319 Winesap Lane - 5. Chapter 5 - An Unexpected Change of Course

Jerry's POV

“I still can’t believe your cock is so big,” Dave said as he came up from the thing after giving me the third blow-job of our relationship. It was different this time as if he had a lot more experience than he first let on. I could have sworn he took my cock deep into his throat, nearly brushing his nose into my pubes.

“Good Norwegian genes,” I said.

“Where is the professor and that new boy?”

“They went into Rochester to get Erik a new clarinet and some clothes. They’ll be back sometime this afternoon. I expected you earlier this morning; where were you?”

“Oh, there was a meeting down at the Union. It seems the Provost is doing away with Warnton Pride, the LGBTQ support group, and with Professor Johnson leaving some students are going to have a rally Monday afternoon. I guess they’re going to try and have some TV crews in from Rochester and Syracuse come in and cover it.”

“Geoff was worried his leaving was going to cause a media circus and I guess he was right. I don’t have any good feelings about this, though. It could backfire on them.”

“No, I guess the Provost is really homophobic and has been trying for years to get rid of Warnton Pride. From what they were saying at the meeting I guess he wants to start a religious studies program and bring evangelical professors to teach it. To me that sounds like he wants to turn this college into a religion school. Can you imagine having to take religion courses just to graduate?”

“Surely the board of trustees aren’t going to allow this to happen. It will change everything Warnton stands for. Enough of this kind of talk; let’s kiss some more.”

“Yeah, Jerry, that’s the attitude; besides, you owe me a cum.”

“Yeah, I guess I do.”

“How’s it going to be? Wanna try out that box of condoms you bought for me?”

“Sure, I guess.”

Well, I wasn’t sure. Geoff had told me that letting someone fuck you had to be something you were really willing to give. Submitting to the dominance of another man. Did I want that so early in my relationship with Dave? Yes, he did sort of suck me a few minutes ago and it felt really good, but I don’t think I wanted cum in my mouth anymore. Did I want it in my ass, even if it would be contained in a condom? And, this was going to be my first time, meaning Dave would be taking my virginity. Did I want that, now, with him doing that to me?

Dave rolled on top of me and locked his mouth onto mine. We’d only known each other since Monday and hadn’t done anything except kiss and doing something called frotting, but we seemed to be getting pretty good at doing this. His tongue was begging permission to battle with mine and I allowed him entry. I could feel the anxiousness in his erection and knew he wanted to put it inside me, whether I was willing to have it in my mouth or ass seemed to be my choice; or, was it?

He went away from my mouth and I didn’t know what was going to happen until he began licking and nipping my left nipple. I never knew a man could experience sexual stimulation from those little nubbins of flesh and I didn’t want him to stop, but he did. He continued his journey down my body, a journey he’d made earlier when he went that way to blow me. Only this time he passed by my cock and began to suck on my balls.

I knew where this was going. We’d already talked about it when Geoff had given me that book on gay sex and I shared it with Dave. He pushed my legs up exposing my hole, so it had come to this. Whether I wanted it or not, he intended to fuck me. I suspected if I stopped him I would either have to blow him or give him up to some other boy on campus. I liked Dave and wanted him, but as Geoff said, giving yourself in this way was a big step in life. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly.

“Hand me the lube and the box of condoms,” Dave said.

I did as he asked and shut my eyes the inevitable assault to come. He began putting lube into me, but seemed to be in a hurry. I looked down at him and watched as he slid a condom down over his hardness. The only thing to do now was to concentrate on relaxing and hoping he would wait if only for a moment to allow me to get used to his presence inside me. He wasn’t that long, maybe seven inches, but appeared to have some breadth to him.

