Date: Tue, 9 Oct 2007 16:44:03 -0700 (GMT-07:00)
From: "dymondbolt@earthlink.net" <dymondbolt@earthlink.net>
Subject: Hard Questions  ~  Part 1 (corrections)

Dear readers; here is the next part in the Hard Questions Story. I hope you
enjoy it. While this isn't one of those Pass or Fail courses, your feed
back makes the experience a better one for you.

and now the ..

Disclaimer : This is a High School Fiction Story from The view point of the
teachers.  It contains examples of Male to Male Sex and Love Relationships.
If you are under the age of eighteen years then you should not be here. You
have been warned.

Hard Questions Part 1  by dymondbolt
(organized like the program for church services)

Fred's woke up from a cold dream. and his back was cold too. He had been
dreaming of the pond he and his friends back home used to skinny dip in,
Except he was the fool shivering up on the cliff face ready to jump into
the pond and the only guy egging him on was Woody!

Three years ago when Fred took Woody back home to meet his folks, he
neglected to show Woody the trail that lead to the diving ledge. Fred had
only gone up it a few times, hating it each time. It wasn't the height. It
was the depth. Such clear cold water that far down, when you jump from that
high up. And never a friendly face looking down after you jump, to see if
you're OK.

But in his dream he only shivered from the cold, his fear forgotten with
that sexy grin on Woody's handsome face. Woody's massive arm beckoning.
Woody said " Jump! Come on Big Guy. Bilbo wants his Frodo."  Fred's dream
self scowled and shouted as he jumped " Not A Hobbit!"

~~~~~~~

Hymn:  Over My Head  ~ Mick Fleetwood - guest keyboardist

~~~~~~~

Then the bed bounced and Woody was shaking Fred. Woody said " Yes you
are. You are my Giant Hobbit." Woody kissed Fred and chuckled. Fred glanced
at the alarm clock and frowned.

Fred sat up and said " It is eight thirty on a Sunday. You don't go to
church, I do. And I did not need to be up for another fifteen minutes."

Woody was sporting wood from the other side of the bed and just smiled at
what Fred said.

Fred's attention focused onto Woody's massive wangger. Woody's smile became
a bit sexier as he started to wave his dick back and forth, just out of
reach. Woody said " Bilbo wants his Frodo to help wash his back, before we
get ready to go to church."

Fred made a partial lunge at Woody's woody, but it was already pointing to
the bathroom before Fred could catch it. Fred could hear the water running
in the shower, and the beginnings of steam drift out of the open bathroom
door. His erection helped decide the speed with which Fred took to get to
the shower.  Their shower was a large affair. It could fit five adults
comfortably, or three of Woody and Fred's girth. Fred saw Woody's back and
butt pressed up against the thick glass. The shower door held most of the
steam in, obscuring the rest of Woody's form. Fred smiled and shook his
head. When he was in high school , Fred was an inch shorter than his
current five foot eight inches. And he was just tipping the scales at one
hundred and forty pounds back then. He had wide shoulders back then but he
looked like a swimmer or a gymnast. A skinny gymnast at best. Now, after
six years, with Woody's help, there was nothing on Fred that remotely
looked skinny. And now, the one thing on Fred that had been big and fat
back then, looked just right on him. Woody had joked about Hobbits having
big feet, when they first met. Fred was a size thirteen. Fred came back
with the myth about feet and cock size. Woody said he had to admit that
with Fred, the myth was true. Skinny Fred had worn loose clothing to the
Christmas Services, but that didn't keep his attraction to Woody a secret
for long.

Fred didn't stay skinny when Woody came into his life. What a beautiful
Christmas present Woody's brother Greg had given to Fred. Greg and his
wife, Melinda, had things planned, and had shamed Woody into going to the
Christmas Services. Which happened to be organized by the openly gay Choir
Director of their church, Frederick Gadget.

Fred opened the shower door and the steam poured out. Fred flipped the
steam lever off and closed the door. Woody had his head tipped down and was
soaping his belly in lazy circles. His thumb kept flipping past his huge
hard nipples as he grazed the bottom of his mammoth pecs. His breathing
bowed his belly out and in. At first, flat as a washboard, then bowed out
like a medicine ball. The thick definition never left those abs, out or in.

Woody's eyes locked on to Fred's and he said " I got my front all clean
Coach, I just need my back side taken care of. Could you help me with that,
Coach? Please?"

Woody throbbing erection dipped and rose with the water hitting it and
Woody's racing pulse. He turned around and put his meaty hand on his butt
with the soap peeking out from underneath.

Fred's cock was now almost rivaling Woody's for size and stiffness. He
grabbed another bar of soap and quickly lathered up his bat. Fred chuckled
and said " Ah Hell, William. Any good Coach knows he has to keep his
players nice and clean... So they play a .. real...clean..... game."

Woody gave out a throaty low nickering sound as Fred entered Woody's love
chute. Like what you'd hear from an excited stallion. In Woody's case a
Percheron, to Fred's Clydesdale. Many a God fearing lady of the
congregation that Fred belonged to heaved a sigh of regret when they
discovered which team Fred played on. And as always, when Fred was up at
bat, he was hitting homers. Woody would say " Oh God, another one out of
sight." or " The crowd goes wild!"

And with all the weight lifting, proper nutrition, and guidance from Woody,
the ladies regretted it even more, now. But they saw the joy in Fred's eyes
after services, that had been lacking before Woody came along. They still
giggled and compared and thought that he was still beautiful eye candy. And
one or two husbands grumbled and hit the gym a bit more often than they had
been. It all worked out well.

Woody was almost over the edge. Fred had Woody's cock stroked in rhythm
with his thrusts into Woody's ass. And for all Woody's six foot five inches
, three hundred and thirty eight pounds of rock solid muscle and bone; Fred
was bouncing his lover into ecstasy. And Woody wasn't even touching the
floor. He helped keep them steady, bracing his hands on the tiled ceiling
of the shower, But Fred had them in heaven, (so to speak). Fred caught his
nut and his cum filling Woody's insides, set Woody over the edge. Woody's
toes gripped the thick glass of the shower walls as his cum shot up the
glass. Woody's ass milked the last of Fred's love juice out of him as
Woody's feet set back onto solid ground.

