Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 21:53:18 -0500
From: Sequoyah <sequoyah@charter.net>
Subject: The Oberlin Five, Chapter Eleven

ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Eleven

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ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Eleven--Luke

Monday dawned cold, windy, with a leaden sky. It was the kind of morning
which makes me want to just stay in bed, but I had to get up and get
moving. I leaned over and gave my Dark Angel a butterfly kiss. It was so
soft I didn't think it would wake him, but it did. He opened his black
almond eyes, looked at me, and a smile spread across his face--a smile
which melted me every time I saw it. "Good morning, Sarang Hanun Pomul, my
dark angel," I said.

"Good morning, Yonghon Tongmu, my bright angel," Matt replied. He reached
up, put his hands behind my head and pulled me to himself, planting a
special Matt kiss on my lips. He continued smiling after he broke the kiss
and said, "Luke, are we running today?".

To tell the truth, I had decided I'd pass up the morning run, but the
thoughts of racing through the gray morning with Matt beside me changed my
mind. "Sure we are. Just because it's a dirty dishwater day doesn't mean we
give up our run." I kissed Matt again, went to the bathroom, came back and
dressed in sweats. Matt was a little slower getting dressed, but we were
finally ready.

When we got downstairs, Kent was knocking on Paula's door. "You guys going
for a run?" he asked.

"Yea. You?" I answered.

"I wanted to run with Paula, but she seems to be hibernating this morning."

"I'm what?" Paula asked as she came from her room.

"You are one beautiful woman, that's what you are," Kent responded.

Paula stood on tiptoes and kissed Kent on the cheek. "You keep that up and
one day you may earn a real kiss," she laughed. "Well are you jokers ready
to run?"

"Now that Lady Late is here, we are," Matt said. When we got down to the
beach, Larry and Eugene were already there, doing stretching exercises.

"Thought you all had decided to sleep in," Eugene said.

"We were waiting on Paula. Seems she's always late," Matt said. Paula gave
him a slap on the butt and took off running. Chasing her were five men. I
laughed to myself when I thought about what anyone seeing us might have
thought.

The morning was raw and I knew that the next time I came out for a run, I
would have to give more thought to what I wore. We ran down the beach about
a mile, then turned and ran toward the house. It was entirely too cold to
use the outdoor shower. As we passed it Kent said, "By the way, I turned
off the water to the outdoor shower last week. I was afraid we'd forget it
and have frozen pipes."

"You'll probably have to remind us of a lot of things we either never had
to think about or someone did for us. Know things are different here," I
responded.

"I'll take care of having the furnace checked today. If you have no-one in
mind, I'll call the man that does Dad's."

"Go ahead, we know no-one here," Eugene said.

"Also, if you don't have them, you better get gloves to wear when you
run. The cold can really do a job on your hands and face. You'll need to
make sure you use a lot of lotion on your face or get a ski cap."

After breakfast we all went our way, starting the last week before the big
party weekend.

By Wednesday we were all hyper, anticipating the arrival of the crew
Thursday evening. There was no way we could get all twelve of those
arriving in our three vehicles. We debated having just one driver in the
cars and truck go to pick up everyone, but we all wanted to be there so we
made arrangements to rent a mini-bus. It wasn't easy because none of us was
twenty-one, but we finally found a local company and rented one for
Thursday afternoon through Saturday and again Tuesday evening through
Wednesday to take everyone back to the airport.

We had worked hard making sure everything was in tip-top shape. The house
looked great--we still had ice cream buckets of asters, as well as several
arrangements in the house which looked good for the most part, and would
take just a little work to get back to first-class shape. The pantry was
well stocked and the grounds had been carefully groomed. We had piles and
piles of leaves, as well as the flowers killed by frost, which we took to
the compost bins. Matt, Kent and I had done massive amounts of cooking of
food which could be prepared ahead.

