Date: Wed, 31 Jan 2001 20:49:21 -0800 (PST) From: Robert J. Cutter Subject: "TOMORROW'S PRIZES" Chapters 10, 11 & 12 Disclaimer: The following is a work of fiction. None of the characters, locales or situations have any actuality in fact. There is strong homoerotic content. If this offends you, please leave now. Important Note To Readers: I have been slow producing new chapters for this story. I apologize. Things have conspired against me - business, family, health, etc. I hope to be completely back on track soon. Feel free to write to me; my address is cutter57@hotmail.com. Thanks TOMORROW'S PRIZES ---------------------------------- By Robert J. Cutter Copyright (c) 2001 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. Chapter 10 - The Party and After The days after Jake left were very productive ones...and for Carlos, I think. It was a time of leisure and relaxation and partying as well as some important writing. I was finally able to sit down to my laptop and get some real work done. We saw Jake off at the bus station. He was off to Boston, up the coast to New Hampshire and Maine, across to Vermont and down to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, DC. It seemed a very ambitious plan, but considering he had already traveled across the country from California, I suppose it was just a blip on his itinerary. We kissed goodbye and he thanked us for everything. We assisted him onto the bus and he gently waved. He was sort of smiling as the bus pulled away. I really don't know if he was happy to leave or regretted his decision. I know I would have been very happy to have him stay. I also knew that when my mother arrived in a few weeks she would have babied him and cared for him and made his life a living hell. Carlos stayed at the house most nights and when he did, I drove him to his job the next morning. I frankly could not get enough of his wonderfully sexy body. I loved everything about him. And, luckily enough, he seemed to like everything about me, too. When I slept, I normally liked to sleep without anyone touching me - call it a quirk, call it a neurosis. Whatever it was, I liked to sleep completely unencumbered. Carlos changed that. I absolutely adored the feel of his warm, compact near-hairless body cuddled close to me - comforting me and making me feel great. When I awoke in the mornings, Carlos' presence made my day begin on an incredible high. I don't know what it was - call it a perfect fit - but I adored everything, from his compact body, his gorgeous and delicately boyish features, his fabulous package. Yes, he was small - he was the smallest man I had ever been with - but I didn't care. I had always heard that size wasn't everything and, frankly, I did not believe it. I liked them big! Carlos changed all of that. Everything about him was so comfortable and so comforting, from his sunny, outgoing personality to the size of his dick His almost child-like appearance and demeanor enhanced everything I loved about him. I could not remember being happier and it was reflected in my general attitude towards home and work. I only hoped the feeling would last a good long time. The Saturday after Jake left, Carlos and I went to the party at Fran's place. I don't call it a house because it wasn't one. It seemed to be three or four trailers lashed together, the walls broken out to form a large communal area, with several portable johns to the side. To call it ram shackled would not be giving the place it's due for such overwhelming decrepitude. But it was a fun blowout - really fun! We had a great time. I dropped a twenty-dollar bill into the collection bottle at the front door(?). Fran had managed to scrounge up a live band for the night and it was a really funky, off-the-wall amateur group - five bleach-blonde guys calling themselves "Out of the Bottle"; he definitely scrounged deep! They were kids and sometimes didn't quite play together, but it was good listening to live music and fun watching them struggle through their sets. Carlos and I danced a lot together; I also danced with quite a few other guys and girls. Yes, it was a very mixed group - heteros, gays, lesbians - you name it, they were there. Fran must have had an extremely wide circle of friends and acquaintances to gather this diverse a group together. I danced a few times with Fran and it was delightful - he was a delight. The guy was very funny, very sexy and a great dancer. He told me how great Carlos and I looked together and that I was very lucky to be with him. "He's a real cool gah, Craig. Real cool!" "Thanks. I think we've both found someone we can be happy with.at least for a while." "Believe me anythin's better 'n bein' footloose.if you get mah drift." "I know from experience that you're right." He put both hands on my shoulders and drew close to me. "And ah hope you're