John Gets What He Needs
By: Hogan
(Copyright 2007 by the Author)
Editor: Gerry Young

The author retains all rights. No reproductions are allowed without the author's consent. Comments are appreciated at...
 

Chapter 3  

"Ride the Snake"

"You see ... Evan has Schizophrenia." Louis reveals.

"Several different good physicians have diagnosed Evan with Schizophrenia. He's had an extremely rough time getting the right help. It took many years and just as many treatments before they found the right combination of meds that had him stabilized. You see, as we found out the hard way, each patient reacts to the many treatments differently. Evan was unfortunate in the fact that most of the treatments and meds severely enabled him to function. That sounds like a dichotomy, I know, but most of the time he was like a walking zombie. Sometimes the meds seemed to be worse than the illness," Louis informs John.

John listened intently, trying not to tear up.

"He's doing really well right now, so don't worry. I know this is hard for you to accept, but I assure you it's not like you see in the movies. Schizophrenia has had a lot of bad examples in the media and in Hollywood.

"I guess, as best as we could find out from Evan, it started with nightmares and sleep problems and went from bad to worse, over time, in California."

Frowning with increased concern, John said, "I knew Evan was having nightmares when he would stay overnight with me. I didn't know anything else was wrong with him then."

"Well, John, after he had his credits accumulated and it was the end of the first semester his senior year, he came up to us and said he was moving to California. Two days later we came home from work and he already had a U-Haul truck packed and with his car hooked up behind it.

"He said his good-byes as we tried our hardest to talk him out of it. But he was determined, and that was all there was to it. He didn't even tell his brother or sister; he just got into the truck and pulled away," Louis explained trying to hide his emotions.

"His mother and I about lost it right there. Our baby boy was leaving ... going twenty-three hundred miles away. There was nothing we could do.

"So ... while he had $4,000 to move with (from a small inheritance he'd gotten when his grandmother passed away earlier), he left and got a job and an apartment and called us and kept in touch, telling us what he was doing and how things were going out there."

"We still didn't know anything was wrong, but we knew he was running from something; we just didn't know what. The first year was really hard ... him being away. We constantly pleaded with him to move back, but he would never discuss it.

"Evan was keeping in touch by phone about once every other week. He said that he had a roommate to help with the bills and that he was working steady. But we didn't know much of anything else.

"You know how private he always was!

"He told us he was taking Art classes at a local college, part time.

"Well, after time we heard less and less from him. Time between the calls was getting longer to once a month, and then finally after about a year and a half, we stopped hearing from him all together.

"His phone was disconnected and all our ties were cut. We finally got the number of where he was working, and they said he quit a month before. We really got worried that something had happened to him and it was hard to do anything since he was so far away. The police wouldn't help since he was an adult.

"Well, one day ... about three months later, we got a collect call from Evan; he wanted us to send him some money.

"He sounded different ... very strange acting ... and we got his mailing address and sent some money to him; he promised to call us soon.

"We never heard from him again until a month later. A hospital called saying Evan was admitted for trying to ... well ... hurt ...himself. Evan was picked up by the police on the streets and was brought to the hospital.

"I sent his older brother and mother on a plane to California immediately, and they went to get Evan. We wanted him close by so that we could get him some help. Evan was considered to be incompetent to be in charge of his own affairs, so his mother got legal guardianship of him with the courts out there. Then we had him flown home, sedated, with his brother and mom escorting him.

"We put him in a good hospital here in Indianapolis. Evan was really in bad shape. They said he had full-blown schizophrenia and hadn't been taking any meds for it.

"He didn't respond or act like he knew us and it about broke our hearts. We thought we'd already lost him to the illness and would never get him back.

"Because of the stigma about schizophrenia, we didn't tell anyone that didn't need to know. I guess we were ashamed at first. It's hard to understand ... but we concentrated on getting him better. There wasn't any reason to go around telling everyone. As for most, they just thought he still lived in California and was working and taking art classes.

"Well, John, I guess to condense it down for you ... over the next year Evan got the treatment he needed and after trying many different medications, they found one that helped more than any of the rest of them.

