Date: Sun, 19 Feb 2012 20:56:45 -0700
From: dnrock@rock.com
Subject: Red 10

Red
by:  dnrock(dnrock@rock.com)


10:  Ganymede

I didn't know until we got to the club, that Eric had taken up his
invitation.  In fact, I didn't even know that the society had made him an
offer.  It was real strange pretending not to know him, until we were
introduced.  Nor did I know that Eric had only met his boy Clarence, that
morning.

It turned out that not only was this the annual Valentine's Day
celebration, which is a much older and venerable festival, from the
pre-Christian days,( I learned that on the internet.) but it was also a
rare occasion of introducing new members.  It is not even every year that
new members come, I was told.  This year it was Kos and I, Eric and
Clarence, although Clarence was already a member but one without a man and
Alex and Olaf.  I already knew Alex from my old school and you could have
blown me away when I saw Olaf; he was the legal aid lawyer that acted for
the Tolkans.

Funny how I was now to refer to my former adoptive parents as the Tolkans;
as if they were some abstraction or cartoon characters.  I guess they may
as well be now.  I wondered where Sandy was but didn't think I should ask,
until after the meeting.  I read that even abused children wanted to love
their parents, Dr. Phil said that is our currency.  I guess I was like
that, I wanted to but they made it real hard some times.  I think it was in
Judge Carter's court room that day, when I finally let go.  It was obvious
they were not sorry for what they had done, only for getting caught.  From
Ed, I call him Ed when not in the court; he told me at Christmas to do
that.  I think I figured out the subtext stuff from Ed's comments, they had
used my supposed behaviour, as some kind of excuse and never once even
offered an apology, to me.  I guess I let them go into some kind of bad
dream or something.

The Smiths and Jensens just overwhelmed me with their love and kindness.  I
never for a moment felt uncomfortable.  In no time at all, it was like I
had always been a Smith.  Being in this place with mostly strangers was a
bit new for me but with Kos by my side and others like Amos and Alex in the
room, it was okay.  Once they got things going, each of us new boys had to
stand up and introduce our man and ourselves.

It was obvious, most of the boys and their men were lovers.  Not in the
sexual meaning of the word but in love with each other.  You could tell by
the way they looked at each other and how they touched and mostly how the
boys seemed to be pressing themselves against their men.  Less so for Alex
and Clarence.  I figured, that was only because they didn't know each other
all that well yet.

Over along one wall, by the door, was a large kind of bookcase like thing,
with large pigeon holes in it.  Each one had a boy's name on it.  Clarence
showed us where ours were and one of the men came over and told us that the
men should dress the boys in the togas, found in the pigeon holes and place
our street clothing in them.  We were already bare footed.  There were also
togas for the men in the pigeon holes.  Even the older boys were being
dressed by their men.  It was funny to watch the 16 and 17 year olds being
dressed by their men.  You could see that all the boys had those special
undies like mine.  All with hearts on them but not all the same style.  The
togas and undies were all white, except for the red heart.  The ones for us
boys were very short.  The skirt just covering our crotches.  The ones for
the men were a bit longer coming to mid thigh.  While the men were dressing
the boys, they both seemed to be kissing and touching each other a lot.  I
sure as hell liked it.  I also noticed lots of the men had hearts on their
undies too.  Some were obviously made by the fellow in Cleveland but not
everyone and not Kos or Eric.  I remember in one of Mom's books, the old
Greeks did not wear underwear but tunics and kilts or over the shoulder
toga type things.

Clarence's eyes just grew like silver dollars when he saw Eric in my
present.  After we changed, the boy lead his man to one of the many pillows
and cushions, that were scattered around the floor.  It was almost funny to
watch the older boys lead their men, who in some cases were shorter.  One
of the senior boys got up, his name was Robert.  There was a Bob and a
Bobby as well but they were younger.  Anyway, Robert asked the men to stand
and holding their boy's hand in theirs, recite the Ganymede pledge to his
boy.  His man came forward and held his hands but he did not sit.