Woody caught his breath first and said " Jeez, Frodo. You sure know how to
make loving you a religious experience!"

Woody bent over and Fred chuckled as he kissed Woody's wide, wide
back. Fred pulled out of his lover and then did what he was originally
supposed to do. Woody's back got cleaned from the top of his head to the
bottom of his feet. Woody turned and kissed his massive spark plug of a
lover and hunkered down a bit so Fred didn't have to stretch as he cuddled
Fred closer. Fred got several playful quick kisses before Woody explored
the depths of Fred's sweet mouth.

Woody pulled back and took the soap from Fred. He chuckled as he started to
clean Fred's back with out turning him around. Fred chuckled and mumbled "
Gorilla. "

Woody said " Yeah, but I'm your gorilla."

Out of nowhere Woody spoke with a cartoon voice and said " Gee Mr. Peebles,
ya think Mr. Gadget will keep me.?"

Fred burrowed his head under Woody's massive chest, shaking his head back
and forth. Muffled under Fred's hair and Woody's muscle, Fred said in a
quirky higher voice " Well McGilla, you do have the biggest honker
around. That should help make the sale final this time."

Woody kept on with the voice and said " Gee I hope so. Cause he's got a big
one too."

Woody and Fred had their heads bent down, looking at their members. Ear to
ear they were for a few moments one with each other and with the whole
world. Communion.

Woody said in his normal voice " From the belly down we could be twins."
And it looked like it was true. Woody's legs had a few inches on Fred, as
well as his cock , when they were erect. But when they had finished making
love, in the afterglow, they were mirror images of each other. Something
that had been so pleasing for Woody, the third year into their
relationship. Fred had gained so much muscle that they did start to look
alike down there.

 Muscle had come easy to Woody. Even after his car accident, he had
regained the muscle mass he'd developed up through college. His friend,
Brett, who had been driving at the time, had not fared as well as Woody. So
Woody had decided to be Brett's motivation to be able to walk again. Six
months after Woody had been discharged, Brett was able to stand up out of
the wheel chair, at the entrance to the hospital, turn and flip off all the
doctors that said he wouldn't walk again. Then he proceeded to two step to
the car, ( with a little help from Woody).

Brett's final remark to his family doctor as they pulled away from the curb
was " You don't know everything!"

It made all of Woody's help, that much harder for Brett to tell Woody what
he knew. Brett and Woody had messed around when they were younger. But when
they went to college, Brett really started to get hot over every cute girl
he saw. He knew Woody was hot for guys, and for Brett in particular. But
Woody never said anything to Brett. He just never dated. Bret knew it was
Woody's hope for Brett that kept him from looking for the right guy. Or any
guy, for that matter. Brett had been building up to telling Woody, just
before the idiot in the King-Cab plowed into Brett's car. Fortunately the
girl Bret had been seeing, helped Woody get Brett on his feet. Woody wasn't
stupid when it came to his heart. But Brett knew it was going to be hard on
their friendship when Bret laid it all out on the table. Brett took courage
in the thought that Woody would be wasting his time hoping for the heart of
a good friend that would never be able to be IN love with Woody. Brett
loved him like a brother. So like a big brother Brett set him straight, and
held on to him for as long as Woody needed. After all these years, Brett
was still one of Woody's closest friends. And his best man at Fred and
Woody's Commitment Ceremony.

Which just happens to have been at the very church they were getting
dressed to have Sunday services at.

Fred helped with Woody's tie and stared at Woody's chest as he asked " You
said you didn't want to go to church because you didn't quite believe in it
all. You said you respected my Faith, but the religion thing was a little
iffy. And you didn't want to be a hypocrite."  Fred looked up into Woody's
eyes and said " What's changed?"

There was a lot in Woody's eyes as he looked back at Fred. His embrace
covered Fred's face and Fred tipped it back down to snuggle into Woody's
chest. Woody kissed the side of Fred's head and said " Oh a world of
things. I'm feeling like I've been ungrateful to the Forces that helped
bring us together. And I for one don't want them thinking I don't say a
prayer of thanks every morning I wake up to you by my side. They might be
too busy to read my mind or heart every morning. So a few hours, once a
week is the least I can do, to Thank God for you and your love in my life."
Fred pulled him into a tighter hug.

Woody said " And Melinda's little comment on how the ladies at church still
like to voice their opinion on how hard I work you in the gym; has me
wondering if they have some choice words for how hard you work me."

Fred pulled away with a doubtful look on his face as he tipped it up to
Woody. Woody kissed him real quick as they headed out to the car. They got
to the front of the car and started a chopping action with their
hands. They both had closed fists and grimaced. They started the chopping
action again and after three chops, Woody had rock again and Fred had
Paper. Fred grabbed Woody's fist and waggled it. Woody dropped the keys to
the car into Fred's hands and got into the passenger side.

Fred started the car and Woody said "Another reason for going to church
would be so I can listen to my man's excellent choir."

Fred backed out and headed to the church. Fred said after a minute of
silence " OK. I hear another reason in there. What is it?"

Woody said " Remember how I told you sometimes you can't be fair?  And how
I said there would be times I would not play fair?"

Fred said " Yeah. Like when it came to keeping me with you.  You said there
was nothing you wouldn't do, to keep me loving you."

Woody smiled and put his hand on Fred's thigh. Woody said " Well sometimes,
a teacher has to say one thing and do another to really teach his students
what's really going on."

Fred frowned and said " Oh. sorta like Mindfreak?"

Woody said " Aaa. In a way. Well It turns out that my first Hard Questions
questionnaire turned up some interesting statistics."

Fred smiled and said " And they would be?"

Woody said " That out of eighteen students, there are eight straight males,
seven straight females, one bisexual female and two gay males."

Fred said " And how does that relate to going to church?"

Woody looked forward but his eyes glanced at Fred. He said " I made a big
show of cutting the tops off of the questionnaire so they could retain
their privacy."

