a studio apartment) and set
the table for dinner. We'd hung out with Frankie and Joanne a few times in
the city during the semester but this was the first time we were having
them over to the apartment. We aren't much for entertaining and we don't
have much time during the school year, anyway. It's just as well, we still
haven't figured out how to cook more than a few simple dishes.

Fortunately, Frankie and Joanne liked our tuna casserole or were too polite
to say otherwise. Even more fortunate, Joanne turned out to be 22 and
brought some wine. After dinner we lit a few candles, put on some music and
sat on the floor, talking.

"I don't know how you guys stand it, being together all of the time. You
live together, go to school together, work together, commute together. With
our schedules, Joanne and I can only get together a few times a week and
I'd love to see her more, but all the time would drive me crazy."

Billy and I just looked at each other for a minute, then we both shrugged
at the same time.

"I don't think either of us even thinks about it. We've just always been
together. It works. Besides, we're not together all the time."

"Yeah, Billy and I have different classes and different schedules at school
so we both spend a lot of time on our own on campus."

"But even this apartment, Danny. It's a cute little place but it's only one
room. You can't get away from each other, you can't have any privacy."

"Why would we want to get away from each other, Frankie? We love being
together. And there's plenty of room here. Sometimes when we're reading or
studying we can go hours without even talking, one of us on the bed, one at
the table or on the loveseat. We can each have our own space."

"Well, what about when you have a fight? One of you can't even storm out
and slam the door on the other. You don't have another room to storm out
to. You know there's nothing better than a dramatic exit."

"I see your point, Joanne, but Danny and I don't fight so that's not a
problem."

"Oh, c'mon, you can't tell me in nearly two years you've never had a
fight. You wouldn't be human if you didn't have it out now and
then. Frankie and I fight all the time. Then we have a lot of fun making
up."

"I didn't mean Danny and I never disagree, but we don't fight when we
do. We tease each other, we bitch, Danny whines a little, I complain a lot,
then we get over it."

"Yeah, when we first met there was so much we didn't know about each
other's life and background. That's when it would have been easy to have
fights. But we made an effort to have a lot of patience, we treated each
other with respect and we gave each other the benefit of the doubt. We
still do."

"And besides, how can I get mad at Danny when every time I look in those
green eyes I fall in love all over again?"

"How come you never say anything that sweet about me, Frankie?"

Billy

Later, I was reading in bed, propped up by pillows. Danny was lying nestled
under my arm with his head resting on my chest, daydreaming again. Now and
then I absentmindedly smoothed his hair. After a while I put down the book
and ran the back of my index finger lightly along his cheek.

"I really enjoyed tonight, baby. Frankie and Joanne are fun people. Being
surrounded by straight guys at school and gay guys at work, it's a nice
change to hang out with a couple of lesbians."

"Yeah, I think so, too. Except just being around Frankie makes me feel like
a real sissy."

"No way you're a sissy, Danny. You're sweet and sensitive but you're also
strong and tough. You're all man as far as I'm concerned and you're my
man. But I know what you mean. Was Frankie that butch in high school?"

"Now that I think about it I guess she did act kind of butch. Of course,
she had long hair and wore skirts and dresses like all of the other girls
so it wasn't that obvious. And I never really paid much attention to the
girls, anyway."

"Hmm, I wonder why."

"Cut it out, Billy. You know what I mean. I was friends with some girls,
but what they looked like or how they acted didn't matter because I wasn't
interested in dating them. And I don't think I even knew there was such a
thing as a lesbian when I was in high school."

"You never heard the guys talking about dykes?"

"Yeah, I heard the term but I don't think I knew what it meant. I was
pretty naïve back then."

"You sure were when I met you. I don't think I was that naïve when I was
ten."

"Gee, maybe my mother was right. Maybe you did take advantage of my
innocence and seduce me. Maybe you've still got me brainwashed."

"In your dreams, white boy. You know you're the one who seduced me. One
look and you stole my heart."

Danny just smiled and closed his eyes for a few seconds. Then the smile
faded and he spoke without opening his eyes.

"Billy, do you think Frankie and Joanne were right?"

"Right about what?"

Danny opened his eyes and looked up at me.

"Do you think we spend too much time together? That maybe it would be good
for us to be on our own more?"

"Don't let them put any ideas in your head, Danny. I know we're together a
lot. We like being together. There's nothing wrong with that if it works
for us. Unless you think you need more time for yourself. Do you?"

"No, that isn't what I meant. I was just thinking that maybe we're limiting
each other, getting in each other's way."

