From time to time, life can be one cruel irony after another. Shelby Martin sat behind the wheel of his truck and looked out the window at the headstone marking his wife’s grave. At the ripe old age of twenty-three, he’d lost his best friend and mate in a once in a life time freak accident, which filled him with relief, guilt, and sorrow all at the same time.
He opened the door and unfolded his tall lean swimmer’s physique out of the truck, his longish light brown hair waving in the slight breeze. He reached into the passenger seat and picked up the flowers, pink carnations today, and turned to put them on the grave. Kayla, his wife, had never known his inner torment and shame, and had been his light and his secret burden since they’d met six years before.
There had been a party, and all of their friends had been there. It was a kegger in the canyon, and Shelby had been goaded into something that until that time had been unthinkable. He strongly suspected that he was gay, but in a desperate attempt to prove otherwise, he’d had sex with Kayla Davenport. She had been so beautiful, tall like he was, and so generous about his total lack of experience. They’d become instant best friends. And parents.
Koby Brandt Martin was born nine months later, six months after his parents had been married at the tender age of seventeen. Both had finished school, although it had been a battle of wills and mockery, and Shelby had gone to work for a lumber company in town, using his strong back to produce enough money to live on while Kayla went to school.
Surprisingly, both sets of their parents after one brief clash settled down and helped them out, both grudgingly admiring “the kids” for doing the right thing and making a home for the baby. Shelby absolutely buried his feelings towards other males, keeping his wandering eyes silent for Kayla, who was so good to him.
Then, last year at the local annual carnival, Kayla had been with her sister and her friends from school, taking a night out and leaving the baby, now almost five, at home with Shelby. He had urged her to go and take a break from her books, just about tossing her out the door. The carnival only came once a year after all. She deserved some time off.
From what he was told after the fact, Kayla had bent to tie her shoe when the metal framework next to her collapsed. Twelve people were hurt, three seriously, as the ride she was waiting in line for pulled itself apart. Kayla was crushed instantly, the only death.
Shelby sighed through his nose and stood up straight in the autumn air, looking down at the headstone. After several moments, he turned to the truck and climbed in, his inner mind still warring over which emotion to feel. Eight months ago, and still he couldn’t get it out of his head that it should’ve been him.
He drove to the school and picked up Koby from Kindergarten. The five year old was nearly an identical copy of his dad with the same feline features and graceful build already showing through. “Hey, Brat!” Shelby smiled and knelt down as the boy pelted out the door towards him. Koby launched himself into the air and Shelby wrapped his arms around him. “Did you have a good day?”
“We saw a real snake!” Koby’s intense green eyes, a gift from his mother, met his dad’s ice blue ones. “A man brought it, and we got to touch it. It was gross!”
“Fantastic.” Shelby smiled and threw Koby up onto his shoulders for the trip to the truck. “What did it look like?”
“Long and brown.” Koby answered as though it was the stupidest question on earth. He continued to describe it for the rest of the drive home.
Kenny Stanten stood in the shade of a large willow tree panting but not very winded, and smiled as his friends Flynn and Nolan ran after the Frisbee he’d just thrown. He watched Flynn dive, roll, and come up with the disk, and then tore off to the right as it was flicked back at him.
Kenny, known by just about everyone he’d ever met as ‘Pogo’, or ‘Pogo Stick’, because of his almost boundless energy and tendency to bounce on the balls of his feet when he was excited, dived flat out and caught the Frisbee, tucked his knees, and rolled into a perfect somersault. One of his mother’s many gifts had been gymnastic lessons, and he had absorbed them like a sponge.
At 5′8″ tall, he was built like a miniature powerhouse, so cut and defined that there was debate among some of his girlfriends that he had no body fat at all. At school, when not competing, he served as the school mascot, a purple badger in leotards that did the most incredible gravity defying stunts. People came to the games just to see the mascot. He was adored by the teams and the faculty.
Pogo was also a very happy go lucky person who was never known to have been angry in his life. In fact, he’d never been in a fight or serious argument that anyone knew of. Several of his classmates called him friend, and would’ve been shocked to find out that he didn’t think of anyone as a close friend, not realizing how important he was to them. It just never occurred to him.
Actually, Pogo had shut every one of them out on his fourteenth birthday when he had figured out that he was different. His mother, the center of the universe, had given him a party at the city swimming pool, a large covered pool with three slides and a video arcade. While they were swimming, wrestling for a plastic ball, Pogo had wrapped his arms around Flynn to get the ball and Flynn backed up, pushing him into the wall.
It was a moment frozen in time for Pogo. For less than one second, he had been totally aware of his own cock pressed between his best friend’s ass cheeks while he had his arms around him, and a paradigm shift had occurred. While his friends took off across the pool, Pogo stood there with his jaw hanging open, terrified.
Now, a few days before his seventeenth birthday, Pogo was totally free, the envy of most of the kids he knew. He was the consummate actor, leading on the ladies and even occasionally flirting with the guys. Both sexes laughed and attributed it to his fantastic personality, and he would’ve been shocked at the number of both sexes that would’ve had sex with him at the drop of a hat.
None of that mattered anymore. He came out of the somersault and sprang six feet into the air, whipping the Frisbee off in a new direction and landing on his feet with absolute confidence. He always did, even when two of the male cheerleaders tossed him fifteen feet in the air during their halftime show at ball games. He was totally unafraid of heights and motion thanks to the gymnastics.
He bounced on his feet and waited for the Frisbee to be thrown again. A child in the near by sand pile shrieked and laughed, and Kenny glanced that way, smiling. For a split second, he met a pair of ice blue eyes, and then the guy looked away. They were so intense that Pogo was distracted for a second, and the Frisbee nailed him in the forehead, knocking him off his feet.
“Aw, shit, Pogo! Are you okay?” Flynn pelted across the grass towards his friend and skidded to a stop on his knees. “I’m sorry, man! God, I didn’t mean too!” He helped Pogo sit up.
“Jesus, that was ugly.” Nolan dropped down beside them. “Did it bust your nose?”
“I’m fine.” Pogo laughed and held his head in his hands. “I feel like a fucking dope, but I’m fine.” He was suddenly nervous only he had no idea why. He blinked several times and looked back over towards the playground and sand, but the person the eyes belonged to was gone.
“You’re not a dope. I am for nailing you.” Flynn put his hand on Pogo’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, man.”
“It’s cool.” Pogo smiled and stood up “C’mon, let’s do it.” He said cheerfully, wiping his arm across his eyes.
“You sure, dude? You look like it hurt.” Nolan followed him out onto the grass.
“I said I’m fine. I thought I left my mother at home.” Pogo joked. As they others ran back out into the park, he glanced around over his shoulder, but whoever it was had gone.
Shelby met the boy’s eyes for the briefest of seconds and couldn’t help but smile, then looked away as Koby headed for the slide again. He had been trying to watch the amazing tricks the boy was doing with the Frisbee and Koby at the same time, and it had not been working. He sighed and followed his son to the slide. “One more time, monster, and then we gotta go. We need to fix dinner.” He said, hoisting Koby onto the platform attached to the slide.
“Can we watch a movie?” Koby looked over his shoulder at his dad.
“Maybe at Grandpa’s. You get to spend the weekend with Grandpa Pat and Grandma Karen.” Shelby explained. He tried to give Kayla’s parents as much time as he could with Koby. They had been real good to him since she died, and Shelby wanted his son to know all of his family. It was important.
“Okay.” Koby turned back and patiently waited until Shelby got to the foot of the slide and then shoved off, shrieking as he slid down. Shelby caught him and spun around, swinging Koby into the air. They talked about the snake on the way back to the truck and during the drive to the Davenport’s.
