Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 15:46:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Evan Bradely <evanbradley33@yahoo.com>
Subject: Chapter 42 of "Ambush"

The following fictional story deals with sex among males.  If you are
offended by such material, are too young, or reside in a location
where it is not allowed, please depart. Though not observed in this
story, care enough about yourself and humankind to practice safe sex.

The author retains all rights.  No reproductions or links to other
sites are allowed without the author's consent.

EvanBradley33@Yahoo.com

Chapter 42
Faltering Forward

When they arrived at the hospital, Troy, Susan, Cody, Drew, and Justin
played a perplexing game of tag, attempting to locate Emily and Riley.
At the Emergency Room, they learned that Riley had been sent to X-Ray.
After trekking through a maze of corridors to X-Ray, they found that
they had just missed them.  The receptionist told them that Riley was
taken to a hospital room, for the attending physician wanted him to
remain in the hospital overnight for observation.  She gave them
directions to the main reception area, where Riley's room number could
be identified for them.  The receptionist there sent them to the
Pediatrics Floor.  At the desk there they were referred to Riley's
room, 524.

When they peeked though the door, Riley was lying in bed, looking
sleepy as he lay against the raised top half of the bed, one side
of his face clearly swollen and colored by a large purple bruise,
and a purple ring circled the outer side of his eye.  He was
listening to his mother, who was leaning on the rail on the side
of the bed opposite them, talking softly to him.

When Riley saw his brothers, he began whimpering, holding out his
arms.  Troy, Drew and Justin shot into the room to his side, reaching
over the bed rail, gently hugging and kissing him.  Susan moved around
the end of the bed over to Emily, putting an arm about her waist as
they watched the brothers talking softy to Riley.  Now that his
brothers were present, Riley revealed himself to be a confused,
frightened, little boy.  Riley had no memory of what had happened -
just waking up in the emergency room with his head hurting.  He
quizzed them about the cause.  Wanted to know why his father was
mad at him.  Wanted to know if Roy hated him.  It bothered Troy
terribly that this little innocent was hurting and frightened.
He wanted always to protect him from such fear, knowing now that
he could never achieve that goal.

The three brothers, in turn, inquired how Riley felt, where it hurt.
When the immediate questions had been answered, Cody moved up to the
bed.  Again, Riley held out his arms for a hug from Cody.  Troy's eyes
twinkled with happiness, especially when Cody held Riley in a hug and
they whispered back and forth into each other's ears.  Then Riley
called for Susan, smiling at her as she leaned down to hug and kiss
him.  Emily choked back a sob, relieved to see her youngest son revive
under the love and attention offered by his brothers, Cody and Susan.
When Susan pulled back, Riley was grinning.  "You smell good!"

Drew laughed.  "Well, I guess we can go home now.  The boy's obviously
recovered all his senses if he can react that way to such a beautiful
woman." More laughter, especially when Drew slammed his mouth shut
upon realizing what had popped out at the end of his comment.  It only
increased his blush when Susan stepped over to him, kissing him on the
cheek.

"Hey," Justin remonstrated.  "How come you're leaving me out?"  Susan
bestowed a trophy kiss on him also.  Troy was beaming at his brothers.
This was the way he always wanted life to be for them, especially after
the evening's traumatic events.  Love, acceptance, good spirits.

Just then they heard a little voice:  "Hey, how come you're leaving me
out?" as Riley mimicked Justin.  The brash Riley was returning.  Susan
stepped to the bed, leaning down to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Riley had other ideas.  He turned his head just in time to take
Susan's kiss full on the lips, putting his little hands on her cheeks
and pulling her lips against his.

Troy's eyebrows shot up.  This wasn't a peck on the lips.  It was a
"Riley version" of a grown-up kiss.  'How'd that little imp learn to
do that?' he wondered.  'We're going to have to limit the number of
chick flicks he watches.' Susan pulled back.  The look of shock on her
face was priceless.

Now everyone was laughing harder, given Troy's reaction.  "Hey, Bro,
that's MY girlfriend," Troy protested, moving over and putting an arm
around Susan. Riley, grinning big time, looked slyly at Cody, who,
catching onto Riley's message, stepped up beside Susan and said "And
MY girlfriend."  Susan was cracking up, setting Riley off into
giggles.

Justin was shaking his head in disbelief.  "Can you believe that?" he
muttered to Drew.  "I think we may have to take lessons from Riley in
the kissing department,"

"He doesn't seem sick to me," Drew muttered back.  "When we came in
here, he was whimpering.  Now he's smooching Susan up.  I think he's a
little con man.  I may borrow his approach to women."

Clever enough to press an advantage when he saw it, Riley repeated his
earlier request to stay overnight with Troy.  Troy looked up at his
mother.  "My guess, Riley, is that I'll be moving back where you
live."  Emily shook her head yes. "Yippee!" Riley started to yell
until his head reminded him that it was tolerating nothing boisterous.
He'd immediately pressed his hands to either side of his head until
the pain subsided, sinking slowly back onto the bed.  He spoke softly,
"But I want to stay overnight at your other place too.  Can't we have
movie nights there, eat lots of pizza, and go play basketball on
Saturday morning?  Evan won't care. He likes us."

"Yes, dear," Emily responded, "Evan asked me just last week if you
boys could have more overnights with Troy."  Troy shot his mother a
puzzled look, noted right away by Susan and Cody.  Clearly, they'd
missed a recent step that had transpired in Emily's life.  Why was she
seeking Evan out and for what conversation?  Evan had said nothing to
Troy about it.

"Later," Emily said softly to Troy.

But her intention didn't work, for Justin, like Riley, sensing that it
was the right moment for pressing for answers, popped off with, "Mom,
does Dad have a girl friend?  Will he go stay with her tonight?"

The flush spreading up Emily's cheeks surprised her.  Why would she
react that way in her sons' company when she hadn't in Evan's?  And
she wasn't certain whether Justin was worried about his father's
having someplace to stay or needed some clarification of his status.
"Yes, he has a girl friend," Emily stated.  A questioning look still
marking Troy's face, she explained, "I sought advice from Evan when
I realized that your father was involved with another woman.  That's
when we discussed your return home, Troy."  Susan looked
sympathetically at Troy, for she understood everything in a trice.
If Troy were returning home, it could only be because Roy wouldn't
be there, a situation marking a major break.

His mind following Susan's, Troy asked, "Are you divorcing Dad?" His
face displayed no emotion.

Emily sighed in defeat.  It had been a long, emotionally draining
evening.  "I might as well tell you boys now while we're all together.
I've already seen an attorney.  I was going to file for a divorce
after I had a chance to talk to your father.  But this evening's
events will change that timetable dramatically.  I don't wish your
father ill.  I don't hate him or anything like that although I'm angry
with him.  I also feel sorry for him."  She paused.  "I don't want you
boys looking on your father as the enemy.  But he won't be returning
home except to collect his belongings.  I don't like adding yet
another court date in his life, but these issues must be resolved
now."  She blew Troy's mind with her next statement:  "I apologize for
our not being able to hold our marriage together for you boys.  But it
takes more than one person focused on the same goal to do that."

All the boys looked somber.  Emily continued, looking at Troy:  "After
some thought, I asked Evan to serve as a sounding board to clarify
some of the issues in this situation. Evan has experience in this area.
He was an excellent choice.  He listened while I talked myself through
decisions.  He asked good questions to direct my thinking.  He
referred me to an attorney, whom I've consulted and like a lot.  I
asked Evan if he'd mind if you returned home, Troy.  He said that he
knew you'd want to."  She pulled Susan and Cody into her glance.  "I
also told Evan that I thought you'd want to keep your bedroom there
too so that you could stay there some nights.  Evan was relieved."
Now she looked at her other three sons.  "I don't know what you boys
did to Evan, but he wants more overnights and movie parties with you
guys."

