Sibling Rivalry - 1. Chapter 1

Part One

George Michael Kelly saw the light of day on July 4th in Brooklyn, NY. Colin Dennis, George’s kid brother, entered the world, a year later to the day. Their parents, Margaret and Terrence Kelly, were Irish Americans.

Their hero, George M. Cohan, claimed to have been born on July 4th, but he was born on the 3rd. That’s why they named their first-born son after George Michael Cohan. They also had a daughter, who was two years younger than Colin. They named her Mary.

The two brothers shared a bedroom, and they were close enough to be friends, but unlike other siblings, they rarely had a fight. This led Terry and Maggie to assume that they were close buddies. An analyst would have classified them as casual acquaintances.

Be that as it may, by the time George entered fifth grade, things changed drastically between them. Colin was very talented artistically. He could play piano, sing, dance, and act as well as any professional actor. To add to his mystique, as he grew older, he was exceptionally handsome and macho. He got the lead role in every high school musical from his freshman to his senior year, and he got the romantic lead in the senior play.

From childhood, wherever they went, no matter which relative they visited, Colin got all their attention. Not withstanding, that his older brother was named after George M Cohan, Colin was the one who inherited the legend’s talents. Their parents treated (believed) that Colin was a reincarnation of the great man himself. They often ignored George completely, and begged Colin to show off his talents at one social gathering or another. George began to be extremely jealous of his kid brother. He didn’t hate him, but he did resent the way his family treated Colin like a prince, while he was treated like an ugly stepbrother.

George was far from ugly. He didn’t have Colin’s awesome good looks, but he was nice enough looking. He and Colin worked out together in a neighborhood gym, and they both had hunky bodies. Neither brother was college material, and even if they were, their parents could not send them through college without some scholarship help.

All during high school, George worked in a bakery, so it was no surprise that he enrolled in culinary school. It was his ambition to become a famous pastry chef. In his junior year, Colin started to go out on open auditions, hoping to land a part in a Broadway play, or better yet, a musical. He even hired an agent to help him. He had no trouble landing rolls in the chorus of some musical show, or in small rolls in legitimate plays. The producers thought so highly of him, that an understudy went on for him during Wednesday matinees so he could complete high school. The future paths of the two brothers were taking an even sharper fork in the road.

******

Sometime during his junior year in high school, George suspected that he was gay.

Colin had been sexually active for more than a year now. He and his best high school buddy, Mark Sawyers, were never apart. They constantly double dated, and got laid, while George remained a virgin. He did not seek out any relationships with girls like his brother did. He just wasn’t interested. Another thing he resented about Colin was that George had stayed in touch with all their high school buddies. Colin didn’t remain in touch with any of them, not even Mark. George chalked it up to snobbery.

George’s life changed when he met Jay Harper in culinary school. They both had the same ambition to become pastry chefs. Only a blind man would not notice how enamored they were with one another. Unfortunately, each one was afraid to bring up the matter of sexual orientation. But, when longing became frustration, something had to give.

The two buddies went to see a movie one evening. They lived quite close to each other, and decided to walk home on such a beautiful late spring evening. Along the way, they passed a small children’s playground with several benches.

“Let’s sit here and schmooze for a while,” Jay said. “It’s such a beautiful evening, and I have something I want to tell you.”

“Okay,” George answered. “I’ve wanted to talk to you about something also. You go first.”

Jay cleared his throat and said, “George, I’m gay. I promise never to be inappropriate with you, but please promise me we’ll still be friends.”

Once he got that off his chest, Jay was relieved. Whatever would happen, he had steeled himself to be ready for it. George didn’t move a muscle. His face had turned to stone. Jay could not read any emotion in that face at all. Finally, George began to speak.

“Here’s the deal,” George said. “My brother Colin makes big bucks and has an apartment of his own in Manhattan. It’s a luxury apartment, I might add. My folks, and my kid sister, left this morning for a two week trip to Ireland to visit relatives, so I’m rattling around in a three bedroom apartment all by myself. How’d you like to take up some of that space, so I won’t be so lonely.”

Now it was Jay’s turn to be speechless, as he tried to absorb what George had just told him. Finally, he gave out one long sigh and a slight sob. “What are you saying?” he asked.

“I’m saying that I’m gay also, but that’s not important. What I’m really saying is that I’m so much in love with you, that sometimes when we’re together, I can hardly breathe. I want to make love with you so badly, I ache.”

Jay’s slight sob became rather large ones. He grabbed hold of George, and started to kiss him. It was dark in the playground and nobody was around. Even if people were sitting on the same bench, he wouldn’t have cared. They ran to George’s empty apartment. As soon as they locked the front door, they stripped at record speed, and began a kissing marathon.

When they came up for air, they checked each other out, and the results were pleasant. They were both uncut, and about seven inches hard. It would be a while to discover that they were both about four and a half inches flaccid. They were so frenzied, they didn’t give a thought to size at this romantic moment.

“Let’s shower,” George suggested. “I haven’t showered since early this morning, and I don’t want to offend you.”

“You could smell like a sewer, and I wouldn’t care,” Jay said.

