Date: Sat, 19 Sep 2015 18:53:15 +0000 (UTC) From: Les Goldsmith Subject: Echoes From a Wishing Well Ch 13 All rights reserved. Copyright held by the author. If you are underage or are offended by gay fiction, containing graphic sex and explicit language, please exit now. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> "Echoes from a Wishing Well" Copyright Ritchris, 2007 A Story by Ritch Christopher literary enhancement by Les Martin <><><><><><> Chapter thirteen <><><><><> Trent's first class with Angio the next morning was Theatre History. It happened to be the only subject taught at the High School which Trent found boring. He had yet to find any connection between modern theatre and musical comedy and Greek tragedy. Just who was Aristophanes? If it was required, Trent would take the class, but he couldn't see how it could ever affect him at all. As soon as the class was seated, the director handed scripts out to the class, scripts which were already opened to the page marked 'Act I' and, after looking over the assembled class members, asked Angio to read the role of Dionysus and Trent to read the part of the loyal slave Xanthias. The other roles were assigned accordingly to the remaining members of the group of fifteen. Angio had the first speech as he entered with Trent, but no sooner had they set foot on the stage than a pianist played a fanfare, surprising Trent. After a glance at the piano and seeing a music score there, he thought, 'An ancient Greek musical'? The dialogue in the scripts was to be delivered in between songs. Trent was even more confused until he flipped the script closed to read the front cover to see the words, "FROGS", a musical based on an Aristophanes play. He saw that it had been written by Burt Shevelove, who had also penned 'A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum', and, what's more, it had music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and ---William Shakespeare? Trent could hardly believe his eyes! Sondheim had set music to a Greek play? And his 'collaborator', the lyricist, was Shakespeare? How wonderful! This suddenly made today's Theatre History class fun and exciting to Trent who suddenly found his mental eyes opened. When the class was over, Trent rushed over to speak to Angio for the first time today. "Wow! Wasn't that great?" Trent bubbled with happiness. "You mean there's actually a Sondheim score you weren't familiar with?" Angio asked, as if he was all-knowing. "Yes! Did you know that he wrote, 'Frogs'?" "Well, I could lie and say, 'yes', that I had seen it at Lincoln Center, but I won't lie. No, I didn't know it!" "Hey, I...I called you at your place last night..." Trent said, hoping it was in an offhand manner, testing Angio's answer. "I...I was spending the night at Rick's!" "Yeah, your dad said that you're spending the whole week with Rick!" "Yeah. Didn't I tell you?" "No. You didn't!" "Well, I figured you'd be too busy with your backers' audition to even miss me." "What's that supposed to mean? I thought we were best friends." "So did I, Trent, but ever since you were asked to perform with your important friends, Rob and Tim, you...you haven't had much time to even notice me!" "Aw, come on, Angio, that's not fair. They could've asked you instead of me! It's no big deal. It's not like anyone's gonna see me at a backers' audition!" "Maybe not, but they didn't ask me, did they? Heck, Trent, I know you sing better than I, but it would have been nice to've been included." "You make me feel as if I need to apologize for something I'm not guilty of. I mean, would it have made you feel better if I had turned down Rob and Tim?" "No. But then my dad isn't friends with people like Rob and Tim..." "Now you're making me feel terrible." "Don't sweat it! You'll get over it!" "What about you spending a whole week with Rick?" "What's that supposed to imply?" "Nothing, except I've been tense all week and I thought you might come over to my place this weekend where we both could, you know, 'relax'?" "I'd like to, Trent, but I've already promised to spend the weekend with Rick..." "Are you and Rick helping each other 'relax'?" "Trent, I know we're best friends and all, but anything that happens between me and Rick is personal and between him and me." "Why? I mean, if we're best friends..." "Because I didn't tell Rick what happened between you and me and I can't involve without his approval!" "Then the two of you have been doing some relaxing!" "I didn't say that!" "Yes, but I know you, Angio, and I know your sex drive! There are things that you wanted us to do that I wouldn't do. Did you do them with Rick?" "Maybe Rick's not so insecure about his sexuality!" "My turn now! What's that supposed to mean?" "Maybe that Rick might be more daring than you. Heck! I'm not in love with Rick, but that doesn't mean that he and I can't fool around and do things that most boys do." "So Rick is gay? Is that what you're saying?" "No, Trent. I doubt that Rick is any more gay than you, but he's so sure about his masculinity that anything he does has nothing to do with his feelings or lifestyle." "What if I change my mind and decide to do those things with you?" "It wouldn't work, Trent!" "Why not? I'm a guy, the same as Rick? Does he have more than I do in private places?" "Heck, no! Face it---you're a gay guy's wet dream!" "So why wouldn't it work with