"Yea-a-a-a-ah," Riley softly chanted as he pumped his right arm gently
in the air, evoking smiles from the group.  The moment was too grave
for a stronger reaction from them.

Suddenly, Emily's cell phone called through the air.  She dashed to
her purse while Troy, Cody, and Susan swapped glances and smiles.
Their relationship would not be a casualty of this night's events and
the changes those events would engender.  Their wordless conversation
was not lost on Drew and Justin, who, in turn, traded glances full of
meaning.

Emily had begun talking into the phone, giving information about their
location in the hospital.  She signed off and walked over to the
group.  "Boys, the police officers who came to the house will be here
in a little bit to take a statements from you.  Riley, they want to
take pictures of your face and to pick up the attending physician's
report on your condition."  She pulled them all into her glance. "I'm
staying here with Riley tonight.  Troy, could you stay at home with
Drew and Justin?"

"Of course, Mom.  But I better call Evan."

"Yes, please do, and relate this evening's events to him.  And tell
him that I had an appointment with Miles this week."

"Miles Forbisher?  Evan's attorney?" Troy asked.

"Yes," Emily answered.  "Miles will be representing me in the
divorce."

Pausing only a few seconds, Troy asked, "What did the doctor say about
Riley?  In case Evan asks."

"Riley has to stay here for observation tonight.  He has a concussion.
I'll be able to take him home, probably tomorrow afternoon.  He has to
stay home from school the rest of the week."  Riley pumped the air
with his arm again.  "But he can go back to school on Monday."  The
pumping arm fell.

"Okay."  Troy pulled out his cell phone and sauntered out into the
hall, calling Evan.

"Emily, if you don't mind," Susan began, "I'll return home with Troy
and clean up in the kitchen so that you won't have that facing you
tomorrow."

"Oh, my gosh!  I didn't shut anything off under dinner," Emily
exclaimed, her hands clasped against her cheeks as she contemplated a
domestic horror.

"Don't worry, Mom," Drew said, placing a hand on his mother's
shoulder. "Justin and I shut everything down.  But we didn't clean
anything up.  We didn't know what to do with it."

"Thank you, boys.  And thank you, Susan.  I appreciate not having to
come home to a mess."  Suddenly, Emily looked stricken.  "Oh dear, I
haven't even thought about work tomorrow or the rest of this week.
I'd better make some calls now. Will you all please excuse me?" She
followed Troy out into the hall with her purse, containing her address
book and cell phone.

				***

Roy Morgan sat in lock-up, bewildered by the evening's events.  It
wasn't just what had happened at home.  Somewhere in his memory there
was a disconnect between what had occurred before he must have hit
Riley and what had happened afterward.  About all he remembered was
being surprised to see Riley on the floor. He hadn't meant to hurt
him.  Then everything seemed to explode in all sorts of directions.
He couldn't believe Emily called 911.  How could she do that?  She
loved respectability.  'She won't have any of that now,' he gloated.
He imagined the folks on Alford Drive would give the Morgans and their
home a wide berth from now on.  Well, she'd brought it on herself,
overreacting like that.  He felt that the evening's events were Emily
and Troy's fault.  They were to blame for getting everyone on edge.
That damned fag son of his!  Try as he might, he could never understand
how he could have a queer for a son.  Roy was too virile. Besides,
jocks were never fags.

Roy was also vexed by what happened after he'd been processed at the
jail.  He'd phoned Ben Tanner, a lawyer with whom he chatted
sometimes at the firm where he worked, but Walt was out for the
evening.  He thought maybe Ben wouldn't charge him as much or might
even represent him for free.  At least help get him out of jail.

Roy'd called Tricia to see if she would arrange for bail, but when she
heard what had happened, she gulped, apologized, and said she couldn't
be involved with him anymore, and rang off.  Damn!  He hated to lose
her.  She must be more timid than he imagined.  He couldn't think of a
good reason for her to be so touchy about what had happened.  After
all, it meant that they could have been together, free and clear of
his wife and family.  She'd craved his dick.  He'd made her thrum with
pleasure in bed.  How could she do without that in the future?  He'd
never understand women.

Tricia was the respectable, classy girlfriend, the one he was proud
of.  He'd met her at a trendy bar where a bunch from the office had
gone to celebrate a guy's birthday.  She'd been sitting in a booth all
alone, on the rebound, he'd learned. He was surprised how easy it was
to seduce her.  She was one of those single college graduates who'd
established a successful career before looking for romance.  Now she
was finding it difficult to locate romance.  He smiled.  She had been
downright desperate.  He'd really poured on the charm.  She'd been
tipsy.  Before he knew it they were in her bedroom screwing.  She'd
been delighted with his body and dick.  It was nice to be worshipped
by a woman again.  Better than the prickly porcupine he'd had at home.
He'd fucked Tricia three times that night, surprising even himself.
He decided that his marriage and family had inhibited his sex drive,
all the more reason to step out occasionally. 'Use it or lose it,' he
thought, chuckling.  For a few weeks, it was as though Tricia couldn't
get enough of him.

When their relationship was cooling a little, he'd met Bunny, a
waitress at a truck stop cafe out by the Interstate on the western
side of the city.  She was bold, brassy, and built.  Though young, she
was twice divorced and hungry for a man. There wasn't much in her head
- she was a bimbette!  Not only could she sling hash, but she could
also sling her big tits and pussy.  He liked it that she really
directed their lovemaking, all focused on him.  Again, he felt
worshipped. Bunny knew how to appreciate a man.  And did he ever
perform for her.

Bunny was the most wanton woman he'd ever known, including all the
women he'd bedded in college.  She'd bought him thongs, which she
wanted him to wear all the time when they were at her home.  But he
was never allowed to stay in a thong for long.  They'd fucked all over
the house.  She wasn't a nympho, but she was headed in that direction.
However, he couldn't take her just any place socially.  She was
beautiful, but she wouldn't fit in with the couples at social events
at work, he decided.  Still, he wouldn't be alone with Bunny
dancing attendance upon him.  He could always shop around for a
replacement while Bunny helped him get his rocks off.

A malicious smile crossed his mouth.  He was imagining Emily's
reaction when she learned that he'd had TWO girlfriends.  How lurid -
a husband who had a wife and TWO girlfriends.  He chuckled.  It faded
to a smile and then nothing. Hell, Emily would divorce him now.  He
groused to himself yet again that it was too bad she made the bigger
salary.  He concluded that as soon as he made bail, he'd better go to
the bank and clean out the checking and savings accounts - unless she
beat him to it.  He might be able to create a nest egg of several
thousand dollars.

Roy had called Bunny to ask that she come to the jail to help arrange
bail.  She said she would arrive there after her shift, which wasn't
over until midnight.  She didn't say anything when Roy told her what
had happened.  He'd stay with Bunny until he could decide what to do.
He didn't think he wanted to live with her for very long before he
found himself a small apartment.  Nothing too big. Then he'd have an
excuse for not having the boys over often.  When he found someone
better, he didn't want the hassle of moving out of Bunny's house.
Maybe she'd allow him to maintain a secret relationship even after he
had a public girl friend.

He was glad Bunny could help him with the bail.  If she hadn't been
able to, he might, out of desperation, have had to call that queer,
Logan McDonald, the head of the Legal Department at work.  Roy
couldn't stand him.  The women in the office were always going on
about his honey-colored hair, high cheekbones on a square face,
narrowing down to a smaller square chin.  Broad shoulders, probably 5'
11".  Sharp dresser.  The women at work complained about what a loss
it was that Logan wasn't straight.

