Date: Mon, 07 Mar 2005 16:00:35 -0700
From: Roy <roynm@mac.com>
Subject: Phalen - Chapter 3 -- Appearing in the College Section
This story contains portrayals of homosexual actions and
lifestyles. There may be references to, or explicit descriptions of,
sex between consenting adults.
If homosexuality, sexually explicit language, or swearing offends
you, or if reading material that contains these topics violates any law
or personal or religious beliefs, you must exit now without proceeding
further.
If you are under 18 years of age, you may not read this story
because it is against the law.
This story is entirely fictional, and any resemblances to actual
persons are completely coincidental.
Roy
roynm@mac.com
Phalen, chapter three
I was exhausted; overwhelmingly spent. I had experienced a
difficult day at school, coming away from a presentation with a feeling
of accomplishment but very little energy. Next, I met two really cool
guys who reignited feelings that I had long held under tight control.
And to top it all off, I met my next door neighbor and his son, Phalen,
the man who was sharing my bed. I felt dazed. I'm only beginning to
come to grips with my sexual orientation, and now it seems that I've
become part of what I was already beginning to think of as a
relationship. I alternated between being exhilarated, and being
frightened out of my wits. But most of all I felt safe, and not alone.
No one had ever held me like this man.
"Mina rakastan sinua, Phalen" I whispered, as he moved to spoon
against my back, his fingers idly toying with the hair on my chest.
"If you want me to move just say so," he murmured against my neck.
"What's it mean?"
"Just something. I'll tell you later. It's been a big day, and
I'm exhausted from the work outs you've been putting me through."
"Ummmm --- my kind of work outs," he said, trying to snuggle
closer. When his breathing slowed and his hand stopped moving on my
chest, I knew he had fallen asleep.
Sleep wouldn't come for me though. "I can't be feeling like this,"
I thought. "I've just met the man! And he's three years younger than
me. I should be going slower. Hell, what would mom and dad say? ---
Or, Larry and Helen. I've never even met Helen and here I am in bed
with her son! What have I gotten myself into?" My thoughts were going
to keep me awake, I was sure of it.
"I have to admit that I love being held by him though. I realized
that no one had ever really held me. --- I had lived my entire life,
loved but not touched! Then along comes Phalen, a man generous with his
affection. It seemed that he would reach out to touch me at the
slightest provocation. "Like now," I thought. "He's deeply asleep and
he's still holding me. --- I can't give that up. Now that I know what
I've been missing, I can't go back."
Phalen must have sensed my unease because as he shifted position he
kissed my neck and mumbled, "Go to sleep lover." As he began his
regular breathing again, I wondered, "Is that what I am? His lover?" I
laid there watching him as the moonlight climbed the wall. For the
first time tonight his expressive face was relaxed. "A beautiful face I
thought, with his gorgeous blue eyes and wide smile that makes my knees
weak." Even now, while asleep, his lips were slightly turned up as if
he was amused. --- "That's a smile that will light up the proverbial
room," I thought, "and he's been smiling at *me*! --- ME, Jeff the
social misfit. How could I be so lucky?" I thought, suddenly feeling
much better. "I can handle this. Phalen will be here to hold me if
things get tough. Or, I will hold *him* when he needs it, or maybe just
for the fun of it." I grinned as I leaned over and gave him a soft
kiss, drawing another smile.
"Things will be okay," I thought as I closed my eyes and laid my
arm over his chest.
* * * *
"Jeff! What kind of place is this? There's no freeking coffee!"
Phalen yelled from the kitchen. "I can't do anything in the morning
without coffee first," he continued. "And, I don't want to hear any
smart cracks from you! --- You always this cheerful in the morning?" he
said as he blinked, not yet really awake.
"Yep, a morning person here. I take it you're not?" I teased him,
trying to give him a good morning kiss while he squirmed around trying
to avoid me. I finally managed to give him a small peck somewhere near
his right cheek, just before he eluded my grasp. He absently wiped off
his cheek as he stared around the living room.
