Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 00:19:22 -0400
From: Sequoyah <sequoyahs-place@home.com>
Subject: A Special Place--Part 56

A Special Place--Part Fifty-six

				 Warning!

     The usual warning applies: This story contains sexually-explicit,
erotic events involving alternative sexualities. Do not read the contents
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				Disclaimer
  This is a work of fiction, any coincidence is just that, a coincidence.

			 Copyright Notice Reminder

This story is copyright by the author and the author retains all rights.
You may distribute, copy, or print this story however you like, PROVIDED
this copyright notice remains intact and you do not change the story in any
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			    Additional Posting

A Special Place is also being posted at http://go.to/gaywritersguild. Check
it out.  A website from which the real music from the concert--and
"More"--can be downloaded is located at http://aspecialplace.50megs.com/.

There is a very active Yahoo group devoted to A Special Place. You can
reach it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sequoyahs_Place (The space
between Sequoyah and Place is an underline character in the address.)
. Although I read all the postings to the group, I still welcome mail at
sequoyahs-place@home.com.

				Dedication

For a young pup and his devoted big brother. For G who knows well the
disappointment in toys, but also the joy. And for a new arrival on planet
earth, Alexandria Kathryn. For Jim and Ricahrd who are setting out on new
adventures.

Sequoyah

		 A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Michael

When we got back from the Black Hills we were all exhausted and, as soon as
we were home, fell into bed. I finally woke up about eleven and called
Bill. He told me the whole Fellowship was back in town. "I didn't expect
them until today," I said.

Bill said all had gotten back sometime Friday. "Jacob is with me, and Paula
and Larry got back a day early as well."

"How about getting together this afternoon? Maybe even spend the
night. I'll get everyone here rounded up and we'll meet about 1:30 or
2:00. Unless I hear otherwise, I'll assume you managed to get the others,"
I said.

"Great idea! We'll get food for tonight and see about staying all night at
the falls. I'll call you back in half an hour."

When I called Mary Kathryn, she said, "Good, I wondered when we could get
together to talk about the summer--you know, the old first essay 'What I
Did on My Summer Vacation', except what we really did, not some teacher
junk. Meet you at the falls in half an hour, Sweetheart."

"Sweetheart? Is that the best you can do for the light of your life, the
meaning of your universe, the father of your unborn children?"

"Michael Golden Eagle Andrews, I would think that having Daughter of the
Dawn call you sweetheart would be enough to keep you going for days!"

"Yea, but I've got a whole lifetime ahead of me!"

"Well, Golden Eagle, fearless Lakota warrior and medicine man, Daughter of
the Dawn will await your coming at the sacred falls, in humility."

"That's more like it," I laughed.

"And if your golden eagle butt is not there in thirty minutes, Daughter of
the Dawn will have a handful of golden eagle feathers to give out to the
men who come courting her!" Mary Kathryn laughed. Then, on a serious note,
she said, "It's hard to believe the summer is almost over, and even harder
to believe all that's happened. I'll take care of Luke, you call Matt."

"You mean they're not together?"

"No, they stayed here last night. Don't think they would have known where
they were if they slept like I did," she laughed. "They had breakfast with
Mom and Dad, then went to Matt's place. They woke me up talking to Mom and
Dad, then I heard them leave saying they were going to Matt's. When I got
up, Luke was flaked out on his bed, alone, asleep. Not sure what's going
on."

As soon as Bill called and said the rest were on their way, I started
walking to the falls. I saw Matt outside his house and yelled for him to
wait up. He had not unpacked the four-wheel-drive, so we grabbed blankets
out of it and put them in the Jeep and drove to the falls. Luke and Mary
Kathryn were already there. I thought Mary Kathryn and I were experts at
the kissing business, but Matt and Luke put us to shame as soon as Matt
arrived.

"What was going on this morning?" Mary Kathryn asked. "You two kept waking
me up with your coming and going."

"We talked to our parents about our ceremony," Matt said.

"Yea, and both sets thought it was a great idea," Luke added.

"So why were you in bed by yourself, Brother of Mine?"

"I needed sleep," Luke laughed.

The four of us got the blankets out of the Jeep, took them to the falls and
spread them on the beach. Just as we finished, Larry and Eugene showed
up. There were a lot of hugs all around. It was good to see them
again. Both looked great!

Bill and Linda, Jacob and Paula came together. When they arrived, the first
thing I noticed was that Jacob had a black eye and cut lip. Before anyone
else could say anything, Mary Kathryn ran to him and asked, "What
happened?"


A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Jacob's Story

"It's kinda a long story." Everyone sat down and Paula pulled me to
herself. I sat leaning against her legs--beautiful legs--and she put her
arms around me. I thought I could get through the ordeal of telling my
story without crying but, as soon as I looked around and saw the concern on
the faces of the people I knew and loved, the tears gushed. Paula hugged me
tightly, rocked me in her arms and kissed the top of my head. Gradually I
gained control and started the story of my summer.

"Well, it started soon after I got to Lexington. I had always known Dad and
Mom, both, were real redneck bigots, but I had thought my aunt was
different. She had always seemed like a caring person. Man, was I ever
wrong! She started when she learned Eugene was a friend. At first she
claimed to have sympathy for him, but soon she started referring to him as
'that fag friend of yours'. Each time she did, I raised an objection until
I realized I was wasting my breath. And it was not just gays--you name any
group and she had a put-down name for them."

"You all know that I had started seeing the rabbi. I was really enjoying
our conversations, especially since it gave me insight into my woman." I
turned and looked at my dark beauty and she kissed me ever so gently. "God,
I love you, Paula," I whispered, then looked at the Fellowship. There were
eight smiling faces looking back. "Anyway, I was careful to hide my trips
to the temple because I knew I'd catch hell if my aunt found out. Even at
that, the house was so filled with hate--my aunt and her husband even hated
each other, at least they were constantly shouting insults at each
other--that I looked forward to getting to work. Weekends, I pretended I
was going out with the guys so I could go to the temple. Then, to get away
from it all, I mostly hid in the mall Saturday and Sunday."

