Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 19:09:58 +0000 From: Robert J. Cutter Subject: "TOMORROW'S PRIZES" Chapters 13-15 (Man/Man) Disclaimer: This is a love story. It is a work of fiction; neither the situations nor the locales have any actuality in fact. There is very strong homoerotic content. If this offends you, leave now. TOMORROW'S PRIZES ----------------------- By Robert J. Cutter Copyright (c) 2002 by Robert J. Cutter - All Rights Reserved Please Note This Very Carefully: The author retains all rights to this story. You cannot distribute this story, put it on another web site and/or display this story without the written consent and permission of the author. A Special Note: Yes, this story is finally finished. I hope you find the conclusion interesting and will write to me about your reaction to it. Please write to cutter57@hotmail.com. Thanks for your time and dedication. A Special Dedication: To a very extraordinary friend who has been incredibly instrumental in snapping me out of my long bout of writer's block. Your support, your encouragement and enthusiasm, and most of all, your friendship and love, have been absolutely invaluable. Thanks Gel. I love you. ----------- Have you ever watched (or paid attention to) all the credits for an entertainment show on television - either sitcom or drama? Did you ever bother to count the number of producers working for that show? I once counted over twenty producers for one thirty-minute episode of the old "Rosanne" show. There are not only producers, but co-producers, coordinating producers, executive producers, consulting producers, co- executive producers, supervising producers, assistant producers, associate producers, line producers...and sometimes three, four or five in each category. Then there are the consultants - consultants, executive consultants, co-executive consultants, supervising consultants, creative consultants and on and on and on. Have you ever wondered what the fuck all these people do, each one pulling down a minimum of ten thousand dollars per episode? Do you ever wonder why it takes ten minutes to flash the credits on the screen at the start of a thirty- minute program - which is only twenty-two minutes of actual program? Well, let me tell you - they don't do much! Their function is to sit around a big table with the executive producer (the real executive producer, the one who really and truly produces the program and has creative control of the whole thing - called the "runner" in Hollywood parlance) and dissect the script for that week's show. They go over it word by word, line by line, in absolutely minute and excruciating detail. They add, they cut, they polish, they augment, they shine the script - until it is ready to pass the network censors and it has been completely almost eviscerated. It's entertainment by committee. And we all know where that leads don't we? It leads to the dull, repetitive shit that is continually shoveled out week after mind numbing bloody week to the American public (and much of the rest of the world for that matter) and passed off as entertainment. That is why a really great series, when it is new (be it a dramatic series or a situation comedy, be it "ER", "Friends" or "Murphy Brown"), are so entertaining and captivate the public. There is normally one hand guiding things and one point of view presented and everything is fresh and new. But after a few years the creative forces behind the initial success have either lost their touch, moved on to something newer or have delegated responsibility to some hack - or committee of hacks. How many times can we watch the same regurgitated swill - week after horrifying week. "The Sopranos" is such a hit and so "innovative" because it is the vision of one man - David Chase. I have a full staff for my weekly hour-long series - don't get me wrong. I have a producer, two co-producers and two consultants. However, they run the operations side of the business, not the creative side. The fewer hands pulling on the cow's teats the better. When I signed my contract with the studio I said that I only wanted to make one hundred episodes. They countered by insisting on two-hour specials (limited to a maximum of two per season) for four years after the initial run was completed; I agreed. This seemed to satisfy them completely. However, since the series has been a very big success and a prodigious money maker, I know, I absolutely know, that as the fourth season begins I will be thrown tons of money to sign on for a fifth season. I'm already dreading the acrimony. Chapter 13 - Family Time and a Half May passed into June and June would soon be ending; July would arrive in a few days. By the third week in July, I would need to be back in Los Angeles. I had already sent the studio the first eight completed scripts for the new season. Casting was underway as was the design and building of the sets and costumes. Location shots were in progress in New York City and I made a two-day trip there to see how things were progressing. Most days I was either on the telephone or sending emails and faxes; there were so many details that needed my attention - everything from possible script revisions, to the menus from caterers, to what breed of dog to have in a particular scene. I definitely need to delegate more authority. When a program is in script form, there are no limits to the possibilities or events. Once the script must become filmed reality, more problems arise than one can ever possibly imagine. So there was an incredible amount of minutiae occupying my every waking hour. Carlos continued to work his job but gave notice. He told his parents, brothers and sisters that he would be joining me in California, and that we'd be driving cross-country. We went to dinner at the Geller's and gave them details of our plans. His folks had anticipated this news and they took it very joyfully and wished us great happiness together. Mrs. Geller served a fantastic dinner; Carlos' sisters all took partial credit for the success. His youngest sister cried a little but everyone seemed to be genuinely happy for us. My parents, however, did not take the matter so kindly. My father was convinced that the whole question of my sexual orientation was still undecided - an aberration that I'd outgrow in a few years. "Why do you insist it's a passing phase, dad?" "'Cause I've been through it too, Craig. Yes, I've done it all myself and I outgrew it. We all go through that cycle." "So you're saying..." "I'm saying that if you give...uh...if you give women a chance I'm sure...real sure that you'll be happy." "Happy?" "Yes, happy. You'll find real happiness and contentment and a real feeling of belonging and maybe even the real feelings of love. You'll have kids and settle down and begin to like your life." "Are you saying that I will have to learn to like living with a woman and having children - that it won't come naturally?" He nodded. "Sure! No man really likes to live with a woman. We like women but that doesn't mean we like being with them most of the time." I hesitated for a second then decided to take up his challenge - I needed to get my blood circulating. I knew the guy was a little off his former mental capacities but I did not want his expressions to go unchallenged. And his opinions of the relationship between men and women were most provocative. "What if I told you that I'd already tried women and found the experience.well, I found them wanting." "You've tried women? When?" "When I was in college." "I don't remember." "Do you honestly think I'd tell you those things?" He gave me a slightly embarrassed glance. "Yes, dad, believe it or not, I was with three different women during those years. And