Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2016 20:53:21 +0000
From: Joel <joelyoung120@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Messenger - Epilogue (Revised)

			       The Messenger
			       By Joel Young

		   Epilogue Part 1 – David's Response

It had been hard to tell David about The Messenger and what happened
between Ben and me.  Telling him the story had taken longer than I had
expected.  I wound up spreading the story out over several nights.  I
wouldn't answer any of David's questions, however, until I'd finished the
story.

During the days, David showed me around L.A.  We toured the sights, worked
out at his gym, ate dinner at some excellent restaurants, and we went to
the theater.  He even took me to his office and introduced me as his
boyfriend.  Each night, we made love, and then I would tell him the next
part of the story.

The night I finished, I felt relieved.  I didn't want to relive anymore
experiences from my high school days.  I wanted to move on – with David.

"May I ask a few questions now?" David said.

"Since you've been so patient, sure," I replied.  "I'll tell you anything
you want to know."

"Do you still think I manipulated and betrayed you back at Joliet?" he
asked.

"No," I told him.  "We were really young, and my heart was broken.  I
wasn't able to see things clearly.  I know you loved me.  I know you were
trying to protect me.  That last night we were together was amazing, and it
was one of the best nights of my life.  Looking back, I would have done
only one thing differently had I known we'd be separated the next day.  I
would have stopped you from going home, and I would have made love with you
all night."

David pulled me close to him.  "I've never stopped loving you, Joel.  I
never want to manipulate or betray you – ever.  And, I'll make love with
you `all night,' anytime you want."

"Promise?" I asked.

"With all my heart," he said.

I laid my head on his chest, and I felt so much love and intimacy with
David.

"Any more questions?" I asked.

"Well, I was wondering what happened to Corey Anderson," David said.

"I heard that he did recover," I said.  "Sara told me he never came back to
Joliet.  He and his family moved to Ann Arbor so he could continue
outpatient treatments at the U. of M. hospital.  Sara said he has no memory
of the day of the crash."

"I think Sara was right about Corey's accident," David said.  "It wasn't
your fault."

"Thanks," I said.  "But, part of me will always feel guilty."

"Is it okay if I ask you about Ben?" David said.

I nodded, and David asked, "I know you said it was just a crush, but did
you love him?"

I had to think before answering.  "No, I didn't," I finally said.  "I just
needed someone to care about me, and I wanted some attention and affection.
Ben gave me those things - at least for a while.  But, I think he only gave
them to me because he needed me, and it was convenient for him at the time.
At some level, I always knew I couldn't trust him.  He had a bad temper,
but he could be charming at times, too.  I think he had a difficult time
seeing things from other people's perspectives.  He understood how
characters felt from a theatrical point of view.  But on a personal level,
he mostly saw things his own way."

"Do you think Ben took advantage of you because you were so young?" David
asked.  "I mean, he was an adult.  And, you were just 16."

"Of course, he was in the wrong," I answered.  "Ben shouldn't have allowed
himself to have a sexual relationship with a teenager – even though I
had reached the age of consent in Michigan; even though we waited to have
sex until his legal commitment to Joliet was technically over.  But, I
encouraged the relationship.  I wanted it, probably more than he did.  Ben
would have stopped the whole thing if I had told him that was what I
wanted.  But, I didn't.  Instead, I did everything I could to get him to
want me."

"Do you think about him often?" David asked.

"Not really," I answered.  "But, I still have that bottle of Aramis.  You
know how scents can bring back feelings and memories from the distant past?
Sometimes, if I am tempted to make a bad decision, I open that bottle and
take a whiff.  Then, all my memories of Ben come rushing back.  And even
though that hurts, it helps strengthen my determination to make good
choices.  And then, I feel stronger – less vulnerable."

"I'm sorry I left you so vulnerable," David said.

"Some of it was a good thing," I said.  "When I went to Lakeside, I started
acting stronger, and I stopped showing so much emotion."

"I am stunned that you wound up at Lakeside," David said.  "Wasn't that
place too snobby for you?"

"Yeah, but I was trying to fit in there.  I thought the Lakeside students
were the kind of teenagers I was supposed to be," I told David.  "I became
just like them."

