Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2001 10:42:36 -0800 (PST)
From: Herman Hurley <herm_hurley@yahoo.com>
Subject: A Time for Discovery

The usual disclaimers - underage, if offended by honest and true emotions
and sex between 2 consenting males then don't read. This 1st installment as
with all future installments is true and based upon my personal experience.
Person's names are all that have been changed to protect the LUCKY
participants - BIG GRINS THERE.

College - m/m, acts of mutual consent and desire.


************************************************************************


A TIME OF DISCOVERY


	Wow - I am finally here ! I am on campus and my parents have
left. Here and not on the farm. Things are going to start changing for me
from now on. No more of the safe and secure nucleus of the first 18 years
of my life. The times of going to school and doing my homework and coming
home and doing the chores on the farm. There is a certain amount of
security that a person feels in doing what is routine in your life.

	You get up in the morning, get dressed, you eat breakfast, and go
to school and listen to your teachers. Then there are "those thoughts" that
you think about while you are supposed to be listening to those people who
are your "leaders". There are thoughts of who you are and what you "want"
and "what you want in your life".

	You have thoughts of what it is that will make you happy and
fulfilled. What is it that will make you a person? I have known from early
on what will make me happy. But let's not get to that just yet and let my
story progress and state what has made me happy and still does.

	Today is Monday and I have my suitcases all stashed in my room. My
Mom wanted to help me put away my clothes in my room.

	"Herman - you know that you are not that good at putting your
clothes away and I could get you at least started on that."  Mom has always
been a tad over protective with or I guess some people can call it loving
in her nature. But I think that I have got to start looking out for myself.

	"Now Mom, I will get to it a little later. I appreciate that you
want to help me get started out right, but this is going to be a new step
for me and I will have to start looking out for myself. Don't think that I
am being rude but I will do it myself later. You know that I love
you. Right Mom?" I think she understood. So after a few hugs and a few
tears, she and Dad left for the drive home to the Eastern Shore.

	After they left, one of the first things I did was to whip out my
stash of ;cigarettes and light up. I have to admit that I had been looking
forward to being able to smoke "freely" without sneaking around the corner
somewhere. There was a certain exhilaration to being able to smoke freely
now. Okay maybe smoking is not exactly great for ones health but I enjoy
smoking and I do not do it excessively. After I finished the cigarette, I
went into my room and unpacked my clothes.

	My room was in what was called temporary freshman housing, This
happened to be set up across Route#1 across from the main campus. This was
called temporary but it had been there for quite a few years as I was to
find out. There were 4 rooms to a unit and 2 guys to each room. No female
students were assigned to any of these housing units - lucky stiffs. None
of the roommates that I was to get to know were there yet. Each of 2 rooms
shared one bath. The living quarters were actually kinda small and cramped
and the beds had to be bunked. I thought to myself, it would be the first
time in my life that I would be able to shit, shower, and shave without
hardly having to move.

	I was to find out in the next couple of days that the guys that I
would be sharing my half of the unit with lived a lot closer to the campus
that I did and that is why they did not come as soon as I did to the
campus. Plus I was to find out that it was not considered "cool" to come in
early to Freshman Orientation. I thought - Oh here we go with what is
considered that cool crap again. All the time is there going to be - "the
what is cool going on" but then again that is just a part of what goes on
in my age group. So I am just going to have to hang in there with it and
deal with it.

	I just heard the door to my part of the unit opening. So I squashed
out the cigarette butt and walked over to the door. As I was opening the
door a guy came to the door and said "Hi, I'm Josh.". I stuck out my hand
and said "Hi, I'm Herman, but my nickname is Hermie.".

	"Josh, I just got here a couple of hours ago and put a few of my
things away. My Mom had wanted to put everything away but I was able to
convince her that I could do it myself. I don't know how your mother is
about things like that but mine is kinda over protective." I let a little
laugh.

	"Hermie, my Mom is a little that way but she pretty much leaves me
on my own as far as my personal things such as clothes and my sports
equipment. She says if you can't take care of it then you don't need it."

	Then Josh flashed one of the brightest and friendliest smiles for
someone that I had ever ever met. I thought to myself that he surely is not
a stuckup person. He had me wondering if he was a city person or a country
boy.

	"Josh - I have an idea; I have always heard that in college it is a
big deal as to who gets the top bunk. What to you say we flip a coin right
now to see who gets it. Is that okay with you?"

	"Sounds like a plan to me". So he gets a quarter out of his pocket
and flips it in the air and slaps it down on his muscular forearm. "Now
call it for the top bunk".

	"Tails for the top bunk".

	Josh lifts his hand and grins and shows me. It was heads. I get the
top bunk. For me as it was later to be to my benefit that he had won. My
room mate would be treated to some rather good views of me as I would crawl
up to my bunk to get into bed. Some really good views ! You see I am used
to sleeping in the nude. Kinda wondering if he did the same thing. I guess
that would have to come about later on tonight. We would both just have to
see how the other was used to going to sleep. I know that I was hoping it
would not prove to be a problem.

	We progressed into putting our clothes away and getting out bunks
made up. The one closet was divided up but as time went on the division of
space became blurred which did not prove to be any problem. After we were
done, we realized that there was only five minutes left before the dining
hall for our area of the campus was to close.

	"Hermie - would ya like to go out to Town Hall for a pizza? It is
only about four blocks from here. And just maybe they won't be checking so
close on Id's so that we can get a beer or 2 he said with a big grin. I was
noticing that his grin was beginning to agree with me and that I liked his
friendliness.