I felt him there ready for entry. I concentrated on relaxing and he slowly slid in. It hurt as much as I expected, yet not as much as Geoff said it might. Maybe I was just meant to be fucked. Maybe that was to be my thing. Dave adjusted his position so that he was over me with my legs spread open. It didn’t take him long to get into a steady rhythm of thrusts and withdrawals. I reached up to touch his face, but he told me not to do that, so I just lay there and let him take me. He was banging me fairly hard and then he did something unexpected. He pulled out, took off the condom, and went right back inside. I wanted to say something, but didn’t. And, then, his rhythm changed again to short thrusts as deep into me as he could get. His body shivered as the orgasm overwhelmed him and he deposited his load deep inside me.

I was no longer a virgin. I had a boy’s cum in my ass. I had submitted to his dominance and I had allowed all of this to occur. I would forever look back on my first time with regret that I hadn’t even tried to get off, too. I had been so wrapped up in what Dave was doing to me that I neglected my own chance at pleasure. He pulled out and went into the bathroom. I remained lying there feeling sorry for myself and my lack of restraint.

I carefully got off the bed and went into the bathroom. Dave was drying his softening dick and looked over at me as I sat on the toilet to let his seed drain out.

“You know what this means, don’t you?” he asked.

“No, what?”

“I took your virginity and came in your ass. It’s mine now. You can’t give it to anyone else. You will forever know that I was your first. I’ve got to get back to the dorm. See you around, my dear fuckee.”

“Dave, wait!”

But, he was gone. Suddenly, I had the feeling I had been used and began to wonder if I was truly his first as he had claimed. What if he had just given me HIV? I was going to have to talk to Geoff. For one thing I knew I was never going to see Dave again, unless he came to the dinner tomorrow night and even then I might not talk to him. I took a shower and then put on some old jeans and a torn Detroit Lions t-shirt. I didn’t bother about putting on shoes.

* * * *

Even though my ass hurt, I was sitting at my desk working on some calculus problems—they had given us a test on the first day to see where we were as far as studying algebra and determined I was further along than whatever I might learn in college algebra so I was transferred into a calculus class—when I heard Geoff’s car pull into the drive way. I opened my window and called out to see if they needed any help with the bags and, of course, Geoff told me to come down.

As I went down the stairs, I was surprised at how sore my ass felt, further reinforcing my belief that I wasn’t Dave’s first fuck. I opened the back door and Erik came in with a small case that I assumed had a clarinet in it and a couple bags from Macy’s. At the door to the screened porch, Geoff stood waiting for me with his hands full of bags from other stores.

“Anymore?” I asked.

“Yes, and shut up the car when you’re done,” Geoff said. “Where’s Dave, I figured he would come down with you.”

“You and I need to talk about Dave later.”

“Trouble in paradise?”

“It’s no paradise anymore.”

“Something serious happen?”

“Very.”

“What?”

“Can you get HIV from being fucked only once?”

“I suppose that’s possible. Didn’t he use a condom?”

“At first, yes, but he took it off before he came. For all that he said about being a virgin, I think he’s fucked guys before. I know it’s just a feeling, but the way he was acting before and after gave me that impression.”

“Shit! Okay, get the bags from my car and I’ll be back. I’ll drive you down to the pharmacy to see if they carry HIV testing kits or I can get you an appointment with my doctor. What do you prefer?”

“I’ll go to see your doctor. I do have student insurance, so I might as well use it.”

“You might want to save it if you get a positive test from a home kit and then go get a retest at the doctor’s.”

“Oh, okay, I’ll get the bags, but I’ll need to put some shoes on.”

“Well, let’s get this show on the road.”

The pharmacy did have HIV test kits and the pharmacists gave me one that was the most reliable. Then she admonished me for having unprotected sex and asked if the girl was local or from the college. When I hesitated for only a few seconds, she smiled and just nodded as if she knew it hadn’t been a girl and I hadn’t been the top. I knew I blushed. Then she said I should wait for at least two to four weeks before testing myself and if it was positive, to go to a health professional to get a more accurate test done. Now I was worried.