Wednesday night, Jacob called to tell us his cousin Rachel would be coming
Friday with Jack. "We'll all be there Thursday night, so have a place for
us and plenty of food. Michael talked to Douglas and he thinks we will be
landing about 8:30. He said he'd call you to find out how long it would
take you to get to the airport. He will also call from the plane to give
you our arrival time."

We realized we hadn't worked out sleeping arrangements so we set to work on
that. It took a while, but we finally came up with a workable
arrangement. "Thursday night we can all stay in the house," I said, "then,
when the others arrive, we'll go with the arrangement we've worked out.

"That means a major bed linen wash Friday. Can we handle that?" Paula
asked.

"Don't see why not," Larry said. "We can start a load when we get up. It
can be in the dryer by the time we leave for class and another load in the
washer. First one back starts the next cycle."

Finally we were as prepared as we would ever be, except for some
last-minute things. Matt had made arrangements to leave Holtkamp at noon
and not show up Tuesday. Everyone would be at the house by 3:00 Thursday
and I would have picked up the van and any more pads and sleeping bags we
needed.

We were through planning by 9:30 and everyone went off to prepare for
class. We were all back downstairs at 11:30 having a snack. No-one would
admit it, but we were all as excited as kids at Christmas.

It seemed Thursday would never be over. I did my classes, then Matt picked
me up and we went to get the mini-bus. When we got home, Kent was already
busy in the kitchen. Michael had said the Concord crew would leave directly
from school for Lexington, and there would be no time to eat until they
arrived. "By the way, I passed a roadside stand and bought some great
pumpkins..."

"You actually bought the Great Pumpkin?" I laughed.

"Well, they all looked like the Great Pumpkin to me, so maybe I got fooled,
but I'm sure we have him and he can't make his trip to take presents to
kids this year," Kent laughed in response. "We can have pumpkin pies and
some great jack-o-lanterns."*

"I'll pass on the pumpkin pie," Matt said. "I asked Mom to bring some sweet
potatoes. Sweet potato pie is what I like. Also asked her to bring some
real corn meal. This Yankee stuff is for the birds."

"Always heard you could take the boy out of the south, but couldn't take
the south out of the boy," Kent laughed.

"Darn tootin'," Matt replied.

Shortly after we had started work in the kitchen, a man in work clothes
came up from the cellar.

"Checked the furnace, and the water heater is installed. You should have
plenty of hot water now," he said. "Here's the bill," he said, handing Kent
a sheet of paper. "Thanks for the business, Kent."

"Sure thing. Can you show yourself out?"

"No problem," he said and left.

"What's this about a water heater?" Matt asked. "We haven't talked about a
water heater. Something go wrong with the old one?"

"No, it's working fine. It's just that we run out of hot water pretty
frequently when we all take showers so, when I called about the furnace, I
checked about a water heater and was told they were on sale so I had a
second one put in. Is there a problem with that?"

"I guess not, but it's a big item and I think we should have discussed it
first," Matt said.

"It's not that expensive and we definitely needed it," Kent said.

"No doubt you are right, but we can't just go making decisions on our own
when that much money is involved."

"Well I expect to pay my part."

"Kent, you don't have a part," I said. "A second water heater has been
added to the house. You can't pay part of that because it becomes part of
the house."

"I'm sorry if I overstepped my bounds," Kent replied, "but I thought, since
we could get one for half price, this was a good time to get it and have it
put in when we are going to have two dozen extra people this weekend. I'll
remember to check things out with the house before making a large purchase
again."

"Please do, otherwise eventually you will buy something which will cause a
lot of hard feelings," Matt said. "I'll admit I am kinda put out this time
that you just assumed you could make such a large purchase without asking."

"I said I'm sorry and that I won't do it again. What more can I do other
than offer to pay for the water heater? I suppose I could over time, but
you know I can't just pay for it outright," Kent replied.