not...ya know, not hung up on his - uh - saz." I looked at him very quizzically, raising one eyebrow. "Ya wanna know how ah know, raht?" I nodded. "We been tuhgethah. Swum in the rah. Also clean sohm pools; he helps me out sohmtahmes." I managed a small smile. "I think Carlos is perfect." We kissed after the dances and said I was expecting that Carlos and I would be very happy. However, I definitely marked Fran's name down in my mental Rolodex. Carlos and I drove home and dove into bed...and lovemaking. We were completely sober...and extremely horny. I craved his sweet body...I needed him so much. Carlos sensed this and as soon we were inside the door he put his arms around my waist and drew me close. I lowered my head and kissed him fiercely - I ravaged that glorious mouth. I gradually lifted him while we continued to kiss powerfully. While cradling my beautiful Carlos in my arms, I slowly walked into our bedroom and gently lay him on the bed. He spread out, presenting me with his magnificent form. I was kneeling next to him and just feasted my eyes on this exquisite creature - this magnificent man - my loving boy/man. I gently let my hands begin to caress his entire body. He had not removed a single article of clothing and neither had I. I rubbed his body through his clothes and I was getting just incredibly hot! I wanted this to be a long, lingering, total adventure in lovemaking. I wanted it to last all night - until dawn - until the sun shone brightly on our spent and sated bodies. What extreme pleasures and exquisite heights of ecstasy awaited us - awaited our joining. Carlos was squirming and moaning lightly as I continued to massage him; I adored everything about this loving and so completely desirable man. Our lips connected in a passionate kiss, and he grasped me tightly. "Craig?" he said softly after we broke the kiss. "Yes, my sweet, sweet love." "Craig, I love you." "And I love and adore everything about you, my wonderful Carlos." He looked away and a dark expression came over his face. "Everything?" "Yes, everything! Absolutely and positively everything! Haven't I proved that to you all the times we've been together?" He nodded and gave me a small smile. "Yes. Yes you have. You absolutely have." Here he paused and became serious again. "But...but...doesn't the s-s-small size of m-m-my dick and balls bother you? I mean, don't they...you know, turn you off?" I vigorously shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. He needed reassurance - almost every time we made love. I hugged him forcefully and lovingly, soothing and caressing him and kissing him again on his face and on his neck. "Nothing about you turns me off. Quite the opposite is true, you gorgeous devil you." I gave him a gentle peck on the lips. "Everything about you turns me on! Just everything! I think you're perfect. I think we're perfect together! Don't you?" He smiled up at me and nodded again. "Yes. Yes I do." I noticed he was starting to tear up. "Thanks, Craig. Thanks for saying that." "I'm not just saying it. It's the truth. The God's honest truth!" I kissed him hard on his lips again and he squeezed me and rubbed my back. "Don't let anything come between us. Think only wonderful thoughts. Don't imagine or create situations that do not exist." We continued to make soothing love. Chapter 11 - Carlos on the Brain - And Elsewhere I removed Carlos' shirt and revealed the bright white athletic shirt he wore beneath. The undershirt was tight and wet from perspiration, and I could see the marvelous contours and outline of his superlative chest; I could also see the outline of his beautiful, dark nipples coming through the whiteness. I kissed his neck and licked his ears - those tiny, delicious ears. He tasted so incredibly male and so tantalizingly and reassuringly Carlos, my love. I had become wholly enamored of his taste and his smell. Carlos' aromas were a tonic. The combination of his soap and shampoo and cologne and manly musk almost paralyzed me into inaction. I was captivated - totally and absolutely. I moved one hand to lightly caress Carlos' crotch. He thrust his hips upward to meet it and I rubbed him and stoked him tenderly. He moaned and smiled and pushed himself more forcefully into my hand. I adored how his body was moving and how I was able to stimulate him. I removed the shirt. As I looked down, he seemed almost to be a young boy and not eighteen years old. He was gorgeous and magnificent - all I could want and hope for in a lover. It was blissful having him sharing my bed - providing the kind of love I had never before known in my life. I lightly kissed his lips again and proceeded to smother his neck and shoulder and upper arms with my kisses. I practically saturated his smooth, fresh smelling skin with my saliva. Carlos' skin felt so amazing on my lips and tongue. He