Their boss, Bruce Corbett, and Logan often took long lunches together.
Roy was surprised that the firm was facing so many legal issues that
such long working lunches were required.  He'd noticed several times,
when they gathered for a birthday drink at a bar, that Bruce and Logan
left together. He couldn't see why a married man like Bruce wanted to
spend so much time with a queer like Logan.  He'd thought a couple of
times about dropping into Bruce's office to suggest that he get rid of
Logan.  But he finally decided that it would look odd for someone from
the Marketing Department, who rarely worked with anyone in Legal, to
suggest that the head be fired.  He bet Bruce hadn't even caught on
that Logan was a fairy.  Bruce would be grateful to him for saving his
reputation.  He just had to find a good excuse to clue him in.

It never occurred to Roy that by connecting with a lawyer in his firm,
he would ensure that the stories about him would immediately begin
circulating around the firm and, as Evan Halsey had warned, out into
the city.  Or that Bunny had other connections who knew people who
knew people who were acquaintances with individuals in Roy's firm or
had heard of or were acquainted with Roy.

				***

By the second day, the news was all over Templeton High School.  Troy
couldn't imagine how the grapevine picked up the story so quickly.
His puzzlement testified to his seldom realizing how popular he was
among the student body, how big events in his life were news.  He
certainly wasn't telling anyone anything about the Morgans' troubles.
He knew Cody didn't carry tales.  And he knew Susan wasn't telling
anyone.  Maybe it started where his dad worked.  Emily was still home
with Riley.  He couldn't see Emily telling anyone at work yet about
what happened with Riley.  He was ashamed for and of his father.
He'd wondered if people looked down on his family and him because of
what had happened.  Odd.  He didn't feel that way when his dad kicked
him out. There would have been more reason for shame then.  So why now?
In a flash of insight, he realized that being kicked out of his home
reflected only on him, but recent events in the Morgan family reflected
on all of them.

Students kept coming up to Troy, asking how Riley was.  Troy's
teachers wanted to know if he would be moving back home with his
family.  Troy could tell that they assumed Roy's residence would no
longer be with the Morgans.  He knew they wanted to ask about his
mother's plans, but politeness kept them from doing so.

Many used the occasion to demonstrate their respect for Troy, and that
helped balance his feelings of shame.  LaRonda brought a ball cap with
Riley's name and "Morgans' Sluggers" stitched on it.  Her younger
brother Jar-el helped her pick it out at the big mall.  'Now when did
she have time to do that?' Troy wondered.

Tony and Angela brought a get-well card for Riley.  "There's a gift
certificate inside," Tony explained earnestly.  "At your movie party,
I remembered Riley's asking if he'd eaten at our restaurant.  So now
he can be host to his family." Angela had winked at Troy when Tony
handed him the card.

Evan handed Troy a card as well.  "I used the computer to create one
of those punch cards we used to get at birthday parties when I was a
kid."  He grinned shyly.  "I used to love getting them.  They were
from the local drug store.  There were X's all around the edges.  Each
one was worth a dime or a quarter, just enough for a Coke or candy
bar.  When a kid used one, they'd punch a hole where the X was.  These
X's are for overnights for Riley."

Troy grinned.  "Why do I think your gift amounts to drumming up
trade?"

"Trade?" Evan responded with a little attitude.

"Ensuring that Riley will visit you a lot?" Troy replied.

Evan turned away, but not before surreptitiously flipping the bird at
Troy.  Troy laughed aloud, pleased that he'd gotten a rise out of
Evan.  Jeremy and Kenny had placed movie passes inside their card for
Riley, promising to escort him themselves.

LeKeisha had a card for Riley.  "Tell him he gets a big kiss from me
when he sees me."  Troy, Susan and Cody immediately started cracking
up.  "What?" LaKeisha asked, her brow wrinkled.

"Boy, are you in for a surprise," Cody gasped.  "Roland had better
watch out. Stud Riley will be on the prowl."

When they related the details of Riley's kissing Susan, LeKeisha's
eyes grew in size.  "He was French kissing!" Susan exclaimed.

"What?" Troy asked in surprise.  Cody delivered his trademark
lascivious grin. "Tongue?" Troy asked, disbelief clear on his face.

"Tongue," Susan verified.

"I can't believe this.  Young guys have to work up to tongue, but my
little brother is into tongue by the third grade?" Troy exclaimed.

Susan's laughter bubbled up.  "Your little brother bears watching,"
she said.

"Something tells me he's been watching his big brother plenty,"
LeKeisha teased.

"He picks up things quickly," Susan observed to LeKeisha.  "You'll
have trouble keeping up with him if you aren't careful," she warned
Troy, grinning all the while.

"I always knew you Morgan boys were dangerous, the kind my mama warned
me about!" LeKeisha commented as she walked away, shaking her head and
smiling.

The stream of gifts and cards continued throughout the day.  Kate
Williams handed Troy a card as she made her rounds in the cafeteria
during lunch.  She also asked about Emily.  Troy found it difficult to
finish his lunch for the interruptions and questions about Riley.
Kathleen Burge found him then, giving him a card.  Troy suspected
there might be some dollar bills in some of the cards. Ron Hamilton
had him stop by the desk after chemistry class.  He handed him a small
gift bag with apples, oranges, bananas, and a couple of granola bars
along with a card.  Byron Okata and Sherry Westbrook, Paul Hartford
and Beth Walker, Jared Paine and Valerie Cunningham, Wendy Fielding
(and Shane McComber, her college-aged boyfriend) had brought Match
Box cars for Riley along with cards. Recognizing coordinated
gift-giving, Troy smiled, knowing that Riley's book bag would always
house a few Match Box cars from now on - unless his teacher confiscated
them, that is.

Riley had made a haul!  Troy asked Susan and Cody to help him truck
all the gifts and cards to his car after their last class, inviting
them to come watch Riley wade through the cards and gifts after he and
Cody finished basketball practice. When they were stowing everything
in the back seat of Troy's car, Burt Graham, Jonah Stedman, Denton
Cooper, and Greg Dunwoodie drove up in Burt's car. The four alighted,
greeting everyone and inquiring about Riley.  Jonah handed Troy a big
wrapped box with a big bow on top.  "What's this?" Troy asked.

"Riley's very own basketball with his name on it," Jonah answered
proudly.

"Oh man, he's going to love that," Cody exclaimed.  Then to everyone's
surprise, Denton handed Troy a card.  Troy looked at the name on the
front of the envelope.  "To my mom?" he asked Denton.

Immediately, Denton ducked his head, stammering out, "I . . .I figure
. . . your dad is taking off. . . .When you're lonely. . . it hurts.
You think nobody knows . . . knows how you're feeling, I mean. . . . I
just wanted her to know . . . that someone hoped she wouldn't be
lonely . . . that someone understood," he rushed to finish and move
all those eyes off of him.  They looked in amazement at Denton.  No
one expected such sensitivity from him.  They also had a new
appreciation for Denton's past, which had given him more than a
passing acquaintance with loneliness.  And they had all been so
focused on Riley that no one except maybe Susan had given any thought
to Emily's situation.

Greg put a hand on Denton's shoulder.  "Nice gesture, Man.  Wish I'd
thought of it," Greg said.  Troy strode over and gave Denton a big hug
and then kissed him on the cheek, increasing his embarrassment but
leaving him with a big smile on his face.  Susan shook her head in
agreement with some interior monologue playing in her head, generating
mysterious plans.

