Sebastion's Folly

 It had been an early Spring. Lots of sun and warm weather and since we had plenty of time before the first regatta we had an easy going practice week. Going over fundamentals and a little speed training and sitting up the boat and such.  We started the day out in sunny, darn right, hot conditions and so most of the boys were stripped down to shirts and shorts. We warmed up quickly and went pretty far up river and that's where we were when we noticed that there was weather headed our way.  We lined the boats up two to a row and sent them back towards the dock. "Make hast young man!" I laughed and sent the first two boats off and then the next two - the guys loved rowing fast and hard so everyone was still ok.  About half way back we connected with the rain. It was a solid, cool, rain but not much wind - it was going slowly up the river soaking us. There was no wind - no lightening - just this soaking rain that had us all looking like we'd been swimming. As fast as th...

 Billy had had a really tough day on the water. He wasn't hitting the catch with the rest of the boat, but then all four of the guys were hitting at will, he was going too deep and ended up catching multiple crabs and he buried his calves into the tracks so hard, and often, that blood was running down his legs and soaked his socks.  The boat was so badly sit up that all the guys came away with busted knuckles and deflated spirits. They were angry and embarrassed  and couldn't wait to get away. The rest of the program had seen the chaos and they pretty much stayed away from the guys - it was pretty much silent running for anyone around them.  I thought everyone was gone but when I walked into my office there he was. Sitting on the bench along the back wall. He was sort of hunched over with his face buried into his arm.  "Billy. Billy are you ok?" "No." He looked over at me and it was obvious that he'd been crying.  "That was a pretty shitty day out t...

 Over the years several of the boys used to come over and borrow my study when they were working on big projects for school. I didn't have a dress code and I usually had a good supply of snacks on hand for when they wanted to take a break.  There were those times when the guys would just declare "study day" and come by with a book and they'd lounge around the place - sometimes outside on the balcony if the weather was good - and read and chat. They always showed their appreciation and a few of them, more than a few, would stay over night because once it got late they didn't want to disturb anyone going back to the dorm too late.  

 I was visiting a friend nearby campus. His family had an orchard and they grew apples, pears and peaches. It was apple season and I was in the habit of stopping off and picking up two or three baskets of fresh apples to hand the guys after practice. When I was at school, back east, we had a guy that used to show up after football practice and hand out apples to us. I never forgot how we used to devour those little apples and how one of the guys, who I hardly knew at the time but I had a crush on, just walked up to me with his apple and took a big bite from it and then he had me take a bite from it. We ate that apple together and there was no shortage of apples either. That was the whole purpose of the practice - that was part of how we connected as a team. He and I went on to become close friends after that.  Anyway when I showed up to pick up the apples my buddy introduced me to Joshua. He was sort of a character. He was sort of country but not really because he had some rea...

 Joseph had a way of looking right at you and never looking away - if he ever did look away he got you to look with him. As if it wasn't his fault you caught him looking - it was yours. He had eyes that pierced your brain - a smile that was just enough to make you want more but never too much. He had a body that was slender with budding muscles. He was a swimmer originally but I managed to recruit him away from the team - his would be coach wasn't too happy about that but he took it in stride.  "Joseph's a hot little fellow. Where do you think you'l use him?"  "Anywhere he wants me too!"  "You're am evil person."  I just smiled and nodded my head. Joseph came into the office with his gym bag in hand.  "Ok. I guess I have everything." He said and stood next to me.  We walked out of the office and through the locker room and as we headed down the main hall to exit he asked about getting some coffee. "Are we still on for cof...

  I have always wondered about those folks that talk about when they first realized they were gay or bi or whatever. I have no memory of a time in my life when I did not find boys more attractive, physically, emotionally, sexually, whatever. It wasn't just a matter of being more comfortable with boys than with girls - I knew, even as a little boy, that I was attracted to boys and that certain boys were attracted to me.  I still recall the first boy who kissed me with the intent of getting me excited. He groped my crotch and squeezed my butt while he probed my mouth with his tongue. He smelled of cinnamon and clove and his sweat was salty and sweet at the same time.  Neither one of us was shy about taking our shirts off or about demonstrating our affection for each other and he loved giving me a hard on with the other boys watching as much as I enjoyed him giving me one.  I can't even imagine my first kiss with a girl - there would always be a third party in every int...

  Dear Coach Cooper... The email began.  A few years ago my big brother rowed his novice season with you and your crew. He always told me how much he loved it and he still talks about it to this day. He left the school after his first year - transferred to a larger University that offered him an academic scholarship but no rowing.  Anyway he told me I should seek you out before deciding what school to go to after High School. He's taught me some basic stuff about rowing and training and he's always talking about all the times he used to go see you after practice, in your office and even at your home, and it sounds like the sort of thing I truly want to do also.  I know you can't offer scholarships or anything like that but I'm enclosing my academic record here - I'm not a brainiac but I'm not dumb either 😺 I'm also listing my athletics here - our school doesn’t offer rowing and there aren't any clubs nearby - but we, my brother and I, have a boat we use...