Date: Fri, 2 Nov 2001 08:39:51 -0500
From: Sequoyah <sequoyahs-place@home.com>
Subject: The Oberlin Five--Chapter Two

		    ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Two

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		 ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Two--Luke

When I awoke, I looked at the clock and saw it was 7:00 in the morning. I
started to turn over and go back to sleep until 7:30 when I needed to get
up and help Paula with breakfast, but didn't. Instead, I raised up on one
elbow and looked at Matt lying beside me. Suddenly I was overwhelmed with
love for this man--and his for me, of that I was sure. I slowly slipped out
of bed so as not to disturb my sleeping lover and sat beside the bed, just
adoring his beauty. He was sleeping very peacefully on his back, his
magnificent hair a dark cloud covering his pillow and the rumpled white
sheets. His dark, hard body rested on that cloud of black hair, his long,
black eyelashes on his cheeks. The sunlight coming in the window made the
scars on his cheek stand out and I was suddenly aware of just how he had
suffered because of me--and of how his suffering had brought us together.

As I looked at him I thought, "Sure, I love sex with my Dark Angel but he
means more, a whole universe more, than sex to me. I love this man
unconditionally. I would give my life for him." Being a normal, lusty
eighteen-year-old, I loved sex but I knew that if I could never have sex
with my Matt again, I'd still love him, still want to be with him, still be
with him so long as he would have me. And I knew, from the very depths of
my being, he would always love me, want to be with me, be with me.

As I sat there worshipping, yes worshipping, my Beloved, I heard Paula
coming down the hall. Carefully, very carefully so as not to awaken him, I
leaned over and kissed Matt gently. He smiled in his sleep and my world, my
universe, was complete.

I dressed quickly--shower and shave could wait--and went downstairs. As I
entered the kitchen, Paula looked at me and smiled as I kissed her on the
cheek. "Kinda slow getting up this morning?" she asked as she smiled.

"To tell the truth," I said, "I got up and then just sat looking at
Matt. Paula, I absolutely worship that man. I can never tell him how much
he means to me or how much I love him."

"Know the feeling," she replied. "I was thinking just before I went to
sleep about how much I thought I had loved Sheldon. Well, I did love him
but, you know, Luke, even at the best I never loved him as I do Jacob at
the least. There is no comparison. And I miss Jacob soooo much. This is
going to be a hard year. And you know what? I don't doubt his love for
me--or mine for him--but I do think about being separated and meeting
someone who might--I don't know--catch my attention. I don't think I'd ever
fall for someone the way I fell for Jacob, nor do I think I'd ever meet
anyone I could love the way I love Jacob, but being separated... well, it's
hell. That's what it is."

I hugged Paula to myself, held her close and said, "I understand, Paula,
but Sis, it'll work out. It has to."

As I released her, she looked up at me and said, "Sis?".

"Yea, Sis. I certainly think of you as a sister. You're a part of this
wonderful family that surrounds me."

"Thanks, Luke, that means a lot to me, Bro."

"Me too. But I guess we better get cookin'." Paula laughed as we consulted
the menu and found it was a waffles morning. "By the way," I said as I got
out the ingredients for Belgian waffles, "we're having Belgian waffles. I
found an iron for making them a couple days ago." I walked Paula through
the preparation of the batter, easy enough unless you have never cooked
anything beyond a box of mac and cheese, and she started cooking waffles as
I set the table--with Stinky and Woody added to the group, we decided to
use the dining room--and prepared a bowl of fresh fruit, and put syrup and
butter in a pan to heat.

We had just taken the first waffles out of the iron when the
crew--including Woody and Stinky but without Matt--appeared, ready for
breakfast. Matt was right behind them and, when he appeared, he took my
breath away. I guess I was never really prepared to see my love and he
always took my breath away. He was dressed in his school blazer--we had
each removed the crests from them--gray slacks, white shirt, and red and
blue stripped tie. He looked stunning! His wonderful hair had not been
braided but was held in a long, black rope by blue bands.

We had decided each meal would have a host but this morning, Matt, who was
the designated host, asked Stinky to do the honors. Stinky offered thanks
for us, for the food, and petitioned God to watch over us. The amen spoken,
we all started eating and carrying on an animated conversation. When
breakfast was over, Matt and the two priests left for Cleveland after
taking their dishes to the dishwasher. Larry and Eugene cleared the
table. They also took care of the pots and pans--which would have been
Matt's job--and left the kitchen spotless.

I knew I'd have to shower after working outside, so I just got dressed in
work clothes and joined the others in the garden. It was just past 8:30 and
the sun wasn't too hot, but gave indication of a very hot day.

Promptly at 10:00, I heard a car drive up and went around the garage just
as Mr. Glaze and two boys got out. He met me before I got to the front,
extended a hand and said, "Carl Glaze".

"Luke, Luke Larsen, Mr. Glaze," I replied as I shook his hand. "Sure glad
you could come."

"Delighted, and call me Carl. As I told you, I really wanted this place
and, when I couldn't get it, hoped someone would who would appreciate
it. These are my sons, Derrick and Kent. Derrick is a rising junior and
Kent starts college at Case Western Reserve next week."

