Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2018 17:29:43 +0000
From: Douglas DD <thehakaanen@hotmail.com>
Subject: Aiden II Chapter 41

Welcome back for more of Young Master Aiden. It's time for another gay
wedding in Mayfield. This time it's Eric and Noah. Little Mason ends up
playing a big role in the proceedings. Enjoy.

Please donate to the Nifty Archive to keep the stories flowing.

Douglas. thehakaanen@hotmail.com

CHAPTER 41
THE WEDDING

MONDAY, JUNE 18

Noah and Eric met Robert at the Centralia Amtrak station. Robert, who went
by his Native American name, Espowyes, more often than not, had left
Whitefish, Montana the evening before on the "Empire Builder". He had come
for Noah and Eric's wedding week and would be staying in the guest room at
Eric's home.

Espowyes looked dignified with his thick white hair hanging down past his
shoulders. He smiled when he saw his two young friends and they quickly
exchanged hugs on the platform. After procuring Robert's luggage, they got
into Eric's car and started the ride to Mayfield.

Noah told Espowyes what they had planned during their wedding
week. Espowyes commented that it would indeed be a great week. "We are
having dinner at the home of mentors of yours as well as a young student of
yours, tomorrow, correct?"

"Correct," Noah said. "I don't know if Aiden could be considered a student,
though—we're not exactly teachers."

"You and Eric are teaching him about the way you live, correct?"

"Correct, but Eric is the one with the relationship with the boy."

"No matter. You are both teachers just by living a positive life. That, in
turn, makes the boy a student."

Eric thought about the men who had influenced his life as a boy. His father
was at the top of the list, of course, and the next two were Coach Larry
Sanders and Espowyes. There were many others, including Larry's husband
Phil Miller, but those three did more than anybody to teach him to be the
man he was.

"I look forward to meeting this young boy. Perhaps I will see in him the
inner goodness I saw in the two of you as boys."

TUESDAY, JUNE 19

The quiet of the graveyard was broken only by the occasional song of a
bird, which seemed somewhat out of place in the solemn location. Eric,
Noah, and Espowyes sat in front of the grave of Bobby Neal. He had been a
classmate, teammate, and friend of Eric and Noah. He was, in many ways,
Noah's first boyfriend. He died when he was thirteen from a fall off of his
bicycle. The death of Bobby devastated Noah.

A visit to Espowyes in Montana by Eric and Noah when they were in high
school helped to heal Noah's wounds. Noah had first met the old man on a
visit to Montana with his family when he was twelve.

The three sat in silent prayer, remembering the gregarious redhead who was
never happy after a baseball game or practice if he wasn't dirty. For him,
clean practice gear or a clean uniform meant he hadn't done anything. The
Mr. Hustle trophy for both the middle school and the high school was named
the Bobby Neal Mr. Hustle Trophy.

They silently acknowledged the end of their prayers and stood up. It was a
gray Pacific Northwest day, but it wasn't raining. The only dampness was
their cheeks as they ended their prayer and meditation. Espowyes had met
Bobby, who had traveled with Noah's family on that long-ago trip to
Montana. He had loved the life and the light that came from the redhead's
heart. That life and light and love would always be in their hearts.

As they walked from the graveyard to Eric's car, Eric thought of the
question he had asked Noah just before they left Palo Alto for home. "Do
you think you might have married Bobby if he hadn't died?" He knew it was a
dumb question, because as Espowyes had taught them, life isn't lived in
might-haves—it was lived in the here and now.

If Noah was upset by the question he hadn't shown it. "Might haves don't
mean shit," he said, echoing the teachings of his Native American
mentor. "He might not have even been gay. He was starting to mess around
with girls and even slept with one."

He took a deep breath to gain some control of his emotions. "I think I was
destined to marry you. You and I fit perfectly. If Bobby had lived, you and
I would still have hooked up. I sometimes wish the inevitable could have
been less painful, but it is what it is. I love you Eric, and nobody or
anything sits deeper than you in my heart."

"I'm sorry I asked. It was a dumb question."

"Maybe. But I think you had to ask it, because you and I both needed to
hear the answer, even if we knew that answer before the question was
asked. I love you with every bit of my being. You will be the husband I was
destined to have as I am the one destined for you. Of that there is no
doubt."

Eric smiled when he thought of the sex that had happened between them that
night. At twenty-one they could still go at it like a pair of rutting
sixteen-year-olds.

After dinner with Eric and Noah's old high school coaches and their son
Aiden, Espowyes shared his thoughts as he enjoyed a glass of wine with
Eric's parents. Eric and Noah were there, but they didn't drink alcohol.

"The boy, Aiden, has much good inside of him. He has what is needed to be a
leader and an example to all. His presence lights up a room, yet I see
where he can bring darkness as well. He also has some deep anger inside of
him."

"I like what you told him about how if he can control that anger he could
move to greatness as an athlete," Eric said as he picked up his glass of
juice.

"More than greatness as an athlete. Greatness as a person. Controlling
anger isn't enough, because it can come back too easily. It must be
channeled and understood. Then he can use it to become a special human
being."

"But he's so young," Eric's mother said. "He's what, just ten years old?"

"And when do you think one should start the growing process?" Espowyes
looked over to Noah. "Young Noah was twelve when we met. His learning
process started then. Maybe he remembered little, but he had inside of him
the beginnings of what he needed when his life became painful. It is never
too early to start growing."

WENDESDAY, JUNE 20

Eric and Noah drove Espowyes to the Nisqually Reservation where he
introduced them to a pair of old friends. The men hadn't seen each other
for well over ten years and enjoyed sharing what had happened in their
lives. Eric and Noah offered to take a trip to Olympia to leave them alone
to tell their stories, most of which were true. The three men wouldn't hear
of it. They made Eric and Noah feel like family as they shared stories and
swapped lies. It was one of the most enjoyable afternoons they had spent in
a long time.

They were home in time for dinner with Noah's parents. As soon as he
finished eating, Eric left for Lakeview School to watch Aiden's
graduation. He had been truly honored to be invited.

