Eclipse Of The Moon ~ Book 1 of Aaron
Chapter 8
I Don't Want To Go...

Sunday 4 August 2002

It's too hot.

Just too hot and too humid.

And it's only New Jersey. It might be even worse in Virginia.

I don't like that much heat. I'm not a huge fan of freezing temperatures either, but if I were to choose between awfully warm weather and icy weather, I'd go for the second one. At least, I can just add some layers of clothes when I'm cold and it gets better. But when it's hot – and humid, ugh! – once you have stripped down to the minimum of briefs, you can't do anything more. I wonder if we could install air conditioning at the shack? Silly idea, I know... Especially as this is probably the last summer we spend so much time here.

But I hate this heat!

The weird thing is that I usually don't mind it too much, but my mood is so far down the gutter that I can't help it. I just can't stand anything right now. To be honest, I don't think anything could brighten my spirits and I just wish I could fast-forward to three weeks later from now. By then, it will be time to go back to school and even that sounds better than what I will have to endure starting tomorrow.

The last two months have been pretty good though... Pretty good because there have been some painful moments all the same. First there was Rose's wedding. Oh, the bride was beautiful in her pure-white dress and underneath her veil, all symbols of her innocence and virginity. A lot of Catholic families no longer respect this old tradition, but it came as no surprise that mine did. Rose was raised as the perfect Catholic young lady, forbidding herself the joys of sex before marriage and of course, the groom was the same.

Do I have great memories of this particular day? Well... The weather was nice, but not too hot which was good since I was wearing a suit with a long-sleeve shirt and a tie that I was forbidden to take off until we got back home. The food was really good. Rose's husband comes from a rich family who insisted on getting the best quality. What else...? Pretty much nothing.

Unfortunately, I got involved beyond my own will in this wedding, I had to help a lot in the preparations and during the day. And the mass... of course, there was a mass! As an altar server, I was wearing the proper vestment to the liturgy and greeted the bridal group at the entrance of the church with the priest before we entered in procession. It wasn't my first time doing this, but with my recent sins in mind and my faith in religion decreasing each day, it was much harder to bear with all the songs, prayers, the reading of the Liturgy of the Word, the Gospel Acclamation, the Homily, and what not.

The supposedly emotional Exchange of Consent didn't speak to me at all, because these words just didn't mean anything to me. And I'm not mentioning the Communion Rite with the Nuptial blessing and all the rituals that followed. The best moment was the Dismissal when Father Joseph said Go in peace to glorify the Lord with your life and that was my first genuine Thanks be to God!

Anyway, this was one painful day with more celebrations after the mass and I was never so happy to get back home that evening, get rid of these uncomfortable clothes and eventually lie down in bed. This was so exhausting mentally speaking that I immediately fell asleep.

Then there was my father's summer break. Another two painful weeks during which I couldn't see my friends at all. The first one was entirely dedicated to help my old man do some works at home and boy did he make me work! Most of it took place in the garden, but we also did some basic maintenance of the house with painting the shutters, repairing the roof of the shed in the backyard, and cleaning up the basement and the garage. Needless to say this meant working from dawn to dusk, hence the impossibility to see the guys.

Our trip to Maryland came next, down Route 13, along which we stopped to visit basically almost every important Catholic edifices, like St Polycarp, the Holy Cross, Calvary Wesleyan, Our Lady of Lourdes, until we reached St Jude the Apostle and St Edmond's, then finally St Ann Catholic Church on the Coast. That must have been the most boring week of my holidays as I was only surrounded by my parents, Ananie and Catherine. Even what could have been fun moments – like staying at the beach, having dinner in restaurants and shopping – turned out annoying.

So, those were the most awful weeks of my holidays, but the rest of it has had its annoying downsides with my morning routine. For some reason, my parents have taken my recent good behavior as renewed interest in God. It would have been great had they given me more freedom and time out with my friends. No such luck. My mother got me even more involved into the youth group at church, meaning I've had to attend twice as much as before.

I have participated in numerous activities from helping elderlies of the parish to work in their gardens, more bakery sales, cleaning sides of roads and many more. Thank God, most of these gatherings happen in the mornings, so I haven't missed many afternoons at the shack!

