The Connecticut River Boys - 11. Behind Closed Doors

The next morning, following ‘happy time’ on the riverbank, the boys continued their trip down river. At noon they pulled their canoe onto the river bank at Hanover. David called his Uncle Tom from a phone booth in the riverside park. After being picked up and riding with the uncle to his home where Craig’s car was left, they were on their way to Craig’s home. About an hour later, they arrived at the garage where David’s car had been left. He was surprised at the condition of his car. Craig’s father, Charlie, had put on new tires, done a complete tune up, brake job, replaced wiper blades and checked all fuel levels. The car had been washed, waxed and thoroughly cleaned inside. David’s ten year old chevy had not looked better since it had been bought as a used car when he began his studies at Trinity College. Charlie was obviously proud of what he had done for his son’s friend. It also benefited his son since this was the car the two would share. While David was tempted to give Charlie a big hug, he settled for a firm handshake, smile and sincere thanks.

At dinner, the boys enthusiastically told of their adventures, including having an interesting discussion with an old farmer. However, they did fail to mention the farmer’s uncut dick and his offer for a suck or fuck. They also did not tell of their releasing six months of pent up desires with sexual explorations. The heavy Labor Day weekend traffic did not dull their spirits on the ride to their new home in Hartford. Both looked forward to being in their apartment behind a closed door, with the man who now seemed so important to each. Craig also had the anticipation of his new career at the bookstore.

When Craig arrived at the store, he was met by a smiling Frank. During the slow summer season, there was only one other full-time employee. Saleswoman Peggy was an attractive woman, probably about the age of Craig’s mother. Craig learned later she had two teenage daughters and her husband worked at Pratt-Whitney Manufacturing. She was both knowledgeable and easy to work with. Following a lesson on inventory record keeping, Craig unpacked cartons of books and carefully recorded their acquisition in the paper (1970 – pre-computer) journals. The new arrivals were piled on a long table in the work room. Frank then told him which should be put on the shelves in the storage room and which should be taken to Peggy for display in the store. When he questioned Frank about the large quantity of books purchased, the manager chuckled. “Actually, this represents most of two weeks of incoming shipments. The only arrivals opened recently were shipments containing best sellers. In the afternoon, Craig cleaned. Waxing floors and windows, dusting and cleaning the bathroom were all jobs he had anticipated. Again, Frank admitted little cleaning had been done in the past two weeks in anticipation of his arrival.

Craig was scheduled to work Monday, Wednesday and Friday for seven hours each day. On Wednesday, since he was caught up on unpacking and recording inventory received as well as cleaning, he was given more responsibility. It was his job to stock the shelves as well as straighten up the store, primarily re-shelving books that customers had looked at and not replaced where they belonged. Friday afternoon David stopped by after his work. Frank enthusiastically greeted him and shook his hand, longer than either Craig or David felt was necessary.

The following Monday, while Craig was unpacking new material, Frank entered the work area. When he asked Craig how he had met David, Craig gave the details of their chance meeting in a Vermont snowstorm. Frank seemed genuinely interested and urged Craig to continue. By the time he finished with David’s suggestion that he move to Hartford and then the canoe trip (minus sex and Farmer Borden), he realized he had been talking over an hour. Craig started to feel guilty that he was shooting the breeze on company time when he realized he had been wasting time with the boss.

Two weeks later, he met Daren. Frank’s roommate visited the store prior to his and Frank having lunch together at a nearby restaurant. The usually happy Frank returned from lunch in an especially good mood. While Craig and Frank sorted new books in the storeroom that afternoon, Craig asked, “How did you meet Daren?”

Frank laughed, “It was a chance meeting, like your meeting with David, except in a very different world. It was 1942. I was in the US Army, in Northern Italy. Our unit was stationed in a town that had been heavily damaged. Like many towns in Italy, this one had an opera house. There was a lull in fighting, and one afternoon I visited this bombed out building. There was a soldier from a different unit also exploring the ruins of the building. We had a long discussion about opera and our lives, his in North Dakota and mine in Connecticut. As we walked back to our units he was shot in the leg by a sniper hiding in a bombed building. After pulling him to safety, I snuck into the back of the building and found the sniper. He was injured and in a German uniform, apparently had been left when the Germans retreated from the area. The sound of the shot brought some of our troops to the area. Daren was taken to a military hospital and the German taken prisoner. From that day forward, I could not get Daren out of my mind. Three years later, after Germany’s surrender I returned to Connecticut.