It goes: To my Ganymede, I Kosmos, pledge my loyalty, love, service,
protection and guidance.

He then had the men sit and the boys stand.  To my mortal Zeus, I Russell
pledge my loyalty, love, service and honor.  Then the boys all went over to
a table and picked up a tumbler, full of wine I think, and returned to our
man and kneeling down before him, held up the tumbler, kissed the rim and
turning the tumbler around so the kiss was facing the man, extended it
toward him.  The man, Kos in my case, took a drink and smiled widely.  He
set the tumbler down and I resumed my position on the little cushion
between his legs, so I could feel his warmth and let his arms surround me.
That way he could easily access my crotch if he wanted and I know Kos
wanted.

Robert went on for a few minutes about the meaning of love and the festival
now call Saint Valentine's day and the meaning of bonds being forged
between us.  He made a few brief announcements and they called Kos and I up
to the front.  It seemed that whenever a man or boy was involved in
something, his partner was at his side or close by.  This was Kos' show,
and in this case I was at his side.

Robert introduced Kos as the artist that created our most recent and
important work of art, Ganymede.  I pulled the cloth off the huge painting
which was already hung on the wall, with a light over it.  Everyone gasped
and clapped.  They were all blown away by it.

"Thank you.  I hope everyone enjoys looking at my interpretation of
Ganymede as much as I enjoyed creating it."

Cass and Amos came up and Cass held up his hand, and the group quieted
down.  He thanked Kos, Russell's man, for such a wonderful creation.  "He,"
pointing to the painting, "is the second most beautiful boy in the room."
The group murmured a bit.  "That is, to each man here, his Ganymede is
first."  That produced quite a response of approval from every boy in the
room, including me.

Robert took over again and had everyone move to the outside of the floor.
He then called for the first act.  There were singers, dancers, plays,
skits and music that lasted for about an hour.  Almost every boy was
involved in something, except us new ones.  Every boy was given full
approval and much recognition for his efforts.  Some of the men were
included but most of the entertainers were the boys themselves.

Following the entertainment, snacks were brought in along with drinks.  The
boys did the serving, filling their man's tumblers and bringing a plate of
goodies and drinks for themselves.  Again, each boy kissed the rim of the
tumbler, before handing it to his man.

When the snacks and socialization were finished the men and boys redressed
in street clothing, placing their togas in the cubby holes.  The next hour
would be free time, but alone free time.  Each pair was expected to spend
this time together.  Cass handed room keys to Kos, Eric and Olaf.  Most of
the pairs headed for rooms.  Some of the older boys and their men went off
alone to rooms like the library or to walk in the garden outside.  The
younger boys and their men were in a different part of the bonding phase
and they wanted more private moments.  Cass told Eric and Kos, from now on
they should book their rooms when they came in, before the meeting.

This is not to say that kissing, fondling and just general person to person
sex play had not been going on almost continually.  It had and it was.  One
of older boys came up to Russ, Alex and Clarence.  He pulled them aside to
fill them in on what was happening now.  (see
http://www.androphile.org/preview/Culture/Greece/greece.htm. for some
background.)

"Remember the old myth.  Zeus captured Ganymede, the most beautiful boy in
the world and took him to Olympus to be his lover.  He took Ganymede to bed
and then appointed him cup bearer.

All the other gods rejoiced to have Ganymede among them, for his beauty
filled them with delight.  And Ganymede thought pouring nectar to the
immortals was way cool, and when he filled his lover's cup he made sure to
press his lips to it first, giving it half a twist as he placed it in Zeus'
hand.  You're mortal and Zeus probably can not attain your deepest love and
affection that quickly.  Give it time and let it happen."

The boys all nodded and rejoined their men for some private love bonding
time.  For Eric and Olaf it was a getting acquainted time, the bonds of
love are not instant for mortals but they both knew that.  Olaf and Alex
were at least known to each other but Eric and Clarence were strangers yet.