Fred said " But?"

Woody said " But I had each questionnaire on their desks before they got to
the classroom. Each one had an identifying desk number on it. and as I took
role call, I coded each name to the desk they were sitting at."

Fred said " Didn't anyone of them notice the number?"

Woody said " How could they? It was in invisible ink. Ultraviolet light
lets you read the number."

Fred said " So you know just which ones are not heterosexual."

Woody said " Guilty as charged."

Fred said " So?"

Woody said " It just so happens that my star senior quarterback, who weighs
close to three hundred pounds, and who I convinced to try out for the
school musical, lead part of course; happens to also be playing on our
team. Oh yeah and sings bass in the church choir."

Luckily there was a stop sign just before the turn into the church parking
lot. Fred seemed to need an excuse to stop driving for a moment.

He turned and said " Jess?

Woody turned slightly and said " Jessop T. Haskel. Senior football star,
and newly appointed assistant to the church choir director."

Fred turned back and drove into the parking lot. The door to the room where
the choir practiced was open and the choir was already in their robes. Jess
was towering over Matt and placed the pile of choir books on the short
shorter boys head. Matt balanced them there and walked into the church
through the side door, with cat like grace. Jess saw Fred first and smiled
and waved. When he saw Woody he looked puzzled for a second then smiled and
waved just as big as he did for Fred. The older members patted Jess' back
as they passed and Jess followed last as they got lined up for the
procession through church to the choir pews.

Pastor Gordon Armstrong was at the side entrance to the church and took
some pleasure in greeting both Woody and Fred, as they walked up to the
side door. . Fred waited for Gordon to shake Woody's hand before he said "
Woody you better go up front to get a program. But come to the
front. There's always an empty space in the front pews."

Woody smiled and bent down to kiss Fred. Fred didn't hesitate to respond
with a quick kiss and a smile.

Woody said " I promise I won't nod off, Gordon."

Gordon smiled and said " You said you wouldn't faint at you wedding
either."

Woody looked hurt, but for only a second. He said " I was just a little
light headed."

Gordon said " Yes, well it was lucky you had Fred beefed up by then, so he
could keep you from tipping over. I'll forgive nodding off for today. Just
don't snore if you're going to sit in the front pews."

Woody said " Yes, coach. I'll be good." He winked at Fred before turning
and walking quickly to the front of the church. Fred glanced at Gordon and
hurried in to start playing the organ. Miss Hughes, the regular organist,
was in Florida visiting her sister and her family.

Woody got a program and was able to find a space wide enough for his size
in the second row of pews. The full rich sound of the organ music resounded
through the church. The hushed voices of the congregation started to get
just a little bit louder.  Woody saw Fred glance to the entrance and then
nod. The music faded and a single chord was played by Fred. Then the choir
started to sing the Introit from Leonard Bernstein's Mass. A round of Jazz
scat words...

Du bing du bang du bong du bing du bang du bong.

Duba ding dong ding dong ding dong.

Duba bing-e-de- bing bing-e-de-bang bing-e-de-bong.

Each new voice started singing the first line as the last one sang the
words du bong on the first line. When each voice reached the end of the
third line they softly repeated the word bong, until the last voice had
sang bong and repeated it once with all the other voices. A fraction of a
pause by all the choir lent excitement to the next phrase.

Then A Glorious "Hallelujah! "

	         "Hallelujah!"

	         "Haaaa, lehhhh, luuuu ya, Hallelujah!"

Then back into one more verse with all voices singing,

Du bing du bang du bong du bing du bang du bong.

Duba ding dong ding dong ding dong.

Duba bing-e-de- bing bing-e-de-bang bing-e-de-bong, bong bong..........

and they all faded beautifully to silence. The sound still seemed to hang
in the air.

The beautiful use of silence.

Then Pastor Gordon said " Peace be with you."

The congregation responded with " And also with you."

Gordon asked them all to be seated and he started his sermon on lifting his
eyes to the hills from which comes my help. And talked of praising and
blessing God for all those gifts we've received from Him. Woody shivered
with the connection to the real reason he came to church today. While he
may have been light headed during his Commitment Ceremony, he was sharp as
a tack throughout the rest of the wedding. And he had heard one of the
gossipy ladies wonder when Gordon was going to get over the loss of his
wife. She had only been dead for six months. They even recalled the exact
date. Then they turned to how tight Fred and Woody's asses looked in the
tux's they wore. Woody walked away chuckling, but he remembered the
date. It just so happened that today was seven years and a day from when
Gordon's lovely wife Mary passed on. In a way it had been very
Photo-novella. Six and a half years ago, she had started to get really bad
headaches. Then after a few months of that she passed out one Sunday right
after the Services Reception. They found out that day that some brain
tumors were painful but quick. She was only in the hospital for a week and
a half. Gordon was with her when she died.

Gordon had had enough of hospitals by then. His father had died two years
before that, from liver cancer. Basically it was a result from obesity. His
father never could loose the weight he had gained in his thirties. And
Gordon's mother followed within eight months. She had been dealing with
angina and high blood pressure for years. But in truth it was her "Heart"
that did it. She had called Gordon's father her "Heart" for as long as they
had known each other.

The service seemed to fly by and then the choir left the church singing
after Gordon said

"Go in Peace."

Fred told Jess to collect the song folders and make sure the younger choir
members took off their robes and hung them up, before going to the
reception hall. Hawaiian Punch seemed to stain robes pretty bad.

Fred slipped up behind Woody, but still didn't surprise him. Woody put his
right hand behind his back with his hand open for Fred to hold. Fred
grabbed it with his right hand and leaned his head against the thick mass
of Woody's back. They got to the entrance of the church and Woody let go of
Fred to pull an envelope from his coat. He shook Gordon's hand and then put
the envelope in it. Gordon frowned. He opened it and read " Some flowers
bloom for a day and are then gone. But the scent still lingers in our heart
and in our soul." Woody pulled Fred onto a one arm embrace and leaned his
head onto Fred's.

