Stories

Asher and Seth, two teens in New York City, just met on Halloween, but already they've discovered a shared passion for Star Trek and Classical Jazz. When they discover that neither has a place to go for Thanksgiving, they decide to create a traditional Thanksgiving feast together for themselves and some friends. What could possibly go wrong?

For the residents of New York City, the Covid-19 pandemic took most by surprise. Schools closed and teens and preteens, used to seeing each other everyday, found themselves instead with parents and siblings. Online conferencing was a poor substitute for human touch and nothing could replace the kiss of a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Dave had enough to worry about with his mother being as a nurse, but when she was admitted to the ICU at Bellevue, his uncles from Seattle and his boyfriend became his lifeline. He couldn't help but wonder, though, what would become of him if she didn't make it.

Asher and Seth are two young teens living in New York City who have recently become boyfriends. Thanks to their efforts, Kyle and Francis (Freck) have take their first steps together as a couple, but they face many obstacles because they are preteen prodigies and because of a troubled past. Both young boys come from backgrounds of affluence, yet neither has experienced the love of family. Many storms await all four boys in their explorations of love, including a record Christmas blizzard. Can love be their salvation?

Trevor, Kurt, David, Jeremy, their brothers and a friend take off for a week in the nation's capitol, and end up getting more of an education than they’d bargained for. (March - April, 2009)

This is the 19th story in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. Please see the Introduction for important background on the series.

It was a very restless time for the boys in New York City. Forced indoors by the pandemic, the school year was coming to a close in name only, as much felt left undone in the paradigm of remote learning. Then on Memorial Day, a black man in Minneapolis was lynched by a white police officer who strangled the man with his knee, touching off a firestorm of pent-up rage. Naturally the boys had to get involved in the protests. They had to, but then one of their own fell victim to police use of excessive force

Jake and Ken are getting married, and then they're taking their sons, Roger and Kyle, on a ten-week European vacation. Francis (Freck), Kyle's boyfriend, will be going with them, but he has a history that includes drugs and a suicide attempt when he was only eleven. On top of that, Freck, a freckle-faced redhead who was raised Catholic, now has a Jewish boyfriend and has come to realize that he's one-quarter Jewish. Naturally, he's curious about what it all means. But what will happen when his life hits a minor bump in the road?

When Josh and his sisters move from the Brooklyn neighborhood of Manhattan Beach to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, he quickly befriends a group of gay kids that go to Stuyvesant High School, where he's a freshman. His youngest sister, Robin, forges her own relationships with fellow students at the Salk School for Science. In the meantime Freck's mother attempts to make amends. All look forward to the festivals of Passover and Easter, but then a global Pandemic forces a change of plans.

Danny and David are two typical American teenagers who share a passion for skateboards, alternative music, philosophy . . . and each other. (2009 Gay Authors Novella Writing Contest) The author gratefully acknowledges the assistance of David of Hope in editing and Alastair in proofreading this story, as well as the support of Gay Authors, Awesome Dude and Nifty. I would also like to thank Rigel for correcting errors with respect to Orthodox Jewish practices.

Following graduation and a double wedding, joined by their younger brothers, the newlyweds honeymoon in Europe. Upon their return, the younger teens start high school, but then tragedy strikes, bringing all Naptown Tales characters home for a final farewell. (June - August, 2010)

This is the 28th and final story in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. Please see the Introduction for important background info.

David and Jeremy experience the chance of a lifetime, interning at the White House, while Trevor and Kurt serve as Pages in the Senate, but scandal follows close behind. Leave it to Brad to save the day. (May - August, 2009)

This is the 21st story in the Naptown Tales series, which can also be found at Awesome Dude and Nifty. Please see the Introduction for important background info.