Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2013 10:57:26 -0400
From: andywasputz@hotmail.ca
Subject: A TALE OF SEVEN - CHAPTER SIX - DEATH AND REVELATIONS

CHAPTER SIX – DEATH AND REVELATIONS

JOSH – October 2012 – MONTREAL

Josh and the main family entered the synagogue main room whereas most of
the attendees sat in the pews watching the main alter at the front. Josh,
his sisters, parents, grandmother and others sat on the side in very
comfortable arms chairs, which was so the grieving main family didn't have
to be on display and could cry if they needed too. There were Kleenex boxes
on every arm.

Josh was in between his sisters, with his parents flanking both sides.
Josh's aunt, Sharon, was sitting next to his mother and his father was
sitting next to Josh's Bubby. Josh held Rebecca's hand as the Rabbi took
center stage. He made brief remarks but Josh wasn't paying much attention.

He first spoke of the death and the meaning it is placed in the Jewish
community. He talked about how Connor's life should be cherished and went
on and on. This rabbi loved the sound of his own voice.  Josh couldn't care
less about it. His turn was about to come up. Although his Dad had prepared
to speak for the family Josh had asked privately last night, to say some
words about his grandfather.

As if on cue the rabbi finished his last Hebrew prayer and spoke to the
audience again, "The family would like to say a few words about Connor.
Joshua, if you could please come up here."

Helena, who had gripped his other hand, squeezed it reassuringly. Josh got
up and made his way to the stage. Josh was a shy person most of the
time. He couldn't string two words together in front strangers, let alone
ask a guy out on a date. However he did have the ability to speak
confidently among the masses. He was a great presenter, always speaking
from the heart in any school presentations, as well as addressing the
entire summer camp about his feelings he had over the nine summers he spent
there, and being a masters of ceremonies at his sisters' wedding.

His emotions were raw, they were honest and true. As he walked to the
podium he took a moment to collect himself. "Hello," he said weakly. Then
he turned to his sister, Rebecca, who flashed him smile and the confidence
returned in him.

"My name is Josh. Connor was my Zaidy. He was one of the most treasured
members of my family. When I turned eight years old we had a birthday party
and Zaidy was in charge of cutting the cake. My sisters, her friends and I
were arguing over what piece to have. I had wanted a flower, but so did my
sister. Zaidy had enough with the arguing so he grabbed the cake and threw
it against the wall. `Do you still want the flower?' he said. We laughed at
that and since then when my birthday came around nobody wanted the flowered
pieces. Although, I knew very little about his time before Montreal, I
gathered from my conversations with him while we went fishing that he lived
an adventurous life. He married my grandmother, and that takes some
adventure."

The crowd laughed at that, most of them aware of Josh's Bubby's
eccentricities. "When he took me fishing he made me the centre of
attention. He had one dream of for me, to do something that makes you
happy. There is one thing I can say about my grandfather. He was certainly
fun to be around, and I related to him so much. I didn't see him a lot
growing up, but the moments I had with him were the most cherished and
memorable. Whether he was teaching me how to fish, or cheat, I mean bluff,
at cards, to just listening to him tell a tale, he was the best man I have
ever known, and I am...sorry he is gone."

The audience looked at him as he held back the tears. "Let me end by saying
this. Zaidy, I will miss you, and thanks for being there for me when I
needed you." Josh couldn't hold back anymore and the tears flowed. He
walked back to the chairs in the special area aside and went to sit back
down. Both of his sisters hugged him. "You did great, Joshie."

Josh sat down and let the tears continue as his father went to the podium
and gave a fitting eulogy, discussing Josh's Zaidy's early life and making
everybody remember how good a person his father was.  Following that the
cantor arose and sang a beautiful song as the casket was put in position at
the front of the aisle that lead to the door and the hearse outside. At the
rabbi's signal, Josh's sisters, father, grandfather's brother, the two
people in suits' Josh saw before, and he, stood on either side of the
casket. As they pushed the coffin toward the front of the door, Josh eyed
the people, it was standing room only. He looked back at the casket where
his Zaidy's head was situated and put his hand there as he continued moving
it.