It was almost seven and getting dark as he pulled into the parking place assigned to him by the apartment complex. Shelby got out and locked the door and headed up the stairs. The building was three stories, and his apartment was on the third floor at the far west corner. The view of the woods behind the apartments was great.
Shelby dropped his keys and bent to retrieve them. As he stood up, someone crashed into him knocking both of them flat onto the landing below his floor. He groaned and looked up to see two white tennis shoes swish by his face as the other person tried to sit up. Suddenly, he was face to face with the Frisbee kid from the park.
“Oh, man. I didn’t see you bent over.” Pogo said and looked up, meeting those same intense blues eyes again. “Oh wow.”
“Are you okay?” Shelby asked, pushing himself up. The kid’s face had gone blank, and he was worried that he might’ve hit his head or something. “Hello?” He waved his hand in front of the kid’s eyes.
Pogo blinked and realized what he was doing. “God, I’m so stupid.” He jumped up and brushed himself off. “I’m really sorry, man. I’m a clutz.”
“From what I saw at the park, I’d say that’s bogus.” Shelby chuckled and tugged his shirt straight. “It was like watching a pro.”
“Thanks.” Pogo blushed.
“I’m Shelby Martin.” Shelby put out his hand. “Do you live here?”
“Yeah.” Pogo shook his hand. “Kenny Stanten, but everybody calls me Pogo.” For the first time in forever, Kenney was intensely aware of someone being attractive, and for the first time in a long time, he was totally unable to shut it out. He could feel himself beginning to sweat.
“Cool, Pogo. Good to meet you.” Shelby flashed an award winning traffic stopper of a smile, totally unaware of what it was doing to the other, and started back up the stairs. “Got get going. See ya ’round, kid.”
“Yeah.” Pogo waved halfheartedly and offered a pathetic smile as he watched Shelby climb the stairs. He turned hurriedly and went the rest of the way down. “I am such a fucking idiot.” He murmured as he headed for the bike rack and the store for his mother. He stopped at their apartment on the ground floor and grabbed his jacket.
Shelby stacked two laundry baskets on top of each other, put the soap in one and his keys in the other, and headed down to the laundry room. He had changed into what he thought of as his work sweats, a battered pair of cotton sweat pants that had started out dark blue and were now grayish blue, and a yellow t-shirt. He pulled the door closed and checked it before heading down the stairs.
The laundry room was deserted although he could hear other machines running. How people could leave things down here unattended was beyond him. He hated the idea of someone stealing his or Koby’s shit, and he never left the laundry unguarded.
After sorting the colors and whites from the towels, he started the machines and climbed onto one of them, curling his legs under himself after kicking off his shoes. He’d brought a book down, fantasy this time, and was lost in it quickly. He never heard anyone come in.
The heat and humidity were almost relaxing, and the steady sound of the machines could be hypnotic at times. He breezed through a couple of chapters before changing the loads and putting two of them in the dryer. The door opened behind him, letting a cool breeze loose on his bear feet. He turned around to see who it was and shook his head with a smile.
“Oh. Hey, Shelby.” Pogo said nervously as he pulled the door closed behind him. “I didn’t know you were down here.”
“Wassup, young man?” Shelby smiled and climbed back up on his washing machine. “Out doing some laundry?”
“Yeah. I have a competition this weekend.” Pogo blushed, embarrassed and not wanting to pull his gym leotard out of his basket or any of his other clothes for that matter. For some reason he didn’t want Shelby to see them.
“What kind of competition?” Shelby picked up him book but really wasn’t interested in it any more.
“Uh, I do Gymnastics.” Pogo said, avoiding those incredible eyes.
“That explains your performance at the park.” Shelby look over at him. “Bet you’re pretty good, right?”
“Kinda.” Pogo smiled and set his basket on the table at the end of the machines. There were a total of five machines, and Shelby sat on the second from the end and had two machines going. The one on the end nearest him was out of order, which meant that unless he left, Shelby would see everything he’d brought down. Why that bothered him, he didn’t know, but it did.
“Win any awards?” Shelby asked, tossing his book over onto the other table and leaning back on his hands. He watched as Pogo started putting clothes in the washer and inadvertently ran his eyes over the kid’s body. Guilt washed over him and he looked away.
“A couple last year. This year I’ve concentrated on the mascot.” He smiled slightly, proud of his fame and embarrassed by it at the same time.
“The mascot?” Shelby asked, unable to make the connection.
“Uh, I’m the Beaumont Badger, you know, the purple guy at the football games?” Pogo blushed and laughed. “I get thrown in the air a lot by the other guys.”
“Oh yeah!” Shelby chuckled. “I went to homecoming with my dad a few weeks ago. You were awesome.” He sat up and held his hands out like Superman. “Dude, when they tossed you over the crowd, I couldn’t believe it. You never missed a landing.”
“Thanks.” Pogo put his gym suit in and his collection of jockstraps and started the machine. “I really like it. It stretches my abilities, and we always try to think up something new.” He hesitated for a second, then pulled off his t-shirt and tossed it in the wash too.
“You must have to work out all the time to handle those vaults and shit.” Shelby tried to not be to obvious as he noticed Pogo’s unbelievably ripped chest and abs. “You’re built like a little tank.”
“Over an hour a day.” Pogo sighed and climbed up onto his own machine. “It’s the only way I can keep my routine down.”
“Man, you’re more dedicated than I’ve ever been.” Shelby shook his head. “With all that work, what do you do to relax?”
“Go to the park and play Frisbee.” Pogo chuckled. “Did you see my face basher?”
“No.” Shelby grinned. “What happened?”
“Um, well, I looked over at this guy and this little kid, and well, I kinda wasn’t paying attention. I caught the Frisbee with my left eyebrow.” Pogo lifted his bangs with his hand and showed the small bruise off.
“You mean me and Koby?” Shelby laughed out loud. “He kept screaming on the slide. I’m sorry, man.”
“Koby, is that the boy’s name?” Pogo asked.
“Yeah, he’s my son. He’s almost six.” Shelby said with quiet pride.
“Are you married?”
“No. I was.” Shelby looked at his hands, not wanting to get into it. “She died.”
“Oh. Sorry.” Pogo watched as Shelby got up to change batches again. Damn, he thought, he’s straight, was married, and has a kid. For some reason that was hugely disappointing. Shelby was very attractive, and it would’ve been cool to at least fantasize about him, but that was hard when you knew too much.
“Don’t get married, kid. Mess around a lot and stay young.” Shelby said somewhat bitterly, realizing that if he’d been true to himself, he would’ve tried to meet someone like Pogo a long time ago instead of being guilty all the time. That thought made him angry, and he stuffed it aside.
“I doubt I’ll ever get married.” Pogo muttered, then realized what he said. He jerked his head up and met those ice blue maximum intensity eyes and went furiously red. “I mean, I have plans and stuff.”
“So did I.” Shelby pulled clothes out of the dryer and started folding them, still feeling anger and regret in the pit of his stomach. “You know what I regret?” He asked, not looking up. “I regret not being myself instead of creating a fake front. Know what I mean, Pogo?” He didn’t wait for an answer before continuing. “I think you should be yourself no matter what.”
“Yeah, that’d be cool.” Pogo turned around and noticed that Shelby’s face wasn’t as good humored as his voice sounded. “Save a lot of pain, wouldn’t it?”
Shelby looked at Pogo and smiled. “You know, you’re wise beyond your years, kid.” He shook his head and started loading the folded clothes into the baskets. “So tell me about this competition.” He said, changing the subject. “Are you any good?”
“Good enough.” Pogo sat up straighter and smirked, his comfortable persona slipping into place. “Wanna come and see? It’s tomorrow at ten in the high school gym.”
