Disclaimer: This story concerns mainly homosexual men and their lives, relationships and sexual activities. It was inspired only by my visions and invention. This tale is entirely fictional. If there are any similarities to actual people, places or events, it is purely coincidental. If you are under 18 or if reading this story would be illegal for you in your area or if you don't like the subject matter, please leave now. Always be SAFE. Otherwise read on and I hope you enjoy.
The Dukes of Windsor Copyright 2004 by Paul H. Daventon. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author. If you are enjoying this story, write to me at dukesofwindsor@juno.com
When you write, please put "Dukes" or "Dukes of Windsor" in the Subject line so I concentrate on story email. Thanks, Paul.
THANK YOU I'd be remiss if I didn't thank David and Allen for editing the chapters of this story. They have made the writing smoother, more correct and easier to read.. Thank you guys so much for your help and your encouragement, keeping me on the path. Love you forever. Paul Daventon
AUTHOR'S NOTE: The Dukes and Duchess of Windsor has 38 chapters and the story is finished. I will put a chapter on each week if all goes well. P.D.
========== Chapter Three ==========
"Dr. Ridgway." Matt heard Marty's call from the Music Office intercom.
"Yes, Marty, what is it?" He pushed the button and waited.
"You have an appointment with Dr. Powers at 1 PM. Did you know that?"
Sitting in his office at his desk, papers strewn all over it, Matt grumbled to himself, then answered, "No, I do now .... but I have another meeting at 2. I hope he doesn't talk too long."
Marty opened her circuit and giggled, "Of course he won't, Matt, he's the boss, right? He knows everything."
Matt swore softly and didn't answer, thinking 'he could have given me some notice'.
"Thanks, Marty, I guess."
Dr. Powers had been out of the country since before Matt was hired, so they hadn't met as yet. Matt didn't know if Powers had had any input on his hiring. Maybe, maybe not. Matt hadn't heard too much about his boss, mainly that he'd been at the college forever, running the music department all by himself if you listen to him, Matt was told.
Matt's meeting at 2 PM was with all the volunteers who were willing to help him with the many jobs necessary for the concert band. Matt thought to himself as he had many times that he was so happy not to have to field a marching band this year, it gave him a new perspective on life in his profession. He actually prayed that the college would never decide to field a football team.
Checking the time, noon by his clock, Matt had hoped to get some lunch, but wouldn't have time because of his meeting with Dr. Powers and the paper work on his desk.
Matt's mind was solidly entrenched in his Saturday meeting with his brother Steve. They both registered at a Super 8 motel at 1600 Fox St. in Findlay, Ohio, half way between Windsor and Columbus, but would only use the rooms for that afternoon. Steve had to be back at his home in Columbus by 6 P.M. in time for dinner with his family following his vital trip to Findlay to start setting up a computer system at a new medical center. Of course there was no new medical center and if there were the place would have no working phones as yet, making it difficult for Steve's wife, Becky, to reach him. He carried two cell phones with him, their family one and secretly, the one he kept to contact Matt.
The two young men had all of two hours together before Steve had to leave, but Matt's mind was still enjoying those two hours, their frantic loving each other, a delirious technique of sexual striving to show their desire and aching for each other. His thoughts soon probed the memories he treasured and relived all the day before, Sunday. 'Oh, man, he thought, I'd never felt so loved and wanted in my life ..........'
The Department Head's office door rose up before him. He was dreading this meeting, but no way out of it so he rapped his knuckles quickly, entering as the secretary mumbled, "Come in."
The anteroom was standard Windsor early attic office equipped, however when he was allowed into the big man's office, there was no resemblance to any other office on the campus . The atmosphere had been created carefully; heavy, carved furniture, interior walls lined with a dark oak wainscotting, deep, thick wall-to-wall carpeting in a dark red. The tall windows were framed in deep blue, velvet drapes, hanging at least for 12 feet, spawning an actual 'sunset' ambiance in the large room.
Matt walked in front of Dr Powers desk, waiting while the man wrote on and on, shuffling his papers but ignoring Matt's presence. Matt was sure his face was radiating the heat of a stove burner set on high, but he was becoming more and more furious all the time.
Finally, Matt cleared his throat and said, "Dr. Powers, I'm here for the appointment you requested." It was difficult to keep his voice steady, keep it from showing his fury and rage with the man for trying to show his superiority and Matt's inferiority..
"Ah, yes, so you are, Ridgway, I appreciate promptness." He stood but didn't ask Matt to sit, presented a severe demeanor, wearing a mottled tweed suit and Matt wondered if he had plus-fours on behind that huge intricately carved desk.
"What is the problem, Dr. Powers? I assume that is why I'm here." He thought, 'it certainly isn't a social meeting.'
"Well, yes, Ridgway," he reached to take a piece of paper on his desk, "you ordered music for the bands which I understand has already been delivered." He cleared his throat, "Now, Ridgway, you have spent your entire budget for the whole year. Did you know that?"
"Dr. Powers, I checked with the bursar's office and was told I had $2000 in my budget. I have planned to spent that amount carefully so that it will last the whole year."
"Ridgway, I don't care what they said, you don't have that much."
"Doctor!" Matt barely got the word out through his clenched teeth.
Dr. Powers looked at Matt. "What did you say?"
"I .... said .... Doctor!"
"What does that mean?"
"I have courteously given you your title and I expect to receive mine from you. I have earned my doctorate just as you did. Is there anything about that statement you don't understand?"
Matt was shaking all over because he was so angry. Of course he hadn't seen anything yet.
"DOCTOR RIDGWAY, I will not have you talking to me that way. You will have to change your ways if you want to stay here at Windsor College. I was never in favor of hiring you anyway."
"Thank you, Dr. Powers, I appreciate that you used my correct title, not just Ridgway. How did you know that I shouldn't be hired? You never met me before. If you go by my credentials, they couldn't be better."
Dr. Powers actually huffed and puffed, honest, but finally managed to speak, "Dr. Ridgway, I think you will find out that you have made a dangerous enemy. You may leave."