"Hold it right there," I said emphatically, "before this thing gets out of
hand and feelings get hurt. Look, Kent, you did something you thought
needed doing because it could be done at half price. Matt, you have pointed
out that Kent should have checked with the house before making a major
purchase. Kent has acknowledged he overstepped his bounds and realizes he
must check with the house in the future. Matt, you have pointed out it
upset you. We three have witnessed all that. Now don't you think it is time
to drop it? Matt?"

"Kent, I'm sorry. I should have just let it go, but I... Kent, I'm sorry,"
Matt said and extended his hand.

I was very surprised when Kent didn't shake Matt's hand, but used it to
pull Matt to himself. As he hugged Matt, he said, "Matt, I was afraid a
water heater was going to get both of us so angry we'd say something we'd
regret. I would never want anything to come between us. So far as I am
concerned, you are all my brothers and sister. A little family fuss now and
then I can take, but I certainly don't want anything to come between us
that is serious."

I saw Matt hug Kent as he said, "Sorry, Bro, just got up on the wrong side
of the bed I guess. No damage done."

I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Matt has a bit of a temper and I
thought he could and maybe would do some permanent damage to his
relationship to Kent. I relaxed when they hugged each other. I knew that
Matt couldn't resist anyone who gave him a hug. He's a real teddy
bear. That's one thing I loved about him. Hell, truth be told, I love
everything about my Sarang Hanun Pomul.

The three of us prepared a lot of food so we wouldn't have to spend all the
time in the kitchen while the guests were with us. We had a great supper
planned for when the folks arrived since they, and we for that matter,
would not have eaten since lunch.

Paula came in the kitchen from the butler's pantry carrying a basket full
of vases. "I can't believe how long the asters have lasted," she
said. "Even most of the ones we left in the ice cream buckets are still
pretty. I have re-done all the arrangements and still have bunches to
use. Do you guys want arrangements in your rooms? Larry and Eugene did."

"Sure," I answered.

"Yea, sure," Kent said.

"What are Larry and Eugene up to anyway?" I asked.

"They are both busily engaged in creating the perfect jack-o-lantern. You'd
never know they adore each other if you saw the competition," she laughed.

"We all need to get in on that," Kent said. "I bought seven pumpkins so we
each could carve one and have one for pies. How much more do we have to do
in the kitchen?"

"I have a little cleaning up to do. I think that's it. We all need to
remember to listen for the buzzer when the apple pies are done," Matt
said. "I forget and burn stuff."

"Set your watch to alarm as well," Kent said. "Man, Luke, that fresh bread
smells heavenly."

"Sure does," Paula said. "I guess I can do the other arrangements later and
get in on this pumpkin-carving competition."

We joined Larry and Eugene who were busily working on two huge
pumpkins. "How's it going, fellows?" Kent asked.

"Fine," Larry said, "At least mine is. I think Eugene is just making a
mess."

"We'll see about that when we are finished," Eugene said. "Larry thinks he
has talent for this, but I'm not sure. I'm afraid he's going to cut
himself."

"Sounds like a little family feud going on here," Kent said.

The four of us who had been busy elsewhere got a pumpkin and started
work. "This looks a lot easier than it is," Matt said.

We were all doing serious work and talk was at a minimum when, suddenly,
Kent said, "Guys and Paula, I made a major boo-boo and need to tell you
about it". I started to stop him but thought better of it. If anyone was
going to be as upset about Kent's purchase of the water heater as Matt, it
was better to get it over with. "I called to get the furnace checked and,
when I did, remembered we ran out of hot water frequently. I asked about a
water heater and was told they were on sale. I could get a second one
installed for half price so I had it done. When I told Matt and Luke about
it, Matt reminded me that such a large purchase should be something we
discussed in a house meeting before doing it. I wasn't thinking. Well I
was. I was thinking about adding two dozen people this weekend and knew
we'd run very short of hot water. I wasn't thinking about us being in this
together. I'm sorry."

"Adding a second water heater is a very good idea," Eugene said, "but
you're right. We can't have people just running around making decisions on
their own, especially when it is something as expensive as a hot water
heater."

