This is a work of fiction, and as such the characters are not bound by the usual dictates of modern society. Unsafe sexual practices can be undertaken with impunity only in the world of fantasy. In reality, it is your obligation and your right to play safely, sanely and healthily.
I hope you enjoy my work, and if you have any comments, or ideas that may inspire new work, please feel free to contact me - all E-mails will be answered to the best of my ability.
I would like to acknowledge the assistance I received in preparing this story from a great writer named, Kai. Without him this work would have remained in my head and would not have been put onto paper. The errors are mine and mine alone.
I would also like to thank all of you that took the time to write and tell me how much you liked the story. Keep the letters coming and send in a donation to the site you are reading this on.
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His eyes adjusted to the changing light as the bus left the darkness of the Lincoln tunnel and came into the bright sunlight of morning. Once again he was looking out the window at Manhattan, only this time he was staring at the receding skyline of the city. As he leaned back into the seat trying to get comfortable, his mind wandered and images of the past three days flooded his head. Three days ago, was it really only three days ago that all this started? Just three days since he had entered this city, with nothing more in mind then having a good time. A belated twenty first birthday celebration was all he had planed on. Perhaps to get a little drunk, pick up some cunt, have a ball, possibly even shack up and fuck the living shit out of her. But a woman was not what he wound up with. No instead of a woman he had shacked up with a GUY. Impossible but true! He was still in a state of shock. What a difference those three days had made. He could not believe what had happened and how he had changed in so short a time. What had happened to him?? Where did he go wrong, (if it was wrong)??? He closed his eyes and shook his head trying to clear the thoughts and pictures from his brain. But one thought kept returning over and over and over again.
That thought was Richard or Rich, as he preferred to be called. Richard just filled his mind. Even the lingering smell of his aftershave triggered erotic sexual fantasies. Joseph's fingers reached under his shirt where they found and touched the heavy gold chain that Richard had placed there. He felt his cock getting harder and harder. Stop it, he kept telling himself. But, try as hard as he might, one indelible picture kept reappearing before his mind's eye. The picture of himself and Richard, dancing nude together last night after diner. The sound of the music filing his ears and the combined odor of that damn aftershave and their heated bodies... Closing his eyes he drifted off into a deep sleep only to be awakened by the bus driver, shouting, "Hey this is where you get off soldier boy." As quickly as he could he shook the sleep from his eyes, gathered his gear, stepped down from the bus and found himself at the base gate. After showing his orders to the MP in the guardhouse and asking directions, he was directed to a bus stop where he caught a base transport to the school compound.
Being a new-comer on this base, he was still unsure where things were and how to get around. After telling the driver where he would like to get off he took a seat and looked at the passing scenery. While the driver had assured him he would notify him when to get off, it was still fun trying to guess before hand. He was looking for a familiar landmark, but the different company areas all looked alike. Finally, the driver called out "Language School" and he gathered his gear and got off. He still felt like a fish out of water, but that was to be expected. After a few wrong turns he finally recognized his barracks, went in and found his quarters. While unpacking his canvas travel bag, he noted that his roommate must have also returned from his pass. His bed was messed up, however he was not around. Joseph washed up and then reported into his company clerk.
"Glad to see you made it back, safe and early yet." the company clerk greeted him. "Your roommate also checked in earlier. He went to the PX I think. If there anything you need to help you get settled, now would be a good time to ask."
"Well corporal, you wouldn't happen to have a map of the area? I feel a bit lost and could use some directions or maps as to where things are located. You know, like the PX, the theater, mess hall, cleaners and the laundry." Joseph asked.
The corporal pushed himself away from his desk, got up went to a filing cabinet, withdrew a few sheets of paper and handed them to Joseph. "This should tell you everything you need to know for now. Orientation is at 1000 hours tomorrow and you will be given additional information as well as your schedule then. Till then you are free to roam around the base, go to the PX or the base theater, they are showing a new movie there tonight. By the way, my name is Williams, Corporal John Williams. As you can see I'm the company clerk and if you need anything, Benson, just give me a holler. You look kind of tired and beat. Bet you had a hell of a time in the city?"
"Yes, one hell of a fantastic time. New York is really a great town. Lots to see and do there. However, I know I missed a lot. I can't wait to go back again. What's the company leave policy like?" he asked.
"Well if things go the way they usually go around here, after a week or two, you should be able to get a weekend pass almost every weekend. How do you think that girl you met in the "Big Apple" will like that?"