lifted his arms and settled them on my back. I lowered my head to tongue lash his armpits with and received a shock. Carlos' pits were completely smooth! "You shaved!" I practically screamed. "You gorgeous and thoughtful creature you! They're luscious.absolutely luscious! I love 'em!" "They're not the only thing I shaved," he said quietly and so, so sexily. With those words, I felt my entire body begin to tingle...and start trembling. I was getting very, very excited and having difficulty breathing. "You...you...you..." was all I was able to stammer out. He nodded and gave me a big smile. "Everything, Craig. Absolutely...everything! Including the three chest hairs I had." I laughed at his joke because Carlos didn't have even three chest hairs to shave off. He knew I loved smooth men and even though I found Carlos completely wonderful in the body hair department (he naturally had so little hair), he went that extra distance to satify me completely. I loved him for his thoughtfulness...and for lots of other reason, too. "You're fabulous, Carlos," I whispered in his ear. "Just totally and unbelievably wonderful!" "That's because you are so wonderful and loving and caring for me." He paused and swallowed hard. "I love you, Craig. You are the best thing to ever happen in my life. I love you completely and totally and...and...and you are everything to me." I wrapped him in my arms and practically smothered him. His face was buried in my chest and he began licking and sucking on my shirt. I figured it was a good time to continue our disrobing. I had discovered Carlos' smooth, enticing and luscious armpits. I wanted to discover much, much more. I let him unbutton my shirt and remove it. I wore no undershirt. Carlos began playing with my rather sparse chest hair and rubbing his palms over my very erect nipples. I continued to rub his crotch and started removing his jeans. I bent my head down to taste those incredibly smooth and tempting armpits once more. And they were delicious - totally delicious! Carlos tasted dazzlingly fresh despite the fact that we had been to that crowded, sweaty, smoky party. He squirmed and kicked as I lavished my attention on his underarms. He continued running his hands over my chest and down my sides. He pushed his hands into my pants and cupped my ass cheeks. The feeling of those newly shaved pits was driving me to distraction - I adored every square millimeter of Carlos' newly exposed flesh. He tasted so male and so overwhelmingly delicious. The natural sweetness of his skin was combined with the slight flavor of his soap and the slightly acrid taste of his perspiration to create a taste quintessentially Carlos; he was totally alluring. I moved one hand down his arm - the arm that was aimed toward my crotch. I could feel the newly shaved smoothness of it and my arousal was heightened even further. I picked my head up from licking his pit and grasped onto his hand. I kissed, licked and sucked each finger in my hot mouth. His skin was so wonderfully soft and luxurious that I felt there was something almost unreal about it; but Carlos was real, and thank God for that! I licked and sucked my way up that smooth arm until I was back at his armpit once more. I moved down to his wonderful nipples and relished the incredible smoothness and suppleness of his chest. His nipples were small, very dark circles with very pointy nubs. I adored them! Carlos had me totally captivated...captivated as I had never been before by another person in my entire life. The feeling was simultaneously frightening (I had never know this kind of heavenly bliss before) and exhilarating (for the same reason). As I continued to move my lips and tongue over his entire upper chest I moved one hand to the buttons on his shorts. They opened easily but I didn't remove them yet. I kissed and licked my way down his taut body, savoring every bit of his astonishing skin. Next, I decided to perform a thorough exploration of his darling little feet. I kissed the tops of both, playing and nibbling on his toes. I sucked each one of those cuties. Carlos began wiggling his sweet little ass and his body began hopping around the bed. I let my lips and tongue begin to move slowly up his legs, savoring the incredible smoothness and muscularity of these gorgeous limbs. I lovingly caressed his shapely calves and practically gnawed on those fantastic thighs. And then I moved up to the center of my attention - the new center of my universe. I looked at the small bulge in those sexy gray shorts he was still wearing. The expectancy of once more exposing the inspiring tool of the man I love had my entire body tingling and thrusting with unchecked anticipation. As I slipped that undergarment off, and slowly glimpsed the sweet smooth skin above his penis, I shook with joy and wonderment. It was