“I’d like too,” Shelby met his eyes and grinned, “But I have to work at six. If you have another one give me a heads up and I’ll see if I can be there.”
“Deal.” Pogo grinned. Later that night after he got into bed, he couldn’t get Shelby out of his mind. He let his inner sight and memory wander, going over every detail again from Shelby’s eyes to the way his muscles defined the fabric of his clothes. Without realizing it, he began to masturbate, letting the image in his mind travel into erotic waters, something he hadn’t had happen in a long time. He moaned quietly as the dream Shelby caressed his chest and face, his perfect body revealed by imagination. They came together, loudly groaning and urging each other on. With a jerk, Pogo was suddenly aware of his impending orgasm and he tightened up almost into a ball, shooting into the sheets.
Shelby put away the clothes that he had washed and got in the shower. After he finished, he straightened the small two-bedroom apartment and put away Koby’s toys. In the back of his mind, he watched an imagined gymnastic routine with Pogo as its star.
It had been so long since he’d even thought about being attracted to someone that it surprised him when he figured it out. He replayed their conversation in his head as he stripped and got into bed, wondering if he was leading too much into what Pogo had said verses what he actually meant. As he drifted off, he watched Pogo take his shirt off in the laundry room and kept his eyes on that beautiful chest and abs as Pogo moved around the room. It led to an intensely erotic dream.
When Shelby woke up at 4:30 am to the sound of the alarm, he found himself in a still damp set of sheets that were soaked with his own semen. The pungent aroma wafted out of the covers as he got up, and he felt ashamed as he irritably snatched a pair of his bikini briefs from the drawer and went in to shower again. The kid was a KID for Christ’s sake, not even seventeen. His mood was foul for the next several hours.
The weather was unseasonably hot for October, nearly 70, and the crew at the lumberyard moved several stacks of various building materials and straightened them. The yard was swept and organized, and everyone was pleased with the days work.
Shelby stopped at the grocery store and got the fixings for tacos, homemade pizza, hamburgers, and the like. Koby was not a finicky eater, but demanded variety, and Shelby liked to cook. When Kayla was alive, he always cooked the evening meal, happy to do something for her.
The store had a video section, and he stopped and rented Shrek for the Brat, and Detroit Rock City for himself, quietly wondering in the back of his mind if maybe Pogo might like to come up and see it. Wishful thinking, he decided, and headed to the check out.
He opened the third door to his truck, a 99′ Ford F-150 that he and Kayla had picked out together, and loaded the three bags into the back seat. It was a short drive home, during which he called the Davenports and talked to Koby, and called his own parents just to check in and see if things were cool.
At the apartment complex, he grabbed the bags with one hand and reached for the videos with the other. He wasn’t paying attention to what was going on around him and was startled when someone called his name. He looked up to see Pogo sitting in a lawn chair outside a ground floor apartment in a pair of spandex workout shorts and a worn nylon tank top. His foot was propped up on the railing and looked like it was wrapped in an ace wrap.
Shelby walked towards him and tilted his head, looking at the ankle and up at Pogo. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but aren’t you tumbler types supposed to be graceful?” He laughed as he approached.
Pogo chuckled and shook his head. “The dumb fucker that put the mats out didn’t check ‘em.” He raised his foot and pointed at it. “When I landed I hit the wood floor. It’s only a sprain.”
“Sounds like you need to adjust someone’s attitude. Did they call your mom to take you to the doctor?” Shelby asked.
“No, she’s at work. The school nurse wrapped it.” Pogo readjusted it on the railing. “Mom couldn’t be there. She’s working the fuel desk at the truck stop. She’ll be late tonight.”
Shelby sighed and smiled, coming up with an idea. “In that case, why don’t you come and keep me company. I rented videos.” He was careful not to let his eyes wander.
“That’d be great!” Pogo’s face lit up. He stood up and grabbed the crutches leaned in the corner by the door. “It’ll take me a minute, though.”
“Bullshit. Hold these.” Shelby held out the bags and the kid took them.
“What’re you gonna do?” Pogo asked and then grinned. “Oh no you don’t. I don’t want to be…Ooof!” The air whooshed out of him as Shelby swept in and threw him over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. “Carried. Oh, God.”
“Just don’t drop the bags or the crutches.” Shelby said and headed up the three flights of stairs.
Pogo closed his eyes and desperately wished he’d worn a jock. He had nothing on under the stretch shorts and the motion of his crotch against Shelby’s shoulder was almost unbearable, and striving so hard to avoid a physical reaction, he started giggling.
“What’s funny?” Shelby breathed hard under the weight, stopping at the door to his apartment.
“I never had a guy sweep me off my feet before.” Pogo dissolved into fits of laughter. “And I only knew you two days. Jesus!”
Shelby chuckled and set the videos on Pogo’s back. “Don’t move for a second.” He fished in his pocket for the keys and opened the door, catching the videos as they slipped off the kid’s back. “Almost there.”
Pogo looked down at the ground and saw his neighbor’s three year old pointing up at him, and he waved, laughing harder. “This is so fucking cool.”
Shelby set him on his good foot and took the bags, shaking his head as Pogo held his sides. “I’m glad I cheered you up.”
“Dude, you have no idea.” He followed Shelby to the couch and sat down. “I love odd ball shit like this. My friends think I’m demented.”
Shelby carried the bags into the kitchen and set them on the counter, looking out at his guest. “Maybe that’s why we met. Maybe God thinks I’m to serious.”
“You just packed my ass up three flights of stairs with three grocery bags and two videos, my crutches, and we didn’t drop anything. Shelby, that’s fucking hysterical.” Pogo cracked up again.
“I’m trying to loosen up, that’s all.” Shelby grinned and tossed a Twinkie at Pogo. “Put that in your mouth, dumb ass, so it can have something to do.”
“God, man, you are the shit.” Pogo said, reaching for the Twinkie. “You’re too cool, Shel.”
Shelby’s head jerked up and he stared at Pogo, almost lost. “What did you say?” He muttered.
Pogo looked up from the pastry. “I said you’re too cool.” He said, concerned that he’d done something to kill the mood.
“No, I mean what did you call me?” Shelby leaned against the counter feeling almost dizzy.
“Shel.” Pogo said quietly, his face going beet red. “Is that okay?”
Shelby smiled wistfully and his eyes sort of unfocused. “I haven’t heard that for a long time.”
“Shelby,” Pogo said after a moment, “Are you okay?” He was really getting wierded out.
Shelby literally shook his head and blinked. “Oh, shit, Pogo. I’m sorry.” He smiled and ran his hand through his hair. “I haven’t been called that forever. It’s cool, it just shocked me. I didn’t mean to phase on you like that.”
Pogo sat for a minute and let his mind race. Something had just happened, like a door opening or something, and he didn’t want to miss it. He fought his way up off the couch and hobbled over to one of the stools on the opposite side of the counter. “Can I ask you a personal question?”
“I guess, but I don’t promise to answer.” Shelby looked over his shoulder for a second, then went back to putting boxes up in the cupboard.
“Why do you think you and I met?” Pogo asked directly, looking to meet Shelby’s eyes.
“Because I was at the park and you were playing Frisbee.” Shelby looked at him quizzically. “Did I miss something?”
“Dude, I’ve been at that park a thousand times, and I’ll bet you and your son go there a lot, right? So what changed? Why did we meet? Pogo leaned forward intensely, almost looking like a wide-eyed kid. “This bugged the shit out of me all night last night.”
Shelby thought about his stained sheets and looked away, remembering his own thoughts. “I guess I’m lost, Kenny. What are you getting at?”