	"Sure - A pizza and a beer if we can get it sounds great. Hate to
sound like such a country bumpkin but being able to have a beer every so
often is one of the attractions of going away to college isn't it?" Josh
just chuckled at that comment.

	"Are you laughing at me Josh?" I said. "Naah, man - I just think it
is kinda cute if you don't mind me saying so. And I am not saying cute in a
condescending way. OK." I just think you are a nice and easy going kind of
guy Hermie.

	"Thanks" I said with a big blush.

	Off we go walking to Town Hall. And as luck would have it, they
were not checking too closely for Ids. It was the beginning of the semester
and the place was packed. What is the expression? - packed like sardines in
a can. AND NOISY could hardly hear a word that Josh was saying.

	We agreed that I would get the pizza and Josh would get the beer. I
got one that was called "EVERYTHING BUT THE KITCHEN SINK" and Josh showed
up with a very large pitcher of beer. and 2 glasses. There were no tables
left so we stood up at a shelf that ran along the wall. Josh saw a few
people that he knew. He introduced them to me. During the introductions I
gathered that Josh would be trying out for the University swim team. A
couple of the guys were talking to him about the tryouts that they were
starting this week. They asked me if I was trying out also after they
happened to look at me. I guess after they looked at my build they thought
that I was athletic looking. You see I have a muscular build from all the
hard work which I am used to doing on the farm. Plus I have a good tan from
being outside most of the time. And actually, I do swim well but have never
done it in competition.

	Beer can really get you a little loose in your thoughts but it
seemed to me that a couple of the guys that Josh introduced me to REALLY
were checking my body out. You could say they were down and out staring at
me. Many people assume that if a guy comes from a country area then in the
clothes area he must be a "hick". Hey Now, I know what looks good and what
I look good in. What shows off my body to its best advantage is what I will
wear. Tonight I am wearing my butt hugging 501 jeans and a stone washed t
shirt. So I guess I was not looking too bad. A couple of the girls came
over to say hi and I talked with them also. As I was talking with Sam, one
of the guys that Josh introduced as a possible fellow swim team member he
had a habit of touching me in the chest as he spoke. I have met people like
this before who make their point by being "touchy feely" but it was usually
done with the point of a finger. Sam would a couple of times say something
like "You know what Hermie, I think you really should try out for the swim
team with the build that you have. Seems to me that you must have done some
swimming for quite a while. You have definition but not extreme bulk." then
while he was saying that he put the palm of his hand on one of my pecs,
didn't squeeze or anything just rested his hand there a moment.

	"Yes I have done quite a lot of swimming in a couple of rivers and
one of the rivers has a strong current. There is nothing like swimming
against a strong current to build up your lung power." Sam smiled and
slowly pulled his hand away. My face felt a little flushed and I wondered
if my cheeks had turned red. As there were no mirrors I couldn't really
tell. But I do know that I did not mind what Sam was telling me and I guess
I really did not mind his hand touching me on my chest.

	While we were there talking, I noticed or at least I think I felt a
couple of hands glide over my butt. Don't know whether they were girls or
guys and after a couple of beers can't say that I really cared. All I did
was just smile when I felt them, I certainly was not going to turn around
and say "Who was that - Oh Hell No". No reason to get upset, everybody was
just having fun.

	Josh said that it was about 11:15 and asked if I was ready to walk
back to the trailer. I said sure and some fresh air was what I needed to
wake up a little. He grinned and agreed. We took out time getting back to
our room but both of us knew that we had some orientation meetings to
attend at 9:00 am the next morning.

	When we got back to our room, I told Josh that I thought I would
take a shower. He said to go ahead and then he would take his shower. I
turned on the water a llittle colder than I normally would as I was feeling
"buzzed" by the beer. Always did like the feel of lots of soap lathered up
and rubbing it over my body. Just about always when I lathered up my
pecker, as we call it from the country, I would especially experience some
pleasurable feelings and tonight was no exception. I had enough beer in me
that I did not feel like jerking off completely just a bit of lathering up
would do though. After turning off the shower, I toweled off in the
bathroom. Just did not think I would walk into our room to finish drying
off. Josh might think I was trying to "show off" or something. So I wrapped
my towel around me and walked back into the room.

	Josh was just in the middle of taking his clothes off and getting
ready for his shower. As he slid his shirt over his head, I could not help
but notice what a strong looking back he had and how broad it was - how it
tapered to such a small waist. I guess his waist was not abnormally small,
just that the difference between the broad back and the small waist was
quite a contrast.

	Oh Shit !! I thought to myself. I am starting to feel something
under my towel. My pecker was starting to tent out under the towel
some. Damn! I had better sit down on my chair before he notices that I am
starting to throw a "woody". What would he think of that as we have just
met and all.

	"Josh, there should be plenty of hot water left. I turned on the
cold water a lot for myself so that I could shake off some of the effects
of the beer. The buzz of the beer kinda got me a little fuzzy."

	"Thanks Hermie, that was nice of you to do."

	Now Josh was unbuckling his jeans and sliding then off of his legs
and showing the bulge that had developed in his briefs. And he did have
quite a package. He was wearing some Calvin Klein briefs in a soft gray
color which were appealing on his body. Then without saying a word he
proceeded to slip the briefs off right there revealing a muscular butt with
nice dimples on the side of each butt cheek. I thought maybe I had been too
modest. Off he goes to take his shower.