"No, Dr. Powers, you have decided to be an enemy all by yourself. I am not your enemy. I think that soon you will want to correct that decision."
Matt smiled broadly, turned and walked to the door and opened it, "You earned your PhD at Yale in 1962 and I earned mine in 2002. Just think about how much more I've had to learn academically than you have." He walked out of the door and shut it. Even the excellent sound proofing of his office couldn't completely mute the enraged scream that Matt could hear in the anteroom. He turned toward the secretary and smiled.
She smiled back, "Now just imagine how my day will go from now on because of you."
"Sorry, ma'am. I'm Matt Ridgway, happy to meet you."
She smiled again, "Matt, I'm sure we are going to be very happy that you are in this department, and I'll tell you something, you need to talk to Dean McAllister today, and I mean today, and explain what just happened is HIS office. You must get there first, OK?"
"Ok, Mom, and thanks. I appreciate your support. You are the second 'Mom' I've inherited in a week. Can't have enough of them." He smiled warmly, enjoying her friendliness. "Wait, before you leave, 'Doctor' Ridgway," Rosemary Hamman cautioned. She called the dean's office and made an immediate appointment for him. "That is in the administration building, first floor, room 108, Doctor. I think the dean expected to see you as soon as you met Powers."
Matt walked to the side of her desk, leaned over toward her, placing a light kiss on her cheek. "Thanks again, Rosemary, I'm certainly in your debt." He left that office in a much better mood. And Rosemary relaxed with her hand touching a rosy sensation on her cheek where Matt had kissed her. Her only thought was, 'Too bad he'll never make some woman a great husband.' If asked, she would never have been able to say why she thought that.
Matt did get in to see the Dean right away and explained the story of his day.
"Matt, I understand, I could have predicted your confrontation with him, and don't worry about your job. You do it well, and I'm sure you will, there will be no problem about keeping it. However, I'd rather not have a war in the Music Department, so if you could, Matt, if you could do what you can to soothe his feathers just a bit, I'd appreciate it."
Matt smiled cheerfully, "Ok, sir, but if he hampers me doing my job, I'll be back. I will try to be as kind as I can."
"Ok, Matt, I have high hopes for you and I have plans for you far beyond your ken."
Walking back to his office, Matt could only wonder what the Dean had in mind.
Besides LJ and BJ and Britt, eight other students crowded Matt's office; Teresa Addabbo, Christine Griffith, Ashlee Washington, Jamal Woods, Patrick O'Malley, Roger Adams, Jack Bailey and Rick Balsaam who all managed to get to college a few days early. Matt was very pleased with the turnout, and with the apparently eager attitude they all showed. He was trying to learn and remember names, but that would just take time. Three of the boys besides LJ and BJ were hot hunks, very fine to look at. He supposed some of the girls were very pretty, especially Christine Griffith. These people were dressed summer campus style, shorts or cutoffs, light T's or tanks, and the girls even more scandalous. Who cares, he thought.
LJ and BJ showed the others their schedules for auditions during the next three days.
"If you people will follow the schedules we have drawn up, we should have everything arranged by the first day of classes. I will take the double reeds and the French Horns, those people need the most gentle care."
Immediately two kids groan, "Hey, Dr. Ridgway, that's not fair. We're not that delicate." Everyone laughed when Christine said that, ensuring that she will be teased for a long time. However, a double reed player, basoonist Jamal Woods, agreed with Christine and it was very evident that he was not delicate. Jamal was a light colored black man but weighed about 180 to 190, and none of his clothes fit because of his muscular physique, positively not fat. He was beyond doubt good looking and his honest and friendly face drew many friends to him. He always said he was related to 'Tiger' Woods, the golf wunderkind, except that he couldn't play at all.
Matt had already decided that he'd like to be a friend of Jamal's, a good friend.
"Ok, ok, people, this is mainly that their instruments are very, very difficult to play, and not easy to judge, so I'll take these wayward folks." Everyone laughed kindly, smiling at the two 'delicate' instrumentalists.
Matt outlined the jobs for each person: Teresa and Jack, clarinets; Ashlee and Britt, Flutes; Patrick and BJ, Saxes; Rick and LJ, trumpets; Roger and Christine, trombones, baritones and tubas; Jamal, percussion. "And, as I said, I will deal with the double reeds, delicate as they may be." Hoots and hollers emerged from the group. "At the end of each of these three days, say 4 PM, let's meet here and review what's been accomplished and see if we are ahead or behind. These three days are extremely important to our organization and the progress we make this year."
He continued, "I am also thinking of starting a small, professional-type brass group, however .... the type and style have not been determined. There will be five members - all brass - so you could probably easily come up with the instrumentation. These will have to be our top people in many ways, so be very serious on these auditions, although I will audition everyone who is a possible. The forms and music for each instrument are in your mail boxes. The sight reading audition is most important, so please, please don't let that music out."
He looked around the group and smiled at the eagerness and seriousness they exhibited, itchy to get started, but also realizing how much work they will be doing.
"So, thanks for being here, and get out! Go get some refreshments, non-alcoholic would be best. Begone!" He said that all with a smile, so pleased to be working with adults - well, most of them anyway, age doesn't necessarily create an adult. Matt kept his eyes moving so he wasn't staring at one person, but was able to catagorize all the males as to his personal preferences.
Matt had worked very hard that day, Monday, and decided he needed to go home and relax. He had taken Marty for coffee first, though, enjoying their relationship, becoming closer all the time. It was obvious to him that Marty would turn out to be his best friend on campus. If only ...... he thought ... if only .... But no, he's all for men and only men.
"So, Marty, that's how my first meeting with the department head went - or didn't. I don't think I could have kept from making him angry, he had me in such an uproar it's a wonder I didn't hit him." He grinned at her, "And I'm going to spend all that $2000 that is in my budget, Dr. Powers agreement or not."