THURSDAY, JUNE 21.

Eric, Noah, Rich, and Espowyes spent the afternoon playing cards and
talking. Rich was amazed at what he learned during their serious moments of
conversation and by how much he laughed during their light-hearted card
games. He felt blessed to have such great friends, and he now included
Espowyes on his friend list.

Later in the day, Rich went to Centralia with his brother Mikey to watch
Aiden's evening baseball game versus the Centralia Bears. Scott and Connor
had been teammates of his from elementary school through high school. While
the game was one-sided he enjoyed it and enjoyed the time with his younger
brother who seemed to have gotten a handle on his drug and alcohol
problems. After the game the two of them went to Porter's Steak House for
dinner, where they were served by Peter the waiter.

Peter remembered both of them, but remembered Rich in particular. He asked
how Marty was doing beyond just baseball and told Rich that he and Marty
had better have dinner at one of his tables when Marty came home to
Mayfield during the offseason.

"His offseason here isn't going to be very long," Rich lamented.

"Long enough to have a dinner here," Peter grinned. He looked over at Mikey
who was now a sophomore at Centralia College. He remembered Mikey as a
sullen high school kid when he ate at the Steak House with his parents. He
saw an entirely different aura surrounding the young man who now sat before
him. He looked healthy and handsome and had the same glowing blue eyes that
Rich possessed.

"Do you have a significant other to bring for dinner sometime?" Peter
asked.

"Not really. I suppose I could come with a friend." Mikey still tended to
be a loner, something that worried Rich on occasion.

"Friend or no friend, come have dinner or lunch after class some day and
dessert will be on me." Mikey had mentioned that he was taking two summer
classes on the Centralia campus.

"Well then, I'll be here," he grinned.  Peter and Mikey looked each other
over silently for what seemed like an eternity but was actually only a few
seconds. Something had connected between the two, something that Rich
couldn't fail to notice. He had a feeling that Mikey would be back at the
steak house very soon and that more than just dessert would be on the
house.

Eric, Noah, and Espowyes went to the rehearsal, of course. Except for the
sudden illness of the singer, a college friend of Noah and Eric, the
rehearsal went smoothly. Quinn Baxter, the minister, was from Seattle. He
was a childhood friend of Larry and Phil's and had married them off, as
well as Marty and Rich. He laughed about being Mayfield's "designated gay
marriage minister".

Reverend Parker, the regular minister of the church, had been more than
willing to perform the weddings and had the support of the church board to
do so. But he understood friendship and tradition and was also willing to
step aside for Quinn, who was also an ordained Methodist minister.

Before members of the wedding party could leave for the rehearsal dinner
ideas for a new singer would have to be discussed. Mrs. Gunderson, who was
the church organist and pianist, suggested Felicia Daily.

"She has a wonderful voice and has sung at many weddings through the
years," Mrs. Gunderson said. "She would be perfect."

Both Eric and Noah had heard Felicia Daily sing. While she was a competent
singer, she was also nothing exciting to listen to. They politely said they
weren't sure that her style was what they were looking for. Some other
names were discussed, but they were people Eric and Noah didn't really
know.

"Well, you have to come up with someone," Mrs. Gunderson said.

"Or we could just have your wonderful keyboard music and forget having a
singer," Eric suggested.

"Or you could think way outside of the box," Larry said. "I have a
suggestion for a very talented singer. But, he also would be a big gamble."
The members of the wedding party looked at Larry with interest. "His name
is Mason Johnson. He's almost eleven and has a beautiful soprano voice. He
takes formal singing lessons and has performed solos at various children's
music programs."

"What makes him a gamble?" Noah asked.

"Four things. One, I don't think he's ever performed in this kind of a
venue. Two, I don't know if he's capable of learning the music in a little
over a day. Three, he's a bit of flake." Which is putting it mildly, Larry
thought. "And four, his mother is a bigger dingbat than he is."

Noah gestured to Eric to join him in the back of the nave. "Let's do it,"
Noah suggested. "I mean even in today's world gay marriages are a bit
different."

"Not in Mayfield," Eric laughed. "But, I think I see where you're
going. So, yeah, let's make ours even more different. After all, we just
need him to sing `The Irish Wedding Song'."

Eric and Noah returned to the group. "If Mason can do it, we want to give
it a shot."

"And if he can't?" Quinn asked.

"Then we cut out the singing.  I mean, it was only going to be one song
anyway. I bet he can handle that."

Things ended up being much different than Eric and Noah had
envisioned. Before Mason left the church Friday afternoon the songs he
would sing in the program had tripled.

The wedding party left the church for the rehearsal dinner at the Mayfield
Inn. Larry called Mason's mother from the Inn before entering the banquet
room. He breathed a sigh of relief when she told Larry that having Mason
sing at a wedding sounded very exciting.

"It's a gay wedding," he warned her.

"Being around two gay men has been good for my boy," she replied, referring
to Larry and Phil. "I don't have any kind of problem with him singing there
as long as I get an invitation to come to the wedding and listen to my son
perform." She paused for a moment and then asked, "But what, exactly, is he
going to perform?"

"The grooms just want him to sing `The Irish Wedding Song'."

"Oh, he learned that in one of his lessons. He'll be wonderful."

Larry breathed a sigh of relief. He told Mrs. Johnson that Mason would be
meeting with members of the wedding party the next afternoon. Since
Mrs. Johnson knew Mason would be spending the day at Larry's house, she
thought that would work out splendidly. Larry said good-bye, hung up, and
took the good news to the wedding party.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22

Mason led Larry into the church. The little boy had a determination to his
stride that Larry had never seen before. Quinn Baxter, Mrs. Gunderson,
Reverend Parker, Noah, Eric, and Espowyes were sitting in the front two
rows of pews.