"He started coming back to us little by little, but it looked like some permanent memory damage was caused by seizures from his E.C.T.'s. He lost a lot of his memory and needed help re-establishing himself."

"What are E.C.T.'s? John asked.

"Electro-Convulsive-Therapy. Electric Shock Therapy, in other words. It's not the same as it was back in the 1950's; they sedate the patient with drugs, so it's not so painful. I know it sounds barbaric, but they really make sure the patient is comfortable and the electricity used is just a minimal amount to produce a seizure."

John had a look of horror on his face and Louis recognized the look as he had seen it before when explaining about E.C.T's.

"John ... Evan really was getting good treatment; don't worry ... we had complete control and all the needed information to get him the right help he needed."

Evan had been through so much! Alone! John just sat there, slightly nodding his head, right on the verge of having tears run down his face, nervously flexing his fists open and closed, gazing at nothing in particular off in the distance, trying to comprehend and assimilate everything that Louis was sharing with him. Louis continued his train of thought and told John the rest of his story.

"The family took turns helping with his memory; we were reprogramming him with photos, stories and anything we could think of to fill his head back up with all the moments that we knew went on in his life. Thankfully, it was working 'cause more and more of his memory was coming back, slowly but surely. He still has some loss, but he's remembering more every day.

"Eventually he was discharged. We bought this house out here in the country and brought Evan home to live. He wasn't capable of living on his own yet. He still had a long way to go with a few setbacks along the way.

"His brother and sister also helped and gave us a break when we needed it. Evan was never left alone; there was always someone with him 'till we knew he was ready.

"He now lives in his own apartment on the west side of town and it's a good place that's safe with security and close to his treatments and doctors right across from the hospital. He's also within walking distance of the church he attends.

"Evan still needs some help keeping things straight and making sure all his bills are paid and food and stuff. His mom still has power of attorney over him for an emergency.

"Mostly though he does it all, and we just kind of oversee things and make sure, or are there if he does need help."

Evan's mom finally arrived as John was being filled in about more of the situation. He and Louis stopped and went to help her with some bags she had. Tyler saw the car and immediately dashed towards the driveway barking and jumping with excitement knowing full well who it was. The Shepard had to sniff every bag to see if there was anything in them that he knew was for him.

"Hello, Mrs. Hogan, its good to see you again," John said while Tyler was jumping around, excited to see her.

"Hi, John," she said coldly. "What brings you out here?" she questioned, examining him with some misgivings.

"He's here to see Evan, we've already had a talk and John wants to see him," Louis explained.

Evan's mother didn't look happy to see John and he noticed it immediately. He couldn't tell if she was just being protective or if she didn't care for him.

"Well, John, let me get these bags put away, and then we'll have our own little talk."

"Yes ma'am ... I'll be right here."

John played with Tyler in the beautiful yard and walked around looking at all the wonderfully aromatic flowers that had already started blooming in the early part of summer. Louis went into the house and helped with the bags.

"John?"

John turned around and saw Mrs. Hogan coming up to him in the yard.

"That's all Evan's handy work ... all of this is. It was a kind of therapy for him. He really enjoys working out here in the yard. His gardens are his sanctuary ... where he finds peace. They keep him focused. He says he feels close to God when he's working out here surrounded by all these beautiful plants."

"I can see why; it's like the Garden of Eden out here," John mused.

As Tyler was chasing a bird off the lawn, making it clear exactly whose territory it was, Louis joined them among the flowerbeds. They walked around quietly looking at all of Evan's work.

Louis began, "There's a lot of details I've left out on purpose, because I think it's Evans job to tell you if he wants to. He's still a very private person and doesn't want all his business out there for all to gossip about..."

Mrs. Hogan interrupted Louis by saying, "It's hard enough on him trying to fit in and live day to day without giving up. His treatments are sometimes difficult on him. All those meds have lots of side effects and can make it hard for him to function at times. He's now learning to cope better with fewer medications."

"He doesn't need ... nor ... can ... he ... deal with ... any stress," she said, looking sternly at John.

"Stress can make his condition deteriorate very fast, so we still take care of many things and monitor him closely with his meds and appointments. He's had many relapses in the past."

