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 12
ROCKY ROAD TO THE SUMMIT

YEAR ONE

It was a difficult first year in Houston. 

Although Tim and Eric were together as devoted partners and treasured the mutual love they shared, the challenge of setting up an escort agency was almost overwhelming.  After two months of trying to get it started, they began to regret their decision to strike out on their own.  They were able to accommodate their few clients but as the number of men requesting an escort grew, scheduling conflicts became a problem, especially on weekends.  With only Eric and Tim available to handle the increasing number of requests, they had to turn away new clients.  Recruiting desirable and reliable staff was as urgent as it was difficult and was the major hurdle to the growth and success of the business.

They visited college campuses to investigate whether there was an organization for gays (whether officially sanctioned or not).  The University of Houston, a school of about 35,000 students had such a group.  The much smaller Rice University had just formed a Gay Lesbian Support Group sponsored by the future chancellor of the school who was straight.  They even visited Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, seventy miles away.  But none of those visits were productive.  They cruised bars that seemed to cater to gays but came away with nothing promising to show for their efforts.  Frustration mounted and depression was just around the corner for the two entrepreneurs.    Only two things kept them going.  The first was that they had very few expenses since their apartment and the startup costs of the business were taken care of by Max.  More influential, however, was their ambition, their optimistic hope that success was just around the corner, and their unwavering support of each other.

A classified ad they prepared was rejected by the mainstream newspapers but accepted by an “underground” paper.  [Seeking 18-25 yo men to provide evening companionship/entertainment to refined gentlemen.  Part-time, variable hours, generous compensation.  Call 555-1212]  Responses were few.  Fewer still were those invited to an interview.  All of those interviewed were unacceptable for a variety of reasons.  Two didn’t pass the background check because of criminal records — minor offenses like public indecency or driving while intoxicated but enough to suggest potential character and behavioral problems if they where hired.  Three were rejected because they were not sufficiently attractive — overweight or had unappealing tattoos.  It was particularly painful to tell those candidates that they were otherwise qualified but their appearance would not appeal to clients.   One lost out on the basis of his emphatic statement, “Nobody’s gonna fuck me!  I won’t be a cunt bitch for anybody!”

Eric and Tim were disheartened by the fading promise of success.  While Tim manned the phone at home and dreaded having to turn away yet another potential client, Eric made yet another frustrating round of scouting the bars.  His spirits were given a lift while sitting in a bar talking to a patron named Zack who was a strikingly handsome twenty-year-old, friendly, articulate, and well groomed.  If Eric had not already found an ideal partner, he would have pursued the possibility of forming a relationship with Zack.  Instead, he deftly maneuvered the conversation to the point where he could introduce the subject of an escort service and say, “You’re exactly the kind of guy who would be a phenomenal success and you would earn lots of money just for doing what you and our clients want.  Would you like to come work for our agency?”

“No,” the young man said.  “I wouldn’t be interested but I think you ought to talk to Terry.  He’s a real hunk and he needs the money as much as he needs the sex.  He was in a relationship once but it soured after a short time.  Now he’s giving it away to anybody who will take him home or to a hotel room.  He’s getting all the sex he wants but needs the cash to pay his bills.”

“How can I contact Terry?” Eric asked.

“He comes in here quite often but I haven’t seen him tonight.  We had sex once and he gave me his phone number.  I never called him but I think I still have his number at home.  Come by tomorrow night.  I’ll bring the number with me.”

Eric sensed something suspicious in the otherwise encouraging information and asked, “Why didn’t you call him after the first night together?”

“It’s not that he fails to satisfy.  He does a magnificent job at that.  It was something he said.  I told him what I really wanted one day was a permanent partner.  He laughed as though he was mocking me for being too romantic and said, ‘That’s not for me, pal.  I was there once and it was a disaster.  All I want is sex.  As often as possible.’  That isn’t what I want so I lost all interest in him.”

