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by
Erastes
Copyright 2017 by Erastes
Chapter
1
- An Interesting Proposal.
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,"
"As You Like It" Act II, Scene VII, by William Shakespeare
* * * * * *
"Marshall, would you mind sticking around after the final bell today?" the Middle School Principal, Mr. Baldwin, asked.
"Sure. I don't usually leave right away, so what's up?"
"The head of the English Department wanted me to ask you to wait here until he arrives, because he wishes to speak with you."
"Did I do something wrong or am I in trouble?" I was a first year teacher and had only been on the job for a few weeks, so I was concerned.
"No, it's nothing like that," Mr. Baldwin assured me. "From what I was told, Mr. Chang merely wants to talk to you about a possible after school assignment that would allow you to make a little extra money."
"Do you know what kind of assignment it is?" I was intrigued, but couldn't think of anything I might be qualified for.
"All I know is that several programs fall under Mr. Chang's purview, such as the debate club, the school newspaper, and the creative writing club at the high school. I'm sure there are other groups too, but he's mentioned to me before that he wants to start some of those activities at the Middle School as well. Whatever he has in mind, he specifically asked for you."
"Ok, I'll stick around then, but I'm not sure why he'd want me for any of those activities. I was never a member of any debate teams, and I didn't work on the school newspaper, either in high school or college, although the creative writing club sounds interesting. I might be willing to become involved in something like that, since it's kind of a hidden talent of mine, at least I'd like to think so. I've written several stories over the years, although I've never had any of them published, but I've always dreamed it might happen someday. So far I've merely shared them with friends and family, so I'm not sure how Mr. Chang, or anyone else, would have heard about my interest."
"I'm not sure either, but I imagine he'll explain it to you when he arrives. I've got to get back to my office, though, because I have several things I need to clear up before the end of the day."
Mr. Baldwin then turned around to leave, and once he was gone I sat at my desk and wondered what Mr. Chang wanted with me. I surmised it wouldn't do any good worrying about it, so I started correcting papers as I waited.
"Mr. Roberson," Mr. Chang stated after politely knocking on my classroom door and interrupting my thoughts, "I want to thank you for waiting for me to get here." I'd met Mr. Chang before, since he was one of the people who'd interviewed me when I'd applied for this job.
Let me explain something, because you're probably wondering how a person with a Chinese surname became the head of the English Department, but the answer's quite simple. He's a brilliant man who was born, raised, and educated in this country. I wondered the same thing when I first met him too and was told his family came to the U.S. shortly after his great-grandparents fled from Communist China, so they've been here for generations. He's also more than qualified for the position, and from everything I've heard, he does a terrific job filling the position.
"It's not a problem, because I usually stick around to finish up the loose ends from the day before I leave anyway," I replied after shaking his hand and asking if he'd like to sit down. "However, I'm certainly curious about what you want with me."
"Then I'll clear it up for you," he stated with a smile to put me at ease. "If I remember correctly from reading your resume when you were first hired, I believe you minored in theater while in college. Is that correct?"
"Yes, I was indulging an infatuation I'd developed in high school, after being part of a couple of productions there." I was most likely blushing as I said this, since it wasn't something I talked about very often.
"Ah, and what productions were you involved in when you were in high school?" He looked interested, so I didn't feel he'd merely asked to be polite.
"Well, I was the 'stage manager' in "Our Town," and Curly when we put on the musical "Oklahoma." I probably turned an even brighter shade of red after admitting this, because I could feel my face becoming quite warm.
"So you can sing too?" He looked impressed.
"I was told by the vocal music teacher in high school that I had a very nice voice and would benefit greatly from private lessons, but I was never able to do that." I was starting to feel a little uncomfortable with this line of discussion.
"And why not?" Mr. Chang pressed, looking curious.
"For one thing, I didn't feel I had the time, but more importantly, my parents couldn't afford them. I had a part-time job, but there were other things I wanted to spend my money on, like saving up for a car."
"I see. Well, it works to my benefit that you have those things in your background."
"Look, I want to be upfront with you and admit that I'm not sure how I got any of those roles. Although I enjoyed being in the productions at the time, I wasn't sure if I'd been chosen for my ability, just having the right look, the right voice, or if I was merely in the right place at the right time. You see, there weren't many guys who were willing to get involved in those types of activities, so I was one of the few males they had to choose from."
"It really isn't important why you got those roles, as long as you gained the experience. So which productions were you part of in college and what roles did you have?"