Pogo laced his fingers and squeezed hard, trying to bring his thoughts into line. “We met only like eighteen hours ago, man, and I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. You laugh at the right times, you fit, you know what I mean?”
“Pogo, you are way intense, do you know that?” Shelby leaned down on his elbows and looked into Pogo’s large hazel eyes. “Do you want me to tell you that a psychic set it up, or that Elvis did it? What do you mean?”
“Augh!” Pogo lifted his hands with his fingers splayed in frustration and grunted. “Don’t you feel it, man? It’s like karma or kismet or something. We’re supposed to be here, you and me.”
“I hope so, or the guy that rents here will be pissed.” Shelby said dryly. Pogo looked at him and blinked, pursing his lips. Shelby chuckled. “Okay, I’m sorry. Yeah, I guess I do feel something like that, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear?” He turned back to the shopping bags.
“Dude that is so bad. I thought you were gonna blow a fuse.” Pogo chuckled and leaned back. Inwardly he sighed in relief. If Shelby had gotten upset, he’d of been out on his ass. They made tacos together, with Pogo watching the meat brown, and Shelby dicing up the veggies.
“C’mon, Hop-along. We can watch one of the movies while we eat.” Shelby picked up their plates after preparing them and headed into the living room. He set them on the coffee table and helped Pogo get situated, then put Detroit Rock City in the VCR.
“I never saw this one.” Pogo said around a mouthful of taco. It moved quickly and was funny as hell.
“It’s one of my all time favorites. I guess I ought to by it.” Shelby answered. He got up and went into the kitchen for drinks. “Kind of ties in with your psychic experience, doesn’t it?” He chuckled and dodged a corn chip as it arced through the air at him.
When it was over, Shelby turned off the TV and turned on the CD player with the same remote. An 80’s station played quietly on the radio. “I would’ve loved to go on a road tri like that.” He said, leaning back into the couch. “Just pick up and go somewhere because it was the thing to do, you know?”
“You’re asking the wrong guy.” Pogo scratched his chest absentmindedly. “I’ve never left this town except for competitions, and then we never saw anything.” He looked over and scrunched up his eyebrows. “Didn’t your family ever go on vacations and stuff?”
Shelby nodded and smiled. “I got to see Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore. When Kayla got pregnant we didn’t get to go much anymore.”
“Have you dated anybody since she died?” Pogo asked.
Shelby’s first reaction was irritation but it faded fast. He really felt comfortable with Pogo, and inwardly he sort of loosened up a little. “No. I really never wanted to.” He took a sip of the soda and set it down. “What about you stud? Surely a purty little guy like you’s got lots of phillies.”
Pogo cracked up. “That’s so cool! You sounded like John Wayne. Your voice is perfect.” He chuckled and put his hand over his face.
“Come on, pilgrim, spill yer guts.” Shelby said, effecting the impersonation that he’d been famous for in school. “Tell us about the phillies.”
Pogo smiled uncomfortably and looked away. “There isn’t any phillies.” He said behind a false smile. He made a decision and looked up at his new friend. “I don’t think there ever will be.”
Shelby caught the long fly ball into left field easily. “You’re gay?” He asked, making sure there was no malice behind it. Pogo’s face went red, but he didn’t look away. He nodded at Shelby slowly. Shelby thought long and hard before looking down at his lap. “Then you’re in good company.”
“Does anybody know?” Pogo asked, feeling like he needed to cry suddenly. His throat constricted.
“No.” Shelby looked up, wondering why the hell he’d just said what he had. He was angry, and he felt like an idiot. “Listen, Kenny, this is probably a bad road for us to go down, you know? Maybe we should watch TV or something.”
“It was supposed to happen.” Pogo said quietly. “You can joke about it or whatever, but I’ve waited for a long time to find somebody I could tell.” He started to get up from the couch. “I couldn’t carry it myself anymore.”
“Don’t go.” Shelby stood up quickly put his hands on Pogo’s shoulders. “I didn’t mean to upset you.” He swallowed hard and nodded his head. “Yeah, it is cool to have someone else know, but it could really fuck us over, too.”
Pogo shook as he reached up and touched Shelby’s face. He could barely control his hand as he gently stroked Shelby’s cheek. “I never told anybody what I told you. Please tell me I didn’t fuck up.”
Shelby’s eyes closed and he leaned his head against Pogo’s hand, feeling an electric charge run down his spine. “You didn’t. I did.” He reached up and took Pogo’s hand. “I never should’ve led you on.”
Pogo’s eyes teared up. “Anybody ever tell you you talk to much?” He whispered. The corner of his mouth curled up, and he reached up and pulled Shelby down into a kiss. Time slowed for them and stopped as their lips met. Pogo’s tongue gently caressed Shelby’s lips, and after a slight hesitation, he opened them to feel Pogo’s tongue on his, weaving and dancing in and out.
After several minutes, Shelby leaned back and panted, stroking Pogo’s bangs out of his eyes. “Uh, not that this is a bad thing, but parts of you are way past excited.” He grinned and ran the back of his hand up the front of Pogo’s spandex shorts, feeling the bulging hardness there.
Pogo felt much bolder and reached out the grasp Shelby through his jeans, excited by the size and length he found. “Then I’m in good company.” He said, smiling and gently mocking Shelby.
“There’s still time to stop and part friends.” Shelby half teased, turning his hand around to grasp Pogo in the same manner.
Pogo chuckled. “I begged God for this the second I saw your eyes at the park, Shel.”
Shelby looked deeply into Pogo’s hazel eyes, then reached down to scoop him up in his arms. “Can’t have you hurting your ankle, can we?” He bent in and kissed the kid again, slower this time, and less forcefully.
They made it into the bedroom, and Shelby set Pogo on his feet. “I am so out of practice, man, you have no idea.” He said nervously.
Pogo chuckled and whipped his shirt off, revealing his absolutely perfect body, every inch carved as though by a sculptor. “I have no practice, but I wanna learn real bad.” He threw his arms around Shelby’s neck and kissed him.
While they kissed, Shelby’s hands slid down across Pogo’s back and gently under the waistband of his shorts, feeling the smoothness of his ass. Pogo moaned and intensified his tongue frenzy in Shelby’s mouth. Finally Shelby pulled away and took a deep breath. “Holy shit.” He gasped.
Pogo tugged at Shelby’s t-shirt and lifted it off, running his eyes over Shelby’s tight six-pack and hairless chest. His pecs were square, just like he’d envisioned, and small dark nipples stared back at him. He couldn’t help it. He leaned in and licked one several times, thrilling when Shelby moaned.
“Okay you little shit, no more playing around.” Shelby smiled a wolf’s smile and unbuckled his jeans and stepped out of them. He stood into front of Pogo in a pair of emerald green bikinis, a raging hard on clearly visible and barely restrained.
Pogo got a huge shit-eating grin on his face and turned to climb on the bed. He rolled onto his back and raised his legs up, pushing the spandex down and off. Shelby climbed onto the bed on his knees and helped get the short off, careful of the ace wrapped ankle. Pogo pushed himself up to the pillows and grinned, and Shelby had to stop and gaze in wonder. “You are the most gorgeous thing I have ever seen in my life.” He said quietly, awed.
Pogo blushed and sat up, placing the palm of his hand flat against Shelby’s cock. “Take them off.” He whispered. “I need to see you, Shel.”
Shelby nodded and rolled onto his back, flicking the briefs down and off with a long unused skill, and tossing them of the bed. He slid up to where Pogo was and propped himself on one elbow, raising his leg for a pose. “Is it what you were expecting?” He asked in a whisper.
Pogo leaned into Shelby’s embrace, totally losing himself in the moment. He felt Shelby’s strong hand on his cock, and he grunted as he began to slide it up and down. Pogo closed his eyes and let Shelby push him over onto his back, already feeling the current build inside his body.