Terry turned out to be the ideal candidate — very attractive, articulate, clean record, and eager to start work.  He was given a probationary assignment and earned high praise from his first client.  The fledging agency had its first staff member, which came just in time to handle the steadily increasing number of calls from men who sought an evening’s (or overnight) pleasure.  Hiring Terry was a double win because he was instrumental in referring other candidates, many of whom met the criteria and signed on to work for the agency.  After a troubled and discouraging period of launching their business, Eric and Tim could bask in their success in establishing their business.

Max was both surprised and pleased by how soon the Houston operation became viable.  “Amazing!” he exclaimed over the phone.  “I never lost confidence in your ability but you’ve surpassed my expectations.  You’ve achieved what it took me years to achieve.  Congratulations!”

Eric replied, “Thanks, Max.  “But a lot of credit goes to you and your guidance in how to set up and run an agency.”

YEAR TWO

After the first arduous year in Houston, Eric and Tim couldn’t be happier.  Their love for each other grew daily.  The escort business was thriving with five escorts kept busy with local residents and with business men visiting Houston.  Eric and Tim each kept a few favored clients for themselves because they were enjoyable, and grateful.  But they had plenty of free time so Tim completed his GED for a high school diploma and enrolled in college.  Eric also began college studies.  They were able to coordinate their schedules so they didn’t have classes at the same time and one of them was always available to answer the phone when a client called.

Business was good.  Their love life was VERY good.  But they were unaware of brewing trouble.

A fundamentalist and very charismatic minister delivered a sermon to his small but devoted congregation that included a scathing denunciation of homosexuality.  His voice grew to a crescendo as he concluded with, “Brothers and Sisters, a cancer is growing in Houston that threatens the moral fabric of our community.  Homosexuals have established a prostitution ring that lures men into acts of depravity.  They could be your sons.  Your brothers.  Your father.  We must demand the cleansing of this abomination.  The laws of the Almighty prohibit this wicked and unnatural practice.  It demands our immediate action to eradicate this assault on the morality of our city.  Failure to stamp out this abomination will surely bring God’s punishment to anyone who does not take action.  I call on you to attend the next meeting of the City Commission and let God’s will be heard through your voices.  Demand that Law Enforcement arrest and punish the degenerate sinners.  Let us now pray for purity in our city.”

The minister’s congregants filled the City Commission meeting room the following Wednesday night.  When the designated spokesperson was ruled out of order because the issue was not on the published agenda, a roar of protest erupted in the room and didn’t stop until several police officers cleared the room of all who continued to shout their indignation.

A front-page article in the next edition of the Houston Chronicle reported the outcry and chaos that disrupted the commission meeting.  Although it did not identify Eric’s agency since none of the protesters knew its name or the names of its personnel, it did include an interview with the Chief of Police who emphasized that department was already overburdened with more serious issues of drugs, assaults, murders, burglaries, and more.  In spite of the Chief’s comments, Eric worried that his operation would be shut down.  Worse, he, Tim, and the escorts would be prosecuted, fined, or jailed for prostitution.  He took immediate action by notifying all the staff, urging caution and reminding them of the required protocol.  The first contact with a new client should be considered as a possible sting operation by an undercover Police Officer.  Therefore, he emphasized, never initiate sex or even talk of sex with a new client.  Always let him take the lead and explicitly request sexual contact.  Allow him to continue until you are absolutely sure that he is the one who instigated the sex.  Then and only then should you become an active participant.  Moreover, never say anything about payment for your services.  You may accept a tip only if he does not explicitly say or imply that it was for sexual service.

As an additional precaution, Eric and Tim would mention to all prospective clients that the escort’s role is to provide companionship, conversation, and entertainment.  If the caller specifically inquired about sexual contact, the standard reply was, “The nature of the companionship is entirely up to you but the escort may or may not agree to grant your request.”  Most new clients chuckled and said something like, “I  get it.  You’re just being cautious.”  To which Eric or Tim would respond, “And you can be sure that we will honor the confidentiality of our service.”

In spite of — or because of — the renewed emphasis on caution, there was only one suspicious encounter.  One of the escorts reported to Eric that his client took him to dinner and then back to his hotel room but never requested or suggested sexual contact.  The escort left at ten that night after two tedious hours of trivial conversation.  Eric agreed that it was most probably a sting resulting from the protests at the Commission meeting and he complimented the escort for handling the situation perfectly.