"I was in a couple of Shakespearian plays, first as Mark Antony in "Julius Caesar," and then I played Oberon in "A Midsummer Night's Dream." I think I got those parts due to my distinctive speaking voice. I was also Heathcliff in a stage adaptation of the novel "Wuthering Heights," but I believe I was chosen for that part because of my black hair, thick eyebrows, and dark eyes, along with what others refer to as my pensive expression. I also played Don Quixote in the musical "Man of La Mancha," but I think it was my height and singing voice that helped me secure that particular role."
"Regardless, you still have a very impressive theatrical background and I'd like to utilize your expertise," Mr. Chang stated with a nod and a grin. "It's the reason I came here to speak with you, because I'd like to start a drama club at the middle school, and you're more qualified to lead it than any of the other teachers. For that reason, I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of accepting this duty?"
Even though his questions about my past involvement in various productions had come into play, no pun intended, I was totally shocked by his offer. First of all, he admitted there currently wasn't a drama club at the middle school, although I'd heard they performed a musical once a year. That production fell under the auspices of the music department, though, so why did he need me?
"I'm totally stunned by your offer," I finally replied after being shocked into silence for quite a few seconds. "But I'm not sure exactly what you're asking me to do?"
"That would be entirely up to you and the student members of the club." This indicated there was absolutely no existing structure or guidelines for the position. "You can choose any plays you wish to work on, from Shakespearian to something more modern - whatever you feel would be appropriate for this age group. You would also be expected to work with the music department on any musical they decide to perform. You'd be in charge of the acting and stage direction, while the music teacher would merely concern herself with the vocals. You could also enlist the art teacher, other students, or various staff members to help with the sets, costumes, and props."
"So how much time would this require on my part?" I wanted to make certain how involved this job might become.
"That would be up to you as well, depending on how many productions you and your club members agree to perform," Mr. Chang informed me. "You will be paid an additional $500 for each production, up to a maximum of four per year, which would include the musical."
I had to admit the extra money was enticing, but I thought it would also be beneficial when I came up for tenure, since I'd be doing more than just the bare minimum for my position. After weighing the pros and cons over in my mind quickly, I made a tentative decision.
"Would it be possible for me to meet with the club members first, to see how many sign up and what types of things they might be interested in doing?" I thought I should make sure what I would be walking into before I committed myself. There might be a good reason why no one else had ever attempted to do anything like this.
"Yes, I'm willing to give you time to do this. Go ahead and set up a meeting to see how much interest there is, but I certainly hope you'll end up doing this. Not only will it give the students something else to look forward to, but I also think your expertise will greatly benefit the club members."
There's nothing like a little praise to grease the wheels, as he attempted to convince me to do what he wanted. Although I was flattered by the way he'd worded his comment, I also knew it was done for a specific purpose, and that was to get me to accept the position.
"I'll give you my answer after I speak with those signing up," I agreed, without committing myself totally.
"I look forward to a positive response then." I believe he'd said this to put a little extra pressure on me to make the decision he was hoping for.
My head was spinning and I was unable to concentrate on correcting any of the papers I had left to grade. Since I had to finish them before the next day, I packed everything up to take back to my apartment so I could work on it later. My mind was swirling as I mentally reviewed the events of the past hour on the way to my car, as well as on the drive home. Since I knew I wouldn't be able to concentrate on fixing anything for dinner either, I hurriedly called and ordered takeout while I was stuck in traffic.
On the way over to pick it up, and while I waited for my order to be prepared, I couldn't stop thinking about my discussion with Mr. Chang. In a way, I was really excited about doing something like this, because acting and the theater had been in my blood since I'd first stepped onto a stage. I wouldn't mind working with the right group, but was that what I was being offered? I guess I'd just have to wait and see.
I didn't hear anything more from Mr. Chang for a couple of days, but then he called me on Thursday morning, before classes began. "Mr. Roberson," the secretary addressed me over the intercom, "can you come to the office to take a phone call? It's from Mr. Chang."
"Yes, I'll be right there." I immediately headed out the door and made my way to the main office.
"Line two," she announced as soon as she saw me. I picked up the receiver and punched the button.
"Hello, this is Marshall Roberson speaking."
"Mr. Roberson, it's Tom Chang. I just called to see when you'd be meeting with those interested in the drama club."
"I've posted a sign-up sheet and scheduled the meeting for next Wednesday, immediately after school."
"Wonderful. Please let me know how it goes."
This meant I'd have several days to think about what I wanted to say to them. I suppose I could research the types of plays that might be appropriate, so we could discuss them at the meeting. Then again, that might end up being a total waste of time, because they might have something completely different in mind that they want to do. Who knows, I might even turn down this opportunity if hardly anyone showed up, or after seeing what I had to work with. No, I'd just wait until after the initial planning session before I did anything in regard to the drama club.