Troy and Cody had to excuse themselves to make basketball practice on
time. After practice, Dave Hernandez made a point of calling Troy over
to ask how Riley was and how his mother was handling the situation.
He too handed Troy a card and a little box.  "What's in it?" Troy
asked.  "A coach's whistle," Dave said shyly.  "Oh Man, he'll be
blowing that thing all over the house," Troy said, faking injury,
"driving us crazy.  We're going to get even with you next Saturday,"
he promised archly.  "I'm going to make certain he brings it to
basketball practice and blows it every time you shoot."  Dave flipped
Troy the bird, causing Cody to crack up.  Dave also asked a couple of
polite questions about how Emily was holding up any help.  Dave had
met Emily and talked to her after ballgames several times, so they
weren't complete strangers.

Troy had asked Dave to the last two of the Morgan-Saxon Saturday
Scrimmages, and Dave had appeared.  The younger Morgan brothers liked
him immediately. Being a coach, Dave couldn't withhold giving them
pointers on their play.  He made certain to treat Riley the same as
his brothers and Cody, offering him playing advice too.  He even
scrimmaged with them, and when he was on the same team as Riley and
Riley had the ball, following the others' lead, Dave lifted him to the
basket.  Riley was impressed that the "big coach" was working with
them.  When they left the ball court on the second Saturday, Troy
noted that Dave seemed reluctant to part company with them, suggesting
that they pick up a coke someplace.  Troy had had to beg off since he
knew his mother was holding lunch for the boys, but he told Dave they'd
plan to do that next Saturday.  He wondered if their Saturday meetings
filled some kind of void in Dave's life.

				***

As custodians of the academic year, the teachers at Templeton Senior
High School could feel the end of the spring term barreling down upon
them.  They were hustling to complete their semester goals, which
meant pushing students, who were susceptible to Spring Fever.  In
Evan Halsey's courses, that meant completing the semester's capstone
assignment, research papers.  Evan was pleased with the growth in
writing skills among his students, but there were still some skills
that needed to be finalized.  He'd moved them from focusing only on
writer-based prose to attending to format as a component of meaning.
He'd been trying to nudge them on to producing prose focused on their
readers.

To establish that perspective, Evan had pulled some examples from a
writing assignment that would become part of the research paper.  The
excerpts, with no names attached, illustrated readers' need for more
information.  One of the examples came from Tony Francini.  It was
obviously produced in haste, meeting the "letter" but not the "spirit"
of the assignment.  It referred to a poem possessing a mystical theme
without any supporting information.  Evan commented on what torture it
was for a reader tantalized by the title to try to make meaning with
so little information.  When Paul Hartford asked who was writing on
that topic, Evan, watching Tony in the corner of his visual field,
replied, "de Sade."  Laughter rippled softly around the classroom.

Evan decided to have some fun not unrelated to the day's lesson.  "If
you guys can remember an allusion like 'de Sade,' why can't you
remember some of the literary allusions that occur in the works we
read?"  He went on to explain how a writer might add some clarifying
details in subsequent sentences to flesh out and support a reader's
reaction.

"It's Tony," Byron Okata popped off.  Tony's head spun about, his eyes
nailing Byron, who had a grin plastered across his face.  "He keeps us
up to date on all the kinky stuff out there."

Angela quickly covered her mouth to hide a big grin.  Tony cocked an
eyebrow in challenge to Byron.  "You're the one who wanted me to teach
you what wasn't covered in Sex Ed."  Then he grinned, having delivered
a riposte.

"Naw, Sherry spotted lots of gaps in your information.  She's the real
teacher." Byron turned to Angela.  "She wants to talk to you Angela;
she thinks she can help you get more out of Tony, performance-wise."
The class roared.  For once, Tony colored.  They loved it - Tony's
taking some of the verbal knocks he was so skilled at handing out to
others.  Not many people got ahead of Tony when it came to smart-ass
comebacks, but Bryon had clearly trumped Tony's reply.

Evan loved it - Byron was loosening up nicely.  Probably due to
Sherry's influence.  He'd have to express his gratitude to Ron, for he
had been the matchmaker for those two.  However, his students' levity
commanded the moment.  "Gentlemen, and I use that term charitably,
let's move back to the matter at hand.  Let's focus above the belt,
please.  All eyes were on Tony, who, following Evan's request, turned
around, staring at Angela's breasts.  She blushed and crossed her arms
over her chest. Again the class roared.

"Mr. Francini," Evan began, "the lesson - let's focus on the lesson!
And since you are so alert today, why don't you explain for us the
allusion 'terra incognita' in D. H. Lawrence's poem of that name, the
allusion so casually dropped into this line of prose without any of
the details I just mentioned."  Tony grinned evilly. "And I don't want
your triple-X version," Evan added just in time to head off a "blue"
answer.  Again, the class laughed.

Troy was glad that the class had ended on such a high note.  He wanted
to talk to Evan about not staying at his home the past few nights.
He'd told Evan when he called from the hospital that he'd be staying
at Emily's until life there settled down.  But he'd had little
opportunity to talk to Evan since then.  He knew Evan was wondering
what Riley thought about his gift card with all overnights he'd
promised him.  They hadn't talked about Troy's keeping his bedroom at
Evan's. Susan and he had decided that it was a discussion best
accomplished with Troy and Evan alone.

Troy wished that there were a more leisurely occasion when he could
sit down with Evan, express to him how much he hated to leave his new
home at 8416 Williston Drive, how grateful he was, but he needed to
drop by Evan's that afternoon for some clothes, and he didn't want to
run in and run out.  He wanted to be certain Evan was there when he
came by because it didn't seem right to leave signs that he'd been
there for Evan to discover when he arrived home. Such a situation
would imply feelings about Evan far more casual than Troy had ever
harbored.  He knew he had to talk to Evan now as class broke.  Still,
it felt as though he were using Evan.  He hated that.

As Troy walked to the desk, he was thankful that his classmates were
all moving out the door.  When Evan saw Troy approaching, he smiled at
him.  "Hey, Evan," Troy began, "I wish there were a better time to ask
you, but I'm buried now with school, basketball, and home - my other
home, I mean."  Evan shook his head in understanding.  "Riley loved
the card.  He's already pushing to have an overnight at your place.
And he's quite clear that Drew and Justin don't need to come. That was
the issue that prompted Dad to hit Riley.  Riley was telling him that
he WAS staying overnight with me at your home, no matter what Dad
said."  A slight frown flickered in the corners of Evan's mouth.

Troy continued:  "Mom told us at the hospital that she'd talked to you
about Dad's being involved with another woman.  I'm glad you helped
her, Evan.  She told you that I'd want to keep my bedroom at your
place.  May I?  There are times when I'll want to get away - maybe
study for exams, come in late from a party, you know."
Uncharacteristically, Troy colored.  "Oh hell, Evan, you know that
Susan and Cody and I still need someplace to be together.  We can't
give that up.  What I hate about this is that, now that I'm back home,
it's like we're using you to satisfy our own needs.  I don't want you
to feel used, but I'd really like to maintain a presence at your place
too.  It's been great, Evan.  Except for rarely seeing Mom and the
boys, I've been so happy in your home.  I'm torn two ways:  I want to
be close to my family, but I want to live at your home too.  A little
selfish, I suppose.  My favorite teacher and my friend right there in
the house with me when I need him.  I guess instead of whining, I
should feel lucky that there are two good homes pulling me."

Evan had been listening carefully to Troy, looking somber.  'It's
happening again,' he thought, 'not being able to stay linked to
someone I love.'  He pushed the thought from his mind.  "I wouldn't
call it whining, Troy, not after all the stresses you've felt
recently.  I told you when you moved in that our home is your home.
That room is yours for as long as you want it - no questions asked."

"I can't escape this feeling that we're using you, Evan.  That I'm
turning your home into The Quickie Motel - 'Pay by the hour.'"

"I have a suggestion," Evan ventured, "only if you're comfortable with
it, of course."

"Yeah?" Troy asked.