"I don't see that at all. It might be different if we were together all of
the time and didn't go out, didn't see other people. That could be
suffocating and restrictive. But we're out with people all the time. We're
apart most of the time we're on campus and we're so busy when we're at work
and surrounded by people, it's not like we're just hanging out with each
other. There are lots of people and lots of things going on in our
lives. It's not just the two of us alone in a bubble."

"Yeah, that's the way I feel, Billy. I just never really thought about it
in quite the way Frankie put it before. Our life just naturally developed
this way without any real conscious planning. And you're right, it works
for us."

"In a couple of years, when we graduate and start teaching, we're not going
to be together anywhere near as much. Until then, let's enjoy it."

Mark

Summer vacation presented Peter and me with a problem. We'd talked about it
a bit when we were still in Boston but hadn't come up with any answers by
the end of the semester. The problem was, where could we have sex? Peter
was home spending the summer with his family who don't know he's gay. I was
home with my family who pretend they don't know I'm gay. In another kind of
relationship this would be a problem but not a crisis, but knowing Peter's
attitude toward sex this could be a disaster. The less he was getting it
from me, the more likely he'd be looking for it elsewhere. His family was
going away on vacation for two weeks in July so we'd already decided that
I'd stay with him then, although my parents would probably freak out. And
then my family goes to the Shore for a week in August so he can come stay
with me. But that's not enough.

He came out to Jersey for Brad's graduation party in May. Billy and Danny
had invited him to sleep on the couch in their apartment if he could fit
but Aunt Connie insisted he stay in her guest room. That was very nice of
her and good for Peter, but didn't exactly give us a place we could be
alone. The guys did insist we make use of their apartment though so we cut
out of the party a little early and had an hour to ourselves before they
got home.

About a week later we met in the Village for dinner at a cozy little
restaurant on Hudson Street. I wasn't starting my summer job at The
Restaurant for a couple of days so I didn't feel like I was patronizing the
competition.

"Your family didn't seem very friendly at Brad's party last week, Mark."

"Well, you know how my parents are. I think they're afraid I'm sleeping
with every guy I even mention so they don't like any of my friends."

 "Yeah, I didn't expect them to be nice to me but I thought you said your
little brother was cool about you being gay.'

"Jamie is cool with it, Peter. Why? Did he say something to you?"

"Not really. He just kept staring, almost glaring, at me all through the
party."

"I guess he was just sizing you up. He really liked Joe last summer so he
was probably comparing you two."

After dinner we wandered around the Village for a while, holding hands. It
was a beautiful Spring evening and the whole evening had been relaxed and
romantic.

"You know, Mark, I'd love to be able to make love to you tonight, but it's
okay that we aren't. I know you're worried about it but sex is not the only
reason I'm with you. I've had a great evening just talking to you, just
being with you. Because I have a liberal outlook on relationships that
doesn't mean I'm some kind of sex fiend, not all the time, anyway. I'm not
out looking for other guys every night I'm not with you."

"I know, Peter, it's just that we have a long summer ahead of us. I don't
want us to have to be 'just friends' for a few months."

"Well, I've given it some thought and we do have a few options. None very
private and some sleazier than others."

"What have you come up with?"

"Obviously the best would be a hotel room, but this is Manhattan and we'd
both be broke by the end of July. At the other end of the spectrum we have
the real sleaze, either the piers at the end of Christopher Street or the
trucks on Washington. Lots of guys have sex at both places."

"I know we can't afford a hotel on a regular basis but those places just
sound too gross for me. Isn't there something in between?"

"Well, Mark, there are a few bars like the International Stud that have
back rooms. They're very dark and guys who have met in the bar or who just
bump into each other in the dark have sex there."

The thought of Peter having sex in a bar brought back memories of that last
night at the Copa.

"I hate to sound picky but is there anything else?"

"There's always the baths. They're sort of a cross between an orgy room and
a cheap gay hotel."

"I heard guys at The Restaurant talk about them. What do you think?"

"The Club Baths in the East Village isn't bad. Why don't we try it out
Saturday? I could meet you after work and we could spend the night. The
rooms are more like jail cells than hotel rooms but they're really
cheap. And students only pay half price."

"I guess we could try it though I'll have to make up a story for my
parents."

Friday night I started work and I rode in with Billy and Danny and then
went home with them. Saturday I told my parents I was spending the night at
Joe's. It was easier than making up a new story. They didn't like it any
more than last summer but at least I wasn't spending the whole weekend in
the city. Peter showed up toward the end of the evening and had a drink at
the bar while I finished up and changed. He joined me for a drink at
Julius' and then we walked across town to First Avenue.

