I was running late. Breathless, I nearly ran to class. Did I really sign up for this? I couldn't believe that I actually went through with it. I had been planning on taking a sketching course that would include nudes for a very long time. Although not a great artist, I have done some good work, especially in my younger years. I figured that I would have the usual assignments, but I was mainly excited that I would be sketching nudes!
I eased into class just a minute before 9:00am. The class was pretty full, so I had to get a seat in the front where no one likes to sit, at least not in the beginning of a class. I looked around and saw that most of the other students were in their twenties. Most were very fresh-faced and cute. As for myself, I am in my early forties and I am told that I am, "Easy on the eyes." I am 5'11", 160 pounds with blue-gray eyes, brown hair and a goatee that shows just a bit of gray. I was feeling a bit out of place until another guy about my age showed up at the door. I watched him look around for a seat in the back. All that was left was the one next to me so I pointed to it. He smiled and came forward. I guessed him to be about forty. He thanked me and sat down.
The room was silent as the clock ticked on the wall. Soon it was 9:04 and no one had uttered a sound. I looked over at the guy who was sitting next to me and I introduced myself. "Hi, I'm Stuart." He smiled and nodded at me as he told me that his name was Dave. I asked him if he knew anyone that had taken this course and he kind of blushed before saying, "Yes, a friend of mine said that it was one of his favorite classes. I need a couple of electives, so I signed up." I smiled at him as the teacher arrived through the same door that we had come in. "Ok ok, I see that I have a full class. My name is Adam. I have four students whom I just spoke with outside who want to get into this classroom. Is there anyone here who is not sure if they want to take this class?"
We all kind of looked at each other, sheepishly. "Good! That means that everyone in this room is committed and will be here promptly for the entire semester, correct?" Nervous laughter filled the room. "If I have no takers, I will tell the students outside that they need to find another class." We all kind of eyed each other, wondering what the big deal was. "Ok then." He disappeared out the door and was gone for several minutes. He soon reappeared, closed the door and stared at each of us, one at a time. "You may have cost someone an opportunity of a lifetime or perhaps you gave yourself one. Think about that!"
That first class felt like it lasted an eternity. After roll-call and introductions, Adam proceeded to scientifically outline the human form. It was fascinating, but it was all talk with no "hands-on." I was disappointed when at noon the class was over and all we had done was listen to Adam talk about what he referred to as, "The Basics." I left class with Dave in tow. "Not as exciting as I imagined, Stuart."
"Yeah, I agree." We walked in silence for a moment and then bid each other farewell until the next class on Wednesday.
The next class was very interesting. We had to pair up and draw each other. Dave and I turned to each other and said, "partners?" at the same time. We found this to be very amusing because we knew that we would laugh at our drawings when we were done. I stood back and looked at Dave as he looked at me. We couldn't suppress our smiles and it was rather awkward getting started. I began at his shoulders. He had broad shoulders, and his torso narrowed down nicely. I didn't see any bulging musceles, but he was obviously fit. He had a strong neck, not to short and not too long. I sketched his ears and I noticed that they were kind of small, but they looked right on him. In fact, everything looked right on Dave. He was about my height and had dark hair, like me. He had gorgeous light green eyes and he was very tan. After awhile we fell into the rhythm of drawing, posing, and drawing some more. When class was over, Adam told us to cover the drawings. He then gathered them and put them in a storage closet. "You will not see these again until the end of the semester. What I will have you do is draw each other again at that time. We will then compare and acknowledge your progress or lack thereof." Adam was kind of eccentric, but in a good way. He kept the class on its toes. All of us groaned our displeasure although I was secretly relieved because Dave was very handsome and my drawing did not do him justice.