Gordon's face tried to do six things at once and all he could think to do
was reach out and hug Woody and Fred. Fred was shocked but didn't say
anything.

Gordon looked close to tears but smiled anyway. He said " Ya know, you are
the only person who remembered that today was her birthday. She died a day
before her twenty seventh birthday."

He looked into Woody and Fred's eye's and said " You hold on to each other
tight. Thank you Woody, Fred."

They moved on so others could talk to Gordon before moving on to the
reception hall.

Fred and Woody were walking with Woody's arm around Fred's shoulder. Fred
said "What was that? I thought I was a little more in tune with my church,
and now I'm wondering."

Woody said " I almost went into shock myself when he said birthday. His
wife died seven years ago yesterday. I didn't know today was her
birthday. I over heard the date when we got hitched. The grapevine was
wondering six months after her death why he was still grieving. Then they
started to describe how tight our buns looked in our tuxes."

Fred said " So that was the real reason you came today."

They had just stepped into the reception hall and Woody pulled him to the
side and put his hands on Fred's very thick shoulders. and said " I'm just
so thankful I have you, cause the wolf is always at the door." Woody
sounded a bit chocked up and pulled Fred into a bear hug.

Woody softly said " I love you, Fred."

Fred tipped his head up a bit and said " I love you, William Robert Wood."

They quickly kissed each other briefly. Just then Martha Hopkins walked
through the door and saw the kiss. She hurumphed and turned to her sister,
but Missy was already getting punch for them both.

Missy always verbally agreed with her sister as the path of least
resistance. Martha seemed to have a seriously ingrained obsession for
control. Of situations, people, institutions she was known to donate
to. Such as the weekly heavy donation to the church. Which she was certain,
gave her some leverage when it came to things she wanted to stop, or people
she wanted to exclude. What should have been obvious to any casual
observer, was that ninety nine percent of those around her not only didn't
like her, they didn't share her hatreds, phobias, or irrational
opinions. They barely tolerated her presence on church committees because
of their false belief that she could harm the church with her withdrawal of
her sizable but undisclosed weekly donation.

Missy turned with the two cut glass punch cups full of Hawaiian Punch and
saw her sister marching towards her. Missy once again exercised her
herculean patience and refrained from dumping both of them in Martha's
face.

Missy was a master at pitching her tone of voice to a combination of inane
cheerfulness ( which she gleefully knew added a few points to Martha's
blood pressure) and childish ignorance of Martha's attitude.

She said " Hawaiian Punch, sister Dear?"

That tone was known to cause her friends who really knew her true
intelligence, to cringe as if someone pulled their nails across a
blackboard.. Martha's temple suddenly had a blood vessel that pulsed and
twitched. She didn't say a word to Missy and just took one of the cups of
punch from her.

Martha knew she had been amongst the last few in the reception line and
just waited by the punch bowl for Gordon to enter the Reception Hall and
head her way. A few minutes later he did enter, but not before Fred and
Woody both walked over to the punch bowl for their own refreshments. Missy
smiled at the two very large handsome men and almost gave them one of those
little kid waves, just to see how much more Martha's blood vessel would
twitch.

But then the vision of an ambulance pulling up to the back entrance of the
Reception Hall, and all those people who truly disliked Martha acting like
her seizure was a bad thing, just stopped her cold. She still held their
eyes and gave Woody and Fred her smile. She'd have to be satisfied with
that more passive form of sibling retaliation..

But these actions from Martha's sister did more at this one point than
Missy had ever thought possible. Martha set her eyes on Pastor Gordon as he
entered the Reception Hall, and she let him get half way across the floor
before marching up to him and said In a false whisper " Pastor Armstrong,
have you had anyone actually searching for a replacement, as I directed."

Gordon looked at her as if she had suddenly grown something repellent on
her face.  He visibly calmed himself before he said "Martha Hopkins. I told
you at the last meeting of the Church Deacons that you attempt to have
Choir Director Fred Gadget replaced was Not Going To Happen. You don't have
one member of the congregation actually agreeing to any of your strange or
bigoted ideas. And In truth, you are the only member of the congregation
that hates Homosexuals." She started to say something and he cut her
off. Gordon held up his hand and said " And before you start quoting
scripture let me set the playing field for you on that one. While you may
have read the Bible Many more times than I have. I believe that I and the
members of this congregation have actually listened to the good word far
better than you ever will. You chose to be on committees that move funds
around, but non of your suggestions are financially sound. But you seem to
avoid those committees that actually sit with some of the less advantaged
of our congregation and read the Bible for the solace and guidance and Love
it can provide for our brothers and sisters."

Martha said" Do you actually think this church can still provide what you
want to throw away to those trailer trash when I no longer tithe to this
church?"

Gordon stood up taller. and actually looked at her. Then looked at Missy
with a smile and a shake of his head. He tipped his head to the side for a
second and said " Missy, you must have the patience of Job."

Missy began talking with a calm mature assurance. She said " Why thank you
Gordon. That's is a very astute observation. I learned it from My dear late
Father. I've been waiting for ten years for someone to ask me why in the
world I put up with my sister. It actually relates to the way my fathers
trust was set up and the expectations he had for Martha and myself. Though
my sister tried to keep Mr Fielding from fully explaining the terms of our
trust to me, I really didn't need to hear it from him. I had been the one
that helped father write it in the first place."

Martha was looking at Missy with her mouth open and not a word coming out
of her mouth. Then Woody shifted his weight as he held Fred from behind and
Martha tried to strike again. She pointed her cup of punch and said " How
can all of you allow those Fags to just parade their deviant.."