"I just don't know if this is going to work," Mrs. Gunderson moaned. "I was
so hoping Bob Darvish could be here to help." Bob Darvish was the church's
choir director. "I know very little about singing—the keyboard is my
specialty." Barely, Eric thought—he quickly castigated himself for his
unkind thoughts. Mrs. Gunderson was actually a reasonably competent
keyboardist even if she was an annoying old biddy.

"My understanding is Mason will be singing `The Irish Wedding Song' for his
audition," Mrs. Gunderson clucked.

"This isn't an audition, Mrs. Gunderson, Mason WILL be singing `The Irish
Wedding Song'," Eric told her. "We don't have time for auditions."

"What if he is not good enough?"

"I trust Coach Sanders' judgement."

"And just what does he know about sing..."

"Carolyn, would you kindly button it," Reverend Parker admonished her. He
had been dealing with Carolyn Gunderson and her idiosyncrasies for
years. Carolyn glared at the minister, but shut her mouth.

The Reverend looked kindly at Mason. "Please forgive Mrs. Gunderson,
Mason. This whole business has her under a great deal of stress."

"It's cool, Mr. Reverend," Mason said sincerely. "I'm ready to sing
now. And I have another song to sing, too."

"Indeed. Well, then, let's hear them both."

"Is she going to play the piano?" Mason asked, pointing to Mrs. Gunderson.

"If you wish her to."

"At least for my first song. I don't think she knows the other one. She's
probably too old." That brought a ripple of laughter to the group. Carolyn
pursed her lips and strode to the piano.

"Have you warmed up your voice?" she asked Mason. He shook his head. "Then
perhaps some warming up would be in order first." Mason walked over the
piano. The pianist played some basic chords and Mason soon followed her
lead. Mrs. Gunderson knew more about voice than she had let on. As soon as
she heard Mason's voice in action she relaxed considerably. Mason had a
beautiful, well-trained voice, and she could tell immediately.

After Mason finished warming up he asked to look at Mrs. Gunderson's
score. He looked at it and nodded. "I'm ready." What followed was jaw
dropping. Eric and Noah looked at each other like they'd struck gold.

Larry looked at Mason as if someone else had taken over the little boy's
body. Mason was operating on an entirely different plane from what Larry
was used to seeing from him. Aiden could take some lessons about going into
a zone from his friend, Larry mused. The applause when Mason was finished
was long and genuine.

"You're hired," Eric grinned. "What's your other song?"

"It's a song by this group called the Beatles. It's called, `All You Need
is Love,'" Mason replied.

"That is not a church song," Mrs. Gunderson grumped as she returned to
form.

"Hear him out," Eric told her.

"It could be something for the reception," Noah said. "I mean it is about
love."

"It's not made to be sung by a young boy's voice."

"I sing it at home a lot. I know how to do it." Mason said with a hint of
feistiness in his tone. He was getting tired of Carolyn Gunderson's
act. "But I don't think you can play it on the piano."

The pianist looked at the determined young boy and grinned. She placed her
fingers over the keyboard and started playing, much to the surprise of
everybody. "I used to play Beatles' songs all the time when I was a girl,"
she chortled as her fingers flew across the keyboard. "It drove my mother
crazy."

Reverend Parker smiled broadly. He had never heard Carolyn's playing sound
so alive.

Mason smiled as well. He could tell that this was going to be fun. He asked
Mrs. Gunderson to stop, which she did. They looked at each other as she
marked off the time. They had an off key start as Mason mistimed her
introduction, but the second time through they started right on the
mark. Her fingers flew as Mason removed all doubt that he could sing the
song. They had their audience bobbing their heads and tapping their feet as
the two made music like they'd been doing it together for years.

After Mason finished, the two of them went through both songs one more
time. After they finished Reverend Parker made a suggestion to Quinn, which
he quickly approved.

"Mason, have you ever sung any hymns?" Quinn asked.

"Sometimes in my own church. Me and mom go to the St. James Episcopaling
Church." Quinn cringed at Mason's slaughtering of Episcopalian. The
Episcopal church was located in Kentburg. "Sometimes I get to sing on
Sunday. But, I never got to sing at a wedding or anything like that."

"Well, some people are missing out on a lot," Larry said.

After a lot of talk and debate and picking and choosing they settled on a
hymn and a song program. With a bit of coaching, Mason sang the hymn
acapella, albeit without the confidence he had displayed with the first two
songs. At times it seemed as if he was singing to himself, which was often
how he taught himself new songs.

"Perhaps this wasn't a good idea," Mrs. Gunderson said. "It would probably
be better with me accompanying him, or maybe playing the hymn on the organ
and letting the audience sing it." Mason gave her a look that said what
Reverend Parker had said to her earlier: "Button it, Carolyn."

"I can do it by myself. I just need to practice. Can I take the book home
with me? Then I can memorize it. I sing better if I memorize the song."
Reverend Parker gladly gave Mason the sheet music for the hymn.

"You need to be much louder, even from the place where you will be
standing," Mrs. Gunderson told him. "You sound almost shy. A hymn can be
sung loudly, too. Everybody needs to be able to hear you." Mason ignored
her, even though he knew he had to up his performance considerably.

It was finally decided that Mason would sing the hymn during the actual
wedding and would sing "The Irish Wedding Song" and "All You Need is Love"
to open the reception.

"Once Mason sings that Beatles' song the guests are going to be ready to
party," Noah said. Everybody thanked Mason and told him how good he
was. Larry and Mason then left the church.

After the two left, Mrs. Gunderson said what everyone else was
thinking. "If that boy didn't live way out here in Mayfield, Washington,
he'd be singing in the Northwest Boy Choir or something nearly as good. Oh,
my he has talent."

"You didn't always seem so smitten by him, Carolyn," Reverend Parker said.

"I still think I'm going to have to play the hymn on the organ. He seems to
be a bit out of his element there. That is not a matter of talent, but
rather a lack of experience."