beautiful.he was so beautiful. He lay almost still, his arms spread wide, presenting the most fabulous picture of sexuality I had ever seen or hoped to see in my lifetime. He was glorious...glorious...glorious. I had never really been attracted to the twink type before I met Carlos. You know, those men with smooth, almost hairless bodies. Some people think of twinks as just being relatively hairless young males, despite having pronounced musculature. My definition is not the same; to me it brings to mind young men with the musculature and bearing of younger boys - those in their early teens. Their muscles seem to flow one into the other - no real definition to speak of, no stark lines - just the smooth flow of flesh and the clean merging of muscle into muscle. The arm and leg are sleek and smooth. The body shape is lanky with a slightly defined waist and tight bubble butt - and with a gorgeously boyish face. They usually have the remains of a little boyish potbelly and small folds of skin on their abs. Carlos fit this definition perfectly - sleek, smooth and gorgeous. And now he was waiting with almost breathless anticipation for my continued exploration and appreciation of that glorious body. I continued to remove the shorts and finally exposed his magnificent fully erect cock. It was so wonderfully shaped and so striking - so delightfully compact and begging to be loved by me. The dark color of his dick and balls - his so very appealing equipment - thrilled me yet again. He was naturally rather dark - his skin a beautiful, shining toasty brown. However, his cock and ball sac were much darker - almost black in color. So stunning. So incredibly straight - no bends or kinks or turns that I find so off putting. His diminutive cock and ball sac were my luscious buddies - I adored them. His ball sac was completely "absorbed" into the base of that fabulous cock - breathtaking in its beauty, simplicity and size. Everything was completely devoid of hair. Carlos' package was both gorgeous and fantastically sexy. My senses felt overwhelmed and were working overtime to absorb everything I was seeing and feeling. I could never remember loving a man this much - loving anyone this much. Never! I lowered my head while continuing to gently rub his smooth thighs. I spoke soothingly to him, saying how beautiful he was and how much I adored everything about him. He answered only with grunts and more heavy breathing. When my lips neared his newly shave mound I began kissing and sucking on it. I stuck my tongue out and began to loving wash the area. The taste, the smell and the feel were unlike anything I had ever experienced before and I was at a loss to sort out the various sensations that were competing for dominance. I licked and sucked all around the base of his cock and reveled in the smooth feel of his skin. His velvety scrotal skin was tender and warm in my mouth and I could feel his testicles as they clung to the base of his cock. Carlos produced little pre-cum but I eagerly slurped every bit. The uncanny fresh taste floored me once again. It was such an irresistible feeling. It was indescribable. I just felt that I had been taken to another plane of being - to another world of love and a higher level of existence. -------------------------------------------------------- Carlos was sprawled out on the bed. He was on his stomach and I was lying on top of him, practically covering his entire body with mine. My cock was still firmly packed in his gorgeous ass. I felt totally fulfilled. I felt satisfied as I had never been before in my life.that is, until I met Carlos. Or should I say, until I met Carlos again! Our sex together had always been glorious - one gratifying and awesome experience after another. Tonight, though, we had the most fantastic sex ever. During the just concluded prolonged session, Carlos had fucked me. In fact, it was the first time that Carlos had fucked anyone and it took a bit of convincing on my part. He was flying afterward.and so was I. He had been very reluctant. He loved being fucked and didn't want that to change, but I finally convinced him. I said I'd guide him through the whole thing and if he didn't like what we were doing, we would stop. Carlos was still reluctant because he feared that he would not be able to satisfy me. I said that we'd never know until we tried, and tried we finally did. And it was fabulous; I could not ever remember feeling better. I was so happy for Carlos. He was ecstatic - and so was I. He had been repeatedly ridiculed because of his small dick and ball size. Things like that didn't bother me - at least they didn't since I met him. I found his particular package to be highly erotic and terrifically appealing. I know he did not completely believe me - men in that situation are not too trustful. They've had to endure a lifetime of