Pastor Gordon said with a carrying tone " Shut Up!. Are you senile? You
claimed you were on the committee that reviewed my application for this
position.  My resume stated just what happened to my brother, eleven years
ago. My gay brother was beaten to death just outside the Sunday School room
he had been teaching at for over eight years. Our hometown Sherif never
brought anyone in for his death.  It took me years to hear Gods voice of
love and understanding , again. But I did. I fought the hatred with love
and it helped me find my lovely sweet wife. And then I found this
congregation. And then I lost my true love. But I had promised my angel I
would not close my ears or eyes to God's love . And it took work to keep
that promise.  But I did. And anyone looking at Fred and Woody can see the
love they share and the kindness and service they give to the congregation
and all those around them. And my angel would have said that these two men
do Gods work when they help those in need and when they teach our children
in High School.  Martha Hopkins, you have no concept of actually being of
service to another.  Even with ten years of your sister trying to show you,
Still you harbor nothing but hatred and fear in your heart."  Gordon
quickly walked to the side office where the church keeps the days donations
and tithes.  Gordon was in there for only half a minute. He came back and
handed Martha a Tithing envelope that looked a bit thick.

Martha looked even more angry. She said " What do you think you are
doing. You don't have any right to decide what.."

Mr Fielding said " Martha, Shut up. I know that I and at least half of the
congregation have discussed your money donations and what we would do with
it, if refusing your money would mean we would be rid of you. Guess what
conclusion we came to?"

Martha said " That is the stupidest thing I have ever.."

Ten people in the crowd shouted " Shut up!" And in the shock of them
standing up to the little she-devil, there was suddenly silence all around.

Missy looked at the envelope in Martha's hands and she plucked it out of
them. Martha tried to say something but Missy cut her off and said "Mr
Fielding I am afraid I have to ask you to begin the proceedings to sever
all financial ties with my sister. I allowed her to believe the shared
account was my sole source of income. But now I don't want her having
access to even that small amount."

Martha said " What?" Her mind did a little jig for a second as she tried to
apply the words 'Small Amount" to the one point one million dollar account
that her father had set up for Martha and Missy.

Missy said " And You'll have to have all my mail forwarded to the
Duplex. I'm going to move in later today. If I can find a few strong young
men willing to help me move a few pieces of furniture and personal things."
She was looking at Woody and Fred as she said that.

Woody looked down as Fred looked up. They smiled and said in unison " Yes
Ma'am! Where do you want it Ma'am?"

Even before Martha could process what was happening, six more men from the
congregation said " We'll help, Missy." And two said " I got a truck. " One
right after another.

Gordon watched as Missy opened the envelope and pulled out half of the
cash, then gave the envelope and what was left to Martha. Missy handed the
cash to Gordon. Missy said " Since the finances Martha was aware of are
going to be split in half, I want this church to still receive the amount I
was tithing before. Pastor Gordon, do you remember when we were short the
amount of money needed to get the class rooms built for Sunday School and
the Choir Practice Room?"

Gordon said " I remember that clearly. We were short ten thousand dollars
and we suddenly received an anonymous donation." Gordon was laughing as he
looked from Missy to Martha. He reached out and gave Missy a hug.

Martha had her mouth open a little throughout all of this and then said "
Missy where in the world do you think your going to live?"

Missy said " All those boring times I went to go quilting with my friends?
Well, I really hate quilting, but I love the gossip, and I love my
friends. So five years ago I bought one of those split level Modern
Duplexes in Harrington Square. The great room was big enough to be able to
string up a real quilting frame and hoist it out of the way when we weren't
fiddling with it."

Martha looked dazed as she repeated " Harrington Square?"

Missy said " Yes sister dear. The expensive gated community you said you'd
love to move into if you could only get rid of the burden of a run down
Victorian house and a stupid spinster sister. Well sister dear. One burden
gone."

 Everyone was suddenly laughing at Martha and the sound turned her inside
out. She glared at Gordon, Woody, Fred, and then her sister. She threw the
cut glass cup onto the floor in front of Gordon and marched out of the
Reception Hall. Luckily for all, She never returned.

Gordon was suddenly not laughing at Martha's exit with everyone else. Missy
stepped closer and saw a tear slip out of Gordon's eye. She hugged him
again and softly asked " Pastor Gordon. What's the matter?"

Gordon sniffled and smiled through his sorrow. He said " Mary's father
bought those cups and the punch bowl for our wedding gift. It's silly. It's
just glass. It was just a thing."

Woody had a dust pan and whisk broom out in two shakes of a lambs tail and
got the glass off the floor. Fred had a small mop in his hands , right in
back of Woody and as Woody got out of the way, Fred finished. Fred said "
It's just a thing that reminds you of Mary. I don't think it's silly at
all. Mary was in on it with Greg and Melinda, wasn't she? All three of them
were playing matchmaker when I met Woody."

Gordon chuckled and said " She was the ring leader. Like I said, She was my
angel." His face clouded up again and this time Fred hugged him. Woody had
heard all the important parts and stepped in an hugged them both. Then his
big hand cupped the back of Gordon's head and he kissed the top of Gordon's
head as he said " She really was an Angel."

Gordon pulled it together and said " How many people want to help Missy
move to a place she can really call home?"

The whole room erupted in applause and whistles. Gordon said "Then lets get
the food packed up and bring it with us . We'll all meet at the Victorian
Burden of a house. Then everybody just help Missy which ever way she asks,
and we'll get one of our most patient sisters into a more loving home."

They all picked a task and the Reception hall was clean and ready for next
Sunday. They all headed for their cars and trucks and Pastor Gordon locked
the doors and followed close behind.

Fred tossed the keys to Woody and they followed Missy to the Victorian
Burden. They were just the front edge of the parade.

All of Missy's furniture, clothing, papers, books, personal items and old
family photo albums were quickly gathered together and within an hour and a
half the congregation was at the cheerfully opened gates leading to Missy's
Duplex. Not one thing that Missy considered hers was left at the Victorian
Burden. Missy had the key in the door and was about to open it when she
asked Pastor Gordon " Pastor? Would you say a blessing for this house and
all the good people about to enter it today?"

Missy saw a gleam in Gordon's eye. Without a word amongst the group
gathered there, they all took each other's hand in a serpentine circle.

Gordon said " Heavenly Father, we ask that you bless this house and all
those who enter it. We wish to thank you for the friends and family you
have brought into our lives. We ask that you watch over our loved ones and
keep them safe throughout their day. And we ask you keep all our brothers
and sister here safe as we move sister Missy into her new home. In Jesus
Name, Amen."