me?" "Trent, think back to the things we said to each other in Boston." "OK. I remember!" "What was the deepest, the most meaningful thing I said to you to which you replied in the same way?" "You said that you loved me." "Yes, and you told me that you loved me as well." "So...?" "Trent, don't you see? If you and I have real sex...love has to be involved. We love each other. We just wouldn't be having sex for fun, we'd be making love to one another." "And...?" "Damn! Do I have to spell it out for you, Trent? IF we make love..., that means we're lovers and you'll''ve admitted to me and to yourself that you're gay." "Then if I were ready to make love to you...does that mean you couldn't make love to me?" "Look, stupid---of course I want to make love to you. I love you. Trent, I'm in love with you! But I know damned well that you're still in love with Ronnie--or with Ronnie's memory. I can fight a person but I can't fight a memory!" "Don't you remember standing me in front of a mirror, making me say that I'm alive and Ronnie isn't?" "Yes, but I'm not sure if I got through to you." "I think I realized it last night in bed imagining what you and Rick were doing to each other. I got so jealous, I threw both of my pillows across the room, hit the dresser, and broke a lamp. I mean, if Rick makes me jealous, then my feelings for you must be real!" "Trent, are you trying to say that you're in love with me and not Ronnie?" "I...I think so..." "That's another really decisive answer! Either you are or you aren't!" "All right! I am!" "You're sure? No 'maybe's!'? "No, I'm sure, Angio. I'm in love with you!" "You wanted me to spend the weekend with you?" "Yes, I did..." "How about tonight?" "What about Rick?" "Screw Rick!" "Did you?" "Did I what?" "Screw Rick?" "I...I don't remember and even if I did, it wouldn't have meant a damned thing to me!" "Would you screw me?" "Not until you give the word. I won't ever go beyond your boundaries!" "Saying that, I guess you do love me..." "I said it, didn't I?" Angio's voice had a new sound to it, a controlled intensity. "Close the door, Ange! I want to kiss you!" "Trent, we're already late for the next class!" "I know, but this is more important!" Angio looked at him for a moment, then turned, closed the door and walked to Trent, putting his arms around him. He was about to press his lips to Trent's but Trent held up a hand and stopped him. "Now what?" "Are you still angry about my doing the backers' audition?" "No..." "Why not?" "Because, you Tennessee hick-slash-future Broadway star, there's going to be lots of auditions and shows in the future that'll separate us temporarily. We both, especially me, better get used to it!" Trent jumped up, straddled his legs around Angio's waist, and kissed him solidly on the mouth. Angio began turning round and round, holding on to Trent without breaking the kiss. "Wanna skip the next class?" Trent whispered. "Jesus! You wanna go to your apartment to make love now?" "Maybe, but we have to go to Brooks Brothers first!" "Where?" "Brooks Brothers! Daddy Art wants us both to get fitted for tuxes!" "Tuxes? Tuxedos? Trent, we're not getting married, are we?" "No...but I'll sure keep that in mind! No, we have to look good for Daddy Art's opening night!" "You mean I'm going too?" "Yep---House seats, sixth row center on the aisle...and we're going in a stretch limo with my Uncle Dean and Uncle Cyrus!" "My gosh! You're not kidding me, are you?" "I wouldn't go anywhere without my boyfriend!" "Trent, I'm not your boyfriend, I'm your lover!" "And I'm your lover!" "I can't believe it! I'm in love and my lover just gave me the best present of my life...tickets to a Broadway opening night!" "Oh, it gets better!" "How? How could anything make it better?" "Wait until we get into bed together tonight!" "Shut up and kiss me again!" They kissed again and then snuck down the stairs onto Fifty-second Street and hailed a taxi to take them to Brooks Brothers! <><><><><><><><><><><><><><> Back at Granny Dee's, the two youngsters kept grinning, inwardly, each at himself and then at each other. Jody and Laurie couldn't have been more proud of their gifts from Dean and Cyrus if they had won the lottery or the Irish Sweepstakes. Dee also offered her thanks to Dean and Cyrus for the kids' clothing, but said she hoped the two men hadn't spent too much on her new charges, but Cyrus asked her in return if she could specify just how much is 'too much' for two teens who had lost everything in their young lives? She nodded sagely and, wiping her eyes, started rummaging around the house to find enough coat hangers, especially for Laurie's new dresses. Both youngsters had thanked their new 'uncles' a dozen times in a dozen different ways and Jody all but insisted that he had to find some way to pay them back, some way to do something for them. Cyrus, turning to Jody, replied, "All we want you to do is to take care of your Granny Dee and help her around the farm any way that you can." "Sir, that's understood, Uncle Cyrus," Jody assured him. Cyrus sat at Dee's kitchen table drinking a tall glass of her homemade apple cider while she went into Laurie's room to admire the new clothes and to help Laurie put them away and Dean went into Jody's room to help him hang up his new wardrobe. As he picked up a brand new shirt, he stopped silently a moment, then he turned to the older gentleman and, looking