Kos and Russ, as the reader knows, are more than acquainted and are lovers,
and for them it was an opportunity to get it on and get the edge taken off.
The entire setting so far had been emotionally charged and highly sensual,
to say nothing of the physical closeness and almost continuous physical
interactions.

In the old days, a man would court a youth at the community gymnasium.  The
youth could have several suitors and the courtship would involve gifts and
the other trappings of romance.  In modern time and in this general
society, that is less practical.  For most of the boy members, their
fathers or other older male relative, would arrange the pairing.  In this
respect, things are more like the Minoan customs.

That is the case for Clarence.  For others like Alex, he was recruited by
an older member and introduced to Olaf, a former boy himself, who had not
found or had arranged for him, a boy.  Once it was determined that Alex was
interested in this kind of society and Olaf was interested in him, things
moved forward.  He had been courting the lad for several months, giving him
gifts and taking him places.  Thus far, they had become close but had not
had any sexual contact, save some kisses and fondling, early this day.
They at least did know and trusted each other.  Alex had been observing
Russ closely and seeing him interact with Kos, followed his lead.

The attraction of secret societies or clubs, to the young adolescent mind,
is powerful.  A club that is dedicated to the worship of him, that comes
with many benefits, was even more attractive and when that is combined with
a mentor, in the form of an attractive man, who dotes on you...  The
atmosphere of love and acceptance, with everyone else sharing those same
emotions, plays strongly on the adolescent's need for community or group
acceptance.  The open displays of affection, between the other boys and
their men and between themselves, is also a powerful motivator.

The rooms are not fancy but well appointed and very clean.  Most have one
large queen size bed, a couple of comfortable chairs, a little table and so
on.  No radio or TV or even a telephone.  The walls are decorated with
sketch art and drawings of boys and men, mostly naked, most engaged in some
kind of sexual or affectionate behaviour.  In the bedside stands are
condoms and lube and in the bathroom, along with the thick towels and terry
robes, one can find enema stuff.  On one of the bedside tables is a small
alarm clock.  A few of the rooms have TV's, radios and the like, they are
used for couples or singles staying overnight.  Some of the rooms have two
beds as well.

At the front desk the member checks in.  If he wants a room he can get it
then or later.  The member checks in all his valuables: wallets, watches
and so on.  Cell phones, laptops, books and the like can be left too and
should be if the member is in meetings, spending time with his lover or
doing sports.  Once in the club, money is not needed.  Personal hygiene
things are stored in the sports lockers.

"Kos and I were at each other before the door even closed.  We laid a trail
between the door and the bed.  We didn't even cuddle but got right down to
the numbers, 69 was the magic value that afternoon."

In this society it is the boy who sets the sexual agenda, at least in the
beginning of the relationship.  Like all loves, once established, patterns
develop.  As the boy matures he tends to become more assertive, but what
ever is done must be by mutual consent.

Later that afternoon everyone engaged in sports of one kind or another,
mostly swimming and court games.  Some of the older boys spent time in the
weight and fitness rooms.  Most of the younger boys did things with their
men.  Toward the end, the steam room and sauna were both filled with boys
and men.  This, and the dinner that followed, were good opportunities for
socialization and getting to know the other members.  All the sports that
afternoon were done naked.

With a few exceptions, what people did outside of the club was unknown or
unacknowledged.  Everyone knew Kos was an artist but almost no one knew
Eric was a cop or Cass a stock broker, unless they encountered them on the
outside.  For professionals or trades, eventually you did learn who did
what, because you would ask someone or ask in the office, if anyone knew a
good whatever, leave a card with your name and home phone number.  You
would get one or in some cases several calls.

Politics, philosophy, art, culture, literature, entertainment, news and
current events were all widely discussed.  Some members talked about their
hobbies, sports or sporting activities but no one talked about their
professions.  The boys were encouraged to interact with all the adults, as
well as the other boys.  The dining room tables were large, seating 8 or
10.  The older, now boyless members present, tended to distribute
themselves across the room.  This provided a wide age range at each table.