As Larry drove Mason home, Mason asked him a question. "Coach Sanders, I'm
gonna need to practice everything a lot. My mom can play the piano for
me. She's pretty good, but not as good as Mrs. Gunderson." Mason's praise
surprised Larry. "Mrs. Gunderson might be a witch, but she plays really
good. But that hymn is going to be hard. I know I can do it, but it's like
I need to be totally sure to make it loud enough. I want to do it in the
church tomorrow before everybody comes."

"I don't think that should be a problem," Larry said. "I'll see if I can
set something up for you."

"But I got a baseball game tomorrow, remember?"

"I got so caught up in what you were doing I totally forgot. Please don't
tell Aiden that."

"I think my song is more important tomorrow. I'm not that good at baseball,
but I'm good at this and everybody wants me to be, like, really super
good."

"Well, I can see your point, Mason. You're a hardworking and dedicated ball
player even though you don't always get a lot of playing time. I think if
you called Coach Scott or Coach Conner they would excuse you in the
morning. After all, they're going to the wedding, and I'm sure they'd love
to hear you at your best."

"I thought maybe you could call them."

Larry gave Mason a serious look as he came to a stop in front of Mason's
house. "Son, learning to deal with tough situations is part of growing
up. I think if you give one of the coaches a call and explained your
dilemma he will be understanding and excuse you from the game."

Mason looked a bit put out at first, and then he flashed his friendly
little grin. "I'll call Coach Scott. He's not as mean as Coach Conner." He
grabbed his gym bag and started out of the car. He stopped and looked at
Larry. "Thanks for thinking of me to do this, Coach Sanders. Everybody
thinks I'm just a goof-off and sometimes they're right. But this is
something I can do and I'm gonna be really good." He quickly closed the
door to the car and bounded up the sidewalk to his house.

Mason's mother came out on the porch and waved at Larry. She then gushed
over her son, pleased that Larry saw her show of affection.

"I wish you wouldn't slobber over me all the time," Mason groused as he
followed his mother into the house.

"Mason Johnson, I am not slobbering over you, I am giving you a mother's
love. Nothing should be more important to a young boy like you."

"Whatever. What's for dinner?"

"Fried chicken and mashed potatoes. It should be ready in a half hour or
so."

Mason went to his room where he tossed his jacket and his gym bag on his
unmade bed. He returned to the living room, pulled out a music book that he
knew had `The Irish Wedding Song' in it and then sat at the piano. He
wished he would be singing that at the wedding instead of the reception. He
played and sang which resulted in his mother feeling pangs of motherly love
and Mason feeling the pressure of an erection in his pants.

Spontaneous erections had been rare for Mason until the last couple of
months. Lately, playing and singing music frequently made him hard. It
wasn't always pleasant when he sat at the piano because his hard little
cock would get caught up on his underpants. But in his bedroom he often
stripped down to his underpants or got naked before he sang and played.

Mason had learned from Miles and Aiden how good it felt to put lotion on
his erection when he played with himself. Twice in the last month he had
lubed up his cocklet before singing and both times he jerked himself to a
pleasant, dry orgasm. The business of masturbating all the way to orgasm
was new to him, and he liked it. If it had to do with the puberty thing
everybody talked about, he knew he was going to enjoy puberty.

Mason's erection went down quickly after he stopped for dinner which helped
him concentrate on eating and talking to his mother. After dinner, Mason
retired to his room, locked his door to ensure privacy, and got naked. He
took the bottle of lotion Miles had given him out from under his bed and
lubed his cock. He then went to work practicing the hymn and soon started
masturbating as he sang. The incongruity of jerking off while singing a
religious hymn never struck him—he simply enjoyed what he was doing.

After a while the singing stopped as Mason's concentration went into his
genitals. He cleared his bed, flopped onto his back, and seriously went to
work with one of his most intense masturbation sessions ever. He soon
emitted three loud squeals as he enjoyed an excellent little orgasm.

"Mason, are you okay?" his mother called out.

"No, mother, I'm great."

"Well, come out here and let your mother hear you practice."

Mason wiped off his now flaccid cock, picked his boxers off the floor,
pulled them on, and went to the living room.

"You are turning into such a good looking young man," Mrs. Johnson
said. "And you have your piano underpants on. I'm so happy you like them."
Mason was wearing boxers with grand pianos as the theme. He did like them,
and wore them to make sure his mother noticed that he liked them. He also
wore them because he knew his mother wouldn't make him put pants over them.

He spent as little time as possible singing for his mother, who kept
telling him how wonderful it was that he was picked to sing at the wedding
and how good he would sound the next day. He was relieved that his singing
didn't cause him to get another boner.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Saturday was crazily busy for a lot of people. The grooms stayed with their
individual families Friday night. Saturday morning breakfast was close to
chaotic. The soothing presence of Espowyes brought calmness to Eric's house
while Noah was a picture of coolness while his mother, sister, and his
brothers Nick, Glenn, and Shane seemed to be bordering on panic at
times. Noah and his father couldn't help but laugh at how hyper the rest of
the family was.

"You'd almost think your siblings were all getting married at once instead
of it being you," Seth McCall chuckled.

Having received Coach Scott's okay to miss the Yard Goats' Saturday morning
game, Mason practiced singing as soon as he finished breakfast. His singing
was still quiet and introspective, something way out of character for the
normally hyper ten-year-old. His mother wasn't concerned by Mason's seeming
lack of readiness. She'd been through this routine before and she
understood that Mason learned his music at his own pace and in his own
way. She also knew that the finished product would be beautiful.

Larry arranged for Mason and his mother to be let into the church at
eleven. The sexton met them at the front door, escorted them into the nave,
and then left them alone. Mason sang at the front, his voice becoming more
forceful as he repeated the hymn. Finally, he told his mother he was ready
to "really sing that song."

There was a quirky spot near the choir loft where the acoustics were such
that even a moderately loud song could almost fill the church. Many a
singer had taken advantage of it through the years. Even though he would be
singing his other two songs in the church's large multi-purpose room, Mason
sang them in that spot to get a feel for it, something he hadn't done the
day before. His mother was amazed by the sound that Mason produced from
that location.