Daren had told me he was from Blue Creek, North Dakota, a town with a population of a few hundred between nowhere and never land. I thought about him every day. A year after returning home I wrote to him, addressing the envelope to Daren Lynch, Blue Creek, North Dakota. I hoped that in a small town the postman would find him even though there was no street address. A little over a week later, I received his reply. He told me he was happy to hear from me. His injury had not been serious and he returned to his unit after two weeks of recovery. For two years, we wrote back and forth. Both of us were living with our parents, attending college on the GI Bill and working. He worked at a bank thirty minutes from Blue Creek and attended university part-time that was over an hour from his home. I wrote telling him that I had attended a performance of Turandot by the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. When he replied that seeing a professional opera performance was a dream of his, the seed was planted that resulted in his moving to Connecticut. He moved in with me at my parents’ home. He transferred his college credits to Hyllier College (now University of Hartford) where I was enrolled and we both completed our business degrees. We had jobs at Aetna Insurance Company’s World Headquarters. We eventually moved to our own apartment within walking distance of Aetna.

Craig then asked how Frank became manager of Reader’s Emporium. “I frequently visited Reader’s Emporium in New Haven, a store much larger than this one. I became friendly with Masie and Jack Cunningham, the owners. They told me they were planning to open in Hartford. A short version of the story, I was offered the position as manager. Daren and I made a financial commitment and we are equal partners with the Cunninghams. Daren has had a successful career with Aetna and is now a Vice-President.

A week later, Daren again visited the store. Craig noticed that as he walked into the back room where Frank was sorting books, they kissed and, not realizing Craig was observing, Daren rubbed Frank’s crotch. Craig was not surprised by the intimacy. The action confirmed what he had assumed about their relationship.

One day Craig accidentally commented while he and Frank were reviewing inventory records, “I sure was tired this morning. David threatened to kick me out of bed if I did not get up.” Craig immediately realized that he had told Frank that he and David share a bed. If Frank was listening carefully, this would be his first admission that he and David were more than apartment mates sharing the rent.

“I understand. Sometimes I have to tickle Daren to get him to move. Unfortunately, or maybe I should say fortunately, the tickling leads to more.” As he said this Frank stared directly into Craig’s eyes.

Craig’s first thought was to ignore that this conversation took place. Then he decided to confide in Frank. “I think we understand each other.”

A few days later, a shipment arrived that included the just published, Joy of Sex. Frank was in the sales area with a customer. As soon as Frank was free, Craig walked over to him. “A book arrived that you might find interesting.” When Frank walked into the backroom, Craig handed him the new arrival.

Frank had anticipated its arrival and had read reviews. Smiling at Craig he commented, “Maybe someday a book will be published for guys like us.” (The Joy of Gay Sex was published five years later.) “There are ten copies. I am not sure Hartford is ready for this. I’m going to take a copy home and review it with Daren. You may also borrow one. However, there is one stipulation: as you and David review it, do not get the pages sticky, or you will have the cost deducted from your wages.” This was said with a chuckle.

Craig and David sat together the entire evening turning pages. While the book was written for heterosexual couples, a lot of it applied to their situation. The boys had been introduced to swallowing cum and anal intercourse in Cowboy’s Dream. The book discussed oral sex and swallowing as well as instructions on man to woman anal. They now had three confirmations about swallowing and anal: Cowboy Dreams, The Joy of Sex and Farmer Borden. Another topic they found interesting was erogenous areas. They had already discovered that the nipples were sexually sensitive and that David was aroused when his armpits were attacked. That evening, and for the next forty years, they searched for body parts that gave the other pleasure. As they crawled into bed later than usual, David reversed himself and they satisfied each other in the 69 position as described in the book. They had already discovered this position. However, the book discussion gave them pointers that greatly increased the pleasure.

Eventually, they drifted off to sleep entwined. David was having a wonderful dream. His dick felt warm and was hard. Something wet was wrapped around it until it exploded. He reached down expecting to find a sticky mess. As he moved his hand under the cover, he felt something. Then he realized - it was Craig’s head at his crotch. It had not been a dream. Since his dick still felt warm and dry, with Craig’s head down there, obviously he had cum in his love’s mouth. He decided not to break the mood, just savor the moment. Craig then moved up next to him. After reaching for something, Craig began quietly jerking off. He felt the body next to him agitate and then be quiet. Then following quiet movements, Craig nestled against him. David assumed that Craig had reached for the roll of paper towels kept on the shelf of the little table next to the bed. Ever since their visit to the country store while canoeing, they had kept a roll of paper towels within reach of where they slept.

As they ate breakfast at the small table in the kitchen area of their apartment, David stated, “I know what you did last night. It was amazing. I did not want to change the mood, so I just let you savor the moment. Tell me, how did it taste?”

With a smile Craig replied: “Actually, it had almost no taste. Not sweet, sour or bitter. It just slid down my throat. What I liked was that it was juice of you that I was swallowing. Would I do it again? Definitely. Want to give me some now?”