Well, we got to draw our first nude during our fourth class. It seemed to me that Adam was weeding out the "lookie-loos" before we got to this stage. Sure enough, some students had already dropped out. We had been drawing endless circles, shapes, animals, each other, you name it. I was definitely ready for something different. Without fanfare, a handsome middle-aged man entered the room. He looked to be around 60, with a fresh and positive demeanor. He discarded the robe and lay on a recliner, quite naked. I wanted to draw a nude model, and here was my chance. We were not allowed to talk to him, only Adam could do that. We all were anxious to have a live model, so we got busy. I sketched his outline and did some shading, then I worked on the detail. I was embarrassed looking at his genitals as I sketched him. I felt like I was a peeping Tom or something. I sketched his flaccid penis and shaded it in all of the right places. I liked the way it lay in repose against his thigh. It was of a good size, but not overly so. I looked into the model's eyes and he looked back at me. I glanced away. I drew some more, then looked at his face again. This time it was he that glanced away. It was so slight that it was almost imperceptive. I think that he had been watching me. I would bet that no one else in that room would have noticed. All I knew was that I had a naked man lying in front of me allowing me to draw his cock! I know it wasn't supposed to be provocative, but I was trying to suppress a hard-on at the mere thought of it. Since we were drawing with charcoal, we couldn't erase so I kept starting over. Dave was doing the same. Adam came by and said to me, "Just draw what you see. The imperfections might just enhance your work. Look at Picasso!" He then moved on to the next student, offering the same advice.
The gentleman reappeared for the next two classes. Each time I tried to avoid making eye contact with him. When we did it aroused me. I felt like he could read my mind or something. There was never any conversation with him, but he was obviously very comfortable posing nude in public. At the class break, I went into the restroom and stood at the urinal next to...HIM. I kept wondering if I should say anything or not. Finally, he spoke. "Hello, I am Jack. I would shake your hand except that I am sure it is occupied at the moment." I laughed and looked over at him. "I'm Stuart, and I'm not supposed to talk to you." Then I laughed again. "Stuart, you can talk to me. Adam doesn't like it, but I don't care. My nakedness embarasses you, doesn't it?" I felt myself blushing. I finished up and washed my hands. Jack joined me at the next basin as we washed our hands. He looked into the mirror at me. "The human body is a beautiful thing, Stuart. I enjoy being naked and I like to spend time with other nudists."
"Jack, naked men don't usually pose for me, so this is something new," I said, just as another student walked in. Oh god, what did he just hear me say? The guy gave me quite a stare. After leaving the restroom, Jack asked me to join him after class for some coffee at the diner across the street. I agreed to meet him there.
It was awkard for me at first, but Jack had a way about him that made him very easy to talk to. He told me that he was married, but that he had a significant other named Chuck. He spoke so eloquently that he could have been a writer. Jack and I met at the diner after class the next two weeks. I had really grown to like this handsome man and we exchanged many e-mails. I decided to "come out" to Jack. After much discussion, he encouraged me to "come out of my shell" and not be afraid to reach out to another man. I was attracted to Jack, but he was happily partnered so I knew that he was not coming on to me. I told him about my one, single gay encounter. I had really hoped to have a relationship with the guy and I tried hard to get to know him through e-mails and phone conversations. Finally, we met. I really liked him. He was good looking, interesting to talk to and he was not afraid to show his sensitive side. It felt right to sleep with him. However, it did not go very well at all because I didn't know what I was doing. I was very down about it afterwards. Jack listened to my tales of woe and I have to say that he helped my self-esteem a bit. His titillating tales of sex and debouchery with both sexes had me smiling every time. He definitely had a very colorful and exciting sex life, unlike mine. Jack encouraged me to find an outlet for my manly desires in a way that made me realize that it would be unnatural for me NOT to.
I began writing stories that were published on-line, for free. Although copyrighted, I knew that I would never show them to anyone that I knew. However, I did ask Jack to read them. His feedback was so positive that I wrote more. I loved the way that it made me feel inside, being able to express myself in writing to others like myself who understood my angst. Jack e-mailed me that he was going on a long summer vacation but that he would be back to model the next semester. Before he left, he said to me in an e-mail, "Stuart, I have enjoyed our friendship. I hope that it will continue. I want to know when you find the right man and bond with him. It will happen, if you let it." I replied to his e-mail and typed, "From your mouth to God's ear, Jack."
Dave mentioned at the next class that he had seen me with Jack. "Stuart, are you friends with that guy? I thought we were not allowed to fraternize with the models." I replied, "I'm not sure you would understand my explanation. It's kind of a long story."