Lost Letters / Lost Love - 6. Chapter 6 Revelation 

Forty years later, May 2015

As Kevin walked into the high school cafeteria, he felt pangs of nostalgia. He was not surprised that there were changes, since it had been forty years since he last visited his high school. Although there was different furniture, light fixtures, floor and color scheme, it was still the room he remembered. He pictured having lunches with friends and attending sports banquets.

A smiling coach Newton approached.

“Great that you could make it. The boys are anxious to meet ‘in person’ the legendary Kevin Woods who, with his teammate, Gary Thompson, made the bases loaded ‘triple play’ that saved the game and resulted in Long River’s first state championship.”

At that instant, three smiling, handsome, beefy senior baseball players approached Kevin.

The one with the bluest eyes stated, “So this is the catcher that completed the play that saved the game! I do not believe that forty years from now, this year’s team will be a topic of conversation. You guys are a legend.”

Kevin enjoyed the conversation as he asked the boys about the team, positions they played and their plans after graduation. When one asked for a selfie, he stood next to Kevin and placed his arms around the older man as he held his phone out for the photo. The intimacy resulting from the contact with this hunky student sent an arousing feeling through Kevin. He silently told his cock to behave, while continuing the banter with the boys.

Coach Newton then told Kevin, “I have good news. I got a text from Gary this afternoon. He told me he will be able to attend this evening, as he sent one of his employees to the seminar he had planned to attend.”

Kevin did not know how to respond. He had agreed to attend the banquet when Coach had told him Gary would be unable to be there. It had been difficult to be in the same room with Gary at the reunion weeks earlier. Now, the two would most likely be seated at the head table next to each other. Kevin could not tell Coach that he did not want to have any contact with his teammate of forty years earlier. It would be impossible to tell Coach of the intimate relationship the two had years ago. Kevin considered faking a sudden illness. At that moment Gary walked through the door. Kevin realized that if he did not pretend a friendship, Coach and others would wonder and possibly question his actions. Kevin did not want to put a damper on the event, so he approached Gary with a mock smile and shook his hand.

Touching his friend of years ago brought on a jumble of feelings. He felt everything from revulsion to lust. It seemed that their handshake was more intimate than usual. Gary appeared to have similar feelings. After their handshake, each found a reason to move on. Gary talked to Coach while Kevin walked to the refreshment table and grabbed a can of Coke.

When dinner was announced, it was obvious that Gary and Kevin would sit next to each other at the head table. He realized their failure to sit together would highlight the fact that the two had grown apart. During the main course, Kevin directed his conversation to Coach Newton on his left, while Gary only talked to the chair of the Parents Athletic Committee that had sponsored the banquet to his right.

As dessert was being served, Gary turned to Kevin and quietly asked, “Why did you not write back to me? I eventually assumed that you were too busy with your friends at UConn to remember me.”

Kevin was dumbfounded as he had the same question. “I did, and you never replied. I assumed you were ashamed about our intimate activities and had moved on.”

Gary continued, “During the weeks of basic training, I thought of you constantly. While the other guys talked about their girls back home, I naturally remained quiet. They were very willing to give details of their lovemaking. Of course I wanted to share my feelings for you, but knew that any hint of such activity in 1975 would put my safety in danger and probably get me kicked out of the Army.”

Kevin whispered, “Does this mean we lost contact because of lost letters followed by stupid assumptions? The entire first semester at UConn, I thought of you constantly. When I did not hear from you, I finally forced myself to put you out of my mind. Eventually, I accepted the fact that you had moved on, and that I must do the same.”

At that moment, Coach Newton stood and began the formal program of the evening. Following introducing the head table, he commented on the successes of this year’s team. The room then darkened as video highlights were played. Kevin felt pressure against his knee. He pressed back. As the knees pressed against each other, Kevin placed his hand on his knee. Then, in the darkness of the room, he gently moved his hand so that his little finger touched Gary’s knee. Gary then lowered his hand to his own knee and moved his little finger over. Soon, the two little fingers were entwined. Then Gary whispered, “We’d better behave. Don’t want to do something that would be embarrassing when the lights come on. Let’s continue this conversation over a beer at my house as soon as this banquet ends.”

Kevin replied, “We have a lot to discuss. Thanks for the invitation.”

As he replied, Kevin took Gary’s hand in his, squeezed it, let it go, moved his knee away and placed both hands on the table. Gary did the same. The two leaned into each other, touching shoulders and then as the lights came on sat up straight, each with a silly grin on his face. .