Then Shelby’s mouth closed over him and he squealed. “Oh fuck!” Hurriedly he slipped around so that he could get to Shelby. They began to work together, trying to stay in rhythm with each other. Pogo knew that he was going to hit much sooner than Shelby, and he was having a hard time concentrating. “Uughngh.” He tried to articulate, but his nerves were over heating fast. A bright light flashed, and he arched up off the bed and gritted his teeth, losing control. “Augh! Unghn! Oh!” He grunted as each successive pulse of his body shot his cum deep into Shelby’s throat.
Shelby swallowed fast, amazing himself with his ability to do a decent blowjob. He’d never done one, and it wasn’t that hard. Pogo shakily moved around so that their faces were back together and pushed Shelby on to his back, climbing onto his chest and collapsing. “Dude, you are my God. I worship you.”
“You’re pretty hot yourself.” Shelby chuckled and kissed him, sharing the interesting flavor. Their cocks touched as Pogo settled, and he looked into Shelby’s eyes. “I’m sorry I couldn’t finish you right away. I didn’t last very long.”
“This isn’t a contest, and I kinda really like the feel I’m getting right now.” Shelby said. Pogo smiled and began to gently move back and forth. Shelby felt the vibrations begin again in his groin, and he closed his eyes. Their fluids were acting as a lube. “That’s nice.”
Pogo lifted his up and grinned impishly at Shelby’s closed eyes. He concentrated, timing it just right, and lifted up, carefully sliding just a few inches farther up. Shelby’s eyes opened as his cock popped up over Pogo’s balls and came to rest between his ass cheeks. “What are you doing?” He asked with a smirk.
Pogo feigned innocence. “Nothing dude, just falling in love, that’s all.” He reached back and guided Shelby forward, hesitating for only a fraction of a second, then pushing back suddenly, feeling Shelby’s slippery head pop into his ass. He winced.
“Kenny, you don’t need to do that.” Shelby tried to change positions and back out, but Pogo’s steel cable muscles clamped down tight.
“Only for the man I love.” Pogo whispered and pushed again, forcing Shelby the rest of the way in. As soon as it was done, the pain subsided, and he put his head on Shelby’s chest. “Made it.”
“Are you okay?” Shelby asked. It had been painful for him, too, but it was incredible now. Pogo lifted his head up and smiled, licking his lips. He slowly slid forward, and Shelby shivered as he slid lowly out, almost to the tip, then back in as Pogo slid back. It took several minutes for them to build up any speed, and at some point, Shelby realized that Pogo was raging hard again.
He reached up and wrapped his arms around Pogo, stopping his motions, then flipped over suddenly so that Pogo was on the bottom. He immediately began pumping his hips, picking up where they’d stopped. From this position, he could get a grip on Pogo’s cock, and soon they were in rhythm again.
This time, it was like a runaway train hitting them. Shelby felt his stomach cramp almost painfully, and he knew that he was seconds away. There was so much pre-cum on Pogo that it was dripping off his hand, and Pogo thrashed from side to side. “Augh!” He shouted and rabbit fucked load after load into Pogo’s ass. Pogo blew, sending strings six feet into the air to crash back down all over both of them. Shelby could barely hold himself up as he slid out, his arms shaking. He fell on his side and held out his arms for Pogo to fall into. It was too much of a hassle to get under the covers. Shelby pulled the comforter over them before passing out cold. Pogo was already long gone.
Shelby woke up because his ass was cold and gently slid out from under Pogo just enough to adjust the covers. He glanced at the alarm clock and groaned. It was almost midnight. “Pogo, wake up.” He shook the kid gently. “Hey, it’s almost midnight, man. Wake up.”
Pogo jerked his head up and blinked at Shelby. After a few seconds he smiled and dropped his head on Shelby’s chest. “It was real.” He mumbled thickly. “I thought I was dreamin’ or something.”
Shelby chuckled and put his head back onto the pillows. He stroked Pogo’s head and neck softly and closed his eyes. It had been like a dream, and he could remember every exquisite detail. “Pogo, what time does your mom get home? She might be pissed off if you’re gone.”
Pogo inhaled deeply and stretched his legs out, then looked up at Shelby again. “Dude, she’ll get home about two. I stay at a friend’s place a lot so I don’t wake her up.” He twisted towards the nightstand and grabbed the phone, dialing almost without looking. He rested his head on Shelby’s chest as it rang. “Mom, this is Kenny. I’m at a friend’s so you can sleep. Love ya.” He hung up the phone. “Ta da.”
“Are you hungry?” Shelby asked with a yawn.
“Maybe.” Pogo blinked at him a couple of times. “If you wake me all the way up, though, you’re asking for a rematch.”
Shelby laughed and kissed his forehead. “I can live with that threat.” He slid out from under the covers and looked for his underwear, thought about it, and left them, walking into the living room naked. Pogo bounded off the bed and hopped out behind him, grabbing one of his crutches on the way to the kitchen.
They dispatched two large bowls of Cheerios and drank some juice at the table. Pogo crunched away and swallowed, resting his head on the palm of his hand. “If I tell you something, will you promise not to laugh?” Shelby nodded, and he went on. “I dreamed about tonight a long time ago, like deja’ vu, you know?”
Shelby nodded. “I wish you’d been around six years ago. Things would’ve been a lot different.”
Pogo laughed. “I was, Shel, but I was eleven.”
“That’s not what I meant.” He smirked at Pogo. “Can I ask you something?” His face went red, but he was intensely curious. “What did it feel like when I was inside you?”
Pogo set his spoon in the bowl and grinned. “I wish I could feel like that all the time. It hurt real bad at first, like I was ripping, but them it went away.” He looked down at the table and chuckled. “Every time you moved, it was like a zap or a throb or something. I want to do it again, you know, like everyday for the rest of my life.”
Shelby laughed out loud and leaned back. “You are the greatest person I’ve ever met, you know that?”
Pogo breathed out through his nose and locked onto Shelby’s unbelievable eyes. “So how do you feel about me?” He asked quietly.
Shelby returned the gaze and felt his heart miss a beat. “Like I could spend everyday with you for the rest of my life.” He smiled slightly and touched Pogo’s hand. “I fee like I’m out of a prison or something.”
Pogo slid his chair back and stood up, carefully limping around the table to sit in Shelby’s lap. “I never felt like I was important to anybody.” He wrapped his arms around Shelby’s chest and rested his head on his shoulder. “You make me feel like I’m important.”
“Yeah.” Shelby slid his arms under Pogo and picked him up easily. “I’m not hungry anymore, are you?” He headed down the hall.
“Not for food.” Pogo leaned in and kissed him, nearly causing them to crash into the bedroom doorframe.
It was a long night.
“Why do they call you Pogo?” Koby asked, sitting next to his happy meal on the park bench. Shelby had driven them there expecting to find Pogo and his friends throwing a Frisbee. They’d stopped and got Burgers on the way.
“Because I can do this, like a pogo stick.” Pogo grinned and bent over backwards, launching into a series of five back flips and ending with a twist that left him looking back at Shelby and Koby. “What do ya think of that?” He walked back over to them.
“Cool.” Koby’s eyes were wide. “Can I learn to do that?”
“Sure, I guess.” Pogo laughed and looked at Shelby. “Gotta ask Dad, though.”
Shelby shook his head and smiled. “Here we go again.” He sighed and handed Pogo a quarter-pounder. “I guess you ankle’s better?”
“Yeah. I haven’t worn the wrap for the last couple of days. Thanks for the grub, man.” He tore into the sandwich. “Those two pussies I was here with had to split. Sorry I couldn’t introduce you.”