directly into Dean's eyes, he said simply, "These are the nicest clothes we've ever owned, Uncle Dean. And you've made my sister so happy. I'll never forget. Thank you.". "Jody, maybe one day, you'll realize that we got just as much pleasure from it as you kids did. But just remember you're a growing boy and during the next few months, you're going to sprout up like one of Granny Dee's corn stalks. So promise me that if you find out that you're outgrowing your jeans, your shirts, or your shoes, please just let me or your Uncle Dean know about it and we'll make a trip back down to Miller's Dry Goods. The same goes for Laurie. Be sure and tell her, will you?" "Why did you do this, Uncle Dean? You only met us last night...." "Do you know what I mean by the word 'platitude'?" "No, sir, I don't." "A platitude is like a familiar saying or an obvious remark. So I could use a platitude or two to explain why we took you shopping...such as, 'Clothes make the man' or 'Teenage boys grow as fast as weeds', or 'It's better to give than receive' or maybe, 'When you've got a lot of money, what else are you going to spend it on?'." "So, in your case, sir, what's the correct platitude?" "I'm reminded of a platitude Thornton Wilder wrote in his play, 'The Matchmaker'. He wrote that money is like manure, it's not worth anything unless it's spread around, encouraging young things to grow'." "Hey, that's a good one! I gotta remember that one!" "There's lots of things Cyrus and I can teach you, Jody. I know how tough it is for a young boy to grow up without a father. If it's all right with you, Cyrus and I, or either one of us, can be your mentor and help you with guy-things." "Can I ask you something that might be embarrassing?" "Embarrassing to me or to you?" "Well, both of us, probably." "Then ask and see if I'm too embarrassed to answer." "Have either you or Uncle Cyrus ever been married?" "No, we haven't." "You're not related, are you?" "Not in the blood sense." "Yet you two live together like two married people..." "Yes, I guess we do." "Here's the embarrassing part..." "You want to ask if Cyrus and I are gay? Is that it?" "Well---well, yes..." "Since you asked...or tried to ask, then I suppose you know what 'gay' means?" "Yes, sir. There were some older boys at one of the shelters who were gay." "Did they try to do anything to you?" He was suddenly ready to kill anyone who abused these youngsters. "Oh, no, sir. I guess they thought I was too young." "Well, since you're honest enough to ask, there's no reason to lie to you, Jody. Yes, Cyrus and I are gay. We're a couple and have been for many years." "Were you gay when you were my age?" "For many years, Jody, it was believed that a man or a woman chose to be gay, not that they were born gay. Science now teaches us that gay people are gay from the time they're born. One doesn't just 'choose' to be gay or straight." "So, when you were my age, did you know already that you were gay?" "You're fifteen, right, Jody?" "Yes, sir." "Yes, I knew it many years before I was fifteen." "How did you know it?" "Well, I didn't have a boyfriend at that age, but I knew I was more interested in boys than I was in girls." "This is real personal, so don't answer if you don't want to." "What is it, Jody?" "Had you, well, done things with a boy when you were my age?" "Well, as best as I can remember, I had done a few things with boys my age that I didn't want my parents to know about." "But at least you had parents to keep secrets from..." "Jody, all these questions...do you think you're gay?" "I...I didn't think so--until last night." "Oh? Why last night?" "I guess you know that all boys my age...well, we play with ourselves when no one else is around." "Jody, men my age do the same thing...when no one else is around. But what happened last night?" "I...well, I...being that I have my own room now, I...I had a chance to play with myself without the fear of being caught. I've never had so much privacy." "I'm glad you have your own room now. Every boy deserves his privacy. Go on, Jody." "I know Laurie knows about what I do. I used to have to wait for her to go to sleep since we'd always shared a room. I saw her watching me several times, but she didn't say anything to me...and once I saw it was okay to do it, well, I just pretended she wasn't there." "Did you ever see Laurie doing it to herself?" "Girls do it too?" He had never even considered this possibility. "Sure they do. They just keep it to themselves. Women have ways of finding more privacy. You know, women have private booths in bathrooms whereas boys usually don't. So, are you avoiding telling me what happened last night?" "First of all, let me ask you something...". Jody reached over to the dresser and picked up the photo of Dee and Trent. "This boy in the picture...this is Trent, isn't it?" "Yes, it is..." "Last night when I went to bed, I tried getting myself excited and then I spotted this picture of a boy in overalls. I figured it was Trent since he was in the picture with Granny Dee. So I placed the picture on my nightstand...right over there by the bed...and I...well, I started having strange feelings about him. That hole in the knee of his overalls, his leg showing through, that got me excited...just looking at his naked knee. Then I...I started looking at his crotch and began to wonder what he looked like without his