While Geoff drove back to the house I could tell there was something on his mind. To be honest, there was something on my mind, too. Dave taking off the condom was a dirty trick and the thought of it kept bugging me. I wanted to go to the dorm and punch him in the face, but I also didn’t want to see him ever again. I knew if I was HIV positive I would definitely never see him again and I might just go to the dorm and punch him in more places than just his face.

“I bought you something,” Geoff said.

“Oh, what?”

“Preparation H.”

“What do I need that for? I don’t have hemorrhoids.”

“No, but you’ve been fucked and I’m sure your hole feels a bit used. This will help. When we get home, I want you to take a hot bath and then put the H inside you. It’ll help heal the chafing. If you don’t mind me asking, did you fuck him?”

“No, he blew me and come to think, now, he might have done a pretty good job of it, too. Almost like he’d done it before. At first I thought he might have trouble like the first time he did it because I have such a big cock, but he didn’t seem to have any problems with my size this time. I think he actually swallowed my cock a few times.”

“Yep, the boy’s experienced. Dave’s no virgin if he knows how to swallow a thick, nine-inch cock. Shit! Stupid fucker—no pun intended—fooled both of us. If he shows up tomorrow for dinner, I’m showing him the door. I don’t want him over at my house ever again.”

“That’s fine with me. How was your shopping trip with Erik?”

“Nice, the owner of the music shop told us to keep away from Mr. Alexander. I guess the guy’s a pederast, but no one has been able to prove it.”

“A peder-what?”

“Pederast, a man who has homosexual desires toward pubescent or adolescent boys.”

“Oh, why didn’t you say pedophile, I would’ve understood that.”

“A pedophile preys on pre-pubescent children, little kids.”

“You like young men and might have had sex with me if you weren’t under probation, so does that make you a pederast?”

“I usually prefer older boys, closer to twenty. You are kind of on the borderline, so I suppose that makes me somewhat of a pederast, but I’m definitely not interested in having sex with Erik or any boy his age. I suppose you could say I’m more interested in boys who have a more adult-like appearance. So, let’s just say, for argument’s sake, I’m attracted to young adult men, like yourself.”

“Okay, I’ll accept that. So, tonight when we go to bed, will you fuck me if I ask nicely?”

“No, I’m your boss.”

“But, you’ve had sex with your houseboys before, right?”

“I was younger then and stupid. I’m sure I took advantage of quite a few young men in my time. I’m older now and I don’t know why you would want to have sex with an old man when you could have someone younger like Gerry.”

“Oh, yeah, Gerry. He’s nice; he’s coming over later this evening. We’re going to shoot some hoops out in the sports court. Is that okay with you?”

“You need to mow the lawn sometime this weekend, too. It’s getting too long. I don’t want to have to remind you to do your jobs around the house. And, I think the basketball hoops need nets. We might be able to order them online. Will you need a net for the tennis court?”

“No, I don’t play.”

“Well, here we are. Go on upstairs and have your bath and medicate your ass.”

When I got up to my room I saw there was a text from Dave on my phone. I opened it and read:

Loved your ass. Can’t wait to dump another load in your love hole.

I thought about that and then sent back:

Fuck off shit face. You can take your STD depositor and hit it with a hammer.

Wasn’t quite what I wanted to say, but I hoped it would get my point across. I took off my clothes and went into the bathroom. I heard Erik playing his clarinet and went to his door. After knocking, I waited a moment, heard the music stop, and then the door opened a bit. He stuck his head in.

“Yes?” he asked. His eyes immediately tracked down to my cock. “Oh, jeez, you’re huge!”

“I’m going to have a soak, so if you think you’re going to need to use the toilet either do it now or use the lav in the hall.”

“Oh, uh, sure, uh, okay, I can, uh, do that. Would you like me to, uh, wash your back?”

“Erik, you’re drooling. Wipe your mouth.”

“Oh, sure, uh, yeah, could I …”

“No, Erik, you’re too young.”

“Oh, come on, can’t I just touch it, please. I’ve never seen a cock that big.”