David could not resist the offer. He stood, walked over to Craig, dropped his pants and let the show begin. That evening, as soon as they were both home, David asked for the opportunity to have his first taste of Craig. For the next forty years, rarely did they need the paper towels to clean the juice of joy as each happily swallowed his love’s protein drink.

That same morning, Craig walked with David as he headed for work. Although he was not scheduled to work, he decided to visit the book store and have morning coffee with Frank. As soon as he entered the store, a smiling Frank met him. “I have been trying to call you. Peggy is sick and will not be coming in. Hopefully you can stay.” When Craig replied, ‘sure, no problem,’ Frank continued: “Today you will wait on customers. First, I’ll give you a lesson on using the cash register.”

While midday was busy with office workers shopping during their lunch hour, afternoons were slow on summer days. When there were no customers in the store, Frank asked Craig, “Did you find the book of joy informative? Without going into details, Daren and I, with over twenty years of togetherness, had an enjoyable evening and night of reading and doing. It is never too late to teach an old dog new tricks.”

Craig replied, “And it is never too early to teach young, inexperienced pups tricks. We also had an interesting evening and night of reading and doing. I have a confession: prior to reading The Joy of Sex, we had only one source of information, a cheap paperback I bought at a magazine and newspaper store on Main Street. The book, Cowboy’s Dream, had sex acts we innocents had never considered. While it was quite an education, we were not sure if some of the sex was what real people do, or just titillating porn. The Joy of Sex confirmed that the various activities of the cowboys were something regular people could do.

“That is interesting. Do you still have your cowboy paperback? It sounds thought-provoking.

“I’ll bring in Cowboy’s Dream tomorrow. Grammatically, it is poorly written and the quality of the printing and binding is bad but, I don’t think anyone who buys such literature, including myself, cares about quality as much as horniness.”

Then Frank told David, “As employee of the month, you are welcome to keep The Joy of Sex.” David laughed and thanked Frank. “As one of only two employees during the slow summer season, I and David, accept your gift.”

Peggy did not return to work the remainder of the summer. Her illness was a female problem that required surgery. Craig now worked full-time and a high school student was hired for the cleaning and backroom work.

……………………………

Back to 2010 – David looked at the clock and realized it was almost midnight. Looking at James who truly appeared interested in the story of how David and Craig met (that began four chapters ago), “Those are the highlights of our first months together forty years ago. It’s late and bedtime. Goodnight my friend.”

“Thank you for sharing your story. It was fate that a need for a piss and coffee took you off the highway and to Craig. A chance encounter, a lifetime of love.”

David observed, “Just as it was fate that the organist at West End Congregational Church had hand surgery and you expertly filled in playing at Craig’s funeral. A chance encounter and you met CC.”

The following evening over supper, James asked David to continue the story. “Now I know how you two met. What happened over the years to bring you to this time in your life?”

David suggested, “Let’s get a couple of beers and sit in the living room.”

He had brought James up to near the end of the summer of 1970. The boys had one more adventure that summer. Labor Day Weekend (the beginning of September), they visited Farmer Jonathon Borden, the old man they had met during the canoe trip. David decided not to share the details of the farm encounter with James. (The visit with Farmer Borden will be told in the next chapter.)

“That fall Craig took two courses at Greater Hartford Community College and continued working at the book store. He excelled in the basic college courses: English Composition and World History. The following spring, he enrolled as an English major at Central Connecticut State College (now University). During the spring of 1971, both were full-time students: Craig in his first year, and I in my final year. At the end of the spring semester, I graduated from Trinity College and accepted a position in the finance department of Achsel Manufacturing Corp. at its headquarters in downtown Hartford. Since we were now financially secure, as I now had a real job, Craig was able to reduce his hours at the bookstore and attend Central full-time. Following graduation from Central with a Bachelor’s degree, Craig entered the graduate library science program at Southern Connecticut State College (now University). About a year later, with a Master’s in Library Science he accepted a librarian position at Hartford Public Library. When he passed away, he had planned to retire in six months.”

“I worked at Achsel until two years ago when the company was acquired by a Boston-based manufacturer. I was given a generous buyout offer and retired at the age of fifty-eight.”

“When Craig accepted the librarian position in Hartford, we bought this house in Hartford’s west end. It was quite an adjustment moving from our small two room place near Trinity to this spacious home with a yard.”

James thanked Craig for his narrative. He stood, leaned over and kissed his friend on the cheek. “Good night.”

Craig went up to bed. As he lay in bed, he thought about the only two encounters with other man he and Craig had over their forty years together. These were too private to share with James. The first was in 1970 when they visited Farmer Borden who they had met while canoeing. The twenty-four hours with the farmer was very educational. The only person to share their bed in Hartford was Pavel.

While Craig did not share his and David’s encounters with Farmer Borden and Pavel, they will be shared with my readers in the next chapter.