one of them was an older woman - not a student." "Older woman? Who was it?" he demanded. "C'mon! Do you think I'm an idiot? No names. But I have slept with three women.or at least tried to sleep with them." I lowered my head and my voice. "I tried to sleep with them." "Tried?" "Tried!" "You weren't...I mean were you successful with them, right?" "Oh yes. I was successful with all of them." Dad smiled. "But I was...well, ets just say I was not happy with the experience and rather unnerved by it." "'Unnerved'? What the hell do you mean `unnerved'?" I looked up in the sky - at the variously shaped and quickly shifting clouds skittering by. I tried to collect my thoughts. As I did one of the clouds reminded me of one of the women - Carly, a senior anthropology major. We actually had sex four or five times and she began to believe that we had a future together. "I didn't feel fulfilled afterward. I felt there was something missing...that I was not getting the full advantage of having sex. All that expenditure of energy - both physical and psychic - was not worth the slim rewards afterwards. It as not the be all and end all of experiences, if you know what I mean." "Shit! Everybody feels that way. Books fill your head with all kinds of crap concerning `love' and `sex' and `passion' and `feelings'. A lot of hooey! A man has an obligation and unfortunately, for better or for worse, women are part of it and the sooner you realize it the better off you'll be." He took a sip of his drink. "Did you sleep with any of them more than once?" I nodded. "All of them." "And you didn't like it." "That's right. Well, it's not so much that I didn't like it as much as I had found something much better." I paused here for dramatic effect. "I found men." He stared at me, a slightly envious stare...a slightly bitter one too. "You found men," he repeated in a low monotone. "Actually I'd found men first, before I ever slept with a woman. Found them in high school." "Jesus H. Christ! High school?" I nodded and gave him a nice leering smile. "High school!" "Who?" I shook my head and wagged a finger at him. "Naughty, naughty!" I said is a mock drawl. "Let's just say it opened my eyes and brought about a new perspective on things." We were both quite, alone with our various thoughts. Dad would occasionally glance at me as if he something to say but managed to restrain himself. Finally he spoke. "When are you returning to LA?" "Ten days." "You driving?" "Yes, and Carlos and Jake will be coming along. I'll be stopping in Vegas to see Aunt June and Uncle Fred." Dad snorted. He didn't particularly like his sister or her husband. They were "show biz" people, just like his youngest son. "Why're you stopping there?" "Just to see them again - it's been a long time. And.well, they promised to help me get a few new, fresh faces for the casting of the show. And I like them." "You looking for men or women?" "Both." "You tryin' t' find a new...a new bed buddy?" "Jesus dad! You know that's not necessary now! Stop playing games!" He muttered something under his breath, which I purposely did not hear. He was disquietingly silent again, but I knew some new subject would soon be raised, and I wasn't disappointed. Ah, how well we know our parents just at the time they are forgetting all they know about us. "I don't know why you need that big, expensive truck, Craig." "It's not a truck, dad; it an SUV." "It sure as hell looks like a truck to me. And a big gas burner to boot." "I agree, but it'll be very useful in California." "Who knew Mercedes made trucks?" "Dad! Mercedes has been making trucks for a century, for Christ's sake." "Says who?" "Says me and millions of other people." And that ended what had been the longest conversation I'd had with my dad in almost five years. The previous one dealt with such deep subjects like salmon fishing in the Pacific Northwest and why it's necessary to build larger passenger airplanes. And then there was my mother! She was out of control. After we brought Jake to the hospital, she was totally lost. She needed to be a mother hen - she needed to feel in control of someone or something. She asked the doctors if she could come to see him every day but they strongly discouraged the idea. Good move on their part! Jake made remarkable progress. After three weeks, he had recovered about 70% of his arm movements. His speech had improved markedly owing to new therapy techniques. Carlos and I would see him every weekend but mom would never go with us. She said that it would be impossible to leave him after such a short visit - so she'd rather not go at all. He seemed to be happy with his progress and kept his family informed of various stages of the treatments. When he came home (on July 3rd, eight days before our journey), he was in an extraordinarily upbeat mood. His arm movements had mostly returned and he was able to walk rather well using just a cane instead of the one crutch. He could write decently and could accomplish most tasks without any help. We were all very proud of him and extremely thankful for the great medical expertise of the doctors and therapists. Carlos had been away for more than a week before returning the same day Jake came home. I missed him terribly. He had gone with his father to a conference in Cleveland of an association of organic farmers from around the country. The exact name of the group never registered with me - guess I just wasn't that interested. I was so incredibly happy the afternoon of his return. When we got to our room I held him and kissed him and let my hands play over his incredible tight body. However, he seemed a little distant - almost as if he were in some physical pain. I asked him if he was okay, but he just dismissed my feelings and concerns with a wave of his hand. Jake's first night home brought out the best of my mom's homemaking instincts and she prepared an enormous and very elaborate dinner. The biggest surprise happened just before dinner began. There was a knock on the door and Jake quickly went to answer it. He came back accompanied by Fran - Fran the pool-cleaning guy. They had their arms around each other and looked the picture of a happy couple. They were smiling at one another and Fran whispered something in Jake's ear that made him laugh. It was a pleasure to see Jake so happy; he had found someone to be with and who liked him. I mean they were like lovebirds. The only time they stopped touching each other is when they were eating. I had realized the truth Jake's sexual preferences after speaking to the psychiatrist at the Philadelphia hospital and was relieved to know that Jake had accepted himself for the gay man he was. It was a pleasant evening although a rather subdued one around the dinner table. Talk was at a minimum, with everyone concentrating at his or her own plate, busy passing the food around and sometimes commenting on the high quality of the meal. The most surprising thing about the blossoming relationship between Jake and Fran was that my folks seemed to be totally accepting. They behaved as if Jake had brought home a girl - nothing was made of the fact that Jake and Fran were a gay couple. Of course, neither Jake nor Fran was their son, so why should it bother them? After dinner, mom and dad cleaned up and Jake, Carlos Fran and I went into the family room watched TV, drank some beers and talked. Fran regaled us with stories of a summer spent cleaning swimming pools and they were, for the most part, hysterical. I made mental notes of a few; I was certain one or two would find their way into a script. A writer is always working. It was an early night since we had only four full days to prepare for our departure to the coast. I got the strange feeling that