"I can assure you both, Mrs. Hogan, that all I want to do is to be his friend again; I miss him," John exclaimed.

Louis then jumped into the conversation. "John, we trust you, and we're sorry we are being so overly protective of Evan, but I'm sure you can understand why?"

Mrs. Hogan explained, "They start feeling better after a while and stop taking their meds and then the whole process starts all over again. We are past that, now, hopefully. He has some really good doctors finally, and they are doing a great job of keeping him stable."

"Between doctors, therapy and medical testing and reviews ... church is about the only thing he does outside of the family. He has a couple people that are good to him that he's friends with. But I'm sure he'd be happy to have another," Louis added.

"You said he goes to church ... which one does he attend, if you don't mind me asking? I go to St. Michael's," John said.

"Well, that's odd," exclaimed Louis and Mrs. Hogan at the same time. "That's where Evan goes ... why haven't you seen him there?"

"Well, that is a strange coincidence ... but it would explain why we don't see each other there; they have three different services so they can accommodate everyone. I go to the 10:30 service," John offered.

"Well ... I guess that explains it then. I believe Evan goes to the earlier one."

"Mrs. Hogan, do you think it would be best if I just run into him at church and start up a conversation, instead of calling him and meeting him somewhere. It would seem to be less stress for him, and at the same time he wouldn't feel like his parents had set it up for him?" John asked.

"I think that's a great idea John, and please call me Vicky."

"Yes, ma'am, I sure will; thank you ... Vicky."

"I guess Louis was right. He told me in the kitchen you were a good man and wanted nothing but good for Evan. I can tell that you're already thinking of what's best for him," Vicky said warmly.

"John ..." Louis added, lowering his head and, looking over the top of his glasses, directly into John's eyes, "I like you, and I like your father, and I know you're a good guy ... but honestly ... if you cause him any problems or stress ... my dog crushing your wind pipe is the last thing you'll have to worry about ... you hear me, son?" Louis asked commandingly and straight to the point.

"No worries, Louis; you've got my word on it. I miss him a lot ... I wouldn't do anything to hurt him, I promise. Now ... is there anything I need to know, not to say or ask?"

"No, not really, Evan, I'm sure he will let you know if he doesn't want to talk about something. Just go slow and let him know you aren't going to hurt him and you want to be his friend. I'm sure he'll open up to you as soon as he feels safe to do so.

"John, there is one more thing I have to tell you. I should let Evan tell you, but I think it's best that you know now, so that if you have a problem with it, you can decide before you contact Evan. You have to not let him know that you know, 'till he wants to tell you ... ok, son?"

"Sure, Louis."

"There's another thing, John ... and this is hard for us." Louis paused for a moment, collecting his thoughts on just how he was going to word what he was about to disclose. "We were taught this is wrong, but Evan is also gay ... we didn't know this 'till he told us in the hospital; the shrinks made him tell us so that he could rid himself of the stress it was causing him.

"We were shocked and had no idea, and with our religious upbringing, that was considered a sentence straight to hell. But when it's your own son ... who you love very much ... your opinions change quickly.

"I know my boy is one of the most loving and caring individuals on Earth. God's not going to punish him for how He made him, anyway. I now know it's not a choice, but something you're born with. I think it's best for him to tell you; he doesn't go around announcing it to everyone, and very few know. He's not ashamed of it; neither are we, but we don't want him hurt by ignorant people. He can't take stress, like I told you before."

"Louis ... Vicky ... you don't have to worry about me. I love Evan like a brother. I'm not a homophobe. I go to a church that says we don't judge. It's not our place to do so, and we are to love all God's people. I'm no religious zealot by any means, but I don't believe in hating people or treating them different, either."

"Good to hear, John; your dad's right to be proud of you. And I'm just as proud of Evan. He's shown us he's a very strong young man to go through all he has, and still has the strength to continue to hold on."

"Well, I've taken enough of your time, so I'm gonna go, now. I have a person out in the hospital I have to go visit. Then, I'm gonna contact Evan at church next Sunday by going to his service time. I already made up my mind before I got here, that I wanted to get to know him again and nothing you have told me has changed my feelings. I'm even more determined now ... he needs his ol' buddy by his side.