	Boy was I ever glad that he had gone in to take his shower right
now. I was sporting a FULL BLOWN HARDON under my towel. Here I have just
met him and I am getting all aroused by the sight of his body. What would
he think of the way my body was reacting to the sight of him? As we all
know the body does not react without the thoughts of the mind. It was what
was in my mind that was causing my body to react this way. Got to say I was
having some pretty deep and pleasurable thoughts about Josh right now.

	But I did not know whether Josh was straight, gay, bi or just
what. So I finished drying off my hair and got up into the top bunk. Guess
I had better pull up the sheets in order to try and conceal what was
happening from the waist down.

	Josh came out of the shower and into the room dripping a little and
totally in full view. He was sure comfortable with being nude and why
shouldn't he be - he looked so natural in that state.

	"Hermie, you going to sleep already?"

	"Yeah, thought I would get some shut eye in order to get a good
start on the activities tomorrow."

	"By the way, what is your major Hermie?"

	Oh here it comes. The jock hears that I am a Fine Arts Major and
will have nothing to do with me. he will think that I am weird and be
embarrassed to be seen around me. You know the old "Real men don't do that
type of studying."

	"Josh - I am a Fine Arts Major. I will most likely go into doing
portrait painting and/or commercial art. I guess you might think that is
kind of sissified - right?"

	"Why would you say that? I think that is great !! I wish that I had
that kind of talent."

	Then he turns around and looks me straight in the eyes as I lay on
my top bunk. "Hermie, I don't judge by what a bunch of other people say - I
experience people by what I find out about them myself. So lets have that
understood between us now. I may be trying out for the swim team and I
think you should too, by the way - but I am not a PE major. I am a
literature major. I get a great deal of enjoyment out of reading plays and
going to the theatre. I do not believe in pre-conceived notions about
anything."

	"Ok - I did not mean to accuse it is just that - well my Dad was a
bit disappointed with my choice of study and my Mom actually was also. But
this is what I want to do."

	"Then Hermie - Do it man - Do it all the way !" and then Josh
smiles that great and friendly smile of his. Good Lord I just wanted to
reach out and hug him right on the spot - but I did not do that. I could
not help but wonder what he would have done if I had hugged him.

	"By the way Hermie, I hope that it won't prove to be a problem but
I sleep in the nude. So if you are up in the morning and I happen to get up
and you see me with nothing on - Will that bother you?"

	"Don't think so Josh, check it out" and I pulled my covers down "I
sleep in the nude also."

	"Damn Hermie, they do grow them big down on the farm don't they?
WHOOAA !!"

	"Stop it Josh, you are making me blush" and blushing beet red I was
and I pulled my sheets back up.

	"With a rudder like that, you could go out for the sailing team."
Then Josh flashes that smile again. "By the way, you are trying out for the
swim team aren't you? You have a powerful build and I betcha would do good
in the trials."

	"Sure, sounds like fun. I'm ready for all the experiences that I
can try while I am here. Don't know if my form will be trained enough to
make the team but I sure will give it a try. How much formal training or
classes have you been through Josh?"

	"Hermie, counting Red Cross classes and in high school, I would say
about 7 years. You see my Dad is a big fanatic about swimming. In a way, my
swimming is more or less about pleasing him. I mean I enjoy swimming but
also it is about getting along with my Dad. We do other things together but
the swimming is THE BIGGIE. I sure hope I don't disappoint him."

	"Well, my Dad won't be disappointed one way or another with the
swimming if I don't make it Josh. And as far as being disappointed, he
already is with my choice of majors. He wanted me to become an engineer. He
told me that with my grades in all my math courses and especially since I
aced Calculas both years that I would be a fool if I did not go into
engineering."

	"But Josh, I think he might slowly come around since there was no
yelling about it. But then again, he is not one for the yelling routine."

	"When I don't do well at a swimming meet, my Dad can REALLY YELL !
Once at a swimming meet I got so embarassed I think my face turned beet
red. He must not have realized what he was doing. You see he was a big jock
when he was in college and I guess that his son is supposed to be a chip
off the old block."

	"Josh - my Dad was disappointed when I stopped going hunting with
him when I was 14 years old. We used to go deer hunting together. Then I
realized that I still liked to go into the woods and see the deer but I did
not want to shoot them anymore. I would rather go back home and draw
pictures of them. My father liked the pictures but he could not understand
why I did not want to shoot them anymore. Why I would want to put down my
thoughts about something on paper or a canvas. That to me was the Sport."

	"Hermie, I can see what you mean by the sport of catching something
with your mind and then capturing in on paper."

	WOW - I don't know if Josh was realizing it or not but he was
really making a connection with me. For me it was interesting and wonderful
to find someone else who was my own age who could understand how I felt
about capturing the beauty of nature. This bit of conversation had my eyes
and my mind just blinking in the dark as we settled down for sleep. This
was great. College was going to be a Time for Discovery in all the many
different possibilities. As I drifted off to sleep, a sense of wonder and
contentment was filling my very being.


Tuesday morning :

	A yawn or two and stretching my arms and legs for a couple of
minutes and my mind started to coming around. Mornings have always been a
pleasant time for me. I like to think about what is going to happen during
the day.

	It started dawning on me that I was now in college and at the start
of a time of discovery for me. There would be new people to meet and
experiences to be dealt with. Having something new to think about has
always been exciting to me. Status Quo is ok for certain situations in
life. I mean, if you are in a relationship, then Status Quo is what you
want - I guess? I mean you want to know where your partner's mind/thoughts
are - right? That doesn't mean that things should get boring or anything
like that. But knowing that your partner is there for you is what a
relationship is all about or at least that is what I think it is
about. Well, if I keep thinking this deeply then maybe I had better sign up
for a philosophy class.