"In addition to wanting to get to work to get away, I was learning to love
it. I worked a lot of overtime, which not only added to the paycheck but
kept me away from that hate-filled house. The construction boss kinda took
me under his wing and had me doing more and more involved jobs. He thought
I was a quick learner and I guess I was, because I was doing just about any
job he had. Halfway through the summer, I was even pretty good at reading
blueprints, often picking up mistakes the workers were making. The boss
started asking me to eat lunch with him and, as we ate, posed problems for
me to solve. I loved it. One day he said, 'Jacob, you definitely have a
knack for this business. Get yourself an education and you definitely have
a job with this company if you want it. I was excited. When I told my aunt
and uncle, their reaction was not what I expected. My uncle said, 'Yea,
fill your head with crap and tell you how good you are so he can get more
work for less pay. My drinking buddy Charlie works there and knows all the
tricks.' Well, he was wrong and I knew it because, even though I was
temporary summer help, the more I took on, the more I earned--I was given
two raises, unheard -of for summer help. I definitely decided I was going
into some part of the construction business--engineering or maybe just
learning the trade and eventually getting a company of my own."

"Anyway, last week was really terrible. Seems a Mexican was made my uncle's
boss and, even though he was at least twice as qualified as my uncle, the
shit really hit the fan big time. Then, to make matters worse, Charlie, my
uncle's drinking buddy, was fired. He was caught stealing from the job. He
saw me come out of the temple Friday night and told my uncle I was
associating with 'them Christ-killing Jew owners of the construction
company'."

"I had gone to the ice cream parlor with a friend I met at the temple and
when I got back, both my aunt and her husband lit into me about associating
with money-grabbing, Christ-killing Jews. 'Charlie saw you so you can't
deny it. He says you're becoming a sneaking, money-mad Jew,' he shouted at
me. He and my aunt were both screaming at the top of their lungs. They were
shouting at me and, before I realized it, I blew up--my red hair had had
it--and told them I was going to the temple because I was in love with a
Jewish girl that I hoped would one day be my wife."

"'You're changing into a Jew?' my aunt screamed."

"'Not sure,' I told her the truth, 'but I am going to temple and practising
Judaism--at least to some extent.' Well, when I said that, it was clear
that things were about to get violent as my uncle jumped out of his chair
and headed toward me and my aunt threw the book she was reading at me--I
think it might have been her Bible--how's that for irony? Anyway, I left
the room and since I had already packed to leave Saturday morning--this
morning--I just got my things and started out the door. My uncle tried to
stop me, shouting about my having been sucked in by a 'hot little Jew
pussy'. You would have been proud of me. I held my temper long enough to
say, 'No, I think I've been sucked in by God,' and left."

"I had no place to go and no way home, but I did have money--the boss had
given me a cash bonus when I left work--so I thought I'd just catch a bus,
but learned I'd have to wait several hours for one. I thought about a taxi
but, on the off-chance Larry was still around, I called the
Greentrees'. Mr. Greentree said that Eugene had come over for dinner and
the two had left for Concord about half an hour before. 'Anything I can
do?' he asked. I started to say no, but my anger and hurt got the better of
me and I started crying like a baby. See what you guys have done to me?" I
half laughed, but it was true. I had learned from this bunch that tears are
ok. "I told him what had happened and he asked where I was, and was there
in fifteen minutes."

"He said, 'Jacob, you can spend the night at our place, or I'll take you
home'."

"'It's late...' I started, but he stopped me."

"'Nonsense!' he said. 'I think probably the only place for you tonight is
home.' Little did he know--little did I know."

"On the drive home, I talked about why I had been going to temple and what
I had found there--something I had never had before, faith, I guess,
spirituality--you guys know what I mean." When I looked up, there were
eight people nodding. "I then told him what living in my aunt's house had
been like and could see he was getting upset, so I changed the subject and
talked about work. I could be enthusiastic about that!"

"When we got to my place, he came inside with me and, as soon as we were
inside, I knew something was up. I introduced him and Dad said, 'I guess
you're one of those damn Jews who has been screwing with my son's head'."

"I told Dad he had just offered to bring me home. 'That's all.' Then I told
Mr. Greentree I thought he better go. He asked if I was sure, and I just
nodded."

"'Call me if you need me,' he said, hugged me and left."

"He was barely out the door before Dad started. My aunt had called him
about my going to the temple. 'And just what's that all about?' he
demanded. I told him I was in love with a Jewish woman and had wanted to
learn about her religion since it was important to her. 'Is that all? I
mean are you just doing this so you can get some pussy, some Jewish
pussy?'"

"I was livid! 'Hell no, that's not what I'm about! I love the woman. There
has never been any religion in this house unless you count bigotry and
prejudice, and I have seen what their religion means to my friends and to
the woman I love. I want some of what they have. Since I expect to marry
her one day, if she will have me, I may or may not convert to Judaism
formally, but I sure as hell intend to attend temple!' I could see Dad was
really getting wound up."

"He cussed and swore, screamed and yelled about my letting a little piece
of hot Jewish pussy screw up my brains. Finally I had all I could and would
take. 'Don't you dare say another word against Paula,' I screamed. 'We have
not had sex and she's a hell of a lot more to me than some hot pussy as you
put it. Can't you get that through you thick skull? I love the woman and
intend to spend every minute I can letting her know it and hoping she loves
me!' Dad really got livid then and he and Mom were both shouting and
cursing and I could see this was going nowhere. They were saying all sorts
of things about Paula and how she'd used her body to 'fuck my mind' to make
a Jew out of me. 'A hot kosher pussy is turning you into a damn
money-grabbing, Christ-killing Jew,' Dad shouted. That did it. I kept
control enough to say, quietly, 'If you've finished, I'm going to bed,' and
turned to walk away."