"Kent, Derrick," I said, shaking the hands of two very nice-looking young
men. Both had obviously spent a lot of time outdoors, because they were
both tanned and their dark brown hair was sun-streaked.

The four of us walked to the garden where I introduced the three working
there. "And there's a fifth, Matt, who is in Cleveland talking with
Holtkamp about an internship."

As we walked over the garden, Carl took notes. "I see you've begun tackling
the weeds. Until they are gone, there's not much you can do. Planning on
composting them I see," he observed. "Excellent." As we walked toward the
orchard, he said, "I can see where there was a strawberry bed here at one
time. There's some plants under the weeds. Since they have been here so
long, they are well adapted to the place. Suggest you rescue what you can
and then add others. I'll recommend the varieties." He continued to make
observations as we came to the orchard. "These are grand old trees," he
noted. "Of course, they have been neglected for years but, with proper
pruning and some care, they'll produce well I suspect. It's well-balanced
too. You have everything that you could grow easily here, so I'd suggest
you just care for what you have already and not replace any."

"The pruning could be a problem," I said. "I'm sure that, even though three
of us grew up on a farm, we don't know how to go about that."

"I can get you some material on it," Carl said. "It's not too hard. Well,
it's not easy either. There's both an art and science to it," he said.

"Do you happen to know anyone who could guide us? I mean someone who could
say, 'Cut this here,' not just make suggestions."

"I'd like to myself, but I'm afraid I don't have time. It needs doing and a
spray program started as soon as possible."

"Dad, Kent could easily do it," Derrick spoke up. "You know he's as good as
you are."

"Not sure I could trust him on someone else's orchard. He's ok, but..."

"Dad, he's every bit as good as you any day of the week," Derrick said, in
what seemed to be a "Here we go again" kind of voice.

"Well, Kent, what do you think? Think you could handle this without messing
up?"

"Sure, I think so," Kent answered in a kind of hopeless-sounding
voice. "Sure, I could."

"Great," I said. "And, of course, we'd expect to pay you for your
expertise."

"Not sure about the expertise," Carl said, and he wasn't laughing.

By the time we had finished, the sun was really hot and we all went to the
house for a break. Eugene went inside and returned to the sun porch with
drinks and snacks. We then sat and went over Carl's notes. He said he would
leave them, but I made notes anyway so I'd be clear about what he
suggested. When he finished, he said, "There's an awful lot of work here
and you'll be busy with school but, I can assure you, every minute you
invest in your mini-farm will pay off well."

"Kent, what's your schedule like? When can we begin?" I asked, turning to
the older Glaze son.

Kent had seldom spoken while we were walking around, but Derrick was a
regular chatterbox. There seemed to be tension between Kent and his father
which Derrick knew and, I suspect, faulted his father for. "I have already
registered and don't start school until Tuesday. I would work over the
weekend if I could get here. Dad, can I have the truck?"

"Not sure. Don't think so. It's Labor Day weekend and there's going to be a
lot of traffic. Don't think you could handle that."

"Look, Kent," I said, having decided I would deal with him since it was his
decision to make, "we have a guest room and, if you would like, one of us
could pick you up and you could just stay here unless you have other
plans. That way, when it gets too hot, we could knock off and work early
and late, when it's cooler. How does that strike you?"

Kent's face seemed to light up as a smile covered it but, as he looked at
his father, the smile quickly faded. "Well, I'm supposed to go to the
family Labor Day picnic, otherwise, I'd love to."

"You never take part in family gatherings anyway," Carl said, "so if you
want to do this, you'll not be missed."

"Yes, there is definitely something wrong here," I thought, "something bad
wrong."

"It's up to you, Kent," Carl said.

"Fine, I'll do it."

"Great!" Larry said. "We can always make room for one more. When do you
want someone to pick you up?"

Eugene was standing behind Carl and mouthing, "Now!" over and over.

When Kent caught sight of him, he started to smile, stopped and said, "If
one of you could do it now, I could show you the way to my place, pick up
what I need and come back."

"Excellent!" Paula said. "Excellent! How would you fellows like to stay for
lunch? It will be ready in fifteen or twenty minutes. Nothing special, but
we'd be delighted to have you join us."

"I can't. I have to get Derrick home and go on to the office. Kent can if
he wants to."

"Dad, you could save part of your trip if I stayed here and went home when
someone takes Kent for his things," Derrick said.

"Sure, no problem," Larry chimed in.

"Ok, I see nothing wrong with that," Carl said. "Thanks for the snack and
if I can be of any further help, give me a call. I am really anxious to see
this place back as it was in its prime, and it's well on its way. Thanks
again and I'll see you later." He stood up, we shook hands all around, and
he left.

"Paula, I guess it's back in the kitchen with us." I commented, then said
to the others, "Lunch in twenty minutes. Get washed up, but Paula and I
have dibs on the showers if you want lunch."

"Derrick, Kent, I'll show you the downstairs bathroom," Eugene said.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Eugene

When Luke and Paula came down, Larry and I rushed upstairs and took quick
showers to wash off the dirt from our work in the garden. We came down just
as Paula finished getting the food on the kitchen table. She and Luke had
fixed a huge salad and there were cheeses and cold cuts to make
sandwiches. Paula was host and offered thanks for the help we had gotten
and for Mr. Glaze, Derrick and Kent, our guests. Then we all dived in. The
meal over, Eugene and I cleared the table and started the dishwasher. It
was noon and the sun was really hot so we decided we'd not go back to the
garden. Instead, Larry, Luke and I showed Derrick and Kent around the house
and grounds.