The bigger guys tackled the few but heavy pieces of furniture. They already
had an idea of the nature of the beast, when they pulled the furniture out
of the Victorian Burden.

The really neat moment came when Woody insisted on carrying in Missy's
Velvet covered Chaise lounge. Someone had use of a Mactruck and so all most
people saw was the whole truck shake back and forth as Woody hoisted the
lounge to his shoulders and back and let the tailgate hoist drop him down
to the ground. He then ducked as he reached the entry and sort of duck
walked the lounge to the correct location .  Most of the helpers stopped in
their tracks when Woody carried the lounge into Missy's house. But they got
back to their mission and then Missy was moved. At just that moment of
realization, a truck pulled up with a Dominos Pizza light on top of the
cab, and the kid that jumped out had Eight Pizza and looked good lugging
them to the front door. He ended up with a twenty dollar tip from
Missy. Then he recognized Jess among the younger guys there and he looked
at Jess arms for a second or two. Jess made eye contact and gave him a
little smile. The kid smiled back and flexed his arm. For an eighteen year
old, the delivery guy was really buff. Jess flexed back as the kid stepped
closer to his truck.  The kid looked around. Sunny day. Three of the guys
that moved the furniture had their shirts off. So the kid pulled off his
shirt and he was really packed. Thick pecs with jet black hair just dusting
the round hard mounds. And peeking out of the hair were two medium sized
nipples standing up as hard as they could. Jess stood up to see the kids
abs a bit better and the kid pulled his lats out as he flexed his chest.
Then he flexed into a double bi shot. And Jess smile got bigger. He pulled
off the under shirt he had worn to church and the kid could see that Jess
was at a much higher level. But instead of acting like Jess made him look
small, the kid started to lead Jess into copying his posing moves. This
went on for about eight minutes. Then you could hear a weird tune that went
with a cell phone and the kid dove into his truck and pulled himself back
out with his cell phone.  He answered it and seemed to be talking to his
boss. Woody walked out with Fred on his back, getting a piggy back ride.
The kid's mouth dropped open as the two went to the Pastor's car and popped
the trunk with the remote key. Fred jumped off of Woody and they both
grabbed about four flats of twenty four cans a piece.  The kid hung up and
put the phone back in the cab. Then he made eye contact with Jess and
slowly pulled his shirt back on. The kid got into the truck smiled again
and took off. Woody had noticed Jess interest in the delivery guy and
decided to let Jess in on the truth about Woody's questionnaire.  Woody
tugged on Jess shoulder as they headed back into Missy's home.

Woody grabbed a few slices and watched Jess fold up about four slices and
slowly pushed them down his throat without making a bit of a mess.. Woody
said " Jess, come here for a second. I have to talk to you about something
you weren't going to find out about for about two weeks."

Jess got closer but looked like he was in for more pushing around. He said
" Woody, you won on Friday. I will go to the auditions on Tuesday. "

Woody looked surprised for a second smiled and said " Oh good.  My gut
instinct tells me this will be very important for yo.... Wait a minute. OK
your telling me this now. Fine. When, on Friday, did I finally break
through your defenses?"

Jess looked upset like Woody had asked to see his cards in a poker game
after he already folded. Woody was serious.

Woody said " No really. Just between you and I. When did you decide to
audition for the musical?"

Jess looked at his feet and didn't say anything while he took three deep
breaths. He was gathering his argument and safe guarding his pride. He
looked up and said " I was half way across school from Drama Class on
Friday and I saw I had only five minutes. All these hallways packed with
other students, It looked like I was going to be late. Then I remembered
that the route to Drama class paralleled those spaces between classrooms
that were filled with shrubs and Ivy. And no students. I started to sprint
through the spaces, and the first three were a breeze. Then half way
through the fourth one, my foot falls right into a one foot deep hole
completely covered by the Ivy. I felt my foot missing the ground and I knew
I was going to go down, but my body was able to pull myself into a roll as
I fell. I thought that I'd have some kind of injury. I rolled and slid for
ten feet, on that ivy. But nothing. I was perfectly fine."

Woody said " You sure looked like you were OK. But you were about eight
minutes late. I really did appreciate your honesty at the time when you
looked me in the eye and said you had no excuse. Does this mean you lied
and really did have an excuse?"

Jess had been prepared for this adult bit of Damned if you do and Damned if
you don't. He looked into Woody's eyes and said " When I stopped rolling
and I realized just what could have happened over my run in school
gardening, my heart started to race. On the field your there with your
team. And you still have the times that it all rests on you. Or on another
one of your men. And even if I turn out to be the one they say brought home
the glory, or was the one who blew our chances. It is still Me as part of a
team. And you and I both know how much I really like to show off. But never
at the expense of the game, or the team."

Woody was starting to get an idea where Jess was going.  He said " But that
little tumble that could have broken a leg, or cut you open with god knows
what in the Ivy... That wasn't for the game winning touchdown. You just
wanted to get to class on time.

Jess nodded and said " I've taken hits on the field and shaken them off.
And that one game, I didn't get to finish. That kind of thing is part of
the game."

Woody said " But really hurting yourself, just to get to class on time. And
you could have been knocked out as you were sliced open and bleeding to
death. Am I close to what went through your mind Friday?"

Jess hung his head and said " Mostly. But it was the fear for my safety
that I had a hard time dealing with. I never felt that in a game."

Woody put a hand on his shoulder and said " And the shame you felt for
being afraid, that your thoughts kept leading you to."

Jess was upset now. He wanted an answer from this man he trusted. He said "
Yeah. Why? And why so bad. I didn't get hurt! So why was my heart racing
and all those thoughts of being hurt. And why couldn't I even talk about a
little stumble and fall, when I got to your class?"

Woody looked into his eyes and knew what it was. But Jess cut in before he
could frame it in his mind. Jess said " The minute I sat in my seat in
Drama Class, my heart said " You need a backup plan if the Football
scholarship thing falls apart.' Then I thought if I get a bad injury Ill
need one too. I decided right then I was going to get that part in the
musical."