embarrassment and ridicule - everywhere from school showers to lover's beds. Carlos's short, extremely hard cock brought out certain feeling in me that I'd never experienced before and that I truly cannot explain satisfactorily. Suffice to say, it was a moving and glorious event. His dick seemed to feel much bigger in my ass than in my mouth. He had given me a rather rough ride but I loved every minute of it. He could not believe how good he felt afterwards; he was incredibly happy knowing that we'd be on an equal footing now - no dominant male, no submissive one. This sudden change in our relationship brought back floods of memories for both of us and we spoke of them for the first time to another person. We decided we needed to shower. Carlos and I were feeling very frisky - tickling each other and giggling uncontrollably. Between tickles and hugs, we kissed and joked around and wash each other thoroughly...all the while reaffirming our deep love for each other. When we finished toweling each other loving and lingeringly, we grabbed some snacks from the kitchen and brought them back to bed. We ate while reminiscing about our lives. Some old 1940s movie was playing on the television; I had the sound muted. "I remember watching you all the time when I was a kid Craig; when I was able to. You were in high school, then college and then working and I would look at you swimming or relaxing or driving by in your beautiful cars whenever you were home; and I always wanted to be with you, to be part of what you were doing. You were so gorgeous. You still are. All I wanted was to be with you and hug you and tell you I love you. But you were older and I was such a little kid I knew that nothing I did would make you like me or want to be with me." I squeezed him tighter and we kissed him tenderly, my lips softly caressing his. "When I began playing with my dick, I always pictured you in my mind - you were my dream man. Then, when I finally reached puberty, I would do it and say how the cum shooting out was for you and you alone. By then I actually had a picture of you - a beauty taken at your college graduation." "Where'd you get it?" "Your mom gave it to me. I don't remember the reason I gave her for wanting it but I got it from her." We laughed. "I was so desperately in love with you and you were always some unreachable stud and I knew I would never have a chance with you." "Well, that's changed, hasn't it?' He gave me a great big beautiful smile. "Sure has! And I'm so grateful...and so, so happy...and so incredibly thrilled to be with you...and for you to consider me as an equal." He began to cry lightly and I cuddled him in my arms, enveloping him in my warmth...and love. "Carlos, I must tell you that I have never been more content or happier. You are like a incredible stimulant to me - creatively and sexually." I gently let my fingers graze his cheek and he smiled. "Why I hadn't noticed you before now...well, it's a big question in my mind. Maybe I'll be able to work out the reasoning in one of the stories for the series." He smiled and moved his hand to my chest; he began stroking me slowly and I immediately responded. I knew I needed to feel that wonderful cock again...and very soon. "Craig? Can I ask you something...something personal?" "Absolutely! Nothing is off limits between us." "Well...I've been thinking...and wondering...why...why you chose me. I mean, you've lived in New York and now Hollywood for three years...and why didn't you find anyone...and then you came back here and...and well, chose me? You had all that Hollywood ass...and New York ass...to choose from...yet you didn't. Did you? Why?" I looked at his earnest face, filled as it was with self-doubt and indecision. "Hollywood ass is overrated and New York ass is too pushy." He smiled. "No, I really mean it. In Hollywood, everyone is out to get into show biz and they have the depth of personality of a coat of paint. In New York, everybody is better than you are and they want to prove it. So I never connected with anyone in either place. I never wanted to." I put my arms around him and held him close to my body. "But, lucky for me, I come back home and what do I find? I find someone I had not been able to find in the two biggest gay centers of the universe." I squeezed and tickled him. "I find someone highly intelligent and extremely beautiful. I find a man with everythin - everything in one glorious package! Who knew I'd be so lucky?" He giggled and hugged me. "I'm happy you did. Nothing better's happened in my entire life!" "Or mine!" We kissed and then I spoke in a more serious manner. "You know, of course, that you're going to move out to California with me, don't you?" "Are you sure you're gonna be in LA again this season." "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Actually, about one