They showered together anyhow, and managed to get themselves off with wonderful back and forth tongue action. They were both virgins, but they performed masterfully. Love makes up for lots of shortfalls. When they left the shower and dried off, they fell into George’s bed. He still slept in a twin-sized bed in the bedroom he had once shared with Colin. It was a tight fit, and the lovers could care less.

George found a jar of Vaseline, and they fucked each other without condoms. They had both watched plenty of porn on the internet, and read enough literature to do it right. They gave each other infinite pleasure, and came again high up their lover’s bowels. When they finally fell asleep, a crowbar could not have separated them.

They could not afford to get an apartment of their own, so they both had to continue to live at home until they graduated and got jobs. That greatly curtailed their sexual activity, until they were saved by Colin himself. Colin was going on the road for a year with a revival of Carousel. He had the lead. Before he left, he gave George a key to his apartment and asked him to check on it for him periodically. George swallowed his pride, took the key, and wished Colin a successful tour. He even gave his brother a hug, which turned his stomach. “I can act as good as you can,” he thought, as he embraced his brother.

George informed his parents about his arrangement with Colin, and said he was going to live in his brother’s apartment while Colin was on tour. “That way, I can take proper care of it,” he said. They had no objection. They were ready to become empty nesters themselves. Mary was busy planning her (modest) wedding. Colin had offered to pay for a more lavish wedding, but the engaged couple politely turned him down. He did give them a generous engagement gift, and then, an even larger wedding gift, which paid for their honeymoon.

Colin’s career continued to soar. He landed a lead role as a forensic scientist on a TV detective series. The show was an instant success, and it was assured renewals for the foreseeable future. Colin was wealthier than he could ever have dreamed of. Every night, he partied with a different beautiful woman. Some of them genuinely liked him, but most of them were merely hoping that he could advance their careers.

*****

George and Jay were successful also, but in a much more modest way. After they graduated from culinary school, they both secured positions as pastry chefs in two different fine dining restaurants. They immediately moved into a modest apartment in Brooklyn. As soon as they were settled, they had a quiet wedding at the courthouse, and began their lives together. As happy as they were with their marriage, and with their work, they aspired for more.

They found an appropriate location in Brooklyn, on a very busy business street, and opened a bakery.. Their little establishment became the go to place for desserts and party items. The bakery was always packed with people. They added a variety of breads and cakes to their daily output, and they got even busier. They had to hire two clerks, and spent hours at home doing bookkeeping, and ordering the ingredients they needed for their baked goods.

A year later, a store next door to the bakery became vacant, and they rented it. They turned into a little coffee shop. They offered a variety of sandwiches, coffees, and teas, served with their pastries. The coffee shop also achieved instant success. They were able to buy a three-bedroom condo near the stores.

They made sensuous love to each other almost every evening of the week, no matter how tired they were from that day’s stressful work.

From the day he and Jay opened the bakery, instead of being joyful at their success, George began to be disturbed. Almost every customer he served, told him that they knew he was Colin Kelly’s brother, and wanted to know what Colin was really like. Worse yet, some of them begged him to get them an autograph. This situation continued for way too long, long enough for George to wonder if their customers were coming for the delicious bakery products, or because he was Colin’s brother.

Jay kept assuring him that all he ever heard from their patrons were comments about how delicious everything was. He advised George not to be so paranoid, but George couldn’t let go of that disturbing thought. One day, he and Jay catered a private party for one of their friends. Practically every guest at the party pestered George about his brother, and what it was like growing up with him.

This enigma started to effect their love life. One night, while making love, Jay could not get George hard. His tongue was working its usual magic, but George was not responding. They eventually gave up, and the couple had a long talk.

George finally accepted the fact that he was doomed to live in his brother’s shadow. He promised Jay that he was ready to recognize it as his lot in life. It was difficult for him, but he managed to keep his promise. Their love lives improved significantly, for a time.

Then something happened to rekindle George’s now dormant resentment. Jay and George adopted a little boy, and the following year they adopted a little girl. Wherever they went, whatever they did with their kids, their parents were shocked at the remarks they received. The two children were so cute that everyone should have been oohing and cooing over them. Instead, near strangers would pinch their cheeks, and say, “How lucky you are to have Colin Kelly as an uncle.”

Jay let it slide, but George could not. It was bad enough that his brother cast a shadow over him. He was not about to let it happen to his children. He began to lie. If anyone remarked about his brother, he would say, “You must be mistaken. I don’t have a brother. All I share with Colin Kelly is a very common surname.” The person he said that to, would look surprised, but most of them said nothing. Occasionally, someone would say, “I’ve heard otherwise.”

Colin’s TV show was filmed in Los Angeles, and George was happy about that. He didn’t have to interact with his brother. Colin always called to wish George a happy birthday, or a happy anniversary, and he called to wish him lots of happiness when he adopted the children. Whenever he called, George was cordial, but he never called Colin. Colin wasn’t hurt, because he never even noticed it. He was not one to stand on ceremony.

One night, when he was sure his brother would be home, Colin called George. When George saw the caller ID, he was curious. It was nobody’s birthday in his family, and it wasn’t his and Jay’s anniversary. When he picked up the phone, and said hello, his voice sounded like a question.

“Hello, big brother,” Colin said cheerfully.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” George asked in a monotone. He felt bad about that, so he added in a much friendlier tone of voice, “How are you doing?”