	Many times in the morning, I can have some fun by slowly rubbing on
my pecker, but then I realized that I now had a roommate that I had just
met. How would hearing me beating-off in the top bunk appear to him. I know
that he must do it too but we don't exactly know each other that well yet
so that is off for this morning.

	Guess I had better get up and start getting dressed. After all, it
is 8:17 am and I don't know just how far McKeldin Library is from
here. Maybe I should have tried to find it yesterday.

	As I was thinking about getting down from my bunk, I wished that
had put a small ladder to crawl down on. But they didn't so I just gave a
jump and landed on the floor with a thud. I landed facing towards Josh's
bunk.

	"Why Hermie, I see that you have some military training."

	"Why do you say that?"

	"Well, here you are first thing in the morning and you sure are at
FULL ATTENTION !!!! " and then Josh flashes that grin of his and looks me
straight in the eyes.

	I looked down and say that I was at rock hard FULL ATTENTION. So
trying to give a little humor further to this and take away from my red
face, I brought my hand down at a flat palm down on top of my pecker and
said "And I salute you, Josh, this fine morning." and with that Josh went
into a body bending laugh.

	"Hermie, you are way funny and cool. I think we are going to get
along just fine. I was hoping that my roommate would have a sense of humor
and you sure do. I really like that, man." and grins big time.

	After I finished laughing myself, I said "Think we are going to get
along fine also. I aim to please." This time I flashed a good grin back at
him.

	"Hermie, you are going to the tryouts for the swim team ??? Sam and
a couple of the other guys that met last night thought that you looked like
a 'hot prospect'. Plus I really would like it if my roommate and I had
something to share."

	"Sure, I don't know that I have the form for it but what time are
the trials today?"

	"Today at 3:00 p.m. at Colefield House at the other end of the
campus. And - uh - maybe you might like this ( and Josh grins before he
continues ) they are closed trials. What that means is that there will be
no girls allowed. You see the swim team practices IN THE NUDE and so the
trials will be IN THE NUDE. Will that be a problem for ya Hermie?"

	"Say What !!! - The trials will be totally in the nude, no speedos
- NO NOTHING ???" Why is that?"

	"Well the coach, from what I have heard, thinks that way the
swimmers will be totally at one, so to say, with being in the water and
with the act of swimming. Is that going to be a problem for you? I sure
hope not !" and Josh slowly grins and looks at me with those blue/gray
eyes.

	"Naahhh, I will be there, I've been skinny dipping before with the
guys at home. Hehehehe and one time we went skinny dipping at Ocean City;
remind me to tell you about that sometime. Besides I do at least know you,
Sam, and a couple of other people. It's not like I will be flashing total
and complete strangers." and then I chuckled.

	"Besides, Hermie, you will probably throw everybody else's timing
off." and with that statement, Josh really grins and lets out a big laugh.

	Looking confused I ask "Why do you say that?"

	"Good Lord man, once they get a look at what you will be steering
through the water with, they will be TOTALLY FLUSTERED !!!!!"

	"Why thank you Josh, ya sure know how to pump up my ego -
hehehe. Yeah, I'll be there. Don't know how good I'll be but I'll be
there."

	With that we finished dressing and went to breakfast. Breakfast
took about 20 minutes and then we were off to our different meetings. On my
way to McKeldin Librarty, I happened to see Sam and Vinny. Both of them
asked me if they would see me at the swim trials and I said that I had
already promised Josh that I would be there.

	"Good - we look look forward to seeing you again at the trials"
said Sam. Vinny and Sam both shook my hand again and went off grinning. It
seemed to me that they were both quite friendly guys. And if we did end up
being team mates then maybe I would have a couple of new friends. That
would be great. Here I had just been here a day and a half and things were
surely looking up.


2:20 pm

Hmm - guess I had better be heading towards Colefield House since I didnot
exactly know just how long it would take to get there. Come to fine out,
Colefield House was just a half mile or so from the library so I got there
about 20 minutes before the trials were to start. I didn't see Josh, Sam,
or Vinny yet.

	There was an office on the first floor so I went there to find out
how to get to the swim trials. A very pleasant young lady was at the window
and told me to go to the stairs on the right and go down to the basement
floor. As she was telling me the directions I noticed that she was kinda
batting her eyelashes a little - a little bit of flirting you could say. So
I thought I might just flash her a grin back and thanked her for the
directions.

	When I got to the basement floor, I happened to see Josh coming
towards the stairs. He had a big grin on his face when he saw me.

	"Told ya I would come didn't I" and smiled at Josh.

	"Yep - you did and I am glad to see you."

	With that Josh guided me down the hall and through a hall towards a
door that led into the locker/changing room. It was here that we were to
strip before we went on into the pool area for the trials.

	"Hermie - I thought we would get a little warm up in since we are
here a few minutes early. OK with you?"

	"Sure - Josh, you show me the way. I'm game. Probably would be a
good idea to get a couple of strokes in before trials start."

	Off with the clothes and into the pool area with Josh in the
lead. Man oh Man did he have one mighty fine butt I was thinking to
myself. If I kept thinking about that too much, MY RUDDER would start
growing and I didn't think I wanted that to happen right now.

	When we got to the pool area, I thought this is one mighty big pool
but then olympic sized pools generally are. We both dived in and started to
do some strokes from one end to the other. We weren't really trying to race
really but I was trying to see just how hard I could press myself. After I
had done four laps of the pool doing the crawl, I heard somebody let out a
loud whistle and say "Holy Shit - Did you see how fast that guy was ?!" I
didn't know that they were talking about me. Did Josh hear what was being
said?