Eventually the coffin was put in the hearse and the family entered the two
awaiting limousines; Josh's father in front and his mother and one sister
in the back. Bubby was getting worried because one of my sisters was not in
the car yet. However, Helena joined the family and they all rode the short
way to cemetery. Helena and Rebecca, who were always at odds with each
other, were just holding each other in silence as they made their way. Josh
took his Grandma in his arms slightly as his Mom looked on.

At the cemetery the body arrived first and the people moved to the grave
site. Soon the family and friends were all gathered around for the last
remaining part of the ceremony. As they were listening to the rabbi's
words, Bubby almost fainted and had Josh not been holding her she would
have fallen in the hole where the grave would be. Soon thereafter each
member of the family had to take a shovel and pull dirt onto the
coffin. Josh's grandmother was first, then Glenn, Connor's elder brother,
then Glenn's son Michael. Josh realized that was the guy in the suit he saw
earlier. The man with him held him closely. Next came Josh's father and his
sisters before he finally stepped up.

Josh had finally made it back to his grandmother's house without much
incident. There was some crying but that to be expected. His grandmother,
Glenn, and his father were all required to sit in the main room with their
shoes off. Jewish people called it sitting Shiva, where the immediate kin
were to stay off their feet for the next eight days and mourn the
passing. However both Josh's father and Bubby couldn't stay still. Josh
found his grandmother in the kitchen of the crowded house. "I have
something for you."

She looked at Josh, smiled and took the small photo album Josh has created
earlier. After scanning the images of her husband she kissed his cheeks and
went off to tell all about the great grandson she had acquired.

It was some time later when Josh was sitting in a white arm chair in the
main room looking at a picture of his grandfather and grandmother on their
wedding day. Connor looked positively handsome.  "Josh?"

Josh looked up and there was his cousin Michael staring at him. It was
obvious he was crying and his husband was standing next to. He never met
Patrick, having been unable to attend their unofficial wedding.

"Do you have a minute?" Michael asked. Josh put the picture on the table
and nodded. The three headed out the door and took a walk on the street,
mainly to get away from all the people who had crowded the house.

"What's on your mind?"

"Your grandfather asked me a favour before he passed..." He began.

***

MICHAEL - NEW YORK CITY – Christmas Holiday, 2012

Michael was sitting in their penthouse apartment in the Orpheus. After the
wedding of Pat's cousin, Michael and Patrick decided to reopen the building
as an Apartment Complex again. They used all the money Uncle Connor gave
him, as well as the money they had saved up.

Within a month the construction had started. The lobby was the first thing
that had to be redone. They wanted to bring the history of the place to
bear, thus allowing a 1930s feel be what the guests see when they arrive.
The second thing was to update the first and second floor. Patrick and
Michael were confidant the rooms just needed sprucing up, nothing major
needed to be changed, just cleaning and maintenance. Obviously, they had
newer technology like computers and the internet, as well as flat screen
televisions. However, there were still places that they were uncertain
of. Beside the banks of elevators there were still and empty space. They
wanted to put in some kind of eatery there like there had been before, but
Patrick and Michael didn't know what type of food would be necessary to
accommodate their guests. That place remained vacant. The last place was
the basement, Joe's `apartment'.  Michael was waiting for his arrival now
as Patrick was supervising the new exterior where they would be putting a
new state of the art sign. It would be like The Roosevelt Hotel sign in
downtown Hollywood.

Joe entered five minutes later and sat next to Mike in the living
area. "Thank you for coming, Joe."

Joe was an old man in early 80s and he was still a very smart man. "You're
asking me to leave, aren't you?"

That shocked Michael, although Pat and Mike had a long talk about what Joe
meant to them, they were never going to ask him to leave. "No..."

