GRANDSON'S EDUCATION
By: Morris Henderson
(Copyright 2007 by the author)
 

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

 Chapter 1
Prelude

Jerry Knowland was an extremely successful executive in a regional bank whose branches spread across the state. When the current president announced his retirement, it was generally agreed that Jerry would succeed him as president of the bank. Several of the Board Members had privately assured him of his promotion. Jerry was, of course, thrilled by the prospect. It would be the culmination of his career and, at age 54, he could expect at least another decade of increasing influence in the community, considerably more income, and the chance to implement changes in the bank to make it more competitive.

But two events would change all of that.

Jerry's wife of more than 30 years was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer and given six months to live. Although their love for each other withered years ago, Jerry, out of compassion and duty, devoted more time to caring for her and less time on his many responsibilities at the bank. His distraction and frequent absence from the office left him out of the loop, which resulted in being completely blind-sided by the second disaster.

The event that sealed Jerry's fate was a bid from a much larger bank to acquire Jerry's bank. The Board saw the offer as irresistable and, after a short period of negotiation, consented to the deal. Upon Jerry's wife's death, the new owners of the bank offered Jerry a job at their headquarters. The job was a good one but not one that Jerry would enjoy so he negotiated a lucrative severance package and took an early retirement.

What no one at the bank or in the community knew was that Jerry, after the initial disappointment of a premature end to his career, welcomed the turn of events for two reasons.

First, he was free from the increasingly onerous demands of his job. With ample money, he could finally begin to enjoy doing what he liked: travel, fishing, and painting.

Second, he was free from a "marriage of convenience." He had married young partly in the futile hope that it would "cure" his attraction to men but mostly on the theory that a traditional marriage was essential to career advancement and acceptance in the community. His wife was, in fact, a distinct advantage to his career--she was the amiable hostess and supportive of Jerry's dedication to his job--but his attraction to men only increased. While he had no gay experiences after early experimentation in high school and a brief relationship in college, his fantasies--even when having sex with his wife--always included men.

Jerry had one daughter and one grandson, both of whom he adored. His son-in-law was killed in a freak accident on a construction site when Kevin, Jerry's grandson, was only three. Jerry became a substitute father for Kevin and thoroughly enjoyed playing with him as a child, taking him to ball games and movies, fishing, and generally being the primary adult male in his life. Their bond only deepened as Kevin grew into a bright, athletic pre-teen. Kevin was, in effect, the son Jerry never had and he relished being the substitute father.

In the first summer of Jerry's early retirement, Kevin was 15. Jerry convinced his daughter to let Kevin travel with him on a camping and fishing trip for a week or so. She was initially reluctant to part with her only child for so long but eventually yielded to the argument that Kevin would enjoy it and that it was, perhaps, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The following year, Kevin would be 16, have a car, a summer job, and probably a girlfriend. That would virtually preclude another opportunity to take a vacation together.

The experience, Jerry argued, would add a new dimension to Kevin's education. Kevin excelled academically but lacked exposure to anything beyond 50 miles from home. That argument seemed to clinch the deal and she reluctantly agreed.

No one knew at the time, however, the startling direction that Kevin's education would take. If Jerry had the barest inkling of what would happen between he and his grandson, he would not have suggested the plan.

Kevin was elated when asked if he would like to go on the trip. He cherished the times that he spent with his grandpa and that, more than the prospect of vacation travel, delighted him.

Jerry also looked forward to an extended vacation camping fishing, hiking, and generally enjoying his escape from the corporate rat race. That he would have his grandson as company only added to the allure of the trip.

Kevin's excitment grew as the day of departure neared. His exuberance even wore on his mother to the point where she was impatient for the time when Kevin would not be bouncing around the house and bombarding her with complaints that he couldn't wait.

Grandpa had bought Kevin camping and fishing gear and a small wardrobe of appropriate clothing. His mother's contribution was a cell phone and a pleading request that he phone home at least twice a week. Kevin initially objected but, at his grandpa's urging, promised to comply.