Kent was very impressed with Luke's studio. "I draw," he said, "I don't
mean the kind you do, Luke. I plan to be a landscape designer so I do
design drawing. I'd sure like to have a place like this to work."

"Well, if you don't live too far away and can drive, you're welcome to set
up a drafting table here," Luke offered.

"It's not too far away and I do drive, but I can seldom get the car or
truck. Dad doesn't want me to borrow them," Kent said quietly, and Derrick
made a definite noise of disgust but said nothing. I didn't push the
matter.

When we had completed the tour, I offered to take the two brothers home and
bring Kent and his things back. "I'll need to check out what tools you have
and their condition," Kent said. "From what I've seen, I suspect everything
we need is here, but I'm sure all will need cleaning and sharpening. Let's
check."

I went with Kent and Derrick and showed them the tool shed and garage. Kent
was right, everything needed was there, including the tools necessary for
sharpening and cleaning the pruning implements.

Luke suggested I take the truck so if Kent did need something, we could
haul it. The Glazes lived about ten miles from the house in a direction
opposite that of Cleveland. Their place was neat--a large old house with
well-kept grounds and pretty old trees.

Inside, the house was very cosy and comfortable, not overly decorated, just
very livable. Mrs. Glaze met us at the door and Kent got a big smile on his
face, the first I had seen from him, when he saw her. He introduced us and
told her what was going on. "I'm glad," she said. "I know how you hate the
family get-togethers, especially all the jock games they play. How can I
help you get ready? Do you need anything other than work clothes?"

Kent looked at me with a question on his face. "Maybe a pair of slacks and
a neat shirt--nice casual I think it's called. He probably won't need them,
but we may decide to do something special. Oh, yea, and a swim suit. I'm
sure we'll be in the lake."

"I can take care of that, Mom," Kent said and went upstairs.

"I'm really pleased Kent's going to be with people his own age who will
appreciate his skills and talents," Mrs. Glaze said. "Heaven knows it
happens seldom and the family get-togethers are horrible for him, poor
kid."

I wanted to ask why, but thought better of it. If Kent wanted me to know,
he would tell me. "I'm sure he's getting into some hard work, but we'll
also have fun. Hey, it's the last weekend before school starts."

Mrs. Glaze asked how we came to be in the house and a hundred other
questions. I smiled at myself at some of them, as she would sneak in a
zinger now and again. For example, I was caught off-guard when she,
somehow, asked about our drinking, smoking--those sorts of things--but she
seemed satisfied with my answers.

When Kent came down, he was carrying a gym bag and what were obviously his
own pruning tools. "There's a couple things outside I need to get," he
said, and kissed his mom on the cheek. He seemed almost happy, very
different from before.

"Oh, Mrs. Glaze, I'm sure you want our phone number," I said as I handed
her a card. Luke had gotten carried away and designed an attractive
"business" card for us. "Feel free to call anytime and I hope we can have
you over for dinner soon," I told her. "I mean after we get settled in
school. I suspect the next couple or three weeks will be pretty hectic as
we struggle with five new schedules."

"I'm sure they will. Take care of my boy," she said as she extended her
hand.

I was very surprised on the way home. Kent was absolutely talkative,
laughing and obviously enjoying himself. I wondered if he was the same
person who had been with me earlier.

We got back to the house in early afternoon. It was still too hot to work
in the sun, so Kent had me gather up the tools and showed me how to clean
them. "I'll do the sharpening," he said. "There's a right way and a wrong
way to do that and if you do it the wrong way, you can damage the tool." He
worked quickly and it was obvious he knew what he was doing. As he worked,
he simply oozed confidence and self-assurance.

When the tools were ready, Kent, Larry and I went to the orchard. We
started clearing weeds, waiting for Luke and Paula, who had some things to
do in the kitchen for dinner. When the two joined us, Kent demonstrated how
and what to prune, then said, "What I really need to be sure you understand
is how. For the time being at least, I'll point out what and where." Larry
was going to town with the weed-eater, clearing around the trees. As soon
as he had cleared five, he joined the pruning crew.

It was still hot and the work wasn't easy so we took it slowly, but it
still went faster than I anticipated. After we had each pruned half or so
of the tree we were working on to Kent's satisfaction, Paula went to the
house for drinks. The four of us sat under the newly pruned apple tree Kent
had finished--he was fast--and sprawled out on the grass which had managed
to grow underneath the weeds. Kent had a thousand questions and we were
talking like mad when Paula appeared behind the garage. When Kent saw her,
he more or less blurted out, "Strange, one woman and four men living
together." The three guys looked at each other, "Do we or don't we?"
written on our faces.

"Yea, I guess it looks strange," Luke finally said, "but we are like
brothers and sister. Kinda one big family that all got into Oberlin and got
the opportunity to purchase this place. It was ideal. And don't go falling
for that good-looking woman, Kent, she's got a redhead back home who
wouldn't like it and I'm positive you'd never get to first base, but she is
one good-looking woman, isn't she?"