"I see we're going to need a coffee maker ASAP. Is it *really* as
bad as you're letting on?
He nodded, as he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands, looking
up at me with sleep-spiked hair. I gave him a tentative smile. In
return, he stuck out his tongue and comically crossed his eyes.
"Every morning this bad?"
"Um huh," he grumbled. "So if I'm going to be over here in the
morning very often, you've just gotta get used to it! Just like I have
to get used to your puny attempts at whistling. You can't whistle! And
don't try singing. I'm told that you can't do that worth shit either."
"Who told you that?"
"You did, right before you started telling me about all of the
other things that you *can* do with your lips. If you've never had sex
before, how do you know what your lips are capable of? And don't try
telling me you play the trumpet! Just don't try singing. --- Please."
"Go jump in the shower. It'll make you feel better."
He shook his head, continuing to rub his eyes and scratch his
crotch. "No soap, remember? There's nothing in this place! I shoulda
waited until you had finished moving before I came over," he grumbled to
himself. "And don't suggest I jump in your pool. I bet pepperonis are
still floating around out there --- and sauce. Yuck!"
"Well, do whatever you want." I slapped him on the butt as he
passed me, wandering around trying to find his clothes. He finally
located his wet shorts just where we had left them last night.
Grumbling to himself all the time, he slipped them on and started to
walk past me to the front door. "I'm going next door. Dad and mom have
probably left by now, so I'll can get some clothes for both of us *and*
some coffee. I'm sure something I've got will fit you. How much bigger
are you than me, anyway?"
"About an inch," I grinned as I held my fingers apart to show him
how much.
"Morning people! I hate 'em! he groused as he stalked out the front
door. "Anything else we need? Tell me now!
"Cups." I answered quickly. "For the coffee --- remember?" While
he was gone I wandered from room to room, touching things that had only
been lines on paper a few months before. "This was mine!" I thought,
wondering if Phalen would like to share my good fortune.
A few minutes later he came trudging back through the front door
carrying a coffee maker, its cord trailing on the floor, coffee cups
hanging from two fingers, some clothes and who knows what else. I
couldn't help it. I started to laugh.
"Wha . . .," he began as he looked up. "Don't just stand there.
Gimmie a hand with this junk," he said, still cranky. " I've got some
clothes here. Get out of those, he said pointing to the damp ones I had
on. There's a pair of shorts somewhere here for you. They're dad's, so
I think they'll fit. He's bigger 'en me too," he said as I quickly shed
my shorts and stood waiting for him to find the things he was looking for.
"Here, cover yourself up," he said as he dropped the shorts at my
feet, walking into the kitchen. I could hear him grumbling to himself.
"This place better have some fucking water or I'm going *home*." A
couple minutes later I caught the first smell of coffee in my new
house! Damn, I was happy! Gone were the worries of last night. It
felt like I was beginning a new and wonderful life. Even grumpy Phalen
was cute as he struggled to get his wet shorts off. Nothing seemed to
be coordinated for him this morning. I stood there grinning as he
searched for something in the stuff he brought over.
He tossed me another piece of clothing. "Here's one of dad's
t-shirts. It'll have to do until we can get some of your clothes. ---
What are you grinning at?" he said as he pulled on a t-shirt of his own
and bent over looking for the shorts.
"I'm just really really happy, I said. And of course, I think your
naked butt is pretty sexy. You shouldn't turn your back on me dressed
like that though. You never know what I might do," I said as I leered at
him and wiggled my eyebrows.
"Well you can't have it, he said standing up and turning around to
face me --- at least not now. I need some *coffee*," he said as he
pulled on a pair of shorts. "There, that's better," he said as he looked
up and smiled at me. "Sorry to be such a pain, but I really *hate*
mornings," he grumbled, trying to sound civil.
"What are you snickering at?" he said as he saw me smiling.
"You've got your t-shirt on inside out."