"'Hell no, not here you're not, unless you promise me here and now you'll
forget this Jewish pussy that's got control of you!' That did it!"

"'I'll see you burn in hell first,' I exploded. When I said that, Dad hit
me, twice, in the face."

"'Get your Jew-pussy-loving ass out of this house and don't expect to
darken my door again until you have your head on straight.' He had knocked
me to the floor, so I crawled away from him, grabbed my bag and ran."

"See, guys," I managed a weak smile, "being gay is not the only thing that
can make your ever-loving parents turn on you. Dad and I have had fights
before--but he hasn't hit me since I told him I'd kill him if he ever beat
me again, after he beat me with the buckle end of his belt the day after I
turned sixteen--but nothing like this. I knew he meant what he said. I
think I might have been able to defend myself had he tried to beat me, but
what was the point? If I won I was out and if I lost, I was beaten and
still out. For the second time in one day, I was on the street with no
place to go. I didn't think Paula was home yet, so I called Bill and he
came and got me."

"I told him what had happened on the way to his place and, when we got
there, he told his parents I would be staying as long as I needed, but
didn't say why. I was surprised when both said, 'Sure' without asking
why. They said it because they trust and respect Bill--Linda, you got
yourself a good man--and because they are caring people. But I didn't want
them to wonder why I was on the street, so I told them and we sat and
talked well after midnight. When I finished, Bill's dad said, 'Jacob, you
are a friend of Bill's, that's all we needed to know. What you need to know
is you have a home here as long as you want or need it.' He then hugged me
the way I had always wished my dad had, but never did. And that's what
happened on my summer vacation."

When I had finished, I felt a huge load fall off of me. Paula held me close
and I turned and kissed her. "Jacob's got a home as long as he wants it,"
Bill said. "I talked to my dad while Mom took care of Jacob's eye and he
was horrified that anyone would abandon a son--and I learned he cared a lot
more for me than I had ever thought. I was kinda ashamed of not seeing it
before, and said that."

Bill added, "He said, 'Bill, I guess I should have told you more often.' I
guess I'll have to rethink his being a hypocrite--even if he does see
church as a way to getting business. And I welcome having a brother!" Of
course, the end of my story was greeted with hugs from the Fellowship and I
knew, suddenly, they were all my family--and what a family they were!


A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Paula's Story

I realized everyone was looking at me after Jacob had finished, so I guess
they were waiting for my reaction and/or the story of my summer. "I was
really sorry that Jacob didn't call me last night. I wasn't supposed to get
home until today, but I came home early. I guess I got home about the same
time Jacob was going to Bill's, but I thought he would be in Lexington and
went to bed without calling. I came home a day early because I was finished
with my work and was fed up with fighting off a guy."

"I loved working with the kids and music therapy. I definitely want to go
into that kind of work. All in all, it was a good summer. I wasn't too busy
so there was time for swimming, thinking and writing. In fact, there was
too much free time because, when I was not busy, all I thought about was
the redhead I had fallen in love with and missed like crazy. I called as
often as I could and, when I did, we talked for hours it seemed, but it was
not like having him near me. You know the lines:

'More than you'll ever know My arms long to hold you so My life will be in
your keeping Walking, sleeping, laughing, weeping.'

"Anyway, except for missing Jacob--and all of you, of course--it was a good
summer with only one fly in the ointment. A fly named Nathan Shapiro from
Brooklyn. Nathan was a counselor and a nice enough fellow--good looking,
damn good looking, rich as all get out--what I had always heard people call
'a Jewish mother's dream for a son-in-law'. He was going into pre-med next
year at Harvard. I mean, he was the very stereotype of what Jewish mothers
are supposed to want for their daughters. To be honest, he was an absolute
dream of a guy, except he wasn't Jacob. He came on to me big time the first
night at the opening dance. I let him know right away that I was taken, but
he just wouldn't stop. In fact, he got worse."

"One night, as I was walking back from a staff meeting with him, he started
really getting obnoxious, trying to kiss me. He backed off when I slapped
him a good one and asked him what part of no he didn't understand. For the
next couple weeks, he was extremely nice and I found I was enjoying being
with him. When I told him I enjoyed being friends, he smiled and said, 'If
that's all you're offering, I guess I'll have to make do with it'. I told
him I thought friendship was a very precious thing and he said he guessed
it was if that's all you could get."

"I thought that had settled things, but the night before the closing of
camp, there was a variety show. Nathan and I had coached two groups of
kids--mine in music, his in gymnastics--who were in it. Before the show he
asked, 'A kiss for good luck?' and I had kissed him on the cheek. He
laughed and said luck required a real kiss and grabbed me and kissed me
hard on the mouth. I guess, since he had been so nice recently, I thought
he was just playing. The show went very well and our two groups were
especially good. Afterwards, Nathan said he had managed to get the night
off and thought we should celebrate. 'How about we go to the lake and watch
the moonlight?' I should have known better, but he had done a good job and
my kids had done a good job, so I thought, 'Why not?'."

"When we got to the lake, he opened a bottle of wine he had brought and,
after we had a glass, he started telling me how much he loved me as he
poured himself a second. 'I fell in love with you the minute I saw you,' he
said."

"'I'm sorry,' I replied. 'You are a dream guy--good looking and everything
any girl might want in a man,' I said, honestly."

"He poured me a second glass and a third or fourth one for himself and
said, 'If I'm everything any girl might want in a man, why are you holding
me off?'."

