Expanding Horizons

"Man, we've got to come up with a reason for you to come over to my place now," Chris told his friend Brad. "We have to get you a life."

"Thanks," Brad said sarcastically. "I didn't think I was that bad off."

"I am one of the dullest kids in school but you make me look good," Chris stated firmly.

"I get the point," Brad told him.

"I mean you're really pitiful," Chris continued.

"Here, Chris, eat my cookies," Brad offered.

"But that's your dessert," Chris protested.

"Yeah, but if your mouth is full, maybe you'll shut up about how lame I am," Brad explained with a grin.

"Sorry, bud," Chris apologized.

"It's all right," Brad sighed. "It's not like you were saying anything that wasn't true."

"Don't worry, we'll fix it," Chris said firmly. "Friends don't let friends have boring lives."

"Ok, well, when do you want me to come over and study with you for English?" Brad asked him, trying not to let too much of his own excitement show.

"I think we should start today," Chris answered. "We shouldn't put off our homework. Education is important."

"I don't know about today," Brad said sadly. "It's Wednesday; we have church services tonight. They would never let me go anywhere today."

"I have an idea," Chris suggested. "What if I agree to come to church with you tonight if they let you come over and study today? That way they can meet me and everything."

"You know, they just might agree to that," Brad thought out loud. "They're always after me to invite new kids to church. This could work. Once they've met you, they won't have any problems with you I'm sure."

"Do you want to call your mom now and ask permission?" Chris asked.

"Am I allowed to call from the office?" Brad asked.

"I don't know," Chris admitted. "I was just going to hand you my cell phone."

"You have a cell phone?" Brad asked with an excited gasp.

"Doesn't everyone?" Chris retorted. Brad blushed a bit and looked at the floor. "I guess not," Chris mumbled. "Not to worry, bud. You can use mine anytime you need it."

"Really?" Brad whispered looking up at his friend hopefully.

"I said it, didn't I?"

"You are the best friend I've ever had, and the coolest," Brad told him with a huge smile.

"Well, you've lead a sheltered life," Chris snorted.

"Hey! No badmouthing my best friend," Brad ordered.

"Really? I'm your best friend?" Chris squeaked.

"You're my only friend in town, that makes you the best," Brad told him with a smile. That smile faded when he saw the disappointed look on Chris' face. "Of course even when I start making new friends, you'll still be the best. I've never liked anyone as much as I like you."

"Really?" Chris questioned again.

"Give me that phone and tell me how to use it, so I can ask my mom about going to your place today after school," Brad told him.

"WOOHOO!" Chris exclaimed. "My best friend's coming over today."

"I have to ask first," Brad reminded him. Chris had been right, though. The trade off of this new friend coming to church had swung the vote. Brad hung up and the two boys high fived.

Neither boy could concentrate on their afternoon lessons. The day seemed to drag on forever in their opinion. Once again, Brad found himself distracted by Chris' underwear in Science class. PE class was even worse for the preacher's son. He was more aware of the many naked boys all around him as they dressed out for the class. Once out on the gym floor, the coach came up to him and told him that his father had already stopped by that morning. The word was go. Brad had himself a job.

"Don't bother to shower and change with the other boys after class," Coach Spencer advised. "You would just get all sweaty and dirty again when you're working. Chris just wears his gym clothes for work, and then showers at his home, washes his stuff there and brings it back Thursday and Monday mornings. I don't see any reason you can't do that too."

"Yeah, especially since you're coming to my house after school today anyway," Chris added.

"Okay," Brad agreed. He wouldn't have to shower with all those naked boys. Temptation and sin would be removed.

It didn't take the two boys long to finish the chores they had in the gym. Once they were done, they sat down on the bleachers to rest for a bit. Brad decided to ask Chris how they were getting to the theater where Chris lived.

"I walk home," Chris told him. "It's only a few blocks. Sometimes when I finish early, Coach will let me leave before the bell," he told his friend.

"You boys did a fantastic job today," Coach Spencer said as he walked up to them. "You wouldn't want to go ahead and get out of here would you?"

"That'd be great, Coach," Chris said with a grin.

"I will see you guys in a few hours," the man told them. "I had to agree to start coming to your church in order to persuade your father to let you have the job, Brad."

"Thank you, sir," Brad said genuinely.

"Don't call me sir," the coach grinned. "You're welcome," he added as he turned and walked away.

"Let's make like a bread truck," Chris told Brad.

"What?" Brad asked.

"Bread trucks haul buns," Chris explained.

"Oh, I get it," Brad smiled. "Let's hit the road, amigo."