“I’m doing great,” Colin said. My show just got renewed for another season.”

“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations!”

“Listen, we’re wrapping up this season on Friday, and I have a month off until we begin shooting the new season. I’ve decided to come home, and make Mom and Dad a thirty-fifth wedding anniversary party.”

“I’d like to participate in that,” George said. He sounded a little miffed.

“Sure, you will,” Colin said. “I’ll rent a private room in a restaurant, and you and Jay can provide all the baked goods, and the anniversary cake.”

George was really pissed. He wanted to help with the cost of the party, not work at it. He had every right to participate in the joyous affair, as much as Colin did. To his credit, George said, “That’ll be an honor.”

“Great, “Colin said. “I can’t wait to see you, Jay, and the kids. I miss you all.”

“Liar,” George thought, but what he said was, “Where will you be staying?”

“I still own the condo in Manhattan, but it’s rented out. I want to be near my family. I could stay with mom and dad in our old room, but frankly, George, I’d rather stay with you, Jay, and the kids.”

“This is it,” George thought. “I’ll wait until the evening before he leaves, and I’ll let him know how he has ruined my life, and now it’s happening to my children. I’ll tell him that I never want to see him ever again.”

“That’s fantastic,” Colin said instead. “I can move Joy’s crib into Tyler’s room while you’re here, and you’ll have a private room of your own.”

“Thanks, George. You’ve made me very happy. You have no idea how much I want to be with you guys. I should say, how much I need to be with you guys.” George hated that Colin was being so nice.

“When will you be arriving?” he asked.

“I’ll take the red-eye Friday night right after we wrap up, and I’ll hop a cab to your place early Saturday morning. Will someone be home?”

“If we have left for work when you get here, our housekeeper/nanny will let you in. Her name’s Liz.”

“Nice, big brother. I can’t wait to see you and Jay. If you’ve both gone to work, I’ll come to the bakery to say hello after I get settled.”

“We’ll be looking for you.”

The night before Colin was due to arrive, George was so full of angst and pent-up energy, that he couldn’t control his anger. He fucked Jay twice in a row, and came each time, but there was no joy in it for him or Jay.

*****

George and Jay worked six days a week. They took Sundays off, and left both businesses in the hands of a very capable manager. Colin arrived just as George and Jay were leaving for work on Saturday morning. He held out his arms to George, who ignored him. “We’re running late,” he said. “We’ll see you later.”

Colin was terribly hurt by this slight. He had no idea how George felt about him. “Okay, I’ll see you later,” he said.

As soon as the front door was shut, he heard a kindly voice say, “You must be Mr. Kelly’s brother. Come with me. I’ll show you to your room, and you can unpack and get comfortable.” She did not seem to know who Colin was, other than George’s brother. That would have angered George, but Colin was grateful for it.

“Good idea,” Colin said. I’ve got a suitcase full of gifts for the kids. Where are they by the way?”

“Still in bed, but awake. I’ll be giving them their morning baths in just a minute. Get unpacked, and then come join us.”

“Thanks, Liz. I’ll do that.”

Colin spent the morning playing with his niece and nephew. He hadn’t been this relaxed in months. He couldn’t get enough of hugging and kissing them. He was surprised at the passage of time, when he heard Liz say, “I’m making lunch for the children now. Can I make you something?”

“No thanks. I think, I’ll go to my brother’s coffee shop, and have a sandwich for lunch.”

“He’ll be happy to see you, I know,” she said.

Colin wasn’t so sure about that after this morning’s greeting.

He had to wait ten minutes for a table to open in the coffee shop. When a cute little waitress came over to take his order, she asked, “Do I know you? You look very familiar to me.”

“I’m sure we don’t know each other,” Colin said. “If I had met you before, I would never forget a face as pretty as yours.”

The poor girl blushed a deep red.

“I don’t see George or Jay around,” he noted.

“No, they’re in the bakery,” the young waitress said.

Colin ordered an egg salad sandwich on rye with lettuce and tomatoes, coffee, and a piece of peach pie. When he was finished eating, he over-tipped the waitress, paid his bill, and went next door. Jay was behind the counter. He nodded slightly when he saw Colin. He was afraid to be too friendly, fearing that George would consider him to be disloyal.

“Where’s George?” Colin asked.

“He’s in the rear, baking. Use that door over there.”

Colin went to the rear and spotted his brother. “Hi George,” he said. “Your kids are precious.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here. What brings you?”

“We didn’t say hello properly this morning. I still want my hug.”

“I’m full of baking powder. Can it wait until I get home?”

“I guess it’ll have to. Can you get a sitter? I’d like to take you and Jay, and mom and dad, out to dinner tonight. We can talk and get caught up.”

“Liz will sit for us anytime I ask her, but I’d rather talk to you at home. I’ll ask mom and dad to come over, and Jay and I will make dinner. We can also discuss the desserts you’d like me to serve at the anniversary party. I’ll show you my idea for the cake.”

“Fine, I’ll see you this evening.” Colin left. He was deeply hurt.

The entire evening was tense and strained. As soon as their parents left, and the children were put to sleep, Colin asked, “Okay George, what the fuck is eating you? You’re treating me like shit. I’m your brother. I love you. I know we lead separate lives, and can’t be together very much, but that doesn’t change how I feel about you, Jay, and the kids.”