Marty put her hand on Matt's lying on the caf table. "Matt, I know he can be such an obstinate, narrow-minded, s.o.b. but we do have to get along with him for his last year. I would respectfully suggest that you do a little apology dance, but if he still won't call you Dr., then lay into him again. Also, please check with Bursar's office again just to be sure. It sounds about right, though."
"Thanks, Marty, I appreciate your kindness to me, and your friendliness. You and Rosemary are my 'Moms' so far. I'll let you know if any more show up then you all can have a pity party over poor Matt." He laughed as did Marty. They parted soon to get home and rest.
Lying down on the living room couch, Matt could think of nothing but his meeting with his brother on the previous Saturday at the motel in Findlay. As tired as he was, he didn't go to sleep, but ran his memory video of their loving encounter in his head. He could picture everything they did and every word they said.
Matt opened the door of the motel wide to receive Steve into his room, Turning back after he had closed and locked both locks on the door, he found Steve standing by the bed completely nude, waiting for him.
Matt looked amazed, "Geez, Steve, how did you do that .... you have tear away clothes, split seams everywhere?"
His brother smiled warmly at Matt, "I wanted to get started as soon as possible, you know I have to be back by 6 or before. I'd give anything to be able to stay in Windsor with you all night, but no way possible. At least for the time being."
While Steve was talking, Matt had quickly removed his clothes; jeans, sweatshirt, bikini briefs and shoes and socks. He sat on the edge of the large bed beside Steve who was still standing.
Matt looked up, affectionately smiling at his tall brother, "Come here, Stevie, between my legs and let me look at you." He very, very lightly moved his fingertips over Steve's naked skin, slowly down the peaks and valleys of his chest and abdomen, around the nickel-sized deep red nipples over his firm flesh sparsely covered with chest hair. He could see the goose bumps all over Steve's upper body, tiny little nubs brought on by tingles his finger tips aroused.
The younger brother asked Steve to turn around, so he could see him closely in the rear, so he could learn the touch of his brother's skin and flesh, well muscled and soft solid. He held both butt cheeks in his hands, rubbing with his fingers, raising goose flesh in that part of his body too. He started kissing Steve's back, licking too, starting at the waist, but soon kissing his buttocks. Suddenly, Steve turned around.
"Matty, wait please. I've sweated so much coming up that I really stink. I need to take a shower to clean myself up."
Matt interupted, "But I want to smell and taste all about you, man, it's your smell and your flavor that I want."
"I know, Matty, but I am embarrassed how I smell and this time, I honestly do want to have a shower. OK? Please." Actually, Steve was afraid he wasn't very clean back there.
A smile, then a grin, then, "Ok, Stevie, if that's what you really want, go ahead, the shower is right behind you." Steve turned, set the shower on and got the temperature he liked, then took the fastest shower he knew how to take.
Matt had actually timed Steve, "Well, not bad, ninety seconds, brother, of course you haven't dried yet, but we'll leave that for later. Come here, man, here between my legs."
Steve stood with his legs near Matt's groin, but followed when his brother tried to turn him to face away from Matt. Again, Matt started to lick and kiss Steve's back, then lower down approaching the split over the 'tail end' vertebrae, using his hands to spread Steve's buttocks wide apart to expose the man's rear cleft and anal orifice.
Matt's tongue began to lick along the split, deeper and deeper until his tongue was swiping Steve's asshole, licking the wrinkled, puffy circle of the anus ring. Steve was groaning, moaning while Matt did that, his body shaking and being shocked with exotic energy entering his nervous system, energizing his eroticism and passion.
Moving his arms and hands around Steve's body to his front, Matt ran into a huge projection of flesh, spongy tissue, cartilage and blood vessels, solid as a statue, throbbing as hard as a heart on uppers. With his mouth directly on Steve's asshole and his tongue poking into the inner sphincter that protects his rectum, Matt tried to relax Steve's anus, hoping to make it easier for his cock to plunge into his rear end without discomfort.
"Matty, please don't play with my dick any more, I'm afraid I'll cum with much more stimulation, I've almost got that feeling already." He turned his head behind him to see Matt with his face deep into his ass. "And I want you inside me, Matt, I need you and I sure hope I can take it, it's so big."
"Steve, it's the same size as yours, isn't it, and I can take yours. If our cocks are just alike, maybe our assholes are just alike too. Wait! I'll show you what we are going to do. Don't lose it just yet, my brother, hold on for a while. We'll get you off very soon."
Matt kissed his brother's asshole deeply, then pulled himself backwards to stretch out on the bed on his back. "Steve, bring that tube of KY and get on your knees over my dick, Ok?"
Steve did as his brother asked, kneeling over Matt's groin, faced toward his head and grabbed Matt's cock, up to full height and fullness, pulling it back and forth over his balls.
"Now, Steve, take it easy there. You are going to put my dick on your asshole and very slowly let yourself down until I'm entirely inside your rectum. That way you can control your descent and discomfort more easily. If you only want to go partway, that's ok too."
Steve looked very nervous, obviously not sure if he want that huge cock in his hole, even if it was the same as his own. He rested on his hands and knees while Matt held his own cock, aiming it toward Steve's asshole, nodding at his brother to say 'go ahead, I'll take care of you.'
Matt felt Steve's ass lips gently caress his glans, the KY Steve had applied to his hole and Matt's cockhead making the way smooth. Steve was worried, but also had decided that he would do it, he wanted so badly to have Matt's cock inside of him. He pushed back against the spongy head until he jerked back away from it.
"Oh, I'm sorry Matt, I'm just not sure if I can do this."
"That's Ok, Steve. One thing might help. When you are backing against my dick, try to push like you were taking a dump, that will relax your sphincter. Try again, love."
Steve was shivering, cold yet hot, his own cock at its limit of stretching out. This time he tried what Matt had said and all of a sudden, Matt's cockhead eased through Steve's sphincter and had entered his anus until the whole glans was in up to the flange.
"Oh, god, Matty, that's great, it's Ok, lover. But don't let go of me yet."
Matt had been keeping his hands under Steve's buttocks, keeping him from sitting down quickly or in a jerky movement, keeping things slow.