"Well, I cannot pay your rent fees,"

"Joe, I need you to tell me something. How long have been at Orpheus? When
did you first start coming here?"

"I have been at Orpheus since the reopening after the fire. I had been both
a worker and a guest here. This has always been my home. I knew Connor very
well, we were friends."

"Although Pat and I do not approve of you squatting here while the place
went under as a hotel, we do understand your motives for doing so. Joe, for
lack of better term, you are a staple, a good luck charm. We want you stay
on here as an unofficial greeter. Your primary position will be running the
front desk."

That shocked Joe more than he could imagine, "I don't know what to say... I
know, why?"

"Joe, you knew my uncle from his New York days, you knew him growing
up. You know how to run an apartment complex. We want your expertise and we
want your stories. Quite frankly, I want you here because you remind me of
Connor, and although he cannot be here with us anymore, you being here
would be almost a blessing that we are making the right choice. We will
offer you a small apartment next to ours, free of charge, and we will pay
you a competitive wage.

"I am honored, sir." Joe began, but Michael stopped him, "There are three
conditions we need from you. One, that you do not use the basement
apartment. We are actually closing that place down, setting up only one
elevator do only go to the basement in case of emergencies.  Two, we would
expect you at our penthouse once a week to regale us with stories of
Connor, the good and the bad ones. And three, we need you to be honest with
us, not that we would ever suspect you to lie, however, that requirement is
something we insist everybody who works for us do."

"Well, the first two conditions are fine...," he stopped himself.  "I have
never intentionally lied to you, but there is some information I think you
should know. My name is Joe; however, Joseph is my middle name. My birth
name is Rick Joseph Sampson. My uncle, Eric Sampson opened this place in
1933. I changed my name simply because I didn't want to be associated with
a failing business anymore. My uncle and your uncle made this place a
treasured landmark, then Connor left and a new guy had the potential but
let it fail.

"I appreciate you telling me this." Michael had suspicions that Joe was
holding things back, however he didn't think it would be that. "Would you
prefer Rick or Joe?"

"Joe, please. Thank you again for this opportunity."

"I will see you Friday night."

"Looking forward to it," Joe Sampson left.  Michael was now was happy they
let Joe stay on because he believed both Connor and Eric's blessing were
blessings on them.

A knock on the door brought a smile to his face. He opened it and in walked
Connor Turner's grandson, Josh. Since the funeral Mike took an invested
interest in Josh's life.

"Hey, Mike, the place looks fucking awesome."  Josh smiled at his
cousin. "I'm happy Mom and Dad let me spend time here."

"We just thought you might be inspired by the construction to delve into a
new story."

"Thanks Cuz, I just think this might be what I needed. It's just that..."

Before he could finish his thought another knock was heard. Mike apologized
and standing there was a hot blond hair blue eyed guy with a mop. "Hey,
Boss man."

Mike laughed at the term and invited his employee in, "Chris, this is my
cousin, Josh. Josh, this is our head maintenance man here, Chris.

"It's a pleasure..." Josh said politely. Chris was closer to Josh's age
than Mike was.

"Josh is just taking a mini vacation here. He's a writer and I know the
inspiration would do him some good."

"That's cool. Say, Mike, if you don't mind, how about me and the boys take
Josh out to see the some of the sites? You can stay here and deal with the
construction. Pat had requested your input on some of the stuff around
here."

Josh smiled, hoping Mike would agree. Mike thought about it and then
nodded, "Yeah, that's alright. But don't keep him out too late."

"Cuz, I am twenty one you know."

"True, okay fine, have as much sex, drugs and alcohol as you want then."
Chris and Josh laughed at that.

"Chris, was there a reason you stopped by?"

"I just finished floor eight and all the cleaning and maintenance is up to
par."

"That is good news. That leaves just two more floors to sweep. Hopefully
they will all be good, so we can open next year like we planned.

"I'm sure it will be fine."