"Morning people!" He groaned as I watched him strip off his
shirt. "Hey, make yourself useful. Get us some coffee. I don't know
how you like it, but today you're taking it black! I wasn't lugging a
carton of milk and the sugar bowl over here too."
"Great! That's the way I like it," I said as I handed him a cup of
what appeared to be very strong coffee. --- Wow, it *was* very strong.
"Phalen, just curious," I asked. "Have you ever made coffee before?"
"No, why?"
"Just taste it, you'll see. Warily, he took a gulp of the drink.
"What's wrong with it?" he asked, trying to not make a face. "Just like
I like it." Having gotten his t-shirt back on, right-side out this
time, he went into the kitchen. I could hear water running as he
diluted his drink.
*****
The next couple days were a whirlwind, as we first cleared out all
of the stuff that Larry had sent over and then began acting as traffic
cops to the delivery people. Since coming to college, I had only lived
in an apartment, so almost everything that I needed to make the house
habitable had to be purchased. Sometimes it seemed as if the delivery
trucks were lined up outside. Slowly the place started to look like it
could actually become a home.
We had moved the air mattress to the bedroom on the first day while
we were waiting for the bed to be delivered. We were learning a lot
while laying on that mattress, about sex and about each other. Each
night we would have some food delivered, eat out by the pool then
eventually fall asleep in each other's arms. I was almost giddy, I was
so happy. When we had a momentary respite from the deliveries, Phalen
would put his arms around me and tell me how much fun *he* was having as
well. Then he would pull me close so I could feel his erection and he'd
tell me what he wanted us to do when the deliveries were done for the
day. He would be outrageous in his suggestions, trying to make me
blush. It wasn't difficult. He certainly has an imagination, and I
found I was living in constant anticipation.
Phalen was wonderful. He took orders and gave them, just like he
owned the place. I suppose, in some way, his behavior was just a
continuation of his paying such close attention to the house as it was
being built.
"It's finally here!" he yelled, as the delivery people brought in
the bed, and followed his directions for its placement. "Ya hoo! I'm
sick of sleeping on an air mattress," he crowed, as the men assembled
the pieces, giving us both wary looks the whole while.
I signed the delivery order and escorted the drivers to the door.
They seemed only too happy to be leaving. As the door closed, Phalen
yelled from the bedroom. "C'mere Jeff! Let's find out what making love
on a *real* bed is like! "Shake a leg. I'm *horny*!"
I hurried to the bedroom, starting to strip off my clothes,
dropping them on the floor and stiffening as I went. I found that the
thought of making love on an actual bed was making me horny as well.
Like always, when it came to sex, Phalen was ahead of me. As I came to
the door he was stretched out on his back, legs spread wide, and from
the looks of it, *very* excited to finally have a king-size stage for
our love making. Never mind that the bed was just as naked as the man
who was urging me to "speed it up."
"You're always horny," I laughed as I dropped my shorts and stopped
a moment to admire his body. He was rubbing his thumbs over his
sensitive nipples, squirming around, obviously anxious to begin.
"No I'm not. This only happens when I'm with you," he said
seductively as he wagged his dick at me. "It's your turn to be on top
today," he said as he cupped his balls with his other hand. You think
you can handle it, sexy man?"
"Phalen, I don't really know where to start," I joked, as he pulled
me down on top of him. "Why don't you give me some hands-on
instruction, just so I know that I'm doing it right. What do you say?
"No. --- You figure it out," he mumbled just before our tongues
found each other, and we wrestled around on the bed. I was finding that
sex with Phalen was a very physical thing. He is tender but demanding,
and likes to playfully wrestle for hours. I think he has a fixation on
hair. He seems drawn to my pits, chest and pubes, running his fingers
through the hair, nuzzling his face in it and licking. I know that I
appear to be hairier that I actually am because of my light skin and
black hair, though I have always been indifferent when it came to my
chest hair. Phalen's behavior was telling me that my dick or butt is
not the only parts of me that he finds sexy.