Jake wanted to speak to us, Carlos and me - to tell us something. Maybe he wanted to explain about Fran. I certainly could not read his mind but he would keep glancing at me and when I returned his look he would quickly turn away. When it came time to say good night, Jake and Fran went outside together after kissing us. Carlos and I went off to our wing. "Well, that was an interesting evening," Carlos said with a touch of sarcasm in his voice. "Wasn't it now," I agreed. "But...but...well, did you have the strangest feeling that Jake was trying very hard to tell us something?" "I did. You know how Jake is - everything takes such a long time with him. I'm sure he'll eventually get it all out." "Yeah, I suppose," Carlos said in a rather exasperated voice. "But we've been through all this business with him and we've speculated about him so much that I'd love to know the whole truth about his situation - if there is such a thing." "I agree, but we still must let him do it at his own pace.and in his own time." I looked over at Carlos rather lustily and he responded exactly how I wished he would. He slowly walked across the room into my waiting arms. Holding his compact, strong, warm, young body in my arms was the greatest thrill I'd known for many years. With his head on my chest and his arms slowly stroking my back, I could not believe I was this happy.this content.this excited and so overwhelmingly in love. Carlos knew how to take care of me perfectly - absolutely perfectly! He knew every sensitive place on my body - and then some! Of course, with Carlos in my bed, every square inch of my body became an erogenous zone - my body one enormous sensitive area. I was his willing sex slave - he was my man and I need him to service me completely. He had begun to take total charge of our lovemaking and I was thrilled about that. He was always so horny and so ready - and so incredibly beautiful and desirable. I loved these traits in my man, and Carlos filled the bill completely and absolutely. I had always assumed that I would be the lead in our relationship, since I was older (and maybe wiser and more experienced?). But Carlos seemed to be a take-charge type of guy and I loved the way he took charge - it was thrilling; every time was like the first time. I was simply crazy about how he made love to me. Carlos was an incredibly natural, sexual animal. He overcame any inhibitions he may have had incredibly quickly and just let himself be natural - and the results were fantastic for both of us. Carlos tried to have new surprises for me whenever we made love - which, thankfully, was very often. He'd add a new "spin" to something "old" or maybe he'd have a new toy for us to take pleasure in. And tonight was no different. We held each other and played with each other's body through our clothing. He then produced a blindfold from a drawer in the nightstand and I started getting both frightened and excited. He put the blindfold on me and then asked me to stand up, which was not easy to do since I was so highly aroused. He asked me to stand up against one wall and to spread my legs and arms. I did as he asked and he blindfolded me. I heard him walk over to the stereo and turn it on. In about fifteen seconds, the music began. It was a recording of Ravel's "La Valse," a slightly unfocused, bizarre and generally off-the-wall version of a waltz tune. It is similar to his famous "Bolero" in that it is driven and quite sexy. One should always remember that when the waltz was introduced in the early 19th century it was considered to be very, very risqu‚ and extremely naughty by those in "polite" society. Partners actually held each other closely during the entire dance. The waltz was no polka or minuet - it was slow, leisurely and very, very sensual. Carlos began to remove my clothes - slowly and so extremely sexily. As each new area of my flesh was exposed, he kissed it slowly and lovingly, playing with it gently with hands and lips. He paid incredible attention to my nipples, washing them with his tongue and then biting them lightly. As I held my arms over my head he pushed his tongue into my newly shaved armpits, washing them down thoroughly. He made all kinds of wonderful noises, which were transferred as stimulating vibrations to my body. I had difficulty standing. I had trouble breathing. Carlos had me so hot I was starting to sway. He removed my shorts, letting them fall to the floor. He undid my sandals and I stepped out of everything. All the while, he continued to pamper my body with kisses and loving caresses. I felt his lips soothingly caressing my thighs and I knew he must be on his knees. He kissed and licked the insides of my thighs and behind my knees. His touch was magic. Being blindfolded seemed to increase the sensations for me - the thrills and phenomenal feelings seemed heightened when I no longer knew where Carlos was going to attack next. He moved his delicate, searching hands over the straining pouch on my bikini briefs. He softly and delicately stroked my rampaging cock and my tender, sensitive testicles through the material. I was trembling at the myriad of exquisite sensations coursing through my body. My fantastic man knew how to properly take care his willing and loving sexual slave. My briefs seemed stretched to bursting. I think Carlos then got down on the floor, because he began kissing his way up my legs; I could not keep my body under control. He tried to calm me down by softly speaking loving words. They worked for a minute or two. Of course, these soothing words were followed by Carlos putting his mouth on my encased cock and balls and biting lightly on them. Shit! What a fuckin' cock tease! He continued to work his mouth around my package. I could feel his hot breath through the material of the briefs and I was boiling. I was ready to scream at him when he suddenly spoke. "Okay, Craig. Here's what we're going to do. For the next phase of this evening's entertainment there are certain rules that must be followed. And I mean they must be followed to the letter...or else!. Agree?" I was in such a high state of arousal that I'd agree to anything at this point. "Absolutely! Anything you say sweetheart. Anything!" "Okay then. I'm going to remove your blindfold. And then I'm going to do a slow strip for you. Got that?" I nodded my head vigorously. "Good. As I do my strip you are to stand absolutely still, keep your arms spread and not approach me until I am completely naked and I tell you that you can touch me. Okay?" "Yeah! Okay! Okay!" I was beginning to pant almost uncontrollably and my cock was pushing out my briefs to the maximum. "Right. But first, I think I'm going to pull off your briefs `cause I can see your cock's straining them to the limit. Try not to move too much. I'll help as much as I can." I felt Carlos tug at my briefs and they fell to the floor. I stepped out. He then stood close to me and gently began to rub my outstretched arms. He was so gentle and the feel of his hands slowly rubbing my arms was electric. I could sense him moving closer to me and soon I felt his lips and mouth moving tenderly over my exposed skin. He kissed and licked my arms and then moved again to my exposed armpits. I loved when he nursed at my pits - and Carlos love it too He worked his lips gently across my chest until he was rubbing one nipple between his strong yet amazingly soft lips. Then he moved to the other one and began to simultaneously stroke my armpits. I thought I was going to have a fit! I was still blindfolded and this resulted in heightened sensory awareness. It was like every nerve in my body was on full alert and standby. All Carlos had to do was touch any part of me, and my body would begin to buck and