The food is self serve and the beverages are in containers on all the
tables.  The cooks made sure every group meal is boy friendly, as well as
gourmet.  It is quite obvious from observing the older boys how successful
this method of education is.  To a person they were not only at ease but
capable of holding an intelligent and cogent conversation, on almost any
topic that came up.  At first Russ was hesitant to express his opinions but
the older gentlemen, at the table, simply insisted he do so.  They quickly
drew him out and often praised his ideas, even if politely devastated by
the lack of logic or incorrect information.  Kos also enjoyed the
intellectual banter, it was a lot more stimulating than just his little
brother.  These times are important to the boys, from an educational and
developmental side but also stimulating for the men.

Right after the dinner members started drifting off and a new crop of older
men started arriving.  Since Kos had a date with Nadine and Russ was to
take Sheila to a movie, they moved out.  It wasn't until Sunday afternoon
that Eric showed up with Clarence.  Sandy was in her glory with two boys
paying attention to her.  Russ knew that Eric and Kos needed some time
alone, so he made sure Clarence was properly entertained.  They gave the
play station a real work out.

By the time Nancy and Simon showed up the dinner had cooked itself.  Kos
had put a roast and all the trimmings in the oven on a timer.  Kos and Eric
had showered and rejoined the boys in the TV room and everything looked
normal again.  Russ wondered how Clarence's presence would be explained.

"Well cousin, that is a fancy and I always thought, exclusive
organization," Nancy quipped.

"True but Kos and I are just so good at what we do.  Neither of us could
ignore the invitation."

"Besides that, Clarence and I really like all the sports and stuff we get
to do and they have a water polo team and everything," Russ interjected.

"So each boy has his own personal coach.  Kind of like the mentor system in
premed," Simon added as half question, half statement.

"Yes, very much like that," Kos answered.

"My dad is my cousin's coach and my uncle coaches my older brother, so when
I saw Eric sitting all alone I just new he needed the responsibility of
this eleven year old," Clarence interjected.

"I think Simon got it but Nancy just seemed to accept what was said, with
that "men, I don't think I'll ever understand them," look on her face.  I
made an effort to make it obvious that Clarence was my friend.  He did his
part too.  About 7:30 he asked the coach to take him back to the club as
his dad and brother would be heading home soon.  I figured he wanted to
spend some alone time with Eric, in one of those rooms.  I can't say I
blame him, since Eric is a hunk and I remember how important it was to me,
during that bonding phase, to spend every minute I could alone with Kos.
Since Jessica was on nights I'll bet they go there and not to the club,
since Sandy is not allowed in the club.  There were too many members with
allergies.

Except for boys in my situation, most of the special clothing and some of
the gifts a boy gets, from his man, are kept in his personal locker at the
club.  I'm real lucky.  Kos told me mom would never go through my stuff,
for she never did that when he was a boy.  Since he does both of our
laundry himself, well I help, I guess I can bring everything home, if I
want.  They also told us that the club also maintained special bank
accounts for each boy: one an educational trust, the other for his spending
money.  I figured, if I put some of my spending money in it each week, I
wouldn't need to ask Uncle Fred, every time I wanted something.  Kos told
me he would make sure some of my modelling money, found its way into my
educational fund.  I guess some of the older men give money to these funds,
as they get some kind of tax receipt and the money is invested, so it has a
real high yield.  This was very important for boys from less well off
families.  I wondered if Alex knew about this but it was Olaf's position to
tell him.

I got the impression, mostly in the showers and hot tub, that many of the
older men liked being close to the boys.  I got the impression, lots of the
boys like playing grab ass, with each other.  It all seemed like good fun
to me.  At first I was just a bit jealous of Clarence but that passed
quickly.  Eric deserved to have all the boy love he needed, since Kos has
all he can handle.  I was never shorted in the least, so why should
Clarence not have as much as me?  I think it was about a month later when
Clarence and I were playing games together that he broached the subject.
He wanted me to know that he had no objection to me having fun, as he put
it, with my cousin Eric.  He played around with his brother, cousin, dad
and uncle some times.  I thanked him for his thoughtfulness."