"Don't speak of it as MY home.  Speak of it as OUR home even if you
spend some nights on Alford Drive.  I've noticed that a shift in your
thinking has occurred.  Before your moving back home, you called our
place your home, even with your brothers.  When you moved back there,
I think you saw yourself returning to an old path.  It doesn't have to
be that way, you know.  Jeremy and Kenny have two homes.  Why can't
you?"

Troy was silent for a bit, mulling Evan's point.  "I'd never realized
that I had moved right back into my old perspective on Alford Drive.
I COULD have two homes.  Mom's certainly okay with that.  She's never
made a distinction at all between your place and my former home.
Okay, I'll try it.  I wish I could think of a way to repay you for all
that you've done for me - more than I can even identify."

"No pay required.  You've given me more than you realize.  It's more
personal than I care to explain, so let's just say the account is
balanced and closed. Okay?"

Troy grinned, looked over his shoulder to see if anyone was around,
looped an arm around Evan's neck, and pulled him into a hot kiss.
When he pulled back, he was beaming.  "You're still going to get lots
of those," he promised.

				***

A week after his chat with Evan, Troy was worrying about Emily.  In
high-stakes divorce cases, Miles Forbisher had learned that it paid
to have a private investigator nose around.  The most beneficial
information to his clients usually emerged.  That was how he'd
learned about Roy's two girl friends.  Miles had had to pass on the
information to Emily, which he hated.  He could see immediately that
it fell on her like a boulder.  Emily had withdrawn into herself.
Well, it had been a shock to all of them.  It made Roy seem a
Bluebeard.  A single girl friend was one thing.  But more than one
made an entirely different statement, one for which Emily was
unprepared.

Despite the burdens she bore, Emily still went to work as comptroller
at her corporate employer, and she was still a warm, loving mother,
especially after the trauma the family had experienced.  She doted on
Riley, and paid special attention to them all.  She would
spontaneously hug Troy, thanking him for giving up his former
independence to return home to help out.  But he'd catch her standing
at the window, looking out pensively.  Or if the boys were talking a
lot at the dinner table, she'd withdraw into herself.  She didn't go
anywhere but to work and to the locations where she discharged her
duties as a "soccer mom."

Emily had a cordial, polite relationship with her parents, but nothing
more. Something was amiss there, Troy knew.  He thought his
grandparents' distance was due to his father, who'd probably sounded
off too many times from his narrow perspectives.  Troy had never heard
what his mother's family had thought about him when Roy had kicked him
out.  All in all, Troy doubted his mother's family had liked Roy's
perspective on Emily's role and obligations.

Emily had a "let's go shopping" kind of relationship with her sisters
and sisters-in-law, but she wasn't really close to any of them.  Even
when they talked on the phone, she was listening to them share aspects
of their lives. She talked about her family only to answer questions.
Usually, they called her. She called them only if they had difficulties
or illness in their lives.  Ever since that disastrous night when Roy
had hit Riley, she'd started declining invitations to go shopping with
his aunts, to attend the wedding and baby showers that occurred
frequently in a large family with a herd of nieces and nephews, or to
meet for lunch.  Troy couldn't entirely blame her for that.  His aunts
were being persistent in trying to find out about Roy, his girl friends,
the divorce, Emily's plans, new men in her life, and the like.  As
Susan observed, Emily was not a "woman's woman, who loved the company
of women.  She was a man's woman.

Troy had thought about suggesting that Susan sound his mother out, but
he wasn't certain his mother would feel comfortable talking to Susan
about such issues.  Susan was too near in age to Roy's girlfriends.
He'd wondered if Emily had talked to Evan or anyone about her
loneliness, but he didn't think so.  His mother was not one to talk
about herself personally to her own family, and he didn't think Evan
and his mother were all that close.

At Troy's ballgames, Emily sat alone, for Riley wanted to be with
Drew and Justin, who were more than willing to include him when they
sat with their friends or Troy's and Cody's buddies.  They had
discovered that cute Riley like a magnet to cute girls their age.
Riley was popular with all their friends.  Even more so Troy's and
Cody's.

Troy thought he had noticed Coach Hernandez looking for Emily in the
crowd before a game started - at least Troy thought that was what he
was doing.  He always stopped scanning the crowd when his eyes moved
to the location where Emily was sitting.  At Drew and Justin's
basketball games, Troy, Susan, Cody, and Riley remained with Emily,
making it a family occasion.  She seemed a little more relaxed, more
outgoing at those times.  He remembered Denton Cooper's sensitivity to
his mother's potential loneliness, taking himself to task for not
trying to change her circumstances.  But he didn't know what to do.
Troy was frustrated.  In fact, it was getting so that he couldn't
stand it.

One evening, when he was with Susan, Cody, Jeremy, and Kenny at their
diner hangout, Troy blurted out his frustration.  Susan asked for
details, which Troy related.  "Emily needs another man," Cody said
simply.  The group at the table stared at Cody, surprised at his
response.  "Think about it," Cody exclaimed. "You told us once that
Emily's a man's woman, Susan.  That's what defines her. Her man.  Look
how long she let Roy ride roughshod over her.  She has no man now.
She's feeling lost."

"Yeah," Troy muttered, "she said something like that once - women in
her family were raised to think that way.  But who is there for her?

"Do you know any eligible men where your mom works, Troy?" Jeremy
asked.

"No, Mom never talks much about work.  In our house, her job wasn't
important - only Dad's.  To him, the only important thing was her
bringing home a second paycheck - and it was a big one.  For all I
know, she may have earned more than he did.  In fact, she makes enough
that she was thinking about not asking for child support.  I told her
Dad owed it to us.  If he weren't going to be spending it on his sons,
then she'd just be giving him that much more money to spend on his
chippies.  And even more reason to forget his obligations to us.  I
saw a little fire in her eyes when I said that.  I suggested she bank
his payments for our college if she didn't need them.  Even she knew
Dad wouldn't be coming up with college money for us."

"Well, who is there who would be a good match for your mom?" Susan
asked. Silence ensued.

All of a sudden, Cody began snickering.  "What?" Troy asked.  Cody's
snickers changed to chuckles.  Again, Troy asked, "What?"

Cody made certain he had their full attention.  "Hunky D-a-v-e
Hernandez," he said, drawing the first name out.  They swapped
glances.

"Be still my heart," Troy whispered.  "Dave would be such a good match
for Mom.  It could work."

"Coach Hernandez is interested?" Kenny inquired.

"Oh yeah, I think so.  He had lots of questions about Mom when the
story started around school," Troy replied.  "You've heard him, Cody.
When he plays basketball with us on Saturday mornings, he always asks
about Mom."

"Always," Cody responded.  "That's what gave me the idea.  I think ole
Dave could develop the hots for Emily."

"You crude dawg," Susan drawled, playfully punching Cody in the gut.
He quickly grabbed her hand and pulled it to his lips, giving it a
passionate, sloppy, wet kiss and then gently licking a couple of
fingers."  He could feel Susan beginning to tremble, giving rise to a
smile on his face.  He loved it when he aroused an inner reaction in
contrast to her cool exterior.  Made him know beyond a doubt that she
loved him.  Susan's reactions usually put a bone in his dick.  This
occasion wasn't an exception.

"Where's a bucket of water?" Troy asked, looking around as though he
might spot one on the premises.  "We've got to cool this boy down."
Susan began chuckling.

"I can't help it," Cody exclaimed.  Looking stricken, he stated
emphatically, "We NEED a night together."  Susan and he looked at
Troy.  Jeremy and Kenny listened spellbound, waiting for verification
of what they and others had long suspected.