tremble almost uncontrollably. I had great difficulty maintaining my balance and keeping my arms out stretched. And then he removed my blindfold. Chapter 14 - Three...Two...One... Carlos was still fully dressed. It took my eyes a few seconds to adjust to the light in the room. He looked magnificent - and I so deeply wanted to maul and totally ravish that great body. When I reached slightly to begin unbuttoning his shirt, he pulled away. "Not yet, Craig. Soon, but not yet. Remember what I told you...arms against the wall at all times. Okay?" I reluctantly nodded, not taking my eyes off Carlos' face for one instant. He wasn't smiling - just staring at me, staring as intensely as I was staring at him. Our eyes were locked together - like a psychic bridge between like minds. The burning intensity of those dark, shining eyes will forever be etched on the neurons of my brain. Carlos began to raise his right hand. Everything seemed to be as if taking place in slow motion. The slow, steady movement of his hand had me entranced. I stared as his hand slowly and meticulously began to unbutton the shirt he was wearing. One...two...three buttons...he pulled the shirt out of his slacks...four...five...six...the shirt is completely unbuttoned. He moved the shirt off his chest...and I fucking near died on the spot. "It's part of your birthday present to me," he said softly while giving me an enormous grin. "W-w-what's the o-other p-p-part...or p-parts?" I stammered. "Be patient...just a little patience...and you'll see...you'll definitely see," he replied with a soft chuckle in his voice. What had taken my breath away.and make me so incredibly hot.was that Carlos had been pierced. In (and through) his left nipple, Carlos now sported a gold barbell.and it was incredibly gorgeous. The light played off of it and the glistening against his dark skin was remarkable.and absolutely hypnotic. It threw out a thousand sparks and only emphasized his tremendous masculine beauty. He moved his hand slowly up to the nipple and golden barbell...and teasingly began to circle the area with one finger. He did it so slowly and so sensuously that I began to pant uncontrollably. My body was beginning to slowly gyrate as Carlos continued to finger himself. I was feeling that I would be able to come without even touching myself or having Carlos touch me. Still he continued to finger the area around his tit and played around that gorgeous hard nub. My arm began to move - move almost on its own, through no control from me. My hand gradually began to reach for that glistening bauble. "Uh...uh...uh! Remember the promise? No...no, Craig! No touching...at least not yet. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. It became a loud moan - a sigh of disappointment and frustration. Carlos only gave me a rueful smile. He put one finger into his mouth and then slowly and delicately worked that wet finger around and around his nipple. I become aware of a cool feeling coming from my cock and realized that I must be leaking up a storm of pre-cum. I quickly looked down and saw a steady drip, drip, drip of my fluids onto the hardwood floor. This made me even hotter, knowing that Carlos had this incredible effect on my body. Carlos raised his free hand to his belt and undid it as he continued to play nearer and nearer to that luscious tit with his circling finger. The jeans dropped to the floor; he stepped out and kicked them away. My eyes were now suddenly riveted to his white bikini briefs and the almost visible treasures they were trying to conceal. His basket was so incredibly inviting. Our eyes locked. Carlos gave me a small smile and I grinned back. I'd bet that I looked like a blithering idiot. His eyes began to slowly traverse my body, dropping finally to look at my very needy, incredibly throbbing cock. Again, he smiled. He took a small step toward me while continuing to stimulate that pulsing nipple. I gasped in anticipation of Carlos touching me and had difficulty breathing. All of a sudden, I felt that familiar combination of pain and pleasure emanating from my crotch and I knew that I had somehow passed the so-called point of no return. My body began to gyrate faster and faster and I had great difficulty adhering to Carlos' dictum to stay against the wall with my arms raised. My breathing became ragged and I knew I was moaning, although I was hearing the sounds as if they were coming through a very heavy curtain. And I could not stop my body from shaking. It was absolutely vibrating - moving in ways I had never experienced before. And shit! Goddamn! Shit! Did I ever shoot! Without anyone touching my out of control cock or going anywhere near my ball, I shot an enormous load. I could feel the fire pulsing through my dick and then out. What a totally unexpected experience. I kept shooting and shaking at this most incredible happening - this event that emptied my balls of much of their accumulated hoard. As I came down from my unbelievable high, I felt my legs suddenly weakening. I knew I could no longer stand unsupported. I began to slide down the wall. I could feel the cool surface moving along my back. Then I felt Carlos' hands on me and his arms wrapping around me, and suddenly he took the brunt of my weight and helped easy me gently onto the floor. As I opened my eyes, I could see a look of total surprise on Carlos' face. He began to smile and I got a little annoyed with him finding humor in my discomfort. Then I realized the incredible heights that I had just scaled - that Carlos had made me reach - and I began to smile back at him. I was covered in sweat and lying in a pool of my pre-cum and cum. I could not have been a pretty sight. I was happy but far from presenting a pleasant picture. Carlos cradled my head in his lap and soothingly ran his fingers through my hair. He gently kissed my forehead. I slowly regained my composure...and my strength. While lifting my head slowly, I smiled broadly at my sweet, caring Carlos. "That was someth..." He abruptly cut me off. "Shhh! Did you forget? There's no talking!" "You mean this isn't over?" I quickly blurted out. "SHH!" was all he said. He rubbed my shoulders and chest gently and comfortingly. "Of course it isn't over, silly man. The best part is yet to come." He smiled at me and I could not help but smile back at him. He was so adorable and so incredibly sexy with that marvelous gold barbell through his nipple. I had to touch it. I slowly raised my hand, little by little moving it to that alluring bauble. He gently pushed it away and shook his head, giving me a big grin as he did. I was disappointed but equally turned on once again by his refusal. He helped me stand as soon as I had regained my strength. I was surprised to see that I was already impossibly hard once again and pumping out the old pre-cum. Shit! I could not keep my passion for this man under control - it knew no limit. "Remember, Craig," he said softly - and, I thought, quite sexily - "the same rules still apply - no touching, no speaking, back against the wall, arms out." I nodded. No use arguing - it won't get me anywhere. Carlos was still wearing those white bikini briefs and he looked so sexy and so beautiful in them. I clearly remember the day we went shopping for them. He was so thrilled when we got back home and he tried them on for the first time. It was like a young boy getting his first pair of briefs after getting out of diapers. He marched around in them and struck various cute and appealingly sexy poses. Now he was baiting me with those same gorgeous brief clinging to super sexy body. Carlos used the back of his hand to gently rub over the material - over his ass cheeks, his thighs and over his tantalizing package. He was