We checked our valuables at the front desk and got a room key and a couple
of towels. Peter led the way upstairs to the room. We passed all kinds of
guys, most only wearing towels around their waist, some just carrying their
towel. The room was tiny, only about twice the size of the single bed.

"You want to change into our towels and go for a tour of the place, Mark?"

"Maybe later. Right now I'd just like to change into nothing and go on a
tour of you."

"Mmm. A man after my heart. Or should I say, my hardon?"

"Both, Peter."

We quickly tore off each other's clothes and stood there pressed together
kissing and grinding our hips against each other. Peter lightly guided me
back toward the bed and I sat down on it. He knelt between my feet and dove
down on my cock, swallowing most of it in one gulp. He started bobbing up
and down on it applying lots of suction. After a few minutes I made him
stop.

"I'm gonna cum if you don't stop that, Peter, and I don't want to cum so
soon."

"I don't want you too either, Mark. I want that big dick up my butt
tonight."

He turned me and pushed me back until I was lying on the bed, then got up
and straddled me, his knees on either side of my waist. He sat back,
trapping my hardon along the length of his crack, and rocked back and forth
on it. Again, I had to stop him after a very short time.

"It's been weeks since we made love, Peter. I'm more than ready. I'm about
to explode."

"Then try to hold on for a little longer. I want you to explode in me."

He leaned over and pulled a tube of KY from my small bag on the table next
to the bed. He reached behind himself and applied some to his ass, then put
a liberal amount on his hand and stroked my dick, sliding his hand up and
down, getting it good and slick. Then he held it up and aimed it at his
hole as he lowered himself toward it, stopping when my head was pressed
against his pucker. He wiggled his butt against my dick, keeping it trapped
in place and leaned forward and kissed me. Then he pulled himself back and
slowly lowered his ass onto me. I felt my cock sliding up into his tight
hot hole. He continued pushing down and in one slow motion I was all the
way in and he was sitting on my pubes.

He raised himself up and slid back down. Then he did it again, a little
faster. And again. Soon he was riding my cock hard, pulling up and plunging
back down onto it. I tried to hold off as long as I could but it wasn't
easy. He put a little more lube on his hand and began stroking his cock. I
put one hand on either side of his hips and helped thrust him down onto my
pole, harder and harder. I felt my cum well up inside my balls and fired a
shot deep inside him. As I shot he slowed down on his ride but picked up
speed on stroking his cock. As I neared the end of my orgasm he gasped and
sent a spurt of cum onto my face, then shot the rest of his load all over
my chest and belly. He pushed down against my hips and squeezed my slightly
deflated cock with his ass muscles, then leaned over and kissed me deeply.

He reached over and grabbed one of the towels and cleaned up the mess he
had made on me.

"That was definitely worth waiting for, Mark, but I think we're going to
need more towels before the night is over."


Lucy

One month of Spring is not exactly a summer vacation but it's all Brad and
I had. It seemed like he had just graduated and come home but soon he was
getting ready to go away again. He went for his draft physical and passed
with flying colors. I could have told them that. Nothing wrong with that
body.

The night after the physical we went out to dinner and talked about
everything else. When we got back to the house, though, we couldn't avoid
the subject any longer. I poured us each a glass of wine and we settled
down on the couch in the sunroom.

"I hate that you're going in the army, Brad. I don't think I can go two
years without you."

"You think I don't hate it? I can't stand the idea of being away from
you. And besides that, I'm totally against the war and that's exactly where
I'll probably end up."

"That damn lottery. Mark's number was so high that he's out of it. And
Billy and Danny both got pretty high numbers in this year's lottery so they
don't have to worry either. Why did you have to get the low one?"

"You mean you'd rather have one of them drafted instead of me?"

"No, I'd rather have none of you drafted. But I meant that at least they
could get out of it. They're gay."

"Knowing those guys I don't think any of them would use being gay to get
out of going. They're all just as much against the war as I am but they'd
do their duty if they got called. And they'd probably end up in combat. At
least I'll be with the engineers."

"You're right, Brad. I just don't want you to go."

"You know, Lucy, we could get married before I go away if you want. I'll
probably get leave after basic training before I go to wherever I'm
assigned. We could have a quiet little wedding, just family and a few
friends."

"There's nothing in the world I want more than marrying you, Brad, but I
think we should wait. Not that I want a big wedding, but once we get
married, I want us to be together. Once we get married, we'll be a family
and I want to start having kids right away. And that has to wait until you
come back for good, so the wedding should wait as well."

"If you say so, hon. As long as we get married, I don't care when it
happens. I just want to be with you. So I guess I'll just have to hurry
back."

"You'd better. Two years sounds like forever."