Kent nodded just as Paula walked up with a jug and glasses. The lemonade
she brought sure was refreshing! We answered a thousand questions Kent had:
"Where was home? Why Oberlin? What were our majors? How did we get the
house? When would Matt get back? What was Matt doing while we sweated?" He
laughed when he asked the last one. By the time we had sat for half an
hour, we had told him just about all that was to tell except about Larry
and me and Luke and Matt being couples and anything that might have hinted
at that. I wasn't sure how he'd take that. I never am when I meet someone,
and it's a real drag.

We got up and tackled the trees again. Kent seemed pleased with our work
and, even though he had to stop often to answer a question or point out
where to cut, he finished another tree long before any of us had finished
our first. Then he started helping first one, then another. Each tree went
faster because as soon as one was finished, rather than starting a new one,
we'd help someone who hadn't finished. It was 5:00 before we had a dozen
trees done to Kent's specifications--Kent had done four while the four of
us had each done two. "Well, we're over half finished with the pruning,"
Kent observed. "This is not a small orchard."

"Luke and I are finished with pruning for today," Paula said, "we need to
go work on dinner. It has to be prompt because Matt has that appointment
tonight."

After she and Luke left, Kent said, "I think you might learn faster if we
all work on the same tree".

"I'll weed eat under another," Larry volunteered, picked up the weed-eater
and went to work.

"I hope you're enjoying this as well as earning some money," I said to
Kent.

"Oh, I am," he replied. "I absolutely love it. Besides, it got me out of a
family gathering which I hate."

"Sorry to hear that, I mean that you hate family gatherings," I said. "I
don't know what I'd do without my family--my extended family which extends
quite a ways. Our family gatherings are always great, but then if we were
talking about biological parents, it's a very different story. I don't even
know where my biological parents are. They kinda abandoned me last year and
disappeared. But my adopted mom and the rest of the whole extended family
are very important to me and I love being with them."

"Sometimes I wish my family--well, no, not my family, my dad's family and
his relatives--would abandon me. I'd sure like to abandon them. Well, to
tell the truth, they have abandoned me except I'm still around."

"If you want to talk about it, I'll listen," I said softly, "but I don't
want to pry."

Kent hung his head and was silent. I knew he was struggling with himself
about what to say to this stranger. When I looked up, Larry was headed
toward us but, even before I could signal him, he raised a hand and walked
toward another tree and started work again.

Without raising his head, Kent said, "My dad thinks I am a royal
fuck-up. He has from the day I was born. I was born with a heart defect and
he seems to think that it is my fault--I mean everything else is. The
doctors did what they could at the time, but they had to wait until I was
older to do more. I was in the hospital for weeks just before I started
school, then just before I went to junior high and finally when I was in
junior high. Before the last operation, I had to be very careful. I had
little strength and almost any activity put a strain on my heart. After the
last operation I was fine, but I guess the damage had been done to any
relationship with Dad."

"See, Dad was a super-jock. He was a junior high, high school and college
football and basketball hero and felt--feels--that you're not a real man
unless you are a super-jock as well. I guess part of that comes from
growing up dirt poor and sports giving him an education and a good life
but, as much as I might have wanted to follow in his footsteps, I was lucky
to be able to walk, much less do sports. To be honest, I don't know what
Dad said when he was told about my heart shortly after I was born, but I
know what he thought, 'Why do I get a reject?' and he has always treated me
that way. I can't do anything that pleases him and I try, God knows I
try. I am always trying, only to be shot down. It really hurts when I do
something I know is excellent and all he does is find fault. But I keep
trying to please him, well, I did until I finally realized it was not going
to happen so now I just try to please myself--'course that's pretty hard
too."

"After surgery in junior high, I could do anything I wanted and started
working out. I ran track and played baseball and was runner-up in the state
tennis meet last year, but those are, in his mind, not sports. 'Why can't
you be a real man and play a real sport instead of getting all dolled-up in
a neat white uniform?' he said when I told him I was runner-up in the state
tennis meet. I just about lost it, but he didn't seem to notice."

"At the end of my junior year in high school, he got it in his head I was
queer. One night at dinner he just flat-out asked 'Kent, are you queer? I
think you must be. You never go out with girls and I see you with those
sissy tennis players all the time.' I told him I wasn't queer and that I
didn't go out because I hadn't met a girl I wanted to go out with. 'Well,
you better find one or everyone will know you're a sissy queer,' he said. I
had been called Sissy in grade school and the first part of junior high
because I couldn't do anything and because I was physically weak and
under-developed. Then, after I was well and started working out, I had been
called Sissy so long no-one, including me, thought anything about it. I
mean, it was just my nickname. But when Dad said that, a nickname I had
accepted became poison. Then, last Labor Day at the family gathering, there
were a lot of jokes and a lot of serious--well, I don't know that it was
serious, religious is a better word I guess--talk about perverts, fags and
queers. Dad said, 'I hate to admit it, damn I hate to admit it, but I'm
afraid I have one of those perverts living in my house. I think Kent is as
queer as a three dollar bill.' You can imagine the hell I suffered for the
rest of the day."

"But you're not gay?" I asked.