filling out that garment so beautifully. Despite his small penis and testicle size, everything about his body was so beautifully proportioned. I closed my eyes and pictured the first time Carlos and I were together and my reaction to first seeing his magnificent bod. Christ! What a turn on! What an incredible experience. Now I itched to touch him again - the feeling was palpable. He was in front of me once again and I could not reach out to him. I felt isolated and lonely. The music continued to play moderately loudly in the background and Carlos began to wiggle his tight little body in front of my eyes. He swayed gracefully in rhythm to the music. He began rubbing his hands over his body - around his new pierced nipple, over his abs and continuing down his thighs, lower legs and finally his feet. His gorgeous tight ass was pushed up into the air and with his legs spread wide, his hands tightly holding his calves; he began to move his ass around in tight little circles. Remaining in that position he gradually began to turn his body so that his fabulous butt cheeks were facing me. They were so tight and so firm and so incredibly muscular - and I could see clearly every muscle he set rippling beneath those exquisitely tight and clingy briefs. He clenched and unclenched those muscles to the beat of the music and I was ready to explode once again. Carlos stood with his back to me - his head and arms were raised, his legs were spread, his hands reaching toward the ceiling, fingers spread and extended. He lowered his arms very slowly and massaged his sides and then began rubbing and sexily manipulating those incredible ass cheeks. While continuing his lavish treatment of his body, he slowly turned until he faced me directly. His eyes were opened to slits and his pelvis was thrust forward. I could see that enticing package trying to fill every cubic inch of those briefs. What began to surprise me (and frankly, worry me a bit) was that there was no wet spot on the front of those briefs that I could see. Also, his face seemed to reveal that my Carlos was in some pain. He would grimace occasionally and it was quite apparent. He would try to smile through the obvious pain but couldn't always. I almost said something to him but as soon as I opened my mouth, his eyes flew opened and his intense stare stopped me. His face broke into a smile. "It's nothing." He said in a soft whisper. "Nothing at all." He put his thumbs into the stretchy material at the top of his underwear. Then he very slowly began to lower then with both hands. I held my breath, though I knew what was in store what I was about to behold. When I looked at his face, he was staring at me with a huge grin on his face. What was he grinning about? I had seen him so many time. Why now the big grin? I slowly lower my glance, seeing again that superb nipple piercing, his strong pecs and abs, and then his marvelous, hairless crotch. And then his cock...that magnificent dark center of my life. What I saw this time was something new...something different. There was something glistening at the tip of Carlos' erect dick - something reflecting the lights of the room. At first I thought is was just a single drop of his pre-cum and I so desperately wanted to lick it off. I felt my body aching to touch him, to embrace his manliness. But I knew I could not move and the effect on me was paralyzing. He moved slightly and I saw how his cock was extended to its full length. My fabulous Carlos was (and still is) not very big - a little over three inches when completely erect. But I loved his cock as much as anything; to me it was the perfect combination of overt manliness and delicious boyishness. For me, it was the perfect combination and I again marveled at how fortunate I was to have him as my love and my lover. So, he turned slightly and it finally registered. My brain finally processed the information it was receiving. I was surprised...and delighted...and overwhelmed. Carlos had had his cock pierced too! I moaned loudly and quickly fell to my knee. I wanted him - I want all of him in my mouth as fast and as completely as possible. I needed to feel his smooth skin, his practically hairless body, his hot lips pressed against mine. Even more, I needed his mouth on my cock - and my mouth on his raging cock. "Be very gentle, Craig. Take it real slow. Okay? It's still more `n little raw and hurts. Okay?" "Yeah, yeah," I moaned. "I'll be careful. I promise." Carlos slowly moved towards me. His cock was fully erect but I could see, when I looked up at his face that he was in some pain. The golden ring glistened seductively in the light, drawing me every closer and increasing my needs. The placement and size was exquisite and its polished deep color contrasted so beautifully with the deep, rich color of Carlos' delicate penis. When his incredible cock was right in front of me, I noticed how irritated the head appeared - it looked to be injured and I felt so sorry for my wonderful, caring man. I opened my mouth and brought out the tip of my tongue; I began to very, very slowly and gently lick the head. It was now completely exposed and looked so very red and more than a little raw. Carlos moaned slightly and it sounded like he was in pain. "Does it hurt, sweetie?" "Uh!" He breathed deeply a few times. "Yes, love. Yes, it does...a little." "Sorry. I know it hasn't healed completely. I can see that. I'm so sorry." I know I wanted him more than I ever had before, but Carlos was in pain and I could not tolerate my precious love being in pain. "We can stop now and just cuddle if you want. Okay?" I looked up into his gorgeous face. "Yeah, that'd be just great, Craig." He swallowed hard and was fighting back tears. "I love you so much. But very...very soon. Okay?" I stood, taking him into my arms, my hard, leaking cock pressed into his abdomen. I wanted to make sure that his lovely cock was not touching anything. I kissed him. It was more than a kiss - it was a pledge of my undying love and unfailing friendship. I put my hand around his waist and we walked over to the bed. I lay down and helped Carlos join me. He slowly and gently got in and soothingly scrunched up next to me. He placed his hand on my chest and slowly began rubbing the hairs between my pecs. I closed my eyes as I felt his gentle touch. Without saying a word, we both knew that I need relief once again. We kissed as he tenderly began to manipulate my nipples, first with his hand and then with his mouth, tongue and teeth. I was ecstatic and loved everything he was doing. I opened my eyes to small slits and saw Carlos on his knees as he excitingly serviced my body. I saw those two magnificent piercings sparkling in the reflected light of the room - the barbell through his left nipple and the superb Prince Albert now permanently affixed to his cock head. To me these body modifications cemented our relationship and affirmed the deep love between us - Carlos' love for me and my total adoration of this loving man. Carlos was doing fabulous things to my body. He knew what I like and wasn't afraid to do it. He moved to between my legs and before putting his mouth on my rampant, straining cock, he gently rubs his new PA over the head and the feeling is exhilarating. It is a new and extremely exciting stimulation. After bringing me to an earthshaking climax - I was afraid the noise I was making would awaken everyone in the household - I know the cats were a little disturbed - Carlos crawled into my arms where I held him closely and intimately. I could happily stay in this position forever, holding my love. I was exhausted - completely spent. I was practically comatose. Carlos held me tightly as I slowly recovered my sensibilities. My brain