After a couple of quiet run-throughs of the hymn, which sounded good to his
mother, Mason put his all into the hymn. The difference sent chills through
Mason's mom. She knew right then that her son was going to be a highlight
of the ceremony. Nobody noticed the two ministers and the church sexton
standing in the back of the nave. After Mason finished the three men were
positive that Mrs. Gunderson had nothing to worry about. The boy's singing
was absolutely beautiful.

Things were hectic for the Yard Goats that morning, as well. But it was not
as hectic as it could have been. Scott and Connor knew they couldn't get
the date of the game changed. But they were able to work with the Yelm
coach to get the starting time moved up to 9:45. It meant everyone being on
the road by 7:30 to make it to the Yelm field on time. Aiden wasn't the
only one who would be attending the wedding—Scott and Connor planned on
being there as well. By league rule there was an hour and forty-five-minute
time limit on the game, so the game should be finished by noon at the
latest. The time limit meant no new inning could start after 11:30 not that
the game would end at 11:30. The coaches agreed that if the game was tied
they would call it a tie and replay the game if it affected who made the
playoffs. Otherwise up to an hour could be added to the game. Scott and
Connor were very grateful for the cooperation of the Yelm coach.

But they weren't grateful enough to let the Tornados win the game. The Yard
Goats avenged their 10-3 defeat in the first game of the season with a hard
fought 6-4 win. Gordy's two-run double in the top of the sixth knocked in
Aiden and Kalie with what proved to be the winning runs.

Aiden rode back to Mayfield in the Odyssey with his dads. He followed the
plan for the trip and stripped down to the jock that held his cup. At this
point the plan called for him to have a blanket covering him, but he didn't
bother—he just took off the jock and sat naked in the back seat.

"Aiden, cover yourself," Phil admonished his son.

"In a second." He was enjoying tweaking his dads with his nudity. He took a
rag out of his backpack and wiped his underarms before applying
deodorant. While he wasn't yet at the age where underarm odor was a
problem, he wanted to smell fresh at the wedding. When he pulled on his
Mariner boxers, his dads breathed a simultaneous sigh of relief—at least
they weren't going to be arrested for having a naked boy in the backseat,
although the window tinting made that fact all but impossible to see from
the outside.

By the time they got to the church it was one fifteen. The wedding was
slated to start at two. Phil was relieved that there were no protestors out
on the street—at least not yet.

Phil and Larry had watched the game wearing their suit pants and dress
shirts. They went to the bathroom in the classroom wing with Aiden where
they took care of tying neckties, straightening real and imagined wrinkles,
and combing their hair.

Aiden combed his hair with his hands and looked in the mirror. He thought
he looked good in his blazer and his tie, but his hair looked dorky, with
stray cowlicks giving it a partially combed look.

"I think you'd look better if you just let your hair be your hair," Larry
told his son.

Aiden shook his head and mussed up his hair. He looked in the mirror and
grinned. Now he looked like himself. He looked over at his dads. "You
better not mess it up," Aiden growled.

"Wouldn't think if it," Phil laughed. He thought about how it was okay if
Aiden constructed his own shaggy mess, but heaven forbid he or Larry should
do it.

"And it's not funny."

Phil put on a serious look. "You're right. Sorry, son. It wasn't intended
to be a laugh directed at you—just a tension relieving laugh."

"Whatever."

They left the bathroom. Larry went to the room where Eric's party was
meeting while Phil went to the church entry to oversee the ushers, who were
already at work without his help, and check for potential trouble
outside. Aiden went into the nave and looked for a place to sit. He saw
Espowyes sitting a few rows back from the front, behind the area reserved
for Eric's family. He decided to sit next to the old man.

After exchanging greetings, Aiden told Espowyes about his ballgame and how
he had to change in the car. He didn't mention how he rode naked for a few
miles. Espowyes enjoyed the enthusiasm of the young boy sitting next to
him. He vowed to increase his contact with young people when he got
home. Young people helped to keep him feeling young.

"Remember at dinner about you saying I had to do something with my anger?"
Aiden asked.

"Yes. I said there were times when you would need to channel the angry
feelings inside of you to make them work for you and not against you."

"Like getting into a zone in your mind, right?"

"Yes, something like that."

"That way when I strike out in a game, the next time I bat I won't be mad
about striking out—I'll be ready to get a good hit instead."

"Exactly." Espowyes knew Aiden had a reason for asking his
question. Instead of forcing him to give that reason, he patiently waited
for the ten-year-old to reveal it in his own time.

"Well, a couple of days later I got mad at my dad and he yelled at me."
Espowyes knew that in kid jargon, getting yelled at meant being reprimanded
and that the yelling often came in the mildest of voices. "When my dads
yell at me if I don't do what they want after three times then I get in
trouble."

"Understood."

"So, I was trying not to get to the third time and I tried
to...to...channel my anger and I just got madder. Then it made me mad
because I kept being madder and when my dad got to number three I was still
mad, but I did what he said because I didn't want to get on restriction or
something."

At the moment Aiden saw Mason's mother enter the church. He quickly turned
his face hoping she wouldn't recognize him. No way he wanted her to sit
next to him, especially since he was being serious with Espowyes. When he
saw that she had been seated a few rows back he sat up normally. Espowyes
observed Aiden's behavior and made a note that if Aiden should ever come to
Montana he would have to talk about the importance of sitting proudly no
matter who one saw and where.

"So how come when you talked to me about channeling I couldn't do it? And
why can't I focus and be in a zone every time when I play sports?"

"Aiden, my young friend...," Aiden beamed at being called friend, "...when
I came here for this wedding, I took a journey. I rode a train from
Whitefish to Seattle, and another train to the town of Centralia. I rode
with Noah and Eric to the town of Mayfield. I did many things over a few
days, including having dinner with you and your wonderful fathers. I didn't
get on the train in Whitefish and look out of the window and see
Mayfield. To get to my destination I had to take a journey. Since I was on
a train, much of how that journey went was not in my control, while all of
how I reacted to that journey was in my control. Life is about the journey
to the destination and how, when you get to that destination, things aren't
always what you planned, so you have to deal with the changes in the plan."
Espowyes surprised Aiden by placing his arm around his bony shoulders.