"'Because I am not any girl, I'm Paula Wright and I have the love of my
life already. You have everything I want in a man except for one very
important thing. You're not Jacob.' Suddenly he became very angry and
started getting rough with me. He held my arms to the ground, crawled on
top of me and started kissing me hard as he said, 'I am going to prove I am
more of a man than this Jacob fellow'. I was frightened because he seemed
determined to, well, have sex with me. I kneed him in the balls and he
rolled off me, clutching his crotch. I got up and ran."

"I wasn't sure what I should do. I didn't want anything terrible to happen
to him--I mean I had gone to the lake with him and he had given enough
indications of what he was after--but I wanted him to know that no meant
no. Finally I went to the head counselor and told her what had
happened. She said I wasn't the first and that she knew that Nathan's
family had enough influence to cover up anything he did--and would. 'I'll
report this to the camp director tomorrow, but I don't think anything will
be done.'"

"'Well, I don't like the idea of being around, even if he seems to behave
himself,' I said."

"The head counselor said, 'I don't blame you. Why don't you leave tomorrow?
You've finished your work, so be ready to leave right after breakfast. I'll
see the director tonight and get you a plane home as soon as possible
tomorrow.' So, all in all, it was an uneventful summer except for
Nathan. When I was ready to get on the plane, the director gave me a note
of apology from Nathan. Doubt that he learned his lesson, since his parents
always bail him out, but maybe he did." Jacob held me close and kissed me
gently, and I felt loved and protected, certainly by my red-headed man but
also by those surrounding me in this special place.

A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Larry's Story

Everyone was silent for a while after Paula finished, kinda honoring her
and her story, I guess. When I looked up, Gene was smiling at me and I
thought, "You're right, time for an upbeat story".

"Well, I got home a day early--not because I had any trouble, actually it
was the opposite. Shortly after the McBride mess was over, I urged Eugene
to go to band camp to get away, and our therapist thought it was a good
idea. Besides, I had a lot of work to do and would see little of
Gene. Jonathan--Mr. Greentree--decided I should learn as much as possible,
so he laid out several projects, one being a pictorial on Concord and the
surrounding countryside. I spent days videoing all over the town and
county. When we got it edited, it was very good, even if I do say so
myself...."

"It's damn good," Eugene interjected.

"And you, of course, are entirely objective," Mary Kathryn laughed.

"When it was finished, we selected music for the background since that was
to be it--pictures and music. Matt, before it's broadcast, you'll have to
approve since all we used were excerpts from 'The Family' and 'Yonghon
Tongmu' and, again, I am very pleased with it and so was Jonathan. We
finished yesterday afternoon and he said, 'Larry, you have done a
magnificent job this summer--with everything--and this is an excellent
piece of work. I know you are missing Eugene like crazy. Why don't you call
him and tell him you're ready to go home? Have him come over and we'll have
dinner, a kind of celebration of this work and the summer, and then you two
go home.' Needless to say, I didn't have to be told twice and Eugene must
have broken every speed limit to get over so quickly. We had a wonderful
dinner with the Greentrees and left about eleven last night."

"I learned two important things this summer. The first is that I am headed
in the right direction. I even loved the scut work involved in getting
productions together. The second is that I love kids. Every minute I spent
with Jon, the Greentrees' son, was a perfect delight. I mentioned that to
Laura--Mrs. Greentree--early on, and she said that there were lots of ways
I could be involved with kids, and then floored me. She said, 'And if you
and Eugene get settled in good jobs and a stable home, there's no reason
you can't have kids. Lots of gay couples adopt. It's not easy, but it can
be done.' Gene and I have done a lot of talking about that... a lot."


A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Eugene's Story

"You better believe Lar and I have talked a lot about having kids. I mean,
when you start thinking about that, you kinda go beyond teenage romance and
that sort of thing--not that we haven't gone beyond it in other ways--but
the idea of having a family... Well, he really flipped me out when he first
mentioned it. I know it seems a long time in the future, but it's not
really."

"Anyway, after the trial I kept seeing the therapist with Lar and, when Lar
suggested I get away and go to band camp, she thought it was a good idea. I
wasn't sure. I was still pretty much an emotional wreck--at least on the
inside--after the trial and, as if you didn't know, I didn't want to leave
Lar. Of course, he pointed out he would be busy and I needed to be busy
too. I'm glad he insisted I go. The camp was great! I learned so much. Of
course, the fact that there were tapes shown of the concert, that were used
as an example of how things should be, didn't boost my ego--NOT! That's
about it, except to say that when Lar called and said he was ready to come
home, I was more than ready to get him. I don't know about the rest of you,
but absence does make the heart grow fonder--but I think there are better
ways!"

As I finished, Lar pulled me back against himself and kissed me big time,
and I returned his kiss and whispered, "Lar, I love you more than you'll
ever know".

"About as much as I love you, I guess," he whispered in response, and gave
me another kiss.

"Oh, and I can honestly say that I am convinced my place is as a high
school band director--maybe with a group on the side. I really did love
working with high school students who were serious about music."


A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Michael

Everyone was waiting for someone to speak, when Bill said, "I guess most of
you know what happened with me and Linda this summer. We went to camp where
we had an absolute ball. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the third and
fourth graders especially. All of you seem to have found your niche in life
and I think I have as well. I want to be a teacher in grade school--maybe a
physical education teacher, but I think I'd like to just be a
teacher. Beyond that, all I can say is that Linda and I really found out
the difference between fucking and making love. I mean really. Our first
time together was at camp and we vowed there that our next time would be
here. Thanks to Matt and Luke, that got postponed--but they finally went
off searching for a vision and we had the falls to ourselves, and I brought
my vision with me." He then kissed Linda and she responded.

Linda said, "Look, we're all friends and know just about all there is to
know about each other. I know 'kiss and tell' is really not something one
does, but I think I'd like to tell you about the first time Bill and I
didn't stop in our love-making." She then told us what had happened at
camp, she and Bill blushing but obviously sharing something very personal
and precious with people they loved and whom they knew loved them. When
they finished--Bill had added a comment now and then--Linda added that she
was headed to becoming a middle school teacher.

