Trials and Triumphs I
By: Morris Henderson
(Copyright 2012 by the author)

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

Chapter 8

A DIFFICULT DECISION

Eric had a lot to think about that night.  Mr. Connors’ offer was tempting.  To travel the world would be an adventure ... and it would no doubt be in luxury.  The frequent sex was also appealing even if it was with an older man.  He was, after all, a very handsome man.  But there was a nagging problem.  It was sure to be a liaison based solely on sex-for-hire.  There would be very little chance of developing a loving relationship, something that was important to him.  Could he tolerate being a whore boy?

In the middle of the next day he had still not made up his mind and he knew that Mr. Connors expected an answer at the end of the shift.  By the time the horn blared to indicate the end of the workday, Eric had formulated a plan.

“Come in,” Connors beamed when Eric appeared at the office door.  “I hope you have good news for me.”

“That depends, Sir.”

“Depends on what?” the puzzled man replied.

“Before I accept or decline your offer I’d like to make sure I understand all of the details.”

“Good!” Connors grinned.  “That shows you’ve got a head on your ... your wonderful body.”

Ignoring the compliment, Eric sat on the sofa.  As he expected, the boss sat next to him.  “First of all, you said I would be pretending to be your son.  Is that right?”

“Right.”

“So whenever we’re together, I would be known as Eric Connors?”

“Of course.”

“And who would be my mother?  We will have to coordinate our stories.”

“Your mother is my wife ... or, rather, WAS my wife.  Her name was Harriet.  But she’s no longer around.  We divorced many years ago.  I’ve completely lost touch with her.”

Eric was surprised that Connors had been married.  Why, then, was he now obviously interested in having gay sex?  He would have to ask ... but now was not the time.  Instead, he resumed his questioning.  “And would I have grandparents or other relatives?”

“No.  My parents are dead.  Harriet’s parents refused to contact me after they found out....   I might as well be honest.  They found out I was gay, which was also the reason for the divorce.”

Although he was curious, Eric wisely decided not to pry further into why a gay man would marry or into the subject of how his wife found out her husband was gay.  “You also said that I would be getting a salary.  Is that right?”

“Right!  Twice what you’re making now.”

“Just to be crystal clear, my duties while in your employ would be to have sex with you whenever you wanted and in whatever way you wanted it.”

The man cringed at the blunt question but answered, “You’re putting it a bit bluntly ... one might say crudely ... but yes.”

“So far, so good,” Eric said.  “But there are a few more details I think we should agree on.  That is, if I accept your offer.”

“And they are?”

“My only sexual experience was one time with Brian.  You should know that I don’t have experience in pleasing a man.  If that disqualifies me, you may want to withdraw the offer.”

“It’s not a problem, Eric.  You have the good looks and sharp mind that attracts me to you.  As for techniques, it will be a voyage of discovery for us both.”

“One more thing, Sir.  I have no problem with oral sex but I’ve never been fucked.  Anal sex may be difficult for me at first.  I’m a virgin down there and you’ll have to go slow until I’m used to it.”

Connors was delighted that his prey was a virgin but he controlled his enthusiasm when he said reassuringly, “I understand.  You can trust me to be careful.”

“That’s good,” Eric grinned but he grew serious when he said, “There’s one thing that might be a deal breaker.  I will NOT submit to any S and M stuff.”

“Not to worry, my boy.  I wouldn’t enjoy that and would never subject you to it.  I can see you’ve thought this through carefully.  Is there anything else we should agree on?”

“Yes, Sir.  The chance to travel with you is enticing.  But I’m sure you would choose to travel in comfort.  Airfare, fancy restaurants, and first class hotels would be expensive.  I could never afford to pay my share of the cost.  Are you planning on paying for my travel and hotel rooms?”

“Of course.  You needn’t worry about that.  But just out of curiosity, what do you plan on doing with your salary?”

“Personal stuff, mostly — souvenirs, clothes, perhaps meals when we don’t dine together — most of it will go into a savings account.  You already know from the investigator’s report that I’ve had a couple of periods of homelessness.  I don’t want to be homeless and hungry ever again.”

“Very prudent of you,” Connors grinned.  “Is there anything else on your mind?”

“Just one more thing, Sir.  It’s the duration of the new job as your ... what did you call it? ... your personal assistant.  Twice in my life someone close to me has turned against me.  First it was my Dad; then it was Brian.  It’s made me very cautious.  So here’s my proposal.  Either of us can terminate the agreement at any time if it doesn’t seem to be satisfying our needs.  That means you can fire me ... or I can quit ... before things get ugly ... with no hard feelings.  I have absolutely no reason now to think that will happen but I think it’s only fair that both of us have an escape hatch IF it happens.”