This was George’s opportunity to get all his frustration out in the open, and out of his system. He was literally bursting. He looked at Colin. There was no hate in his eyes just a kind of pleading.

“Do you know how fucking hard it is to be Colin Kelly’s brother? Have you any idea how much I resent you? Wherever Jay and I go, we lose our identity, and become your brother. We become non-entities. I could take it, but now my kids are getting the same treatment. Everyone coos over them, and tells them how lucky they are to have Colin Kelly as their uncle. Hell, their lucky to have Jay and me as parents also, but nobody seems to notice that. They’re fading into the background. I’m afraid they’ll have no identities of their own soon enough, just like me and Jay.”

All during his tirade, George was hyperventilating. When he was done, he buried his head in his hands and began to cry.

“You idiot,” Colin said. “You absolutely fucking imbecile. Don’t you know how much I envy you. Do you know that you’ve been my hero ever since we were little boys? Not a day goes by that I don’t look up to you. You’re the bravest man I know.”

Now he began to cry, and George just stared at him. He was speechless, so Colin went on.

“Ever since we were in high school, you were not afraid to tell people that you were gay. You were never ashamed to introduce Jay as your partner, and when you married him, I could sense how much you two loved each other. I was the jealous one. People laughed when you said that you wanted to be a baker. Nobody laughed when I said I wanted to be an actor. You got the ridicule, not me. I hid behind a macho male image. That wasn’t who I was at all. Do you have an inkling of how much I wanted to be as brave as you are?

“Then you and Jay adopted the kids, and you were a family. I was so jealous of you, I can’t tell you how awful I felt. Every night, I came home to an empty house. I envied you more every day; and every day, you became more of a hero to me. If I could, I would change lives with you in a heartbeat. I love you, Georgie.” He called George by his boyhood nickname.

Colin finally stopped hyperventilating and crying. George was overcome. He wrapped his arms around Colin. They hugged tightly, and George whispered in his brother’s ear. “I love you too. How could we both have been so blind? But I’m curious. When you say that you are not your image, who are you then?”

Colin waited a long time. Finally, he whispered in George’s ear. “I’m your brother, George, your gay brother, but I’m afraid of what it will do to my image and my career, if I come out.”

“Good God,” George said, and he hugged Colin harder. “Of all the people in the world, you could have told me. You could have leaned on me”

“I couldn’t tell you. I just kept hoping I could suppress my urges, and never have to tell anyone, but I couldn’t do either.”

The two brothers stopped talking, but they just held each other, reluctant to let go. Jay didn’t want to disturb this moment, so he let them go on hugging and sobbing a little.

Finally, Jay felt he had given them enough time. He asked, “Colin, have you ever slept with a man, and what about all those women we see you with in the papers all the time?”

“I never slept with any of them, male or female. I’m a thirty-three-year-old virgin, Jay. I was going to tell you this trip, and now I have. I was hoping you could fix me up with one of your friend’s, someone very discreet, of course.”

George and Jay both gasped, and finally George unwrapped himself from Colin. He looked hard at Jay, and they both nodded. They had read each other’s minds.

“You two have got to end this stupid feud,” Jay said. “George, you’re so full of false pride, and you, Colin, are so full of sexual frustration, neither of you can see or think sanely. Here’s what I propose. George will lend me out for the night, and I’ll end Colin’s yearnings.”

“No,” George said adamantly, and both Jay and Colin looked disappointed. “I need to show my brother what a fool I’ve been, but more than that, I need to show him how much I love him. Jay, you, and I will make love with Colin this night, and for as long into the future as he would like.”

George held out his arms, and the three brothers embraced in a group hug,

“One last thing,” George advised, “Colin, you should really come out of the prison you’ve built. I swear to you, it’ll be liberating, and you’ll be able to be who you are. You’ll be happy, Colin. I promise you.”

“I will, I promise, but not until I find someone I want to spend my life with, like you and Jay.”

“And we’ll promise to help you find someone while you’re here,” George said.

George took one of Colin’s hands, and Jay took the other. They led him into their bedroom which had a king-sized bed. Colin hesitated in the doorway.

“I don’t know about this,” he said. “I’m okay with Jay, but we’re brothers, George,” he whined.

“Listen to me, Colin,” George said. “We’re brothers sure, but we’re also men, and we love each other. I don’t know what your definition of love is, but I define love as the desire to give the one you love, the most pleasure you can give. That’s what Jay and I want to do for you, so you’ll know how much we love you.”

He leaned into Colin, and began to kiss him. At first their lips were tight shut, but George forced Colin’s lips apart, and offered him his tongue. Their kissing became passionate, and they didn’t realize that Jay had already stripped naked. George finally separated from Colin when he heard Colin murmur, “Oh God.”

They saw Jay in bed with a very expansive erection, and they stripped rapidly. They jumped into the oversized bed, and Jay and George put Colin in the middle.

“How do we start?” Colin asked in all innocence.

“Have you ever seen a male film?” Jay asked.

Colin nodded.

“Then you know that all great threesomes begin with a daisy chain, but not before we teach you how to give good head.”

Fear left Colin’s face. He broke out into a wide grin. “Yes, please teach me,” he begged.