During the days leading up to the first meeting, I continually wondered how many students would show up and what they'd be like. I couldn't stop thinking about this, whether I was preparing a lesson for one of my classes or just relaxing alone in my apartment. I was worried that only girls would come to the meeting, and without any guys it would greatly impact what we could do. Would I discover the students who signed up were either super bright or super geeky in order to be part of this club? Would I end up agreeing to do this, or would I decline the offer?
When Wednesday finally arrived, I was a bundle of nerves and totally distracted. My mind was unable to concentrate on anything except the meeting. Seeing I wasn't sure if I'd actually be able to teach, I planned on giving each of my classes a test instead. I was actually grateful when the final bell rang, because it put an end of what seemed like the longest school day I'd ever been part of. I hurriedly got ready for those interested to arrive, because I was eager to determine if there was any possibility of getting this club off the ground.
I was mildly surprised when I saw the students beginning to enter my classroom, because they appeared to be a fairly normal. There were about a dozen girls and half a dozen boys, which was more than I'd expected. Even though the oldest boys were only thirteen, possibly fourteen, my gaydar immediately began to go off. It was blaring like a five-alarm emergency at the fire station as I perused the group before me.
Let me explain. I'm gay, although I don't normally advertise that fact as a general rule, but the way some of these boys were looking at me had me tingling all over. Let's face it, I am only twenty-three, so they obviously didn't see me as being 'old' yet, and a couple of them were also quite cute. Another indicator that led me to believe they were possibly gay was that most of the boys were unusually well groomed and dressed better than the majority of males in my classes.
I probably should have expected this might be the case, since past experience had taught me that only two types of guys ever got involved in this type of activity. When I was in high school and college, I noticed a few straight guys would join because they knew a lot of girls would be participating and they wanted to get close to them. The rest of the males were primarily gay, and that appeared to be the case here, unless I was completely misreading the situation.
After introducing myself, I asked why they wanted to be in this club, so I'd know what I'd be dealing with. Once I got an idea about why each of them had signed up, I asked what types of performances they'd either been part of or would be interested in putting on in the future.
I discovered a few of them had been in the school musical the previous year or had been involved in a production with the local recreation department or a church group. However, nearly half of them had never been part of anything of this nature before.
"Could we do something romantic?" a brunette named Amber asked. She was obviously one of the more mature females in the group and appeared to be thinking about love and dating. "Maybe we could do something like "Romeo and Juliet."
"Nah, they all talk funny and the guys wear tights that show off their junk," a dark-haired boy challenged. I think he had said earlier that his name was Wayne, and he was one of the boys I thought might be straight. "I'd rather do something with lots of action."
"Well, there's plenty of fighting and sword play in "Romeo and Juliet," but I think Shakespeare might be a bit too difficult for this group. Did you have anything in particular in mind?"
"Not really, but I was hoping maybe you could give us some ideas," Wayne responded.
"Maybe a play with vampires," a brown-haired boy named Brian interjected, and his suggestion caused me to cringe. It definitely wasn't the type of production I wanted to be involved with, but I was able to ignore him long enough until someone else started to speak.
"Can't we do something funny? I think making people laugh would be better," another boy named Will commented. He had dirty blond hair and an animated personality, which immediately led me to believe he might be the class clown type.
"We could consider a comedy," I replied, not wanting to exclude anything just yet.
"How about something like Avenue Q?" a cute boy with black hair named Tucker offered. He looked like he might be one of the younger boys. "My cousin told me about it and said it was really good, and funny too, so could we do that?" If he was suggesting Avenue Q, then there was a good chance he might be gay.
"The music department will make the decision on the musicals, but I don't think Avenue Q would be appropriate for a middle school production," I replied quickly. "I'm not even sure the high school would be willing to perform it either, seeing it has strong sexual overtones." I also wasn't sure how the school district would react to performing a gay themed musical.
"That's too bad, but what exactly would we be doing then?" Tucker wanted to know.
"We're going to be working with the more traditional types of plays, although I'll also be helping the music department when they put on the musical too. However, now that I have an idea about the types of plays you might be willing to be part of, I'll do some research and make a list of various possibilities. We can discuss the ideas I come up with the next time we meet. Ok?" They all nodded in agreement.
"When will that be?" a girl named Rachel wanted to know. She had light red hair that might have been referred to as strawberry blond by previous generations.
"Let's say a week from today," I offered. "That will give me time to research some plays and think about what we might want to do."
"Yeah, that sounds good," she agreed.
"Ok, I guess you can leave now if you want, or you can stick around and we can get to know each other a little better," I stated, giving them a choice. I was surprised when no one left. "Ok, what do you want to know about me then?" I followed, to get things going.