Over the past couple days, he would sometimes crawl over me on his
hands and knees, then lean down to playfully bite my nipples, and lick
my chest or arm pits. After my tongue-bath he would lower himself on
top of me, to begin a long session of making out, when I would taste
myself on his tongue. For me, Phalen couldn't be any sexier, especially
his smile, and his general exuberance. But what I was growing to love
most were those long periods of sloppy kissing. We would be tangled up
for hours, doing nothing but kissing, playfully wrestling, giggling like
a couple of kids, and holding each other tight. As I've said before,
"I'm in heaven. I'm living a dream and I don't want to ever wake up."
This afternoon was no different. As he pulled me down to lay on
top of him, he sought out my mouth, grabbed my ass cheeks and squeezed.
Both of us were slick with sweat by the time our afternoon of lovemaking
was over. I could still taste him as we lay in each other's arms. His
was a taste that I had learned to savor after our first night of sex,
when had both shot off at the same time, while Phalen thrust himself
against me. Afterward, we had licked each other clean, then went on to
find other things that our tongues could do and places to lick. He was
as playful in his lovemaking as he was in his approach to life, teasing
me to the point where I didn't think I could take it any longer, while
tightly gripping my wrists preventing me from touching myself. He would
explore my body with his tongue and fingers, bringing me to heights of
pleasure that I had never before imagined possible. He was never in a
hurry for either of us to get off. He would work us both up to a fever
pitch, then back off while we calmed down, only to start up again.
I tried to follow Phalen's lead and provide the same enjoyment for
him as I was experiencing. Always vocal, he would urge me on with an
impressive array of sounds. If he sensed that I was feeling inadequate,
he would murmur how much he was enjoying what I was doing, and would
then proceed to tell me in other ways.
*****
I had been back to my old place a couple times, using Phalen's car
to pick up some of my stuff. While there, I never encountered any of my
roommates, which suited me. I was reluctant to let them know where I
was now living. After a couple days, the deliveries slacked off and I
took Phalen with me so that we could pick up the last of my stuff.
We were met by Jake, one of the guys I had been living with. He
had been on his way out as we were pulling up, but hung around so he
could talk. I had always been a little uneasy around Jake. Maybe it
was because he was really into parties and wild living. He never hung
around other students, but with people he looked like he had picked up
off of a corner some place. Jake was one of the reasons I had built the
house before graduating. I wanted to be away from him and his friends.
The other guys I roomed with were cool, but Jake gave me the chills.
"Hey Jeff," he called, slapping me on the back and nodding to
Phalen who just smiled. "I was hoping that I'd see you. I thought that
maybe I could move out of this dump," he said pointing to the place we'd
been sharing, "and move in with you. I'd be willing to bet that your
place is a lot larger than this, and think of the parties we could have
if we had some more space!"
I noticed Phalen listening wide-eyed as he opened the trunk to his
car, shuffling around, ostensibly making room for my stuff. I could
tell what he thought of Jake by reading his body language. He didn't
like this guy any more than I did.
"Well Jake," I said avoiding the arm that he was trying to drape
over my shoulders, by turning to ask if Phalen needed any help. "Since
you haven't seen my new place, you wouldn't know that it's really pretty
small. Bachelor pad, ya know? You probably have more space to party
here, especially with me gone. And I'm told that the new neighborhood
is pretty conservative when it comes to noise. You're really better off
here."
He wouldn't let up. "Nah Jeff. I've always liked you and how you
kept your room so clean, and all. I thought we'd be good roomies. Just
the two of us having a great time."
"Jake, I don't have enough room for a roommate. I only have *one*
bedroom! Hell, no one would be able to move around," I continued as the
three of us went inside and down the hall to my old room.
As the door swung open, Phalen stood still taking it all in. "This
is your room Jeff?" he asked turning to me. "Who trashed it?" He waded
in and started picking things up and stuffing them into bags and boxes.