Other than that, the rest of the last two months have been wonderful! Better than wonderful actually as far as my afternoons are concerned.

Mark, Cam, Josh and I haven't entirely respected our agreement since June, the one that said that our sexual experiments should remain a one-time experience and that all forms of sexual interactions between us should stop after the second part. Lust has been too strong, but what can I say? We're just teenagers who – at last!! – discovered the pleasures of sex and with all these hormones bubbling inside, we have logically grown into horny beasts.

We are like kids who have been forbidden to eat candies until the age of 7 and eventually get a taste of it at school because a pal offers them a lollipop. Once you have tried sex, you just can't stop; even if your imagination and fingers can do the trick when you're alone, it's fucking better to feel someone else's hand or mouth around your cock.

Obviously, none of us volunteered to bottom again, so it has only been hand jobs and blowjobs. Have I tried to convince Mark and Joshua? Of course! I would love to get a taste of their tightness, but sadly, they have firmly refused, just as I have been declining my friends' offer to tease my prostate, so it's only fair. Anyway, their salivating orifices and digits have been enough, and I must confess that I have grown fond of using mine around their dicks too.

All the same, we have tried to get a bit bolder, to perfect our techniques and new challenges have included swallowing each other's seed. This is how I found out that for some reason, Mark's essence is the sweetest and Cam's the saltiest. Josh believes it has to do with the food we eat, and that could make sense, but I can't be sure about that.

So, we have been doing this as often as we could, but it hasn't been that often in the end since little Sony is quite often with us. Cam's mother has found a job for the summer at a shop in town, and she works from Wednesdays to Saturdays, so this means our friend has had to watch over his younger brother a lot. To be honest, we don't really mind because Sony is such a cute buddy.

The little chap had a blast when we celebrated his seventh birthday on July 22nd with a whole afternoon at the swimming pool and recreation center. I think he enjoyed every minute of it as we kept throwing him from one's arms to another's in the pool, and then used about all the leisure activity that the park offers. As Cam told us the following day, he didn't last that evening and slept early.

It was a great moment for us too. Josh and Mark being only-children and I, being the unhappy youngest brother of eight sisters, it was fun to play the big brothers for a while, and even on those afternoons he spent with us, either at the shack or in the parks. Sure, it kept us from naughtier activities on these days, but honestly, seeing Camden so happy and smiling was great.

Unfortunately, this is the end for me. I am going to spend the last three weeks of the summer break at a camp in Virginia, among young believers and priests before school starts again, and this is what has me so down low.

"Ron... please smile..." Cam suddenly says, pulling me out of my dark thoughts. "I hate seeing you so sad..." he sighs, dropping the issue of Unzipped! he was reading through.

Look who's talking! If there is one sad face in our group of friends, this is usually him!

"Sorry... Not much I can do about it..." I reply bitterly, dropping the magazine I was staring at blankly.

The sexy males featuring in this issue haven't had their usual spell on my mood. Neither has Cam's voice earlier when he grabbed his guitar and sang Nickelback's How You Remind Me. My friend has practiced a lot over the last two months, using natural earing skills he didn't know he had. After only three weeks trying his instrument, randomly pinching the chords, Camden was able to reproduce certain tunes and he has made great progress. This is what is called innate talent, I guess.

"I know what could help you..." he insists softly, almost awkwardly.

"What? Wanna suck my dick?" I chuckle.

"Maybe later... Take off your tee-shirt and lie on your stomach!" he says, already scooting toward me.

"I don't like the lie-on-your-stomach part, bro..." I reply warily, which makes him roll his eyes.

"Aaron, just trust me for once!" he says honestly and seriously, so I comply with his request, shrug off my tee-shirt, and lie down on the dusty floor of the shack.

This is just the two of us, today. Joshua left with his parents on vacation yesterday – one week in Miami, then another week cruising to the Bahamas. Lucky bastard! – and since it's Sunday, the only day Mark can spend with his parents because the restaurant is closed, only Camden was available to hang out. I actually shouldn't be here, but I worked my ass off yesterday at home to compromise on a last afternoon out and this morning at church, I was the most hypocrite I could during the mass. Sometimes, I still feel bad for being such a bad Catholic, so impious and sinful, but as time passes, my guilt and desire for forgiveness are lessening.