“Pussies?” Koby asked, stuffing a fry in his mouth. He looked from Pogo to his dad.
“Well, there’s a rule to get used to.” Shelby shot a look at Pogo. “We don’t say potty words, do we, Koby?”
“Huh uh.” Koby shook his head and dipped another fry.
“Sorry!” Pogo flashed a killer smile at Shelby contritely. “It won’t happen again.”
Shelby took a drink of his coke and handed it to Pogo. “Are you free tonight? My new boss gave me a computer to go over some stuff, and I need help setting it up.”
“Sure.” Pogo smirked. “Dude, I don’t even have a social calendar except for you.”
Shelby met his eyes and smiled knowingly. Over the last week, they had seen each other a lot, once or twice getting a kiss in, but hadn’t been able to spend any time together. Finally, tonight there was nothing going on.
At first Shelby was worried about letting Koby meet Pogo, but decided five minutes after it had happened a couple of days ago that everything was fine. Koby loved transformers, and Pogo was a grand expert at changing them. Shelby was not, and gratefully turned that chore over to his new young friend.
They were extremely careful not to do or say anything in front of the boy, even though it left them staring into each other’s eyes a lot. Lying awake and staring at the ceiling was becoming the norm, and Shelby was going nuts waiting for the weekend. Pogo would’ve stayed any night he wanted, but it made Shelby uncomfortable with his son in the house, even though Koby was known for sleeping through anything. It just didn’t seem right.
“I have to take the monster here over to my parents house. Wanna go? We can do the computer after.” Shelby stood up and started putting their garbage into one of the bags.
“Great. Can I ride in your truck with you, Koby?” Pogo asked seriously, getting down on one knee.
“Yeah, but I get to sit in the middle.” Koby wadded his bag up for his dad and made sure he had the toy.
“Wanna ride?” Pogo stood up and held out his hands. Koby laughed and jumped up, allowing him self to be swung up and onto Pogo’s shoulders. Pogo immediately took off running around on the grass, making sounds like and airplane. Koby shrieked and laughed, urging him on. Shelby watched them and waved to Koby as he went to the truck and unlocked it.
An hour later, Koby safely delivered to his parents, Shelby led the way up to the apartment carrying one of the two large boxes containing the computer. He braced it on his knee and shoved the door open for Pogo and then followed him in, kicking the door shut.
Pogo set the box with the monitor in it down in the middle of the floor and examined the print on it. He laughed as Shelby set the other box on it and punched him in the shoulder. “Dude, yer gittin’ a Dell.” He mimicked the kid in the commercial.
“God.” Shelby shoved him onto the couch. “You are such a ham.”
“Yeah, but I’m your ham.” Pogo sprang back up and jumped into Shelby’s arms, wrapping his legs around his waist. “God I missed you!” He mashed his lips into Shelby’s.
Shelby held him tight and immediately opened his mouth to let Pogo’s tongue in. It was like a hunger came over them, and Shelby couldn’t stop himself. He carried Pogo down the hall to the bedroom not even bothering with the light.
As soon as Pogo touched the comforter he got up on his knees and began tearing his clothes of. He chuckled as Shelby stood on one foot and hopped, taking his shoes off. Finally he slid out of his pants and kicked his bikinis towards the wall just as Pogo’s jock landed on the dresser. He dove onto the bed and straddled his gymnast lover.
“You’re so beautiful.” Pogo whispered and locked his lips onto one of Shelby’s nipples, sucking and licking. His hand took a hold of Shelby’s now iron hard cock and began to pump.
“Holy shit.” Shelby breathed out. His eyes fluttered shut. In a few seconds he felt Pogo twisting around, and once in the right angle, he was able to take Pogo in his mouth while still on all fours. He felt Pogo’s mouth on him, and he tightened his stomach up in an effort to not shoot immediately.
Pogo new when he felt Shelby’s tongue on the bottom of his dick that it was only a matter of time, and he intensified his efforts on Shelby, hoping the he was even half as good. Shelby moaned loudly, sending vibrations through Pogo, and he squinted his eyes shut, concentrating.
Shelby felt the kid shiver, and his cock throbbed and pulsed. A tidal wave of fluid crashed into his throat as Pogo came, bumping his ass up rhythmically with each shot. Shelby smiled for a second and then arched his back as the nerve currents in his body began to tingle. “Jesus.” He grunted and tensed up, then finally let loose, “Augh! Ugnh! Aaaugh!” His orgasm sent his mind reeling.
He collapsed on his side panting and pulled on Pogo’s arm, sliding him up so they were face to face. “You are incredible.” He said and hugged him.
“Take some deep breaths, old man.” Pogo grinned. “We’re gonna see how fast you can recharge tonight.” He kissed Shelby long and hard and wrapped his hand around his cock and stroked it. “I want this inside me again.”
“Like I could say no if I wanted to.” Shelby laughed and rolled onto his back, lazily reaching over to rub Pogo with just his fingertips. For long minutes they were quiet, just enjoying the moment together. “Oh, wow.” Shelby groaned as he felt Pogo’s tongue on the underneath side of his balls. “That’s fucking great.”
Pogo crawled down between Shelby’s legs and began to lick seriously, amused when Shelby pulled his legs up and out of the way. He’d never seen anyone’s ass close up like this before, and he lifted his head and grinned. He knew that there was KY in the bathroom for Koby’s thermometer. “Don’t move.” He ordered and ran from the room.
Shelby looked curiously as Pogo ran back in. IN the darkness, he didn’t see the small tube. “What are you up to?” Then there was the sensation of Pogo’s tongue on his balls and cock again, and he put his head back down. “God, I could die like this.
Pogo carefully opened the tube and set it on the comforter until the right time. Hesitating for only a second, he moved his mouth to Shelby’s ass and began to lick it. Shelby jumped, and Pogo put his hand on Shelby’s leg, kind of holding him down. Shelby thrashed his head from side to side and grabbed his own cock.
“Uh uh.” Pogo chuckled, moving the hand away. He put a bunch of the lube on his fingers, probably to much, and immediately inserted his index finger, pushing it as far up as it would go. Shelby’s cock jumped and throbbed, oozing fluid, and Shelby arched up off the bed.
“Holy Christ!” He grimaced, feeling an indescribable sensation rocked through his stomach. “Again, again!”
Pogo grinned wickedly and pulled the finger almost all of the way out and ran it back in, satisfied when Shelby moaned again. After several more times he put in two fingers and finally three. Shelby lifted his head up and pleaded with his eyes. “Now, okay?”
Pogo, who was so hard he felt like he would explode, got up on his knees and moved forward without taking his fingers out until he was lined up just right. His cock was not as long as Shelby’s seven plus inches, but it was bigger around and had a large head.
He psyched himself up, slipped his fingers out, and pushed, slipping in fairly easily. Shelby grimaced and hissed, and finally relaxed, a grin spreading on his face. He nodded and closed his eyes, and Pogo began to fuck. Slowly at first, exploring the new feeling and leaning way down to kiss Shelby.
“Do it.” Shelby commanded. “God, do it now.”
Pogo picked up the pace and began to ram it in harder. A fire started in his stomach and he knew he was so close. He tried to hold off for Shelby, but Shelby’s ass suddenly clinched around him, and he closed his eyes and shuddered. He couldn’t stop now as he pounded against Shelby’s legs and gritted his teeth.
Shelby had absolutely no control over his body, and every time Pogo moved in or out, his cock pulsed in the air. A huge amount of pre-cum had dribbled onto his abs, and he could barely keep from rolling his eyes. Pogo went faster, and Shelby could tell that his stomach was tightening. He opened his eyes and met Pogo’s for just an instant before the kid went over the top, and Shelby let go, firing his load clear up over his head to hit the wall, the pillow, his own chin, and his chest. Eight shots, every one of them huge.