Jay reached into the night table on his side of the bed and removed an average sized dildo. “Observe,” he said.

He began to lick the underside of the dildo as if he was licking a lollipop. While he was doing that, George explained what Jay was doing. “You see,” George said, “his teeth never enter the picture. When you take your partner’s cock into your mouth, lick it in the same way, and allow your lips to pump from the outside. Here, try it with the dildo, and if you get an A, we’ll go for the works.”

Colin got an A+, and they got into position for a daisy chain. Colin got George’s cock, and marveled that he and his brother were the same size, and uncut. They switched positions often, and when Colin advised that he was about to cum, they disengaged and simmered down.

“Now,” Jay said, “We’re going to fuck each other, and you, my dear TV star are going to be in the middle. If you want to back out, now’s your chance.”

Colin laughed. “Not on your life,” he said. “I never expected cock to taste so good, nor fellatio to feel so good. Please let’s get on with the lessons.”

So, Colin’s brothers taught him how to lube an ass, stretch it, and get it ready for the grand entry. They practiced stretching and entering several times before everyone felt they were ready. They didn’t use condoms because George and Jay never did, and Colin was a virgin. Finally, they got into position with Colin in the middle, George was on the bottom on his back, and Jay was on top of Colin. They never did get a chance to switch this time. They all came too fast.

When Colin shot his load up his brother’s ass, he thought that this was as good as life gets. When he felt Jay’s essence coat his guts, he couldn’t believe that it did get better.

The three young men lay wrapped up in each other’s arms coming down from their high, when George said, “After the anniversary party, Colin, before you go back to L.A., I’m going to have an intimate little party in our apartment, and I’m going to invite a few of our close single friends. Who knows what the real stars, the heavenly ones, might have in store for you? I might even ask mom and dad to take the kids for the night.”

“I’m ready to meet someone local,” Colin said, “Because now I fully intend on flying home every chance I can get. Just keep my room ready.”

“For sure,” George said.

The next time Colin came to New York, he didn’t stay with his brothers. Instead, he stayed with one of the young men he met at George’s little soiree. Mark Sawyers had known Colin in high school. The two boys had a deep crush on each other, but of course, it was their secret to keep. Mark came out in college, and he was indeed liberated. Colin remained a frustrated closet case.

Mark knew how much his friend, George, hated to be known as Colin’s brother. He never mentioned his high school friendship with Colin to George, but George knew well enough. More than that, he never revealed that he had been in love with Colin since high school days. He had no way of knowing that Colin was of a like mind. It never occurred to Mark that the macho he-man everyone idolized, was indeed a gay, closeted, frustrated man.

When Colin and Mark saw each other at the party, they fell into each other’s arms. Colin admitted how much he had loved Mark in high school, and that was the reason he was afraid to stay in touch. The rest, as they say, is history. Colin kept his promise, and came out. Nobody in the world loved each other as much as these four brothers.

All the rivalry between Colin and George evaporated. They called each other and texted constantly. George couldn’t wait for each of his brother’s visits home.

After his TV show finished filming the next season, Colin didn’t renew his contract. Instead, he advised his agent that he would only take on TV shows which filmed in New York, and he actively sought roles in Broadway shows. Mark had made all his dreams come true, and he was damned if he would fuck it up twice. Besides, he could not bear to be separated from him.

Colin sold his condo in Manhattan, and moved into Mark’s condo in Brooklyn. It helped diminish some of his exposure to the press, and helped him lead a quieter life with the people he loved most in the world.

Part Two

The Great Cake Bake Off

George Kelly and Jay Harper are husbands. They own a very successful bakery in Brooklyn, NY, and an equally successful coffee shop next door to the bakery. They have two great kids, Tyler, 12, and Joy,11. They have fulfilled the American dream, but their success is not as important as how much they love each other. They are constantly hugging and kissing each other at home. Their frequent show of affection often has their tween-aged kids giggling. Neither the parents nor the children are bothered about the giggling.

The kids love to see their parents display their affection for each other. It confirms the deep love they each have for the other, and gives the kids a sense of living in a safe, and loving environment. Too many of their school friends, have suffered through the divorce of their parents.

Both George and Jay are top-notch bakers. They are masters of their craft. Crazy as it seems, because of their love for one another, each one worries that he is not nearly as good as his other half. In their eyes their spouses are better at everything, than they are. This false humility will shortly set off a series of very unexpected events.

There is currently a very popular reality show airing on TV. It’s called, The Great Cake Bake-Off. The TV show is usually aired in the summer in lieu of a myriad of reruns. It starts with eleven contestants. Each week they must produce a dessert delicacy requested by a panel of three master chef judges. The assignment must be completed in a very short time period. Each week one contestant is eliminated until there are only two remaining for the finale. The entire show is taped, and the contestants must abide this torture, for ten days in a row, Monday to Friday for two weeks. The last man standing receives a prize of a quarter of a million dollars. Besides the money, the winner gets to demonstrate how to make a different dessert each week on The Food Channel. The winner is assured great success with his bakery. But even losers are usually rewarded by customers flocking to their bakeries or to their restaurants. It’s a win, win situation.