I wanted to wind up this conversation and move on.  "So, what did you think
of my story?" I said.  "Tell me in just one sentence."

"Well," David said.  "That's going to be a challenge, but I'll give it a
try."

He paused for just a moment; then he began speaking.

"I really wasn't surprised that you were depressed and vulnerable after I
left, but I was very surprised - and disturbed – that you became the
`boy toy' of a mercurial, but mostly bad tempered, theater director who
used you, treated you like shit, and then screwed you on the cement floor
of a basement storage room, driving you to become a closeted prep school
snob who was ultimately rejected by the Ivy League college of his dreams."

David looked pleased with himself.  "How was that?"

"Disturbingly good, despite the run-on sentence," I answered.  "I might
have expected a slightly more positive spin.  After all, you are public
relations professional.  But, I guess I got what I asked for."

"I had one more reaction to the story that I couldn't work into my one
sentence.  May I share that with you now?" David asked.

"Sure," I answered.

`This is kind of hard to say.  And, I hope I don't offend you," David said.
"But, I sort of think you may have enabled Ben to be abusive toward you.  I
heard you say that even if you knew Ben was taking his frustrations out on
you, all would be forgiven if he offered up just a few kind words.  And,
when he said mean things to you, sometimes you would chastise yourself for
speaking without thinking.  Joel, you were much too forgiving.  And,
blaming yourself for any of his temper outbursts wasn't a healthy thing to
do.  It just let him off the hook, and it probably let him know that he
could mistreat you and way get away with it."

I'd never thought about my relationship with Ben in the context that David
suggested.  "I need to think about that," I said.  "But, you're probably
right."

"Just promise me," David said.  "Don't let anyone take advantage of you
like that again.  And, if I ever take my frustrations out on you, call me
out for it."

"David, you'd never do that to me," I said.  "And, even if you needed to
let off a little steam and said some things you didn't mean, I'd want to
help you - in any way that I could."

"That's exactly what I mean, Joel," David said.  "You forgive too easily,
and sometimes you let people take advantage of you.  You know how to stand
up for yourself.  But, if you care about someone, you don't always choose
to defend yourself.  You always want to please people, and you expect
yourself to be perfect.  Joel, we are all less than perfect.  And in the
end, we can only try to do as well as we can, for all the people we can,
for as long as we can.  But, that never means you should tolerate someone's
abuse."

"You're right.  I get it," I said.  "But there's one thing I don't get.
How did I ever get so lucky as to find someone like you?"

"I'm the lucky one," David said.  "You've agreed to be my boyfriend again.
And, I couldn't be happier."  David leaned over, and we enjoyed a soulful
kiss.

When the kiss ended, I smiled at David.  "I can't wait to hear some stories
about you," I said.  "And, by the way, you have to start tonight."

"Soon," David said.  "But, not tonight.  It's late, and we have to go to
sleep.  I have a surprise for you – and it begins tomorrow morning."

"What kind of surprise?" I asked.

"We're taking a road trip.  You'll find out the rest tomorrow," David said.
"For now, my cute `boy toy,' it's time to get some shuteye."



                                                Epilogue Part Two –
David's Surprise

"What should I wear?" I asked David the next morning as we were preparing
to leave on the mystery trip he had planned for us.

"Jeans," David said.  "And, I bought you a plaid shirt for later.  It's
hanging on the far right side in my closet."

I never wear plaid shirts, but I decided not to question David's plans.
After all, I loved to do things that made him happy.

David called out to me from the bathroom.  "And, bring anything you need
for overnight.  We won't be back here until tomorrow."

After some fresh fruit, eggs, and coffee for breakfast, we went down to the
parking level about 11:00 o'clock that morning.  David walked right past
his Tesla, and he unlocked a red convertible parked next to his car.  "We
going farther than the Tesla can take us without recharging," David
explained.  "I rented the Mustang.  I thought it would be fun."  He put the
Mustang's top down; we got in, and David headed for the freeway.

It was a warm, sunny day.  It felt great to be out in the open air –
heading for a surprise adventure with David.

We drove about six hours north into California's wine country.  David had
reserved a room for us at the local Marriot.  When we got to the room, I
started to unpack.

"Change into your plaid shirt," David said.  "We're leaving right after
dinner."