"Lots of luck!" Eugene said. "They are beyond me."

I guess everyone was being very careful not to ask Matt and Luke too much,
and Mary Kathryn and I had said little. When I looked at Matt and Luke,
both seemed ready to tell everyone what had happened to the Gang of
Four. We told the whole story from beginning to end--Matt talking at length
about Sewanee and Luke about Sarasota, as well as the results of their
mistrust of each other. Eugene kinda made us all stop and think when he
said, "Luke, and you too, Matt, when we get settled, you are going to see a
counselor. I know what happened seems like a world crisis that's over but,
Luke, I've been there and I think a second attempt at suicide cries out for
more than just thinking everything's ok now."

We were all silent, looking at the two, when Luke said, "Matt and I have
already decided to do that. Maybe nothing more is needed, but we can't go
through that shit again."


A Special Place--Part Fifty-six--Matt

I was glad to hear Luke say we would look into counseling and whatever we
needed to do. I felt we were both in excellent shape--but hadn't I thought
that before? I guess there is a deeper side to me as well as Luke.

We continued to talk about the summer--having a lot of laughs. I kept an
eye on Jacob to see how he was taking things after being thrown out of his
house. I think maybe he was relieved because he was certainly having a good
time. Of course, he had Paula again and that should be enough to make his
heart sing. I knew having Luke back sure made mine sing!

We were finally talked out and Linda shouted, "Skinny dipping time!" I
doubt that there are many friends who skinny dipped as often as the
Fellowship did. It was so natural and we had done it so often we thought
nothing about it. Michael had not taken off his shirt before and, when he
did, everyone had to have a look. "Damn, your chest's a mess," Jacob
said. "Did it hurt?"

"The knifing or the piercing?" Michael laughed. "The knifing hurt like
hell. The piercing wasn't exactly pleasant, but bearable." Everyone was as
quiet as if they were in church, as they looked at Michael's chest.

I thought the mood was a little heavy, so I shouted, "Skinny dipping time!"
and leaped in the water. We swam and played around for a while, and then
the guys started wrestling in the water until Mary Kathryn tossed a ball
into the basin and the girls took on the boys in a game of water
keep-away. I hate to say it, but they beat us big time. Of course the fact
that all of them felt free to grab anything hanging loose was a definite
advantage!

Late afternoon, Bill said, "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm a
growing boy and I'm hungry!"

Linda walked in front of him, swinging her well-rounded butt and said,
"Well, I'm no growing boy!"

Bill grabbed her, pulling her on top of himself and said, "Damn right
you're not. You're a well-built woman," as he kissed her. Soon we had all
the food spread out on a blanket and were eating as if it was going out of
style. When we had finished, we paired off and found a blanket and, after a
little making out I suspect--Luke and I did anyway--all of us fell sound
asleep. Food, sleep and sex, aren't they the only three things in a teenage
mind? I guess I knew they weren't, but they sure took up a lot of mind
space!

One after another, we woke up, and soon all of us were sitting on the
beach, when Luke said, "I think Matt and I have an announcement to make."
When he did, a huge smile spread across my face. "You all know we can't be
legally or officially married, but we are going to have a commitment
ceremony. We'd like to have it here next Saturday. That means we may have
to put off going to Ohio and since you are all involved in that, you have
to decide what we should do."

As soon as he finished, the whole gang started hugging the two of us and I
guess we knew our answer. "I better call Janet and Douglas and let them
know the trip's postponed," Luke said.

"Why?" I asked. "They can be here with us all next week so we can get to
know them. Besides, I suspect they are already on their way here."

"Guess you're right, Lover," Luke said.

"So, let's get some planning done," Mary Kathryn said.

"Damn, she's a lot like Jens--get it lined up, organized and in the book,"
I thought. She got a pen and paper and soon the whole crew were involved in
planning "the social event of the season," in Paula's words. We made up a
guest list, planned the food, made a note of who we'd need to call about
what--like asking Fr. Tom to celebrate a eucharist, and getting Millie to
record music since I wanted more than the keyboard.

When we finished planning--at least we thought we had covered
everything--Michael got all excited and said, "Look, we know Fr. Tom can't
bless this union, but a medicine man could. I think I could do it, but we
left one person off the list--Taequo. Why not have him bless the union?"

"Michael, you're a genius!" Luke said.

"Of course, that's perfect," I added.

We talked longer about our ceremony. I asked Luke if he minded making it
traditional--well, I knew that to talk about a gay wedding being
traditional was kinda crazy, but he knew what I meant. "Whatever you want,
Babe, so long as it says this is forever." I was trying to remember some
words of a service I had read at Sewanee, when my cell phone rang. Paula
grabbed it and tossed it to me.

When I answered, David said, "Matt, there's been an accident and the young
man involved asked about Luke as we were bringing him in to the
hospital. Is Luke there?"

"Sure," I answered, and handed the phone to Luke. After listening for a few
minutes, Luke asked, "How bad?" looking very serious. "Are you sure? I'll
be right there," as he handed me the phone. "Douglas and Janet were coming
early, I guess, and had an accident just outside town. David said he didn't
think they were seriously hurt, even though the car rolled over three
times. They were wearing their seatbelts and are bruised. Douglas was
conscious when they brought him in. Janet wasn't." Luke started getting
dressed as he talked, and the rest of us did the same.

"Luke, I'll drive. Why don't the rest of you stay here? We'll call as soon
as we know something. There's really no place for all of us."

"We'll go to my place. That way we'll be close if there is anything we can
do," Eugene said.

I started driving pretty fast when Luke said, "Look, we've had one accident
already. Take it easy so there's not another." I did and we arrived at the
hospital in a matter of minutes anyway.