"Steve, can you hold your position but still get your lips onto mine? Just relax your arms and lower your chest to mine, but keep your asshole on my cockhead." Matt was caressing Steve's back and buttocks, massaging the naked flesh with stiff fingers, cupping his back muscles and his butt in each hand, enjoying the smooth feeling of his brother's body, the flowing muscles along his flanks and hips. Matt used one finger to search its way down Steve's spine to the end, then farther to find his own cock sheathed by Steve's asslips. Matt's finger was still slippery from the KY so he tried to open Steve up more, tried to slide into Steve's asshole along with his own cock.
"God, Matty, that's so hot, man it's getting me so excited. By the way it feels really hot, having your finger in there, too, the sensation is spreading all over my body, my body that is yours."
He shivered and shook, his nervous system reacting from this asshole's stretching, his butt's adapting to Matt's cock and finger. Steve wanted so bad to have Matt's cock all the way inside him, stretching and spreading his opening so he could be as close to his brother as possible.
Matt and Steve were kissing, lips sliding and biting a bit, their tongues parrying with each other's, their combined saliva lubricating each other's mouth, the sensitivity running between Steve's rectum and his mouth coercing him to dare to plunge down.
"Unnggg," Steve moaned as he pushed back further on Matt's rock solid cock until even Steve couldn't believe it, "God, man, I'm sitting on your legs, Matty, you are all the way inside me. Right?"
Matt pushed Steve's chest up so he could play with his nipples, pecs and belly button. His hands grabbed Steve everywhere he could reach. He finally started to ram his hips up, shoving his cock farther into Steve's ass.
"Oh, Matty, that's too much, I can't hold back, I'm going to come. Help me!"
Matt had an idea but didn't know if he could do it. He didn't want to pull Steve off of his cock. He sat up higher, put his arms under his own knees, stretched forward until he got Steve's cockhead into his mouth, working his tongue around the spongy, slick glans, sucking a bit too.
Steve was leaning back, his body taut and vibrating and his cock shoving forward to get more in Matt's mouth. The ultimate sensation of having Matt's cock in his ass and his own cock inside his brother's mouth, being sucked vigorously and passionately with great love and eroticism.
As one voice they yelled, "I'm cumming" and they did come together, shooting sperm into Matt's mouth and into Steve's rectum. When that great shock had calmed a bit, Steve somehow worked his legs down along Matt's and he could lay down on Matt's body with his brother's cock still inside him. The two men, so alike and so different, finally slowed their breathing, lowered their panting to gentle inhalations and spent the next 10 minutes kissing each other's lips and relaxing their sweaty bodies. Since Matt had taken all Steve's cum in his mouth, and his own cum was stuck inside Steve's ass, they were not messy or stuck together.
Steve whispered, "Matty, you have given me the most super cum, the wildest ride of my life, better that all the sex with Becky put together. I'm now official, I lost my cherry to my wonderful brother whom I love and who loves me and we are two gay men, in love and in love with each other so much that there would be no getting out of it."
Matt was having a little difficulty breathing and after Steve's cock slipped out of his spasming asshole, he moved Steve onto his side, but still beside him, just half on him so he could caress him, love him with his hands and hold him close.
"Ah, Stevie, man, I'm sure you will be a bit sore, but don't forget what I said. You have to watch the way you walk when Becky sees you, pretend your butt doesn't hurt and get on with it. Or make up some injury you might have done to yourself."
Steve looked at the clock, "Oh, jeez, Matt, I've got to get moving. Not much time left."
He got up from the bed and turned to look at Matt.
Matt was serious, "Steve, we forgot to use a rubber." He wiped the sweat from his forehead, "I know we should be Ok, but we need to do that. I know, Steve, that you haven't been with any man ever, but still neither one of us wants to die until we've lived at least 50 years together, or more."
Steve was fully dressed, looking at his brother lying on the bed, still naked and horny. "I'm so sorry I have to go, Matty, but I do. I'd love to suck that huge thumper you got, but we'll both have to keep thinking about it, and how we can be together."
He went to the small gym bag he had brought to their covert meeting, unzipped it and brought out a package, well wrapped but like a cylinder about a foot long.
"Here, Matt, this is for you, for when I can't be with you. Take it. Open it. I made it for you."
Matt took the package, gradually releasing the wrapping to finally have a cardboard box, some 8 inches long, about three inches square. "What is this, Stevie, I have an idea, but can't believe it."
"Keep going, you'll see it soon."
Pulling at the top of the box, it was soon open, revealing, nestling in soft, white paper, a very lifelike erect penis, looking, Matt thought, just like his own penis.
He looked up at Steve, "You made this, Steve, is it .... , could it be .... , is it a model of your own cock?" His eyes were tearing up, so overjoyed he was by Steve's gift.
"Yes, I made a Plaster of Paris mold of my hard dick and that was a kick in itself. I forgot that as Plaster of Paris sets up, it warms up a lot, and that heat on my hard cock made me shoot off right in the middle of making the mold. I was dazed, almost out, but managed to keep still and not ruin the mold. I also had to wait until my dick shrank to get it out. Once the mold was cool, I lubricated the inner surfaces and poured into it some liquid plastic which would set up hard enough, but still be somewhat flexible. That's what you have in your hands. Any time I'm not around, you can fuck yourself with my own real cock."
Matt jumped off the bed and hugged Steve again, thanking him profusely for the gift. "I'll be able to look at your prick and play with it and me. I love you so much, Stevie, and always will."
Giving Matt a quick squeeze, "I gotta go, Matt, and hope there aren't any staties waiting for me in a speed trap. I love you so much, Matt, and always will. Bye."
"Bye."
The rapping at his front door woke Matt from his lovely dream, a dream of his loving with Steve. He jumped up and looked down sensing that he had just ejaculated, wetting the front of his sweats thoroughly. He hadn't even put any underwear on. Oh, jeez, what am I going to do now, he worried. I've got to do something so that I can see who is at my door. Later.
He hollered, "I'll be there in a minute, I've gotta get decent."