Woody said " But you still felt strange about the whole thing. Huh?"

Jess nodded and looked for Woody to explain. Woody said " I was close
friends with that group of emotions. Our friendship ended when my brother
introduced me to Fred. Before that, I had been in a low patch of my life. I
had been hired by Rivenwood High School as PE coaching assistant with the
promise that I would be given the Political Science Classes within two
years. The man who had been teaching it at that time was telling the School
Administrators he was going to finally retire in a year or two. Well three
years go by and he retired the semester before. They dropped the course and
wouldn't tell me or anyone else if it was going to be put back. I found out
later they were afraid of loosing me as a coach. And they had wheedled
extra funding so I could take on the Drama Class. But before all the
positive stuff happened, It looked like I was going to be a PE teacher with
Three degrees to my name and barely scraping through on my bills and
food. With no change in sight. And no one there to say 'I love you' when
you wake up in the morning. And the idea of going to bed alone again, with
no one to hold yo, no one to hold."

Jess took a deep breath and said " Just alone."

Woody said " That is one of the classic stumbling blocks in a person's
life. The fear of being alone at the end of all your efforts. And even the
ones who get constant affirmation of their worth to society. A major
portion of these people go through that cycle of -Fear of loneliness -
Shame of being afraid -"

Jess said " So why do I still get a twinge of shame or guilt, just because
I decided to Go with the Musical?"

Woody looked like he just got caught red handed. He said " Some of that was
from my little game with you, to get you to audition. I didn't intend on
putting your head through those changes. You probably felt a little shame
for quote' losing the battle'. Or shame for feeling like you caved in over
a little tumble and doing the musical.  What I need to tell you is that
sequence of reactions is normal. The motivation and realization of a
personal fear shouldn't keep you from following the path you wish to walk
down."

Jess looked a bit relieved and them his smart aleck side said " So your
telling me to ," Jess suddenly started singing.

Of course it was from the musical. The church choir had sung it a few
times.

Jess missed the people who stuck their heads up to see who was singing the
words

"Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you'll never walk alone ..."
Woody grinned and nodded his head like it was a joke. But Jess voice was a
beautiful baritone. and it carried all the way into the house.

Just as Jess finished with " You'll never, ever walk alone."  He had about
ten people from the choir and about eight from the congregation singing
along.

Fred walked over to Woody as Woody grinned at Jess and said " Thought you
were being a joker huh?"

Jess still smiled but was impressed with the amount of people who sang
along with a hokey song and didn't act like it was a joke..

Woody pulled Fred against his chest and said " Well there's a surprise for
you Jess. And something you can use to ward off that little shame and
fear. Your singing got over a dozen people to sing along with you and in
three part harmony. That was beautiful."

Fred wiggled and said " So now your gonna try and take away my Music
Director job at the high school?"

Woody said " Remember last time you actually let me sing happy birthday all
the way through?"

Fred still had a bit of a bone of contention he postponed picking with
woody, over Woody's singing ability. Woody was too self-conscious about his
voice when only a few people were paying attention. By himself , or in a
huge crowd, he had perfect pitch.

Fred said " I take it you didn't get to that important subject that you can
only talk to Jess about?"

Woody looked at Jess who then had a look of ' What subject?'  on his face.

Woody said " No Babe. Jess had his own issue he wanted help with. Fred
could you go inside and steer people away from Jess and I for about fifteen
minuets?"

Fred leaned towards the front door and went inside after he said " Sure
love. And I'l try to hide about eight more pieces for you guys while I'm at
it."

Woody said " Thanks Fred."

Jess and Woody were alone again. Jess said " Now you really got me
wondering Coach. What do we have to talk about that's got to be private..."
Jess petered out on the last word.

Jess was really a smart kid. He had a hurt sort of frown on his face as he
repeated " Private.  Woody, I haven't run across that word since last
Monday and your Questionnaire.  Woody? Did you lie to us when we answered
those questions?"

Woody was being pierced by the look of betrayal on Jess' face. Woody put
his hands on Jess shoulders and started to massage them. Woody swallowed
and said " That was one of the actual lessons that I have had planned for
the Political Science Class. And I have done that questionnaire with four
classes. Not one student ever tells anyone that their Political Science
Teacher with the massive muscles... lies to their face on the first
day. And so far Not one student from any of the previous classes has felt a
need to tell anyone outside of the class... that there were identifying
numbers on each questionnaire, in invisible ultraviolet ink."

Jess was now taking in the feeling of betrayal, and also feeling like this
was silly to get upset over. It wasn't going to be part of their grade in
the class or go on their permanent record.

Woody got Jess attention and softly said " Forgive me for lying through my
teeth. And for tricking you and your fellow students into telling me things
you didn't want me to know, or didn't feel like telling me at the time. I
know the main feeling is betrayal. But for me, I know first hand the
thoughts that go through a High School or college students head, when he
finally admits to himself that he is gay. But feels like he can't tell
anyone in the world. even your best friend. Or particularly your best
friend. That story I told about my friend Brett was one hundred percent
correct and true. But I glossed over another bit of drama and anxiety. Bret
and I had fooled around. We jerked each other off and we both gave each
other head. We never got close to the subject of anal penetration. And the
truly strange part of the whole sexual exploration my straight best friend
and my gay self did..."

Jess face was looking more forgiving at this pause in the story. Woody said
" Was never ever actually talk about what we were doing to each other and
never did we ask the other if they were gay. By the time of the accident,
Brett and I had stopped playing with each other for almost a year and a
half."

Woody said " Jess can we talk about a very personal, private part of what
makes you you? And will you accept my apology?"

Woody looked at his feet as he finished with " And will you forgive me?"

Jess still had that 'What?!' look on his face as he then looked at his own
feet.  Then Jess reached up and hooked his hands on Woody's
forearms. Locking them there, so Woody wouldn't run away.

Jess was biting his lower lip as he looked up at Woody He said " To tell
the truth, I was more afraid you might tell people about how I terrorized
my younger cousin one summer. Or my irrational fear of tapioca
pudding. That took some managing!"