Inside, David met us. "They're still in the emergency room," he said. "To
be honest, I don't think there's any real damage done beyond bruises from
the seatbelts. Both will be plenty sore tomorrow, but I think that's
it. Now that you're here, I'll go in and see what I can find out." He was
gone for a very short time and when he came back said, "Douglas is in good
shape. Just as I expected, he's only bruised. Janet, on the other hand, is
just regaining consciousness. Apparently there was something loose in the
car and, when it flipped, it struck her on the head. She has a laceration
which has been stitched up--there was a lot of blood, but there always is
with a head wound. I still don't think it's bad, but Dr. Walker thinks she
might have a concussion so she'll have to stay overnight for observation. I
think all's well--considering. Douglas should be released shortly."

Twenty or thirty minutes later--it seemed hours, and both Luke and I were
getting kinda nervous because the hospital brought back some pretty bad
memories--a nurse helped Douglas as he walked out of the emergency
room. When he saw Luke he burst into tears and Luke held him--carefully--as
he cried. Finally he said, "God, Luke, I am so glad to see you. They told
me Janet would be all right, but when I saw her she was covered with
blood."

"David--he is on the EMS team that picked you up and is a member of the
Family--said she had a head wound which wasn't too serious, but mighty
bloody. He thinks you're both ok. She'll probably have to spend the night
here because she took a lick on the head, but you..."

"The doctor told me I could go, but I'm not leaving until I can see Janet
and see she's all right. Luke, my friend, it has gotten pretty
serious--between Janet and me I mean." He smiled, then groaned, "Man, I
feel like I have been hit by an elephant," stroking his chest.

"David calls that the sign of life. It's bruises your seatbelt made. Think
what it would have been like if the same force had tossed you about the
car."

"Yea."

Luke suddenly remembered that I only knew Douglas through him and that we
had never met. "Oh, Douglas, this is..."

"Matt, Luke's Sarang Hanun Pomul if I remember correctly. Matt, it would be
pretty hard for you to hide, even in a crowd." Douglas smiled as he shook
hands with me.

As we were shaking hands, the emergency room doors opened and a gurney was
wheeled out. I had no doubt it was Janet because Douglas was at her side in
a flash. "Babe, are you all right?" he asked. "I mean really all right?" He
bent to kiss her on the forehead.

"I'm covered with blood, I have the headache from hell, every time I
breathe I feel like an elephant sat on me but, yes, I'm all right. I'm
especially all right now that I see you are. They want me to stay here
tonight for observation, so I guess I will."

"Sure you will," Douglas said.

Dr. Walker walked out of the emergency room just as Douglas spoke, saw me
and Luke, smiled, and said, "I thought you two had dropped off the face of
the earth. These are friends of yours?"

"They are my friends," Luke said, "We met this summer. They were coming up
to go to Ohio with the crew when the accident happened."

"Don't think it would be a good idea to plan on going until next week. No
serious damage done, but both will be very sore."

"Well, they didn't know it, but we postponed the trip until next week
anyway. Matt and I are having our commitment ceremony next Saturday if we
can get it all arranged. We've been living in sin long enough," Luke
laughed. "And we expect you and Mrs. Walker to be there. You know if it
hadn't been for you and your breaking rules, I probably wouldn't be here
now."

"Of course we'll be there. Wouldn't miss it. And you're right. Had Matt not
spent those nights here, I don't think you would have made it. And I heard
you tried something foolish again."

Luke hung his head and stared at the floor. "Luke, I think there may be a
problem here. I talked with Dr. Bail... Margaret and, if you are going to
be here next week, I'd like for you to come in Monday for some tests. I'll
make an appointment. Matt, I want you to come with him. Douglas, sorry this
was your introduction to Concord, but I'm glad there's not too much
damage--well to you and Janet anyway. Your car, I'm told, is a hopeless
wreck. What happened?"

"Driving all night without sleep the night before," Douglas said, "I just
fell asleep and went off the embankment."

"Then you are indeed lucky. And had you not had on your seatbelts, you
would have been in another establishment down the street--the funeral
home."

He then turned to Janet and said, "Young lady, I want you to behave
yourself tonight. If you do and all goes well, as I am sure it will, you'll
be out of here tomorrow. By the way, Douglas, be sure to call your parents
and Janet's. We didn't try since both of you were over eighteen. Well,
goodnight all," he said as he walked toward the exit.

After an orderly took Janet to her room, the nurse on duty told us we could
see her for a few minutes then we'd have to go. When Luke and I went in
with Douglas, Janet smiled and said, "Matt, I was jealous as hell of you
the first week of the summer, but I think if I had seen you first, you
would have given Luke a run for the money--not that you would have been
interested either. You are one good-looking hunk." Need I say it? I
blushed. "You're both damn lucky, almost as lucky as I am." She smiled at
Douglas who leaned over and kissed her very gently.

"I don't think you lucked out as well as I have, Janet, but you've done
pretty damn well," Luke said. "Well, we'll say goodnight and give Douglas
some privacy. See you in the morning."

Luke leaned over and kissed her and, as he turned to go, she said, "Sarang
Hanun Pomul--damn that's a mouthful, don't I get a kiss from a Korean
Indian?"

I kissed her and said, "Take care. We have a busy week planned."

Douglas joined us shortly. He was obviously getting very sore and
stiff. "We'll take you home and get you as comfortable as possible," Luke
said. Actually, we all went to Eugene's where the Fellowship was
waiting. After introductions, Millie insisted Douglas spend the night
there--in case the hospital needed to call. "I'll ring them and give them
this number," she said. "I think you might find Eugene's spa a bit
comforting and when you're ready for bed, down to the downstairs guest
room. Those two have been separated for a couple weeks and probably would
like a little privacy. I sure as hell would!"

"Millie, before you go," I said, "We're having Sunday dinner at the
Andrews' tomorrow. Be there for an important announcement."