"Yea, we could get ourselves in a real bind doing that," Larry added.

"Look, Matt was very upset when Kent told him about it, but the air got
cleared and Kent understands why it is something that we just can't have
happen again. So we're all still friends, right?" I asked.

"Right," Eugene said and we all agreed. "And I know we will appreciate it
this weekend."

We were carving in silence when Matt's watch alarm went off. "Time for the
apple pies to come out," he said, as he jumped up. When he came back he
joined us carving again. In a short while the six jack-o-lanterns were
finished.

"Look at that," Paula said, "all of the jack-o-lanterns are pretty standard
except Luke's. Ever the artist, Luke, I see you have carved six faces on
yours, some of the cuts only partially through the pumpkin. In the light
the characters are obviously the six of us. Later when it is dark, I bet
the faces will glow. Those faces will still be recognizable in the
dark. That one goes on the table as a centerpiece," she said. "Which
reminds me, I still have flower arrangements to finish. Is that all that
still has to be done?"

"I think so," I said. We had been carving pumpkins on the sun porch and it
had gotten dark before we finished. Four of the jack-o-lanterns were put on
the front steps and the fifth put at the end of the front walk. Larry put
votive candles in them and they were cheerful looking. Paula had me take
mine to the dining table, where she did an arrangement around it.

Everything ready, we all gathered around the kitchen table for milk and
some of Matt's cookies. We had just sat down when the phone rang. Larry
grabbed it and said, "Oberlin five Case one"--he had started answering the
phone that way after Kent had kidded us about Oberlin's losses on the
athletic field--losses always, regardless of the sport. Kent generally
answered, "Case first, Oberlin fifth". "Gotcha. We're on our way." When he
hung up the phone he said, "That was Douglas. They will be landing in
forty-five minutes. It will take us thirty minutes to get to the airport."
As he was speaking, we all cleaned up from our snack and, that done, piled
into the mini-bus.

The small airport where the plane would be landing was on our side of
Cleveland and practically a straight shot from the house. Even though it
was rush hour in Cleveland, the traffic on the way to the airport was
light. We actually made the airport with time to spare. It was pretty windy
and cold, so we stayed in the terminal while watching the runway through a
large plate-glass window. There was no traffic at the airport since it was
used primarily for corporate jets, and business people generally do not
leave at night. Before we heard the plane, we saw its lights. Soon it
touched down on the runway. I didn't know what I expected, but this was not
a tiny plane.

As soon as it was stopped and the hatch opened, we rushed out on the
tarmac. There was much hugging going on and, finally, Jacob introduced
everyone except one guy. Douglas introduced Marc. I was totally and
completely committed to Matt and I knew he is the most beautiful and
handsome man in the world, but I had to acknowledge that Marc ran him a
very close second. He was one good-looking hunk.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Paula

It was very good to see the folks from Concord. I had wondered how I would
react to seeing Jacob, especially seeing him with a girl. I was actually
surprised when he came off the plane and walked down the ramp holding hands
with a beautiful young woman. I was surprised because I was glad to see him
the way I was the rest of the crew--no more, no less. Jacob introduced
Susan to us, but I knew her somewhat already because she attended temple in
Lexington. Actually the only one, other than Marc, I didn't know somewhat
was Chris.

When we got back to the house, everyone was really ready to eat. Eugene
took the visitors on a tour of the house while the final preparations for
dinner were done. The meal was great and we kept talking until we had been
at the table two hours. After dinner we continued talking, catching up,
until Matt reminded us we had classes the following day.