Pogo slipped into an almost trance as he watched Shelby cum, realizing that he had caused it. He fell forward onto Shelby’s stomach, his hips still pumping furiously as he came, sending his load into Shelby. “Oh! Ah, God!” He couldn’t stop shaking and realized that he was almost crying. “Shelby, hold me.”
He did. They slept for over an hour, curled up together with the covers flipped over them. Shelby woke up first and decided to get a few things done and let Pogo sleep. He slid carefully to the edge of the bed, cringing at the little painful zingers that shot through his ass. He chuckled to himself about the picture he must present walking into the bathroom, but he wouldn’t change it for the world. Besides, he could get used to being fucked like that, and he had heard that it was a lot less painful the next time. He showered and put on his favorite worn out sweat pants.
It was almost eight when Shelby glanced up from the computer he was unpacking. Pogo staggered out of the bedroom and across the hall into the bathroom. Shelby chuckled and went back to the boxes. He heard the toilet flush and the shower start.
He cleared the desk off and set the monitor on it with the keyboard, and placed the computer itself under the desk. He was hooking up the cables lying on the floor when he heard the shower stop. A few minutes later he looked up to see Pogo coming down the hall with a towel wrapped around his waist. He still looked tired.
Pogo stopped next to Shelby and allowed his knees to buckle, plopping him down near Shelby’s waist. He closed his eyes and fell forward with a groan. “I didn’t want to wake up, but the heat source left the bed.” He burrowed his head into Shelby’s chest.
Shelby laughed and sat up, wrapping his arms around the other. “I swear to God you could sleep twenty three hours a day.” Pogo nodded. “I’m glad you’re up, though. I can’t get this stupid cable to hook up to the monitor.”
Pogo opened one eye and glanced at the cable. He immediately started to giggle. “That’s a printer cable, Shel.” With an exaggerated grunt he pushed himself up off the floor and moved to the side of the desk. “Hand me that cable lying on the floor.” Shelby did, and he bent over to plug it in. In the process his towel slipped off.
A wistful smile came to Shelby’s lips as he watched Pogo work, not bothering to stop and wrap the towel around himself. In Shelby’s eyes, Pogo represented the end all perfect male form. His gymnastics had formed broad shoulders and powerful arms connected to a hairless square chest. His abs were so defined that he actually appeared to have an eight- pack rather than a six like Shelby’s own. Pogo had a narrow waist and ass muscles that rippled under the skin when he moved. His thighs were thick and strong, as were his calves.
As Pogo twisted his upper body behind the desk, Shelby noticed yet again that Pogo’s cock was on of those that when erect stood straight up and pointed at his chin, and when it was flaccid like now, it still stood straight out from the body, never seeming to get tired as it lazily flopped from side to side.
“Earth to Shelby.” Pogo said quietly, smiling. He’d caught Shelby going over every square inch of his body, and he knew it was a compliment. “I said would you hand me the other cable?”
“Oh, sure.” Shelby reddened in the face and feed the cable up the back of the desk. “Sorry, I was zoning for a second.”
“I noticed.” Pogo chuckled and reached for the cable, and then yelped and jumped when he felt a finger poke him in that sensitive area just between the balls and the rectum. “Hey, I wasn’t the one zoning.”
“Serves you right.” Shelby slid out from under the desk and stood up. “You finish the computer, smart ass, and I’ll fix dinner. Any preferences?” He headed into the kitchen.
“You know me, man. Whatever.”
After they ate, Pogo spent a couple of hours showing Shelby how to move around in the system. Although he was fairly computer literate, most of Shelby’s experience was in office apps, and he was eternally grateful that Pogo was so damned smart.
“So what is your new job?” Pogo asked, coming back into the living room wearing a pair of Shelby’s sweat pants. “You haven’t really said what you’re gonna be doing.”
“It’s a new position. I’m something called a materials foreman. When the planning bidder brings back his bid, I figure what materials they need and give him a dollar amount.”
“Sounds cool.” Pogo walked over and put his hand on Shelby’s shoulder.
“Ah, man, you got dressed.” Shelby said with mock disappointment. “I could look at you all day.”
“I’ll take ‘em off if you’ll come to bed.” Pogo wiggled his eyebrows up and down as Shelby’s arm snaked around his waist.
“I’ll do that anyway, but I need to finish putting these files on the computer.” Shelby kissed his nipple and turned back to the machine. “What are your plans tomorrow?”
Pogo suddenly became very quiet. “None. Mom has to work. She gets home in an hour and has to be back at noon.”
Shelby picked up on the shift in mood and tossed the disks on the desk. He stood up and scooped Pogo’s face up in a kiss. “I guess you’ll have to spend it with me.” Pogo smiled and looked down, nodding his head.
Shelby shut down the computer and guided the kid down the hall. He’d overheard Pogo telling one of his friends on the phone that tomorrow was his seventeenth birthday, and it was not shaping up to be a memorable event. Shelby had gotten him two new Nike shirts that he’d shown interest in at the mall, some bikini briefs that would fit (Shelby’s didn’t very well), and three new music CD’s, and Koby had gotten him a computer game, although Pogo had no clue about this.
It pissed Shelby off to see Pogo miss spending time with his mother, and he wondered what he’d done before he and Shelby had met. Probably sit on the porch or watch a lot of TV, or maybe throwing his Frisbee at the park.
Shelby’s parents were very close to their kids, providing elaborate birthday parties and holiday gatherings. His two older brothers would be down for Christmas, and the whole group would spend a traditional day together, just like they always had. It made his heart ache to think about Pogo being alone.
There was no sex that night. Instead, they curled up in the bed together and slept. Shelby stared at the ceiling for a long time, Pogo’s head on his chest, thinking about what to do. What should he tell his family, and how do you explain falling in love with a minor? What would they think of Koby being around ‘Gay’ lovers? He didn’t sleep very well.
He woke up early like he usually did and slipped out of the bed, leaving Pogo snoring quietly. It was five thirty when he got out of the shower and dressed. He left a note on the fridge and quietly slipped out to go to the grocery store.
Pogo hadn’t moved when he got back, and he quickly set to work on his plan. At seven, he heard Pogo stirring and started cooking breakfast, sausage patties and eggs with hash browns. The phone rang. It was his father, and he had just hung up when Pogo wandered into the front room wrapped in a towel, his short blond hair still wet.
“You’re making a real habit out of that.” Shelby smiled and set a mug of coffee on the bar in front of Pogo.
“You said I could.” Pogo blinked at Shelby, and his face dissolved into confusion. He turned around and gasped. The front room was filled with crepe paper streamers and balloons, and there were several packages wrapped and sitting on the coffee table. A large banner was pinned to the curtains that said ‘Happy Birthday!’.
“Oh wow.” Pogo whispered. He stood up and walked over to the presents, almost afraid to touch them. When he turned to Shelby, there were tears in his eyes. He sniffed loudly. “You remembered!” He was astonished.
Shelby walked around the counter and held his arms up. Pogo dodged into them, nearly knocking the wind out of him. “I probably do say it enough, Kenny, but I love you. Happy birthday.”
“I don’t know what to say.” Pogo squeezed his eyes shut and tried not to cry, but it didn’t work. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me.” He reached up and pulled Shelby down and kissed him rather sloppily. “God I love you so much, Shel. You have no idea how cool this is.”
“There’s three that you can open now, and two for later when Koby’s home.” Shelby pointed at the presents. “Start with this one.” He handed the underwear to Pogo with a smirk and headed back into the kitchen.