"That reminds me," Luke said, and called Uncle Michael and John and asked
them to join us for Sunday dinner at the Andrews'. "We have an announcement
to make," he had said. He also called Chelsea and Gladys. "By the Way,
Chelsea, have you heard anything from Jake?" When he hung up the phone, he
said, "Seems Jake has definitely disappeared."

"Douglas, don't you need to call your parents? And Janet's?" Luke asked.

"Mine can wait. I'll call Janet's. I'll talk to her dad or mom--the one I
can get, if either and, by damn, they can make the effort to call the
other. They were both relieved, and didn't hide it, when they learned she
was staying in Florida. She was right, neither really wanted her." Douglas
made two phone calls and when he was finished, said, "Well, that's true to
form, neither was at home. I just left a message that she had an accident
and was ok. They can call here if they like, but I won't be surprised not
to hear from either."

We all went upstairs to Eugene's place and Douglas got in the
Jacuzzi. Paula and Jacob joined him and the rest of us just sat around, the
whole crowd in the bathroom! Finally, Luke asked, "Why were you and Janet
outside Concord today. We didn't expect you until tomorrow."

"I had a major fight with my parents a couple days ago--the first in ages,
since I see them so seldom we didn't even have a chance to fight. I told
them Janet was moving in with me. They had no objection at all. 'It will be
good for you to experiment,' Dad said, winked and added, 'I know young men
need a woman now and then, and it's nice you can have one handy.' Mom was
pretending she didn't hear him and I was getting pissed. He was talking
about Janet like she was a common whore!"

"So I broke the news which really flipped them out. When Janet and I
finished the summer course, we came to my grandmother's vacation place here
in North Carolina. While we were there we did a lot--a whole lot--of
talking about what we wanted to do with our lives and, by that time, I was
pretty sure of one thing I wanted to do with mine--and that was to spend it
with Janet. 'Are you serious?' she had asked when I told her."

"'I'm damn serious. I'm so serious that I'd like to ask you a question,' I
said."

"'Shoot,' she said, and I got down on one knee..."

"You didn't," Luke laughed. "spiked hair of all colors and things pierced
you wouldn't believe--hey, where's the spiked hair and all those studs and
rings?"

"Another story," Douglas grinned.

"Anyway, old Douglas of the spiked hair got down on one knee? I can't
believe it."

"I did, swear to God I did, and asked Janet to marry me. 'You got to be
kidding!' she had laughed. I was a bit pissed and said, 'I'm sure as hell
not kidding! Damn it, Janet, stop the nonsense and get serious! Will you
marry me?'"

"'You're sure you're not kidding?' she asked, and again I assured her I was
not--not in very nice language, I think."

"'Well, since I haven't had time to think about it, I'll give you an answer
tomorrow,' she said. That really got me. 'Janet, are we going to have our
first fight over whether or not you are going to give me an answer?'"

We were all laughing our heads off at Douglas who was being very dramatic
about the whole thing and, I think, getting pissed all over again. "Finally
I said, 'Janet, I want an answer tonight. Right now.' She laughed and said,
'You look so cute when you're mad. I guess I'll just have to keep you mad!'
I realized how funny all this was and started laughing with her. When I did
she said, 'Douglas, I'd marry you in a minute'."

"'Do you mean that?' I asked, and she nodded and gave me a kiss to die
for."

"When she turned me loose, she said, 'I sure do'."

"Well, to make a long story shorter, we were married last week by a judge
in South Carolina."

"You and Janet are married, actually married?" Luke said, looking as if he
didn't believe it. In answer Douglas held out his left hand where there was
a shiny new band.

"Damn!" Luke said. "Some summer romance!"

"Yea, and we're spending our honeymoon in hospitals and painting a house
because of you," Douglas laughed. Then he added on a very serious note,
"Thanks, Luke, for that talk we had, which ended making me a very happy
man." Luke gave him a very gentle tap on the shoulder, but still he said,
"Ouch!".

"Anyway, we didn't see Mom and Dad until the day after we got back. One
night I heard them when they came in late--as usual--and we went down and
told them we were married. All hell broke loose. She was not 'quality', she
had no money, etc. Then Dad made the mistake of saying, 'Douglas, if you
need sex, we told you she could move in, but now you have messed up
everything by getting married. We'll have it annulled.'"

"'Like hell you will!' I shouted at him, and we left them storming at me
and went to our room. Janet was upset, but not for long," Douglas smiled.

"The next morning, Dad left a note telling me to call the family lawyer
'about getting this ridiculous marriage of yours annulled'. When I read it
I started pitching a major fit and Lupe told me to shut up and calm
down. She then asked what I was carrying on about. I told her Janet and I
were married and the first thing she said was, 'Then you need to start
looking and acting like a responsible married man. Get rid of that spiked
hair and most of those rings and studs you have poking in and out of your
body!'" Douglas smiled and looked at Luke and said, "And you know what Lupe
wants, Lupe gets!" as he rubbed his hands though his short hair.

"She then gave me and Janet a good lecture, starting with, 'You're both
artists and know that requires discipline, technique and practice. Well,
marriage is an art.' Then she really got moving on our being too young to
get married and, well, you know Lupe, Luke."

"Finally she stopped for breath and I said, 'Lupe, as I seem to recall, you
and Hector were fifteen when you married'. She started telling me that was
different and I stopped her and asked, 'Lupe, how often have you regretted
It?'"

"She started dying laughing and said, 'Ok, what'll we do about this? You
don't need to call the family lawyer. What you need to do is see
Mr. Blalock.' Mr. Blalock was my grandmother's lawyer and her close
personal friend. He had long since retired, but managed some trust funds
for old clients--including one she had left me. When my grandmother died,
he kinda took her place. I called him several times a year and we got
together just to talk. He also called me every few weeks just to ask how I
was doing. I knew by the time I was fifteen I would probably do best by
following any advise he gave, which he only gave when asked. God, this is
getting to be a long story."