Chris left with Josh by his side. Outside waiting was another guy roughly
Chris's age. His name tag said Malcolm. However, just like Chris, Josh
noticed that he looked familiar.

"Malcolm, this is Josh, the boss's cousin. Josh, this is Malcolm, he works
as the line cook at the Roosevelt school. You know the big writing school
that is about seven blocks away?"

"Yeah, I think I saw that on the taxi ride here."

"That's the one I'm sure, I'm just helping out my buddy here during the
construction phase to earn some dough."

"So, Josh, we'll be finished in about ten minutes. Then Mal and I will take
you out to show you New York is not all museums and shows."

"There's lot of sex's clubs here too." Marvin grinned, and Josh laughed.

HARRY – DALLAS, TEXAS - January 2013

Harry was worried. He had been sitting in his office for a while now. In
one hand was his letter of acceptance to the Roosevelt School in New York
City. He knew he wanted the opportunity as he wanted to reach more kids and
more people. He was a gifted writer in his youth and even created an
amateur novel series about the life as the personal aide to the
president. It was never published but he enjoyed writing it.

He never felt he was a good enough writer to merit any achievement, whereas
Otis, his friend, had disagreed with him all the time. Otis was the first
one to read his works and although there were some minor errors with
grammar and editing Otis believed the work had heart and soul, not to
mention a heck of a lead character, Barkley Stewart.

Through college Harry achieved greatness as a leader, coaching football and
baseball unofficially. He got caught up in it and eventually decided that
coaching would be his future. Now he sat with an offer to go back to his
love of writing, but there was still one obstacle in his way. Bianca.

Obstacle wasn't really the world that best suited the woman he planned to
marry. However the position required that he move to New York.  This would
obviously mean that either Bianca would have to leave her position as an
anchor or she would have to transfer to a New York branch. Harry knew she
would frown upon both options and he wasn't in for a good time.

He finally got up and moved toward his door. He walked through the hallways
nodding to fellow teachers and students he knew. He passed the library and
saw Toby and Ryan studying together. The laptop was open and Harry noticed
a yellow background with a big title: "Rooming with my Best Friend". He
turned to the guys. Well, studying may not be the term, they were both
kissing. He was happy to see that the two guys did work it out. After their
actions earlier in the shower, he doubted it, but now that they were okay
he moved on.  Then he saw William and Clinton show up at their table with
research books. William rolled his eyes and Clinton and then slammed the
books down gently but loud enough to get the kissing boyfriends to stop.

Curious, Harry walked into the library and looked at the newspaper
rack. However, he was really eavesdropping on the conversation. The reason
for this slightly odd move was because a fifth member came into view, his
quarterback, Phillip.

"Guys," William announced as soon as Toby and Ryan had finished their
make-out session.  "This is my buddy's brother, Phil."

Ryan looked like he was about to piss with excitement. "The quarterback, my
god you are fucking great."

"Thanks," Phil blushed, not used to such attention, from guys at least. He
decided to forge ahead though with the conversation. "I need your help. My
brother mentioned that the four of you were like geniuses."

Ryan and Toby blushed and nodded as Harry sat down at the desk, far enough
away to give the guys their space but close enough to hear them. "Will and
Clinton are the higher intellects."

"Well," William ploughed ahead, "He really needs some help getting his
grades up."

"I am kind of the traditional jock," Harry was aware of Phillip's behaviour
as he had bulled a few people in the past and was known as a bed hopper
with the cheerleaders.  "Will you help me, please?"

William smiled and nodded for his friends to say yes, however, Ryan, the
leader of the group, still seemingly annoyed about his earlier
transgression in the locker room shower, spoke.

"Phil, I have known you most of my life, ever since elementary school, and
you have always been a bully to me. Why should I help you?"

"Because it would be a good idea," Ryan said as the guys spoke with their
eyes and facial expressions leaving Ryan unsure, but his boyfriend gave him
a wink that said you do this and you will be rewarded later."