The drive north had been hot and windy.  I wanted to freshen up before
continuing on our adventure.  "Do I have time for a shower? I asked.

"Sure.  That's an excellent idea.  I'll take one too," David said.

"Want to join me?  It could be more fun that way," I said.

"True," David answered.  "But regrettably, I have to decline.  I'm saving
that kind of fun for later."

After dinner, we went back to the room and picked up our overnight bags.
We got into the Mustang, and David drove north on a two-lane highway.
Soon, he turned onto a dirt road.  We passed several farm houses before
David pulled into a driveway.  He drove past a big, white house with a
smaller house behind it.  He stopped and parked the car by a large, red
barn at the end of the long driveway.

"So, what do you think?" David asked.  "Could this be the barn of your
dreams?"

I broke out into a huge smile.  "Yes!  Absolutely!" I said.  "Can we go
in?"

"No," David said sarcastically.  "I brought you all this way just so you
could see a real barn from the passenger seat of a car."

"Okay, okay," I said. "I get it.  It was a silly question.  Let's go in and
look around!"

"Not so fast," David said.  "We're not quite ready.  Let's get out of the
car."  When we were both outside, David opened the trunk of the Mustang.
He pulled out two cowboy hats – one black and one white.  "This is your
night, so you can choose which hat you want."  He handed both hats to me.

"Ah," I said.  "So, I get to cast this production of my fantasy come to
life.  Well, let me see.  Who will I decide is the good cowboy?  And, which
one of us should be the bad cowboy?"

I pretended to debate the casting decision in my mind, just to tease David.
Then, I put on the white hat and handed him the black one.

"Yes!" David exclaimed.  "I really wanted to be the bad guy!"

"I guess I'm guilty of type-casting," I said.

David put on his black hat and carefully adjusted it to a provocative
slant.  He took our overnight bags out of the trunk before closing it.
Then, David set my bag down and opened his bag, taking out two bandanas.
Putting down his bag, he handed me a blue bandana.  "Hold on to that for a
minute," he said.  David tied the red bandana loosely around his neck.  He
carefully tied the blue bandana around my neck.  I started to feel aroused
by David's touch.  Carrying both of our bags, he walked to the barn door,
opened it and held it for me.

"Get a wiggle on, Wheel House," he said.  "You're looking `bout as fine as
a steaming pot of cream gravy, and I'm as dreadful horny as a cowpoke in a
whorehouse on nickel night!"

I found David's sexy `cowboy talk' to be hilarious, and for a while, I
couldn't stop laughing.  Finally, I caught my breath and asked, "Did you
come up with that on your own?  Or, did you have one of your copywriters
working overtime?"

With a big grin, David reached into his bag again.  He pulled out a
paperback book and held it up for me to see.  The book was titled, "How to
Talk Like a Cowboy."

"I see how it is," I said.  "You brought this city slicker out here in the
boonies, figuring that your cowboy talk would make me shuck my clothes and
let you have your way with me."

I knew my attempt at cowboy talk wasn't as funny as David's.  It was,
however, the best I could improvise on the spot.

We went into the barn, and David closed the door behind us.  The inside of
the barn became somewhat dark when the door was shut.  There were, however,
a few last rays of sunshine squeezing between the wooden slats of one wall.
There was just enough light so that we could see to walk around safely.

It was just as I had imagined in my fantasies – horse stalls along one
side, bales of hay stacked up, farm tools leaning against one wall, and a
lantern hanging from a hook.  And most importantly, there was a ladder
going up to a hayloft.

"This is amazing!" I said to David.  "It's perfect!"  I looked around
again.  "No horses?"

"Not tonight," David said.  Then, he looked concerned.  "Is that okay?
Were horses part of your fantasy?"

"No, no - not at all," I said.  "This barn is perfect, and you're the only
stallion I need to make my fantasies come true."

David looked relieved.  "I'm so glad you like the barn," he said.  "It's
ours for the night - well, until 10:00 tomorrow morning.  Guaranteed
privacy until then.  And, we can use `the facilities' in the guest house."

"Let's go up to the hayloft," I said.  "That's where the best parts of my
fantasies always take place."