"We all had naps this afternoon, so go on," Mary Kathryn said, just as Luke
helped Douglas out of the jacuzzi.

"Damn, I'm sore," he said.

"Just wait until tomorrow," Bill smiled.

Douglas settled himself on a sofa and continued his story. "Lupe picked up
the phone and, before I knew it, made an appointment for me to get my hair
done. 'But what if Janet doesn't want a new look?' I asked."


"'Douglas, if I had been going for looks, you'd still be single,' Janet
laughed. 'Now get upstairs and get dressed. You can't go to see Mr. Blalock
looking like a member of some street gang.'"

"'I'll call Mr. Blalock,' Lupe said. 'And, Janet, don't let him start
anything. We don't have time for messing around today!'"

"Janet blushed," Douglas smiled. "I understand she has caught the MGTD, the
Matthew Greywolf Transmitted Disease." Everyone laughed like crazy when I
blushed.

"I did as I was told and Janet picked out a good-looking shirt and slacks
and we were off. After an hour and a half, I came out from the hair place
looking like this and Janet and I went to see Mr. Blalock. He seemed
delighted to see me and actually kissed Janet's hand. I mean he is a real
old-fashioned gentleman and I really look at him as I would a favorite
grandfather. I told him the situation and he asked us a bunch of
questions--all about Janet and her family, why we had decided we were meant
for each other, and why we thought we should have gotten married. Not easy
questions either. When either of us didn't have an immediate answer, he'd
say, 'Take your time, we're in no rush'. I hadn't realized how long we had
talked until he said, 'Let's go out to the terrace. Lunch is waiting for us
there.' Mrs. Blalock joined us--a striking woman still, at least
eighty. When we came out, Mr. Blalock kissed her on the cheek and it was
obvious this was not for our benefit. He then told her, briefly, of our
situation."

"'Granville and I wanted to get married when we were your age,' she said,
'but our parents objected and said we should wait until Granville was
settled in a practice, and we did. That was fifty-two years ago and I have
only one regret. I regret that we didn't defy our parents and get married
six years earlier when we wanted to. We would have had six more years
together. So don't let anyone tell you that you can't make a marriage work
just because you're young. And don't let any fool tell you it's not work!'
she laughed."

"As we ate, Mrs. Blalock wanted to know all about how we met, when we
decided to be friends--and she made a point of talking about being friends,
not lovers--and when we decided there was another dimension to our
relationship. You know, all that. Luke, Janet even told her about hitting
on you and your giving her to me, so to speak," Douglas laughed.

"After lunch, we got down to business. Mr. Blalock called the family lawyer
and told him he was wasting his time and my family's money filing for an
annulment. 'If there's any question, you can tell Douglas' parents to call
me--after you remind them of the trust funds' conditions.' He then
explained that Mom had a trust fund from grandmother--the source of the
family's wealth, I learned for the first time--and that my trust fund's
conditions changed when I turned eighteen and when I married. I didn't know
that, as Mom had always handled my money. Seems when I turned eighteen, I
could write checks on the fund up to a certain--obscene--amount, and when I
married--so long as I stayed married to the same woman--the house was mine
and the trust fund limit increased. I did, however, have to provide for my
parent's housing. 'Da...darn,' I said when I heard that, 'makes sense why
they wouldn't care if I just kept a woman, and raised hell when they found
out I was married.'"

"Anyway, when I finally caught Mom and Dad at home, they both exploded when
I told them Mr. Blalock had blocked any annulment. Since they didn't know I
knew the conditions of the trust, they were howling all sorts of reasons
why the marriage should be annulled, until I calmly told them I knew why
they were concerned. 'You needn't worry. The easiest way for me to provide
for you is to keep things as they are so far as the house is
concerned--that is, as long as you don't interfere with me and my
wife'--Mom blanched when I said 'my wife'--so all's cool.' That seemed to
calm things down until night before last."

When they came in--late as usual--Dad handed me a paper which the family
lawyer had drawn up, spelling out an agreement between me and Janet. 'Just
in case she's nothing more than a gold digger,' he said. Well, I blew my
stack. 'We're leaving in the morning'--I had just decided--'and when we get
back, I expect you and Mom to show my wife the respect she deserves and I
demand," and stormed upstairs. I started to tell Janet nothing, but she
said, 'Look, if we're going to make this work, we're going to have to be a
team. Now what's going on, HUSBAND?' That did it! I ranted and raved for an
hour about how my parents had never really cared about me and how, now,
they wanted to treat my wife like a common streetwalker and on and on and
on. When I finally wound down, Janet and I talked until sunrise, packed and
started here. Well, you know the rest."

"Wow," Luke said. "Lupe to the rescue again."

Douglas grinned a wicked grin and said, "Yea, and she's being rewarded. I
gave her and Hector a month off and money to travel first class wherever
their hearts desire. We'll see how Mom manages without Lupe!"

Douglas needed help getting up and, as Luke and I helped him, he asked,
"You two have an announcement you're going to make?"

"Yea, Matt and I have been saying we would have a commitment
ceremony--since we can't be legally married--when the time was right. Well,
after this summer, the time is right. We both think it is high time we made
our commitment--well, kinda--public so to speak. I don't mean coming
out--hell, everyone who cares knows that, but our commitment. We plan to
have it next Saturday."

"You'll love married life," Douglas smiled.

Luke and I helped him downstairs and into the guest room and, after all the
excitement, no-one really wanted to go back to the falls, so we all went
home.

That night was Luke's night in my bed and we cuddled together, just talking
about the events of the summer--our last summer before we started a whole
new life. From time to time we exchanged soft kisses as we talked about our
relationship and, finally, enclosed in each other's arms, drifted into
peaceful sleep.

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