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...

Chapter 6  

Jason didn't know what to say.  Standing before him at the front door of his house was a very serious looking police officer who was gripping the arm of a frightened looking Isaac as though the young man were a flight risk.

“You know this young man?” the officer asked officiously.

“Yes,” Jason replied, not wanting to say more until he found out why Isaac appeared to be in custody of the police.  “Is there a problem?”

“He has no ID and no money.  Most unusual.  Can you verify his name?”

“Isaac Yoder.”

“Okay, that checks out,” the officer said.  “He claims that he lives here.  Is that correct?”

Not daring to chance contradicting what Isaac may have said, Jason carefully worded his answer.  “Yes.  He's staying here during his Rumspringa.” It was partially true but not the whole truth.  He didn't mention that Isaac had returned home some time ago.

“That's what he told me,” the officer grunted.  “But why was he out in the country headed this way?”

Jason had no quick answer for that but Isaac solved the awkward problem by blurting out, “I told you, sir.  I was visiting my parents in Millersburg and was on my way back here.”

The officer scowled and growled at the young man, “What'd I tell you in the cruiser?  Keep your mouth shut until I say it's okay to speak!”

Jason, picking up on the story line, said, “I thought he'd have a ride back.  I didn't know he would be hitch-hiking.  I'll have a few words with him about that.”

The officer softened his attitude and said, “Remember what I told you, son.  Hitch-hiking can be dangerous.  Too many drivers will pick you up and rob you ...  or worse ...  MUCH worse.  A young lad like you is tempting to sick predators that would ...  well, I'd better not say.” Returning his attention to Jason, he continued, “I guess everything's okay.  I'll be on my way.”

Jason ushered Isaac into the foyer and was greeted with a tight hug and an effusive comment.  “Thanks for not telling the officer that I left here months ago.  I think he was looking for an excuse to accuse me of vagrancy or something.”

“I'm glad to see you, Zack.  More than a little surprised but glad.  Come on in.  I'm sure Jerry will be happy to see you again.”

When Jeremiah saw Isaac enter the living room, his first impulse was to jump up, run over to his friend, and hug him.  But he dismissed the idea.  It might be too “gay” for him.  After all, he had left with a firm determination to expunge his attraction to men through prayer and self-control.  But a friendly handshake would be appropriate.  He stood and extended a hand while shouting, “Hey, Zack!  What are you doing here?”

Isaac had no such inhibitions.  He grabbed Jeremiah's hand, pulled him close, and gave him a hug.  “I didn't realize how much I would miss you, Jerry ...  how much you meant to me.  I had to see you again and tell you that.”

“How long can you stay?”

“Forever! I've left the Amish community for good.  When I came home early, my parents criticized me for not spending the expected amount of time in Rumspringa.  There was no ‘Welcome home, son.' There was no ‘We missed you.' The criticism was almost constant.  I think I could tolerate that if they had just said they loved me.  But they made me feel like I had upset their lives and shamed them in the congregation.”

“But,” Jeremiah interrupted, “surely they would get over it.”

“Maybe.  Maybe not.  Would you believe the Bishop even threatened to deny me baptism?  There's a bigger reason I came back.  I didn't recognize it before — because I was too stubborn to admit the truth to myself — but ...  well ...  there's no other way to put this.  I've had time to do a lot of thinking.  For the first time in my life I was brutally honest with myself and concluded that I'm homosexual.  It took a lot of soul-searching and it wasn't pleasant but I decided it's not Satan that made me this way.  What finally changed my mind was to realize that God is a loving God, he loves all his children - black, brown, or white; Christian, Jewish, or Muslim; straight, gay, or bisexual.”

Jeremiah's mind was reeling over the contrast between the Isaac that went home to be baptized and fight his homosexual urges, and the Isaac that was now clinging to him and unashamedly admitting his sexual desires.  “You really mean that, don't you, Zack?”

“There's more.  I want to spend my life with you.”

“Does that mean what I think it means?” Jeremiah asked, still hoping that his best friend had actually come to terms with his homosexuality.

“I don't know what you think I mean, Jerry, so let me say it more clearly.  I want to live with you FOREVER!  I want to love you — in every way possible.  That is, if you’re willing to put up with me.”

“Willing?  Of course I will!  I’ll be delighted!”

Enveloped in a love that had been developing but was never fully recognized, they hugged each other forcefully.  Neither of the young men gave any thought to Jason who was looking on.  They kissed each other passionately on the lips for a lingering moment while Jason stood by in amazement and amusement.  Jeremiah was the first to remember that Jason was present and broke the kiss.  “Sorry!” he said, looking at Jason as his cheeks reddened in embarrassment.  “I hope we didn't offend you.”

“Quite the contrary,” Jason said with a broad grin.  “I'm delighted that you two found each other.  And I wish you nothing but happiness.  This calls for a celebration.  I've got a bottle of Champaign.  Let's drink to the beginning of a wonderful friendship.”

The two young men looked at each other briefly.  Isaac voiced what was on both their minds.  “If it's all the same to you, Jason, I'd rather have tea.  I don't handle alcohol very well.  And, if you don't mind, maybe a bite to eat.  I haven't eaten all day.”

“You're in luck,” Jason laughed.  “There's some leftover lasagna in the refrigerator.  It'll only take a couple of minutes to heat it up in the microwave.”

Although questions were swirling in their minds, neither Jason nor Jeremiah wanted to interrupt Isaac's ravenous eating.  But when the second helping of lasagna was finished and the sated young man declined desert of pie and ice cream, Jason asked, “Did you tell your parents you were leaving? I wouldn't want them to worry about your safety.”

