Bored House Husbands - 1. Chapter 1

In a quiet suburb, just outside of Chicago, there is a cul-de-sac with six houses on it. Each house is a different architectural style, and each has a different floor plan. Anyone observing the cul-de-sac would see a perfectly typical suburban street.

But this street is different; not unusual in this day and age, but different. In the two houses at the center, where the cul-de-sac arcs, live two househusbands. They have similar stories. Before they had children, they both had good jobs, as did their wives, but the women had better jobs.

John Brown was an account executive in an ad agency, and his wife, Mary, was a pediatric neurosurgeon. Francis (Frank) Petri was a staff accountant in a CPA firm. His wife, Penelope (Penny), was a high priced corporate lawyer, whose skills were feared by many male attorneys. Behind her back, she was known as ‘The Shark’.

When each couple decided to have a child, there were long discussions held in both households, and it was decided that the husbands would be stay-at-home dads, and put their careers on hold, until the child was at least old enough for pre-school. In addition, both couples decided on having two children, spaced three years apart, but only if things worked out well with the first one.

The wives got pregnant on the same night, and when their pregnancies were confirmed, they both decided to buy a home in the suburbs within easy commuting distance to the central city. They zeroed in on a brand new development, just outside the city limits. Each couple was among the first to buy, and so they had their pick of building lots.

They bought side by side houses in the center of a secluded cul-de-sac, on a street named Maple Circle. The builder named it that, because of the unusually high number of maple trees he was able to leave growing on the property. The trees would nicely shade the new homes. The Browns bought a Colonial style model, and The Petri’s bought a split level home. They signed the contracts about three hours apart.

The Petri family moved in first, early in July, and the Brown’s moved in a week later, each with three month old baby sons. The women were hardly ever home, and left everything to the husbands regarding furnishing and setting up their households.

The men did not meet each other until the third day after the Brown family moved in. Both men went down to the curb at the same time, and for the same purpose. They were putting out the day’s allotment of flattened packing boxes, for garbage removal. The contents of the boxes had previously been removed, and neatly stowed in the houses.

Since all the lots were pie shaped, their two driveways practically touched at the street. They smiled at each other, introduced themselves, shook hands and went back into their houses, where their babies were sound asleep.

About two hours later, Frank knocked on John’s door. John was pleased to see Frank standing there. He had his hand on a baby carriage. “I was just about to take my baby for a walk and air him out some. I thought you might want to join me, and we can get acquainted.”

“Terrific idea. Give me a couple of minutes and I’ll be right out.”

They began their walk around the growing neighborhood, but it turned out to be a bad idea. There was so much construction, noise and dust, that they decided to go home.

“There must be a peaceful park somewhere around here, where we can take the kids,” John lamented.

“Yeah,” Frank agreed. “I’ll call the Town Hall later and inquire. In the meantime, how about coming over to my place, and I’ll make us a cup of coffee while the boys are still asleep.”

Frank brewed coffee, which he served with toasted English muffins. The two men began to tell each other their backgrounds, and how they came to be stay-at-home dads. They realized that they both had much in common, and that included their ages (twenty-nine), and their stunning good looks.

Frank was six-two, and very well built. Before the baby came, he worked out steadily. Now all he had at home was a treadmill, which he mounted as often as possible. John was six-one, and also very well built. He too, had given up the gym, but he used a stationary bike at home as often as possible.

When they found out about the two pieces of exercise equipment that each owned, John suggested that Frank could come over and use the bike, and occasionally he could go next door and use the treadmill, if Frank wouldn’t mind. They agreed it would be a great idea.

They were really beginning to enjoy each other’s company, and agreed to have a ten o’clock coffee klatch every day. They exchanged each other’s telephone and cell numbers.

Reluctantly they had to say goodbye. Both babies had awakened, and were crying for attention. “I’d better get home,” John said. As he was leaving, he asked, “By the way, what’s your son’s name?”

“Joseph, after my father,” Frank said smiling.

John smiled even broader. “Mine’s named Joseph also, after my father as well. Isn’t that a hoot? I’ll call you later.”

As it turned out, Frank called first, not too long after John left. “I called Town Hall, and they told me that there’s a kiddie park just two blocks from the entrance to our development. They have swings, see-saws, sand boxes, jungle gyms, and the whole nine yards. Wanna try it tomorrow?”

“You bet. Little Joey usually fusses between twelve noon and three PM. Is that a good time for you?”

“Perfect. My Joey is usually fussing about the same time. Maybe we can create some diversions for them at the park. But before that, I’ll see you for coffee at my place tomorrow at ten. I hope.”