"No, I'm not. What I said was true. I had never met a girl that I liked or
at least one I liked that liked me. Well, that is until just after
Thanksgiving last year. A new student joined my AP physics class..."

"How'd you do on the exam?" I asked.

"Made a four. Did you take AP physics?"

"Sure did. All of us did. All fours except Matt. He made a five. His dad is
the AP physics teacher, but don't think he gave Matt anything he didn't
give all of us. Sorry to interrupt. But, since I have, wasn't your dad
happy with that result?"

"No, he pitched a royal fit because I didn't make a five. Anyway, this new
girl became my lab partner. She was really fun and I grew to like her a
lot. I finally got up the courage to ask her for a date and, when I told
dad, I thought he'd be happy. He wasn't and, had Mom not put her foot down,
he wouldn't have let me have the car. We went to a movie after eating at
Pizza Hut and when we came out of the theater, there was a freak snow storm
going on. We started home and got to within a mile of her house when all
traffic was stopped. We sat in the car, waiting for the snow plow. At first
it was kinda fun. We sat and talked, I mean really talked but, after almost
an hour, I began to get worried. Then I remembered the cell phone but, when
I reached for it, the holder was empty. I knew Dad had taken it out. 'Can't
have you running up a cell phone bill,' he had said earlier."

"It was well after midnight when we were finally able to move, and when we
reached Christine's place--her name is Christine Jordan--and I called home,
Dad pitched a fit. Seems, to his mind, the snowstorm was simply an excuse I
was making. He even found a way my not having the cell phone was my
fault. Go figure. The Jordans insisted that I spend the night and
Mrs. Jordan called my mom and told her it was too dangerous for me to be
out. The upshot of that was that Dad now says I can't be trusted with the
car so I'm stuck. And the fact that I don't date--and man, I'd like
to--means I'm queer."

Kent fell silent and I joined him in his silence. What was there to say? I
mean if it had been one of us I would have given him a big hug, but I
wasn't sure he'd welcome that. Finally he said, "Well, let's get the tools
together, cleaned and put them away if dinner is at 6:00."

As soon as the tools had been cared for, we went to the house, showered and
dressed for dinner.

Everything was ready, the table set and food waiting to be brought in when
Matt burst through the front door--and I mean burst. He ran straight to
Luke, grabbed him and planted a no-holds-barred kiss on his lips as he
swung him around. "Luke, Babe..."

Larry broke in with, "Matt, we have a guest."


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Two--Matt

I woke up, again without Luke beside me. I would be very glad when this
week was over. Even If I were on kitchen duty next week, Luke would be
beside me in the morning. I hopped out of bed as soon as I remembered what
was happening that day and showered, trying to keep my hair as dry as
possible, bound my hair and started to get dressed. I was sure nice casual
clothes would be ok, but after I had thought about it the night before,
decided to wear a blazer and tie. I mean I wanted to show all possible
respect to Mr. Holtkamp. I was glad I dressed as I did because, when I got
downstairs, Woody and Stinky were dressed in clericals.

I was so excited I could hardly eat breakfast and as soon as it was over,
the three of us headed for Cleveland Heights. Fortunately, rush hour was
nearing its end and we were not going into Cleveland proper at first, so we
made it to St. William's with time to spare. "Harry won't be here for an
hour," Stinky said as we walked toward the back door of the church--it's
really the front, but the front of the church is were the altar sits. "I
wanted to give you an hour to get used to this organ and its registration,"
he added.

A middle-aged man with a shock of silver hair met us just inside the
church. "Kevin, this is Matthew Greywolf. Matt, Fr. McCall," Stinky said as
I shook hands with the priest.

"I understand you're here to impress Harry Holtkamp," he smiled. "Good
luck. He doesn't impress easily. The organ's unlocked and waiting for
you. Woody, Stinky, I think I can find some coffee if you like and we can
let the young man practice in peace." The three left and I walked to the
organ. The church was huge, as was the organ. I looked around a while
before I approached the console and, when I did, I was a bit overwhelmed
with the organ it commanded. I was tentative at first, but gradually warmed
up to the instrument and then started having a ball.

I hadn't realized how much time had passed until the three reappeared and
Stinky said, "Harry Holtkamp has just pulled in the parking lot,
Matt. Maybe you'd like to come down and meet him." I must admit, what I
really wanted to do was continue playing.

Mr. Holtkamp came in the back and introductions were made. "So you're the
young man with whom I am supposed to be impressed," he said after the
introductions. "What do you think of the instrument? You can be frank. My
dad designed and built it, so it's not my baby you're talking about."

I assured him that I had nothing but good to say about the organ and he
said, "Great. Dad designed it, Holtkamp built it and it's still one of my
favorites. I'm sure some of my feeling for it is sentimental, but it is a
great organ. Now why don't you show me you are its equal."

I played several small Bach pieces, some more contemporary ones, and the
organ transcription of "Light" from "Yonghon Tongmu". When I finished
those, I did the most difficult Bach piece I knew and turned on the organ
bench to look at the four men. "I was a bit afraid to ask since a lot of
organists feel it's not quality music," Mr. Holtkamp said, "but after that
next-to-last piece--who wrote that by the way? I don't think I have ever
heard it."