Matt rushed upstairs to his bedroom, stripping out of his sweats while on the way. Tearing off his trainers, hopping on one foot most of the time, he got rid of the soaking sweats and slid into his well-worn jeans. Running down the stairs he practically slid the whole way, but made it to the door.
Swinging back the door, Matt stared into the face and figure of his new friend, Marty Stuart.
"Hi, Marty, come in. Glad you stopped around." He looked around for a clock, "I don't even know what time it is. Do you?"
Marty looked at him, ignoring his question, "I'd say you are very decent." Marty was laughing at him, giggling as he jumped around the room, seemingly without any idea of what he was doing, like a tumbleweed in the wind. "Will you stop, Matt, stop and sit down before you end up down the laundry chute. The time is 5:30."
She continued, "What is the matter, Matt, did I wake you up? That's what it was, I woke you up and you have no idea where you are. I stopped to see if you want to go have some supper."
"That's a great idea, Marty, I'd love to have supper with you, if the place is cheap. I'm not very flush with money right now."
Marty patted his head as she stood over him, "That's Ok, Matty, we're eating cheap and I'm paying, no arguing."
"I would never argue with a lovely lady like you, Marty. Just let me change so I'll be at least presentable. Hate to embarrass a good friend."
Dr. Ridgway expected to take Marty home with him after the good dinner, cheap but good, where they could talk and have a drink or two. He had followed her car before they ate as she parked it at her apartment, then they rode in his little one to the restaurant. However, Marty wanted them to stop at her apartment after dinner. So that's where Matt drove them.
Matt was completely unsure of what he should do. He had only had a few dates with women, actually some girls in high school and a couple in college, but this was different. This was a mature woman, most beautiful, so attractive to him, and from the way she acted, was his for the asking. But, that was not on Matt's agenda.
After getting Matt and herself a drink, she sat on the couch next to Matt, played her senior recital tape for him. When the tape finished and she stood to recover her tape, Matt stood to give her a hug, "Marty, that was beautiful, fine performance. I'm so pleased to have been able to meet you."
She turned to him, put her arm around his waist. Looking directly into his blue eyes, smiled, then, "Don't worry, Matt, I'm not going to ask anything of you, I know who you are."
"What do you mean, 'You know who I am?'"
"Matt, I have a gay brother, Gary, whom I love dearly. I know the signs and the signals, imperceptible as they are. You do not look or act gay, but I've been well trained to recognize the very subtle signals."
Matt didn't know what to say, he was aghast, stunned. How did she know? He let go of Marty and collapsed on the couch, disaster.
"It's ok Matt, honest, I won't ever tell and almost everyone you know would never guess. Even gay men would normally not recognize you as being gay, unless you gave them your patented smile."
Matt looked at her, smiling, his winning smile, and knew, knew that she would never hurt him and would always be his friend.
"Marty, you are right. I am gay, but thought I hid it better than that.'
"I'm telling you, Matt, you do not show it. I only do know because of my brother and knowing him and his friends who include many ordained ministers and priests. Of any career you can mention, they need to seem above reproach. Right?"
"Marty, I appreciate your candor. I was beginning to wonder how I would get out of this situation. I apologize sincerely."
"No problem. Just before I came here a year ago, I had just broken a relationship with a man who had a plan that didn't include me. We were good for 3 years, but the shine had left the apple."
"I'm sorry, Marty, I wish I could be your relationship."
"That's it, Matt, you can. I don't want another love and sex connection right yet, so if you don't mind, I've love it if we could date and enjoy good times together."
Smiling broadly, "Marty, that will be an excellent idea, I do need some cover. Do you mind?"
Marty laughed, "Not at all, I need some cover too or they'll think I'm a lesbian. Could I ask if you have a lover?"
"Sure you can. I won't tell you who it is, but I'm very much in love and he is with me. Unfortunately, he is in a situation which he can't leave now. Maybe never. I guess I need time to myself and I would be so pleased for us to be just friends and close confidants about everything. Is that possible? And I do need a friend badly." His eyes shone with moisture on the surface, but didn't drop.
Marty moved over to sit close to Matt, "You are a very attractive man and it would be my pleasure to be seen with you anywhere." she hugged Matt, running her left arm through his right one, attaching herself to him. They hugged and Matt gave Marty a brotherly kiss on her cheek.
Matt giggled, "What about if we went to College chapel next Sunday morning together. We'll give them something to talk about. What do you think?"
"I suppose it would be too much if I asked you to carry me in?"
"Silly." He drew in a big breath of relief, she would be great. "I'd like to meet your brother sometime, Marty," he gave her that innocent look, "just to meet him, that's all."
They laughed together, a very pleasant and comforting feeling for both of them. Matt knew he had to get home and to bed, so he made his goodbyes. They hugged each other and Matt just knew that they belonged to each other in a sibling-type relationship. Matt reminded himself that he had no sisters, nor did he have a sibling who was close to him, until a week ago. Now he had a wonderful brother and also a new sister to enjoy as a friend.
From his office in the music building Matt could hear the cacophony of his players warming up in the band room. It was almost time to start so he walked into the room and stepped on the podium exactly at 12 noon.. Unfortunately, the noise didn't abate until he heard shushing from section leaders, yet it took almost five minutes for silence to descend on the large group.
He yelled, "Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Matthew B. Ridgway and I'm a Holy Terror!!"
As he expected, the laughing started slowly, but soon filled the room with hilarity. He held up one hand, palm facing the students. Silence reigned, so he decided to wait for two minutes. He checked the wall clock, watching the second hand move very slowly. In some instances two minutes can seem like two hours, not in this case. Matt just stared over their heads.
At the end of two minutes he said quietly, "Did you hear that?"
No one said a word.
"Did you hear that?"
Finally someone came up with, "What?" He had a sucker.
Matt smiled and whispered, "The silence." He smiled again,"That's what I want to hear every time I stand on that podium until I jump off." He thought they got it. However, some of them would challenge him, and soon. Well, he'd be ready for them.