During that week, John and Frank were developing a deep friendship. On Sunday, both wives were home for a change, and the men introduced them to each other. The women were very cordial, but it was obvious that they had little in common, and they would never be as close as the husbands.

Both women were required to be very astute in their chosen professions. They sensed the friendship their husbands were cultivating, and realized that they would occasionally have to go out to dinner together, or invite each other to dinners in their homes. Each vowed inwardly to be as cordial as possible for their husbands’ sakes.

In the meantime, the other houses on the cul-de-sac became occupied, and John and Frank became friendly with two of the housewives. The other two had older children and had returned to the work force. On the first weekend after each family moved in, Frank and John went to meet the husbands. Like their wives, they felt that they had nothing in common with any of them.

The other men were obsessed with their careers, and on Sundays they ran off to play golf. Frank and John would have liked to have joined them, but their homes and children had first priority. They had everything in common, and were drawn closer and closer together. Their relationship was reaching a level neither of them ever dreamed of.

One early autumn morning, when the air was crisp and fresh, after the heat of the summer, the men were sitting on John’s front steps. The babies were sleeping peacefully in their carriages. Suddenly John’s face clouded over.

“Look at that tree on the front lawn,” he directed Frank with his forefinger.

“What about it?” Frank asked. “I don’t see anything.”

“Yeah, look close. There are a couple of yellow leaves already. Winter will be here soon enough. Shit, I hate the thought. We won’t be able to take the kids to the park, or sit outside like this and talk.”

“Not to fear,” Frank assured John. “We’ll just spend more time in each other’s homes. We’ll use our exercise machines more, like we said we would, and never did.” He slapped John’s knee and started laughing.

“Right,” John said. “It would be foolish to let weather alter our friendship.”

As the days grew colder and colder, the men spent more time together in one of their homes. The only exception was when they were cleaning their houses, or attending to the babies. They would have lunch together, and watch ballgames on TV, while their two sons played together in a play pen. The indoor atmosphere caused a subtle change in their topics of conversation also.

Out of doors, their conversations were light and airy. They would relive their wild bachelor days, the fun they had in college, exchange recipes they were trying out, and have lots of laughs together.

Indoors, as the weather worsened outside, their conversations began to get more serious. They became so comfortable with each other that they began to share their innermost fears and thoughts.

One cold November day, about two weeks before Thanksgiving, they were sitting in Frank’s living room. The two little Joey’s were playing in the play pen. Out of the blue, Frank said, “Tell me about your father, John. How did you come to name your son after him?”

“I barely remember him,” John said. “He was killed in Desert Storm when I was a young boy.”

“Shit!” Frank interjected.

“He had done something heroic. I’m not sure what, but he was awarded some sort of a medal, and I always knew that I would name my first born son after him to honor his memory. What about your father, Frank?”

“My story couldn’t be more different than yours,” Frank began. “My childhood memories are of a very unhappy home. My dad was, maybe still is, a fire fighter. My mother was a stay-at-home mom. They fought all the time. They just couldn’t get along. As I grew older, I realized that they tried to work things out, but they just never could.

“I was always closer to my father than my mother. She was cold and aloof, and he was always hugging and kissing me, and telling me how much he loved me. A few days after my sixteenth birthday, my dad disappeared. I had no idea where he went, or how to reach him. My mother told me that if I ever tried to contact him, she would hate me for being disloyal to her. I was still too young to consider crossing her in any way. Where could I go anyway? What could I do?”

“Do you think he left because he finally had his fill of your mother?”

“I’m sure that had a lot to do with it, but one day I overheard my mother and my grandmother cursing him out. They did that incessantly. I listened to their tirade, and I learned that my father ran off to be with another man. Who could blame him? What I couldn’t figure out is what took him so long. He continued to send child support money for me and my kid sister, and he paid for our college educations, but my mother would never tell me how I could reach him. She won’t to this day. On my part, I never stopped loving him. I never blamed him for leaving my mother or even for being with a man. I’m sure he loved that guy an awful lot to have so drastically interrupted his life. That’s why I named my son after him, to keep him in my memory.”

“There’s Google and computers now,” John pointed out the obvious to Frank. “I’ll help you, if you want to search for him.”

“That’s so nice of you to offer, but let me think about it. That would be a big move on my part. I don’t want to rush into it.”

The next morning at coffee klatch in John’s house, Frank made an announcement. “Penny’s going to New York on business. She’s leaving Monday morning and won’t be back until late Friday. I’m glad I have your friendship, John. Being a househusband has its upside, but basically, I’d be bored and lonely if you weren’t in my everyday life.”

Instinctively the two men hugged each other. John was so moved by Frank’s declaration that he pulled his friend closer. Both men could feel their packages, and neither moved away, but it reminded John of something, and he asked, “Have you decided to search for your father?”