David smiled, and I saw a gleam in his eye.  He grabbed a blanket that was
hanging near the horse stalls, and he handed it to me.  I placed it over my
shoulder, and David picked up the overnight bags.  I climbed the narrow
ladder, and David followed me.  Once we were in the loft, I spread the
blanket out on the hay, and we sat down.

"This is so great!" I said.  "When did you have time to arrange all this?"

"Well, it was my idea, of course.  But, I had help in making it happen.
We'll have to send my assistant a nice thank-you gift," David said.  "He
loves planning parties and coordinating special events."

We sat close to each other just looking around the barn and enjoying the
atmosphere.  I held David's arm and leaned my head on his shoulder.  "This
is wonderful," I said.  "No one has ever done something this nice for me.
I'll remember it always."

"Joel," David said.  "What we have is almost unbelievable.  I think we both
know that there's magic whenever we're together.  You've told me you'd do
anything to make me happy.  I want you to know that I will do the same for
you.  Tonight is just a sample of what I'll do for you.  You make me so
happy, and I'm totally in love with you."

I was so moved by David's profession of love that I felt like I might cry.
I didn't want to do that, however.  So, I simply said, "I'm totally in love
with you, too."  I kissed him as we both lay down on the blanket.  Our hats
came off, and I could feel the hay beneath me.  I knew my fantasy was
coming true – with David, the love of my life.

Lying there, with David's arms wrapped around me as we kissed in the
hayloft, I felt almost like I had been transported into another dimension.
It was as if the world had ceased to exist – except for the barn, the
hayloft, David and me.  What started out as gentle kisses of love grew more
passionate.  They became kisses of sexual excitement and desire.

We started to pull together tightly, and I heard the soft crackling of the
hay as we moved around trying to merge our bodies.  David's strength, his
fit and masculine body, and his loving but demanding sexuality made me feel
like I was his.  And, I wanted to please my bad cowboy.

David and I looked into each other's eyes.  He had a sexy smile on his
face.  "Now it's time for the fun," he said.

I started to undress him.  David let me enjoy myself as I slowly took off
his clothes.  I left the red bandana tied around his neck. And, I waited to
take off his low-cut briefs.  He didn't try to take off any of my clothes
just yet.  I think he understood that stripping him bare was part of my
fantasy.

I admired the tall, manly body stretched out before me, fully exposed
except for the parts covered by his bandana and briefs.  I kissed him and
then spoke softly in his ear.  "I love how you're making my fantasy come
true tonight, but I haven't told you exactly what I've imagined.  My
fantasy is to drive a cowboy crazy – to drive you crazy – until you
beg me to make you cum."

David's face lit up.  "I've never had to beg before," he said.  "But, it
does sound kind of exciting.  I'm in!"

"I'll be the one who decides when it's time for you to come in," I told
him.

David assisted me as I started to remove his briefs.  When he was
completely naked from the chest down, I had to stop again and savor the
scene - the rustic atmosphere of the barn, the sense of seclusion provided
by the hayloft, and the drop-dead gorgeous man lying naked and aroused
looking back at me with love and desire.

I ran my hands over his body and admired everything – out loud.  I told
him how much I adored his face with its classically handsome features.  I
told him how the kindness in his heart reflected beautifully in his soulful
eyes.  I explored his chest and waist while describing the muscular shape
of each part of his perfect torso.  I rubbed his feet and legs with both of
my hands.  "So masculine, so strong, so perfect," I said.

And then, I got to his genitals.  I caressed both of his testicles,
describing the large, egg-shaped orbs and how they make me lust for his
body.  I gently took hold of his cock.  "Since I was 16," I said.  "I have
been fascinated by this cock.  I love how long and thick it is.  I love its
perfect shape and the feel of the soft skin covering your mouthwatering,
steel-like erection."  I began to feel almost dizzy from my hunger and need
for him.

I leaned over and kissed him passionately while lightly stroking his now
throbbing cock.  I pulled away and smiled at him as I moved down his body.
I kissed all over his chest.  David's nipples are extremely sensitive, so I
lingered until he was moaning from the feeling of my lips and tongue
circling and savoring his areola and hardened nipples.