"Okay, Phil, we will help you. Come to my house around eight o'clock, okay?
"

"Thanks, I really appreciate it. By the way, unlike most morons in his town
I have no problem with fags." Noticing the foursome's reaction, he
corrected himself, "Sorry, gays."

Harry finished `reading' the article and left happy to know that everything
seemed well. Harry went to his car and decided it was time to meet
Bianca. He knew she would be home in about an hour as they planned to talk
that night about her celebration.

On the way home, he thought of the best ways to communicate his desire for
the teaching position. He finally located the best words to convey it as he
walked in the door. She was there smiling on the stairs. She was wearing
nothing but that smile. She was the most beautiful woman Harry had ever
loved.

"Honey," she said, walking down the stairs. He didn't listen, he kissed her
with the passion he had always held for her. She slowly unbuttoned his
shirt and ripped his tie off. In seconds he was as naked as she was. They
went not to their bedroom, but to the backyard.

It was a beautiful evening and their apartment was lucky enough to have an
enclosed private exterior, "Time to celebrate."

He pulled her close to him and placed his mouth over hers, kissing her
softly and gently running his tongue over her lips until she opened them
and allowed him entry.  He placed his hands on her hips and slowly backed
her up until she was pressed against the wall. Sliding his hands lower, he
hooked them under her ass and lifted her up, letting her wrap her legs
around him as he moved his lips to her neck.  She moaned and clung to him
as his tongue snaked across her skin and then she moaned even louder as his
bare dick penetrated her and sank deep.

"Oh God, fuck me Harry," she gasped into his ear before biting it a little.

"You are so sexy," he growled as he rocked her up and down on his dick,
withdrawing before pushing back in deep.

He continued kissing her, running his hands over her body, as his thrusts
into her never let up, only alternating between speed and depth. He loved
the way she moaned when he buried himself balls deep in her, the moan was
filled with so much pleasure and only made his dick throb harder as it slid
in and out of her warmth that contrasted with the cool air around him so
perfectly.

It was only when his legs began to tire and his back hurt from her digging
her nails into his skin with every deep thrust that he decided to change
the position. He moved back from the wall, never letting his grip loosen or
his dick slip from her. He slowly lowered them both to the ground so that
she was on her back with him on top of her and he continued making love to
her, feeding her all of his cock as it flexed and pulsed inside her.

Every time he drove his hips forward he was hitting her just right. Her
breathing became erratic, her breasts glistened from the sweat that covered
them and she arched her back, driving her body down onto his cock. Suddenly
she threw her head back as her orgasm overtook her, her eyes staring up at
the sky as she came.

Harry buried his head against her neck as his dick throbbed inside her and
unloaded load after load of cum. He was so exhausted he had to fight the
urge to collapse on top of her, instead pulling his still twitching dick
out of her and falling to the ground next to her, both panting and covered
in sweat, lost in the glow of their love making.

Two hours later the couple was in their kitchen having a late dinner, her
in shorts and shirt and him in boxers and an open button-down shirt. For
them this was causal. "So, want to tell me why we're celebrating?"

"I've got it!" she said it like Harry should be aware of it. "I got the
promotion, as of next month you're looking at the lead co-anchor on Morning
Dallas."

That made him spill his water, "Fuck, that is the best news I ever
heard. You have been dreaming of that from the moment you left
college. Congrats, love."

"Thanks, it was because of the piece I did last month on the shooting in
Austin and then the gay beatings up north. They thought I carried myself
professionally but still had a lot of compassion for the victims."

"I guess this means our sex life is definitely going to suffer. You will
need to be in bed at 8pm or so to be there early." He stated glumly.

She laughed, "Nah, you know I don't need much sleep, especially considering
I work about fifteen minutes from the office."

"True, I guess." He gulped, "Um... you're not the only one with news... I
received this letter today that Otis arranged for me."

"Oh," she looked at him with her golden brown eyes and her red hair that
was tied back into a pony tail. "What did it say?"