"Louis ... you sure this dog would still hurt me? He acts like he's known me for years, already. He hasn't left my side since I made up to him."

"John, that dog is a ham. He loves people ... but if he senses me getting upset, a couple simple commands or hand gestures ... he'd have you for lunch before you could get five steps away," Louis chuckled.

"Shepard’s are very loyal dogs to their family, and don't even get me going on how fast Tyler is. He still surprises me how fast the turd can run when he wants to."

"Good to know not to make you mad when Tyler's around," chuckled John.

Just before leaving, Vicky asked John to come back to the house for a moment. Once there, she loaned him some books on schizophrenia so that if he had any questions (which nearly everyone had!), the answers were well written and easy to understand.

"So much of the public doesn't understand about the illness," she had said.

John said his goodbyes and left in his truck. He had a lot to mull over in his head ... 'Evan's gay! ... Ok' ... He should have been surprised, but actually thinking about the fact ... it explained a lot.

The sketch ... the cuddling in bed ... no girl friends ... shy ... doesn't make friends ... All those things were bouncing around in John's head.

John returned home and went into the kitchen to get a Sunny Delight. He sat at the empty table and thought about all he learned about Evan. He couldn't decide which was harder to imagine, Evan being schizophrenic ... or gay.

John couldn't help but to feel guilty and like a shitty friend; he should've at least ... KNOWN.

'First Andy ... now, Evan ... damn! Way too much to process in so little time!'

John remembered the sketch and decided to go to the attic and find it. He was sure he'd never gotten rid of it.

He walked to the hallway where the trap door was located in the ceiling and pulled down the chain to open the door and bring down the folding stairs. John began to climb his big, tall, bulky frame up the ladder and hit his head on the rafters.

Cussing, John saw stars for a second and then looked around for the boxes that were close by. He remembered his high school stuff was all in an old foot locker that was handed down to him from his grandfather; it was his old WWW 2 Army-green locker.

John opened the lid and started searching through the contents, hoping to find the cardboard folder that the sketch should still be in, like it was when he took it home those seven years ago. John sat cross-legged on the dusty, old wooden floor and held the folder as he began to uncover the sketch from its cardboard case.

His eyes gazed on it again for the first time since he had gotten it all those years ago. He was amazed it was still in perfect shape. The cover had done its job to protect it and he was pleased. John stared at himself in the drawing and was amazed, all over again, as to Evan's talent.

The same talent he had just seen in the Hogan's immaculately groomed yard. The flowerbeds were all laid out in fine detail, and you could tell a lot of thought and talent was used, as everything had looked like it was in its right place.

He took the sketch downstairs and to the table to get a better look at it in the light. Seeing himself again as a smaller young man was mesmerizing to him.

Evan had sketched him so well. Even with his being nude, he still liked it a lot.

John began to wonder if Evan drew him naked because he had always been secretly in love with him? Did he fantasize about him naked ... and having sex with him?

John thought about maybe giving it back to Evan, or maybe even having it framed and put in his own bedroom. He thought that no matter what he was going to do with it, he was going to have it matted and framed on Monday.

Johns saw that it was 4 o'clock and knew that he should get to the hospital to check on his new little friend and see how he was progressing. He wondered if the John Doe had the same thing as Evan did? 'Damn! ... When it rains it pours,' John thought of the old cliché.

He arrived at the hospital about twenty minutes later and went to the room where the guy was supposed to be, once they took him out of ICU. When he entered room 204-C, he found the bed empty. John thought maybe he had gotten the wrong room, so he left and went to the nurse's station to find what room the John Doe was in.

"I'm sorry, sir; you had the right room, but he's no longer here."

"What do you mean? He was all banged up with a cast on; where did he go?"

"We don't know, sir ...a couple of hours ago, the nurse went in to check his vitals, and found that he was gone. It looks like he left the hospital."

"That's impossible! The man couldn't get ten feet as banged up as he was," John shouted.

"We've notified the police since he was in no condition to be out of bed, let alone leaving the hospital."

"I thought he was in restraints?" John asked angrily.