I slowly kissed my way down while caressing his balls with one hand.  His
cock was fully erect, and I could resist no more.  I lay my head right next
to his manhood, and I watched as my hands held it, massaged it, and moved
softly up and down on the long shaft.  Then, I continued to play with him
just using my fingers as I tried to drive him crazy with sensuous tingles.
I noticed drops of pre-cum collecting on the head of his penis.  It was
time to move on.

Using both hands, I spread David's natural lubricant all around the head
and shaft of his manhood.  I took hold of it with a firm grip, and I
stroked him for several minutes.  Then, I put my tongue on the tip of his
cock.  I licked the head as if I were enjoying a Popsicle on a blistering
hot afternoon.  I began licking lower and lower until my tongue's long
strokes were traveling up and down David's full-length.

David began squirming around on the blanket, and I knew I was driving him
crazy.  I decided I should stop teasing – for now.  I took my tongue off
of him.  "You have a magnificent cock," I said.

I leaned over and took him fully in my mouth.  At first, I opened my mouth
wide and went down directly to the base of his shaft with as little contact
as possible.  I wrapped my lips and mouth tightly around him and moved up
– slowly.  I heard him react.  "Oh, God." he moaned.

David's obvious pleasure inspired me to intensify my assault on his
fabulous cock.  I began sucking him with full pressure on each upward and
each downward stroke.  I took the bulging head back into my mouth and
circled it like swirling water being sucked down a drain.

Soon, I was once again going up and down on David in a lustful and furious
manner.  Each time that I sensed his excitement was starting to build
toward a crescendo, I backed off.  Waiting for him regain control, I would
fondle his thighs, hips, and abdomen for at least a full minute before
slowly returning to the epicenter of his excitement.  After several such
episodes, I finally heard what I was waiting for David to say.

"Joel, I'm going crazy," he said.  "I can't take it anymore.  I've got to
cum.  I'm begging.  Please make me cum!"

I took my mouth off of his cock and sat up.  "You sure that's what you
want, Cowboy?" I teased.

David looked desperate.  "Please, Joel.  I am begging – for real!" he
panted.

With David's help, I took off my clothes, leaving my bandana still tied
around my neck. "Did you bring any Gun Oil?" I asked.

Without speaking, David reached for his bag, opened it up, and pulled out
the lubricant.  "Hand it to me," I said.  "And give me my hat."  David
quickly complied with both of my requests.  I put on my white hat and then
covered his manhood with the Gun Oil.

I put one leg over his torso so that I was straddling him and looking into
his eyes.  I leaned down and moved forward until I could feel his hard cock
rubbing up against my ass.  David and I both maneuvered into position, and
I felt David push into me.  I was transfixed by the view of David's
beautiful face and his sexy upper body beneath me.  And, I was overwhelmed
by the sensations of his cock starting to fill me up.  I thought I might
reach orgasm right then and there.

As I started to ride him, I said, "Enjoy yourself, Cowboy.  No need to hold
back any longer."

I saw the relief on his face as he heard my permission to let go and cum
whenever he was ready.  He started to thrust up into me as I began to ride
him like a bucking bronco.

David took hold of my cock as if it were the horn on a western saddle.  He
stroked me firmly as I straightened my back and savored the rhythmic
movements of our sexual convergence.  I could see the tip of my blue
bandana bouncing up and down.  I could feel the white cowboy hat shifting
on my head as our movements became more intense.

Considering that only moments ago he had been begging me to make him cum,
David lasted a long time in this new position for us.  I experienced a
glorious sense of elation as I looked around the hayloft and continued to
ride him.  The carnal indulgence of having David's huge cock pumping in and
out of me, and the indescribable bliss of David's hand pumping my erection,
were incredible!  Truly, it was my fantasy come to life.

I watched David's face as it became apparent he was building up to a
climactic eruption.  "Come on, Cowboy," I said.  "It's time for the
fireworks."

And then, David pushed into me one final time and stopped.  I felt him
explode inside of me as I listened to him cry out in orgasmic ecstasy.  The
look on his face captured the essence of my cowboy sex fantasies, and that
sent me over the edge.  I shot my semen onto David's chest, hitting his red
bandana.

A few moments later, we resumed our movements, slowly this time, as we
tried to prolong the magical effects of a potion made of love, intimate
contact, and mutual orgasmic bliss.