As Phalen was working Jake continued to pressure me into becoming
roommates. When Jake seemed to be winding down and there was a lull in
the conversation Phalen said, "don't you ever pick up anything Jeff?
This place is a mess."
"Who's he, your mother?" asked Jake in his regular sarcastic tone,
loud enough for Phalen to hear.
"Nope, I'm just his next door neighbor who's volunteered to help
him shift his stuff," said Phalen as he hefted a box full of things and
squeezed past Jake on his way out to the car. "Shake a leg Jeff, we
need to get this stuff cleaned out before it gets dark!"
"He going to be your roommate Jeff?" Jake said nodding to Phalen's
retreating back. "He's a fag. You don't want to hang around with no
fags do ya Jeff?" I just stared at him, not knowing how to respond. I
had never been faced with such a blatant case of homophobia before. I
had never liked Jake, but now I thought that I could learn to fear him.
Phalen had come back for another load and gave a tight grin to Jake
as he passed, then bent to pick up another load of things that he had
jammed into a couple bags.
"A fag Jeff," Jake said, "deliberately speaking loud enough for
Phalen to hear him." I noticed Phalen momentarily stop moving after
Jake's comment. He continued picking things up and packing them into
all the boxes that we had bought over. I moved to help him and distance
myself from Jake. I felt dirtied by his presence, but as I looked
around what remained in my room, I began to think that it *did* look
like somebody had trashed it. I was wondering if I really was that bad
of a housekeeper. And if Jake thought *my* room was clean, what must
*his* be like?
"Jake --- get lost, okay? I'm trying to get out of here. I don't
have space for a roommate, and I need to lend a hand here. I'll see you
round," I said as I practically shoved him out the door and turned my
back, obviously going to ignore him.
"Fag?" Phalen mouthed the word to me as he continued picking up the
room.
After about an hour of working, mostly in silence, we had cleaned
the room to Phalen's satisfaction and left, without encountering anyone
else. "Damn, I thought. I'm glad to be gone from there."
"Interesting guy, that Jake," said Phalen as he drove us back to
the house. "Seems pretty messed up. Your other roomies like him?
Something in Phalen's voice was different. He wasn't joking around
like usual, nor was he using his high school student's choice of words.
"No, just him. I got to campus just before classes started. I hadn't
planned ahead and it turned out that I didn't have a place to live.
Most everything was already taken. I found a card in the Student Union
bulletin board saying that Jake and the guys had a room for rent. I
couldn't be picky so I moved in. I never spent too much time there
though. I hated it. I spent most of my time at school, just to avoid
that place. I never did like Jake, I continued, but now he gives me the
creeps!"
After a couple minutes he said. "Do they know you're gay?"
"Hell Phalen, until a couple days ago even *I* didn't know I was
gay! What are you trying to say? Jake's just an ass, no one pays
attention to him! Don't let him get to you," I said, hoping that would
be the end of the conversation. Knowing Phalen as I did, I should have
realized it wouldn't be.
"I'm not sure exactly what I'm trying to say," Phalen said slowly
as if he were trying to come up with the correct words. "It just seemed
that you got really uncomfortable when he said I was a fag."
"I *know* I did," I said.
"Why? Didn't it upset you for him to be talking like that?"
"Fuck Phalen! You saw him! You saw that house. It was a mess.
He's a mess. I'm just glad I'm out of there. Jake's a jerk. He's
always going around calling people names. --- No one pays attention to
him."
"Maybe they should --- you think?" he said looking over at me with
the most serious expression I had ever seen him use. Normally, he
wouldn't stop smiling. "What do you think the real reason is that you
seem to be so uncomfortable? You already knew Jake was an ass. That
bothered you, sure. You still would talk to him though. You didn't
seem all *that* uncomfortable, until he called me a fag."