"He was; he must have gotten out of them, some how, and left without anyone seeing him leave. We can't explain it ourselves," the nurse said.

John gave the nurse a look like she was a fucking moron. He was pissed that they could just loose him that easily. 'He was only three rooms from the nurse's desk, for cripes sake,' John thought.

John left the hospital, got into his truck, got his cell phone out, and called Andy.

"Andy, I'm at the hospital and..."

"John, I know about the guy missing. I just haven't had time to call and tell you; sorry about that."

"I'm at an accident scene right now and it's not a good one; can I call you later and tell you what I know? It's not much more than I suppose you know right now."

"Oh, yeah ... sorry, Andy ... I forgot you were working."

" No problem, John, you can call me anytime; that's why I gave you the number ... I'll be in touch in a couple hours. It's going to take some time getting this cleaned up and the paperwork done. I'll call ya though, ok?"

"Sure, thanks, Andy."

'Damn!' John thought. 'What a freakin' day ... What's next?'

John drove home and got a beer and sat on the couch. He thought about Evan and what he went through. The more he thought about it, the more pissed he became.

'Why didn't his folks tell me sooner? ... I would've been right there ... helping Evan! ... Oh ... why didn't I stop Evan and talk to him longer last year when we ran into each other? ... I could have been there for my old friend.' John's thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. He got up and wondered ...'Now, fucking what?'

He opened the door to see Tom standing there, smiling.

"What's up, o' tall one? You wanna shoot some hoops, or you busy?"

"Hey, Tom ... come on in. How did your date go last night?"

"Well ... I think it went well; I got laid, anyways."

John said, "I'm glad someone is."

"Hell ... it's not like you haven't had the opportunities!"

"What does that mean?” asked John, thinking about Andy and trying to put it out of his mind.

"Shit, John, you know the way the chicks look at you. Half of them would lick your feet to go out with you. Honestly, I have no idea why, you're such a big, ugly, Sasquatch-looking motherfucker," Tom laughed heartily.

"Blow me, Beavis ... Don't make me hurt your ass," John retorted and then punched him in the arm hard enough to send him over the couch.

"Dang, bruiser, I was just kiddin'; what's up with you?"

"Nothing, just a lot on my mind is all. It's been a weird couple of days. I'm not really in the mood to play ball today, and I got to do some shit around here; have to be back at work tomorrow," John tried lying his way out of playing ball. Maybe some afternoon this week, if that's ok?"

"Ah, come on, you know playing hoops makes you stop thinking and you feel better afterwards; besides, I think I'm starting to see a bit of gut starting to form on ya." Tom smiled, pushing his finger into John's stomach.

"Just for that, I'm gonna kick your wheezing ass all over the driveway, weed boy; be right back; gonna go change into some shorts."

"Ok, but hurry up. I can't wait all fucking day for you to pick out an outfit," laughed Tom.

"Actually, I'm trying to cut back; you're right, I'm getting too old to walk around the rest of my life in a haze," Tom admitted, yelling back at John down the hallway.

John yelled back at him, "Think I'll get some band-aids, too, 'cause I think you're gonna need them after I get done with you on the court."

"Whatever!" Tom replied.

They played for a couple of hours and it was starting to get dark. They decided to stop since Tom wasn't going to win anyways. They both went back inside and Tom sat down at the kitchen table while John pulled a couple of cold beers from the fridge and handed one to Tom. John sat down and they both drink their beers and tried to catch their breaths from the intense workout of hoops. Both were ripe and sweating.

John got up and went into the laundry room and came back with a couple of freshly cleaned towels and handed one to his sweating buddy, then sat back down. John was quiet and began pealing off the beer label, looking as if he were in deep thought.

"John to Earth ... come in John," Tom mocked.

"What?" John looked up at Tom and asked.

"What's going on? Spill it, Albino? Tom ordered, smiling.

"Nothing really, just a lot on my mind."

"Look ... if it's about Jacob, he'll be home where he belongs, soon. You shouldn't worry."

"No, its not that. Jacob is the only RIGHT thing happening," John replied.

"Then what's up? ... This has to do with Evan again?" Tom asked, looking back down at his bottle.