was desperately trying to replay our just finished lovemaking, in much the same way that one tries to recreate a dream when one first wakes up. He told me he had to tend to his piercings, so we went into the bathroom, where I gently daubed Betadine on his newly pierced nipple and onto the head of his penis. I got a tremendous rush from playing nurse to his patient. He smiled as I ministered to him and I kissed him gently as I swabbed the antiseptic on him. He was so thrilling. Every time I was with him, or saw him, or thought about him, I could not comprehend how I was so fortunate to have found someone I could love so utterly and completely, and found him literally in my own backyard. The little kid, whom I barely remembered watching me as I drove out of the driveway in my first car, was now sharing my bed and I was in love with him like I had never been in love before. "Good, huh?" Carlos said giving me a big grin. "Christ! That has to qualify as the understatement of the year!" I averred as I returned his smile. I purred contentedly while Carlos continued to hold me and soothe me gently pet my body. "Thanks, my love," I whispered. "Thanks for what?" "Thanks for making me so happy - for being here with me - for being here for me - and for being you." He leaned over and kissed me again and I slowly moved my hand to circle the gold ring through his nipple. When my hand touched his skin, Carlos gasped and lifted the hand to his lips. "Do you like `em?" "The piercings?" "Yeah." "I love `em. I really do." I tickled his belly. He giggled delightfully. "They make you even sexier than before.which is quite a remarkable feat." I leaned over and kissed him hard, then slowly moved my tongue down until it was circling that glorious, pierced tit. I kissed it very softly. Carlos moaned and I kissed him again. "You certainly know how to take care of me, don't you?" He smiled and his eyes twinkled. He nodded. "I try my best." We kissed again. "Genuine 18 Karat gold, you know. Only the best for my lover and me." "That's the way it'll always be," "You are fabulous, Craig." I noticed tears beginning to form in his eyes. "It's not many people who have their wildest childhood fantasies fulfilled.and fulfilled as completely as you've fulfilled mine." We kissed long and passionately. "I'm so lucky!" We snuggled together and I held Carlos close to me. The warmth and feel of his compact body was starting to get me aroused again. I kept picturing those incredible piercings and how beautiful they were and how sexy I found them. What was I going to do? Start another session? Well, why not? We could sleep late and making love was better than anything else we could possibly be doing. I nodded at him; he nodded back. Chapter 15 - Explanations and Goodbyes Mom made her usual big Independence Day/4th of July celebration at our place. There would be lots of food, lots of people (including the Gellers) and in the evening we would all go off to see the local fireworks display. She'd been doing this for as long as I could remember and she was going to make sure that this year's celebration was bigger and better than ever before. After all, her son was a big Hollywood and TV superstar now. My sister Helene, her husband and two daughters arrived the morning of the 4th. Not my idea of warm family get together. My sister (my eldest sibling) and I never truly got along. She was too imperious, too haughty and too fucking rigid in her attitude. Also, she loathed the idea that her baby brother was a fag. This was too much for her to accept. Her husband, Willard, was about ten years older and was interested in only two things - sailing and making more money. The two kids were nice enough in that uptight, WASPy, private schoolish Connecticut country clubby sort of way. Helene almost had a fucking cow when she saw me with Carlos - how we held each other, and nuzzled each other and, horror of horrors, kissed each other. A few years ago, she had referred to him as that "small, sorry assed, cretin spic from that shit eating farm we own." Helene had a way a cutting immediately to the chase and eliminating the niceties. She looked like someone had just shoved a turd under her nose whenever she passed the two of us or when she spied Jake and Fran. Shit! I nearly bust a fucking gut at her reaction to those two - the crippled blonde surfer-boy and the redneck laborer-stud. Fortunately, the party was an enormous success. The great surprise occurred at about 6 PM when this huge limo pulled up and the four stars of my series stepped out. Mom had arranged for them to travel up from New York City where they had been busy filming segments of the show on location. One teenage girl damn near fainted when she saw the hunky star. I thought the screaming would never cease. The actors embraced me and the flashes were constant. It was after 1 AM before I finally got to bed; I could still hear an occasional firecracker going off in the distance. I was reading and Carlos was asleep next to me. He would occasionally moan slightly and I was worried that he was experiencing some pain. I stroked his forehead whenever this happened and he'd get a small smile on his face and scrunch closer to me. There was a light tapping on the door. I put on my robe and went to answer. I was very surprised, and somewhat delighted, to see Jake standing in the doorway; he was dressed in briefs and a tee shirt and using only his cane. "Hi Craig," he said in a low conversational tone. "Can I come in t' talk t' ya?" "Certainly Jake. Come in." I lowered the lights in the bedroom and we went into the sitting room. "Sit down, please." Jake maneuvered himself into one of the recliners. He was moving so much better these days and his speech was definitely improving. "Thanks." He let out a rather large sigh. "Ah hope I'm not interruptin' anythin'." "Not at all. As you saw, Carlos is asleep; he had an...uh...an exhausting trip." "Good!" Jake seemed to be collecting his thoughts. He was staring at the floor. "I though' it's abou' time I tole ya fellas `bout wha' happen in Philly." "That's not necessary, Jake," I quickly responded. "You explained it when we visited you in the hospital." He shook his head vigorously. "I know...I know. And I remember how slow that was and I'm sure ya didn't understan' everythin' I said then." He looked directly at me. "I want ya and Carlos t' understan' what...well, what I've been goin' through. From the beginnin'...from the time before m' stroke." "Do we have time for that?" I said while giving him a big smile, and I knew he had gotten my small joke. He returned the smile. "I think so. I'm tired and I'll give ya a short version. But I know that I havta tell ya everythin'. Okay?" I nodded. Carlos and I had discussed what Jake had told us while he was in that Philadelphia hospital, along with the information that the psychiatrist had mentioned and various other tidbits we had gleaned. We'd thrashed out every aspect of those conversations and had come to similar conclusions - that Jake had a strong bias towards homosexuality, even though he was ostensibly heterosexual, or, at least, had convinced himself that he was a hetero and not gay. I took some cold drinks out of the fridge, I settled back and Jake began. "Okay. I'm gay, Craig." I nodded and sipped my beer, trying to keep my face as expressionless as possible. "I think I knew this for a while...even before my stroke. I love doing...well doing it with guys. I had this girlfriend in San Diego and we did...did certain things but never went...you know, never did everything. You know, go all the way. "But...but...and this I never tole ya...but I did do it wit' some guys. An' I loved it. I really did. Bot' me an' my friends jus' say that