Woody smiled and pulled his forehead against Jess' for a moment. Woody said
" Thank you, Jess."

Jess said " Welcome."

Woody pulled back and Jess let go of his arms. Woody tipped his head to the
side and said " May I talk to you about question number ten and eleven?"

Jess nodded and said " I just hope this time they are going to be multiple
choice."

Woody shook his head and said " The kind of talk I think we need is one
where I get across the idea that I want to help you how you want to be
helped. This talk is for you. To help you with your life. OK?"

Jess said " OK, Woody. Gee that was sneaky. You used roll call to identify
desks and the numbers still on the questionnaires through your Palm Pilot."
Pause and Jess shivered just before he said " Woody, your the second person
who knows I'm.....

Gay."

Woody tousled Jess hair then put his hand on Jess shoulder again. Woody
looked in his eyes and said " Jess your strong enough to take this in
stride. You're smart. And you know I love Fred more than anything in the
world. So that should let you know..."

Jess didn't get mad. He just shrugged and said " That Fred is number
three. Mom is number one. I don't have a clue how or when I should tell
dad.. Or how I'm going to tell Matt."

Matt said " Your best friend."  Woody flinched and Jess head whipped around
to see Matt standing ten feet from where they were sitting. He must have
come from the back yard and quietly onto the Front porch while they had
been talking.

Jess had a 'dear in the head lights' look as he said " Matt?"

Matt said " Who figured out his best friend was gay about two years ago.
and after a few weeks of knowing that realized that his best friends sexual
orientation had not altered the fact that he was and still is my best
friend."

Matt had been slowly walking closer to Jess and Woody. When he stopped
talking after telling Jess they were still friends, Jess jumped over and
pulled Matt into a bear hug. Jess had to get his breathing under control,
and then Matt had to to.

As they separated, Matt said " Jess. As Woody can tell you from my
questionnaire. I am Heterosexual. I get goofy around girls. It isn't an
act. It's my sexual orientation. And a few times in the past year, I've
gotten a vague hint of an idea that you might have a crush on me. I'm glad
Woody is here to make sure you hear and understand that I wouldn't ever
hurt you.

But I'm turning out to be a lot like Woody's friend Brett. I love you like
a brother. And in the past, at times, you were my only family. But I am
never going to be able to be in love with you. I need to know that with
that in mind, you still got my back and I still got yours. You are the guy
that helped me find my back bone and helped me work on myself to the point
that I never have to worry or fear the world or the people in it."

Jess said " As long as I get to keep my best friend, I think I can handle
his orientation towards women, girls, chicks, ladies and the occasional
slut."

They stepped back and pointed fingers at each other and looked angry for a
second as the yelled in unison

"Always wear a raincoat!!". Then they started laughing.

Jess said " Man I still can't believe your grandfather took us aside and
made sure we knew his version of the birds and the bees, and safe sex. That
was the weirdest Thanksgiving dinner I'd ever been at."

Matt said " James said told me last year that Grandpa did that to him and
two of his friends at the same age we were, but he picked Christmas for
them."

Woody smiled as Fred walked on to the front porch. Woody held his arms open
and Fred walked over into them. While that happened Woody asked " Did your
brother get Condoms for Christmas that year?"

Matt and Jess' eyes got real big and Matt said " Whoa! I didn't think to
ask. Ya know I bet that's why I got told a Thanksgiving. James probably
asked Grandpa why his stocking didn't have one in it."

Fred said " You guys have been having a good talk. I like that idea
though. A cock stuffer in a stocking stuffer."

Woody mumbled " Say that three times fast."

Fred thought about it and got his mouth ready and then thought better of
it. He said instead " The Pizza boxes are almost all empty. I did save you
two almost half a pizza, but the mob of hungry mouths will soon use their
noses and find my hiding place. So I say lets go inside."

Jess and Matt headed inside with Woody and Fred following. Woody said "
Fred I saw that beautiful Steinway in the living room. I don't think Missy
would be upset if you played something like Prelude number one in C
Major.."

Fred said " With a Jazz beat to it?"

Woody said " Yeah!"

Fred went over to the beautiful piano and flipped the keyboard cover off of
it. He did a quick run through of some scales to hear the sound of the
finely crafted musical instrument. Woody tapped his shoulder and said "
Take the shirt off. You know the cuffs are going to drive you nuts."

Fred leaned away from him and smiled up into his face as he started to
unbutton his cuffs to get the shirt off. He said " You just want to ogle my
finely toned body."

Woody didn't say a word but just chuckled. His face said 'guilty as
charged'.

Fred unbuttoned the rest of the shirt, took it off and handed it to
Woody. Woody said " Thank you sir."

Woody sat down near Fred and said " I have to admit , I do love watching
your back and arms when you play the piano."

Fred started the Prelude in the normal recognized manner , and then shifted
to a jazz beat after the fourth stanza. It was so cool. {Play Bach No 1,
Jacques Loussier , Jazz}

Woody wasn't the only one watching Fred's thick muscles bunch and stretch
as his fingers danced across the keyboard. Fred being a short man felt the
need to rise off the piano stool to get at the keys when he started to warm
up the bach tune. The next movement in that particular piece of music was
really wild when you Jazzed it up. Fred was half crouched and his back sort
of spread out as he swept from one side to the other of the
piano. Yeah. Woody really loved watching his guy play the piano. Woody
jumped up halfway to the end of the movement Fred was playing and got a
glass of water with some ice and was right there when Fred finished what he
was playing still half crouched. The applause covered up Fred saying thanks
babe to Woody as he took the glass of water. They hugged and Woody said " I
love you"

Fred said " I love You, Woody."

Woody stepped back and said " Hey we didn't work out today. Play more. that
works up a good sweat."

Fred smirked and started another classic piece of music twisted just right
so the teenagers could feel some of it , while the older crowd still felt
they knew the song. They never did get to the gym that day. Woody gave Fred
a complete body massage after they got home. Then they tucked them selves
into bed and each others hearts once again.

The end Part 1



Much more to come. I hope you liked it. Let me know what you felt about
it. And remember its not going on your permanent record.