"Why you say that? Have you been talking to Chris again?"

"No, but I've known you for a long time, John, and I know that look. You found out about Evan, today, didn't you?"

"Find out about what?" John asked, looking down at his bottle still tearing at the label.

"John, I think you're probably the last one to know that Evan's gay and that he's sick. And before you bite my head off, I don't mean he's sick, sick, I mean he's mentally messed up."

"I believe the word is Schizophrenic," John retorted and stared at Tom, daring him to make an off-the-wall remark.

"Look, John; I know it's hard for you to grasp all this at once, but I knew Evan was gay, back in high school. I mean ... I didn't know it for sure or anything, but I assumed it; it was kinda obvious. I didn't learn he was sick 'till Chris' husband told me, and he made me promise not to say anything, and that if Chris would find out he had told me, she'd cut his balls off and feed'em to the dog," Tom explained.

"Why? Was it obvious? I didn't have a clue he was gay. We even slept in the same bed a million times and he never once hit on me or tried anything."

"I don't know man, I really don't have any answers for you. All I can say is that I really feel for the guy. I know you think I never liked him, but to be honest I was just worried someone would think I was gay, too, if they knew I even liked him. I know that sounds stupid, but in high school, once something gets started, it's there for ever."

"Tom ... to tell you the truth, it wouldn't have mattered to me if everyone knew that Evan was my friend and he was like a brother to me. I feel like I let him down. It makes me feel the same way as not having my kid, and my marriage falling apart ... like I failed, somehow."

"John, you gotta stop living in the past; you'll make it up to both of them, I'm sure. Besides, neither of them was your fault. Evan pulled away 'cause he was getting sick, and that slut you married couldn't keep her legs closed, and she divorced you; remember?" Tom watched John for a reaction.

"Well, if you put it that way, I do feel a whole lot better, asshole." John looked up and smiled. You know, for a crack head, you're kinda smart," John smirked.

"Just don't go telling anyone. I have a reputation to uphold." Tom laughed.

"Don't worry, I'm quite sure your secret is safe," John said as he joined the laughing. "Tom, I just want you to know, that I plan on being Evan's friend again and I don't care who knows it. I don't want it to hurt our friendship, but I won't have you mistreating him. I want you two to be friends. I know you, and I don't want you to think I'm dumping you as a friend, 'cause that's just not going to happen. If I have to, I'll lock you in my basement and force you two to get along." John looked at Tom for a reaction.

"Hey ... I already knew this was coming, so I'm fine with it. I know you better than you think, John. I can tell when you have your mind made up to do something by looking into your eyes. I'm sure Evan and I will get along just fine. Besides, I'm sure there's no risk of him taking my place in playing you one-on-one in hoops," Tom laughed.

"Yeah, I suppose not, but if you don't mind, there is something else I'd like to ask of ya," John said with a devilish smile.

"Sure, what is it?" Tom questioned.

"You think you could get the fuck out of my kitchen and go home and take a fucking shower? You reek, man!" John chuckled and gave Tom one of his famous smirks.

"Blow me, Sasquatch. I'm fucking sure it's YOU that smells," Tom laughed back.
"Whatever Beavis" John smirks.

"Ok, OK. I can take a hint. It must be your shower-jack-off time, so I'm outta here; catch ya later in the week," Tom stated as he stood up and started heading towards the door.

"Later, Tom. And thanks for the game and the talk."

"See ya, bud." Tom said just before closing the front door on his way to his Jeep.

John looked at the clock and saw that it was 8:50 p.m.

He went to his bathroom and turned on the shower to let it run and get warm. He quickly stripped from his sweaty, smelly t-shirt and shorts and stepped into the hot steamy shower. The pulsing water felt great on his aching muscles from the good workout he got playing hoops. He slowly began to relax as he let the water massage his neck and back.

John's mind was also relaxing, and he found himself thinking about his son. Soon, it would be time to drive down to Georgia to get him. John couldn't wait to get the room done and let his mom decorate it for him. She wanted to add the finishing touches to the room by buying the bed and accessories.