Without the knowledge of the other, Jay nominated George, and George nominated Jay to appear as contestants on the show. In both nominating letters, the writer candidly revealed that they were nominating their husband. A couple of years ago, a husband and wife competed against each other. The ratings went through the roof that summer. The selection committee concluded that two husbands competing against each other, would raise the ratings to new heights.

Furthermore, one of the committee members remembered reading something recently. He did some research, and discovered that George Kelly was Colin Kelly’s brother. Colin is a famous TV actor, singer, and songwriter. He is currently starring in a Tony winning Broadway musical. That clinched it.

One morning, both Jay and George were behind the counter preparing to open the bakery, when a TV crew came into the bakery with the host of the show, Phil Moore. It was the host’s intention to inform them that they had been nominated to compete on The Great Cake Bake-Off. The TV crew was there to record their shocked reaction.

They were both more than shocked. They were overwhelmed, but more than that, they were flattered and excited.

“Wait until I tell Colin I’m going to be on TV,” George boasted.

“Well, that’s a problem,” Phil said. “The show will be completely taped before the first episode is aired. We must ask both of you to sign a non-disclosure clause. Especially, you cannot disclose the winner. If you do, you’ll be disqualified, and we’ll make an announcement before each episode that you dropped out before we started airing the show. If you are eliminated, we won’t have to make the announcement anymore. Should one of you win, we’ll retape the last five minutes and name a different winner. In order to help you keep the secret, you’ll have to stay in a hotel in Manhattan during the taping period.”

“That’s pretty harsh,” Jay said.

“And furthermore, we can’t both be away from the business for that length of time. You’ll have to choose one of us,” George said.

“No way; you’re a package deal,” Phil said. “It’s both of you or neither of you.”

Their bakery and coffee shop manager, Nate Berg, was standing by speechless during all this hoopla. He finally spoke up.

“Are you guys crazy? The prize is a quarter of a million bucks. Don’t you trust me enough to let me run things for a couple of weeks? Just pretend you went on a two-week vacation. Staying at a hotel in Manhattan will be sort of a real vacation. You’ll even be able to see Colin’s show.”

“What about the kids?” Jay asked.

“Make nice, nice with your housekeeper and nanny, Liz,” Nate said, “and I’ll bet she’ll stay with them. They’re practically old enough to stay alone anyhow. Stop making excuses.”

“Can we share a room at the hotel?” Jay asked Phil.

“We usually keep the contestants in separate rooms, but in your case we’ll make an exception. If not, you’ll be sneaking around in the middle of the night, tiring yourselves out. That won’t do. We want you to perform your A game.”

Jay and George looked at each other and smiled.

“Okay,” George said, “where do we sign?”

They made Nate sign also.

*****

When George’s brother, Colin, was informed that Jay and George were going on a two-week vacation, he and his husband, Mark, volunteered to look in on Liz and the kids. He advised the vacationing twosome to stop worrying and enjoy themselves. Colin could not believe that his brothers were going to vacation in Manhattan, but they told him that they wanted to see his show and many others. He said that he would leave them tickets for house seats at will call for the Tuesday evening of their trip.

“Why don’t you go someplace a lot further way?” Colin asked.

“Manhattan is where we want to be,” Jay answered. He and George smiled sweetly at Colin, who decided that it was none of his business where they spent their time off.

Three weeks later they took the subway to midtown Manhattan to begin taping the competition. As they were settling into their luxurious hotel room, George said, “I know that I’ll be eliminated before you, but I’ll be rooting for you to win.”

“Don’t be an asshole,” Jay said. “You’re a much better baker than I am. I’ll be eliminated before you.”

“In your dreams,” George smirked, “but wouldn’t it be great if one of us did win? Think of all the things we could do with $250,000.”

“It’s too early to plan what to do with money we don’t have,” Jay said, “but for sure, it would pay the kids’ college educations. They could even go to Ivy League universities.”

When they were fully unpacked, George said, “You know, honey, during the competition, we might be too stressed out and too pooped to play. Let’s make love tonight like there was no tomorrow, because there might not be for two weeks.”

“Sometimes you get super ideas,” Jay said, “but let’s check on the kids first.”

Tyler answered the phone. “Relax,” he said. “Stop worrying about us. We’ll be just fine. Just have fun and do what two healthy gay men do on vacation.”

Tyler had begun to tease them about their sexual orientation, and it bugged the fathers. All Jay could say in utter consternation was, “Tyler, knock it off.”

Tyler joked back, “I didn’t say anything wrong, did I”

“Go to sleep, and make sure Joy is okay. We love you.”

As they promised each other, Jay and George had a love making session to end all such events. They spent over three hours in foreplay. In the shower, they rimmed and sucked, but saved anal sex for a dry bed, and for the climax. They were in the shower for what seemed forever, and concluded with some very nasty golden showers.

Later, in bed, they gave each other lengthy trips around the world, with lots of rimming, belly and toe sucking, and wherever else their tongues could reach. Eventually, they fucked each other. Jay was on top, and they came almost simultaneously. They both started to cry.

“I love you so much,” they whispered simultaneously.

*****

The first taping occurred the following morning. The contestants were challenged to make six fruit filled tarts within ninety minutes. Each tart had to be filled with a different fruit.