	I guess he must have heard or noticed me swimming because he came
over to me as I got out of the pool. He had a big grin on his face. "Man
you were so awesome !!! you were just like a fish in that pool." Josh had
his hand on my shoulder and was kinda rubbing my left shoulder as he
spoke. Got to admit, I liked what he was saying to me - guess anyone likes
to hear praise. Plus the feel of his hand on my shoulder certainly wasn't
repulsive. There was a firmness to it and yet a tenderness also. He
certainly had my attention at that point in time. Only thing was, I was
thinking please don't pop a full blown woody on the spot but if I did, I
certainly was not going to be able to hide it - that was for certain.

	"Thanks Josh, that makes me feel real good" and I gave him one of
my biggest grins. Then I patted him on the shoulder. Right at that point
someone said the swim team coach and his assistants were coming in and that
the first trial run would soon begin. Both Josh and I wished each other
luck. We gave a "thumbs up to Sam, Vinny, and some of the other guys there
that we knew.

	After about an hour it came my turn along with some of the other
guys trying out to go for out first heats in our trial runs. I walked over
to the 3rd lane and got into the starting crouch. The coach said that for
this first heat that we would do the freestyle for 800 meters.

	"All right you guys, when you hear the whistle blow, give it all
you got and lets see some swimming !!!" said the coach.

	I thought to myself, do my best but I am not really into this "for
the kill" - that is not my nature. Just enjoy the experience and see what
happens. My mindset was back at the Choptank River at home and swimming
against the current. When the whistle blew, I dove in and really never even
thought about the other people in the other lanes. I knew how many lengths
I had to swim and I kept that in mind. I was just going to enjoy the rush
of feeling my body gliding through the water and the adrenalin pumping
through my veins. In no time the laps were finished and I got up out of the
water. As I was drying off, I heard some people talking loudly around the
coach. They seemed to be rather excited about something - didn't pay much
attention to it though.

	Josh was walking towards me just shaking his head and grinning so
big that I wondered what was up with him. He winked at me and pointed out
to me that the coach was walking in my direction. I looked and sure enough
- here comes the coach in our direction.

	"What is you name son?" said the coach.

	"Me?" and I pointed a finger at my chest.

	"Yes - You."

	"Sir, my name is Herman Hurley but my friends call me Hermie."

	"Well, Hermie - have you ever been on a swim team before?"

	"No I haven't coach" I told him.

	"You must be kidding Hermie !!! You have never been on a swim team
and you just put in that performance. AMAZING - ABSOLUTELY AMAZING !!!
Where did you train then?" the coach asked me.

	This whole time, Josh is just standing there with that big
wonderful grin of his. It was almost like he was proud of me. Or was that
just my fanciful thinking - could be.
	"Coach, I did a lot of swimming in a river at home. It had a pretty
strong current and could really build up your endurance."

	Looked the the coach was going over something in his mind about
what I had just said about swimming against the current in the river. Then
he looked at me and said "Hermie, this is an unoffical timing but you have
just beat the best school record for the 800 meters by almost 2 seconds !!!
That was TRULY IMPRESSIVE !!!!"

	I felt good about that but to say that it was going to swell my
head was not true. I certainly was not impressed by what I had just
done. It just seemed natural to do and so I did it. I did turn to look at
Josh and he was just beaming. Now I can say with certainty that I did like
Josh's reaction to the coach's comments. Yes I certainly did.

	We had some more heats for about an hour and then we went into the
showers to get the chlorine rinsed off. Josh and I had showers right next
to one another. Must have been my imagination but I think he was glancing
at me all over when he thought I wasn't looking. Now how would I know that
- huh? Well because I was trying to get a good look at him all lathered up
with soap. Guess we were both getting a look-see. I know why I was looking
but what was Josh sneeking glances for? Better not let my imagination get
the best of me here. Well, he had told me that I did have one big cock. He
did not say that he liked it or anything just that it was big. There were
plenty of naked guys around the shower room right now but Josh, because he
was my roommate ?, was mainly paying attention to me.

	"Hermie - you were awesome in the pool today. Swam just like a
torpedo shot out of a submarine." Josh said as he rinsed the soap out of
his hair. "Guess that rudder really helps - huh?" and gives me that
wickedly friendly and sexy grin of his again.

	"Could just be Josh." and I poked him in the shoulder "Could just
be."

	"Hermie - the first cuts will be after the heats tomorrow. How do
ya think you will do?"

	"Haven't really given it much thought. But I sure enjoyed using the
pool today. Thanks for asking me to come to the trials Josh."

	"No problem, I like having you around. You are an alright type of
guy and don't seem to put on any false images."

	"Josh - I guess I kinda go by the old computer type term."

	"What term is that?"

	"WYSIWYG. ( What you see is what you get )" and I don't know why I
did it but I winked at him when I said it. Could not believe I did that.
	All Josh did was raise his left eyebrow and give me a slight
questioning grin. Now I have gone too far I thought. But he just kept that
slight grin on his face and kept looking me straight in the eyes as he was
talking. "I think I know what you mean Hermie and that is a good honest
approach." and his grin started to grow bigger !! Was it my imagination or
was Josh reading something into my WYSIWYG statement. I guess I threw it
out there to see if I would get a nibble. And I couldn't say that he was
nibbling but I think that I could say that he was not running in the
opposite direction.