Eric’s last condition took Connors by surprise.  He had considered the possibility but hadn’t expected an eighteen year old boy to think about it and have the courage to make such a request.  “My, my,” the man said.  “You have a talent for negotiation, don’t you?  I agree to your terms.  Do we have a deal?  Will you accept my offer?

“Yes, Sir,” Eric grinned.

Connors smiled broadly.  His proposal had been accepted.  He even felt a tingle in his crotch at the prospect of taking the attractive young man to bed.  But he suddenly grew serious (although it was pretense).  “Wait!” he said.  “There’s something I have to add to our agreement.’

Eric was puzzled and just a bit fearful about the sudden change in the man’s expression and what he might require.

“You must never again call me sir.  If our deception is to be believable, you must always call me Dad.”  His smile returned, easing Eric’s anxiety.

“Okay, Dad!” Eric beamed.

“You’ve made me a very happy man, Eric.  And I sincerely hope that I can make you happy in your new life.  As for me, I can hardly wait for ... ah ... for you to come live with me.”

“I’ll have to give notice to my foreman that I’m quitting.  I think two weeks is the customary time.”

“You’re ethical to the bone, Son!  I admire that.  Two weeks is normal but I can exercise my prerogative to grant an exception.  Let’s consider your new duties as my personal assistant to begin immediately.”

“There’s another problem,” Eric said.  “Maybe I can walk out on my job here but I can’t walk out on Grant.  He needs me.  Arrangements will have to be made for someone to assist him ... part time ... seven days a week.”

“I’ll take care of that first thing in the morning,” Connors said.  “I know a reputable elder care service.  They have nurses but also have other dependable people on staff for non-medical services.  What does he need?”

“Fixing meals, light housework — cleaning and laundry and such — that’s all.  OH!  He also needs help taking a bath so it would be better if another man helps him with that.”

“Done!  Why don’t you break the news to him tonight?  Assure him that he will have professional help.  And meet me at six thirty tomorrow evening at the front entrance to the plant.  You needn’t bring your things; we can pick them up later.  Tomorrow, we’ll have a good dinner and I’ll take you to your new home.  I CAN’T WAIT!”

Impishly, Eric asked, “For the dinner?  For having a son?  Or is it something else?”

Connors flashed a wick grin and said, “Whatever comes up!”

<><><><><> 

Eric explained to Grant that evening that he had been given a promotion at work.  It was quite a stretch of the truth but he could hardly divulge the nature of the offer he had accepted.

“Congratulations, my boy,” the man enthused.

“There’s more,” Eric said.  “The new job will require some travel.  That means I won’t be here for occasional long periods.  So I’ve arranged for someone to take my place and help you here.”

“Don’t want no damn stranger around!” Grant groused.

“But I was a stranger once,” Eric countered.  “And it seemed to work out well.  Besides, you’ll be getting professional help.  I’m confident they will do a better job than I did.  I’m arranging for an elder care service to come in part time and do what I’ve been doing for you.”

“Why can’t you continue to do it?” Grant asked.

“Unfortunately, with the new job I won’t be able to,” Eric replied.  “In fact, I’ll be moving out.  But I’ll keep in touch with you because you’ve been like a father to me and I want you to be happy.”

Grant was greatly disappointed that Eric would be moving out.  He had become quite fond of the young man who was not only dependable and considerate but also had a disposition that seemed to brighten his life of aches and pains.  And he was reluctant to have an elder care service — with who knows what caliber of staff — take care of his needs.  Eric overcame the resistance, however, by promising to keep in touch and to immediately intervene if any problems arose. 

Mr. Connors had promised to smooth things over with Eric’s foreman when he didn’t report for work the next day.  That gave Eric a whole day to pack his things and to periodically reassure Grant that the elder care service would prove to be more than acceptable.  It was a tremendous help that the middle-aged woman from the service appeared at the front door shortly after noon was friendly and professional ... and significantly, she was a member of the church Grant had attended before age and arthritis made him a prisoner in his home.  He took an immediate liking to the idea of having a new caregiver.

As six thirty approached and Eric prepared to meet Connors, he grew nervous.  He had no significant regrets about accepting the offer; all of his major concerns had been erased after questioning Connors about the details.  And he no longer obsessed over being a whore boy; it wasn’t what he wanted most — a loving, lifelong emotional bond — but at least the sex would satisfy his physical needs.  Also, living in a luxurious home and traveling the world with his new ‘dad’ would be exciting and fun.  No, it was none of those things that made Eric nervous.  He had committed himself to a totally new life, one that was vastly different than the one he had been living and one in which the unknowns were unknown.  Would he enjoy it as much as he thought he would?  Could he give up the fierce independence that had carried him through a series of unpleasant periods in his life?  Was he, in fact, to become a slave to an older man’s demands?  

To be continued...

My thanks to Iatia for his consistently meticulous editing and for his continuing encouragement.
 

Posted:08/03/12