"I did," I answered.

"Don't get me wrong, but it's not Bach and if you can play
that--incidentally, I really liked it--you shouldn't mind a request. Could
you by any chance play a bit of that show-off piece, Widor's 'Toccata' from
his 'Fifth'?"

As I turned to face the console, I smiled and said under my breath, "Thank
you, Millie!" and ripped into the piece. The organ was larger than any I
had ever played, and St. Mary's would sit inside St. William's chancel. No
wonder St. Mary's organ had been considered much too large: it was! The
reverberation in St. William's was unbelievable! The Holtkamp remained
clear, sharp and bright as the toccata built and built, filling the whole
church with sound. I must admit, I hadn't played many bars before I had
slipped "off this mortal plain" into the world only my music--and my
Luke--can take me. When I finished, I was physically wrung out but on a
emotional high as I just sat on the bench, my head lowered, listening as
the sound gradually faded away. Man! What an experience!

When I finally turned around, all four men were standing. I nodded to them
and all four started applauding--Mr. Holtkamp really getting into it. I
felt the red gradually starting at my feet and working its way to my neck
before a full-grown blush flushed my face. The four kept applauding as I
slipped off the bench and walked toward them.

"Young man, I don't know whether or not you'll ever learn squat about
building an organ but you sure can handle one when it's put together. You
are simply great and I have heard many of the top-notch performers," Harry
said as he grabbed my hand. "And you sure got the hang of this organ
quickly. I'm sure that with some time on it, you'd be even better, but I'm
not sure where the improvement would be."

"Thank you, Sir," I replied. "I'm honored to play this great
instrument. You know it has to be half of the equation."

"True," Harry nodded, "but I can tell you, even this instrument of Dad's
can be made to sound terrible--I've heard it when I wanted to choke the
organist. Thanks, Matthew."

"Thank you, Sir."

Mr. Holtkamp turned to the three priests and said, "You know, I've done a
lot of work in the south and I love polite southern young men. Makes me
feel old, but I like it." Turning to me he said, "Thanks again, Matthew..."

"I really prefer Matt, Sir," I said.

"Fine, Matt it will be if I can quit being sir. I had planned, to be frank,
to make this short, thinking my old buddies Stinky and Woody had just got
swept away in the Sewanee heat. But since I have been proven wrong, I need
to call the office and make arrangements to be "out of the office" to all
but the most important calls. Point me to the phone, please, Kevin."

Fr. McCall said, "Around the corner there, Harry. Surely you remember."
Mr. Holtkamp slapped himself upside the head, waved and walk away. "Great
job, Matt. How'd you like to do an occasional Sunday? Our organist resigned
right after Easter and we are in the process of hiring a new one. In the
meantime, we have a supply organist come in for a few Sundays. Most are
candidates for the job, but not necessarily. If you'll give me your number,
I'll have the chair of the organist committee call you. That is, if you're
interested."

"Sure," I replied as I handed him one of the cards Luke had designed for
The Oberlin Five.

He glanced at it and said, "Nice. The Oberlin Five is it?"

"Long story, but a great one," Woody said as Mr. Holtkamp came back into
the church.

"Got that arranged. How about an early lunch? We can talk over that, then
go to the studio."

"Sounds great," Stinky said, "at least so long as you're buying."

"Think I can manage that," Mr. Holtkamp laughed. "Kevin, care to join us?"

"Wish I could, but I have a pain-in-the-ass mother coming to discuss 'the
wedding of the year'. Her daughter finally landed someone."

"Thanks, Father," I said as I shook Fr. McCall's hand. "And if you need
assistance handling a grande dame and her wedding plans, I have a
sixteen-year-old brother who does it well.

"There has to be a story there which I want to hear--and soon," Fr. McCall
said as he turned to leave.

Mr. Holtkamp took us into a pretty seedy looking area of the city and to a
restaurant that didn't look too good. "I know it looks pretty rundown, but
Italian food you wouldn't believe is to be found right here," he said as he
parked. It was obvious he showed up there often, as everyone knew him. When
we sat down, he said to a man with an apron tied about his waist, "Just
bring it on, Harry".

"Harry?" Woody asked.

"Yea, his mother, who still helps out in the kitchen at eighty-five,
decided she'd give him a real American name when he was born and chose
Harry. He kids me about having an Italian name. The woman still speaks so
little English she's often hard to understand, but will remind you in a
heartbeat she's "all American, by God!" Mr. Holtkamp laughed. He said the
food would be great and, man, was he ever right! It was excellent! I guess
I was coming down from an emotional high which had burned a lot of energy,
because I ate like a pig.

When we finished lunch, we went to the studio and I was given the grand
tour. We started with a letter asking about designing an organ for a church
in St. Louis and then worked our way through design, modifications, case
design, building, step-by-step. "This is fascinating," I said, shortly
before the tour ended, "but I'm not sure I can remember a fraction of it."

"I hope not!" Mr. Holtkamp laughed. "If you could, I'd be out of
business. Today I just wanted you to get a feel for the whole process and
all that's involved in it. If you decide to come as an intern, you'll
gradually learn it all, but it takes time, a lot of time. So are you
interested?"

