Trials and Triumphs II
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 10
THE OUTING

Eric had been working for the agency for three months.  His schedule had expanded and he was servicing at least five clients each week and sometimes as many as ten in Dallas, Fort Worth, and surrounding cities.  It was profitable because Max steered him only to affluent clients who tipped generously.  His expenses were minimal and his bank account was sizable.  More importantly, he was happy.  The frequent sex was enjoyable, of course, but he took pride and delight in pleasing grateful and lonely men.  He didn’t yet have what he most wanted — a lifetime companion — but he was optimistic about finding someone to love.

In early December, Max summoned all twelve employees to a staff meeting at his home.  It caused quite a stir among the escorts because it had never been done before and no one had any clue about the purpose of the meeting.  Max deflected all questions about why he called the meeting.

Everyone assembled on a Wednesday afternoon to find name tags laid out for them on a table in the foyer.  It was a considerate move since none of the escorts had personally met more than two or three of their colleagues.  For the first hour, they mingled and introduced themselves to each other while Max and Justin circulated to make sure that plates were filled with hors d’oeuvres, and glasses were filled with wine or soda.  Always in hushed tones when the curious young men were sure that neither Max nor Justin could hear, they queried each other, “What’s this all about?”  The consensus was that it must be an early Christmas party.

All conversations were interrupted when Max called out, “Gentlemen!  Would you all join me on the patio out back?  Bring your plates and glasses if you like.  I have something to say to you.”

Most of the guests looked quizzically at each other but they all followed Max and Justin out the back door to a spacious patio.  Four tables and sixteen chairs were in place under a very large awning.

When everyone was seated, Max started the meeting.  “First and foremost, I want to thank each and every one of you for your efforts.  It’s you guys that have made the agency the success that it is.  And I want to commend you for earning the praise ... and the loyalty ... of our clients.  As a token of my thanks, I’m inviting you to a two-day retreat where you can relax and have a bit of fun.  I’ve arranged with one of our satisfied clients to rent his vacation house in the Piney Woods Region of East Texas.  Calling it a house isn’t right.  It’s a huge place surrounded by forest on three sides and overlooking Sam Rayburn Lake.  There’s a swimming pool and tennis court out back.  I’ve visited there and I assure you it’s palatial and beautiful.  There are only six bedrooms in the main house and two in a nearby guest house so you’ll have to double up at night.”  Max paused and continued, “HOW you double up is entirely up to you.”  A mixture of giggles and laughs rippled through the surprised staff.  Max turned to Justin and jokingly asked, “What’s so funny?”  Laughter resumed.

“The dates are December 27th and 28th — typically a slow time for the agency.   It’s only two days but I think you will enjoy it.  It may conflict with regular weekly appointments for a few of you.  If so, I will explain to your clients the reason.  I’m sure they will understand.  Some of you might have other plans for those dates.  I’m hoping, however, that ALL of you can arrange your plans to join us.  Now.  What will you do to fill two days of vacation?  There will be no planned activities except for meals that will be catered.  You’ll be on your own to hike, go boating, swim, or ... whatever comes up and catches your fancy.”  Boisterous laughter erupted.

“I’ve chartered a bus to take us there and back.  I’ve prepared an information sheet on when and where to meet the bus and some more information.  Justin?  Would you pass them out, please?    Any questions?”

After a short pause, Tim asked, “What should we bring?”

“A shaving kit, a change of clothes, and ... depending on you interests ... swim suit, hiking shoes ... whatever you might need for your preferred activities.”

“Plenty of condoms?” Justin shouted.

“JUSTIN!” Max shot back, faking displeasure.  “Can’t you think of anything else?”

Justin pretended to sulk, which only caused the laughter to grow louder.

“Okay, guys,” Max said to quell the din of laughter.  “Meeting’s over.  I’ll assume that you will all come but let me know in a couple of days if you CAN’T attend the party.  You’re welcome to hang around here for a while or get back to whatever you had planned for the rest of the day.”

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It was about a four-hour bus ride to the site of the retreat but the joviality and energetic conversations among the passengers made the trip pass quickly.  It was almost midnight on the evening before the two-day retreat when the bus pulled up in front of a very large house.  “Geez,” one of the escorts exclaimed.  “It’s a scaled down version of the Grand Hotel complete with huge porch and a portico!”  Pressed for what he meant by those who had never heard of the Grand Hotel, the young man explained, “It’s a famous and very classy hotel on Mackinac Island in upper Michigan.  I stayed there with my parents years ago.  And to think this is just some guy’s vacation house!  Incredible!”

Max escorted the entourage into the house as the bus pulled away.  Inside, he briefly pointed out where to find the available bedrooms and bathrooms (He and Justin would take the master suite.) and finished by saying, “It’s late.  Breakfast is at seven.  If you haven’t already paired with a roommate, do it now.  I’ll see you in the morning.”

Most had already agreed to share a room and proceeded immediately from the foyer up the stairs.  Eric and Tim were among the first to go up the stairs.  They had not met each other prior to the trip and nothing more than chance found themselves as seatmates on the bus trip.  They developed an immediate rapport and agreed to share a bedroom.

Tim was not a hunk like many of the other escorts.  He had a thin frame and a very youthful looking face that made him seem years younger than his age of eighteen.  Eric thought that might be appealing to some clients.

Tim came from a dysfunctional family in northeast Ohio.  His parents found out he was gay and berated him mercilessly.  They threatened to send him to a camp in Wyoming that claimed to “cure” homosexuals.  He refused to go and left home at seventeen to live with his boyfriend.  A heated argument with his boyfriend just before high school graduation forced him to move out.  He hitchhiked to Texas to stay with his married older brother who knew he was gay and accepted it.  Unable to find a job without a diploma, he started working for the agency.