"To channel, to get in the zone you speak of, it is difficult. So you take
a journey to get better at it and the journey isn't always direct. I
changed trains on my journey here. You've listened to many people on your
journey to learn how to use your feelings to help you—people like your
fathers, your friend Marty, Eric, and even me, I hope."

The pew was filling up and Aiden realized that the time to be serious was
coming to an end. "Thank you. I think I get it, but I don't want a
journey. I want to have it now."

"Working for what you want, makes the journey more satisfying. Just knowing
you must take the journey is a victory for you, and when you were mad at
your dads, you knew what you needed to do even if you wouldn't do it. That
is a victory." Espowyes gave Aiden a squeeze and released him.

"Thank you." Aiden didn't know why he decided to sit with the old man, but
he was happy he had made that decision. "This is the second gay wedding
I've gone to. I think that's kind of awesome."

"I think you are a lucky young man to live in a small town and still be
able to see the wide world. Not everyone is so fortunate."

"Were you ever in love with somebody?"

"Yes, very much so."

"How did you know?"

"Some things cannot be explained except by your own heart. There will be a
point when you will know."

"Eric and Noah say they knew when they were in high school. My dads said
they knew when they were in middle school. So, I could know any time,
right?"

"You will know when your heart is ready to tell you. And when it sends the
message, then listen to it. Listen to your heart for it will not steer you
wrong. Eric and Noah listened in part—they needed to clear out an
obstacle first. When they did that, their love for each other took over
their lives and here they are, ready to be married." What Espowyes didn't
say was that he had much to do with removing the obstacle that was holding
Noah back from totally trusting his heart.

By then, the church was close to full. Mrs. Gunderson was playing the organ
until the time arrived to begin the ceremony. Aiden watched and listened to
the rituals of marriage, from Reverend Quinn Baxter's speech about love and
loyalty to the exchanging of vows, to the traditional kiss.

Eric and Noah also renewed the love vow they had shared as high school
seniors when they spent a night on the high school baseball field. They had
danced naked, turned phantom double plays, and exchanged necklaces they had
worn ever since. They handed each other new necklaces, gifts from Espowyes,
to commemorate their current love. They were wooden necklaces crafted by a
Native American artisan friend of Espowyes.

Right after the kiss, the lights dimmed. Suddenly, from the loft above the
right side of the nave, a sweet soprano voice started quietly and swelled,
filling the church with its words and music. Mason Johnson was not standing
in the quirky acoustics spot that would allow his young voice to fill the
church. But he did fill the room and filled it in a way that let everyone
know he didn't need the quirks of the building to fill the church. Mason
filled it with his own talent and artistry. There were a lot of damp eyes
in the audience when Mason finished, including the eyes of Espowyes,
Mason's mother, Mrs. Gunderson, and Larry Sanders. It was a perfect end to
the ceremony.

Mrs. Gunderson had to force herself to end the moment and crank out the
recessional on the organ. Eric and Noah walked down the aisle as husband
and husband.

The reception was opened by Mason's singing. The attendees heard a
different Mason as he sang "The Irish Wedding Song" followed by "All You
Need is Love." They heard his lively, playful voice, and saw his brilliant
smile. The only complaint was that he should have had a few dozen more
songs to sing.

Noah and Eric stood in the reception line shaking hands and seeing old
friends. Many of them were school friends whom they had played sports
with. The Corcoran brothers—Kevin and Kraig were ushers for the
wedding. Hunter Hawkins—another usher. Lars Anderson, whom they hadn't
seen since they left for college. Scott and Connor, whom they still saw
frequently. Carl Benson, and his wife Shana. Mike the Donkey and Ryan the
Dawg, the pair who blazed the trail for gay athletes in Mayfield and who
were now married. Also married were Trish and Michelle, two lovely lesbian
ladies they had known in high school. The Bednarzyk family. Coach Ecklund,
his wife, and his son Chandler, who was holding hands with Korey
Corcoran. Marty's husband, Rich and Rich's brother Mikey. Peter, the waiter
at Porter's Steak House. And then there were friends from college and even
a couple of Eric's friends from his elementary school days in Tacoma. There
were teachers and coaches, including Coach Fitzgerald, with his wife Donna
and son David. And there was Larry, Phil, and Mr. Wilson, the high school
principal.

There were distant family members, including Eric's cousin, whom he'd had a
crush on when they were boys. Then Noah's sister, Lisa, came through the
line with her husband, Jerome. Eric couldn't help but be amused over the
fact that Noah's parents had a son-in-law who was African American as well
as one who was gay; they were indeed a diverse family. Also in line were
Royce and Ben, two of Eric and Noah's friendly rivals at Kentburg. "We plan
on tying the knot next spring," Royce announced, giving Ben a big smile,
and you two better be there." That surprised Noah and Eric, who had Ben
pegged as gay but saw Royce as a straight boy back in their high school
days. And of course Espowyes was in the line as were Aiden and Mason.

Noah couldn't help feeling a tear roll down his cheek when Bobby Neal's
mother, Cindy, came up to him, gave him a tight hug, and offered her
congratulations. Noah thanked her for being there and asked after Bobby's
older brother, John. Cindy told them that he was engaged to be married and
doing well. Noah knew that he and Cindy would always remain close friends.

Mason got an extra loving hug from the grooms who couldn't praise the
beauty of his singing enough. They talked him into singing one more song,
which would be his choice, of course. Before the buffet line was open,
Mason sang "We've Only Just Begun" by the Carpenters.  It was a song that
Mason had sung before and Mrs. Gunderson knew so she was able to accompany
Mason. Mason had to look over her shoulder at the sheet music since he
didn't remember all of the words, but for something unrehearsed and
presented on the spur of the moment, it went off almost perfectly. Mason
had made a lot of admirers, including the middle school music teacher, at
the wedding.