it's experimentin' and that we wasn't gay or anythin'. But I really like what we was doin' and I'd think `bout it all the time when I was wit' my girlfriend...you know, to get me hard and keep me hard. And soon there was this one guy who I was with mosta the time. "His name was Lyle...and he's so beautiful. Me and Lyle was t'gether so much." Jake let out a small laugh here. "He'd sneak into my house at night and we'd sleep t'gether and be lovers. The lass night b'fore my stroke...we...we had sex for the first time. I mean you know ass fucking sex. I really loved it and so did Lyle. Then the next day I had my stroke and that was the end of everythin'. "Lyle visits me in the hospital all the time and he even kisses me a few times to make me feel better but then he stops coming and I figure he found someone else. And he did. That's one of the reasons I went on the road. I just really wanted t' get away from him and all his pity. "So I took up my cross country trip. And I never had any sex at all. Nobody seemed interested in a young cripple who couldn't speak or walk right. Until I got here and ya...remember...when ya play with me...and jack me off in the tub?" I nodded and smiled. He smiled back sheepishly. "I remember that so clear. It was so wonderful, Craig." Jake took a deep breath and let it out very slowly looking down at his beer and took a small sip. "Then ya and Carlos found each other. I was happy for ya both...b-but I knew I needed to get away on the road again. So I did. I almost didn't. I mean I was really torn. I knew I wanted to stay but seein' ya and Carlos every day was hard on me. So I went. "Things are great until I get to Philly. New York's fabulous and I stay longer than I plan on. So I'm in Philly and one night I go into this gay bar and I'm able to pass for twenty-one. I suppose with my crutches and gray hair and all I look so much older. I meet these two guys who seem interested in me and we talk and they say they'd like t' be with me and could we go my hotel room. I say okay and we go. They gotta car an' we drive t' the hotel...well, it's really a motel...and a pretty shitty one. We go into my room...and...and we have sex. "They look like college guys and say somethin' `bout classes and all. They both fuck me and suck me off. They's a little rough but I really love it all since it's been such a long time since anyone does this for me." He blushed beautifully, took another sip of beer and looked at me with a rather sullen expression on his face. He spoke in a very low voice. "I was wrong in tellin' ya Craig that I never done gay sex. I had...a lot." He seemed so apologetic and rather contrite. "So afterwards they say they're hungry so we go out to some all night place and get somethin' t' eat. I like bein' with `em `cause they payin' attention t' me and smilin' at me and all. Not too many guys wanna have anythin' t' do with me since I'm a cripple. Not many guys like t' be in bed with a twisted up cripple like me." He looked at me steadily and hard. "Ya never took me t' bed, Craig." I felt very angry and quite frustrated at his remark. "Jesus, Jake! You told me you were straight - what could I do? What did you want me to do? You never made any overt moves and no gestures that you wanted me to...to, you know, put any moves on you. What was a guy in my position to do?" "Yeah, I understand that now. I really do. I just didn't know how...how t'let ya know that I want t' be with ya. With my buddies in California we just seem t' know...ya know, when one of us wanted t' have some...uh...some sex. It was just like automatic." I began to say something but he put up his hand to stop me and I kept quiet. "So one of `em guys says we should go back to his place and I say okay. So, we drive to this real beautiful section of the city - all big buildings and like that. This guy drivin' pulls int' this big garage, one of `em many level ones and he drived up near the top, goin' round and round. Says he's tryin' t' find a good parking space. "I'm startin' t' get a little freaked out. I say I wanna get out. I think he's stallin'. And I say somethin' else. The guys both laugh at me. Finally he pulls int' a space and we get out. One guy gets a bag outa the trunk and we start walkin' t' the exit. All of a sudden my crutch is knocked out from under me and I fall t' the concrete. I land on my stomach and I'm hurtin' bad. I'd hit my head on a car parked there and I think I'm bleedin'. One of `em doods has a bat and he starts beatin' me wit' it. Shit! I'm really pissed and I'm also hurtin' real bad. I'm on my back and alls I'm seein' are the lights of that shitty garage. "They's shoutin' things at me, callin' me faggot and queer and sayin' that I'm gonna die of AIDS. All sortsa nasty stuff. Then some kinda security guy come along and start shoutin' at `em and they drive off quick. This guy use his phone and call 9-1-1. I'm thinkin' that they's gonna die of AIDS too since they's faggots too. That's the last thing I remember. The next thing I know I wake up in the hospital and there's doctors and nurses around me and I fall asleep again and then you and Carlos are there." I reach out and grasp his hand. I gently hold it in two of mine and rub it lightly. Jake has tears in his eyes; a few run down his cheek. I lean over toward him and he returns the gesture. And suddenly we are kissing. It is not a passionate kiss but a heartfelt and deeply touching one. As we both sat back, I could see the outline of Jake's very erect cock in his shorts. He rubbed it lightly when he thought I wasn't looking, and spoke again. "Franny and me are gonna be t'gethah this wintah." "Huh? Franny? Franny who?" "Franny! Fran! Ya know? The pool guy? Okay?" I nodded and smiled. He smiled back. "We're gonna be t'gethah in Florida this wintah. And you and Carlos'll be in LA so we'll all be in warm places." "Florida?" "Yeah. Franny's gonna be workin' down there. His brother or somebody's got a bidness there. Franny's gonna work for him and I'm gonna do somma the office work. Sound good, no?" "It sounds great!" I said with enthusiasm. "Really great Jake!" I stared at him for a few seconds. "You and Fran?" "Yeah. Sounds strange, don't it? I know. I still can't believe it's happenin' t' me." "When are you leaving?" "We go right afta Septembah afta he finish all his work here." "Nice...very nice. I'm sure the two of you will have a great time down there." I looked at him; I was puzzled. "How did it happen? I mean, how did the two of you get together?" "Well, we just sorta did. Franny says he likes the look of me from the very first time he sees me. Here.when he's doin' ya pool. Then Franny starts comin' to see me in the hospital. He comes about two or three times a week and I like it so much. We like each other very much. I feel so comfy with him. After a few visits we kiss and hug and then we even find a empty room when we can be...well, ya know, can be alone t'gethah. It's wonderful! I think I really love him...and...and that he really loves me." I got up and sat next to him. I threw my arms around him and hugged him tightly. "That's just fantastic Jake! I'm just so happy for you and Fran. I think you'll be great together." "Thanks Craig. Thanks a lot. It means a lot to me to hear you say this." He looked away and got a sort of embarrassed and mildly quizzical look on his face. "Can I ask ya somethin'?" "Anything you want." "Can I...well, ya know...can I sleep with ya tonight?" "Huh?" was my only response. I was more than a little taken aback. Right after he tells me that he's in love with Fran he's requesting that he sleep with me. "Sure...as I said, anything you want. Why not!" What the hell, I figured. If he wants it, fine with me. His face was one huge