"How are things going between you and Eric?"  I don't think I am supposed
to ask this kind of question, but I did.

"Very well.  At first it was, you know, different and a bit awkward but he
and I are tight now."

"That's good.  I think it would be real hard, you know, if you got into a
relationship that just didn't cut it."

"Oh Ja.  I think I got the best deal of the lot.  I have three important
men in my life and my brother and cousin only have two.  But you only have
one."

"Ah no, not quite.  My dad is important and he and mom will be home in the
fall.  Eric and my brother in law Simon are important too.  It is just Kos
and only some times Eric, that I have sex with."

"I see.  Do your dad and Simon know about the society?"

"No, all they know is what we tell them, you know, about the sports club
stuff."

"Do you, you know, have a special friend your own age?  I don't, just my
brother."

I told him about Sheila and Amos.  He told me, he thought Kos and Eric
wanted us to be special friends.  I told him he was probably right but it
was between us, him and me and no one else to make that decision.  He
looked relieved when I said that and we let the topic drop, sort of.

"You know that you and Eric are free to stay the night here or use one of
the bedrooms for private time, if you want.  Kos and I won't mind, I mean
we sure understand and you know, can always find something," I smiled, "to
do."

I was quite taken aback and pleased too.  Clarence kissed me on the lips
and quietly said, "Thank you."

"I think I would like to stay here tonight, if that is okay with you?"

"Sure it is.  Just invited you, didn't I?"

We went upstairs hand in hand with Sandy following along, of course.  I
pointed to my room for him to use and we barged in on our men.

In the morning before school we were all in the kitchen, Kos and I had our
necklaces on as usual.  It was then I noticed, Eric and Clarence also had
them on.  I guess Eric had found his special boy.  All I know, since no one
said anything, that they both looked real proud of themselves and knew dad
would be proud of Eric too.  We had to get up a bit earlier than normal,
because Eric had to take Clarence across the city to his school.  It was
almost lonely for me, since Kos also left way before I did, his classes
started at 8:30 and all I had was a 5 block bike ride for 9.

I pooped around a bit and then got the bright idea of heading for Sheila's,
so we could ride together.  I called her and headed out.  That was a good
idea but now that I started it... Anyway, I stopped about 4 houses away and
took off my runners and socks, rolled up my pant legs to just below the
knee and knocked on her door.  She opened it, took one look at me and gave
me the biggest kiss since, well the last time we were alone.  Her little
sisters saw and called "mom, Sheila is kissing Russ again".

Mrs. O'Keefe came to the kitchen door and saw me in my bare feet.  She
started to laugh.  I guess it was funny, that's why I did it, well that and
to get a kiss too, I'm not stupid you know.  She was laughing so hard she
sat on the floor.  Sheila and I went over to her and helped her up.  Then
she kissed both of us on the cheek and we headed for school.  I put my
shoes back on first.  Funny is one thing, but being a clown is not quite my
style."  .................

Our heroes progressed through the spring with little worth describing in
detail.  Kos, Russ and Sheila were all making top grades but that was
expected.  Kos' classes ended in early May but the grade school went on
until June.  Kos had several commissions to paint and he worked on a number
of his own projects.  Almost all the Ganymede members ordered photo
portraits and several of the older men commissioned oils of one kind or
another.  Russ got his brown belt and now that the weather was warmer,
spent as much time as possible in the pool.

Nancy organized a house cleaning service to visit twice a week.  I was not
all that keen on it at first but the lady was real nice.  She only asked us
to pick up our laundry and some of our personal stuff, the night before.
Her name is Mrs. Hampel.  I was impressed with how efficient she was.  I
think Kos too.  Anyway she seemed to know how to clean anything and when
she finished the place looked like a show home.  The only rooms she didn't
work in were Kos' studio and my bedroom desk- worktable area; we still
looked after our personal laundry, not sheets, towels and the like.