"I didn't think there was any question about that," I responded. "Of course
I'm interested. The question, as I understood it, was whether or not you'd
take me on."

"You're right. That WAS the question, but the question's changed. I'd like
very much to have you full-time, but I know that's not going to happen. But
to be of any real benefit to you, you need whole days at least. So I take
it you are interested."

"Am I!" I practically shouted.

"Fine. See what you can work out with Oberlin and give me a call. I think I
told Woody you'd have to pay your own expenses and buy me lunch when you're
here."

"Think you got that backwards," Woody laughed. "YOU are to pay expenses and
buy Matt lunch."

"Well, Matt, I know you understand that you'll not be contributing to the
company when you start, and won't be for some time," Mr. Holtkamp was
serious. "But I do want to make it as easy as possible on you. I'll cover
your travel expenses. And, Woody, you'll pay for his lunches," he laughed,
then turned to me and said, "Shake?".

"Shake," I replied as we shook hands.

"Great! And, if you're interested, I'd work up some good stuff for the time
Kevin calls you--and you can bank on his calling. Think you might just find
a job offer there."

I was shocked at the idea, but intrigued as well.

I know Woody and Stinky must have thought I was on speed, from my absolute
verbal diarrhea on the way home. I couldn't stop talking about the day, and
the more I talked, the more excited I became, and the more excited I
became, the more and faster I talked.

Woody finally said, "Hey, Kid, slow down. You're not making sense!" and
laughed.

I tried to slow down and stop talking, but the whole cycle started
again. Woody had barely got the car stopped in the drive before I jumped
out and ran into the house. Luke was standing in the dining room and I was
so excited, I saw no-one except my Bright Angel.


ASP--The Oberlin Five--Chapter Two--Eugene

As soon as Larry said, "Matt, we have a guest," Matt looked around, saw
Kent and turned ninety-nine shades of red, each more vivid than the one
before. "Holyyyyy shit," he said, sounding exactly like Michael as he
dropped Luke.

"Kent, this is Matt. Matt, Kent. I apologize, Kent, I should have told you
this afternoon when we were talking, but I was afraid... well, I was just
afraid. But I guess now it's pretty obvious. Matt and Luke are a couple. In
fact, as nearly as gay men can be married, they're married and have had
their union blessed by a priest. If you're really uncomfortable with the
situation, I'll take you home now or after dinner."

Kent was still looking thunderstruck, then got a strange look on his
face. "And you and Larry are also a couple, right?"

"Yes, we are."

"I knew you had some kind of special relationship from the way you look at
each other." Kent then started laughing. "It's no wonder no-one is
concerned about Paula living with four men. She's as safe as she would be
in a nunnery--maybe safer! It's all very strange. I mean, I don't
understand it but, no, I'm not uncomfortable, I guess--at least not enough
to want to go. No, just give me time. I can and will deal with it. I know
it shouldn't make a difference, but somehow or other it does. But that's my
problem. Nice to meet you, Matt. Larry called you a wild Indian earlier
today and now I can understand why. Well, I guess I got a strange look when
you kissed Luke, I'm sure I did, but I don't think I'm uncomfortable
now. And, Eugene, I apologize for the language I used this
afternoon. Sorry."

I started to say that it was ok and it was a matter of indifference, but
that was not true. The words did make a difference. But it was clear Kent
was making an honest apology and I just said, "Accepted".

Woody and Stinky walked in during the drama and just stayed silent. Bless
them! They were dressed in clericals and I guess that was another shock to
Kent. "Oh, Kent, these are two of our friends, Woody and Stinky--have to
tell you the story of Stinky's name later. Or maybe he or Woody
will. Woody, Stinky, this is Kent, Kent Glaze. He's the county agent's
older son. Well, are we going to eat or not?" You can imagine the table
conversation was lively and Kent joined right in. He roared when Woody told
how Stinky got his nickname. Since Matt and the two priests were pressed
for time, we heard a condensed version of Matt's day and he a condensed
version of ours. I knew we'd be in for a grand round of talks when the
three got back from Oberlin.

After dinner, and the kitchen chores handled, we all settled in the family
room and relaxed. Woody and Stinky, of course, had gone with Matt to
Oberlin.

Paula put on some nice music and we were just kinda mellowed out--we had
put in a good day's work, especially considering the heat, and down time
was welcome. Finally, Kent said, "I don't want to intrude or meddle in
someone else's business, but could I ask you guys some questions?".

"Sure," Larry said, "but we always reserve the right not to answer."

"Fair enough. First off, when did you know you were gay and how did you
know it? I mean, well, Dad tells people I am gay. I don't think I am, but
maybe I am. How do I know?"

That was the beginning of a rather long conversation. I guess I shouldn't
have been surprised at Kent's ignorance, but I was. I mean he was
eighteen--soon to be nineteen--and he knew very little about being gay--or
about sex for that matter. I was astonished at how little he did know. I
was sure glad Paula was there because she often was able to explain things
Larry and I could not, and sometimes--I guess--would not explain. After an
hour's conversation, Kent asked, "Then you think I would know it if I were
gay, even as ignorant as I am--was?"

"Yea, I think that's safe to say," Larry said.

"But what if I decided to turn gay? Don't know why I would, but suppose I
did."