Finally, I let out a huge sigh of satisfaction and relief.  Exhausted, I
rolled off of David.

I stretched out next to him on the blanket in the hayloft.  I put my head
on his chest.  My fantasy had come true, and I was physically and
emotionally blown away.  I felt more peaceful and content than at any other
time I could remember.

"Was it as good as your fantasy?" David asked.

"Better!" I answered.  "Absolutely amazing!"

"I liked it, too," David said.  "Especially you riding me like that.  We'll
have to do that again!"

I stretched up and kissed him.  "Anytime you want, Cowboy," I said.

"May I ask you something, Joel?" David said.

"Of course," I replied.

"Do you think it's possible for two people to stay this much in love for a
lifetime?"

"If it's true love," I said.  "I won't even try to define `true love.'
But, I think you know it when you have it.  It's more than physical
attraction and more than fantastic sex.  It's more than affection and even
more than having similar values and goals.  It's an indescribable
connection between two souls.  I've known what `true love' feels like since
the day we met."

"You're talking about that first day in debate class?" David asked.

"Yea," I said.  "From the moment you walked in the door and introduced
yourself, a part of me knew you were the one."

"I was in love with you even before that," David said.  "You gave a debate
demonstration in my ninth grade English class.  I couldn't take my eyes off
of you, and you made me feel strange in the stomach.  For the rest of that
year, I looked for you wherever I went in the school.  It made my day if I
just saw you.  And when I did, I'd go home and dream about what it would be
like if we were friends.  On the last day of school that year, you and I
were leaving the building at the same time.  You were with Jim Roberts, but
you smiled at me and said, `Have a great summer.'  That was the first time
you spoke to me directly, and I almost keeled over with excitement.  That
night, I decided to do everything I could to get onto the varsity debate
team in the fall – just so I could try to become friends with you.  I
studied all summer, and it was the best investment of time I could have
made."

"That's about the sweetest thing I've ever heard," I said.  "I didn't know
any of that.  Had I known, we could have had the summer of every teenager's
dreams!"

"Once, after I was in California," David said.  "I tried to write you a
letter and tell you how much I loved and missed you.  But, I couldn't find
the words, and I was scared that if I mailed a letter to you, your father
would find out."

"I wrote you many letters over the years – in my head," I told David.
"A few weeks after you left, I even wrote a poem – on paper - about my
love for you and what it would be like if we were together again."

"Do you still have it?" David asked.

"Sadly, no," I said.  "When I decided to go to Lakeside and change my life,
I tore it up."

"Did you keep the poem you wrote for Ben – the one for that contest?"

"No," I said.  "When I was finally done with The Messenger, I wanted Ben
out of my life – and out of my head.  Besides, the poem was silly.  I
mean really, a humorous birthday card verse sent from a gay, old geezer to
a former boyfriend?  Not exactly something that would make the best seller
list at Hallmark.  Besides, what I wrote was pretty bad.  Even Ben told me
it was garbage.  Tearing up that poem was easy.  Tearing up the poem I
wrote about us was – well – that was painful."

David pulled me close and kissed my forehead.  "I really love you, Joel,"
he said.

I looked up into his eyes.  "I really love you too, David, and I always
will."



	    Epilogue Part Three – The Undiscovered Betrayal:

		     The Poem That Joel Wrote for Ben



		     Baby Jane's Locker Poetry Contest

	      Category:  Gay Greeting Card Verses - Humorous

			First Place Prize - $100.00

			 Awarded to: Ben Califonte



	       To My College Boyfriend on His 80th Birthday

			     By Ben Califonte



	      To honor your birthday, I wrote you this ditty,

	      To wish you a day that is fun - and not shitty.

	     Getting old is no picnic, and I think it's a pity

	     That our shrunken old dicks now look itty-bitty.

       So, just remember the days we were young, virile and gritty,

	       But wanted nothing to do with pussy or titty.

	  Like that great summer night that we drove to the city

	    For an orgy all night with Keith, Joey, and Smitty.

	    Though things at our age aren't looking so pretty,

	  Let's stay gay and alive, and may we always be - witty!



The End

Comments are welcome and appreciated.  Send them to joelyoung120@hotmail.com