	After we finished out showers, he had to go to the student book
store to pick up some text books for a couple of courses and I had to go to
an art store off campus to pick up some art supplies. We agreed that we
would see each other later on back at our room.

	I had a few blocks to walk to get to the art store. As I walked, my
thoughts were on the swim trials. Was it really that important to me to
make the swim team. I mean I liked to swim and the exercise was good. But
to make the team was not that important to me. I wasn't out for the glory
and all that goes with that. Josh, on the other hand, I guess it was pretty
important to him. Or at least I got the impression that it was. Important
to him plus to Vinny and Sam. Could not help but wonder if it was Josh's
father was would made making the team important to Josh. From what I could
gather, his Dad wanted him to make the team with a purple passion. Josh did
not want to disappoint his Dad if he could help it. And here I was
disappointing my Dad right at the beginning of my college studies. Then
maybe at some point my Dad would not be disappointed in me. Time would tell
and this would be A Time of Discovery.

	What with Josh's consuming interest in swimming I had a thought in
my mind that I kept mulling over. The more I thought about it, the more I
got excited about what I thought about doing. Something in my mind told me
that Josh would appreciate it. So I picked up my pace of walking to the art
store.

	I knew some of the basic supplies that I would be needing for the
classes plus what I would be needing for my surprise for Josh. You see I
had in mind doing a pen and ink drawing of Josh getting ready to dive into
the Colefield House pool with some watercolor washes added for color. The
more I thought about it the more excited I got. I love doing art anyway but
when it was of something or somebody that I knew or liked that made it even
better.

	"May I help you?" the clerk said as I started looking at the
rapidiograph pens and the different grades of ink. I had worked with the
medium before so I pretty much knew what I wanted.

	"I can't make out the prices too well on some of these
stickers. Can you tell me the price of this Faber Castell?" I asked the guy
as he was standing next to me. He was kinda cute guy with dirty blonde hair
and green eyes.

	"You must be into some serious work. That is one of our more
expensive and serious pens. That is definitely for people who are into
quality work." he commented. "That one is $36.95 and if you are a student
at the university, I can give you a 10% discount."

	"Hey, that's good and I am a student. Plus I will be needing some
black, gray, burnt sienna, and dark brown umber ink for washes. Also, have
you got some Windsor Newton water colors in the tubes?"

	"Yup, we have the inks and whatever color you need in the
watercolors. By the way, do you have something in mind that you are going
to work on, that is if you don't mind me asking?"

	"Yes I do have something in mind and no I don't mind you asking It
is kind of figure study. Well more of an action type of figure study rather
than a still figure study. Do you paint yourself. More than likely you do
since your working in an art store. Sill question right?" and I blushed as
I grinned at the clerk.

	"Yeah I do paint and as a matter of fact I do some figure painting
and I also model sometimes at the university, so maybe I will see you there
sometime."

	I thought about the clerk being a figure study model for an art
class. I could see that happening, He was good looking and had a good
muscular looking body. He wasn't what you would call muscle bound just what
you would call lithe and expressive looking I guess I was staring and
appraising him when he said "You are thinking about what I would be like as
a model aren't you" and then he winked at me and grinned.  "Maybe like I
said we will meet one day in one of your classes this next semester."

	"If we do that would be great." I told him and I am sure that my
cheeks were slightly red and that he was enjoying it. I purchased my
supplies and thanked him. I was anxious to get back to me room and try to
get the picture done of Josh before he got back so that I could surprise
him.

	The more I thought of doing the picture of Josh the more I got a
warm fuzzy feeling. I mean that I guess he would like it. He was friendly
and sure had one great grin on his face. And when ever he would put his
hand or arm on my shoulder, I would have this warm tingle start in my groin
that would spread to all parts of my body. As my face started to grow into
a grin, I knew what I was thinking but I could not be sure of what was on
Josh's mind or even if he was "bent in that direction". You might at this
point say "what direction is that Hermie?" if you wanted to be ever so glib
about it. What if Josh was not really attracted to guys sexually or to me
in any manner. If he wasn't then so be it, he was still my friend that I
think I could say with some semblance of confidence. Anyhow I am going to
do this picture because I want to do something for Josh since he has been
so friendly to me and wanting me to try out for the swim team, which is
something that is very important to him.

	Now I can get down to getting my supplies in place and get
started. All I have to do is think about my subject and get my thoughts
organized. Thinking about Josh all buff and wet getting ready to dive into
the pool is not really what I would call getting stressed out about my
work. Actually this is getting to be a damned erotic experience. A big grin
starts to spread across my face as I put down the first few lines of his
muscular torso and the curves of his butt and legs. Damn I must be horny as
I can be, I mean I have just put down a few ink lines of Josh's torso and I
am getting a raging hardon. Jeesh I must have it bad for this guy. Now is
that a question or a statement I ponder. Well time will tell - after all
this is 'A Time for Discovery'.

	Just about done, and then I hear the door opening to the room. Josh
yells out "Hermie, ya want to come with us down to Town Hall for some pizza
and beer." Here I am trying to get the picture out of sight.

	"What'cha working on there? Can I see it?"

	"Not just yet, OK Josh. But you will see it later alright?" and my
hope was that he would leave it at that.

	"Oh - all right. But do you want to go have some pizza and beer?"

	"Sure, tell you what; just let me meet you down there in a few
minutes. Is that alright?"

	"Don't be long Hermie, because Sam, Vinny, and I are HUNGRY !" and
with that he was out the door. Actually all I had to do to the picture was
put the clear acetate sheet over the pen and ink and then put the mat over
the drawing and acetate. Once I had that done, I hung it on a nail over
Josh's desk and stood back to look at it. A big grin came over my face as I
stood there looking at it. It was good - actually it was damn good. I could
hardly wait until later to see what Josh would think.