Before I could react his hand was around my cock and began to slowly stroke it. In no time it was growing thicker and longer; and, then, he knelt in front of me and put his mouth over the head.

“Erik, stop,” I whispered.

“Uh, uh,” he mumbled.

“Erik, please,” I whispered. I put my hands on his head and pulled my cock from his mouth. He looked up at me and I saw a tear well up from his left eye and trickled down his cheek. I knelt and pulled him into a tight hug. He was so small in my arms as he began to weep. “Hush, it will be okay. I don’t know what the age of consent is in New York, but it was sixteen in Michigan and you’re only fourteen. I could get in a lot of trouble doing anything with you.”

“I’ll find out what the law is in New York,” he said and he pulled away from me. There were streaks of tears on his face. “I know that in Maine a fourteen-year-old can have sex with an eighteen-year-old; and, now that I’ve seen what you’ve got I want to get to know you better.”

“Well, Erik, I’ve had a rather traumatic experience today and I’d rather not talk about having sex with you.”

“What if I find out we can?”

“We still can’t. I might have been exposed to HIV or some other STD.”

“What? Was it that Dave guy?”

“Yeah.”

“Did he fuck you without a condom? Did you tell him to use one, but he didn’t? What happened?”

“He used a condom, but took it off before he came.”

“Why didn’t you stop him?”

“I don’t know.”

“When he comes over here tomorrow for dinner, I going to hit him.”

“No you’re not because Geoff isn’t going to let him in the house. Now, if you don’t mind I’m going to have my bath.”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to wash your back?”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“Can I kiss you?”

“Not now, maybe later.”

“Can I sleep with you?”

“I sleep with Geoff, but the bed is big enough for the three of us.”

“I don’t want to be beside him.”

“Then sleep beside me.”

“I’ll think about it, okay?”

“However you want to do it, but I sleep in Geoff’s bed. Now, can I go have my bath?”

“Okay! Go have you bath.”

* * * *

We were probably halfway through dinner when the front doorbell rang. Erik practically jumped out of his chair and ran into the house. In less than a minute he returned with Gerry following him. Gerry had brought his b-ball.

“Gerry, nice to see you, hungry?” Geoff said. “Erik, go get Gerry a plate and a glass. He can have some of our chicken stir-fry.”

“No, sir, thank you anyway, but I’ve already had supper,” Gerry said.

“Well, okay, Erik just get him a glass and he can have some ice tea,” Geoff said.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll just have water.”

“Erik …”

“I know, get him a glass of spring water from the refrigerator,” Erik said. “Sheesh, I thought you were supposed to be my foster parent not my boss.”

“I think the keyword there is parent,” Geoff said. He chuckled and Erik gave him the evil eye before going into the kitchen. “I was telling Jerry that I don’t think there are any nets on the basketball hoops. If that’s the case, I hope it won’t mess up your game.”

“Actually, Geoff, when I was mowing the lawn, I checked and there are nets, but they’re a little old,” I said.

“Here’s your water,” Erik said as he held a glass beside Gerry.

“Thanks, kid,” Gerry said.

“I’m not kid, I’m Erik, so get that through your jock filled mind.”

“Erik, that’s no way to speak to guests in this house,” Geoff said.

“But, I’m not a little kid anymore. I can’t help it if I’m small. For your information, Gerry, I’m fourteen and expect to be treated as something more than a twelve-year-old.”

“Erik, you’re so dear, you look twelve. You know, uh, Professor Johnson, my oldest brother had a hormone deficiency when he was growing up and looked twelve when he was fourteen. Maybe, Erik has the same problem.”

“Hmm, that’s interesting,” Geoff said. “Oh, and Gerry, since I am no longer a professor, why don’t you just call me Geoff, like Jerry and Erik, mostly do.”

“Oh, no, sir, I can’t do that, my parents would disown me if they found out I was being personable with an elder. Is it okay if I call you Mr. Johnson?”