“They know by now,” Isaac replied somewhat sadly.  “I couldn't decide whether to explain my leaving in person or just leave a note.  I took the easy way; I left a note.  I got up well before dawn and left the note on the kitchen table.  I told them not to worry about me 'cause I'd be okay.  I signed it, ‘Love, Isaac' and snuck out.”

“Did you tell them where you were going?” Jason asked.

“That was the hardest part of writing the note but I decided they wouldn't try to come after me so I said I was coming back here.  I hope that's all right.”

“It's no problem,” Jason replied.  “Based on what I know about those who don't return after Rumspringa and on what you've said about your treatment when you arrived home, I don't think they'll try to convince you to return.”

Jeremiah's question was more personal and he worked up the courage to ask, “Did you tell them about being ....  you know.” (Somehow, he was still reluctant to talk openly about being gay with Jason present.) “Did you tell them about us?”

“Heavens no!” Isaac exclaimed.  “That would only hurt them.  I wouldn't do that! Besides, to say anything about why I wanted to be with you might lead to your family finding out.  Two families would be hurt.”

After more conversation about life back in the Amish community, the difficulties of hitch-hiking, and more, Isaac said, “It's late.  I'm tired.  Would you mind if I went to bed?”

“Not at all,” came a duet.  Jason meant nothing more than understanding the returning boy's fatigue, but Jeremiah's thoughts were on sharing — a bedroom, a bed, and naked bodies without inhibition.

Jeremiah offered to clean up the table and wash the dishes but Jason said, “Thanks, Jerry, but I'll take care of it.  I think you and Zack need some private time.  To talk!” And then added with a wink, “About whatever comes up.”

It took a few moments for Jeremiah to recognize the meaning of what he heard but then chuckled and blushed.  “God bless you!” he said.  “For not hating us.  For understanding.  And for being so kind.”

By the time Jeremiah got upstairs, he heard the shower running.  He stripped off all his clothes and got into bed, anticipating what was bound to happen.  Isaac finished his shower and walked to the bedroom with a towel around his waist.  Upon seeing his friend in bed, he asked, “Are you tired, too?”

“Not really.  I just wanted to be with my best friend for a proper welcome home.” He pulled back the blanket and sheet, exposing his naked body, and said, “Close the door and come to me, Zack.  I think we both have some exploring to do.”

Isaac broke out in a broad grin, loosened the towel, and let it fall to the floor, exposing his naked body for Jeremiah to survey.  The sight, brief as it was, of Jeremiah's nude body had an immediate effect.  His penis slowly rose to an upright position to salute the magnificent form that lay waiting for him.  Jeremiah also felt his own penis engorging.  One might expect a little tentativeness as the two horny young men began their first intimate ritual of lovemaking but it was eagerness, lust, and their discarding of inhibitions that drove their behavior.  They kissed long and passionately, pressing their bodies together tightly with the feel of the other’s warm skin acting as a jolt of aphrodisiac that propelled them to unfamiliar heights of sensual pleasure.  Soon, they were grinding their erections against one another and they were completely overwhelmed by the carnal sensations.

Isaac, the only one with any experience, however minimal it had been when he fondled Jeremiah in his sleep, broke the kissing and slid down to get a sight and feel of his friend’s 'staff of life.' He gently fondled and massaged it, this time without guilt or shame or fear of revealing a dark secret.  His efforts were rewarded with sighs and moans of delight from Jeremiah who now experienced what he had only desperately hoped for in his fantasies.  So intense were the sensations that he screamed and ejaculated, shooting his hot, creamy semen all the way to his eyebrow and leaving a rivulet of thick, white liquid from his face to his navel.  It took longer for him to recover than when he masturbated but it was a gentle, thoroughly delightful descent from the peak of erotic delight.  In an unusual sense, the best was still ahead of him.

He eagerly accepted Isaac's tender kiss and tried to thank his friend.  But 'thanks' was so inadequate to fully express his gratitude or to accurately represent his joy.  His best hope of showing his appreciation — and his love — would be to practice a new application of the golden rule: 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'  He slid down and for an exhilarating few minutes admired and fondled his friend’s — and his welcomed bedmate’s — genital treasures.  He found it electrifying to have access to the private parts of the young man he had grown to admire, unencumbered by any thoughts of sin, evil, shame, or guilt.  He barely noticed his own penis re-inflating because his attention was almost exclusively focused on what he was doing to Isaac.  Only a few strokes of Isaac's throbbing member caused it to erupt with several volleys of pearly cream, accompanied by loud moans of pure delight from its owner.  Their mutual masturbation was much more than physical gratification; it was an expression of love that, until now, dared not speak its name, a love that went farther, further, deeper, and more beautiful than familial love of parents and children.

Jason, having finished up in the kitchen, was downstairs in the living room reading.  He fully expected that his two young mentees would consummate their bond and was genuinely happy for them.  When he heard the loud screams and moans, he chuckled.  He didn't understand how a man could be sexually attracted to another man but he recognized that it happened.  And ought not to be criticized, condemned, or prohibited.  That was one small part of his reasoning when he rejected the organized religions he had studied and become instead a devout nondenominational Christian.  In fact, he allowed himself to think that God was smiling at the emergence of an unselfish love bond between two of His children.

While cuddling blissfully with arms and legs intertwined, Isaac and Jeremiah professed their love and enduring devotion to each other.  They had experienced the powerful pleasure of sexual intimacy but that pleasure would be magnified as they discovered other ways to give and receive sensual pleasure and love.  Both teens (Isaac in particular) began to see the dawning light of lovers and partners.  They could see it and feel it in the explosion of every cell of their bodies, their brains, and their hearts.   Neither ever imagined that the so-called “sin” could be so rewarding and so beautiful.

To be continued... 

FROM: AUTHOR

TO: IATIA

Your impeccable editing and creative suggestions have improved this story and earned my unqualified appreciation. 

Posted: 06/17/11