hundred percent sure." He nodded his head slowly and his eyes took on a rather far-away look. "Yeah," he said in almost a whisper. "I know. I'm still trying to work it all out in my mind...about my family, school, job and all. I knew you were going t' ask and didn't know how I was going t' react. I had hoped t' have it all planned out, but...but now...I don't know." "What do you mean you don't know?" I said, rather hurt by his response. "Oh, I know I want to be with you. Christ, Craig, I want that more than anything in the whole world. Its just...just...well, leaving my family's gonna be very difficult. How can I do that?" "Do they need you here that much? I mean, you're going to go to college in a year anyway. Right?" "Yeah. But I always hoped to go right here in town. That way I could continue, you know, to keep helping them." "I know you earn extra money for your family. So, that can be done in California as easily as in Massachusetts. And truthfully, I can do so much more for you in California. And you could...well, you could do so much for me there too." We were both silent - wrapped in our private thoughts and conflicted emotions. "Carlos, there is one thing you could do for me now." "What's that? The way I'm feeling right now, I can't deny you anything." I gave him a smile. "The next time you shave your body, let me know before. Okay?" He nodded. "I'd like to help.help in any way I can. I want us to do everything - and I mean everything - together!" He gave me a real big smile and grabbed me in a tight hug. "Great! Then, maybe, I'll do you. That great body of yours will look even better completely smooth." We kissed passionately and for a long time. I deliberately moved my hand to his newly hairless crotch and became excited once again. This incredibly sexy young guy was going to keep me bed-bound and awfully happy for a very long time. Chapter 12 - More Arrivals The week before Memorial Day brought my parents to the house for their annual stay. They flew into JFK Airport and took a limo to the house. The trip had been quite tiring for them and they quickly went off to their wing of the house to unpack and nap before dinner. My sister Caitlin and her husband and brood would be visiting over the holiday weekend, so it would be a rather full house. My mother had already planned for a myriad of things for the family to do together. I decided not to participate in most of them. My writing was beginning to pick up momentum and I had promised myself at least five hours per day of bleeding out the scripts. Carlos had moved in. His parents had no objections - obviously they knew of his inclination. His father approached me one afternoon and we had a rather lengthy discussion about him - and me. Lengthy in terms of speaking to Mr. Geller; he was a man of very few words. I was in the back yard finishing up some plantings that Jake had started. Mr. Geller was working in a nearby field. He stopped and walked over to the terrace. He seemed to be in a good mood, which was rather unusual for him; most of the time he was a little, shall I say, on the cantankerous side. We shook hands and proceeded into the usual small talk. Finally, after killing time for about two minutes, he broached the subject that he wanted to speak about - Carlos. "Ah wanna thenk ya f' bein' so nice t' ma Carlos - takin' carh of ma boy as ya havah. Ah've nevah see him happiah." "Thanks, Bill. He's a great young man and we seem to be...well, we seem to be very comfortable and happy together. Really! And he's learned so much from his mother. I'm afraid I'm gonna gain weight from his marvelous cooking." Bill laughed. "Ah gotta admit, Craig, thet ah've been jess so disahppointed in him f' the pass three yeahs or so, when we.knowin' thet he's.ya know.him bein' gay 'n all. We thought for a while thet it was summin' we did.or didn't do. Aftah all, he's mah eldest. He's sucha goo' boy an' really so smaht. His mothah and ah just' love 'im so.so much. Ah'm happy now thet both of ya ah so good tahgethah. Ah'm real, real happy." "I can assure you that we're very happy together, Bill. And I know we will be in the future. Thank you for your...your blessing" He smiled, shook my hand again, and went back to his work. It was the longest conversation I had ever had with him. When my parents arrived, they were happy to see Carlos but were less than thrilled when I informed them that we were living together. "Do Mr. And Mrs. Geller know?" my mother asked rather pointedly. "Of course they know," I responded. "Bill Geller and I had a long conversation concerning it." My father scowled his usual sour expression (it seemed to be permanent these days) and my mother showed her disapproval by becoming very busy and bustling all over the place. I didn't know if they disliked Carlos as a person or the fact that one of the "hired