Rumspringa

By: Morris Henderson
(© 2011 by the author)

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

Author’s Reminder:   Jeremiah and Isaac adopted nicknames (Jerry and Zack) to use during their Rumspringa.  This narrative, therefore, uses the nicknames when quoting dialog between them but uses their proper names when otherwise referring to them. 

Chapter 3 

As the months passed, both Jeremiah and Isaac grew more at ease living with Jason among the "English." Their adjustment to life outside the Amish community might have bordered on the traumatic were it not for Jason's fatherly support and advice.  It was, of course, a great help that their host understood their concerns and problems since he had experienced leaving the Amish community in his own Rumspringa.  Jason had become fond of his two young boarders and they with him.  It was no surprise, therefore, that the boys developed a comfortable rapport and shared their thoughts and feelings openly without the slightest reservation.  Except, of course, their sexual interests.  That had to remain a rigorously guarded, dark secret.

Jason's grown children were all daughters.  He had always wanted a son and harbored the hope that his sons-in-law might somehow substitute for the sons he never had even though they were adults.  But it was not to be.  They did not share with him any views on politics, pride in manual labor, hobbies, entertainment, or, in one case, religion.  His relationships with his daughters' husbands never rose above being politely cordial.  With Jeremiah and Isaac it was different.  A trust developed.  They shared in each other's joys and sorrows.  Their Christian values were compatible and complimentary.  Jason relished the companionship in what would have been a lonely, empty house.  The boys welcomed the comfortable security that enabled them to cope with the stresses of a strange new environment.  There was a genuine affection that had emerged in a surprisingly short time.  Jason relished the role of father figure and the two naïve young men looked to him in much the same way as they did with their own fathers.

The boys' bond with Jason was much stronger than with each other.  Their compelling need to conceal their forbidden attraction to one another inhibited them from exhibiting anything more than polite but obvious friendship.  Although they were good friends they were always guarded in relating to each other.  Isaac found that easier than Jeremiah because he had more quickly and more thoroughly mastered the tactics of suppressing his true yearnings.  He now successfully cloaked them even from himself with overt disdain for homosexuality.  Jeremiah, by contrast, lacked a sufficiently strong force of will.  Lust frequently rose to his consciousness.  He was also far more introspective and honest with himself.  He readily recognized his cravings, which caused no small amount of mental conflict.

Bedtime was still a problem for them both.  It was a trivial problem for Isaac since he had honed his coping and denial skills while sharing a bed at home with his brother.  It was a much larger problem for Jeremiah although a steadily diminishing one.  Still, there were nights when his attraction to and the proximity of his bed mate resulted in a powerful longing for some type of intimate, physical contact.  He was developing skill in controlling his urges but slowly.  Masturbation was always satisfying but he yearned for something more.  He wasn't too sure about what that "more" was except that it would involve giving his body up to a partner and having free access to that partner's naked body.  The orgasm would surely be far better than in solitary masturbation.  'What did homosexual men do to each other to trigger it?' he often wondered.  Manually masturbating each other seemed to be the only logical way.’  He found the idea of anal sex to be disgusting.  The idea of oral sex didn't occur to him.  So his fantasies now included masturbating Isaac.   And, in his imaginative flights of fantasy as he stimulated himself, it was his friend's hand stroking his penis.

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To celebrate Jeremiah's eighteenth birthday, Jason treated him and Isaac to a fine meal in an upscale restaurant.  Neither of the young men had experienced anything like that before and they were nervous as they entered the posh atmosphere of the dining room.  Each feared he would not know how to act in such elegant yet alien surroundings and might embarrass himself and his host.  Jason sensed their discomfort and assured them, "Don't worry, boys.  It's just a meal.  Maybe different than what you're used to but it's one of the experiences you ought to have during Rumspringa."

Different it was!  The boys were familiar with ‘down-home cookin’ and had even eaten at 'sit down and be served' restaurants since arriving in Akron, but they didn't recognize half the items on the menu.   They wondered why they had two forks and two spoons, they couldn't understand why it required a plate under the soup bowl, they were disappointed at the size of the main course, and they were puzzled when they chose a desert from the selection on a rolling cart only to have the cart wheeled back into the kitchen before their choice was delivered to them later.  They both regarded those practices completely impractical and inefficient.  The real shock to their sensibilities came, however, when they stole a glance at the bill with a total that exceeded their week's payroll check.

"Well, boys, how'd you like the meal?" Jason asked as they walked to the parking lot.

"The meal was outstanding," Isaac gushed.  "But ...  well ...  it was..." he paused. 

"It was what?" Jason asked.

"It cost you too much money! I enjoyed it but I hate to see you waste your money on a single dinner."

"It was more than just a meal, Zack.  It was a celebration of Jerry's birthday.  One has to do something special like that for a celebration."

Jeremiah joined the conversation.  "Thank you, Jason.  It was wonderful.  But I agree with Zack.  I'd have been just as happy eating at the steak house on Maple Street.  As long as you and Zack are there.  That's what makes things special for me."