"Hey!!! What're you doing!?" I grouse when Cam straddles my hips and sits on my butt. I try to twist and turn, but that dumbass lays his hand on my shoulders and pushes me down.

"I said, trust me for once, Ron!" he scolds me, and I have no other choice than to flatten back on the floor since he is in a more powerful position. "I'm not going to fuck you if that's what you think," he then huffs but what catches my attention right then are his hands beginning to press on my shoulder blades and his fingers starting to knead my flesh and muscles.

To say I am surprised, caught off guard or dumbfounded would be an understatement because I have no idea where this is coming from. However, this is not the most confusing in itself. Of course, I am stunned he would massage me but knowing Cam, I would expect him to put some force into his moves, I would expect some sort of violence or brutality in his strokes, but there is none of that. His fingers are gentle and soft and the way the palms of his hands add pressure where I am tense actually relaxes that tension. It's just a mix of patting – almost caresses – and smooth squeezes and it feels good. After barely a few minutes, I already feel better.

"Damn! Where have you learned that, Cam?" I almost moan.

"Dunno... I just like doing that... It's relaxing... for me..." he replies and I can totally picture him shrugging his shoulders from the nonchalance in his tone.

"I get that, but you're really good at it!"

"Sony likes it a lot too... especially when he has nightmares..."

"You massage him?"

"Yeah, sometimes. It started about three years ago, when he snuck into my bed after a bad dream. He was scared shitless, saying our bastard of a father came back and beat him... He said his body hurt like he'd been hit... But... that wasn't the case of course. He was just... super tense, so I tried to make him relax and he fell asleep almost right away. Now that's become a habit. Each time he wakes up from a nightmare, he asks for a massage..." Cam explains in a detached tone that doesn't match the softness of his voice as he speaks about his younger brother.

"I bet he likes it... but how about you? I mean... I don't know if you like doing that but... you're fucking good at it..." I exclaim.

"I want to be a physiotherapist, Aaron..." he sighs in answer as his hands stop moving. "That's the choice I'm going to make next year."

"What?" I reply, managing to shift and he lets me rest on my back, yet still sitting on my lap.

Cam has thin features that perfectly match his slender frame. I know he doesn't eat to his heart content at home, month ends are often difficult. Yet, exactly like his body could develop into something more powerful, his sweet face displays harder traits that are manlier. His sternness is very clear in his harsh expressions, the coldness of his gray eyes or the way he grows more facial hair than Mark and I do for instance. And this is what I can see right now. A mix of dryness and fierceness – viciousness too – combined with warmth, carefulness and even virtuousness to some extent.

"This sounds like a great career..." I say after a minute of silence.

"But you're doubting me... You think I can't do this... because I'm not smart enough and... you think that doesn't match my temper, and..."

"Cam!!! I never said that!! And you are smart! For Christ's sake, you've got better grades than I do!!!" I exclaim, catching his thin wrists.

"That's because you just don't try... You could do so much better. I have to work really hard at night to get those grades, you know," he snorts.

"I'm sure you do, but that only proves your determination, Cam. Now it's true I wouldn't have imagined you in such a career, but why not? If that's what you want to do..."

"I just can't really explain it, Aaron," he sighs again. "It's like... I don't know... I don't know if it's Sony in general, but when I massage him, it soothes my angers, somehow. And I feel like I'm providing him with the care I never got... But it's not only that. I wasn't sure until a few minutes ago, but I think I got some sort of evidence..."

"What are you talking about?" I ask curiously, and his eyes darken by the second, plunging into mine.

"I know how unhappy you are in your family, Ron. I know how sad it makes you to go to that camp. How painful it is, and I hate your parents for doing this to you. I sincerely loathe them because I hate to see you like this. It angered me earlier! And... I don't know how to explain it, but feeling your muscles loosen up under my hands, it was... it felt great, like I was useful at something... I really want to do that to people who need it. Maybe more than hurting bad people..." he tries to explain, and I love his reasoning!