Joseph smiled at the clerk. "How did you know I met someone?"
"It's written all over your face! I could tell by the way you walked in here. I can always tell the ones that got laid. There is that self-satisfied look on their faces. And they look like they could use a full nights sleep. Did I guess right?" he asked.
"You're batting 1000%, Williams. Maybe I'll settle in and take a rest before chow time. Thanks for the maps. See you later corporal," he said, and with that he walked out of the office and headed back to his quarters.
Those quarters were shared with a black soldier from Atlanta, Georgia. Their room had the usual Government Issue furniture; two single beds, two OD green metal wall lockers, two OD green desks with chairs & lamps and the required and ever- present army footlockers. When he entered his room, his roommate, Private Ibrahim Smith was resting on his bed with his eyes closed. He appeared to be out like a light. Not wanting to disturb him, Joseph slipped onto his own bed and recalled their brief meeting before Joseph had headed to New York City and he had gone to a town in Jersey called Patterson.
Ibrahim seemed to be a nice guy. He was taller than Joseph; about 6 foot 2 inches, with light brown skin. The light skin color and his rather handsome Caucasian features were most likely due to "mixed" blood. For an enlisted man he was well educated, having graduated High School and gone on to a community college in Georgia. He did well there in his studies, until a recession hit and dried up what little money he had put aside for his education. Unable to find the money or a part time job, he was forced to leave school. Ibrahim's family, like Joseph's, were farmers and just could not see their way clear to continue to help pay for his education. It was a shame, because he loved learning and was a good student. While there might have been scholarships, the recession had also dried up their ability to collect funds. The only other means of continuing his education turned out to be the army. They offered to enroll him in their ROTC program, but he was not really looking for a career as an Army officer. Besides he did not want to tie himself down for that long a time. As an enlisted man he could serve his time and save enough to continue his education without having to sign his life away. Who knew, in two or three years the economy was bound to get better and more part time jobs might be found.
The army was glad to have him because he had something they needed badly. Ibrahim was a Muslim, having converted in High School. He had learned to read Arabic in order to convert, but he had never really learned to speak the language. Ibrahim was therefore perfect for a new method of language instruction with which the army was experimenting. Potential translators would be gathered together and totally submersed in the language and culture. There were two main components to this new method. 1. Creating an envioment where Arabic was used as the prime means of communication and restricting the use of English. 2. Grouping together novices and people with some knowledge of the language. By doing this it was hoped that they would play off each other and speed up the learning.
So it was that by the luck of the draw Joseph found himself rooming with Ibrahim Smith, a black guy. Joseph, coming from a small town in upstate New York, had very little experience living and dealing with people of color. Except for seeing them on T.V., the movies, and having a few in his Basic Training unit, he knew nothing of colored people. He never really had the desire to get "close" to any of them. Well, --- thats not exactly the truth, he did have this vision of Halley Berry and himself in bed, but then that was just the sexual fantasy of many young sexually active guys after seeing the movie "Monster Ball". So, when Ibrahim and he were paired as roommates, he was a bit on edge. He expressed these feeling to Ibrahim, and told him that in spite of this he hoped that they would get to be kool with living together.
"Well we have no choice. We are just going to have to adjust to this situation. Perhaps if we just forget about this race shit we might even get to like one and other. We can try to be easy with each other, we can even joke about it. Hey, remember that we are both human beings and bound to make mistakes... By the way," his handsome face breaking into a big smile and with an over stated southern acent said, "Y'all safe with me, white boy, I'ze a partial vegetarian, don't eat no pork, nor do I'za eat the other kind of 'white meat'. I won't eat you and to start with, you can even have my share of the pork in the mess."
"If you're sure you are not just trying to fatten me because I'm so tough and if that includes the bacon you got a deal... I think we are going to get along just fine. Hey, as long as you are supposed to know some Arabic, how about you teach me a few words. You know like the ones I would need to pick up a belly dancer or two." Joseph asked.
"You infidels! Belly dancing is an old respected art form like your ballet. But just to get us off on the right foot here are a few words like, 'I love you' and 'darling' that might help," his roommate taught him these. It was difficult getting Joseph's tongue to twist and turn in order to get the words out properly. There were sounds that did not appear in English. Frustrated at times, Ibrahim kept using one expression over and over. When Joseph asked him what it meant, he just lowered his eyes and said, "Never mind, this is Arabic 101 and that lesson is a bit too advanced for you."
"Come on now. What does it mean and how do you say it?"