I sure like her.  She spends all day and arrives before I leave for school
and is still there when I get home.  I think it was her second time when
she started baking cookies for me and making hot chocolate.  Well, for Kos
too but I get most of the cookies.  She bakes a lot better then he does.
In fact, the only baking Kos ever does are chocolate brownies, that he
shares with his friends.  I guess he puts the marijuana in them, because
they won't let me have any.  That has been Kos' approach to things since
Eric made them stop smoking the stuff around the house and around me.

I like brownies, in fact I like anything made with chocolate but not this
drug stuff, I want no part of that crap.  Kos usually has a batch just for
me and my friends, sans MJ.  Sometimes his friends bring their girls with
them.  Sheila and I think they all act dumb, so we try and do something
together or with kids our own age.  I'm sure they think we are dumb too.
Sometimes Kos and Nadine go places, mostly night clubs with his friends, so
I get stuck with Nancy and Simon.  Stuck is not quite right for I sure like
them and they always treat me well.  The other boys in the society say the
same thing about their men too.  I guess they can't cut themselves off from
the social world completely and I guess we boys would find it hard not to
have kids our own age to do things with.

A couple of times we went camping with other society members.  I liked that
a lot.  Sleeping in a tent was just so much fun.  We got to skinny dip in a
small lake and go on hikes and everything.  The other boys seemed to like
it a lot too.  Best of all, each pair had a small tent to ourselves.  So
after the evening camp fire and singing and skits and lots of fun, we all
got to look up at the night sky and watch the meteors and stars and
everything.  I wanted to see the Northern Lights but we are too far south
for that.  Kos promised to take me to Canada and maybe even Alaska, so I
could see them.  But that won't happen until next year, since we are to
spend the summer in Europe, this year.

That's okay, it was fun lying on the grass next to Kos, looking straight up
at the Milky Way and picking out the constellations and stars, of course
the most important one is Ganymede, isn't it?  It gets cold at night in the
mountains, so I was glad to share a sleeping bag with Kos.  It was just
like snuggling up under the duvet at home, but you could hear every sound
and smell the clean fresh air; after the fire was out.

It was also so nice to see all the men and boys holding each other and just
being close.  I guess it's because you know how good it feels, to press
your body against your man.  You just feel good inside when you see another
boy enjoying the closeness.

That first night I think everyone was tired, since we all seemed to head
for our tents before 10 pm.  That was okay, since once inside our sleeping
bags we could press our naked bodies together.  It must have been something
about the night mountain air or maybe it was the magic of the company but
all I wanted to do was fuck and that seemed to be all Kos had on his mind.
I listened closely and you could hear all the other pairs making the same
kind of noises, I guess they wanted to fuck too.

After we got naked, which was hard for Kos, since the tent was not all that
large and he was, too.  I helped him by kissing his lips and fondling his
penis, until he was ready to snuggle with me in the warm flannel lining.  I
wasn't quite sure how we would do it in such a confined space, but Kos
seemed to be his usual innovative self.  He turned me on my side.  He lay
on his side and I spooned against him.  He lifted my leg up and slipped his
greased fingers in my butt.  I could feel him giving my prostate a going
over and my back pressed against his chest was so warm.  In one easy motion
he pushed his hard cock in and began oscillating his hips.  Kos began
kissing my neck and nibbling on my ears while his hand played with my
penis.  I was in boy heaven with my man making love to me.  He was so
tender and gentle and I felt so safe and warm.

I think I know why Nadine likes him so much, if she feels half as good
lying in his arms as I do.  I wonder if she likes to feel him come inside
her as much as I like to feel him come in me.  I like to feel me come in
him too.  Not now, but in the morning, I think."

.............................

We were getting ready to head for two and a half months in Europe, with mom
and dad.  I had never travelled on a airplane, let alone further than a few
miles from the city.  I was excited.  Kos and I had to get our passports,
so we went to a photo studio down town and got some very, "Plain Jane", mug
shots, taken.

(Your not so humble but admittedly sometimes foolish author just saw an
episode of CSI in which one of the CSI's was describing things, as if
written by Raymond Chandler.  It was a reasonably well done bit of satire.
Unfortunately I am not as talented at this, as the professionals who write
the CSI scripts.  I still maintain the consistently best written TV scripts
were those of West Wing.  What has any of this to do with the story your
are reading, anyway?  Now stop calling me evil names and just read on.