Susan, Linda and Rachel shared my room. Linda chose to share my bed, the
other two slept on the floor in sleeping bags. Linda asked how I felt when
I saw Jacob. I was sure Susan was all ears on that one. I told Linda it was
the same as seeing the rest of the crew. "He is an old and good friend and
I am delighted to see him, of course. That's it. In spite of how much Jacob
and I thought we were in love, it was nothing like my feeling for Kent. But
after thinking I was so in love with Jacob, Kent and I are taking it slow
and easy--but I can tell you, I adore the guy. He is good and kind and
thoughtful. Not that Jacob wasn't, but it's different somehow with Kent."
There was a little more talk about things, then I slipped off to sleep.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Eleven--Michael

I snuggled down in my sleeping bag and lay awake, thinking about how great
it was to be with my brothers again. "Matt, Luke, I was just thinking how
great it is to be with my brothers again. Most of the time I don't think
about missing you two, but there are times when I'd give anything to have
you around."

"Michael, you are surely missed as well. We are so busy there's not much
time for getting homesick and missing the family, but when I do, I really
do," Matt said. "Of course, I guess I may as well get used to it since it
will be a while before we are all together again, if ever."

"Yea, same here," Luke added. "So how's things with you and my baby
sister?" he asked.

I was kinda dreading that question, but I was sure it would come sooner or
later. Just what did I want to tell my brothers and how much did I want to
keep secret? I wasn't sure. For the first time in my life, I wasn't sure I
could trust them, especially Luke. After all, Mary Kathryn was his baby
sister and to his mind, I suspect, really a baby sister--not the grown
woman all the rest of the world saw.

"Are you two still virgins?" Luke asked, and pretty much made the decision
one of telling the truth or lying, and I had never really lied to either
Matt or Luke. At the same time, was this any of their business?

I decided to be honest and answer truthfully. "Not hardly, Luke."

"You have been fucking my baby sister?" Luke sounded angry.

"Hell no. You know better than that! But we have taken the boundaries away
from our love-making," I answered in what I hoped was a very manly voice.

"Good. So long as you know what you are doing and not doing. Mom and Dad
know?"

"Are you kidding? As Greywolf said the other evening, if I'm not careful, I
will have a Danish troll after me. Mary Kathryn is sure her mom knows and I
think she's right. Mom and Dad know. They wished we hadn't, but they
haven't make a big fuss over it. Well, Dad did." I then told my brothers
about our scare and how Dad had reacted.

"Damn, you are young," Luke said, "and, unlike Matt and me, you have a long
time before you can be together."

"Yea, we talked about that when I asked Mary Kathryn to marry me."

"You asked Mary Kathryn to marry you?" Matt asked. "When? I mean when are
you planning on getting married?"

"I hope while we are in college. I have another year of high school and
four years of college and three of seminary. That's eight years before we
could be married unless we can get married before. I don't want to wait
that long."

"Yea, I can understand that," Matt said. "So was your first time special?"

"Every time is special, Matt, every single time. We don't get a chance too
often. It was ages from the first time to the next, but Jens and Gabrielle
were away last weekend and we took advantage of that. But we don't have to
have sex to make love and enjoy being with each other. We don't get a whole
lot of chances just to be together these days." I then told them about all
we were involved in.

We talked about that for a while and then Matt said, "I'd like to go on all
night, but I have a class in the morning at 9:30 so I better get to
sleep. It's 2:00 in the morning. Goodnight, Lil' Bro."

"Goodnight Luke, goodnight Big Bro," I responded. Yes, it was great being
with my brothers again.

The next thing I knew, Matt and Luke were tugging at my sleeping bag. "Holy
shit, brothers, what's going on?"

"It's time for a run," Matt answered. "Grab a pair of my sweats and get
dressed. We'll meet you downstairs."

When I got downstairs, the whole Oberlin crew was dressed in sweats, as was
most of the Concord crew. Susan and Rachel had decided to sleep in, as had
Jack--which was probably just as well because I was sure the supply of
sweats was exhausted. Chris was getting into shape rapidly. Of course, he
had a long way to go, but he was working out every day after school and I
guess running as well. He and Dan were holding hands and I was surprised
when Dan kissed Chris. Of course they were just doing what the rest of us
was doing.