"Okay," Jason conceded.  "The company we keep is important.  But as I said earlier, it's one of those experiences you ought to have during Rumspringa.  And there's another.  I thought we could stop at a bar and have a few beers before going home.  It's okay.  You're allowed to do that.  In fact, it's one of the reasons for Rumspringa — to experience life outside the community so you can decide whether to return or to chart your future here among the 'English’."

Neither young man was eager to stop at a bar.  Both had been told stories about the addictive nature of alcoholic beverages and how they corrupted one's mind and soul.  However, mostly as a favor to Jason, they accepted his invitation.  They would later regret agreeing to the plan.

They did not like the taste of the beer but had a second one only to graciously accept Jason's hospitality.  And a third.  Both became light-headed as the alcohol invaded their bodies and they weaved as they walked out of the bar and across the parking lot to the SUV.  (Jason, having developed a tolerance for alcohol, was unimpaired and could safely drive home.)

Both Isaac and Jeremiah chose to go immediately to bed because they were tired and didn't feel well.  "That was very nice of Jason," Isaac said, slurring his words.

"Yes," Jeremiah replied.  "But I hope he doesn't want to do it again.  Especially the stop at the bar.  I feel terrible.  I just want to get into bed.  I'm not even going to shower tonight."

Foregoing his usual nightly prayer, Jeremiah began to strip off his clothes, tossing them into a heap on the floor while Isaac watched with increasing interest as each article of clothing was removed.  As more of his muscular physique was bared, it awakened thoughts from deep inside that had been lurking but continually suppressed by rational consciousness.  He would never have allowed himself to watch so intently if he were sober but most of his inhibitions had been washed away or disabled by the effects of alcohol.

When Jeremiah was undressed except for his briefs, he fell into bed on his back next to Isaac whose eyes were riveted to the sizable bulge in the white cotton briefs.  He had never seen what lay under the fabric of his friend's underwear but a faint outline of his penis was enough to arouse his curiosity as well as energize his libido.

Isaac lay down on his side and inched closer to Jeremiah.  He laid an arm across his buddy's bare chest as he inquired with mock concern, "Are you all right, Jerry?"

"Yes.  No!  But I'll be fine in the morning,"

"I worry about you, Jerry.  I mean that."  Skipping several steps in his half-formed plan, he continued, "Because I like you.  I like you a lot."  Jeremiah did not respond because the room seemed to be whirling.  Isaac resumed speaking thoughts of comfort — and affection — while simultaneously massaging Jeremiah's chest.  Receiving no response since Jeremiah was half-asleep, he ever so slowly moved his hand down toward the ultimate goal.  He watched attentively until slow heaving of his best friend's chest indicated that he was fully asleep.  Within a few minutes, his hand slipped cautiously beneath the waistband of the briefs that housed what Isaac now desperately wanted to touch and to fondle.  More than that, he wanted to SEE what lay under the concealing fabric.  His lust was at fever pitch.  His penis was erect and leaking.  He no longer had control of the demon that had imprisoned his primal needs.  In his still inebriated state, he abandoned caution that became, at best, only a background concern.  He convinced himself that his beloved Jerry wouldn't awaken and notice that his briefs were being slipped down and completely off.

Good fortune and the effects of alcohol on his friend were on his side; the sleeping form did not stir.  Its reproductive organ — and, no doubt, a constant source of pleasure to its owner — lay open to full view.  Any vestige of proper behavior, all the years of indoctrination about avoiding sinful behavior, and any prudent thoughts of rationally assessing risk were consigned to dormancy (at least for the compelling moment of the now).

Gingerly, he moved a hand to touch the warm tube of flesh that captivated his attention and desire.  The first touch was almost reverential and at the same time exhilarating.  Isaac's lust was at full throttle and was in complete control of every thought and every action.  He wrapped his hand around the flaccid penis and felt a thrill course through his body.  With his other hand he cupped the testicles that were nestled in a wrinkled and hairy scrotum and was rewarded with another kick of pure delight.  Oblivious now to whether his friend was still sleeping, he began to fondle and caress.  It was what he had long wanted to do (although rarely consciously).  And now the moment of fulfillment for his inhibited need was at hand — figuratively and literally.

As he continued to indulge his secret desires, he watched as if mesmerized as the penis engorged and rose slowly to full erection.  'It's a staff of glory!' Isaac thought.  'It's beautiful!  It's as if it were meant for my hand to hold and for my eyes to behold.'

Obsessed with the thrill and driven by lust, he bent down to smell the manly, musky scent, which only inflamed his desire.  As a gesture of admiration, respect, and even worship, he kissed the tip of the magic wand — although its "magic" was potent only to someone like Isaac who, by reason of genetics, environment, or some combination was attracted to those of the same sex.

Wild with the excitement of his adventure, Isaac began masturbating the rigid rod in his hand — slowly at first but with an accelerating pace.  He would not be content until he saw Jeremiah's seed gush forth.  Of course he gave no heed to the consequences: it would be a mess to clean up and much more severe would be that it would awaken his bed partner.  He would then have to admit the reality that he was homosexual. 

The worst happened.  Isaac was petrified and mortified when he heard a voice scream, "ZACK!  WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" 

To be continued...

AUTHOR’S NOTE:  Thanks to Iatia for valuable contributions to this story.

Posted: 05/27/11