Go figure. How lucky could they be? Fruit tarts were the number one best-selling dessert in their bakery. Not only that, it was the most requested dessert in the coffee shop. As can be imagined, they both made the cut the first day. The loser had unfortunate luck. He did not prepare the crust properly, and it fell apart in the oven. Not only that, it was overcooked.

It was only 11 AM when the first episode was put to bed. The contestants were advised that they were free the rest of the day to enjoy all that Manhattan had to offer. The first thing Jay and George did was to go to the theater district on their way back to the hotel. They were able to secure two good seats, at great expense, to that evening’s performance of a hit musical other than Colin’s.

Then they went to one of the hundreds of luncheonettes which lined the New York streets. They had lunch there, and just for fun they had fruit tarts for dessert. Jay had apple and George had cherry. Their next stop was their hotel, where they changed clothes. While naked, they had a quickie.

They had always wanted to take the kids to the Bronx Zoo, but never had the time. They decided to check it out, and if it was all that it was cracked up to be, they reckoned they’d call Liz, and have her take the subway on Saturday morning, and meet them at the zoo with the kids.

The zoo was more than they expected it to be, but they had to get back for dinner and the show. They really splurged. They had dinner at a five-star restaurant and then headed to the theater. From the theater they walked back to the hotel.

While headed back to the hotel, Jay was prompted to say, “You know, honey, we thought we were lying when we told people we were going on vacation, but we’re really on one. Even if we’re eliminated, let’s stay the whole two weeks.”

“We’ll see,” was all George could manage to say. “The rates at the hotel are way over our heads.”

“I’m sure we can find a discount hotel.”

Tuesday evening came, and they were still in the competition. They went to see Colin’s show, and George’s confidence, in his brother’s acting and singing ability, was reaffirmed. They went backstage after the performance, and Colin proudly introduced his brothers to some of the cast members.

At the end of the first week of taping on Friday morning, Jay and George were in the top six. Phil, the producer advised them to have a relaxing weekend because the competition would be even tougher the following week.

Liz brought the kids to the zoo on Saturday morning. They had a great day, but the children cried and clung to their dads when Liz said that it was time to go home. Colin wanted to join them, but he had a matinee performance. It was just as well. He was recognized wherever they went, and fans pestered them all the time.

The two bakers decided to spend Sunday relaxing and making love. They couldn’t believe that they had survived the first week of competition. On Sunday afternoon, they took a stereotypical stroll through Central Park. “Sunday in the park with George,” Jay said facetiously.

They sat on a bench watching a kid’s softball game. They didn’t care who could see them. They clasped their hands tightly.

They sat quietly for a while until finally, George said, “I’m not surprised that you’re still in the competition, Jay, but I’m shocked that I am.”

Jay laughed. “You’re a bigger jerk than I thought. I’m not surprised about you. I’m shocked that I’m still in it.”

“Let’s agree to disagree,” George muttered.

Thursday’s taping came to an end, and the husbands were the two finalists. Jay and George embraced out of camera range.

“Do you realize,” George asked, “that no matter what happens, we’ve won a quarter of a million dollars?”

“I know, but right now I’m more concerned with tomorrow’s challenge,” Jay said.

*****

Back in Brooklyn, if someone wanted to order a wedding or anniversary cake they went to “The Bakery.” It was the go-to place. When they opened their shop, Jay and George couldn’t agree on a name, so they named their business simply, “The Bakery.” Apparently, they were only inventive when it came to baking, because they named their coffee shop, “The Coffee Shop.” They couldn’t come up with a name for that establishment either.

The morning of the final competition, George and Jay stood patiently at their baking stations, waiting expectantly for the host to announce their final challenge.

“You have to create a cake for a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary party,” Phil said. “It must be at least four tiers and thirty inches high. You can use any ingredients in your baking area. You have three hours to complete this challenge. The clock starts now,” he said.

Since a twenty-fifth wedding anniversary is represented by silver, the men were not surprised to find silver sprinkles among their baking supplies. Instinctively they knew that they had to incorporate the edible sprinkles into the cake.

When they created an anniversary cake together at the bakery, they always used the same recipe for the cake. Their customers always raved about how moist and sweet the cake was. It was their unique talent for decorating the cake, that had earned them their most deserved reputation. They both knew that their cakes in this competition would be the same. It was their decorations, not the cake, that would decide the contest.

They were expert decorators, so George decided to do something different with the cake recipe, while Jay decided that if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. So George changed the cake recipe, and hoped for the best. Besides, he really didn’t care if Jay won. Jay stuck to the old cake recipe, tried and true.

The three hours flew by exceptionally fast, and the judges stood in front of Jay’s station first. They asked him to describe the ingredients, and wanted to know if there was a special reason he used them. The decorated cake almost blinded the judges with silver reflections. Jay did an excellent job describing the relationship to love that each element of the decorations had.

When they came to George, they looked totally disappointed. The only silver evident was a small amount sprinkled on the 25 which adorned the top of the cake.

“You didn’t use much silver,” one of the judges commented.

“No, I didn’t,” George said. “It would have clashed with the cake.”

“What do you mean?” another judge asked.

“You’ll see when you taste it.”