"That's... wow, that's really great, Cam! Go for it!" I encourage him, even if I don't want to think about the fact that it will separate us from each other during his studies. Just like Joshua who will be far from us if he manages to get into the college he wants. Mark still isn't sure about where he wants to study, so I might still have him... That's if I am still here myself. I don't even know what I am going to do with my own little person.

"Yeah... I've been thinking about it for some time now... But I'll need a grant..." he sighs again. "That's why I've been working harder over the last two years, I hope it'll help in all the grants I'll apply for..."

"Why didn't you say it before? How come you've never told us about that?"

"Dunno... Thought you guys would find it silly..."

"It's not, Cam! It's actually a great plan and I'm hurt you thought that! You know we'd give you the best support!"

"Yeah, sorry..." he replies meekly, but a glint of mischievousness sparkles in his eyes, causing a sudden twitch in my briefs. "I know another way to relax you... as an apology," he smirks as his hands slide from his thighs to my hips, slowly reaching for the waistband of my shorts.

"Ugh, Cam..."

This is all I manage to say as his right hand is already slipping inside my underwear, grabbing my semi-hard that he begins to stroke gently.

"I know you like this... Your dick's already swelling," he then adds huskily when I try to protest – feebly – by pushing him but he reinforces his position on me, using his other hand to catch mine. "Say you like it, Ron... You can't deny it... You're getting harder..."

"Ugh just shut the fuck up and let me pull down my shorts!" I grumble.

His voice has aroused me to no end and now I would really like to get some release indeed because I am hard as fuck. While he briefly stands up to allow me to get rid of my clothes, he also takes his off, revealing his own erection before he kneels back down and straddles my thighs.

"Hmm... Are you going to sit on my dick, Cam?" I tease him, expecting to see his middle finger rise.

"Dream... That won't ever happen again..." he groans instead as he bends over and takes me in his mouth, stroking the base of my shaft with his right hand.

"Ngh... This is gooooood..." I moan. Damn! He has gotten really great at sucking! "Never say never, Cammy... I wouldn't mind another taste of your ass..." I breathe out through the delicious sensations and this time, I do get to see him flip me the bird.

"Wet enough..." he says about a minute later as he leans back up, spits in his hand and smears his saliva over his own erection.

"Duh... Wet is not what I need, Cam! Now I need release!!" I protest, but then I get what he has in mind.

Camden scoots forward until both our members connect, and he wraps his long fingers around them, slipping his index in between. As he takes support on his left hand beside me and slightly leans forward, he starts stroking our shafts together, staring down at me with his intense eyes and my hands naturally reach for his shoulders.

"Oh, fuck!!! That's good!!"

"I knew you'd like that..." he chuckles.

I can't do much with him sitting on me, but his hips slowly rocking back and forth help, I guess, so I just rest my hands on his thighs. This is nice seeing both our erections joined together and rubbing against one another, then the sensation of his fingers squeezing our cocks. Damn! This is delicious! It doesn't take long before the fire of an impending orgasm starts building down there and our laborious breathing excites me more and more.

"Wait for me... so we can come together... Ron..." Cam whispers, but I don't think I can hold it much longer. I am about to explode so I reach for his nipples and hurry to stimulate them by pinching and twisting the little buds between my thumbs and index fingers. "Oh God..." he squeaks painfully, but it seems to do the trick. "Coming..." he pants, so I release my hold.

Streams of white cream spurt out of both our cocks at the same time all over my chest as our moans turn into deeper groans of pleasure. I just love the overwhelming bliss of an orgasm when all these muscles in the pelvic region contract in delightful spasms. That jerk was right! My body has now entirely relaxed, throwing me into an ecstatic sort of daze.

"Fuck! That was good!" Cam chuckles above me.

"Yeahhhh," I sigh with content. "Thanks, Dr. Hall..."

"At your service..." he replies as an impish expression covers his face. "Isn't that beautiful?" he says, using his index finger to mix the gobs of semen on my chest. "The poor little Jesus on your gold chain got swamped in cum..." he then adds in a chuckle.

"You're gross, Cam!!"