“Sure, no problem, whatever is most comfortable for you. There’s one more serving of stir-fry; Jerry, Erik, Gerry?”

“I’ll eat it,” Erik said. “A growing boy needs lots of protein. Isn’t that right, Gerry?”

The front doorbell rang, interrupting the conversation. Since Erik was busy finishing the stir-fry, Geoff and I looked at each other. Frankly, I was kind of afraid to go answer it because of who it might be. Then it rang again.

“I think I know who that is,” Geoff said as he stood up. “I’ll be back unless the police arrest me for killing the asshole.”

“What was that all about?” Gerry asked.

“Jerry got fucked by a dickhead who took off his condom halfway through,” Erik said between mouthfuls. “Now, Jerry had to go buy an HIV test kit and watch his ass for STDs if that’s at all possible. That’s what you get for trusting college dickheads.”

“He wasn’t a dickhead when I first met him,” I said.

“Man, that’s totally wrong,” Gerry said. “You want me and my friends go beat him to a pulp?”

“And, get yourselves up on hate crime charges?” I asked.

“It won’t be a hate crime if we’re all gay.”

“What? How many gay friends do you have at that high school?” Erik asked. “Have I died and gone to gay Valhalla?”

“Well, let’s see, there’s Anson, Rich, Dave, Simon, Mark, and Curtis. They’re seniors and either play football, lacrosse, or basketball. The juniors are Bill, Steve, Mons’ brother Manny, Del, and Nibs. I know of at least three sophomores and two freshmen, but I don’t know their names. There are a few others, but my crowd doesn’t run in their circle.”

“What are they spraying on the apples around here?” I asked.

“Good question, but most people wonder if there is something in the water,” Gerry said. “Of course, there’s also the gays at the college, plus the lesbians, a few bisexuals, and, well, there is Patty, she’s having a pretty rough time of it. Physically she’s a guy, but she identifies as being female and pretty much looks like a girl. Her parents got a court order forcing the school to allow her to wear girl’s clothing and style her hair as a girl. She’s never had to take PE and uses the handicapped restrooms because they won’t let her use the girls’ restrooms.”

“Is she a senior?” Erik asked.

“No, Patty’s a junior; she was kept back a year in elementary because the school wouldn’t let her be a girl. It took her parents a year to get the court order on the school district. There’s a lot of meatheads on the football team and religious wackos that go to this weird Christian cult thing east of here that keep hassling her. We try to protect her, but we can’t be with her all the time. I’m afraid something’s going to happen to her.”

“Well, that takes care of that person,” Geoff said as he walked out the backdoor. He returned to his seat and poured some more ice tea in his glass. “He actually threatened me with a lawsuit claiming alienation of affection, which you can’t do in New York, but I didn’t tell him that. I hope he does go to his uncle, who he said was a big time lawyer in Manhattan just to see if my big time lawyer in Manhattan is any better. So, what’s up?”

“There’s a transgender boy at the high school who looks and dresses like a girl,” Erik said. “Next week I’m going to see if I can meet her.”

“Why would you do that?” Gerry asked. “You’re only going to be a freshman; nobody talks to freshmen.”

“Does anybody talk to Patty; does anybody sit with her at lunch?” Erik asked.

“If you do, you’ll be marked by those who hate her and you might find yourself on the wrong end of a fist,” Gerry said.

“Nobody is going to try that on me more than once,” Erik said.

“And, why is that?” Geoff asked.

“Yeah, Erik, you’re a bit little to be taking on a football player,” I said.

“I took jujutsu and can take down any bully.”

“That’s good, but just be careful, you can get in just as much trouble by being caught fighting,” Geoff said. “I don’t want to have to come down to the school and find out you’ve been hauled off by the county sheriff.”

“It’s not fighting; it’s letting the aggressor’s momentum defeat his attempt to attack. Generally, I don’t even have to hit the other person, but can and will if necessary to protect myself from injury.”