“I’m leaning toward doing it, but I want to sleep on it for another couple of nights.”

The two men were still holding each other, and Frank had the crazy notion that he wanted to kiss John, so now he did pull away. To change the subject, he asked, “How would you and Mary like to have Thanksgiving dinner at my house, unless you are going to family, of course?”

“We can never make plans because of Mary’s crazy schedule, so I’ll accept your kind invitation, but don’t be surprised if only Joey and I show up.”

Frank put his arm on John’s shoulder. “That’ll be just fine with me,” he said.

John wasn’t sure how to explain it, but that sounded like an odd thing to say. It was almost like Frank was saying that he would rather have his company without his wife around to spoil things. John was aware that Mary was never too friendly where Frank and Penny were concerned. He never could understand why.

John and Frank were having coffee together on the first morning of Penny’s departure. They were making small talk at first, but then they seriously began to discuss trying to find Joseph Petri.

“OK,” Frank agreed. “As soon as we finish coffee, let’s try to Google him.

Just then John’s cell phone rang. It was his wife.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“I’m at Frank’s having coffee. What’s up?

“There was a terrible school bus accident on Michigan Avenue a short while ago. They are bringing in several children with head trauma and brain injuries. The EMT’s have alerted the hospital that surgery will be necessary. I’m anticipating a full day and night of non-stop surgery. I’ll try to get some sleep at the hospital. Don’t make dinner or breakfast for me. I’ll be glad to get home by noon tomorrow. I’ll call to check on you and Joey, if I get a chance.”

“OK, Hon. Good luck,” John said.

He didn’t know why he did what he did next, but he smiled at Frank and said, “I guess we are both work widows until tomorrow.” Frank smiled back, and they hugged each other.

The babies, now seven months old, were playing with each other in a play pen. The men took advantage of the quiet moment. They sat down at Frank’s computer, went on line, and started their search. Hoping that Joe had not moved too far away, they began their search in the Chicago area. Five Joseph Petri’s appeared immediately, but only one was the right age.

Frank was seated at the computer, and John was standing behind him. They zeroed in on the Joe Petri who fit the bill. He lived on the side of Chicago closest to their suburb, and he lived with someone named Michael Finn.

“He ran off to be with a man,” John reminded Frank. “It sounds like the right Joseph Petri.”

“What do I do now?”

“Call him, but not now. Call tonight after working hours.”

“Will you be here with me when I call?”

“Of course I will. In fact, why don’t Joey and I stay over here tonight, since Mary isn’t coming home, and Penny is in New York?”

“Great. The kids can sleep in one crib, and you can use the guest room.”

Frank was still sitting facing the computer. Suddenly, the enormity of his situation hit home, and Frank’s shoulders began to heave as he started to sob. John was still standing behind him. He wrapped his arms around Frank, and his clasped hands rested on Frank’s chest. John gently laid his cheek against Frank’s. He could feel Frank’s tears wetting his own cheek.

The two men looked at each other. Their lips were a scant inch apart. Instinct took over and they kissed each other. That first kiss was a tentative peck on the lips, but they smiled at each other and kissed again. This time their lips parted and they began to tongue each other.

When they came up for air, John said, “I love you, Frank. In the past few months I almost said that a hundred times to you, but I was so afraid.”

“I feel the same way,” Frank said. “I love you too.”

“You understand, Frank, that I’m saying that I love you in THAT way, that very special way. You do know what I’m trying to tell you.”

“Of course, my friend. I feel the same way. It’s insane. How did this ever happen? How could it happen?”

“I have no idea. I just know that I’m aching to make love to you.”

“Maybe we should wait until after I speak to my father and ask him what two guys do together.” For a minute John thought Frank was serious, but then they both broke out laughing.

“I think we’re both smart enough, and man enough, to figure it out,” John said.

After lunch, when the babies were fed, bathed and cleanly diapered, the fathers put them down for their afternoon nap. They knew that their fussing periods would begin soon after. The boys were laid down head to toe in the crib.

As they left the nursery, Frank said, “Let’s shower together.” John followed him into the bathroom, where they dropped their clothing on the floor and faced each other naked. Neither was cut and neither was flaccid. They were both sporting tremendous erections, nearly eight inches for Frank, and about seven and a half inches for John.

They pressed their bodies together, allowing their cocks to rub together, and they resumed kissing passionately, but they were still reticent about touching themselves…at least, down there, in that place. Finally John couldn’t stand it any longer. He enveloped Frank’s cock with his hand, and started stroking. Immediately Frank did the same to John, but not for long.

“Let’s get in the shower,” he pleaded.