"Am I?" he asks mischievously.

"You are!!" I reply, but at the same moment, that idiot cups a load of cream with two of his fingers and, before I have time to react, he shoves them inside my mouth, spreading the substance on my tongue. He really catches me off-guard and as he pushes on my chin, effectively closing my jaw, I have no other option than to swallow. "Ugh!!! Cam!!" I yell when he eventually moves away from me and stands up, his now-flaccid manhood dangling between his legs. Not that it tastes bad, but still!!

I grab paper tissues from the box in a corner of the shack then begin to wipe myself clean, still feeling a bit limp from the earthquake that shook me. It is getting late though, so we both dress back up and climb down from our shack. On our way back home and before we part ways, Cam continues to cheer me up, saying that the next three weeks will pass and that I'll come back with plenty of horny ideas; he says I might even meet someone like me – yeah right. By then, school will start, and we promise ourselves to search for some guys willing to date us at school.

Sadly, I doubt this will be possible for me. I really don't have a problem with my homosexuality in the sense I am not ashamed of it, and I couldn't care less what other people would say about it. However, I cannot let that sort of information reach my parents' ears, so I wouldn't be able to date anyone openly at school because rumors spread too easily. Yielding to the temptation of lust would be a terrible sin in their eyes – not that I really care but that would get me in trouble – but doing this with other males... this would be the death of them!

It is barely 5pm when I get home and the house is empty, so I take the opportunity to quickly shower and dress back in fresh clothes. My parents and sisters were out for a visit to the Millers' as usual and they come back while I am finishing packing in my bedroom. My parents seem to be a very good mood – I wonder if this is because they had a nice afternoon or if this is because they will be rid of me for the next three weeks – and they even praise me on how tidy my bedroom is. It's not like I have had any choice... My father has been checking on its good holding basically every evening since the infamous first weekend of the summer break. If it were only about me and I didn't have to keep it like this, it would be a total mess again.

Anyway, since my father and I are due to leave home at 5am tomorrow morning to be in Philadelphia on time for the departure to Virginia, I am ordered to go to bed early and the lights are out by 9pm. It doesn't mean I fall asleep all the same. That night, I keep twisting and turning in bed, trying to convince myself all will go well, that the next three weeks will pass in a blur and that I might end up enjoying myself with the open-air activities at least, but it doesn't work very well. I brood dark thoughts from long masses, endless prayers and sermons, bible teaching and boring discussions more than anything else, and it feels like I barely closed my eyes when my mother wakes me up at 4am.

I don't want to go...

She doesn't let me escape the morning prayer unfortunately, and after a quick shower and once I am dressed, she forces me to have breakfast despite the knot in my stomach. Such a waste of food because I end up throwing up just before it is time to leave. The ride to Philly with my father is rather quiet, if not for the occasional recommendations and reminders on an expected perfect behavior. He advises me to embrace this opportunity to grow closer to God as a great life experiment and I truly try my best not to talk back.

We arrive right on time at the meeting point by the entrance of the park near the Church of the Holy Trinity, where five other young teenagers are already waiting. Reluctantly, I slip on my backpack over my shoulders and carry the small duffle bag that contains enough clothes for just a few days. Part of the program includes having to take care of our laundry several times a week and when I see the Ford Transit Wagon, this is no wonder. We would have never been able to fit all the luggage for all of us and the four additional boys who join shortly.

In the end, it makes ten young men of us and two adult sponsors in charge of our transportation and surveillance to the facility where we will be staying for the next three weeks. A first peek at the other guys tells me I will have a hard time making friends with those. This is not nice to judge by the looks, but I just can't help myself thinking that these nerdy boys in their well-fitted suits, their perfect and classic haircuts and their pious expressions are miles away from the turbulent teenager I am within. All these are from New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but I know three other groups will be joining us there, so hopefully a few of them will be a bit more undisciplined and less serious.

All the luggage has been set at the back of the van now and it is time to bid our goodbyes to parents. Honestly, I feel like a five-year old who is about to go on his first summer camp away from his family and I am only an inch to burst into tears and beg my father to keep me with him. I hate the lump forming in my throat, the knot twisting my stomach and this awful depressing feeling which oppresses me. As much as I sometimes hate my father for his strictness and his Catholic rigidity, I believe I would rather stay at home and endure the daily routines than go to this retreat.