Phalen, let's not talk about this anymore --- okay?" He was quiet,
not looking at me. "Phalen, I said," trying to find the words. "Yes, I
was bothered by what Jake said. I'm not sure whether it's because he
called *you* a fag or if it's just because he used the word. You've got
to understand something about me. I grew up in a household that was very
reserved. My parents love me, I know that, but they never showed any
affection, to me, my brother, or to each other. They also never
argued. I mean *never.* No one ever raised their voice. Compared to
the parents of some of my friends, mine were like statues. We never
laughed in my family. No one told jokes or seemed to do anything
spontaneously.
"I didn't know that there was any other way of living, until I came
back to the States and began school here. I was frightened Phalen. I
still am in fact. I'm frightened of not fitting in, of speaking English
with an accent, of not being attracted to women like all the other guys
around me. I spent the entire time I've gone to school here frightened
of letting down my guard over one thing or another.
"You can't know how difficult talking like this is," I mumbled.
"To show you how much I've isolated myself; the same day I met you I met
a couple guys on campus. I had just finished the project I told you
about the other day. Well, I was sitting on the ground, leaning against
a palm and had apparently fallen asleep. One of these guys --- they're
twins --- came over to me and started talking. I fucking didn't know
how to handle it. I mean all he was doing was talking. I thought he
might be putting the make on me and I knew I was not going to be able to
handle it if he did. He was cute, Phalen. He made me realize that I
wanted to be held. But when he brushed some grass off of me, I reacted
badly. I accused him of "touching" me! Imagine saying that. I about
yelled at him. I wanted to turn and run, I was so embarrassed at my
behavior. Phalen, I *wanted* him to touch me. What I *really* wanted
was to be held, to be told that everything was going to be okay, and
that I wasn't alone anymore.
"Then, later on that same day I met you and my world changed instantly.
"Damn. This is so hard to do," I said struggling to continue. By
now we had pulled into the driveway. He had stopped the engine and was
sitting quietly watching me as he listened. As I sat trying to decide
how to go on, he reached over and took my hand, gently squeezing it,
giving me permission to say whatever I was feeling. I squeezed back and
continued.
"When your father introduced me to you, I was almost numb. He and I
had just had a pretty heavy conversation and then I was faced with you.
You know you're freeking wonderful, don't you?" I said borrowing one of
his phrases. "I mean not only your looks, or your smile, but how
exuberant you are, how free you are with your affection. Phalen, I have
never experienced anyone like you. I mean *ever*. That first night I
was in a daze, thinking, "how could a person like *you* possibly be
interested in a social misfit like me?"
"Anyhow," I continued, finding it difficult to swallow. Once I met
you, I no longer wanted to be held by one of those guys I told you
about. All I've thought about for the last few days is *you*. I looked
up at him and saw his watery eyes. He didn't say anything so I plunged
on. "What I'm trying to say is that I'm just beginning to understand my
feelings, about you, about being gay, about everything, really. I
haven't sorted things out yet. They're all jumbled around in my brain.
I hated it when Jake used the word 'fag.' I hated it more when he was
using that word referring to *you*. I didn't want him to call me that.
But my upbringing kicked in. I didn't know what to do. It was easier
to pretend he didn't say it. --- I know that was wrong to do, but at the
moment there was nothing else I *could* do. Do you understand? I hope
so, because I really want you to."
"We come from different worlds, don't we Jeff? I never knew this
is how you feel. It must have been really lonely growing up like that.
I know now what's happening in your mind, so I won't push as hard. But
I *have* to push Jeff. Do you understand? You and I need to talk about
Jake and people like him. --- Is it okay if we talk about it later?"
"Yeah, sure, its a deal. If I said 'no' you'd still bring it up, I
bet," I managed a smile.
"Probably. I just think you and I can't let someone like Jake get
away with that kind of thing. If other people let him, that's their
problem. *We* shouldn't let him."
In an abrupt change of mood he said as we both wiped our eyes. "You
know of course that I think you're an awesome man." He raised the garage
door and we drove inside. "Yep --- for sure --- definitely awesome.
