Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:45:39 -0500
From: Morris Henderson <bigmoh@post.com>
Subject: improbable_love_chapter_25

Chapter Twenty Five

The teens arrived at the park and decided to go immediately
to the water slides and wave pool.  TJ had been there
before so he took the lead in directing his older friend to
the bath house where they would change into their swim wear
and put their clothes in a locker.  Neil's self-conscious
nervousness returned as he pulled on his speedo and had to
be reassured all over again that he did not look indecent
or obscene.  His anxiety persisted as he faced the prospect
of walking out to the public pool -- `practically naked' as
he put it.  It was only his younger boyfriend's gentle
urging that gave him the courage to leave the relative
privacy of the locker room.  As he splashed and played in
the water with his boy friend, he forgot about the tight-
fitting garment that scarcely covered his most private
parts.

They paid scant attention to the other fun-seekers
frolicking in the water and hardly noticed that several of
them would glance admiringly at the two handsome boys or
pause to stare at their fit physiques.  No doubt many of
the younger women and girls -- and probably a few males --
were mentally picturing what was hardly hidden from direct
view.  Still, the two teens were too occupied with being
boys having fun to notice the admiring and possibly lustful
looks they drew.

They were resting at poolside to regain their energy when
they saw someone they both recognized: Cory!  They did not
know, however, the man who was with him.  He was at least
twice Cory's age, balding but with a thick, neatly trimmed
beard, and quite thin.

"Who do you suppose that is with Cory?" TJ asked.

"I have no idea ... possibly his father, an uncle, a friend
... I just don't know."

Glancing around to be sure they could not be overheard, TJ
said, "I would guess that he's a very GOOD friend, that
he's gay, and that he likes teenagers."

"Oh, come on!" Neil protested.  "Don't jump to conclusions
that aren't justified."

"Are you kidding?  Look at the way they're pawing each
other.  Watch their facial expressions, especially Cory's.
He's uninhibited and frustrated and doesn't have the sense
to conceal what he is.  He's finally found somebody who
will give him what he wants and he doesn't care that it's
an old man."

"I'll admit it's possible.  But it's pure speculation.
Give the kid a break!"

The doubt would soon be dispelled.  Cory and his friend got
out of the pool and started walking toward the refreshment
stand, a route that would take them directly past the two
curious boys relaxing in lounge chairs.

As Cory approached, he caught sight of Neil. Panic washed
across his face as they made eye contact.  It was
impossible not to greet his friend.  Awkwardly, he stopped
walking and said, "Hi, Dudes."

The boys returned the greeting, both wondering if they
would be introduced to the stranger but withholding the
question on their minds.  However, as the man stood
uneasily, he was unmistakably leering at the two teens who
were laying back in their lounge chairs.  The two boys had,
of course, briefly checked out their friend's companion but
had done so very discretely. The man, however, was less
cautious and his eyes lingered far too long on the boy's
trim bodies and amply full speedos.

"We're just on our way to get a hot dog and drink," Cory
said, still nervous about being seen.

"Where's your manners?  Aren't you going to introduce me to
these studly hunks?"

Cory was visibly angered by the bald-faced attempt at
flirting.  It did, however, support TJ's previous
presumption that the man was both gay and attracted to
teenagers.

"This is Neil," Cory began reluctantly, "He lives down the
hall in my dorm.  "And this is TJ, Neil's friend.  Guys, my
friend is Larry."

"Delighted to meet you both," the man gushed and he leered
at the two boys lasciviously.  "Would you care to join us
for a bite to eat?  They've got foot-long hot dogs here ...
warm, fat, and juicy."  The description of the hot dogs
might have been innocuous but, delivered as it was with a
grin, carried a subtle meaning that was not lost on any of
the three boys.

"Thanks but no," Neil said.  "We're just about to go back
to the water slide."

"Okay, then," the man said.  "I hope to see more of you
later."

Once again, the covert implications of an otherwise
innocent comment (`see more of you') irritated Cory and
reinforced TJ's suspicions.

When Cory and Larry had gone, TJ triumphantly said, "What
did I tell you?  He's gay.  Not only that, but he was
trolling, hoping to score with us.  And, in front of his
date!  He's a predator!"

"It certainly seems so, TJ.  I just hope Cory has the sense
to realize it.  I hope his hormones don't poison his
thinking."

Less than twenty minutes later, Cory came back to the pool
alone wearing a decidedly glum expression.  Catching Neil's
attention, he beckoned to him to come out of the pool.

Accompanied by TJ, Neil went to see what the imprudent teen
wanted.

"I hate to ask, but would give me a ride to the King Street
Metro station when you leave?"

"Where's Larry?"

"He's gone.  He left me stranded!"

"Why?"

The miserable youth looked over at TJ before saying, "It's
a long story."

"We're listening," Neil replied in an attempt to learn the
nature of the problem.

The distraught teen glanced once more at TJ, which was
evidence enough that the story involved sexual involvement
with the older man.

"Don't worry, Cory, TJ knows you're gay and even guessed
that Larry is also gay.  Now, what's the story?"

"Well, all right.  I have no alternative.  I met the dude
online two months ago.  We chatted on Yahoo, wrote emails
and exchanged pictures.  Lately, things became more
intimate.  He suggested that he could drive down from
Baltimore to spend the day and then go to a motel for
overnight fun.  He was always very nice.  I thought I had
found what I was looking for.  However, when he met you, he
started flirting.  I told him I didn't appreciate his
behavior.  He apologized but I was still upset.
Eventually, he told me that he would get sex wherever he
wanted.  I disagreed.  Then the argument got ugly.  He
called me a whore-boy with no right to expect anything more
than a good hard fucking.  I lost my temper and called him
a bastard.  That's when he walked off and left me."

Unsurprised, Neil castigated, "How many times have I warned
you that your unrestrained craving for cock will lead to
problems!  You came on to Brad without cause, you were
beaten at the gay bar, and you didn't even have the common
sense to know creeps like Larry infest the internet.  You
should have realized he was a pervert even though his
emails were friendly.  I have no sympathy.  Your troubles
are self-inflicted!  You're a complete loser, thoughtlessly
bouncing from one crisis to the next!"

"I've learned my lesson!"

"Bullshit!  You've said it before but then you repeat the
same mistake.  The only way you're going to straighten out
is to seek professional counseling.  Yes, I'll give you a
ride.  However it's my last favor unless you get help!"

TJ was surprised that his normally calm and compassionate
boy friend had been so deliberately harsh.  However, he
recognized that it was not to be cruel but to administer a
dramatic dose of tough love.  He hoped it would be more
effective than previous direct but muted appeals to logic.

The three agreed to meet in one hour by the front entrance.
Unfortunately, thoughts of an abandoned Cory suffering from
his emotional wounds destroyed any chance that the two
teens could continue to enjoy themselves so they dressed
and left.

The ride to the King Street Metro station was awkwardly
silent except for a heartfelt `thanks' from the poor sap,
which was coldly acknowledged by the driver.

The two lovers discussed Cory's tragic weakness on the
drive back to Arlington.  They dreaded the trouble he would
create for himself next but agreed that only professional
help would resolve the root cause of his problem.


************
Thanks to Baruch for valuable suggestions on this chapter.