overalls...and all of a sudden, I...I got off!" "Jody, that's called fantasizing. All guys fantasize about someone or something to help them reach an orgasm---you know, 'get off'" "Yes, but I began thinking dirty thoughts about him...things I thought maybe he must've done in the same bed I was lying in. I'd never looked at any boy that way...especially just a boy in a picture." "I don't think you did anything wrong, Jody. Lots of boys look at Playboy or Penthouse with pictures of naked women and they fantasize what they might do if the women were there with them." "But I don't think a picture of any woman would've made me feel the way I felt when I was looking at Trent." "You've never done anything with another boy?" "No, sir---never!" "...and because you had dirty thoughts about Trent, is that why you began wondering if you were gay or not?" "Yes, sir." "What if the picture had been that of a naked woman?" "I don't think I would've felt the same way. I mean I've seen Laurie naked lots of times. I know she's my sister. Don't tell her I told you, but she's started getting hair around her---well, down there...and I know all about girl's periods because Laurie explained it to me when she began wearing those cotton pads. I...I saw her replace one once and it was covered in blood and I couldn't understand why men would want to...well, you know, put their things into a girl for fear she might start bleeding." "A woman only has her period for a short time each month." "Yes, but how does a boy know when she's gonna start? I mean, she doesn't have a calendar pasted on her stomach to let a boy know when it's time." Cyrus' laugh was loud and relieved. "Oh, boy! I see we do need to have a little talk...lots of little talks." "You're the first man I've ever had a chance to ask such things." "You know, don't you, Jody, that people might say that I'm the wrong man to ask since you know that I'm gay, as is your Uncle Cyrus." "Who else is gonna talk to me? I sure can't ask Granny Dee...and I don't know any other men." "Jody, whatever we talk about must be kept a secret between us. If you are gay, people will talk and say that I influenced you and I don't want to give anyone that impression, especially you." "I trust you. I...I don't feel unsafe with you. I mean, you have a gay person that you already live with. I don't think you'd try anything with a teenage boy." "No, I wouldn't, Jody, but there are a lot of men who would." "Well, what do you think about what I told you...you know, about my feelings for Trent?" "It is possible that you might be gay. That's something you'll have to find out for yourself since I can't read your mind or know your personal desires." "I heard that Trent's coming home for Thanksgiving...and I...well, I might have to share this bed with him...and I...I don't want to get a hard-on every time I see him. If I did and Trent found out about it, I...I think I'd run away during the night." "No, no, no! You're not going to run away. I know Trent pretty well...and I think since he's your age, he just might understand. Trent's very wise for his age. He wouldn't want you to run away and leave Granny Dee. None of us want you to run away.....for any reason." "Uncle Dean, you won't tell Granny Dee or Uncle Cyrus what I told you, will you?" "No, of course not! And I don't want you to think about running away. After you've spent a day or two around Trent, if you want to tell him about your...your problem or if you want to talk to Trent with me present while you tell him. I think it'll be all right. I'm quite sure that Trent had fantasies as all boys do. I believe all boys go through a period in their teens when they have a crush on their best friend. It's funny but they usually find out that the best friend had the same crush on them...and it's normal, Jody,...even for straight boys." "You think?" "I know!" "Do you think I should hide that picture in the drawer and keep it out of my sight?" "No, you can't run away from something that bothers you by stuffing it into a drawer." "Then you think it's all right if I keep looking at it when--when I'm alone?" "Absolutely. You might even find after a night or two, the picture doesn't turn you on any longer and you'll find other things to fantasize about...other people...whether it's boys or girls." "I'm pretty sure it's boys. That's why I thought I might be gay." "Jody, if you are gay, then we should have talks of a different nature. There are many things which you must learn before you have actual sex with a boy or a girl." "Like what?" "Well, with girls, you have to think about getting her pregnant. If it's with girls or boys, you have to be careful not to catch some kind of disease." "You can get diseases from both girls and boys?" "We call them, 'S.T.D.