Since I lack the talent to write Russ' description in a Raymond Chandler
voice but do have the creativity to realize how effective and funny it
could be, if done right, I beg your cooperation in a thought experiment.
If Albert Einstein could imagine space time you can imagine too.  Just
imagine for a moment, Russ describing the scene in a Chandleresque voice
instead of his bright, precocious, eleven year old alto.  Come on now, get
into the story, indulge this old man's love for the narrative, his
characters and his love of humor.

Ok, just pretend Russ' description is being read by Humphrey Bogart, in the
same voice he used in those 1940's radio programs with Lauren Bacall.  You
can refresh your memory at one of the many vintage radio program sites.
Now pretend Russ is standing in front of you.  You know, bright red hair,
freckles, tall for 11, skinny, big smile, cute as hell but speaking with
Bograt's voice, not his normal alto tones.  See you're laughing already and
I'll wager you can see that face in your CRT.  Isn't this technology just
the boy's butt?)

Kos and I looked up the rules for passports on the internet.  Since Uncle
Fred had all the official paperwork and my guardianship, while mom and dad
were away, all I needed was the photo.  About the same for Kos but he was
considered an adult.  The U. S. Department of State's web site said:

Your photographs must be:
	- 2x2 inches in size
	- Identical
	- Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
	- Color
	- Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
	- Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to
the top of the head
	- Taken in normal street attire
	- Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious
attire that is worn daily.
	- Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
	- If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig
or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
	- Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are
not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical
certificate may be required.

Now all of that seems, straight forward.  I guess it is since I don't wear
glasses and don't have a beard or wear head gear, except for some sports
and my ipod ear buds are more or less temporary, I guess no problem.  I was
not sure what normal street clothes are.  Kos thought a light blue dress
shirt, open at the collar would do the trick.  I thought a Tee shirt with
some rude saying, but I went along with him.  They made a big thing about a
natural expression.  I take it they don't want a smile or a frown.  Ok, but
natural for me is a smile and natural for others is a "sour puss".  I read
some place one should not have a beard but the US said nothing about that.
The Canadians do, however.  They say no beard but what about...?

We drove in the red sports car with the top down.  That mussed up our hair,
since both of us have it longish.  Well not long like girls, but long for
boys.  If it gets much hotter around here I think skin headed may be become
the order of the day.  One of our neighbours is very bald and he has to
keep a ball cap on all summer, to avoid sunburn to his head.  Well, maybe
short hair.  Kos had to find a store and purchase a hair brush for us.  He
kept mumbling something about planning.  I think it was failing to plan,
plans to fail.  We got organized and one at a time, sat down in front of
this cream colored backdrop.  The camera was right in front of us, kind of
like at eye level.

I know all the ladies seem to dislike their driver's license photos and now
I know why.  It did look like a mug shot, like you see on the wanted
posters in the post offices.  Except these were in color.  They may not
have had a number across the bottom but they might as well as had.  All I
know is, the portraits of me that Kos paints or photographs, make me look
like someone you want to know, while these things make me look like a
freak, with bright red hair and all those freckles on my nose and cheeks.
Hell, no one would want to know me from this little picture.  Kos' wasn't
any better but at least his hair is kind of blond and not bright red."

Kos and Russ paid the bill and took the little envelopes to Fred's office.
Cousin Ruth filled out the forms, they signed and the boys departed.  She
would take care of everything.  Russ wanted to see BIM again so they
stopped in the big conference room for another look.  Russ did have to
agree with Sheila that he was the best looking boy in town, at least in
that painting but Ganymede was running a close second.  Kos was more
philosophical about the two works.  In his mind they could not be compared
as to beauty, only to aesthetic and technical quality.

It was now almost 6 pm and the boys were in great need of food.  Since they
were so close to the college, the obvious choice was pizza at de Vinci's.