“These are hot, Shelby!” Pogo held up the briefs after destroying the wrapping. “I love this pair.” He chose a pair that was a blue and dark blue leopard print and pulled them on, tossing the towel on the couch. “What do you think?” He turned and modeled them.
“That I look forward to tearing them off.” Shelby grinned. “Open the yellow one next.”
Pogo did and came up with a high collared Nike shirt that zipped up the front. It had long sleeves that zipped off to make short sleeves. “Oh, shit. This is fucking perfect!” He pulled it on and ran his fingers over the silky nylon material. “Thanks, Shelby.”
“You’re extremely welcome. Now go get your jeans on and come and eat.” Shelby set plates on the table and started scooping out portions as Pogo ran down the hall. When he came back he came up behind Shelby and crushed his chest in a hug.
“Every night I tell God thanks for you showing up.” Pogo said. “I am so lucky.”
“We’ll see how lucky you feel in a few hours.” Shelby hugged him back and pulled out a chair for him. “That phone call was my dad. We are volunteered to put up Christmas lights today. Koby is driving him ape shit.”
“That sounds cool.” Pogo dug into his breakfast. “How hard could that be?”
“Funny you should ask.” Shelby sat down and shook his head. “They live in a Victorian with a big turret kind of tower. It’s a fucker to decorate.” He poured himself some coffee. “What I told dad that I had a certified gymnastic daredevil available, he clapped his hands together and laughed maniacally, saying he had big plans.”
They pulled into the Martin’s driveway half an hour later, and Pogo looked up at the three-story monolith with wide eyes. “Damn, you grew up here?”
“Me and my brothers helped restore it when dad bought it about ten years ago.” Shelby put the truck in park and shut off the engine. “That’s my old room.” He pointed at the third floor windows. “It’s Koby’s now.”
As they got out, a man in his mid sixties came around the house carrying boxes of Christmas lights. Graying hair surrounded his balding head, and his middle had only recently begun to widen. He waved after he set the boxes down and walked over to meet them. “Morning, boy.” He wrapped his arm around Shelby’s shoulders.
“Pop, this is Kenny Stanten. His friends call him Pogo.” Shelby said, introducing Pogo. You’ve seen him lots of times, but usually covered in purple fur.”
“Purple fur?” Ray Martin looked curiously at Pogo.
“I’m the mascot at the football games for Beaumont, sir.” Pogo stuck out his hand. “I’m pleased to meet you.”
“No kidding? You’re the guy that does all those leaps and somersaults?” Ray shook his hand. “My God, kid, you must have balls of steel to do that shit. It’d scare me to death.”
Pogo looked up at Shelby and smirked. “I don’t scare easily if that’s what you mean.”
“That so? Well I got a job for you then.” Ray smiled and clapped his hands together.
Just then the front door opened with a bang and Koby launched himself off the porch into Shelby’s arms. “Dad! I didn’t think you’d ever get here!”
“How was the sleep over? Did you watch movies?” Shelby asked, flipping his son up onto his shoulders and following his dad and Pogo around the house for more lights.
“It was fun, but Gramma made me eat spinach again.” Koby sulked.
“That’s her job, little man. She does it well.”
Twenty minutes later, Koby stood with his Grandpa on the front lawn and watched as Shelby and Pogo crawled out on of the second story windows with some of the lights. The roof had several levels to it, and getting from one to the other took more than just a ladder.
“See that peak?” Shelby pointed at the tallest part of the house over their heads. “This strand starts there and goes around that way to the back of the house. Hang on, I’ll get the ladder.”
“Wait a sec, Shel. We don’t need it.” Pogo pulled off his jacket and dropped it, pushing up the sleeves of his sweatshirt. “All I need is a boost.”
“To where?” Shelby looked around and couldn’t see any footholds.
“Towards that turret or tower or whatever it’s called.” Pogo pointed at Shelby’s hands. “Laced them together, then I need you to throw me that way.” He pointed at the roof.
“You’re fucking high.” Shelby snorted. “We’re already thirty feet up, and you want me to throw you the rest of the way?”
“Jesus, just trust me, okay?” Pogo waited until Shelby finally nodded and put his hands together. Pogo put his foot in them, and then counted. “On three. One, two, THREE!” Shelby flipped him straight up at the wall, and he reached out, caught the rain gutter, and flipped himself onto the top of the house.
“Jesus H. Christ, what do you two think you’re doing?” Ray shouted up at them. “You’re gonna get yourselves killed.”
“Everything’s fine.” Pogo waved. “Just saving some wear on the roof from the ladder.”
Shelby shook his head and chuckled. “He probably expected you to sail right over the roof. From down there.”
“You’re a little stronger than I thought.” Pogo got down on his stomach and reached down for the lights. “I almost did.”
“Lets keep that our little secret, okay?”
A few hours later, after Ray spent the afternoon wringing his hands and cussing as Pogo flipped, jumped, swung, and hung from the house, they all stood in the yard looking up at the house. “That’s some decent work, boys.” Ray said, leaning back against his son’s truck. “Looks real good.”
“It certainly does.” Jenny Martin said, standing next to Shelby. His mother was the shortest member of the family coming in at 5″6″, putting her at almost eye level with Pogo. Her light brown hair was shot with gray, and she was still slender.
“It was fun.” Pogo looked up in wonder at the lights. “I never got to decorate like that before.”
“I thought I was gonna have a heart attack.” Ray chuckled and tousled Pogo’s hair. “You give a whole new definition to the term Yard Ape.”
“You scared the shit out of me, too.” Shelby chided him. “When I said put lights in the elm tree, I didn’t mean throw yourself into open space and land in the tree to do it.”
“I think I’m glad I missed that.” Jenny said, taking Koby’s hand and leading him towards the house. “Come inside, boys. I have a pot roast and attending goodies ready.”
On the way home, Koby started snoring and pretty soon fell against Pogo. Pogo rearranged himself so Koby wouldn’t get a sore neck. “He’s out like a light, Shelby. I don’t think he’ll want a bath tonight.”
“He can shower in the morning.” Shelby steered the truck into the apartment complex. “You staying tonight? I heard you call your mom, but you didn’t say what was up.”
“She was acting all weird. She wasn’t right.” Pogo opened the door after they parked and helped Shelby slide Koby out. “She never even said Happy Birthday.”
“I’m sorry, Kenny. Sounds like she’s just trying to make a living.” Shelby followed him towards the building. “You still have some presents left. Do you mind opening them tomorrow when the runt’s home? He was real excited to but them for you.”
“Of course not.” Pogo put his arm around Shelby’s waist and smiled. “Thanks again, by the way. This about the coolest Birthday I ever had.”
“Check in, then come up and say goodnight.” Shelby wiggled his eyebrows and headed up the stairs with Koby in his arms. He got the door open and took Koby to his room and put him to bed, settling this one time for letting the boy sleep in his t-shirt and underwear. He had just gone back out of to the living room when the door opened.
“Wow, that was fast.” Shelby said and then realized that something was wrong. Pogo’s face was drawn and pale, and he looked terrified. “What’s the matter?” Shelby’s heart beat a little faster.
“Uh, mind if I stay with you for awhile?” Pogo said in almost a whisper. He held a note out for Shelby to see. “The place is empty, man. All that’s there is my clothes and stuff.”
Shelby took the note and read it.
Kenneth,
You and that pervert should be a little more courteous to your neighbors.
You’re no better than that son of a bitch father of yours. I don’t want anything
to do with you. I don’t have a son anymore.
“Think she knows I’m gay?” Pogo asked, tears welling up in his eyes.
“Oh, Pogo.” Shelby took him in his arms and held him as he cried.
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Copyright © by Daniel Lund.
rimshotsplanet@hotmail.com