It was the mid 1970's and I had just finished my graduate studies. Summer had finally arrived and I was spending my time as a part time adjunct professor and applying for fulltime work for the fall. My meager earnings allowed me to maintain a tiny apartment in a small building on the end of a nice neighborhood with small homes.
My 2nd floor apartment overlooked the home of Susan and Barry. She was a nurse and Barry worked as a construction manager. They were both in their early 40's and appeared to have a nice marriage.
I met them formally when I was walking home from the university and noticed Barry looking at some furniture in his truck. I walked up the driveway and asked if he needed help unloading the furniture.
He looked at me (in my shirt and tie) and told me that he didn't want me to get dirty. I told him not to worry about it and proceeded to help him unload the furniture. It seems that he had a side business of renovating and refinishing furniture.
As we finished Susan came home from work and I introduced myself while I pointed to my corner apartment that was quite visible from their yard. Susan thanked me profusely for helping Barry but then frowned as she saw the streak of dirt on my khakis and dress shirt.
As I told her not to worry she insisted that she be allowed to launder the clothes. She told me to go home, change clothes, bring back the dirty ones and join them for some burgers that Barry would grill out in the backyard.
Barry looked at me, smiled and said "Don't argue with her." So, I headed to my apartment to change and I was secretly very happy because I had had my eye on Barry for some time.
Barry was a handsome, well built man. I knew that he had a weight bench in his garage but I also assumed that he had developed a lot of his muscles on the job in his construction business. He had deep blue eyes that sometimes felt like they were penetrating me and a face that always looked like it needed a shave.
He also had an infectious smile and I loved how his jeans and t-shirts fit his muscular body. Barry was the man of my fantasies. I knew that I was gay but it remained my secret. I had had plenty of crushes in my 24 years but was still very much a virgin.
My only interactions with Barry had been, up to that point, one sided. Barry was a closet smoker (much to the annoyance of Susan) and every night, around 9:45, he came out and stood by the elm tree in the front yard to smoke his cigarette.
Once I noticed the regularity of this pattern I began my own pattern of disrobing for bed in front of the window that faced Barry's front yard. I always kept one light on and undressed down to my briefs (never completely naked because then the show is truly over).
After the 2nd night I noticed that Barry had adjusted his position in front of the tree so that he was facing my apartment. So, for many nights, I kept up my show but with variations.
Sometimes I wore a small towel about my waist while other times I walked in front of the window and even danced a bit in just my briefs but never naked. When I finally tuned out the light I would stand back a bit and watch the cigarette go out.
Many times Barry would sit by the tree for a few more minutes. Perhaps he was hoping that the light would go back on. At least that is what I hoped was going through his mind.
A few weeks after our initial encounter Susan once again invited me for dinner. During the dinner she asked me for a favor. Her elderly aunt, who lived 5-6 hours to the south had an antique buffet that she wanted to give to them and Barry wanted to restore it.
It was a big item and she wondered if I might be able to go with Barry to help him get it onto the truck. I heartily agreed. Barry thanked me and said that, since we both worked during the week, we would go on a Saturday morning.
As Susan brought the dishes back into the house from the patio I flexed my bicep in front of Barry and told him that while I wasn't a muscle man I was strong enough to help him.
He smiled at me, reached over and patted me on the back. My body tingled at his touch especially when his hand gravitated a bit down my back. He then felt my bicep and, with his beautiful smile, said "You're hired"!
The drive to southern Kentucky was extraordinary. Although the day was hot, I was enjoying having Barry all to myself. We had lively conversations about a host of topics.
About an hour before our arrival Barry pulled off the main road and started down some county highways. He told me that I should just concentrate on the scenery. He was right. It was absolutely beautiful. Rolling hills and beautiful green fields. I had told him that I had never visited that part of the country and he wanted me to see the beauty.
We finally arrived at the aunt's home and after a few pleasantries we got the cherry buffet loaded onto the truck. What we had not realized was that she had also prepared a nice late lunch for us so we stayed, feasted and listened to many stories about "the old days". Finally, after numerous hugs and good-byes, Barry was able to convince her that we truly needed to leave.
We drove about 45 minutes and Barry pulled into a small town. He parked the truck in front of a small store and told me to stay put and keep an eye on it. He went to a nearby phone booth (anybody remember those?) and made a call.
A few minutes later he returned to the truck and told me that he had called Susan to inform her that, because of the delay at her aunt's home, it was getting too late to make the drive back so we were going to get a room for the night. I heard those words and was immediately both excited and a little nervous.