"R-i-g-h-t," Troy answered.  "I've been needing it too.  It's just
that I've been helping out at home."  He thought for a bit.  "We
better make it a week night.  If it's on the weekend, Mr. Riley Morgan
will insist on being included."  He looked slyly at Susan.  "Since
he's already giving tongue when he kisses, I don't want him anywhere
near you two if we're being amorous."  Troy shared in their levity.

"Enough's enough!" Jeremy declared.  "You guys are a threesome,
right?"

"Yes," Susan answered.  "I'm lucky enough to have two handsome
lovers."

Awed, Kenny asked, "You do it together?"

"It's hot," Troy answered, reaching over and squeezing the back of
Kenny's neck, his signature gesture for expressing fondness for
someone.

"Oh, man," Kenny cooed, impressed and excited.

"Down, Boy," Jeremy said, pulling Kenny back against his chest and
sliding his arms around his waist.

"But Daddy, they play kinky," Kenny mimicked a little boy.

"Hm-m-m-m-m," Cody hummed.  "Now who is it who does this scene where a
daddy makes it with little Kenny Walters in his boyhood bed?"  Jeremy
and Kenny broke up over that.  "And you call a threesome kinky?" Cody
charged.

"What we do isn't kinky," Jeremy said.  "Just sexual research."

"Let's get back to what we can do for Mom," Troy advised.  "Mom's old
fashioned:  she won't date while she's still married.  That really
limits what can happen for her until after the divorce.  I know Mom.
Even then, she won't do anything.  We have to jump-start a life with a
man for her.  How can we do that?"

They were silent.  "Oh-h-h-h-h-h-h," Kenny sounded, drawing everyone's
attention.  "I know.  It's a perfect setting.  Your mom and Dave will
be together, but no one will consider it a date."

"What?" Troy asked eagerly.

"At the reception after Jeremy's adoption, Evan and my mom had a long
conversation.  She wanted to know how she could get Jeremy and me to
spend more time at home.  Evan gave her some suggestions.  One was to
have a party and invite our friends so that they could get to know my
parents and home. Mom's pushed me a couple of times to set a date, but
everything has been so busy.  We could do that now.  It could be a
spring get-together - something innocent like that.  Mom's good at
coming up with those themes.  Maybe a 'pre-seniors party' since
that's what we'll all be next year."

Kenny took a moment to check his line of thought.  "I could put my mom
up to inviting your mom, Troy, since you guys are such close friends
to Jeremy and me.  I'd tell her we want Dad and her to get to know
some of the adults who are important to our friends and us.  And we
could invite Dave because he plays basketball with you guys on
Saturday.  Besides, they've gone to some Templeton games with their
friends, so they'd be delighted to have Dave in their home.  Mom and
Dad will insist that Evan attend.  Mom already said she's going to
hire Donna Merton to cater the event.  You know we'll ask Ron Hamilton.
Probably Miles Forbisher and Jim Belton because my parents met them at
the adoption reception.  I think they were intrigued by them. We could
invite Kate Williams and Dr. Sorenson.  Heck, if I know Mom, she'll
invite Judge Feldman too.  There will be enough adults there so that
it won't look like your mom is dating anyone."

"It'll work," Troy exclaimed.  "It'll at least break the ice for those
two.  A couple of weeks later I could ask mom if we could have Dave
for dinner since he's helping us with Saturday basketball.

"You should invite Ron and Evan too," Susan suggested.

"Yeah," Troy answered, "good idea.  Then after the divorce, I could
persuade her to have dinner to pay Miles back for all his help.  We
could invite Dave again."

"And if we're getting them together this often, I think Dave will
step in and create his own tasteful opportunities to keep your
mom company," Susan concluded.

"I wonder if Mom knows Evan and Ron are a couple," Troy asked.

"Well, if she hasn't figured it out, you can tell her," Susan
suggested.  "From having been around her, I don't think that that
would be a problem for her, would it?"

"Naw," Troy answered, "she has a brother who's gay, Uncle Brent.  She
won't stand for anyone treating him rudely when the family's together.
It's about the only time I've seen her assert herself with her other
brother and sisters.  It's so rare that when she did the first time it
happened, they were stunned.  Nobody gave her any guff.  Not even her
brother and brothers-in-law.  My granddad started to say something and
she cut him right off.  Even Grandma didn't challenge her.  Funny I
didn't realize then how strong Mom was."

"Sounds like a plan," Kenny said.  "I'll talk to Mom tonight."

				***

The idea had formed gradually in Kenny's mind after Cody had teased
Jeremy and him about their kinky sex scenarios.  When they made love,
they occasionally assumed roles in a scenario, a hangover from his
relationship with Robert Martin.  Even more, they were the impetus
for their ambushes of Evan Halsey at the beginning of the academic
year, occasions about which Jeremy had interrogated him in detail when
they'd taken up with each other.  Kenny figured out a clever way to
make a new one happen.  He'd dropped an invitation in the driver's
seat of Jeremy's car.

	"Hey, Stud!  I'm a street hustler.  Seen you driving
	up and down my street, your dick hard, cruisin' me.
	Wonder your tongue wasn't hangin' out as much as you
	wanted me.  The other hustlers on my street talk
	about you.  We think you're a virgin.  What a laugh!
	A long, tall, hot hunk like you a virgin.  Let me
	make you feel real good.  I want to shove my nose
	into your crack, and when I'm drunk on your man smell,
	I want to eat your ass out.  Then I want to eat your
	dick.  Come to 8416 Williston Drive at 3:30 on
	Wednesday afternoon. Walk in the front door.  You'll
	find me behind the door at the end of the hall off
	the living room.  Come on in.  You won't be sorry.
	Lance, the boy hustler!"

Of course, Jeremy would recognize his own address.  The idea of
playing the role of the prostitute thrilled Kenny.  He knew Jeremy
would love his role as a John too.

A half hour before the appointed time, Kenny had driven to Jeremy's
and let himself in with his key.  He'd gone to Jeremy's bedroom,
dressing in the costume that he'd gathered over the last couple of
days, turning back the sheets on the bed, and making other
preparations.  Right on time, he heard Jeremy enter the front door and
walk down the hall.  It was all Kenny could do to stifle a laugh when
he heard Jeremy's determined tread, signaling that he was closing in
on prey.  The door swung open.

When his eyes first took in Kenny, Jeremy's nostrils flared.  Looking
back over his shoulder, Kenny stood there in white nylon shorts so
tight that they were hiked up his ass.  The shorts left about two
inches of his lower ass cheeks bare, the part where his ass began to
pooch out.  Finding the effect beautiful and exciting, Jeremy was on
the bone instantly.  He wanted to lick that exposed part of that hot
ass.

In the absence of underwear, Kenny's nearly hard, fat dick and balls
moved back and forth in the shorts as he slowly turned and moved, his
sexy hips swaying. Kenny's dark bush was visible through the thin
nylon.  The shorts accentuated Kenny's slim, shapely legs, which
appeared longer because of the white athletic anklets and simple
tennis shoes he wore.  He had cut a white muscle tee off right at the
bottom of his pecs.  The material flared slightly from his white skin,
accentuating the straight lines of his torso, allowing occasional
glimpses of his dark nipples.  The thick hair in his pits peeked out
under his arm, an effect that always turned Jeremy's crank.

Taking in the sight of his sexy lover, Jeremy had begun breathing
faster and deeper.  He dropped his book bag, easing the door shut.
"Virginal white?" he snickered.  "Little street boy wants me to make
him a bride?  Take his throbbing cherry?" he sneered.