"Be a good son, Aaron," he tells me with emotion as his old hands reach for the nape of my neck. "I have faith that this spiritual retreat will be a wonderful opportunity to stray from your usual distractions and it will help you to open up and relate to other teens, the priests and God. I would really like you to take the best of these three weeks, Aaron."

"I will try my best, Dad," I reply with a small strangled voice. I don't even dare to look into his eyes right now.

Please, Dad... Can I stay here? I don't want to go...

"I will see you in three weeks, Son," he whispers, gently squeezing my shoulders. But it sounds like eternity, Dad!! "Be good." These are his last words before he leans forward and drops a peck on my forehead.

"Bye, Dad..."

I am the first one to settle in the van and I move to the back where I hope to sit alone. I have a hard time fighting the tears in my eyes and when we are finally ready to go, I can't help a few droplets to escape that I quickly wipe away. Whether I think about this spiritual experience, difficult souvenirs with my father's punishments or fond memories with my best friends, only sadness fills me.

The next eight hours to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest are rather silent except for EWTN radio spreading their good words through their usual faith-centered programs. The two sponsors at the front of the van do try to engage some conversations with those sitting closer to them, but it seems like all the boys are just too shy for now. A picnic break has been planned half-way to our destination but none of us manages to break the ice surrounding our timidity. Well, I could suggest a few interesting topics of conversation, but I doubt they will be welcome, so I retreat into silence, even if it means passing off as an introvert, which is exactly what I usually am around others.

When we eventually reach the camp toward the early evening, I must admit that I am impressed by the location in itself. The facility is lost further inside the forest, far away from the borderline, and the landscape is beautiful. What I notice first are the tents in the prairie, then a main wooden building and a chapel. As soon as we arrive, being the last ones, it seems, we are led to the center of the property where the Director of the camp, Mr. Patterson, welcomes us with a speech. There are about forty other boys sitting on the grass of the prairie with us, but I try to focus on the sixty-year-old man who is delivering his introduction to the summer camp, and a slightly younger one in a priest garb.

"I sincerely hope this experience will be enlightening for all of you and I am glad you have chosen our program for young Catholic teenagers," he says at some point. Well, I haven't chosen this... "Father Nicolas, here beside me, will be in charge of bible study, masses, and he will lead all the prayers. He is obviously also here to listen to your confessions at the chapel anytime you may need to. We have many activities planned, mostly outdoors, and without going into details, these will include a lot of environmental good deeds and more recreational ones such as hiking, swimming and creative activities. There will also be a lot of talks, discussions and relational development.

"As you can see, there is a chapel which you will visit several times a day for the worshipping part. This building over here is where I have my office and dwelling, as well as Father Nicolas'. There are five camp canvas tents in this prairie. Three of these are bunk houses dedicated to your accommodation. Each of them has eight canvas beds along each side, two of which are assigned to the adult Sponsors who are in charge of your surveillance. These tents are to be kept clean and tidy, it goes without saying.

"The fourth and largest tent here is the mess hall and it's dedicated to restauration. This is where all the food supplies are stocked, as well whatever is needed to cook. As much as possible, meals will be taken outside, but in case of rainy weather, you will all be able to gather inside and eat here. The last tent is more recreational since this is where we store all that we need for the activities. Behind these tents is a smaller building which is a facility with restrooms and communal showers.

"Tomorrow morning, you will be provided with a detailed agenda for the next three weeks, but meanwhile, I will let you know that you have been divided into three groups with both common and separate activities, duties and responsibilities, regardless of your provenance. You will find your names on each of the tents and your beds have already been assigned with your names on them. Now, before you enjoy the one and only meal that has been prepared by the Sponsors – since you will be the ones cooking further on – I invite you to stand up and listen to Father Nicolas for a benediction."

There is a large yet quiet movement as we all rise to our feet, then wait in silence for the priest to speak. His voice is deep, yet soft and warm at the same time, his tone not as cold as Father Joseph's can be sometimes.