	Then I straightened up my materials and went into the bathroom to
wash up. I had gotten some ink on my hands. Then I looked in the mirror and
grinned some more.

	It took me about 10 minutes to get to Town Hall. It was a busy
night there. After a couple of minutes I found the guys. They were sitting
together on one side of a bench table which had several other people. Josh,
Sam, and Vinny were on one side of the table and there was just space for
me on the other side of the table opposite them. They had already, of
course, started eating.

	"It's about time you got here, Bud" said Sam with Josh and Vinny
chiming in. "Here, take some pizza and pour yourself some beer."

	We sat there for a while talking about the swim trials and a bunch
of other stuff. Then Vinny pipes up "What were you working on in your room?
Josh says you were working on a picture or something."

	"Yup, I was working on a picture and you can see it when we get
done here if you want" I told them. While I was talking to them, I thought
I noticed a foot touching mine, which was no big deal. But as we were
eating and talking the foot kept on touching mine. Then I begin to realize
the foot was actually rubbing against my foot. OK, I thought to myself, an
accidental foot touching is one thing but I was beginning to realize this
might just not be an accident. I think my face was starting to get red in
the cheeks a little - NO NOT JUST A LITTLE , A LOT ! So I tried not to be
too obvious and started looking at Josh, then Sam, and then Vinny. I was
not getting any indication from looking at them as to who was doing
this. AND THEN I kinda choked or coughed on a piece of pizza.

	"Are you OK, Hermie" Josh said and grinned. Why I had coughed was
that a foot had just started to rub up and down on my calf. Josh had said
something at that point, but could I be sure that it was him?

	All I know is that this was something that I was not exactly
expecting. I mean I have just been here for just a few days and I am
getting, I guess, 'hit on.' Not that I really mind, OH NO ! But it does
make it a little awkward to respond to not know who is making the
advances. As I look at the 3 of them and we talk, I just can't seem to
figure out who it is. This much I do know; this movement of the foot on my
leg is having some effect. I am getting a raging hardon. If I were to have
to stand up right now, my pecker would bang against the table as I stood
up.

	"Hermie, ya look a little flushed, are you OK? Is it too hot in
here for you?" asks Vinny. He grins real big as he asks this. Is it him, I
think to myself? but Josh and Sam are also grinning real big. What the heck
is going on here?

	Anyhow, we finish eating and head back towards Josh's and my
room. Josh goes in first, with Sam and Vinny next. I am the last one in
line.

	"Holy Shit Guys, look at this !" I heard Josh yell out. He must
have seen the picture.

	"Wow, that is awesome - Josh ! Who did that - Was it Hermie?" I
heard Sam say before I got into the small room. When I actually was able to
get into the room, the 3 of them were standing by Josh's desk holding the
picture looking at it. They lifted up their eyes from looking at it and
looked at me. Then they looked back at the picture and then looked back at
me.

	Finally Vinny said "Could you do a picture of me like that?".

	"Sure, I don't see why not." I told him.
	"Maybe he can and maybe he can't." said Sam.

	"What do you mean by that?" asked Vinny.

	"Well, from what I hear, sometimes it's the inspiration that drives
a person to do a picture." and grins a knowing smile towards me. As he
looks at me, I know that I started to turn red in the cheeks even though I
was doing my best not to.

	"Is this true, what Sam just said?" asked Josh with a slight but a
very definite grin on his face. And with that grin on his face, he just
keeps his eyes locked on my face. Both Sam and Vinny were looking at the
picture and me also.

	"Yeah guys, inspiration is part of the reason for doing a picture,
no denying that. Plus the inspiration comes from having a good subject. The
connection that you feel you have with a subject makes a difference. I
mean, I have been here just a few days on campus and I did not know just
what to expect. I'm from the country and you guys have grown up in these
surroundings. Didn't know just how I would fit in. And my roomie here has
made me feel quite comfortable and welcome. This is just kinda a way of
saying thanks. After saying this, I look at Josh's face to see I could read
any kind of a reaction to what I had just said.

	"Plus you Sam, and you Vinny have made me feel welcome - well like
I am one of the guys, and I really appreciate it."

	"Hermie, you are an easy guy to like." said Josh.

	"Yup, you sure are." chimed in Sam and Vinny.

	Josh told Sam and Vinny that they should look at one of my
sketchbooks that had some work from scenes on my father's farms. They said
they would like to see them. I walked over to my desk and sat down on a
stool and started opening the sketch book. Sam sat on my left side and
Vinny sat on my right side. As I was turning the pages, both Sam and Vinny
kept making comments about how good the work was.

	At some point, Josh had come up in back of me while I was sitting
there showing them some of my work. He had put his hands on my shoulders as
he bent over and looked at the sketches again. After a couple of minutes,
He started to slowly massage my shoulders. I don't know if they noticed but
I let out a soft exhale of breath as Josh kneaded the muscles in my
shoulders. What he was doing was feeling so very good. It was making me
feel good but I guess that enough was going on that at least I wasn't
getting a raging boner just yet. It was like a gentle but firm caressing of
the shoulders and I wanted it to go on and on. BUT WHEN, I felt Josh lean
in closer under the pretense of getting a closer look at some of my work, I
felt his crotch press into my back and I then stuttered just a bit.