`s'...sexually transmitted diseases. Thereare many variations, most are curable while some are not." "You mean like AIDS?" "AIDS is one. There are others...hepatitis 'C' is more widespread than HIV or AIDS. Others are manageable while being non-curable, such as herpes or venereal warts. Women have yeast infections which can transfer to their male partners." "Gosh! That's why men wear condoms?" "Exactly. That's one thing you should remember whether your partner is a boy or a girl. Many such diseases aren't noticeable and it might be months or years before the disease manifests itself...and then, often it's too late. A person has a disease and gives it to his partner without either of them knowing." "Well, one thing for certain...when and if I ever have sex, I won't have it unless I'm wearing a condom!" "You've just learned one of the best lessons of your life!" "You see? I wouldn't have known that unless you told me." "Boys and girls your age have parents who are supposed to teach them about condoms, diseases, and such, but parents are often too shy, too embarrassed to talk to their kids about sex. When a teacher tries to tell them about it, the very same parents get angry and say that it's not up to the teacher, that things such as sex should be taught in the home...only they never teach it!" "Well, since I don't have any parents, I'm real glad I have you to teach me...but what about Laurie? Will you teach her?" "No, Jody. I think such matters should be taught to a girl by a woman. I'll have a little talk with Granny Dee and see if she'll have a talk with Laurie about what I just told you." "As long as someone tells Laurie. I...I don't want to see her get pregnant or catch someone's disease." "I'll see to it that it doesn't happen! Don't you worry!" "Uncle Dean, do you think Trent is gay?" "I don't know, Jody, but when you get to know him, why don't you ask him?" "Ha! I'd be too shy! Can you see me asking Trent if he's gay while I'm standing there with a hard-on, talking to him?" Dean laughed. "I don't think that will happen." "But if it did....?" "Jody, by the time Trent comes home for Thanksgiving, you might be fantasizing about Jessica Simpson or Jennifer Beals." Jody dropped his head. "I...I've already tried to have dirty thoughts about Jessica Simpson." "And...?" "I...I lost my hard-on." "Okay. That's enough sex talk for one lesson. Let's finish putting your clothes away and go see what Granny Dee has made for lunch! Are you hungry?" "Only slightly. I don't eat much...remember?" "Well, that's something you have in common with Trent. He eats like a bird." <><><><><><><><><><><><> Trent and Angio had no problem picking out black tuxedos, pleated white dress-shirts with studs, but they couldn't decide on which cummerbund to wear. Brooks Brothers had a wide variety, everything from black to gold lamé to Scottish plaids. Trent liked the solid bright red one, but then, so did Angio and, since neither wanted to dress like the other, they both put the red ones back. Finally Angio decided on a royal blue cummerbund with flecks of silver threads and a matching bow tie. Not to be outdone, Trent picked up an orange cummerbund, to see what Angio would say. Sure enough, Angio thought Trent's choice was hideous and finally convinced him to choose the red one instead. They both chose black patent leather opera slippers with black silk knee-length socks. Since both pairs of trousers had to be hemmed, they said they would pick up their attire the day before the opening. Both were more than satisfied when they left, feeling quite debonair, really grown-up, having just shopped at the most illustrious men's' shop in New York City, Brooks Brothers! "Where to now, Trent? Your apartment?" Angio asked. "Don't you think we should eat first? I mean we need food to build up our stamina!" "Ha! You wouldn't eat a big meal if you were forced. Tell you what---let's go to Nedick's and get a hot dog and an Orange Julius!" "Orange Julius? I've never heard of one, much less had one!" "Buddy-boy, you're in for the treat of your life. You've learned to eat bagels, but now it's time to eat real New York food!". They hopped a cab down Broadway to West 33rd and walked the rest of the way to the famous frankfurter establishment. "What should I order?" Trent asked. "You leave that to me!" Angio replied with authority. The counterman walked over to Angio who said, "Give me two hot dogs all the way and two Orange Juliuses!" "All the way?" Trent asked. "Doesn't that mean with onions?" "You're worried about your breath? Mine's gonna smell like onions too, so you better eat the onions in self-defense!" They wolfed down the hot dogs and the orange drinks and Trent loved them both. Angio could've eaten two more, but Trent was full after eating just one so they agreed it was time to go to Art's apartment to see what was going to happen. When they arrived, Colette wasn't there. At Art's request, she'd been going to Art's office daily to do the many things needed before next week's opening. So Trent and Angio found that they had the apartment all to themselves. In his bedroom, Trent took Angio's coat and hung it in the closet along with his own leather jacket, keeping his face turned away to hide his insecurity, but when he turned around, he saw Angio standing next to the bed. "So?" Trent replied. "Are you tired?" Angio asked. "Nope!" "I thought we might want to lie down to take a nap," Angio said in an overly-casual tone. "When I lie down, it won't be to take a nap!" Trent said. "Oh?" Angio's voice became honestly solicitous. "What do you want to do, Trent?" "I...I wanna undress you!" "Boy! That's a first!" Angio said, a bit surprised. "And then I want you to undress me!" "Gladly!" Trent walked to the far side of his bed where Angio was standing and began to unbutton his shirt, all the while looking directly into Angio's eyes. He removed the shirt with ease and draped it on a chair beside the bed. "Sit down so that I can take off your shoes and socks." Angio sat on the