We ran about a mile down the beach. It was colder than it would have been
in Concord, but not terribly cold, thank goodness. About half-way back, the
bunch slowed to a fast walk and the couples were all holding hands and
managing a walking kiss from time to time. It was great to be together
again and to have some really great new faces.

Marc caught up with me and Mary Kathryn and said, "I was surprised when
Douglas asked if I wanted to run this morning. I was even more surprised
when almost everybody turned out for a run. Man, I really wish I was a part
of something like this bunch. It's great."

"Yea, it is," Mary Kathryn said, "but we need reminding of that every now
and then. We tend to think the rest of the world is like our families and
the Fellowship."

"I'm here to tell you, it's not. Race you, Michael," Marc said, and
immediately started running.

He was good, and I still had a bit of a problem with the ankle, so he got
to the house well ahead of me.

After our run, those of us who had been out sat around the kitchen table
having coffee and delicious homemade coffee cake. Paula asked, "Guys, did
you tell Michael the schedule for today, where things are, that sort of
thing?"

"Sure did," Kent said. "We'll all be back by 1:00. I suspect those still in
bed will sleep in since we were up so late. You others will probably go
back to bed..."

"You're frigging right," I said. "In fact, I'm on my way right now. Don't
worry about us. We'll make out."

"I'm sure we can count on that," Luke laughed.

Kent left for Case and the rest of the crew headed for Oberlin. I was
positive their minds would not be on class that day.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Eleven--Keith

When it came time for bed, rooms were divided up. Since Kent had a room to
himself, three of us were sharing it with him. He had a king size bed and
said it was fine with him if someone shared it. We tossed for it and Jack
won. Marc and I got the floor with sleeping bags. It was comfortable enough
and I actually preferred it to sharing a bed.

Kent was very quiet when he got up. I don't think Jack missed a minute's
sleep. As quiet as he was, I was awake, and when Kent noticed he said,
"We're going for a run on the beach. If you'd like to go, I've got
sweats. Marc raised up and said, "I'm game," and I joined him.

After the locals had left for class, Marc and I were having another cup of
coffee when he asked, "Keith, how about a walk on the beach? We had a run,
but I'd like to just walk."

"I'd love it," I answered. Truth be told, I would have gone for a walk
through hell with Marc. I had never had a guy bowl me over the way Marc
had. I tried to act normal around him, but it was difficult.

We went back to the room and got our heavy coats--Jack was still sawing
logs and didn't stir when we went in.

If there had been any wind I don't think we would have stayed out very
long, but the air was still and the sun warm, so walking on the beach was
very pleasant. We were walking in silence when, suddenly, Marc asked, "What
do you think about this group here? I mean the guys living as a couples?"

I didn't know how to answer. I mean I knew what I felt about it, but I
wasn't sure what Marc wanted to hear. In such situations my usual reaction
was to avoid the question, even one as direct as this. Somehow or other I
didn't want to do that this time. "I think it's great. Both couples--Matt
and Luke, Eugene and Larry--went through some hell last year. Well, Eugene
had been through hell long before. Anyway, I think they deserve some
happiness and they seem to have found it. Most of the time anyway. They had
an episode since they have been here and will probably have to show up in
court before Thanksgiving."

"Oh?"

I told Marc what I had learned from Michael and Mary Kathryn about the
problems at Waterside. "I'll never understand why people think because
someone is gay they have the right to beat the shit out of them."

"Yea, I agree completely," Marc said then, point-blank and out of the clear
blue, he asked, "Are you gay, Keith?".

Again I would have, under most circumstances, sidestepped the question, but
I guess I was so taken with Marc that, without thinking, I said, "Yes, I
am".

"Do you have a lover?"

What was I to say? I could say, "No," and let it go at that or I could say,
"I had one, but no longer". I could have done that, but I didn't. When I
opened my mouth to speak, I couldn't make a sound and huge tears started
rolling down my face. I cried as I had never cried before over what Rocky
had done to me.