Harry thought again about the speech he had prepared on the way home, but
it wasn't going to work. He got up and went to his briefcase and pulled out
the letter. He brought it to her and she read it. She had a small tear in
her eye.

"Honey, I cannot believe this. You are an excellent teacher and all, but
this is a great and awesome position.

"Um, that's the thing, I want to do it. I've been trying to find a way to
get back into writing field and educating people on my abilities will help
me do that. It said I would be given an educated mentor. There is a problem
though."

"What could that be?"  Then, it dawned on her. "The Roosevelt School is in
Hyde Park, New York."

"I would have to move there."

She spoke without thinking. "I can't move now. Not with my career where I
wanted it!"

That angered him more, "What about my fucking career, Bianca?! I sat by you
as you received promotion after promotion. You made it here; you can make
it in New York."

"Are you kidding? Do you know how cutthroat it is there? Fuck! I am not
moving. Besides, you love coaching; your kids look up to you. You would be
kissing that good bye."

"No I wouldn't, I could do both. I want you to join me!"

She looked at him, stunned. Bianca made her decision without another word
of debate. "I love you, Harry. I want you to be happy."

THE TRAVELLER – DALLAS, TEXAS – February, 2013

The Traveller thought about it and calmly stated, "I think if we talk about
this maybe we could make sure nothing violent occurs. Besides, I'm quite
familiar with father-son relationships."

He was sitting in a local restaurant trying to engage in a meal when the
father and son bickered over scheduling. The fight quickly went to name
calling. The Traveller could relate to this, seeing it in his own kitchen
many years ago between himself and his father. He always thought his father
was holding him back, trying to make him into his stupid shadow.

"We don't need any help," The father stated, quite angrily.

"Dad, yes we do. We've been fighting like this for weeks."

"That's because you're an ungrateful bastard." The father claimed.

"OKAY!" The Traveller screamed. "This is enough!  Both of you come with
me."

The father looked like he was about to lose it but the Traveller gently
prodded him into the back room where his son followed after. Taking
authority in the situation the father sat at the desk.

The Traveller spoke first, "What are your names?"

"I'm Rudy and this is my father Simon." The son answered before his dad
could step in.

Rudy seemed to want this help. However the Traveller asked him the first
question, "Why have you two been fighting for ages?"

"Because he wants this store to be mine and I don't want his legacy. I want
to make a path of my own."

"You're 14, you're too young to have a path. Soon you will want to start
thinking of a fallback position."

Rudy laughed, "This diner is my fallback."

"Why can't you help out your father once in a while?"

"He doesn't want help he wants me to be groomed." Not liking the flow of
conversation Rudy asked, "Why is this any business of yours anyways? You
can relate to us how?"

"Let's just say I had a similar dialogue with my father."

Curious Simon asked, "How did yours manifest?"

"Simply put, I needed to be my own man, but my old man kept me chained to
his dreams for me. Three years of bickering, of fighting of name
calling. It was hard for me to talk about it."

Rudy, taking note, asked: "Well, then what did you do?"

"Isn't it obvious? I went to find a path of my own. I kissed my brother
goodbye and left. Rudy it is not a good road to be on. Although I managed
to make it through the early weeks and months with little food and money it
wasn't until six months had passed when I was capable of truly being on my
own. I walked and moved from town to town, state to state. I worked at some
joints; I met some nice and not so nice people. However, when birthdays
come around, when Christmas shows up, I have nobody to share it with. It's
a lonely life, but it's mine."

Simon spoke next, "And your father, you never looked back on him? You don't
know where he is?"

"I do know. He and my mother divorced sometime after I left, and my brother
followed me. Other than that, I have no idea about him."

Sensing something, Rudy looked at the stranger, "You miss him?"

He wanted to say no, he wanted to say he hated his guts. He wanted to... He
couldn't, "I loved him when I grew up. He was a great father. He took me to
softball games; he even took me camping once. When I turned thirteen it all
changed. Do I miss him? I don't know."