"I'm sure you understand the reason. For you people to be the best college band in the state and/or nation, we need quiet for you to hear me, and for me to hear you." He grinned, "I promise you we will find many times to have fun together and hang loose. So, first piece after Perry gets finished with the tuning."
Matt turned but didn't get off his podium and watched the tuning procedure as oboist, Perry Woods, gave them the pitch and first the light woodwinds tuned, then the upper brass, then lower brass and low woodwinds. To his ear their tone quality was not bad, just out of use. They had obviously not practiced over the summer.
When Perry had finished, Matt thanked him, then spoke to a waiting audience. "We will talk later about the need to practice once in a while." He smiled devilishly, "I'm sure you already know what I will be saying."
Dr. Ridgway turned to the front wall of their practice room. A new board hung up there looking for all the world like a hymn board in a church sanctuary which held the hymn numbers to be sung that Sunday. That Matt had brought this one from the high school where he taught so he didn't have to print out the music's name every day, just used strips of cardboard which slid into the 8 slots down the board. It only took him seconds each day to set up his practice schedule.
Fortunately, these people were smart enough and awake enough to comprehend.. By the time they quietly found the music, he was ready to rehearse. The piece was Adoramus Te by Palestrina, sixteenth century, originally written for voices, but now arranged for concert band. He raised his arms in the slow adagio tempo he would use and most everyone actually started as he gave the down beat. Precision which is vital hadn't arrived yet ..... but would.
His plan was to play all the way through to the end before making any comments. The farther they got, the better the ensemble tone sounded, not yet professional, but on the way. He did notice that many players seemed to be having trouble staying with the indicated phrasing, meaning they were breathing where they shouldn't. Feeble breath support, probably too much smoking over the summer for some of them.
Matt was listening to the music, not watching eyes as he usually did. He would have seen LJ, BJ and Jamal focusing their eyes on Matt's crotch, closely, especially when he spread his legs or brought them together. Matt was an active conductor and the boys soon decided that he would be a good one to check out. That day he was wearing Wrangler chino's, rather tight, but he also wore boxer briefs which contained him very well, not giving much indication of his size or shape. At his high school job he frequently idled his time watching boys crotches and how they were affected by puberty and raging hormones.
They finally reached the end where he gave the cutoff. At least no one had fainted because it is a real challenge to play well, mostly whole and half notes, but so slowly. Well, he decided, that's it.
"Tell ya what I'm gonna do. Before ya'll pass out, you've had enough torture for today so I'm letting you go ...... WHOA, not so fast .... until tomorrow at the same time, this time you will have practiced, look at the board to know what we'll be playing and practice. He pointed at his hymn board on the front wall. I'd like to see all section leaders for a few moments. You'll still have time before your next class. Bye ya'll."
He didn't quite know why he did the southern accent, it just seemed to fit his mood.
The section leaders had put their instruments away and went to Matt's office.
"Thanks, guys, don't spread it around, but I'm not totally disgusted. No, I did hear some good stuff, bearable, anyway." The kids laughed with him and relaxed a bit. "I just wanted to go over some my principles with you." He sat on a stool so he was taller than them. "I can't do everything with the people, I need your help. True, I do have eyes in the back of my head, (they laughed as they were supposed to) but even though I do, I still can not see everything. I hate to be in the dark, I feel lonesome and out of synch. I need your help." Some started to speak. He raised his hand, "No, I don't want a bunch of spies. I want to know if someone is in trouble or likely to be there soon; or if someone can not see their way. I want to help all of you, and that you can spread around."
He smiled, "Nuf said. I'd buy you something to drink but I'm broke."
One of the girls spoke out, "You took Miss Stuart out for dinner last night, didn't you?"
Multiple intakes of breath told him that some of the others were surprised that she spoke out that boldly.
"Ah, Miss Britt, yes, Miss Stuart and I ate dinner together last night. However, if you ask her, I'm sure she will tell you that she paid, not me. I still say when I get some money, I'll reward you guys. Keep well and busy. Take off and fly."
Thinking to himself, Matt decided he'd better watch that young lady, she seems to have some ulterior purpose on her mind. I won't be trapped that easily.
The half of a white house in which he lived looked good, he thought, not run down, and fairly well decorated, nice landscaping on the curb side. He even had a single car garage which was attached to the house that gave him an entrance where no one could see who went into the house. That was a real advantage for him. He was thinking, 'Steve could even arrive in the dark, slide into his garage and enter the house without ever being seen, and vice versa.'
He had left his 12 year old car, which did a lot of creaking and groaning after he turned it off, in the driveway, walked onto the porch and into the house. He also decided he would do something about the locks on all three doors. Dead bolt locks were just the thing, he wouldn't take chances.
As Matt opened the refrigerator door, he knew purists would have a hissy, but he made up martinis in advance and kept the bottle in there. Good gin with a fine vermouth, no, just a couple drops, put in with a dropper from the pharmacy, created his favorite drink. He did know his limit and tried never to exceed that point of no return.
"Ah," he smiled, "the first sip of the day. Delicious, warming and encouraging."
Matt's cell phone chirped or tweeted or farted he could never tell which, so he answered.
"Hello."
"Is Uncle Matt there?" a little voice spoke who owner, Matt knew, was his nephew Jacob.
"Hi, is this my Jacob?"
"Yes, Uncle Matt, this is me and I got a letter for you from .... the Unni ..... the .. ". A deep, bass voice broke in, "The University Press. Now go ahead, Jacob." Matt always wished he had a deep voice like Steven's, instead of his mild tenor one.
Jacob started again, "Whatever, and I'm supposed to ask you if you want us to open it? Huh, do you?"
Matt smiled indulgently, "Sure, Jacob, you go ahead." He then heard paper tearing and making scrunching sounds. Then he heard shouts of happiness, yells back and forth between Steve and Becky.
"Wait a minute, Matt, we've got to practice a little. Hold on!" Matt thought Steven then sat on the phone 'cause he heard nothing for almost five minutes.