"I suppose you could decide you would have sex with a man--I mean people
decide to have sex with sheep, for heaven's sake--but that's not what makes
you gay. You might even get involved in what some call the gay lifestyle,
but that doesn't make you gay. At least, I don't think so. You just are
gay. If you are, you're born that way," Luke said.

"Thanks, guys, and Paula. Not only have you helped me a lot, but I think I
understand you two couples better. Thanks. And I know I'll feel more
comfortable with you four. Gee, I thought when I found out you were gay,
you'd be after me."

"Nope, got all I ever hoped or dreamed for," Larry laughed as he leaned
over and kissed me. Luke agreed.

"Oh, Kent, Woody and Stinky are taking us out to dinner tomorrow. Sort of
paying us back for taking Matt away today while we worked. These three guys
and I have to go to Oberlin to register. Our appointment's for 9:00, but
that means nothing from what I have heard. Anyway, plan to go to dinner
with us," Paula said, just as the three who had been at Oberlin came in. It
was easy to see things had gone well because Matt was all smiles.

"Think dessert is in order," Luke laughed as he met Matt, gave him a quick
kiss, grabbed his hand and dragged him to the kitchen. They came back a few
minutes later with bowls of ice-cream topped with fresh strawberries. "Next
year, these will be OUR strawberries," Luke said as he and Matt started
sitting the bowls on the table. When we had all gathered round, I said,
"Ok, Matt, out with it. You look like you just won the lottery."

"I feel like it too," he laughed. "Well, we were to meet with the head of
the organ department--Professor Isadore Moler, remember him?--but it turns
out the head of the whole music department--Professor Roger Stewart--and a
couple of college officials met with us. Professor Moler said ordinarily he
would have had to hear me play before he assigned an advisor but, since he
had heard me already, he was pulling rank. 'He's mine,' he said and thumped
his chest like he was Tarzan the ape man."

"Anyway, they asked about my time with Harry Holtkamp and I told them. 'I
assume, then, he'll be your supervisor if you are granted independent
study,' one of the officials said. Stinky told them he would be and had
given Woody a letter to that effect, which Woody handed them. Stinky also
told them, if it were at all possible, Mr. Holtkamp wanted me two full days
a week. Professor Stewart said he didn't think that would be possible, but
they would see what could be done. Among them, they listed the courses I
needed to take, after Professor Stewart reminded them of the classes I
would not have to take but for which I would get credit because of AP
courses. 'The young man is practically a sophomore already,' he said and
started trying to work out a schedule. Professor Stewart said it looked
pretty hopeless and the others--except Professor Moler--agreed. Moler
spoke, 'Look, we're going at this the wrong way. We're trying to fit Matt
into a schedule. Why don't we try to fit a schedule to Matt? He laid out
six blocks of six and then crossed out the second and fourth ones. 'That's
Tuesday and Thursday, for Holtkamp,' he said. 'Now let's begin plugging in
classes.'

"'You're giving him a Saturday class?' one of the officials--I think his
name was Simmons--asked. 'Of course, if that's what's needed,' Professor
Steward said. Well, everything started falling into place except for
so-called freshmen courses. 'Look, they're freshmen courses because most
freshmen, let's face it, have no real idea of what they want to do. There's
no real reason for him taking them this year. Besides, there's only a
couple left since his AP credits cover most of them,' Professor Moler
argued. Everything had fit in--with my taking 9:00 a.m. classes when I am
at Oberlin and including one Saturday morning--except P.E. I though that
would be no problem but, apparently, you just can't avoid it your freshman
year. 'Play any sports?' Simmons asked. I told him I had played baseball in
high school and was a fair tennis player. 'Fine, sign him up for those
teams,' Simmons said. When I said I might not be good enough, they all
laughed. 'Matt, there are so few men in liberal arts colleges these days,
if you can walk you can probably make a team," Simmons laughed.

"So, Gang, everything is signed and sealed and turned in. I don't have to
go back tomorrow, so I can work in the orchard with Kent. Well, so far as
Oberlin is concerned that's true. I think we need to sit down and talk
about it because it involves all of you. I mean, I'll get in late two days
a week and will miss Saturday morning things. I think I'll be a drag on the
whole household." It was clear those thoughts had just hit Matt because his
happy face disappeared quickly.

"Council meeting," Paula said. "Oh, Kent, Woody, Stinky, you are free to
stay or leave, but we need to deal with this now." The group discussed
Matt's schedule and how it would impact us but, finally, we didn't know
because we didn't have our schedules.

We talked about that until Eugene said, "Look, why are we playing 'What
if'? We'll know our schedules tomorrow and we can lay out the house
schedule then. Right now I say we celebrate Matt's good news and I, for
one, say we'll see that you get the time you need--and work your ass off
when you are here!" We all laughed and I could see Matt relax.

We sat around the table another half hour while Matt found out what had
been going on while he was away, and while he told us more details of his
day. Just before we broke up for the evening, Kent said, "Man, I wish I
could look forward to living in a group like this. I have never known
anyone, including my dad--well, my mom, maybe--who is as concerned about me
as all of you seem to be about each other. It must feel great."

"Yeah, it sure does," Matt said and we all nodded in agreement. "It sure
does."