Turning the conversation around, he said, "Simon, if your boy left you in
the middle of the night and you never saw him again, would that be a
horrible?"

Simon didn't say anything but nodded his head.  Ryan nodded that he would
miss him. "My dad and I had father and son days, we watched movies
together, we played games, bowl. Now, we just fight."

"Then, take my advice Simon... Rudy work this out. Simon understand that
Rudy's passion may not be in this diner, but could be something that makes
you equally happy. And Rudy, respect your father, if he wants you to work
sometime then honor him by granting these requests. It will make your bond
stronger.

The Traveller secretly wished he and his father could be having this
conversation, but it was too late for that.

He got up to leave, sensing, knowing these two would be fine. Simon grabbed
his arm. He plopped something in it. "Here, son."

The Traveller picked up the phone and Simon instructed, "Call your old
man. I can tell you miss him. Take the phone."

He nodded his thanks, went back to his seat and finished his meal while the
father and son talked more about their friendship. After that he walked out
the door, with Rudy calling after him, "What's your name?"

He yelled back, "Just call me the Traveller." He had a name, but he still
couldn't use it, not yet. However, he felt the smart phone in his
pocket. Maybe... he would pick up.

Before he could even take the phone out, two teenagers grabbed him from
behind. They threw him to the ground. Three more came out of nowhere. They
kicked and punched him. They took his coat, his shoes, his pants and his
shirt. They picked the Traveller up and threw him in the bushes that were
on a hill, the strength of the impact sending him through the bush and down
the hill. He rolled and rolled before hitting a rock. However, the rock was
small and just banged his arm. The cement hit his head and he passed out.



Days later he awoke almost naked. He felt his head and it ached. He walked
slowly for hours looking for food and warmth. But the hill he fell from was
too steep to climb up, so he walked. He was glad he wore his warmest boxers
that day. He only had two pairs. It was dawn when he approached a ledge by
the river. He sat on the cold metal. His mind brought him back to the first
month, sleeping under a bridge in nothing but his coat. He held his arms to
his chest, obviously cold.

A car passed by, then another, finally a truck with three College friends
pulled up. The Traveller didn't even notice. One of them brought a blanket
and draped it over his cold body. "Friend, are you okay?"

"Yes, I just need time to think"

"I'm James; this is my buddy Ray and Freddy. Come with us. We'll give you
some clothes and you can dry up."

"Okay," he said, weakly, "I'm surprised it's this cold in Texas."

Ray joked, "probably global warming." The Traveller laughed at that,
smiling. He got into the front seat and thanked them again. Speaking more
to himself than to anybody in particular, he whispered. "Why?"

"Why what man?" James spoke. "Why were you mugged and left for dead?"

"No," he surprised himself with chuckle. "Why are some people good people?
I mean three strangers come by and help me out."

Freddy smiled, `it's nothing. My buddies were there for me when I needed
help so why not pay that kindness forward. There is so much goodness here."

The Traveller wanted to believe it, but after his minor run in with those
kids he doubted it. "How do you know that?"

"Come on, we read about it all the time."

"Bull, the newspapers share only the negative and bad news, never the happy
stuff."

"Maybe not, but some fiction writers tend to look on the goodness of
people." James mentioned, "Freddy show him the story you found. It's about
two college guys who are gay and have to deal with injustice at some
college, the main character I think Matt was one.  It's called something
Bunking with guys...What's it called?

The name escaped his lips, "Rooming with My Best Friends?" That shocked the
friends.



FRANKIE AND CALVIN - NEW YORK CITY – August 2013

Frankie stopped the kiss and Calvin stated, "I have something I need to
tell you."

"What?"  They were leaving the Orpheus building.

Calvin couldn't respond, something was caught in his throat. Then he
blurted it out. "I think I may love you Franklin."

Frankie was taken aback. It was rare Cal would call him by his given
name. The news hit him hard and fast. "What?"

"The last two months that we've been living here and the closeness we
shared made me realize I may have feelings for you."