.I just stuttered once but Sam said "Is everything all right Hermie?"
	"Sure, I'm Ok just had a tickle in my throat" I told Sam. And Josh
gave me an extra little squeeze and said "HHmmm, nice picture there
Hermie."

	After looking at the sketchbook a few more minutes, we all agreed
that we needed to get some sleep. Josh, Sam, and Vinny were all getting
excited about the 1st cut for the swim team tomorrow. In a way so was I,
because being on the team would give me something to relate to them
with. They liked my pictures but the swim team would give me something 'on
their turf' that I could relate to them with.



Friday afternoon :


	I had just come out of McKeldin Library and I saw Sam and Vinny a
few yards away walking towards me. They were smiling and yet they weren't
smiling. When they got to me, Vinny said "Congratulations Hermie, from what
I hear 'on the grapevine' you have made the swim team".

	"Way cool, that means that Josh, you two and I will have something
in common with each other now. That is if we all make it?"

	"That's just it, from what I hear, Josh might not be making the
swim team." and he looks down.

	"WHAT !!!  Josh might not be making it." and I looked at both of
them. "This can't be. Do you guys know if they have posted the list yet?"

	"No, from what I understand, I don't think the coach has posted the
list yet." said Sam.

	"See you guys later, I have somewhere to go right now." and I was
off to Colefield House to see the coach. That is if I got the chance to see
him and I was determined that I was going to try to do everything I could
to see him.

	When I got to the front of Colefield House, I took a few deep
breaths and collected my thoughts. What was I going to say to the coach. I
did not exactly know but I was going to give it my best shot. I got down to
the lower level and I was in luck, he was in his office. I knocked on the
door.

	"Come in." he called out. I slowly opened the door and walked in
closing the door behind me.

	"What can I do for you Hurley?" the coach asked.

	"Well coach, I don't know if I am supposed to be aware of the
results of the cut for the swim team yet but I was told by the grapevine of
what might be happening."

	"What have you heard Hurley?" the coach said smiling. He probably
knowing that I heard that I had made it.

	"Well, I have heard that I have made it but that my room mate Josh
might no be making it. Can I ask you if this is true?"

	"I shouldn't actually be telling you before it is posted but yes
you have made it and because of the limited positions, it does not look
like Josh is going to make it." he said with smiling. "Josh is good, but he
seems to be so tense that he can't seem to let himself loose and just go
with the flow. You, though Hurley are a natural."

	"Coach, if I were to ask you to cut me from the list, would that
give Josh a chance at making the team?"

	"You what? You want me to cut you?" the coach asked with a puzzled
look on his face. "Why would you want me to do that?"

	"I tried out for the team because Josh and a couple of his friends
asked me to do it. I thought it would be a good chance for us to have
something in common and to be able to make some friendships over. But I
have, in the couple of days I have been here have found out how important
it is to Josh to make the team and he really is a good swimmer. Maybe he
does need to loosen up as you say but can't that come with a little time?"

	"Are you sure about this Hurley?" asked the coach. "You are willing
to this for a buddy?"

	"Yes I am coach."

	"Hurley, I'll tell you what I will do. Tell nobody that you have
been here and I'll have both Josh and you make the team. You could help him
and some of the others. I mean you are so natlural at this that I want to
keep you on the team. Josh is very good and with your help he will be an
asset to the team. How does that sound Hurley? Is it a deal?" and he stuck
out his hand for a shake.

	I was smiling big time and shook the coach's hand. "Ya got a deal
coach and I certainly would not want Josh to know that I was meddling in
his affairs either." and we shook hands on it.

	I knew after I left the coach's office that I was going to have to
be on my guard so that I would not let anything slip about my meeting with
coach. But as I walked down the steps of Colefield House I was grinning big
time and thinking that Life is Good.



Friday afternoon - 5:00 pm


	I heard the door open to the entry to the set of 2 rooms. I was at
my desk just fooling around with some sketches. As I was turning around at
my seat Josh came up behind me and said "Guess what Hermie, both of us have
made the swim team !!!" with a beg smile on his face. And with that
statement he pulls me up out of my chair and turns me around. He has both
hands on my shoulders and is looking deep into my eyes. I am wondering just
what he is thinking about. He isn't really smiling and he isn't really
frowning but just looking deep into my eyes. I think I notice a tear in his
eyes. I wondering what this is about.

	"Hermie, I have a question. Can you come with me to my parent's
house for the weekend?"

	"Sure, if you want. What's up?"

	"They won't be home and I would like for you to see where I
live. And I want to get away from here for a while and for just the two of
us to be together, Is that ok?" he asks me with his eyes still locked on
mine as if searching for some kind of reaction.

	"Sure Josh, whatever you want buddy." I said with a smile.

	Then Josh leans in and takes my chin in his left hand and moves his
head in closer. At this point I am breathing rather hard and my heart is
beating so hard that I think my chest is going to split wide open. He opens
his mouth just slightly and kisses me full on the mouth. After a few
seconds, he lifts his head back up and looks at me again and I know that he
is looking for a reaction, After my eyes open up, I look back at him with a
look of complete surprise and I guess surrender and move my head back to
his. I part my lips and let my tongue slip into his warm and hot mouth. I
give myself into this feeling and maybe wondering just what has happened
here with Josh.



to be continue........2nd installment will continue with Josh taking me (
Hermie ) to his parent's house on that most eventful Friday night. A night
that as I relive it, was one of PURE MAGIC between 2 guys who are totally
in sync with one another. Moments such as these define the joy and
happiness in a person's life.

If you would like, comments can be sent to :

herm_hurley@yahoo.com