side of the bed as Trent knelt and took off Angio's shoes first, and then his socks. "What now, Jeeves?" Angio was trying to sound offhand, but he failed miserably. "Stand up!" Angio obeyed and Trent undid Angio's belt, unbuttoned the top of his pants and unzipped the fly. The trousers slid south and Trent stooped to remove them as he followed them down to the floor. Angio helped by stepping out of each pant leg while leaving him standing in his white t-shirt and Calvin Klein briefs. "What next?" Trent's eyes sparkled with mischief, knowing now that Trent was truly serious. Indicating the tighty-whities, Trent grinned, "Why don't I leave those on--until you catch me up with you!" Angio grinned as he took the hint and quickly reversed roles, undressing Trent down to his underwear. Trent turned, pulled down the bedspread, the blanket, and the topsheet of the bed, and gave Angio a slight push backward onto the bed. With Angio's head on the pillow, Trent lay on top of him so that their bodies were touching from chests to toes. And Trent learned that, to him, this just felt right. He leaned forward to gently kiss Angio's lips. Angio gladly succumbed to Trent's advances and slowly put his arms behind Trent's back to embrace him. After the first long kiss, Trent reared up to sit on Angio's lower torso while he removed Angio's t-shirt and then quickly removed his own, all the while looking into Angio's eyes.... Once again, Trent lowered himself toward Angio until now their naked chests touched. Both could feel the excitement building inside their white briefs as Angio carefully began to grind his crotch into Trent's. Trent moved his mouth to kiss Angio's cheek and then his ear. This had never been a particularly sensitive spot for him but with Trent, it drove Angio into a wild frenzy. Trent stuck his tongue inside Angio's ear and left a saliva trail down Angio's neck, his sternum, and down to his navel where Trent inserted his tongue. "Oh, God, Trent!" Angio gasped. "I'm not gonna able to stop---are you sure you wanna do this?" "Shut up, my love!" Trent said as he plunged his tongue back into Angio's navel. Trent sat up again, only now he was straddling Angio's thighs and knees, as tugged at the elastic waistband of Angio's briefs. Slowly, Trent pulled them down until they freed Angio's erection which sprang up and hit Angio's lower abdomen. Trent continued to scoot lower on Angio's legs until he had completely removed the underwear. "Now look what you've done!" Angio exclaimed, laughing quietly. "How are you gonna fix it?" "Oh, I'll find a way, just as soon as you get me out of my underwear." Angio rolled over, pinning Trent beneath him and took off Trent's briefs in the same manner in which Trent had removed his. Trent's organ popped free, just as Angio's had and Angio leaned forward to kiss it. He looked up at Trent to ask, "Is that all right? Stop me if I go too far, too fast." "Angio, look at me! Tell me that you love me!" Was he merely asking or was he pleading? "I do love you, Trent! I swear!" "Then take my body and do anything and everything you want to do with it. Make me yours, Angio. I want to belong to you!" "My God, I can't believe this is finally happening, Trent! Do you know how many nights I've lain in bed, dreaming of doing this with you?" "I don't need to know, Angio, as long as it was me that you were thinking about and not anybody else." "Sweetheart! There is nobody else. Honest! It's only you and from now on, it's you and me...me and you...only!" "I love you, Angio. You're here and you're alive! You're not a memory of Ronnie! I want to be yours and I want you to be mine!" "Forever?" "Forever!" Angio removed Trent's underwear all the way and then softly lay his body on top of Trent's and they made love for the rest of the afternoon, first ferociously, then again, but this time gently. By the time Colette arrived three hours later, Trent was no longer a virgin. He now belonged to Angio. And Angio belonged to him. When they had napped, showered, and dressed, , Angio called Rick to say that something had come up and he wouldn't be able to spend the rest of the week with him. Then Angio called his dad to tell him where he was. <><><><><><><><><><><> There's nothing bigger on Broadway than the opening of a new show...especially a musical. Opening night tickets are sold out weeks in advance. Everyone who's anyone has managed to secure a pair. Hollywood has its red carpets for premieres and award shows where all the stars and starlets dress to the nines in designer clothes, or un-dressed to the tens, whereas, a for Broadway show premiere, the 'first night' , gowns, furs, jewelry get trotted out, dusted off, shined, polished, and cleaned. It's still one of the few occasions to which an elegant New York lady can wear mink, sable, ermine, or even chinchilla, without giving a rat's ass for anyone who criticizes her in what newspaper or tabloid. Hollywood fashion designers seldom provide outerwear, due partly to the Southern California climate, but mostly to reveal as much skin as possible, but in New York, during the fall season, the temperature might drop into the 40's, the 30's, or even into the teens by the time the show lets out at 10:30pm. Then the theatergoer is glad to wrap herself up in a full length mink coat and bedamned to who sees her! Since Art had taken over the direction of 'La Di Da', there