Gentlemen, I've decided to resume the chapters of this extended story. If you are new to the tale of Alejandro Algara and his friends, let me give you a very short bit of background.
Alejandro (Alex to some of his friends), heir to a Chicago fortune, is a bright and articulate businessman who in addition to running the family business manages their foundation. He is a muscular, hairy guy who enjoys wrestling and the inherent opportunities to explore physical and intimate contact with other men. It also provides him an outlet for the tedium and frustrations of his work and world.
The first chapter of To-Thine-Ownself-Be-True begins with his encounter in mid-life with Steve Daniels, a high school wrestling coach. In subsequent chapters the story uses a `flashback' literary device to give history and to develop the central character, Alejandro Algara. Steve will reenter the story as a significant character in subsequent chapters (in case you readers who have been following the story have wondered).
The previous chapters trace Alejandro's roots, heritage, and youth. His grandparents' ties to some of the great houses of Europe position the story of wealth, heritage and expectation. Alejandro's experiences in college are told with the help of his closest friend, Frederick, who with Mike, an intervarsity wrestling Team Captain, helped Alejandro have his first sexual encounters both on and off the wrestling mats. Alejandro's relationship with Frederick is replete with wrestling action and sexual escapades typical of horny, athletic college age men.
Frederick enables Alejandro to bridge the chasm of late adolescence secure within a warm and loving family to being an orphan in his early 20's who has to meet the challenges of managing a family business and fortune. Along the way, various other characters help flesh out the story. Dr. Charles Thibodaux, an Art Appreciation instructor, takes on a major roll as a friend and intimate companion (not lover) for Alejandro.
Nicholas Santos (Nicco) is part owner of Bear's Den, a wrestling club for men in the south side of Chicago. Along with Nicco and Liam, a burly Irish construction supervisor, Alejandro learns the ropes of erotic wrestling freed from the confines of collegiate rules.
These and other characters tell the story of Alejandro's grappling with his challenges as a male who realizes he, alone, is responsible for blending the various threads of his life, his passions and his drives. I invite you to begin the story with chapter one. If you choose to begin here you will meet Zach and be able to follow the story as Alejandro (Alex) grows, continues to mature and make his own way in the world. Thanks for reading.
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Thanks to Chael for his generous assistance in proofing and making suggestions. All comments are welcome and should be sent to firehosejoe@yahoo.com