She was really a good mom. John thought he needed to talk to her after work the next day, about Evan. She'd know all the answers; she always did. Besides, on Mondays he always went to her house for a good home cooked meal.

John soaped up his large torso and thought how odd it was that John Doe had left the hospital, and how much he reminded him of Evan. The fact, that he might also have been sick like Evan, was weird to John.

John also realized just now that Andy had never called him back like he said he would. Shit! He was outside playing hoops, and his cell phone was in his bedroom. He'd have to check the machine when he got out of the shower, to see if Andy had called.

He finished his shower and toweled himself . John put on some underwear and went to see if he had any messages. There was one and he played it back.

"John ... Andy here. You must be out or playing ball ... just calling to tell you that I really don't have any more info on why or how John Doe left the hospital. Will call you tomorrow if I find out anything new. Later ... Andy."

------------------------------------------------

Tom

'Shit ... Shit ... Shit! Now what am I gonna do? If John finds out about what happened with Evan and me, I will be royally FUCKED.' Tom cursed himself.

'Fuck! I still can't believe I let him blow me those couple of times in a booth when I worked at that DAMN adult bookstore a year ago.'

'John was right when he said I'd know who all the perverts in the town were, working there on the graveyard shift' Tom thought as he remembered.

'Why the HELL do I get myself into these things ... letting a FAG blow me of all things ... it had to be the fucking weed ... SHIT!'

----------------------------------------------------


While driving home from John's house, Tom recalled a year before when he was hard up for a job ... any job. He finally got hired at the local adult bookstore on the edge of town during the graveyard shift. He thought that at least people he knew wouldn't see him working there. ' That was even low for me,' he had thought to himself.

He remembered one late night around 3 a.m. when he saw Evan come into the store and walk right up to him at the counter and asked for five bucks in tokens and threw his money on the counter. He wasn't looking up when he did it; as usual, Evan was looking down like he always did.

'He's too ashamed of who he is,' Tom thought, 'to look people in the eye.' Tom always suspected Evan was gay, so to see him in there, was no surprise. The only surprise was that when Evan did look up, he didn't act as if he recognized Tom.

Business was slow that night and there was only one other guy in the store. Both of them were in the back part, watching arcade videos. Tom decided, out of curiosity, to go do his rounds and do a walk-through ... make sure no one was standing around not feeding quarters into the movie slots.

Tom immediately noticed that the two booths next to each other were occupied. He knew that those two booths had a glory hole attaching the two. He figured what was happening and smirked to himself.

Just as he was headed down the isle to do his rounds, he heard one of the booth doors open, and saw the older dude who was then leaving the store. He thought to himself, 'Evan must've not liked the older guy since he wasn't in there but a minute or so.'

Tom, as always, had been high on weed, and decided to spy on Evan and see what the little fag was doing. He figured he'd catch him whacking off. Tom entered the booth next to Evan and looked into the hole to see him there stroking his cock. The scene kind of excited him; he decided to play a gag on Evan, so he whipped out his soft cock and put it up to the hole to tease him.

Tom was trying not to laugh out loud thinking of his prank. When he pointed his cock just slightly into the hole he quickly felt a warm tongue slowly circle the head of his cock.

He was shocked that Evan actually licked his cock, and he was also amazed at how great it felt. His original plan to pull his cock back into his pants quickly was now diverted to wanting more of the sensation that fag was giving to his cock.

Tom was beginning to grow in length to his own amazement while Evan was now wrapping his warm lips around the head of his cock. Instinctively he just pushed his hardening cock further into Evan's mouth.

He couldn't believe how great it felt. He kept telling himself it was the weed, but he knew Evan was blowing him better than any girl ever had. He was fully erect by then and began fucking Evan's face through the hole at a faster pace. He could hear Evan slurping down on his hard cock with great effort.

It didn't take him long to start filling Evan's mouth with his spunk. He was shocked that Evan didn't pull away and that he swallowed all his juice. He remembered every girl that blew him always spit his cum out, that is, the ones that would actually let him cum into their mouths. And Evan was there ... sucking him dry.