smile and his eyes twinkled and began to tear up slightly. "I know, Craig. I know what ya thinkin'. I know. But...but...well, we never sleep t'gethah and I been wantin' to since that very first night I'm here. And ya gave me that bath...and...well, ya know." "Yes I do, Jake. "So it's okay?" "Yes, it's more than okay." I helped him stand up and we both slowly walked into the bedroom. Carlos was still fast asleep. I removed my robe revealing my body; this was the first time Jake had seen me completely naked. He smiled beautifully and let his eyes wander over me. I was fully erect as I walked over to undress him, he put out his hand to gently stroke me. I was thrilled that he did not hesitate in the slightest to demonstrate how much our being together meant to him. I slowly removed his clothes and remembered clearly the first time I had undressed Jake in preparation for his bath. I recalled that he had a beautiful body and a very long, thick cock and stunning low- hanging balls. His extremely muscular thighs gave promise of what was to come. Jake stared into my eyes; I slowly removed his underwear and began to reveal his remarkable body. He had totally retained that fabulous surfer body build and it was exquisite. It was even more beautiful now since some of the effects of the stroke had been overcome; with usage, the musculature and definition had increased. When he was completely undressed, I helped him into bed and then I joined him. He was between Carlos and me. Carlos was fast asleep on the far edge of the bed - a habit he had from childhood when he had to share a bed with siblings. I stayed close to my edge of the mattress while Jake occupied the center - but not for long. He moved close to me and put one hand on my chest, slowly beginning to rub one nipple. "Ya are so beaut'ful, Craig. I always think so. From the first time I see ya when ya find me out in that barn and I'm so scared of ya." I smiled at him and kissed him very lightly on his lips. "You are a beautiful guy too, Jake. I've always thought so." I moved one hand to rub his cheek. He smiled and pushed his cheek into my caressing hand. He closed his eyes and I kissed him gently. He was such a loveable, truly beautiful person; I found him to be very sexy. He laid his head on my chest and I put my arm around his shoulder. I soothingly rubbed his back and neck. He was asleep in less than one minute. I closed the light. ----------------------------------------- In the morning, movement of the bed roused me - it was shaking. As I pried my eyelids opened, I saw Carlos and Jake engaged in some pre- breakfast activity. They seemed to be enjoying what they were doing and were going at it with great enthusiasm and vigor. I propped myself up on one elbow and watched. It was both entertaining and very hot. I immediately became tremendously aroused - it was morning after all. Carlos had Jake's big thumper completely throated and pulling rather energetically on the young guy's enormous, dangling ball sac. For his part, Jake was vigorously rubbing Carlos' back and seemed to be pinching his unpierced nipple. Carlos' newly pierced cock was dangling beautifully over his small sac and leaking some pre-cum. It got me very hot seeing him this way. When Jake came, it was with a lot of accompanying motion and noise. Carlos, great guy that he is, swallowed all of Jake's obviously copious output and continued sucking strongly until Jake finished pumping out his load and his cock softened. As Carlos pulled his head away from Jake's crotch, he saw me and smiled. I applauded lightly and he gave me a great big smile. Jake opened his eyes quickly and looked at me and he too smiled at me. "Looks like you two guys have been rather busy this morning," I said quietly. "Yeah," they both responded. Both were still out of breath. Jake had a look of slight panic on his face. "I-I-I'm sorry Craig.... But...but..." "There's nothing to be sorry about Jake. Nothing at all. Do you fellas think I can join in or are you too tired?" They both gave me big grins and opened their arms to me. I dived right into the fray. It was rousing great fun. ----------------------------------------- Mom was a bit taken aback when we all showed up for breakfast together. We were very quite and she kept up a steady line of chatter hoping that we would enter the spirit of the conversation, but we never did. We just ate quietly and quickly; all the while, we'd sneak sly glances at each other and occasionally smile or laugh. Our behavior really had the old lady totally confused. Carlos and I returned to our packing and Fran picked up Jake on his way to a job. In the afternoon, the four of us frolicked in the pool and had a gay old time. Mom and dad joined us and we all had fun. However, throughout the day she kept giving me questioning looks. Dad was, as usual, in a world of his own. For the remainder of our stay, the three of us always slept together. Fran was able to join us twice and it was incredible fun - just a fantastic turn on. Carlos did not participate as much as he would have liked because of the newness of his piercings, but he certainly joined in the spirit of the fun. Jake and I had a marvelous time. And Fran was rather amazing. I knew that I would never forget this fabulous crippled surfer dude. I had a definite plan to introduce a character based on this beautiful guy to the series sometime around midseason. Epilogue - Travel and Roots Our drive across the vast stretches of the United States was fabulous. We included sightseeing stops along the way including the major sites in and around Chicago, St. Louis, Taos, New Mexico, the Grand Canyon and finally Las Vegas. We had a wonderful time in Vegas and my aunt and uncle were terrific - they were fun to be with and great company. I still can't believe that Aunt June is actually dad's sister. They run a talent agency, hiring mostly new acts for smaller clubs. Some of their discoveries go on to much bigger and better careers. Then they would leave the organization (Talented Offerings, Inc.) and go with the more high-powered agencies. But June and Fred continued in the business and are doing very well. Vegas had been undergoing a tremendous boom and the demand for new talent to fill the ever-expanding entertainment and nightclub scenes was never ending. I signed preliminary contracts with three people. They would be coming out to Hollywood within the next two months for tests. One, a female comedian, was just fabulous and I decided to definitely use her in at least one episode. We left Vegas reluctantly - we were having such a great time. Everyone treated us as celebrities and we reveled in all the attention. By early evening that day, we were at our new home in Malibu. Then the season really began. ----------------------------------------- Carlos is in college now and I'm working like a dog cranking out the scripts and producing the shows. We will be going back to Massachusetts for the summer. Our vacation will begin later this year - in May and run through September. We are actually filming eight shows for next season during the production run of the current season so we can begin the new season later than would be normal. I speak to Jake at least once a week and he and Fran are doing great in Florida; they seem to be quite happy. They will be visiting us at Christmas when they'll also see Jake's family in San Diego. As long as they are happy, then all is well. When you get down to it, it is the best we can hope for in this life. And, while there is still plenty of stress in my life, so much has been eased by having Carlos at my side and with us sharing our lives and experiences. We love each other - and nothing could be simpler...or more complicated. The End