When Kenny moved near, Jeremy whispered, "Hot costume.  Don't lose it;
I want to see it again."  Kenny slowly removed Jeremy's jacket,
allowing only his fingertips to brush against Jeremy's body.  Kenny
walked close enough that their bodies didn't touch but that their body
heat and scent moved over each other. Kenny couldn't stifle a low moan
when he pulled Jeremy's shirt off, his eyes riveted on sexy chocolate
aureoles.  Kenny leaned in, ever so gently licking them, making them
harden and peak.  Jeremy moved his hands up to touch Kenny, but
without breaking his concentration on Jeremy's nipples, Kenny warned
softly, "No hands, sexy John, until I say."

Then Kenny began his patter.  "I had you hooked when you read that
note, Stud. Face it," he whispered as he lifted Jeremy's arm and
licked his pit languidly, "Street boys turn you on. . . They appeal to
your slutty side," he whispered as he moved to the other pit,
repeating the same caresses.  Slowly, his fingertips slid down
Jeremy's side as Kenny began to walk behind Jeremy.  There he stood
on his tiptoes to brush his lips over the back of Jeremy's
neck. "Hustlers are your Achille's Heel. . . . Can't leave'm alone."
Now Kenny licked slowly up Jeremy's back, pausing to continue the
patter.  "One more dick you haven't seen. . . . One more ass you
haven't grabbed . . . .one more hole you haven't filled . . . .one
more body you haven't marked. . . . one more spirit you haven't
claimed."

Kenny slowly moved back in front Jeremy.  Jeremy emitted a loud breath
when Kenny slid his fingers under Jeremy's belt, seeming to fumble
with the buckle and belt but really teasing Jeremy and giving himself
a rush as he felt the warm, smooth skin of his lover on the backs of
his fingers, warmth that moved into his fingers and up his arms and
into his chest.  When he'd loosened the buckle and unbuttoned Jeremy's
jeans, he slid his hands slowly onto his hips and under his briefs,
moving his hands down Jeremy's lower limbs while pushing his remaining
clothes off, allowing only his fingertips to graze Jeremy's long,
runner's legs.

Jeremy's cock was steel, a drop of precum forming at the long piss
slit.  For his part, Jeremy couldn't tear his eyes away from the mound
Kenny's hard cock was making in those tight shorts.  Then Kenny
dropped to his knees, moving in to look closely at Jeremy's seven-
inches.  Kenny held his fingertips close to the excited cock, but he
didn't touch.  Instead, he exhaled harder so that his warm breath
fanned out over Jeremy's crotch, moving the hair in the pubic forest.
He loved that bush - when Jeremy started fucking him, it tickled
Kenny's balls until lube and their sweat matted it down.  While Kenny
exhaled, he ran his fingertips up and down Jeremy's legs with
excruciating slowness.  As he inhaled deeply to exhale more air, he
was pulling in more of his lover's musk.  He couldn't hold off a
shudder, evoked by Jeremy's scent.  Kenny's feathery ministrations
evoked a little whimper from Jeremy.  "Damn, you're good at this,"
Jeremy whispered, not to the hustler but to his lover.

Kenny knee-walked around Jeremy, using just his fingertips on the
inside of Jeremy's long legs to signal that he wanted him to assume a
wider stance. Jeremy complied, allowing Kenny to exhale across
Jeremy's ass.  Then he moved down between Jeremy's legs, looking
longingly at the haired sack hanging there. The man scent of his lover
was stronger now.

Then he began licks, using the tip of his tongue as he had his
fingertips. Jeremy was groaning as though he were in pain.  "You
little street whore!" he exclaimed.  "Talk about me!  You need a man
like me.  You aren't complete without a stallion like me. . . . You
were wrong in your note. . . . I'm no virgin. . . . Little whores like
you are after me constantly. . . . You need cock, hard cock . . . big
cock . . . hot cock. . . .You need a man to bend you to his will. . .
.You want to surrender to a big-dicked stud. . . . You won't let me
touch you . . . because you want to pretend to be in control," Jeremy
taunted.

"Ou-u-u, those are good lines," Kenny whispered to his lover.  After
Jeremy's patter, Kenny used the tip of his nose like the tip of his
tongue, moving it gently down Jeremy's crack.  When he moved his nose
up the crack, he stuck the tip of his tongue out so that it followed
the same track.  Kenny nearly giggled, watching the muscles in
Jeremy's buttocks quiver spastically in response to the stimulation.
Finally, he used his thumbs enough to pull the lobes of Jeremy's ass
out so that he could exhale and then lightly tongue Jeremy's rosebud.
Several times Kenny was rewarded with loud grunts as though Jeremy
were in pain. Nothing could be more incorrect. As Kenny continued to
nose and tongue Jeremy's backside, he moved his deadly fingertips
through Jeremy's open legs to the front side of his ball sack,
moving them along the underside of his hard cock where they became
sticky with precum.  Jeremy sounded out an "Ungh-gh- gh-gh-gh," in
passion.

Suddenly, Jeremy spun about, unintentionally whacking Kenny across the
cheek with his hard cock, leaving a smear of precum.  Jeremy reached
under Kenny's pits and pulled him upright but not against his body.
"I'm taking control, you little two-bit hustler."  With one hand he
whipped Kenny's muscle tee over his head.  Jeremy stood there, taking
in his little lover's chest with its lightly defined pecs.  He walked
around behind Kenny.  Ever since he'd entered the room, he'd wanted to
run his fingers over those two inches of Kenny's exposed ass cheeks.
He did, instantly sucking in a breath.  He dropped to his knees,
fulfilling his initial desire to pay lingual homage to that exposed
flesh.

Jeremy couldn't see the smile of victory that spread across Kenny's
face.  "You cheap trick," Kenny wheezed out in passion.  "Acting like
the big stud.  Yet my ass has enslaved you."

Jeremy grinned at the challenge, swatting Kenny's ass hard.  "Mind
your manners, whore!" he threatened.  He unlaced Kenny's trainers from
behind and then lifted each foot as he pulled them off.  He left the
white anklets on because he loved the look of a naked dude wearing
them.  Then he stood up and walked back in front of Kenny.  He loved
staring down into those blue eyes, studying the few freckles spread
across his pert nose but even more the love shining forth. Kenny could
never disguise it.  Jeremy made his face appear menacing.  He backed
off.  "Now you little piece of street trash, pull those shorts off
slowly," mirroring his menacing look in his voice.  "I want to see
that trashy ass you peddle on the street."  Kenny slid his thumbs
under the taut waistband and moved the shorts down, having to wiggle
his butt, eliciting a grin from Jeremy. The shorts were so small
that Kenny had to push them all the way down to his ankles and off.
As he stood upright, Jeremy's eyes drowned on the sight of Kenny's
hard, fat, five-inch cock, surrounded with pubic hair already matted
with precum.  "You're as wet as a cheap whore!" Jeremy hurled at
Kenny.  He walked right up to Kenny so close that they could feel
their heat but no touch.  Kenny was looking straight up into Jeremy's
eyes.

"Hold up the palms of your hands," Jeremy said threateningly.
Kenny slowly obliged.  Not being able to look away, Kenny watched as
Jeremy slowly raised his palms until just his fingertips brushed those
of Kenny's.  Kenny gasped at the electric touch, then whimpered.
"Just paying you back with one of your street tricks," Jeremy
whispered.  Then louder, "You street boys are all alike.  So used to
wagging your asses out there on the street to catch Johns' attention
that you think you have all the power."  Jeremy stood back enough to
bend down and suddenly swipe his tongue across Kenny's lips, causing
Kenny to start and whimper louder.

"Please," Kenny gasped.  "Please . . . no more.  Take me."

Jeremy laughed with bravado, all part of his persona.  "It never fails
to happen - street trash begging a real man to plunge his dick into
his pussy."  Jeremy just stood there, grinning.

"Please," Kenny whispered, not this time as a street hustler, but as
Jeremy's lover.