had been no negative out-of-town press at all. Every reaction to the pre-reviews had been positive. Forty or fifty years ago, the success of any Broadway musical or play rested on the opinion of seven New York critics. No matter how strong the word-of-mouth reviews among the audience members proved to be...or how many curtain calls or standing ovations a show received on opening night or on any night thereafter, the New York Times, the Herald-Tribune, the Journal-American, the Daily News, the Post, the New York Daily Mirror, and the World-Telegram and Sun...these newspapers decided the fate of any new show. Would it be a long run or would it soon be posting a closing notice? Read the reviews. For Art's show, it was no longer the dreaded seven...it seemed now that every publication in the country had its own critic. The New York Drama Critic's Circle now represented twenty-one different publications. Now potent criticism could come from the 'Village Voice' or 'New York Magazine', 'The Rolling Stone', even 'Woman's Day'..as well as the existing members of New York's fourth estate...among them, the 'New York Times' still being the toughest nut to crack. Art recalled a Bock and Harnick musical back in the sixties, 'She Loves Me', a Hal Prince show starring Barbara Cook, Daniel Massey, Jack Cassidy, and Barbara Baxley. The show had received rave reviews from six of the seven major critics after its first night presentation, but on opening night, a stage curtain got hung up during a scene change, momentarily snagged on a scenery projection, a minor problem quickly corrected. It never interrupted the flow of the performance. Walter Kerr, drama critic for the Herald-Tribune, wrote more about the curtain glitch than he wrote about the show, the music, or the cast...thus, "She Loves Me" was not a hit and ran less than a year. All because of 'a curtain glitch?'...get serious! And Mr. Kerr wasn't even considered New York's most important critic. The critical reviews carried that much weight! The newly written out-of-town reviews for his show had given Art and his cast a feeling of confidence coming into New York, but one never knew what might happen on opening night. For example, it wasn't opening night, but in 'Hello, Dolly!', Gower Champion had choreographed the male dancers to jump from the stage to a runway over the orchestra pit during 'The Waiters' Gallop'. One night in performance, a dancer missed and landed on a kettle drum in the pit. Had this happened on opening night, 'Hello, Dolly' might have closed after one week instead of having an eight-year run. Fortunately, for Art, no dancers had to leap over the orchestra pit and no curtain had to fly in during the second act...but there were a thousand other things which could go wrong and be just as bad or worse. One thing, however, was sure: with the advanced hype about 'La Di Da', there would be lines around the theatre tomorrow morning...either to buy the hard-to-get tickets---or to get refunds before the show folded. The spotlights were out on West 46th Street filling the sky with swirls of incandescence. Limousines and taxis were stretched bumper to bumper for blocks down Broadway, all headed for the new show. One long stretch limo pulled up in front of the theatre and from it. emerged Cyrus Barnes, Dean Barger, and two young friends, Trent Matthews and Angio Marcano, all dressed in black tuxedos and looking like an ad from 'GQ'. Some of the crowd behind the red velvet rope recognized Cyrus and Dean and broke into applause. There were plenty of autograph seekers with paper and pen in hand, begging for the signatures of Bernadette, Chita, Angela, Steve, Patti, Diane and Mike, Audra, Neil Patrick, Donald, Regis and Joy, Matthew and Sarah, Hal, Jerry, Barbara's , both C and W, and not to forget, Tim and Rob...scads of stars from Broadway, TV, and cabarets. No one was more proud than Trent. It was his new dad's show and several of the paparazzi had instantly recognized the team of Barger and Barnes and automatically knew that the two young men with them had to be 'somebody.' They began snapping photos of Broadway's old favorite musical team as well as their guests. Trent was shy at first but soon realized that Angio was eating up the attention, actually pausing to pose for the snapping cameras! He knew Angio's parents would see the pictures would be happy for their son, so it was fine with Trent. Inside the theatre, the crowd was as noisy as any ballgame at Shea Stadium. Women were waving at one another all the way across the orchestra seats. The theatre was packed with excitement until the house lights dimmed to half and the roar of the crowd subsided into a tense silence as the conductor held his baton in the air to give the downbeat for the overture...which began with a single kettle drum roll and crescendoed to the wail of five trumpets blaring out the first tune in two/four time. Trent was very familiar with overtures and thought that 'La Di Da's' overture rivaled that of 'Gypsy', which was probably the most exciting overture ever written. The strings zipped through the second number and the trombones started playing the first ballad. They were soon joined by five saxophones, the alto wailing as if had escaped from 'Birdland'. Finally the conductor held the final note for sixteen bars and it nearly brought the audience out of its seats. The stagehand