"I see," Frankie had urges and impulses, but he never actually fell in love
with his best buddy. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, and if we're going to move into this place I needed you to know how I
felt."

"You were honest with your feelings, Calvin. I need to be honest with
you. I never felt that way for you. We are friends, best friends, brothers,
I can trust you with anything, fuck, you know some my biggest secrets, you
know all my secrets, but I never fell in love with you."

"I know," Calvin said in a weak voice as the friends walked back to their
temporary residence with Kevin. He was out with some girlfriend so they had
the place to themselves.

Calvin spoke quickly, but strongly. "Frankie, I know how you felt about
me. I know our relationship is special and I know you can never be in love
with me. I knew that the moment we had sex for the first time. I cannot
describe to you how it made me feels, but there was something in there that
said you were holding back."

Frankie didn't understand his friend's point, so Calvin elaborated. "We are
the closest images of Kris and Matt that will ever be. Kris and Matt love
each other but they were never in love with each other. Matt was attracted
to Kris from the beginning and then Kris when he learned he was bi agreed
that Matt was attractive. When their story evolved into sex, we started
entering sex into our relationship. It brought our friendship to next
level. The intimacy of that act allowed us to explore more about each other
than I ever thought possible. It was then I knew that you didn't share my
love."

"Are you okay?"  Frankie put his arm around his friend, "Are you okay with
our friendship like it is?"

"No, honestly, I needed to tell you I'm in love with you. I knew your
response, but you had to know.  I will always be in love with you. That's
why the sex was so passionate on my end. I cannot turn off that switch.

"What if I find you a Corey to be with? What if we can get that love
transferred to him. Come on, bro. We find you some gorgeous hunk to fuck,
maybe a Scott type person."

Calvin smiled, "Maybe a Jess type one. I always liked the rebel."

"Is that why you fell for me?"

"Oh please, you don't know anything about rebelling."

"Says the one who always obeyed his mother," Frankie shot back. The banter
continued for a few more minutes until they reached Kevin's apartment.

Before they entered Frankie eyed his best friend, "Seriously, Calvin, are
we okay?"

"Yes, I will always love you, Franklin, but I love the relationship we have
even more." He smiled and both knew that Calvin was telling the truth.

They entered the apartment and it was fucking hot inside. The best friends
stripped off their shirts and pants and sat in their boxers on the sofa. "I
cannot believe you wear those still."

"Fuck off, bro," Frankie stated, sticking up his middle finger and then
using it point down to his plain colored simple fabric Jersey boxers that
hung loosely around his thighs. "They are comfortable and hot."

"They belong on a garbage heap. Now these," pointing to his own smooth,
black satin boxers that left plenty of room but still cupped everything in
the right areas, `is perfection. Feel them. How can you not want this
touching your skin, it beats your rags."

"Bro, two nights ago you wore those to bed and you nearly slid off the
bed."

"But they make my bulge work better."

"They make your ass look big."

"Admit you love these boxers, you love my satin and my silk ones. I gave
you a pair for your birthday last year and you said you loved them."

"Ever heard of the term lying?"

"Bull," Calvin threw a pillow at his friend and Frankie smiled as he got on
top of his best friend.

"Enough talk, it's time to have some fun like Matt and Kris do."  Without
another word Frankie slowly pulled the satin boxers down and started
playing with Cal's nipples. He moved his head down and slowly ran his
tongue to the massive cock and started licking it. He moved up and down,
from base to tip, occasionally dipping down to suck on the long hanging
balls.

Licking back up it, he took the gorgeous cock between his lips and used his
tongue to circle the tip before plunging his face down onto the dick,
taking as much as he could in before he started bobbing up and down, using
his tongue to tease the underside of the long shaft. He was just starting
to cup Cal's balls with his other hand when Cal moaned with pleasure.

He continued to make him moan and Cal's nipples were getting hard as
Frankie tasted the precum on his lips. Then the unthinkable happened.