Jeremy immediately recognized the difference.  But he wasn't giving up
his role. "Plant your ass on that bed!" he ordered loudly.  Kenny ran
to the bed, rolling onto it, lying on his back, his feet spread wide
apart.  Jeremy turned and slowly crawled on the bed, walking across it
on his knees.  "Lube!" was all he said. Kenny reached into the
nightstand, pulling out the Wet.  He offered the container to Jeremy,
who popped open the top, spreading the liquid across three fingers,
which he used to anoint Kenny's hole.  Putting a little more liquid on
his fingers, he inserted one in Kenny's anus, moving it slowly, never
allowing Kenny's eyes to move from his.  Jeremy shuddered slightly due
to the heat of Kenny's chute. When he had three fingers in Kenny, he
held the tip of the container over his fingers and dribbled lube into
the depression in the middle of the three fingers so that it ran inside
Kenny.  "Now, you little cheap prostitute.  Tell me what you want,"
Jeremy hissed.

"Your cock.  Your hard cock," Kenny answered immediately.  "Jam your
hard cock in me.  Punish me for being sassy.  Make me beg for your cum
to repay you for my taunts.  Master me!"

A smile spread across Jeremy's face.  He reached under Kenny's legs,
lifting them, directing Kenny to place a pillow under his ass.
Holding Kenny's gaze in his own, he used the tip of his dick to tease
Kenny's hole, pushing enough only to enter Kenny.  After 30 seconds
of the tease, Kenny was whimpering.  "Please, stud, please.
I need your cock," he begged.  "You're right. . . . You're special. .
. . You're hot. . . . Please," he gasped.

With expert hip action, Jeremy punched his cock into Kenny, who
shrieked softly.  "Oh . . . oh . . . You're so big.  Man, your cock
makes me feel so full."

Jeremy's eyes afire with lust, he pulled out and jammed his cock back
into Kenny, aiming at Kenny's prostate.  His mind held onto the feel
of the spot when Kenny cried out in pleasure.  Then he slowly pulled
his cock out until just the head remained in Kenny, and he plunged
back in, Kenny's prostate being the target for his dick.  The width of
Jeremy's hard cock somehow joined with the feeling of the tight walls
of Kenny's chute, all linked with the long fuck tickle that Jeremy was
causing.  It was incredible for both of them.

The scenario had run long enough that Jeremy was on the edge.  Kenny's
silky chute felt so good around his cock.  Somehow his lover's muscle
ring ramped up the fuck tickle.  Kenny loved feeling Jeremy's balls
bump into and hit his perineum.  The closer Jeremy came to climax, the
harder his ball bag became, grazing that sensitive spot, increasing
Kenny's climb toward climax.  Then Kenny began clasping Jeremy's dick
with his ass muscles.  Throwing his head back and yelling like an ape
in rut, Jeremy had to speed up.  He felt the heat and electricity
somewhere deep inside between his dick and his ass hole.  He loved it
when their fucking was this intense, when his orgasm felt like a
gathering volcanic eruption.

Suddenly he heard a sneer, delivered in breathless gasps.  "Cocksman,
my ass! . . . .Come on all strong, . . . calling yourself a stallion?
. . . No way. . . . You're using your cock . . . like a toothpick.
Don't you know . . . how a conqueror . . . uses that tool?"  Kenny was
back in role.

"You cheap little fuck!" Jeremy shouted back at Kenny, pounding
harder.  He pulled his arms out from under Kenny's legs and slid them
roughly under Kenny, pulling him up hard to sit on his lap but never
missing a plunge.  Kenny's eyes were wide with surprise, no longer
knowing where the scenario began or ended.  As Jeremy's jabs raised
Kenny up, he responded, "Unh . . . unh . . . unh . . .unh." Jeremy
felt the heat of his orgasm deep inside grow.  He smashed his lips
down on Kenny's, which slowed his cock-jabs only a bit.  Now Kenny
began a soft wail that grew in volume.  Jeremy loved the feel of
Kenny's trembling, knowing that his lover was heading toward a
gigantic orgasm.  Suddenly, Jeremy was there.  Kenny felt his lover's
cock expand so much that the fuck jabs were almost impossible, causing
Jeremy to scream, his cum exploding deep inside Kenny.  At the same
time, Kenny felt his dick, mashed between their stomachs, explode. Now
they both joined in a declining chorus of "Unh . . .unh . . .unh."

Jeremy pulled their sweating bodies tighter together.  "Kenny . . .
Lover . . ." he gasped.  "Wow! . . . Man! . . . Oh . . . ."  They
kissed passionately, running their hands over each other in a frenzy
of love, unable to let go of the other.

				***

Having completed his last class for the day, Evan was walking down the
staircase to the first floor of Templeton Senior High School on his way
home.  As he traversed the hall to the north parking lot, he ran into
Jim Belton.

"Evan!"

"Jim!  How are you?"

"Glad the day is over."

"Me too.  Any plans?"

"Meet Miles and go to the farm.  It doesn't get any better" he
replied, smiling.

"Oh?" Evan asked archly.

Jim blushed.  "Well, what you are thinking always happens at the farm.
That's part of what's good about being there."

"We are talking about the hayloft, right?" Evan asked, continuing to
delight in making Jim squirm.

"It's a big farm, Evan.  Lots more places for fun than just the
hayloft," Jim replied adroitly.  "You look like your spirits need a
lift.  Are you and Ron going out tonight?"

Evan's smile faded.  "Actually, I haven't seen Ron for a couple of
days.  Running too fast, I guess."

"I'll bet you a week's wages that if you two went out together, you'd
feel energized."

"If only it were that easy."

"It is.  I've seen you two together.  I've watched both of you.  Why,
just since we mentioned Ron, your eyes have turned a little brighter."

"Yeah, right," Evan said skeptically.

"I'm not kidding, Evan," reacted somberly.  "How is it now that Troy
has moved back home?" Jim asked.

"Quieter.  I miss Troy.  Jeremy and Kenny divide their time fairly
evenly between their parents' abodes.  On nights when they aren't
there, it's almost creepy.  I hope Troy and his brothers will do
another overnight soon."

"I've got a great idea," Jim exclaimed.  "You and Ron come out to the
farm Saturday morning.  Miles and I are putting in our garden.  We
need some help. You guys can help us get it all done in one day.
We'll share the produce with you over the summer.  But while you help
us, you'll feel the farm working its magic on you.  If you are meant
to be together, the farm will make it happen."

Evan couldn't help his skeptical look.  "It won't work.  I'm not
agrarian, Jim."

Jim frowned.  "I'm not taking 'no' for an answer," he said forcefully,
causing Evan's eyebrows to shoot up.  Jim had never talked to him like
this before.  "Be there at 9:00 Saturday morning in old clothes and
shoes."

"I probably won't even see Ron before then," Evan equivocated.
"Besides, I don't know how to get there."

"No, I'm not letting that be an excuse," Jim shot back, determinedly.
"I'll talk to Ron.  Give him the directions.  Be ready for him to pick
you up at 8:30 Saturday morning."

"Jim . . . " Evan began.

"You owe me," Jim cut Evan off, indicating with his face that he'd
brook no argument.

Evan gulped.  'Damn,' he thought, 'Jim is sexy when he's forceful.
He's right - I owe him.'  Evan dropped his head.  "Okay, you talk to
Ron.  I'll be ready."

Jim strode over, clapping his arms around Evan, whispering, "You'll
see I'm right - the country, the quiet, the farm, Miles and me will
focus you two on each other.  Your plan has already worked.  You're no
longer taking each other for granted, looking at each other as just a
way to get your rocks off.  Tim's visit cemented the change.  Miles
and I noticed it right away.  It's just that you've stayed away from
each other so much that you haven't recognized what we already see.
But you'll see it at the farm."

(To be continued.)