The company was good and the food was great. But Mason was getting tired of
getting so much attention and Aiden was getting even more tired of Mason
getting so much attention.

Mason took his last bite of chicken. "We're the only two kids our age
here," he pointed out in case Aiden hadn't noticed.

"Well, it is an adult wedding. I guess Sammy and David are close to our
age."

"Maybe, but they're teenagers in high school. Did you see them flirting
with each other? I swear they were holding hands under the table while they
were eating." Mason said in between chews.

"I guess I gotta look at them closer," Aiden said.

"Want to go do something?"

"What?"

"Well, after I practiced this morning I walked around the church and found
this classroom-like place that wasn't locked."

"So?"

"So, this..." Mason whispered something into Aiden's ear.

Aiden looked at Mason like he'd lost his mind. "You're kidding. You never
do it that way."

"Well, that's how I want to do it this time. I know you'll do it for me."

Aiden felt a little stirring in his pants. Mason's idea sounded fun and had
a bit of danger to it. "Okay, but if we get caught, I'm biting it off."

"That's cool, `cuz we ain't gonna get caught."

"What about dessert?"

"They haven't cut the cake yet `cuz people are still eating. And I promise
I'll be quick." Aiden doubted that, but decided to chance it.

The boys tossed out their paper plates and started for the back
hall. "Wait, I gotta say hello to somebody," Aiden told Mason. He walked
over to the big man standing in the buffet line. "Hi, Donkey Mike."

Mike Boyer broke out into a big grin when he saw Aiden. "Hey, Aiden." They
traded fist bumps. "I was going to be sure to catch up with you before this
big party ended. How's life in Mayfield?"

"I graduated from Lakeview School."

"Sweet. I was a Parkwood boy myself. So, now it's off to middle school for
you. I can't believe you're growing up so fast."

"Haven't you eaten yet?"

"Of course I've eaten. But, any good buffet demands at least two times
through the line. Hey, how's Horace doing?"

"He's doing really good. He's in charge of watching over everything in my
room."

"Does he miss me?"

"Every day," Aiden grinned. "Where's the Dawg?"

"At his seat waiting for the cake to be cut."

"Well, I gotta go with Mason. He wants to show me something."

"Okay. Thanks for saying hi, Aiden. And you stay cool when you get to that
big, bad middle school."

Aiden grinned as they traded high fives this time. He then followed Mason
out of the room and down a hall to the room that Mason had found
unlocked. They entered the room, but left the lights off. Mason didn't say
anything as he opened his pants and pulled them and his gray briefs down to
his ankles, his throbbing two-inch boner pointing into the air.

"You're always sucking everybody else's dick. I don't remember you ever
asking somebody to suck you off."

"Just do it." Mason demanded. He was in the mood for action, not talk.

Aiden got on his knees in front of Mason. He unzipped his slacks and pulled
his almost three inches of boy meat out. He then placed Mason's cocklet
into his mouth and proceeded to suck it. He used his right hand to jerk
himself off while his left hand played with Mason's smooth scrotum as he
gave his friend as expert a blow job as a ten-year-old not yet in the
throes of puberty can give.

Mason was right about not taking long. In just over three minutes he was
squeaking as he started to face fuck Aiden. Aiden kept using his tongue and
lips on Mason's glans, but it wasn't easy. Aiden could feel Mason's cock
throb in his mouth as Mason came with a loud squeak. "Oh, oh, oh, oh," was
all the little boy could say as Aiden finished him off. The entire affair
had Aiden so turned on that even without lube or spit he was able to bring
himself off to his own orgasm.

The two preteens straightened up their pants and put their little cocks
away. "When did you change your mind about getting BJs?" Aiden asked.

"I changed it today." Mason answered, which got the two boys giggling as
they started out of the room. Aiden saw that the hall was clear and they
quickly stepped out of the room. They made it back to the meeting hall just
in time to watch Eric and Noah cut the cake.

Aiden and Mason ended up in the dessert line behind Mike the
Donkey. Espowyes was standing behind them talking to Larry. "I think Horace
needs another donkey for company," Mike grinned. "I mean if he misses me,
he needs somebody."

"He did have somebody. He had a penguin for company for a while. His name
was Megrez."

"That's nice to know. Donkeys like penguins. But you make it sound like
Megrez isn't around anymore."

"I gave him to a little kid who needed him bad," Aiden told Mike.

"Worse than Horace needed him?"

"Yep. Worse than Horace needed him and worse than I needed him. I mean he
needed him really bad. The trailer he lived in had just been burned down in
a fire."

Mike gave Aiden's shoulder a quick squeeze. "Nice job, Aiden. And I bet
Horace thanked you for being unselfish."

Espowyes had overheard the conversation. It was another indication to him
that there was a great deal of depth in the young boy to be brought to the
surface. He was going to have to be sure to remind his fathers a few times
to bring the boy to Montana next summer.

After they finished their cake, Eric and Noah continued to talk with the
guests. They had just finished chatting with Avery Benson and his wife
Helen when Eric glanced across the room and noticed a group of three tall
muscular young men walking toward him and Noah.  He recognized two of the
three immediately and his face broke into a huge grin as he nudged his
husband.

"Noah. Look who's here!"

"Oh my God! I don't believe it!"

They recognized Logan Hammond, the starting pitcher for the North Lake Prep
Orcas on the day the Mayfield Mustangs won the championship at Safeco
Field. They also recognized Brandon Canton, the Orcas' first
baseman. Canton was a big powerful lefty and was the Orcas' final batter
that day - Eric had struck him out on a called third strike to notch his
perfect game. The third man, a handsome blond wearing a Western style
shirt, tight dress jeans, and cowboy boots, was a stranger to them. His
jeans did very little to conceal a substantial endowment.

Handshakes, fist bumps, and greetings were shared by all. Logan explained
that they had not been able to get to town in time for the wedding but
wanted to be at the reception.

Brandon offered congratulations to Eric and Noah on their marriage.