Finally, "Uncle Matt, this is Jacob. I'm supposed to read some numbers. First, a five, then one-two-three-four zeros and a period and two more zeros. Do you know what I'm saying?"
Matt's heart caught, skipped a few beats, he thought, 'could it be?'.
"I don't know, Jacob, you tell me."
"Well, Daddy says that means $50,000 in money, real money. Isn't that an awful lot.?"
"Jacob, ask your Daddy where it came from please."
Some mumbling and whispering after which Jacob said, "He said you sold some books."
"YAHOO!" Matt yelled, then screamed, "Hot damn! And HOT SHIT!" He quieted enough to say to Jacob to put his father on the phone or he'd never bring him another toy. It must have worked, because Steve was on right away.
"Ah, Matt, Jacob was right, you have sold a few books."
"How many, Steve, how many? A thousand. Two thousand."
"Now Matt, calm down, don't grow crazy. Your book so far has sold 180,345 copies, up to last May. That wouldn't include this fall's sales to schools, would it?"
"No, But almost two hundred thousand copies and I only get a measly fifty grand."
"Matty, don't go off the road with this. The letter says nothing except what you've been told. Did you even get that lawyer I told you to get the other day."
"No, Steve, but I'll have one by an hour from now. You know I'm thrilled to know I'm not broke anymore, but that doesn't sound right." He walked around his whole first floor, "How soon can you express that letter, etc., to me, my ..... " Matt almost called him his beloved brother .. "Steve, how soon." Matt was afraid the speaker phone might be on.
"Hey, be good Matt, we've had an idea. I can get off work tomorrow and the rest are free so we thought we might drive up to see where you work and all that. Would that be OK?"
"Would it, my god, Steve, fantastic. Ah, I have band from noon to 1 PM and you remember where the band room is and can come visit anytime during. Then we can go for lunch. There is nothing in the house and I afraid I wouldn't have time to get anything. I'm more or less finished by 1 PM tomorrow and we'll see my house. And I'll treat everybody plus my new lawyer if I can get one by then, plus a good friend I've made since I've been here. Lovely lady."
"Ok, Matt, we'll be there by 11:30 for sure, if not earlier. Now don't do anything stupid, huh, bro. And love from all of us. Bye."
Matt clicked off but sat by his dining table, unable to move, unable to comprehend his good fortune. Sure, he worked like hell writing it - and, he wrote that book while teaching high school band and finishing his dissertation on the fly.
He jumped up, hopped to his bedroom where he threw off his clothes and jumped into the shower. Finishing quickly, Matt dressed in T and shorts, mocs - no socks. Downstairs he grabbed his keys ran to the car and soon was speeding for Marty's house. His old, old baby car's brakes squealed as he pulled up in front.
Without even turning off the motor Matt hopped out and onto the porch immediately banging on the door. It opened to reveal Marty in the doorway, dressing gown on, hair wound up in a towel on her head, obviously not ready to go anywhere.
"Matthew Ridgway, what are you doing banging on my door? You nuts?"
"Oh, Marty, Marty, I need to talk to you badly but not here in town. Come on, just comb your hair and we can go." He turned to leave, then back, "Oh, you might want to put some clothes on."
Marty started to tell him he was out of his mind, but she could see that even though it was true, she could only do what he asked. And, she could even smile to herself, 'well, I do love having a "cave man" come to pull me by the hair to the nearest caf .' Within five minutes she'd pulled a miracle and stepped into Matt's little car, well coifed, made up and dressed. "Hi," she said to Matt.
He gave a perfunctory 'Hi', not even looking at her, but smiling, perhaps effervescent even, positively excited, he said, "Where can we go for ..... " he turned to her, "have you eaten?"
"No."
"I want to take you to dinner. But," he grinned, " you'll still have to pay. But not ever again."
Marty kept her humor and said, "Ok, Matty, you're on. I'll pay. Now, where?"
"Anywhere out of town - absolutely."
"If you can wait about 20-25 minutes, we could be in Bryan where they have a lot of fine cafes and restaurants. OK?"
"Sure, but how."
"Get on Main Street, turn south onto Rt. 15 and go straight for about fifteen miles."
"Got cha, Marty, old friend." He finally turned to look at her, "Hey, you look mighty fine my friend. I'm a lucky guy, you were free to go with me."
Marty had a big laugh, "Well, I was supposed to go out with Gary Vance tonight, but he'll just have to wait a while."
"Ah, jeez, Marty, the poor guy. He's not going to have any self-respect left at all. I talked to him the other night, he might be ready to fall to pieces."
"Sorry, Matt, but you come first with me. I don't really much like him anyway."
Driving down Route 15, they passed a beautiful farm house in a perfect setting, lots of trees and gardens, all white and quite large. Matt thought it would be neat to own and live in.
After supper, Matt asked Marty, "Didn't you say your brother was a lawyer?" He watched her nod yes to his question. "I supposed his practice is in Michigan somewhere."
"Matt, my brother wouldn't live or work in Michigan for any amount of money, and I mean any amount. Gary has an office in Columbus near the university, he takes all sorts of cases, though he doesn't do much actual trial work, nor does he take criminal cases."
Matt frowned, looking a bit grim, "Does he ever do any work with literary properties?" He had asked hopefully.
Marty grinned wide, gleefully, "You bet, Matt. That's his favorite type of law." She looked at Matt, questioning, "Do you have a problem there?"
He drank from his coffee cup, swiping his face with his left hand. "Ok, yes. I wrote a book in music-sociology for college teachers and students on the advantageous effects of a student being a school band member in regards to their progress in other academic areas."
He leaned close to Marty, "For some reason, the book has seemed to catch on and is selling very well." He smiled, When I said I'd pay for our next meal, I learned today that a check for $50,000 came to my brother's house and he and his family are going to bring it up here tomorrow." He was embarrassed, "That was why I was so nutty earlier."
"Then what's the problem, Matt?"