At dawn one morning in late July, Jerry packed his things in the back of his Jeep Grand Cheroke 4x4 and drove to his daughter's house to pick up Kevin and his things. He had only pulled into the driveway when Kevin bounded out of the house like a thoroughbred from the starting gate. He had slept very little the night before and all of his things had been carried to the front of the garage long before Jerry's arrival so as not to delay their departure any more than necessary. It would be hard to say which of the two was more eager to begin their adventure but clearly Kevin's teenage exuberance was almost out of control.

Jerry helped Kevin load his bags in the Jeep and a tearful mother bid her son goodbye with the obligatory reminders to be careful, to mind his grandpa, and to stay in touch.

For the first fity miles of the drive north to the border, Kevin remained animated and talkative but his lack of sleep soon took its toll and just more than an hour into the drive, he fell asleep. Jerry loved his grandson and delighted in the boy's obvious happiness but welcomed the silence. It gave him ample opportunity to reflect on the unexpected but welcomed turn of events that allowed him to enjoy the activities that he never had enough time for.

It was just past noon when they reached northern Michigan. Jerry was hungry, tired from driving and eager to stop for the night. He turned off I-75 at Vanderbilt. He was familiar with the area because he had spent one of his rare vacations at a nearby lake. He pulled into a little cafe where he had found "home-cooked" food that he had enjoyed on previous visits. He parked in front and looked over to Kevin who still slept soundly. He was about to nudge him awake when he noticed a bulge in the boy's pants--the unmistakable sign of a morning woodie and the need to empty the bladder. Jerry chuckled at the sight. Although Jerry's secret attraction to men caused a minor twitching of his cock, this was, after all, his grandson so he thought no more about it as he jiggled his grandson's shoulder and called his name.

Kevin woke slowly but eventually asked, "Where are we?"

"Vanderbilt, Michigan. It's lunch time. Are you hungry?"

"Don't know," the boy replied, still shaking off his slumber. "But I do know that I gotta pee." That he said that was merely evidence of the uninhibited conversation between the two.

"I can see that," Jerry chuckled as he nodded toward Kevin's crotch.

Kevin looked down, blushed, and said, "Damn. It does that at the most awkward times."

"Perfectly normal," Jerry said to relieve Kevin's embarrassment but then couldn't resist the temptation to ask, "Think you can make it into the rest room in the cafe with that growth between your legs?"

"Grandpa!" Kevin exclaimed indignantly. Although the two enjoyed teasing each other, his grandpa's joke about his private parts only increased his embarrassment. Almost defiantly, he opened his door and walked toward the cafe's entrance, leaving Jerry to follow and chuckle inwardly about his grandson's awkward gait.

When they entered the men's room, Jerry was not surprised to see that Kevin went into a stall to sit down. Perhaps he was still shy about his erection; perhaps his bowels were as full as his bladder. Or, perhaps like Jerry as a virile youngster, sitting down to pee was easier with a stiffy.

After eating, the two climbed into the Jeep and Jerry drove off toward I-75. But instead of taking the entrance ramp, he took a country road heading west.

"Where are you going?" Kevin asked.

"To a lovely little lake near here. I was there a few years ago and it's beautiful. The southwest side of the lake is still relatively undeveloped and secluded. I thought we could set up camp there, stretch our weary bones, and relax before going on."

"Is that where we'll camp, then?" Kevin said.

"For a while, anyway. There are some other places I have in mind as well but we can start here. We're not bound by a particular schedule. Besides, unless I'm mistaken, you'll want to stay at the lake a day or so before we head on to discover new places. We can fish, swim, hike, and just enjoy ourselves for a while. Okay?"

"Sure," the boy responded. "What's the place like?"

"I'd rather you see it and form your own impressions. Part of the joy in traveling like this is exploring new places, letting things happen, and not be a slave to a fixed schedule."

Kevin had learned that his grandpa always gave good advice and for some time he pondered the implications of what he had just heard. Ultimately, he concluded that he would accept the spirit of adventure and exploration. Of course, he didn't realize at the time that the explorations would result in immense pleasure the likes of which he could never have imagined. Nor did Jerry. The experiences he was to have with his grandson -- experiences that would have to remain a secret between them -- would eclipse every other aspect of their vacation together.


To be continued...

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Posted: 09/28/07