"Sorry for crashing the wedding," Brandon said. "But when I heard about it
through the gay grapevine I realized I just had to be here and hoped you
wouldn't mind a bit of a surprise."

"Mind it? Brandon, you are pardoned for being a party crasher and are now
official guests. This is just a fantastic surprise, one Noah and I never
imagined." Noah nodded in agreement. He and Noah thought it a bit curious
that Brandon used the phrase "gay grapevine."

Brandon grinned and then put his arm around the blond man. "Eric Simmons,
Noah McCall, I'd like you to meet my boyfriend, Carson Jeffries."

For a moment, Eric and Noah were speechless—it never occurred to them
that Brandon could possibly have been gay. Then Eric regained his stride
and put his arm around Noah. "Good to know you, Carson."

"My pleasure." Carson said in a melodically deep voice.

"How long have you two been together?" Noah asked.

"A little over a year," Brandon said. He took a deep breath and smiled at
the newlyweds. "I was so jealous of you and Eric back when we were in high
school. You guys were out and seemed so comfortable. The way you patted
each other on the ass drove me crazy. It took me a couple more years to
finally come out - and I'm still working on being completely comfortable."
Brandon hugged his boyfriend. "I met this man when we were college
sophomores - if it weren't for him, I'd probably still be in the closet."

Carson smiled at Brandon and kissed him. "We're working together on the
'comfortable' thing."

Brandon said that he and Carson were seniors at Texas A&M where they both
played for the Aggies baseball team - Brandon as a first baseman and Carson
as a pitcher. Logan said that he lived in Portland, Oregon, and while he
had not been able to afford college, he had a steady job as a warehouseman,
played baseball for a local Park District team, and supported his wife and
young daughter well. Eric explained that he and Noah finished their
undergrad work at Stanford and that they both played for the Stanford
Cardinal baseball team.

Brandon winked at his boyfriend, lowered his voice to a conspiratorial
mutter, and pointed at Eric. "This bitch throws some of the filthiest
breaking balls I've ever seen."

"Yeah, my stuff WAS there that day," Eric agreed modestly.

Brandon nodded. "No shit - and trust me, that third strike WAS in the
strike zone. It started outside but then I could see the fucker tailing
back over the plate and I knew I'd been had! All I could do was stand there
with my knees buckling - I just couldn't pull the damn trigger! And by the
way, congrats again - you REALLY pitched an incredible game."

Eric smiled. "Thanks. I don't know about 'pull the trigger' but I know one
thing - you could pull the baseball better and farther than any power
hitter I've ever seen. You scared the hell out of me during batting
practice.  Some of your line drives were still rising when they left the
ballpark!"

"So where's your catcher, Eric?" Brandon asked as he looked around the
room. "Is he here? That dude called a wicked game."

Eric scanned the crowd and saw who he was looking for. "Hey Kev!!  Come
here!"

Kevin Corcoran and his boyfriend Lars Anderson came over - they both
recognized the two Orcas players as soon as they saw them. Carson looked
Kevin over and felt his 6.5 inches begin to stiffen.

Brandon introduced Carson - after greetings and handshakes, Kevin winked at
Eric and made a motion like an umpire calling a third strike. Brandon
couldn't help laughing as Kevin and Eric high-fived each other.

"This guy was throwin' filth, man!" Brandon whined with feigned
exasperation. "I was helpless!"

"Helpless, my ass," Logan laughed. "You were just plain overpowered!"

"Oh and by the way, Kevin," Brandon said, "I saw you and Eric exchange that
kiss after the game."

Kevin shrugged. "Guilty as charged."

"We stay in touch with most of the Orcas players." Logan said. "Our right
fielder, Matt, is at Washington State now. He had a nasty water skiing
accident a couple years ago and broke his hip and his ankle. He really got
hurt pretty bad. But he's recovered and it's great to know he's back on the
baseball field."

"He must have known Marty Carlson. Marty didn't play in that game because
he'd graduated the year before, but he was at Wazzu."

"Yeah, he did. Said Marty was a great guy and a hell of a ball player."

The group shared a few more laughs and memories then exchanged email
addresses and phone numbers.

"We gotta be goin' Eric," Brandon said.  Congratulations again to you and
Noah. Great to see you. Stay in touch."

"It was a pleasure to meet you guys," Carson said with a grin. "I've heard
a lot about you."

As the Orcas players left, Eric and Noah looked at each other and shook
their heads.

"Well, I'll be damned," Noah said with a smile. "Brandon Canton's
'family'. Who'd have thought?"

Eric nodded. "Yup. Just goes to show ya, I guess. Like my Grandpa used to
say: 'You can't tell the depth of a well by the handle on the pump'."

"You don't suppose he drank some of that legendary Mayfield water, do you?"
Lars wondered.

Noah shrugged and laughed. "It's possible, I guess - the stuff's pretty
powerful."

As he watched Carson walk away, Kevin got a leer on his face. "Damn, that
blond's got a gorgeous ass. Did you see the basket on him?"

Eric and Noah and Lars all nodded simultaneously and Lars gave Kevin a
playful punch on the shoulder.

"My roving-eyed boyfriend doesn't miss much," he said. "Yeah, Kevin, we saw
the basket on him. Just cool your tool and calm down."

After the DJ played the last song the reception ended with the usual
hoopla. Eric and Noah drove off in Eric's car, "Just Married" written
across the back window. They would spend their wedding night at The
Edgewater Inn in Seattle and then embark on the "Star Princess" the next
afternoon for a seven-day Alaska cruise.

That night Aiden lay in bed wondering about Mason. The fact that Mason
wanted to sneak off for a blow job didn't surprise him. What surprised him
was Mason wanting to be the recipient. Even though Mason was the smallest
of his classmates and had the smallest dick and balls, Aiden wondered if
maybe puberty was catching up to his friend, too.

 But he fell asleep thinking of all thing things that would be happening
over the next two months. He had no doubt that summer was going to be an
exciting time.

Next: Visits