"Do you have a girlfriend," a young blond girl named Lisa asked next. She'd been staring at me with a goofy expression on her face throughout the entire meeting.
"Not at present," I offered shaking my head slightly, hoping that would suffice.
"Do you have a boyfriend then?" Tucker followed, with a similar goofy grin.
"As I said, I'm presently unattached," I reiterated, while avoiding commenting on the appropriateness of his comment. However, I was wondering what had prompted him to ask this question.
"You must be new this year, because I went to the middle school last year and I don't remember ever seeing you around," an ebony-haired boy named Gary offered.
"Yes, I just graduated from college and this is my first teaching position," I answered.
"So do you live around here?" a handsome blond headed young man named Nolan followed. He looked to be one of the older boys in the group.
"I've got a place at Chelsea Apartments," I replied. It was a large complex, so I thought it would be safe to give him such a vague answer, but I certainly wasn't going to tell which apartment I lived in.
Seeing the questions were beginning to get very personal, I decided to start asking them questions instead. I thought I'd use the opportunity to find out what they liked about school, their interests in general, and exactly what types of roles they might be interested in. We were doing this when a good-looking female teacher walked into the room.
"Ah, I'm glad you're still here, and I hope I'm not interrupting," she stated, as she approached me an extended a hand. She had to tilt her head backward to look into my face, because I am 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) tall, and she is only about 5 feet 4 inches (1.63 m) in height. "I'm Gina Atkins, the vocal music teacher. I hear you might be starting a drama club."
"Yes, I've been asked to consider doing it, and that's why these students are here," I replied, without committing myself just yet.
"Well, I just dropped by to let you know that we were thinking about doing the musical Oliver this year," she informed me. "I see some of the young people here that I was thinking about for the various roles, which works out quite well. And what subject do you teach?"
"I teach English."
"That makes sense, and I'm glad to see some of the younger students are here as well, because I'll need a variety of ages for the orphans, which can be either male and female. We'll just have to make the girls look like boys. I'm hoping you can help me recruit suitable talent from this group to fill the non-singing roles. I'm also going to ask Bob Krivyanik, the art teacher, to help me design and build the sets, and I might recruit other faculty and staff members to fill the roles of Fagin, Mr. Bumble, Widow Courney, and Mr. Brownlow. There will be quite a few roles that will require vocal ability, so I'll hold auditions, but I'll be counting on you to help me recruit the remaining cast members."
"I'll be happy to help with that," I agreed. I was trying to be cooperative, whether or not I took this position.
"Fantastic!" she exclaimed. "We won't be putting it together until the spring, but you can keep your eyes open before then. I'll get all the information to you in plenty of time to do the recruiting for me. You can even hold tryouts if you want, and then only bring those you select to see me before we start rehearsals."
"Ok, that sounds fine," I concurred, as I immediately began to think of those present, along with some of my current students.
"And I hope you're around next year too, because I think we'll do "Annie" or "Camelot" then, so I'll need plenty of students for that too," she announced before leaving.
I thought "Camelot" might be a little ambitious for this age group, but I could see where being knights might attract other boys to participate. As for this year, she already said we could use either guys or girls to be the orphans, but we'd have to disguise the girls. I figured she'd also need mostly girls and a couple of guys for the "Who Will Buy?" scene, but those would be singing and dancing roles that she would most likely fill.
I was actually beginning to look forward to working with Gina Atkins on the musical, and I was also starting to think the drama club wasn't such a bad idea either. I was definitely leaning toward taking this position now, because it would give me a chance to get to know the students who weren't in any of my classes. Since it's a fairly large school, there are several different English teachers, and since I was the last one hired, I got to pick up the overflow at each grade level. It was a lot of planning, but I had a chance to meet students in each age group, and now I'd try to encourage as many of them as possible into joining the drama club too.
I have to admit that I found a few of the boys who showed up to be somewhat stimulating as well. Despite the fact that they were still somewhat young, they managed to pique my interest, although I knew they couldn't be anything more than eye candy. I certainly wouldn't want to risk losing my job or freedom by doing more than just ogling them, but they would certainly supply me with all of the masturbating fantasies I'd need.
* * * * * * * *
E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive' comments or advice may be sent to: ErastesTouch@aol.com - but please put the story title in the subject line, so it doesn't get deleted as junk mail.
My other stories:
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/different-points-of-view/
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/a-throw-away-kid/
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/the-guardian/
http://www.nifty.org/nifty/gay/adult-youth/chance-of-a-lifetime/
* * * * * * * *
Although the boys in these stories sometimes have unprotected sex, I strongly urge all of you out there to be smart and protect yourselves from various sexually transmitted diseases by using taking appropriate precautions before engaging in sex.