who was to pull the curtain for the first scene had to delay his action due to the amount of applause for the orchestra and its overture. Trent leaped to his feet to give it a well-deserved standing ovation. The cast on stage, all in place, waiting for the curtain to rise, heard the applause and two dozen hearts sank to the pits of their stomachs. Would they be able to live up to the orchestra's warm-up? Art was standing in the back of the theatre with Paul Warner, the producer. Both were ecstatic about the audience's response. Paul leaned over to give Art a big hug! "So far, so good, Art!" Paul said over the applause. "I knew I made the right decision when I put you in charge!" "Just wait, Paul. We still have two acts to get through before..." Art replied, nervously, his voice fading away into his own personal Hell. Art had no reason to worry. The first act went off like magic...each number receiving more applause than the previous one. The audience was laughing in all the right places. During one of the ballads, Art saw several men in the audience putting their arms around their wives as if the romantic feeling of the leads was reaching over the footlights and working its spell on these people who still loved good music...the kind Rodgers, Kern, and Porter used to make! When the first act curtain fell, The applause was strong and sustained!i Then people began to get out of their seats for a bathroom break, a drink, or a cigarette. This was a signal for Art and Paul to roam through the crowd listening for comments...and all were favorable. When the two met at the back of the theatre for act two to begin, both were beaming with smiles of relief and wonderment. The second act started. The conductor started the entr'acte and it, too, finished to thunderous applause. The second act was, as usual, thirty minutes shorter than the first. The plot wound up just as the audience had hoped and the chorus and leads walked downstage for the finale, ending with, "DO RE MI FA SO LA DI DA!". The audience didn't wait for the final curtain. It was already on its feet, cheering, giving the show a standing ovation which was followed by fourteen curtain calls! Art was crying. Paul was crying. Trent, Angio, Cyrus, Dean, Rob, and Tim...the whole sixth row seemed to be crying as well. Art and Paul hugged, then ran backstage to compliment the cast who were already on cloud ten. The applause had elevated them far above cloud nine. No one had missed a cue, onstage or off. No lines or lyrics were dropped. No steps were forgotten. The show could not have been more perfect! Art hugged as many members of his cast and crew as he could physically reach! When he turned around, he saw his 'family' from the sixth row and ran to embrace them. Cyrus was so excited, one would have thought he and Dean had written the show themselves. The group onstage finally broke up, heading for the dressing rooms to remove their costumes and makeup, and get dressed to go to the opening night party.......and wait for the first reviews to come out. Paul had reserved a banquet room at the nearby Belvedere Hotel, which was within walking distance of the theatre. Trays of lobster, caviar, hors d'oeuvres of international cuisines were the order of the night. Magnums of bubbly were poured at every table. A fifteen-piece band was playing show tunes in the corner as some people chose to dance. Finally, two AM arrived and it was time for the first review to be on the stands. Paul had asked a couple of assistants to wait at the printing plants to get copies as soon as they were ready. The two assistants bought three dozen copies of each paper and ran to the banquet room to distribute them to Paul, Art, and the cast. Nervously, everyone plowed past the news sections to find the theatre reviews. Everyone only got the first paragraph read when they starting roaring, cheering, shouting, hugging, kissing to celebrate. 'La Di Da' was a hit! The critics were ALL positive which meant Paul had no financial worries for his backers, Art was praised and was set to be a successful director from now on. The leads, the dancers, the singers, the musicians, the stage hands, ALL had employment for months, maybe YEARS to come! Trent hugged Art, Dean, Cyrus, Rob, Tim, and then turned to Angio and kissed him on the mouth. No one even noticed the two new lovers as everyone else seemed to be kissing each other as well. Art came over to the table where Cyrus, Dean, Trent, and Angio were seated to say, "Well, guys, it's off to Tennessee next week! I think we ALL have a great deal to be thankful for!" The idea of Trent's leaving for the short holiday weekend brought Angio back to reality, to the fact that he wouldn't have his lover with him for Thanksgiving. He suddenly got a glum look on his face. Trent looked at Angio and immediately knew what Angio was thinking. "You're going to Tennessee with us, aren't you?" Trent asked Angio. "Am I invited?" "Are you kidding? We're a couple now and nothing or no one is gonna separate us!" Angio yelled and embraced Trent. Now the only one with a concerned look on his face was Dean. What would Jody do if Trent brought Angio with him to Tennessee? <><><><><><><><><><><><><> (To be continued in chapter fourteen of "Echoes From A Wishing Well" next week!) ADDENDUM: The above note was written long before Ritch passed away. I'll do what I can in his memory. -Les