--- Especially the butt! The chest's not too bad either." He grinned at
me as he picked up a box to carry inside.
As we went in, the doorbell rang. Phalen looked at me, raising his
eyebrows to ask if we were expecting yet another delivery. I shook my
head, shrugged and went to open the door. It was Steve, a friend of mine
that had worked with me on the design of my office and was going to be
installing everything. I introduced Steve to Phalen, who shook Steve's
hand, gave him one of his prize-winning smiles, and went about unloading
the car.
"Cool house, Jeff, I bet you're glad to be away from the slime
balls you were living with," Steve said as he examined the bare room for
all the electrical and computer outlets he had told me to have
installed. I didn't defend the old roommates, as Steve continued to
examine each wall in the room verifying that everything was present.
"When Phalen came into the room to tell me that he had finished
unloading the car, Steve asked him, "You and Jeff know each other very
long, Phalen?"
"No, we met just a couple days ago, when he started to move in. I
live next door with my parents so I've been watching the house as it was
built. Nice place, he's got here isn't it?" As Steve bent over to
inspect another outlet or something, Phalen looked at me and winked,
nodding for me to take a look at Steve's butt.
"Well, if you ever decide to leave home, maybe Jeff can spare some
room, right Jeff?"
"Phalen knows that he's welcome anytime. He's practically been
living here already, helping me move and all," I said, becoming
uncomfortable with the direction this conversation was taking.
"There, you see! You guys are practically living together
already." He laughed, slapped me on the back, and smiled at Phalen,
giving him a thumbs-up sign as he turned to go. "My wife tells me I'm a
match maker," he joked. "I can't help it. Boy friends, girl friends,
partners, you name it. I'll find a match! I want everyone to be happy!
You know a single dog by any chance? I've the perfect match," he joked
as we saw him to the door.
"I'll get back with you when I've gotten everything ready to
install Jeff. Nice meeting you too Phalen," he said as they shook
hands. "I'm sure I'll be seeing you around. You guys take care," he
yelled as he got into his car and drove off.
"He knows, Jeff. And, he was *great*. He could have been a real
asshole, but he was great," said Phalen, all excited. "I'm psyched
dude. I can't stay in the house any longer! Let's go for a run! I
need to work off some energy. You come along. It'll do you good.
"Ah, Phalen, you know I'm no good at running," I whined, knowing
that I'd lose the argument.
"It's all in your mind. Don't worry. I'll go slow. C'mon, let's
get moving. We've been cooped up in the house for like, days and days,"
he said as he stripped down and began pulling on a black jock.
"It's been three days."
"Yeah, like I said, 'days and days'. You know, growing boys like me
need their exercise," he laughed as he pulled on his shoes, urging me to
move faster with a wave of his hands. "I need to be out in the sun,
Jeff. I need my dose of vitamin D. Doesn't that stuff help you grow or
something?"
"You mean you're still growing?" I laughed as I finished tying my
shoes and made for the front door. "You grow any more and I won't be
able to handle it!"
"Flattery will get you whatever you want," he laughed as he ran
past me, motioning for me to catch up.
The worst heat of the day had passed and we were settling into a
long desert evening, the perfect time to be outside. We jogged along in
companionable silence for quite a while, only occasionally pointing
something out to each other. Phalen could definitely run. That's what
we were doing --- running. In my opinion, jogging was a little slower.
I was beginning to struggle. This was the first time that I had ever
seen something of Phalen, the athlete. It was easy to see that he was
thrilled to be outside and moving.
I was exhausted, and called for a short breather. As I bent over,
gasping for breath thinking I was about ready to die, he kept jogging
around me. "I hate it when people are that energetic!" I thought.
"Hell, I'm pretty fit, but no one can compare with *that*," I thought as
I tried to straighten up.
"Hey Jeff, he said," not even breathless. "You think I look good
in this color of jock?" He briefly stopped and pulled down the back of
his shorts, to show me both his jock and butt. "I think a white one
would frame my ass better. Don't you think?" he asked as he giggled.