A brief article on page 23 of the Houston Chronicle several days later reported the highlights of the City Commission meeting.  Included was a report from the Police Department that “An investigation of a homosexual prostitution ring found no evidence to substantiate the allegations made in a previous Commission meeting.”

YEAR THREE AND BEYOND

The agency continued to be successful with no apparent interference from law enforcement.  Three more escorts were hired and all escorts were kept busy and enjoyed their lucrative compensation.  The virulent homophobia occasionally surfaced in one church or another but never rose to the level of a threat to the agency.

Tim earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and spent his free time painting and sculpting.  He work was honored in an exhibition at a local art gallery, rave reviews, and a growing demand for his work.  One painting was never shown but was hung in his and Eric’s bedroom.  It showed the two of them naked and picnicking in a grassy clearing in the middle of a forest that was reminiscent of the woods that surrounded the house where they were roommates and became lovers on the retreat Max had sponsored.

Eric graduated with a Bachelor’s degree, majoring in business administration.

During an otherwise routine phone call from Max, Eric was surprised to hear, “Eric, my boy, I couldn’t be more pleased with the way you set up and have run the agency in Houston.  I want you to take over both operations because it’s time I retired.  Justin and I want to relax and to be rid of what’s become a chore running the Dallas agency.  You’ll have complete control over both Houston and Dallas.  I’d like you to come up to Dallas where we can discuss the details.”

“Wow!” Eric exclaimed.  “That’s a huge surprise.  Are you sure there’s not one of your staff up there who could take over?”

“Yes and no,” Max replied.  “I know that’s ambiguous but we can talk about it when you’re here.”

<><><><><> 

“How did the meeting go?” Tim asked when Eric returned from Dallas.

“Very well,” Eric grinned.

“So are you going to accept the added responsibility?”

“I haven’t yet because I need to get your opinion.  The terms are that I buy his interest in the Dallas agency.  That means a sizable investment.  And I won’t do it if you don’t approve or have any reservations.  After all, it’s OUR money that will be at stake.”

“DO IT!” Tim exclaimed.

“But you don’t even know how much it will cost.”

“True.  But this much I do know.  If it were too much you would have turned him down on the spot.  You’re the business major.  You have already evaluated the risks and rewards.  Here’s something else I know.  I know you love me and I love you.  I appreciate your consulting with me but I’m with you forever and will support you in any way I can.”

Eric kissed his lover to thank him and said, “There’s more.  I insisted that you and I must stay together.  He said he knew that and then said that Chad, his senior staff member, was capable of managing Dallas but couldn’t afford the cost of buying the business.  Moreover, Chad wants to give up servicing clients because he’s found a partner who doesn’t like the idea of his continuing to see clients.  So he will be in charge of Dallas and we can stay in Houston.”

Later that evening, as Eric and Tim lay in bed after a particularly amorous period of making love, Tim said, “I love you, Horatio.”

“WHAT?”  Eric replied.

“You’re a modern day Horatio Alger,” Tim laughed.

“Why do you say that?”

“Horatio Alger wrote a series of novels in the late 1800’s about young boys who started out poor, hungry, and neglected but through ambition and courage rose to respectable middle class status.  That’s kinda your story, isn’t it?”

“With one big difference,” Eric countered.  “I’ll bet none of the boys in his stories exchanged homosexual services for money or favors.”

“Don’t be so sure,” Tim replied.  “More than a few scholars have speculated on Alger’s sexuality.  There are frequent episodes in his novels where the hero, a boy, may have had a forbidden relationship with a kindly man.  Of course, the Puritan atmosphere at the time would not permit anything more than a hint of such a thing but the evidence strongly suggests that he was expressing his own attraction to boys and men.”

“If it’s true that he was gay,” Eric mused, “and if he were alive today, he could have been a client of our agency.”

“Just like so many other men who use our service,” Tim laughed.

THE END ... for now

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

Posted: 09/28/12