"Here we are, Lord, Your people, Your children meeting together in Your presence. We welcome each other and we welcome You. Make Yourself known to us new ways through our worship, our prayers and our understanding of Your word today. This is Your day, and we shall praise You! This is Your day, and we shall declare Your name! This is Your day, and we shall worship a risen Savior and our King!"

He goes on and on, but I can't help my thoughts from straying away from his words. Not a good start, Aaron! I know but Mr. Patterson's speech keeps rehearsing in my head. I am definitely not delighted by all the religious activities and the chores he mentioned, but there are still a few positive points. There seem to be quite a lot of outdoor activities, and these shouldn't be too much of a problem for me as long as I can find one or two cool companions in my group. I can't be the only gay here, right? And with a bit of luck, if there is another one here, he will be in my troop. Even better, under my tent!

Well I can't be sure for now, but as I walk into the tent in which I have been assigned, carrying my luggage, my attention is caught by a beautiful sight in front of me.

As described by the Director, the canvas tents are about sixteen feet long and fourteen feet wide, with double rows of beds on each side, but this is not what I care about right now. No. This is this handsome shy guy who is blushing as he tries to find his name on the beds. He is just gorgeous with his dark hair and baby blue eyes, but above all, I suddenly feel like grabbing him into a tight hug as tears seem to pool in his eyes when he eventually stops at the far end of the tent where I have followed him.

"Something wrong?" I ask softly, confused by the sadness on his face. I mean, I am not happy to be here, and true, I was close to crying when I left my father this morning. Contrary to what Mr. Patterson said earlier, I didn't choose to be here, but I would imagine that the majority of these boys did. "My name is Aaron..." I add as an afterthought.

"Hi..." he replies in a barely audible voice. I swear he looks like he is about to collapse or get into some sort of panic attack!

"Can I help you with anything?" I ask in the gentlest voice I can manage. "You look upset."

"It's just... I've been assigned this bed... up there..." he replies, stuttering in the cutest way.

I get his problem. Poor boy is very short, barely 5'4, and it looks like jumping on the upper bed is going to be a problem with his small size. I suppress a chuckle because he looks cuter than funny and I can't explain this sudden need to protect him. Seems like there is some good inside you, Aaron!

"I guess this is a sign of God then," I say solemnly, pointing at my name on the bed beneath his. A sign of God, yeah... A sign that I will be able to get close to this Cutie who looks barely sixteen. "That's my name here and I think our dear Lord sent me to your rescue... I don't mind taking the upper bed," I explain gently, yet seriously.

"A sign of God, yeah..." he mumbles almost dejectedly.

Oh God! Have you been listening to my prayers? Have you sent me a dissident to help me bear with the next three weeks? And an adorable one at that!

"Sorry... I didn't mean to say this... I didn't mean to..." he stutters nervously. Oh yes, you meant it, boy!

"Shhh, it's okay," I whisper to him, winking as I tower his short frame from my height. His eyes open widely for a second before he adopts a meeker expression.

"Cool... so... you'd be willing to exchange beds?"

"Yes, of course! I'll just go ask our tent Sponsor if that's okay, but I'm sure he'll understand," I reply warmly.

"Thanks... This is really... nice of you," he says with a little glint of mischievousness that I already love. "By the way, my name is Andrew..." he then adds, biting his lower lip.

Nice to meet you, Andrew... I have a feeling we will get along... Quite well...

In the end, these three weeks might not be as disastrous as I thought.

Published on 23 May 2019

For those who had opened the "Call to Readers" book I had started and read the bonus part, you might have recognized that short smut scene between Aaron and Camden, but now you have the entire chapter and young Aaron is about to spend three weeks at this summer camp. Seems like he has already made a nice encounter, but is Andrew gay? You'll find out in the next chapter!

Thanks again for your patience and apologies for the long absence. I'm back on track and ready to continue writing the second book.

Before I go, here are a few pictures that might be helpful to imagine the camp.

This is a map of the area, with Philadelphia on the top right corner.

This is an example of what a camp canvas tent is.

And there you can see the inside with the rows of beds.