"The note that came with the check said that about 180,000 books had been sold by last May. I know they are selling for $45.00 each and to me that's a total of $8,100,000. Fifty thousand seems to be a drop in the bucket in comparison."
Marty didn't look happy. "Tell me, who's the publisher."
"University Press."
"I was afraid of that," she groaned, "those are Gary's worst opponents on the literary side. They pay the least, they inflate their expenses and they cheat any way possible." She brightened. "Matt, lets get home and I'll give him a call right away. We'll see what he thinks."
She added, "But I'll bet his advice will be to keep that check but do not cash it. In fact put it in a safety deposit box without touching it. I supposed your brother has touched it."
"Yes, and probably both sons and his wife. Will that matter a lot?"
"Well, we'll find out. Let's get out of here."
Matt smiled sadly, "I guess you will have to keep buying until I get a paycheck."
Matt parked in his driveway, thankful that he talked the situation over with Marty, and she was going to talk to her brother. 'Hmmm, I wonder what he looks like. If he's like Marty, land o' goshen, he laughed at himself, using that old fashioned saying of his grandmother's.
Just as he got into his house, the cell phone was chirping at him.
"Hello," Matt answered,
"Matt Ridgway?"
"Yes."
"Matt, this is Gary Stuart, Marty's brother, the smart one."
Matt laughed, he liked Gary already. "Gary, glad to meet you, well, sort of, anyway, I see that Marty did get hold of you."
"Yes, I just got in from a ABA meeting downtown. Boring!"
"Tough, sort of like teacher's meetings, I suppose."
"You got it. Ah, Matt, I don't know yet if we have a tough one or not, but University Press normally will be the toughest. First, did you sign a contract?"
"No, I don't think so. But, who knows. At the time I was so happy to be having my book published, I was in a dream state most of the time."
"Well, yes, that's the way they want you to feel. Could you check in your papers having anything to do with the book? By the way Marty told me about the check you got. In general she was right not to cash it. But, and that's a big but, in this case I think you should cash it immediately, and just sock it away for the time being before they can stop payment. If I start to make a case against them, they would cut you off from any further remuneration from them. If they have sold 180,000 books or so, you certainly should get much more than $50,000. If you only got 30 cents a book, that would be $54,000, and your share has to be more than 30 cents a book. Hell, their gross for that many would be over eight million dollars.
"Gary, I'll appreciate anything you can do for me. And for Marty, too, because she's been having to buy me dinner most every day. I still don't get paid until the end of themonth."
"OK, Matt, let me give you my private office phone number, my cell phone number and my home number."
"That's great, Gary, just wondering where you live in Columbus?"
"I live in Bexley on North Parkview near the Jeffrey Mansion."
"I can't believe this. My brother lives on North Parkview in Bexley near the Jeffrey Mansion. Maybe you have run into him. His name is ........ "
"Steven Ridgway."
Matt yelled, "Yes, yes, that's my brother. He live near you?"
"Matt, I live next door to the north of your brother. He's a wonderful man, you must be so proud of his accomplishments."
Matt hesitated, wonder what he's talking about, "Yes, Gary, we sure are. Look, I'm holding you up. I'd like to meet you the next time I'm in Columbus."
"Great, Matt, I'd like that too."
Matt waiting, then "Gary, I guess your sister told you about me, didn't she?" He smiled as he said it.
"Ah, now that you mention it, she told me she was all ready to jump your bones, but then got you all figured out. Don't worry, me see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil. I am very discreet."
"Happy to hear that, and thanks for helping me. Good night."
"Bye"
Matt had showered, checked his clothes for the next day then slid gratefully between the cool, crisp white sheets, settling down with the two pillows he needed for complete comfort and slowly slid into the depths of sleep.
He had no idea how long he'd been asleep when some thunderous banging on his front door woke him, but it took a while to understand what the noise meant. Matt slipped into his terrycloth robe to cover his nakedness, managed to take the stairs to the first floor and opened the front door.
Glen Vance was leaning against the door jamb, half bombed and half asleep, grinning at Matt. "I didn't get you out of bed, did I?"
"As a matter of face, Glen, you did just that." He looked Glen over closely, and smelled alcohol of some type on his breath. "I suppose you've gotten yourself over the limit and good ole Dr Ridgway said you could stay with him if you did. Right?"
"You got it!"
"Well, come on it, and please don't breath on me. I have to be sober in the morning."
Glen oozed into the living room where Matt showed him the sofa where he could sleep.
"Now, Glen, there is a lavatory right behind that door and you are welcome to stay, but the couch is the only place vacant to sleep. Ok?"
Glen looked at Matt through blurred eyes, red veined like a road map, "That is great, Matt, I appreciate it. You go back to bed, I'll be all right. Thanks."
Matt wasn't pleased with the way Glen was looking at him and his body though he couldn't see much under the robe. He watched Glen enter the lavatory and close the door, then found two twin sheets and a blanket and set them on the sofa. That was his cue to head back upstairs and his bed. Actually it was just midnight, so not too bad.
Matt was lying on his right side, on the left edge of his bed, well asleep and very relaxed. Suddenly his sub-conscious brought him to a state of dim consciousness, making him aware that a hand was rubbing his naked hip and thigh, slowly back and forth, creeping gently toward Matt's crotch and soft prick. Matt had no desire to play around with Glen even though he is a fairly good looking young man, well set up, he thought, but .... not like this or on anybody else's term, only his own. His psyche was focused only on Steve who was the only one to motivate him.
Quietly and carefully Matt slithered out of his bed, orienting himself with the doorway just barely lit, he crept out of the room down the stairs to the sofa. Glen had made it up as a bed but didn't seem to have used it at all, just waiting until I got to sleep. Matt wondered, 'Will he now come down here to get me? Nah, he wouldn't.'
Matt settled down on the couch and fell asleep again.
Write to Paul at dukesofwindsor@juno.com
Turning The Page
Some characters in this story have been drawn from my first book, Turning The Page, Nifty/Adult Friends/August 13, 2002. It is not necessary to read that book first, but it would give you a background for The Dukes and Duchess of Windsor.