The two final contestants cut off three slices of their creations, and brought them to the judges, who stared at their plates in disbelief. The cake on Jay’s plate, as delicious as it was, appeared ordinary. George’s cake glistened with silver light. He had mixed the edible silver sprinkles into the cake batter rather than on it. The flavor of George’s anniversary cake made the judges eyes roll back.

Their hotel room was paid for another night, because the taping ran beyond check out time. Jay and George decided to celebrate and spend another night in the big city. This time they could relax and even drink if they wanted to. They went to a gay bar in Greenwich Village that their brother-in-law Mark had recommended. Not only recommended, but he was there in person.

When they spotted each other, they all said almost in unison, “What the fuck are you doing here.”

Mark spoke first. I come here every Friday night for a TGIF drink. Then I go to the theater, and wait for the performance to end. Colin and I go out for a late, light dinner. Now what about you two?”

“This is the last night of our vacation,” George said. We hadn’t done The Village at all, so we decided to celebrate here.”

“Celebrate? What are you celebrating?” Mark asked.

George thought fast. “We’re celebrating the first real vacation we’ve had since we committed to each other.”

“Why don’t you have a drink with me, and then we’ll all go to the theater and surprise Colin?”

“Another time Mark. It’s our last night here, and we have big plans, but we will have that drink with you.”

*****

An hour before the first episode of The Great Cake Bake-Off was to be aired, George called Mark.

“Hey Mark,” he said sounding very casual. “Do me a favor. Something’s wrong with our TV. Would you tape The Great Cake Bake-Off. As baker’s, Jay and I never miss an episode. It’s on The Food Channel in an hour. Also, please watch it. You’re in for a big surprise.”

“Uh oh,” Mark said. “Why do I get the feeling that something’s going on here?”

“Yes, there is. Watch the show and your curiosity will be satisfied. You can show the tape to Colin when he gets home tonight, or tomorrow morning if it’s too late.”

“C’mon,” he begged, “tell me what this is all about.”

“It’s a surprise, and if we tell you it won’t be a surprise.” George hung up on him.

There was nothing wrong with their TV set. Jay made popcorn, and he, George, Liz, and the kids sat down in the living room together as a family to watch the first episode of the baking competition. Liz and the kids were still in the dark. They believed that George and Jay went on that two week vacation a few weeks ago. So, when the contestants were introduced, Liz and the kids began to shriek.

“You’re famous now,” Joy yelled.

“I’ll bet you’re as famous as Uncle Colin,” Tyler beamed.

“We’ll never be that famous,” Jay said.

Maybe they would not be famous worldwide, but they became celebrities in their neighborhood. The local ice cream parlor set up weekly viewing parties, so the neighbors could watch together and root for George and Jay.

Early in the morning after the first episode aired, and before the bakers even left for work, George’s phone rang. It was Colin, of course.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. “Surely, you could have confided in me.”

“No, I couldn’t. Jay and I signed a contract. Don’t even ask me who won. If word got out, and it was traced back to us, we’d be disqualified, and they would refilm the final episode. You’ll just have to wait it out like everybody else. It’s early. Get back in bed and fuck Mark. Bye, I love you.”

When they opened the bakery that same morning, they had more customers than they had ever served before, and everyone wanted fruit tarts. Jay handled the crowd, but George went back into the bake shop. He was obliged to bake many more fruit tarts, until he ran out of ingredients. It took George a long time to accept the fact that his customers thought his and Jay’s pastries were great, and that they weren’t coming in because he was Colin Kelly’s brother. This morning he finally accepted that fact. At least for now, he and Jay were the celebrities.

On the night of the final episode, the whole neighborhood gathered in the ice cream parlor. George, Jay, and Mark were given a seat up front. Everyone knew that one of their favorite pastry chefs was going to win, but which one? As the episode continued, and the anniversary cakes began to take shape, Mark’s phone kept ringing.

“It’s Colin,” Mark explained. “Every time he leaves the stage for a moment, he calls to get the news. Finally, the big moment came. It took Phil Moore, the host, an eternity to announce the winner.

“The winner of the tenth season of The Great Cake Bake-off is George Kelly.”

The chefs then went on to describe why George won. It was his brilliant idea to put the silver sprinkles into the batter, rather than use them as decorations. The crowd was so noisy, nobody heard him.

Little by little, the neighbors began to disperse. Mark was finally able to get a word in edgewise. “I just spoke to Colin. He’s got a limo service ready to pick him up and rush him to your house as soon as he’s finished with curtain calls. He wants us all there for a celebration.”

Liz and the kids were still up when they got home.

“Tomorrow is Saturday,” George said. “We’re having a celebration as soon as Uncle Colin gets here, so you kids can stay up. And Liz, please stay also. You’re family.”

Liz grabbed George in a bear hug.

When Colin bounded in, he kissed Jay on the lips, but he enveloped his brother in a hug that left George breathless.

“You see,” Colin said. “I told you that you were my hero, and you never disappoint me. I’ll always be in awe of you. Don’t ever forget it.”

George hugged Colin back even harder. When they broke it up, the entire family crushed together in a group hug.

George’s weekly cooking show was also a huge success. The network paid celebrities big bucks to guest star. George pretended to instruct the guest in how to make that week’s dessert. They paid Colin double to guest star, and when he did, ratings flew off the charts.

There was no sibling rivalry ever again. They loved each other and were happy to share their success and their lives.