help" was living in the "big house". Fortunately, I didn't give a shit; we were both adults and our lives were our own. In addition, I owned the house. ---------------------------------------------- I was sitting on the terrace, listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (my absolute favorite symphony produced by this God), and working on episodes for the coming season. I was making excellent progress; at this rate, I would have all twenty-two episodes in outline form and the first eight in completed dialogue before returning to Los Angeles. Yes, I would be returning to the West Coast. I came to a "satisfactory arrangement" with the studio and the network. I agreed to the continued filming of the series in Los Angeles for two more years and they agreed on certain additional "compensations" (read that more money and a new house). Plus they also agreed to finance a new series I was developing for the following season. My newly formed production company would be a part owner and this held out the possibility of really big money. Suddenly I realized that my mother was calling me. I had a telephone call from some guy in Maine concerning Philly cheese steaks. I didn't know what the hell she was talking about but I went in to take it. "This is Craig Shaeffer. How can I help you?" "Mr. Shaeffer, this is Officer Frank deMain, and I'm with the Philadelphia Police Department, sir. I brought in a young man to University Hospital a few hours ago, sir. He'd been injured in a hit and run accident. We found your name and number on a card he was carrying." I immediately knew it had to be Jake. I sat down as I felt my knees becoming weak. "What happened, officer?" "The young man...uh...his name is Jakub Steiner, by the way...he seems to have been struck by a car in the parking lot of the hotel where he's staying sir. He's badly bruised and all." "Is he conscious?" "Yes he is, sir. But.but for some reason the doctors haven't figure out yet, he also seems to be badly crippled, sir." "Jake is a cripple, officer. He suffered a paralyzing stroke a few years ago and you can see the results." "So the crippling of his arm and leg is not a result of the accident?" "No. As I said Jake's been paralyzed for about two years. Didn't you find his crutch?" "No sir, we didn't." I could hear him sigh. "The docs'll be mighty happy to hear this news," he said with relief in his voice. "How could Jake be without his crutch?" I wondered. "How bad is he, officer?" "He's still under observation so I don't know fully. They're still doing test on him, sir. He's badly bruised and all, and the doctors want to keep him here a coupla more days for more test and final evaluation. There may be a few broken bones...and other things." "Can I come and get him? Or at least see him?" "Are you family, sir" "No I'm not...just a close friend. His family lives in California." "I see." He was silent for a second or two. "How can I get in touch with his family, sir?" "He has the telephone numbers in the backpack he carries." Silence. "Uh, we did not find any backpack with him, sir." "Maybe you should be looking into a case of robbery also," I said under my breath. "Excuse me, sir?" "Nothing!" I retrieved the information from my file and gave it to the officer after he further satisfied my curiosity about who he said he was. He told me he would be in touch. I immediately called Carlos on his cell phone but was only able to get his voice mail. I left him a message. I sat at the kitchen table drinking down a cup of coffee when my mother joined me. She wanted to know what was going on and I told her in the most succinct version possible. The phone rang and I jumped to get it. It was Mrs. Steiner calling from California. She had received the news about Jake and was, naturally, very concerned. She wanted to speak with him as soon as possible. She also told the police and the hospital staff that I was a very close family friend, and could act on her behalf. I tried calling the hospital but was told that Jake was still in the emergency room and could not be reached until moved to a room. Carlos called; I told him what was going on and that I was driving down to Philadelphia to see about Jake and maybe bring him here. He said he wanted to come along and that I should meet him in front of the administration building on campus. Mom made some sandwiches for us and we were off. -------------------------------------------------------- The drive was tiring but fast - I-95 most of the way. When we finally found the building where Jake was being kept, it was already night. The University of Pennsylvania Hospital is absolutely enormous. We were permitted to see Jake even though visiting hours had officially ended. When we entered his room, he tried to give us a big smile; I sat by his bed and held his hand. One of the nurses on duty