Marc stopped, wrapped his arms around me and said, "I'm sorry, Keith. I
wouldn't have upset you for the world." He was holding me close and I
rested my head on his shoulder, still crying. "I'm sorry, Keith. Damn, I'm
sorry."

"It's not you, Marc. It's something I thought I was over." We stood, Marc
still holding me, while I told him about Rocky. "So you see, it's nothing
you have done. I guess I needed that cry because of what was done to me
and, damn it, for allowing it to be done."

"You better be glad the son of a bitch is not here now or I'd beat the
ever-livin' shit out of the bastard," Marc said through clinched teeth. "I
mean it." And there was not the slightest doubt in my mind he did mean it.

Just ahead of us was a large piece of driftwood, actually most of a
tree. Marc led me toward it and we sat on it, side-by-side, our backs to
the sun. Marc sat with his arm around my shoulder. He took a handkerchief
from his pocket and wiped my face, then gave me the handkerchief so I could
blow my nose. We were both silent for a long time.

Marc was staring out across the lake when he said, "Keith, I'm gay and have
known it since I was twelve or thirteen. I played around with friends until
I was fifteen, when I realized they were straight and just
experimenting. Two or three times I fell for a guy and we had sex but,
while I thought I was in love, the guys just saw money and things I could
give them. I thought they were friends, but they were just high-class
whores in my book. Oh, they didn't have a price list, but I finally
realized they were in it for what they could get out of me. Having money
has its advantages, make no mistake about that, but it also means that most
of your so-called friends are in it for the ride and when the going gets
rough, they get going. Douglas is the one exception. Of course, he has
money as well, but I would trust my life to Douglas. He is one super guy."

"Does he know you are gay?"

"Sure. I think he knew it before I did. I was really down in the dumps and
bitching about being gay several weeks ago and he said, "You need to see
how beautiful gay love can be. Can you get the plane? If so, we are off to
a party." When I found out I could get the plane this weekend, he told me I
was in for a surprise. Of course I haven't seen very much of Matt and Luke,
or Eugene and Larry, but they seem very happy. I guess they have their
problems, but they seem just like normal, everyday people. Of course they
are gay, but still normal if you know what I mean."

"I think I do," I replied.

As much as I loved being with Marc, I was getting cold as a brisk wind has
sprung up. "I think that wind is coming straight from Canada--northern
Canada," I said. "This southern boy is freezing to death."

"We have been on the beach longer than I thought," Marc said as he looked
at his watch, "and, to tell the truth, I'm suddenly chilled to the bone."
As we walked back to the house he said, "Keith, thank you very much for
trusting me. I won't say a word about what we talked about."

I laughed and said, "Marc, remember I told you that the Fellowship has few
secrets? They know all about me and about Rocky. In fact, Rocky and his dad
tried to get me and Mr. Stevenson--you'll meet him and his partner
tonight--in deep doo-doo, but it backfired." Marc asked what that was about
and I told him.

When we got back to the house, it was only 10:00 and everyone was up and
dressed. Michael had been told what needed doing to get ready for the next
influx of people, and he was directing traffic while trying to do most of
the work. "Marc, Keith," he said, "we're moving out to give the adults our
rooms tonight. Mary Kathryn is getting the linen washed and we're taking
stuff to the studio where the guys will be sleeping." Marc and I got a load
of sleeping bags and pads and followed Michael out the front door.

The college kids came in about 1:00 and we all had lunch. After we had
cleaned up, Matt said, "Don't know about the rest of you, but I didn't get
much sleep last night and I'm going to take a nap."

"In the studio in a sleeping bag, then," Paula said. "Michael and Mary
Kathryn have seen that all the linen is clean and the beds made."

"Don't care where, just so long as I can lay my bitty head down." Matt may
have been the only one to admit it, but the whole crew needed a nap and by
2:00 the place was quiet.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Eleven--Matt

I found a pad and sleeping bag in the studio, slipped off my pants and
shirt and slid into the sleeping bag. I was almost asleep when Luke
whispered in my ear, "Room enough for two in there?".