Tom came down from his sexual high and quickly pulled out of Evan's mouth, stuffed his wilting cock back inside his pants, and zipped up. Tom left the booth at the same time Evan was trying to leave, too. They met face to face in the hallway.

Tom, feeling embarrassment at what had happened, looked at Evan, grabbed his shirt, and warned him not to tell anyone or he'd kick his ass.

Evan cowered to the intimidation and tried to apologize to him, saying that he didn't know it was him he was sucking, even though it was him, Tom, who put his cock into the hole to get sucked.

Tom released him from his hold and went back to the store counter, and after a few minutes Evan came out and told Tom that he was sorry, and begged Tom not tell any one ... especially, not John. Tom agreed, and Evan left.

Tom tried not to think about what had happened, and blamed it on all the damn porn and the weed making him horny.

About three nights later ... he saw Evan come in again about the same time. Evan got his tokens from him without saying a word and went back into one of the booths in the back. Tom couldn't believe it, at first, that he would come back in after what happened the last time. He knew Evan was the only customer in the store at that late hour, and Tom was very horny from looking at Hustler magazines.

Tom went to Evan's booth this time and knocked on his door. The door opened and Evan was standing watching a porn movie, but still had all his clothes on.

He entered the room and asked Evan if he wanted to blow him again. Evan answered with a soft, "Yeah." Tom demanded that Evan unzip his pants and pull it out, himself. Evan stood in front of him and did as he was ordered.

Tom pulled his t-shirt up to help give him access to his cock while exposing his hairy chest to Evan. Tom was getting his cock stroked with one of Evan's hands while the other was rubbing his hairy chest. The sensations were feeling great to Tom.

He asked him if he liked a hairy man's chest, half laughing at him. Evan answered, "Yeah ... it's hot."

Tom thought the answer was strange since most of the girls he dated didn't like his hairy chest; some even refused to touch his chest very much. He was enjoying the attention and ordered Evan to remove his shirt.

He could see Evan was very smooth and asked him if he wanted to feel his hairy chest up against his smooth one.

Evan readily agreed to the offer and Tom proceeded to come closer to Evan. He pressed his chest into Evan's, and rubbed it across him. Evan groaned and was still stroking Tom's cock as Tom rubbed against him, pinning him to the wall with his body.

Tom chuckled at Evan for liking that and then stepped back and told Evan to get to his knees and blow him. Evan complied and gave Tom a good sucking. He watched as Evan eagerly sucked him off, giving him another great blowjob.

In minutes, Tom filled Evan's mouth with his cum and watched him swallow it. The sight amazed him, and this time he wasn't angry but enjoyed his control over Evan. He told him to stand, and smiled at him, and asked if he liked tasting his cum.

Evan said it tasted good and salty and thanked him for letting him have it. Tom gave Evan a smirk and told him he wasn't too bad for a gay boy, and he did all right. Tom dressed himself again and left the booth and Evan followed him out to the front of the store. Evan walked out of the store after they reminded each other not to say anything.

Tom never seen Evan in the store again, and in two months, Tom had another job working at a body shop for cars.

Tom remembered how good it felt, even though it was a gay boy blowing him. He couldn't get over how Evan liked him rubbing his hairy chest all over his smooth one. He admitted to himself that it felt great, and he thought it was a shame he didn't get serviced more times from Evan. Tom knew he, himself, wasn't gay, and was only using Evan to get off, but that he did enjoy it ... a lot!

Now, if John were to find out, he knew that John would fuck him up bad for using Evan to get off. Tom felt worse then, 'cause before, he didn't know Evan was sick at the time. It would have made him seem like he had taken advantage of him even more in John's eyes.

John always was protective of Evan. Tom thought he might've used Evan out of jealously over the friendship that those two had. Tom and John, although, were good friends, but would never seem to have the closeness that John and Evan had. Sometimes, it made Tom mad at the thought.

'Shit ... somehow I gotta keep this a secret or I'm really going to regret it,' Tom thought to himself.


END CHAPTER 3



The subtitle of this chapter "Ride the Snake" comes from the lyrics of "The End" by Jim Morrison, The Doors. The lyrics of this song have profound meaning, as most of Jim Morrison's songs do. This one in particular goes well with this story.