"Full of yourself today aren't you pretty boy?" I said still
panting but no longer thinking that cardiac arrest was imminent.
"Not full of myself!" he laughed. "Full of *you* --- at least I
plan to be!" he laughed as he continued jogging, with a partially
exposed butt. I gave him a swat as I managed to catch up.
"Hey! Does that mean you really care?" He laughed.
"You know I do," I said starting to gasp again, wondering when this
"jog" would be over. It was getting dark, I was tired and hungry, and I
wanted to sit down.
"No Jeff," he said as he dropped back to run along side me. I
*think* you care. I'm not some psychic, ya know, like those people in
Santa Fe ya read about! Hell, I heard someone there routinely channels
Liberace!"
"Liberace?" I huffed --- "Channels? Phalen you're absolutely out
of it. Did you have some more of that strong coffee this morning?"
"Yeah, haven't you *heard*?" he said still jogging along side me,
obviously slowing down to humor me. "Channeling --- it's like talking
to the dead, or something," he laughed. "Well, seems someone
unintentionally channeled a *chicken*," he said, barely able to control
his laughter. "Poor psychic woman, she said the chicken had nothing of
interest to talk about, at least until the farmer came out to chop off
its head! 'Bout scared Madame Zelda, or whatever to death. Thought she
was 'bout ready to lose it!" he said, throwing back his head and howling
with laughter.
"Don't say it Jeff. I can see that you think I am like, totally
crazy. Right?"
"Yeah, I was thinking you're beautiful, but that you *also* have
completely lost your mind --- totally."
"Nope," he laughed again. "Last time I looked, it was still
there! C'mon, *run*! You can do better than that. Push yourself a
little! "Say, you never did tell me how I was supposed to know that you
care," he yelled back at me.
"Yes I have, I gasped trying to keep up. "I tell you many times a
day!" I said, amazing myself that I was still running.
"When?"
"Remember, when I say, Mina rakastan sinua?"
"Yeah, I thought you were speaking Martian. *What's it MEAN*?"
"It means *I love you*, Mr. motor mouth," I said. He unexpectedly
stopped running, causing me almost crash into him.
"It does? I mean like, *really*? You *do*?" I just nodded,
pleased that we had stopped for a moment.
"I've been telling you for days and days, I said imitating him.
"Jeff, I'm dumb! You have to say important things like that in
*English* --- or provide an immediate translation! --- You *really*
mean it?" Again I nodded as we stood there, on an empty track, with the
sun beginning to set.
"I am *so* excited!" Phalen shouted as he took off, running as fast
as he could. I watched him as he started running in big circles
yelling, "He loves me!" again and again at the top of his lungs, waving
his arms and spinning around. "Where does he get all that energy I
thought? --- Maybe it's the coffee."
At last, he ran back, grabbed me and gave me a kiss. "I guess you
can figure out that I'm like *really* happy, he said finally. "Shit, I
am *so* pumped!" he shouted again, as he started jumping up and down,
still full of restless energy.
"And, have I ever told *you* handsome, that I mina ... whatever
you too?" he said beaming at me with one of his brightest smiles.
"What's *that* mean," I grinned as he was still bouncing.
"It means that *I* --- *LOVE* --- *YOU*, he shouted at the top of
his lungs.
~End - Chapter Three~
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to comment on this
story. I appreciate your input and your constructive criticism.
There are a few words and phrases in Finnish that appear in
"Phalen." Computers whose keyboards are configured for the English
alphabet are unable to correctly reproduce a number of the letters in
the Finnish alphabet with their associated punctuation. I have
therefore chosen to use the closest equivalent letters in the English
alphabet. To any Finnish speakers, my apologies.
Thanks to Bob aka "Shiney Hiney" for his help in proofing this chapter.
Thanks for reading.
Roy
roynm@mac.com