gave us a rundown of his problems including a broken leg (the good one), three fractured ribs and an assortment of contusions and bruises. We stayed about twenty minutes and when we left the room the nurse handed me a note from the attending physician - a neurologist. He wanted to see me at 8 AM the next morning and to speak to me about Jake's current injuries and about his paralysis. Carlos and I checked into a nearby hotel, ate dinner and went up to the room to shower and sleep. It was to be an early day tomorrow and after the long drive, we just fell asleep in each other's arms and slept very soundly. I held him close to my body all night. I needed to feel him with me and to be there for me. I never wanted to lose him. -------------------------------------------------------- The meeting with Dr. Brooke was reassuring and very enlightening. Assuring, in that Jake's new injuries were really quite superficial and would heal quickly, and enlightening in that we discussed in depth Jake's paralysis and the possible new form of rehabilitation. It had recently proved quite successful in severe stroke patients of all ages. Dr. Brooke was quite young and seemed receptive to new methodologies and procedures. This new method was developed at the University of Alabama - Birmingham, and is called Constraint-Induced Therapy. What it involves is totally immobilizing the stroke victim's "good" side and forcing the brain to relearn the procedures for dealing with the paralyzed, or "bad," side. He mentioned that the tests have been 40% to 95% effective in restoring a patients arm mobility - in fact, sometimes results can be seen in as little as three or four days. There apparently were no age limitations. "You can teach an old dog new tricks," the doctor said while giving out a chuckle. The only drawback is that the patient's "good" side must be kept completely immobile during the course of treatment - he emphasized must! Also, the treatment had been proven effective only for arm motion - not for leg motion. (See Note Below) The neurologist mentioned that Jake was an excellent candidate for this method of treatment since he was young and quite strong - physically strong, that is. From his observations, certain tests he and the attending psychiatrist had administered, though, he felt Jake had some real bad hang-ups - mental hang-ups...and also sexual hang-ups. He felt that Jake was extremely lonely and craved human companionship. I felt that he was withholding certain other important information, but I decided not to press him on these issues just yet. Carlos and I then went up to see Jake. He was in a room by himself - the other bed was empty. He gave us a big smile when he saw us, sat up and embraced both of us. "Ahm...so...sowwy...guys...I weewy am." "There's no need to apologize, Jake. It was an accident. Accidents happen." He shook his head slowly. "It was...nah a accthident." Carlos and I looked at each other. "Not an accident?" Jake shook his head. We asked him to tell us the complete details of the incident. Of course, with Jake's painfully slow speech it took almost forever but Carlos and I did eventually hear and understand the entire detailed account. It was a rather pathetic story - sad, horrifying and, ultimately, very, very enlightening. -------------------------------------------------------- Jake came back to the house and was installed in a bedroom adjacent to my parents. Mom attended to him like a mother hen. She was all over him - caring for him, cooking special dishes for him, feeding him, washing his clothes, changing the bed linens; you name it, she did it, even to dressing and undresing him. She was absolutely in her element. It had been a long time since there was someone who needed her constant attention like this, and she freely provided it. Mom was on the telephone every day with Jake's mother; they got along famously. I suppose mothers have certain understandings. Jake was scheduled to stay in the house until his leg healed and bruises cleared. Then he would go to the University Hospital in Albany for the start of Constraint-Induced Therapy. I was happy that Jake was not staying in the wing where Carlos and I were. Primarily because Carlos and I would make lots of noise when we made love (which was happily often and prolonged) but also because of Jake's apparent desires. The information from the hospital psychiatrist was quite informative and most...well, let me put it this way...more than a little disquieting. This, together with the story Jake had told us, had both Carlos and me wondering...and discussing the situation late into the night. (To Be Continued. Concluding Chapters Next) Note: Constraint-Induced Therapy is not fiction. It is a new and highly successful treatment of stroke related paralysis. See the New York Times Science Times of June 6, 2000.