But they were dissimilar in other ways.  Tim was a gregarious extrovert who made friends easily.  He was what academics would call a lateral thinker because he creatively found connections between seemingly unrelated things. To him, a sunset was the slow descent of the curtain at the end of an act in a play, signaling an intermission and time to reflect on how he performed in that act.  Eric saw the same sunset as the inevitable consequence of Earth’s rotation with brilliant colors caused by the refraction of light — the orderliness of demonstrable facts, Tim saw the world around him differently and was drawn to artistic expression in painting, music, and the performing arts.  Eric’s mind was more analytical and logical.

Eric found Tim to be, for lack of a better word, refreshing — honest and unpretentious, energetic, an attentive listener and interesting talker.  Tim appreciated Eric’s curiosity and genuine interest in Tim’s passionate love of visual and performing arts.  Together, those factors formed the basis of mutual attraction and their agreement to be roommates.

Upon staking claim to one of the upstairs bedrooms, Eric and Tim unpacked the few things in their overnight bags while still talking to each other as if they were old friends.  Eric said, “I think I’ll grab a quick shower before anyone else monopolizes the bathroom.”

Tim surprised even himself when he impulsively asked, “Why don’t we shower together?”

Eric’s expression was briefly startled but it quickly changed to a grin.  “I’d like that.”  But, fearing that his comment was too bold, he immediately added, “It will save time for others who want to shower.”

Both young men grinned.  Each had the same hopes.  Each sensed that the other felt the same way.  They stripped off their shoes, socks, shirt, and trousers and walked down the hall to the bathroom where they took off their underwear.

Eric must have shown his surprise upon seeing Tim’s pelvic region with no public hair, which made his average penis look longer.  Tim chuckled and said, “Yeah, I keep it shaved.  It’s a turn-on for a couple of my regulars; all the others don’t mind.  Any time a new client requests a juvenile escort, Max tells them we’re all at least eighteen.  If they insist on a young appearing escort, he gives the assignment to me.  I can’t be sure — I have no clear evidence — but I think one guy might be a pedophile.  But if I can satisfy his urges so he doesn’t bother little boys, I’m happy to do it.”

“Well,” Eric said, “I’m not a pedophile but I must say it’s sexy.”

It was not undiluted lust but it was a combination of mutual fondness and admiration that drove them both to be gentle and caring as they washed each other.  No words were spoken as they tentatively began; none were necessary.  The budding bond between them eliminated the need for requests and permissions.  Both became increasingly aroused in small part by the sensuous actions of washing and being washed but mostly due to their fondness for each other.  Their erections did not plead for release as much as they seemed to beg for the privilege of bestowing joy on a deserving friend.  The intensity of their orgasms was magnified by their liking for each other.  As each deposited his seed in the other’s mouth, he didn’t fully recognize the magic of the moment: another seed had been sown — the latent seed of love for each other.  Neither could foresee how soon or how vigorously that seed would grow and flourish.  Both of them, however, were warmed by a rich glow of emotional bliss as they cuddled together in bed.  Before they fell asleep, each reminisced to himself about his first lover.  It seemed so long ago and quite meaningless when compared to the current evening’s physical and emotional gratification.

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Everyone gathered on the patio by seven in the morning or slightly after for the catered breakfast of eggs, sausage, bacon, toast, waffles with a selection of syrups, juice, milk, coffee, and tea.  The good food was enhanced by the view of a swimming pool, tennis court, and the expansive back yard surrounded by dense forest.

After breakfast, everyone scattered to enjoy hiking in the woods, swimming in the pool (nude, thanks to a wooden privacy fence on three sides of the pool that made it visible only from the house and patio), playing tennis, canoeing on the lake, lounging on the patio, or going back to their rooms for undisclosed reasons.

“Hey, Eric,” Mike said.  “Care to join Larry and me in a walk through the woods?”

“Sure,” Eric replied.  “Would you mind if Tim comes along?”

“More the merrier!” Mike replied.

For the rest of the day, Eric and Tim were inseparable — canoeing, swimming, playing billiards in the basement game room — which caused many other escorts to speculate.  The new friends’ companionship was particularly obvious to Mike and Larry.  They, more than anyone else, noticed the uninhibited laughter, the frequent consideration of the other’s needs and wishes, the sparkle in their eyes when they exchanged glances, and what seemed to be a glow of happiness in both their faces.

Larry and Mike sat with Tim and Eric at dinner that night.  When Tim excused himself to go to the bathroom, Mike seized the opportunity to resolve a question that had intrigued him for most of the day.  “You and Tim get along very well together.  Is it more than a friendship?”

Eric was blindsided by the question and was hesitant to reply.  Yes, he cared for his vivacious new friend.  He allowed himself to hope that the friendship would continue and ... perhaps ... blossom into a relationship.  But it was far too soon to be sure of any reciprocal interest.  To divert the subject he answered, “I only met him yesterday.  He’s fun to be with.  He’s a friend ... like you and Larry are my friends.”

“Forgive me,” Mike said.  “It’s just that I see in both you and Tim the same thing that Larry and I experienced when we met.  Call it excitement, camaraderie, joy ... whatever.  But I’ve never seen you so happy.  Let me just say that I hope it works out for you both.  You’d make a perfect couple.”

Larry interjected, “If it does, buddy.  I hope we’re the first to know that our prediction was right.”

“Geez, guys!” Eric exclaimed.  “You really believe in love at first sight?”

“YES!” both Mike and Larry said in unison and laughed.

That night, as Eric and Tim made love in bed, they both felt that they may have found someone with whom to share the rest of their lives or at least allowed themselves to hope so.

To be continued...

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

Posted:09/28/12