"There's always room for you in my bed, Lover Boy." Luke slipped off his
clothes and climbed into the sleeping bag with me. It was a kinda tight fit
but, the way we slept wrapped together, it didn't matter. Luke gave me a
great kiss, wrapped me in his arms, rested his head in the crook of my neck
and we were both half-asleep when the rest of the guys came in and found
sleeping bags. I noticed Larry and Eugene, predictably, climbed into a
sleeping bag together. I guessed Dan and Chris really were a couple because
they followed the couple's example. It didn't take long for everyone to get
settled down and asleep.

I was having a wonderful dream about Luke and me at the falls when there
was a knock on the studio door and Mary Kathryn called out,"Everyone
decent?". There were a lot of groans as gradually we all returned to the
land of the living.

"Ok, MK, you can come on in," Michael answered.

Mary Kathryn came through the door and said, "There's hot chocolate waiting
and some more of Matt's cookies."

Within minutes we had all gotten dressed and were into the kitchen. It was
5:30. "Well, I guess the crew are just about on their way," I said. "Wonder
what Millie is up to? The thought just occurred to me that she said she'd
come on her own, but that was all."

"Yea, I know," Eugene said. "I tried to worm it out of her, but she
wouldn't tell me anything. When I called last night I didn't even get the
answering machine. That means she's out of town. She has been holding her
cards very close to her chest lately."

"Well, she's got chest enough to hide several hands," Michael laughed.

"One thing about it, if Millie doesn't want us to know what's she's up to,
we won't," Luke said.

"Who's Millie?" Marc asked.

"She's my mom," Eugene said, and explained how he had been adopted by
Millie the year before.

"The longer I am around this bunch, the more I feel as if I flew from
Florida into a soap opera," Marc laughed.

"The big difference is that soap operas are more believable," Janet
said. "And it's been this way ever since I met Luke."

"Luke, Janet told me you were the first man who failed to fall for her
charms," Marc said.

"Afraid her charms were the wrong flavor. Besides, if I had given her a
whirl, she would never have gotten into the Douglas Armstrong soap opera."

"Never thought of it that way, Luke, so thanks for not falling victim to my
usually fatal feminine charms," Janet laughed.

"Well, if you all will excuse me, I need to prepare for class tomorrow," I
said, getting up from the kitchen table.

"You have a class on Saturday?" Jack asked, in a voice which clearly
indicated he wasn't believing what he heard.

"Yea, but I finally got it here at the house since it's a performance
class. Unfortunately, my teacher will be here tomorrow, so I'll be in the
family room from 9:30 until 10:30 and you'll just have to suffer with the
organ."

Paula, Susan and Jacob had already dressed for synagogue and left after
eating very little.

When we finished, the rest of us set to work getting everything ready for
dinner when the next Concord group arrived. It was decided that only the
Oberlin Five would go to the airport this trip. The night before, Captain
Kelly had told us he would be landing about the same time so we left the
house at 8:00.

Capt. Kelly had called the house at 5:00 to tell us he was taking off and
expected to be landing about 8:30 Ohio time. At about 8:20 we were at the
airport when we were paged over the intercom and asked to step into the
terminal office. When we got in, the man who has paged us asked, "Are you
waiting for Marc Langley's jet?

"Yes we are," Luke said.

"I'm sorry to tell you, I just heard a mayday from the plane. It was
beginning its approach when the pilot said it was suddenly out of fuel and
going down. That's all I know right now. I'm sorry. If you like you can
wait here to see if we hear anything further."

We all just slumped into seats, stunned, unable to say anything.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

* For those who do not know the Charles Schultz' comic strip "Peanuts", one
of the characters has confused Christmas and Santa Claus with Halloween and
the Great Pumpkin. He spends Halloween in the pumpkin patch, waiting for
the Great Pumpkin to bring him presents.

With the Concord Five (and then somw!) in Ohio, the story will continue as
The Oberlin Five until the Concord crowd returns to Concord.