“Well, what do you know, our little kiddio is a toughie,” Gerry said. “Erik, I see a great future for you in Warnton. First you want to become Patty’s friend and now you think you can take down the bullies. What else do you have up your sleeve?”

“I’m not your little kiddio; it was a stupid R&B song by a singer who could sing better songs than that thing.”

“What do you mean?” Gerry asked.

“‘Kiddio’ was a song by Brook Benton in 1960,” Geoff said.

“Oh, sorry Erik, but you’re so cute,” Gerry said.

“Well, thank you, I appreciate that.”

“Oh, oh, now I am in trouble,” Gerry said. “Jerry, are you about finished?”

“Geoff, may I be excused?” I asked. Usually, I would help Geoff or Erik to clear the table and clean up the kitchen.

“Sure, go ahead, I think me and Erik can take care of the kitchen tonight. Make sure you use plenty of bug spray; the mosquitos will be coming out as the sun goes down.”

I went over to the small table by the backdoor and picked up the bug spray. Outside, I sprayed my arms, legs, neck, and face and offered the can to Gerry. He sprayed himself and I took the can back into the screened porch. Erik was just putting the last mouthful of stir-fry in his mouth and I ruffled his hair. “Little kiddio, that’s so cute,” I teased.

“I’ll get you,” he said as he swung at me.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Geoff said. “It’s not polite.”

“But …”

“Uh, uh, no talking until you swallow.”

I went out and Gerry walked with me out to the sport court. First thing I wanted to check on was the posts for the tennis net. Interestingly, they were set in the asphalt in concrete footings and when I jiggled one it was loose, so I pulled it out. Gerry went over and did the same thing with the other one.

“What do we do with them?” he asked.

“Lay it down next to the fence and then it will be out of our way.”

“Short court or full?”

“Well, it’s not really a full court, but it should do. It’s your ball, you go first.”

We played until the sun was well on its way to dropping below the horizon. We walked back to the house and went in through the screened porch door, which I locked behind me. After walking into the kitchen, I locked the backdoor.

“Want any water?” I asked.

“Sure, thanks.”

We slowly drank our water and I felt a lot calmer than I had since Dave left after fucking me. I could see having Gerry as a friend in the weeks and months ahead and possibly moving that friendship into something of more permanence if he was of the same mind. Gerry drank the last of his water and put the glass in the sink.

“Well, I guess I better be going,” he said.

“Thanks for coming over. Come anytime you want. You know, we are having dinner here tomorrow night and there’s going to be quite a few people. I know there’s an empty chair if you want it.”

“What time?”

“Five, I’ll need help getting things ready, so if you come earlier that’s okay, too.”

“I’ll send you a text if it’s okay with my parents.”

“Great.”

I walked him to the front door and out onto the front porch. We were standing close. He took my chin in his hand and our lips softly met in a see-you-later kind of kiss. For all the ravenous kissing Dave gave me, this was pleasantly unexpected. I touched his cheek and didn’t want him to go.

“Bye,” he said and then he turned and walked away.

* * * *

“Nice sleep shorts, Erik,” I said when I walked into the study. He was curled up in his wingchair busy with his novel.

“Thanks.”

“We had to go to three stores before we found them,” Geoff said. “He didn’t want to have to get little kid pajamas, which is what would’ve been his only choice if we hadn’t found those.”

“And, thank you for putting up with me,” Erik said. “I know I was being rather difficult considering what you spent on the clarinet.”

“How much did you spend?” I asked, curious.

“Just over fifteen hundred, but I guess it’s pretty good,” Geoff said. “Right, Erik?”

“Oh, yeah, are you sure you’re going to be able to take me down to see that lady in Rochester about the late audition for the youth symphony?”

“I don’t see any problem with it. It really isn’t that far. What the hell was that?”

There had been crashing sound from down the hall and we all ran toward the living room and front door. From what I could see, someone had thrown a firebomb through the living room window that faced the front of the house.

“The fire extinguisher is in the kitchen,” Geoff said. “I’ll call the fire department.”

Erik ran to the kitchen and I went outside to see if there was a hose I could use to douse the flames on the front of the house. There was one, but whatever fuel had been used in the bomb had gotten down onto the hose, turning it into a glowing mass of flaming plastic. I ran back into the house. Geoff was attempting to put out the flames on the floor, but the drapes were fully involved.

“Is there another fire extinguisher?” I asked.

“Out on the back porch.”

Erik was standing there as if not knowing what to do. “Go outside,” I said.

“But …”

“Go outside!”

I ran out to the back porch and found the fire extinguisher. There were sirens in the distance, but they were getting closer. I picked up the fire extinguisher and ran back to the living room. Geoff was losing the battle. I stepped in and began to attack the fire around the broken bottle, but the fire was getting up into the ceiling and it was too high for me to get at. Suddenly, there were three firemen in the living room and one pulled me back. I went outside with Geoff.

Another truck showed up and brought up a hose to attack the outside of the house. All three of us stood there in shock and then slowly made our way across the lawn to let the firefighters full access to the house.

“My beautiful home,” Geoff moaned. “Why?”

“I know why; it was that Dave guy, that’s who,” Erik said.

“You can’t say that; we have no proof,” Geoff said.

“He threatened you; didn’t he?” I asked. “That’s proof enough for me.”

“There could be others; after all, I’m gay and there are those in this town who are obviously homophobic,” Geoff said.

“You mean, like the Provost?” I asked.

“Don’t be silly, he wouldn’t do this,” Geoff said.

“One of his friends might,” I said. “Dave was saying that he has been trying to do away with Warnton Pride. With you leaving and him trying to do away with Warnton Pride, maybe one of his wacko religious buddies decided to get rid of you, too.”

“I can’t imagine him doing such a thing,” Geoff said.

“Excuse me, are you the homeowner?” a firefighter asked.

“Oh, yes, what can I do for you?”

“We saw the broken bottle and have called the sheriff and state police, since this is obviously arson. You won’t be able to stay here tonight, so you need to make arrangements. Will you need assistance in that regard?”

“What about my house? What if they come back? I have these two boys I’m responsible for.”

“Sir, please try not to be upset.”

“But, I’ve lived here in Warnton for forty years, I’ve never had any problems like this. Why now?”

“Sir, is there something going on we should know about?”

“He’s gay, all three of us are gay,” I said. “I did have an incident with a student from the college I thought was a friend, but when he came back this evening Geoff told him to go away and he threatened Geoff.”

“Are you saying this might be a hate crime?”

“No, but there are things happening on campus that might have a bearing on what happened,” I said.

“I see; well, we’ll be leaving a truck here tonight in case there are any hot spots and I’m sure the sheriff’s department will have a car in the neighborhood, too.”

“Mr. Johnson, could I speak to you?” someone down on the sidewalk said.

“If you’ll excuse me,” Geoff said. He went over to talk to that person, who might have been a neighbor.

“Is there someone who can escort me and Erik upstairs so we can get some clothes on and pack a bag if we can’t stay the night?” I asked.

“Oh, sure, good idea,” the firefighter said. He turned to another firefighter who seemed to be between tasks. “Harry, take these two in the house so they can go up to their rooms.”

In the end, that man Geoff had been speaking with was his next door neighbor and he had three beds in two rooms that we could use for as long as we were going to need them. We left Geoff to talk to the police and went with the neighbor to his house. As it turned out, he was the pastor of the local Unitarian church and come to find out Erik intended on attending that church once he got settled in the house, so he and the pastor had a long conversation about all things Christian and how it didn’t matter that Erik was gay. He asked me if I was a believer and I told him about my experience with crazy Lutherans at home. For what it was worth, he told me I would be welcome, too. Finally, Geoff came in and after a cup of herbal tea we all went to bed.