The two boys stuffed their clothes in Chris' book bag because it was smaller than Brad's which was needed for both sets of books. They then practically ran the entire six blocks from the school to the theater. When they arrived, Chris unlocked one of the front doors long enough for the two of them to enter before locking it again. Brad could hardly believe that he was actually inside a real theater. He stared around at everything in awe.

"Sorry about having to come in the front doors like this, but I have to let Dad know that I'm home," Chris apologized.

"I don't mind at all," Brad assured him.

"Do you want a snack or something to drink?" Chris asked pointing toward the concession stand. "Grab whatever you want while I find my dad." Brad continued to look around at all the posters of coming attractions as well as those now playing. He was startled when a man's voice spoke to him.

"Aren't you hungry or thirsty, Brad?" The boy whirled around to see Chris standing next to a tall, kind of thin man with graying hair. "I never thought I would see the day that a kid would turn down carte blanche in the candy counter."

"You were serious about that, Chris?" Brad blurted and then began to blush as father and son laughed.

"Of course I was," Chris assured him. "I always get a snack before I head upstairs."

"Well, ok," Brad said a little nervously. "I guess a candy bar would be ok."

"What kind of candy bar?" Chris' dad asked as he walked behind the counter.

"How about a Snickers?" Brad asked quietly.

"You want a regular Snickers, or a Snickers Ice Cream Bar?"

"The ice cream bar sounds cool," Brad smiled.

"It should be, otherwise my refrigerator is going out," the man laughed. "Now you two head on upstairs. You're stinking up my lobby. Hit the shower guys."

"How rude!" Chris protested.

"How true!" his father responded with a grin. "Get going, boys. I've got to finish getting the place ready for the early evening show."

"Ok, dad," Chris told him. "Come on, Brad," he said to his friend. "I can tell when we're not wanted."

"You little ham," his father laughed. "Get up there."

The two boys giggled their way up a flight of stairs behind the concession stand and stepped into the sitting room of the apartment Chris shared with his father. It was a very small room, but Brad could tell that two men that lived there were happy with their accommodations. It was every bit as comfortable as his own house; more so since his father wasn't there.

"My room was an add-on to the original apartment," Chris explained rather sadly and definitely nervously as walked towards a door. "It used to be part of the balcony."

Brad followed him into the room and discovered that instead of having a flat floor like most rooms, this one still had the stepped rise of theater balcony seating even though the seats had all been removed. The bed had a platform under it to provide a level surface for it. Brad thought it was the most incredible room he had ever seen.

"This is so cool," Brad whispered.

"Not so much when you're in hurry to go pee," Chris laughed. "It'll be great for practicing our lines though. I heard somebody say there was a balcony scene."

"Boys, don't forget the shower," his dad called out from somewhere in the building. "You have to go to church tonight remember?"

"There are three options," Chris began. "I can go first, you can go first, or…."

"Or what?" Brad prompted as his friend's words faded away.

"We could shower together to save time," Chris admitted with a blush. "I mean we have to get our homework done quick since we have to go to your church tonight, and we would be saving water which is good for the ecosystem, and it's not like we haven't done it before, it was just at school in a bigger shower with a lot of other guys, and…."

"Ok, ok, you convinced me," Brad laughed. "Let's hurry up because you don't smell so good."

"You mean you'll do it?" Chris asked in shock. "I wasn't sure you would be ok with it since we're not at school." He suddenly got quiet as a thoughtful expression passed over his face. Suddenly, as if a light had just come on in a dark room, he quipped, "Hey, you're no basket of flower petals either, you know."

"You must be joking," Brad returned. "I can't possibly be dirty. Cleanliness is next to godliness, and I'm a preacher's kid, which means I'm real close to god, therefore I'm already clean."

"HUH?" Chris blurted in confusion. "Whatever, Stinky. Come on; let's go get the shower over with so we can get back to our homework."

"Ok Smelly," Brad agreed. He followed Chris to the bathroom where they both started stripping. This didn't bother Brad that much since they had already done it in gym class. It suddenly registered on him that this wasn't just like school when they stepped into the tub. They were very close to one another. Brad tried to recite all the Bible verses that his father used to condemn the abominations he was thinking of at that moment, but it wasn't helping. He tried picturing his English teacher in his mind, but the face kept switching to Chris'. He even tried to imagine the woman naked, but even that didn't get rid of the nervous condition he was in. It did make him slightly nauseous which still didn't make him feel any more comfortable being naked this close to Chris who was naked this close to him.

"Hey, it's your turn under the water," Chris suddenly announced. "You'd better hurry too; the hot water is fading fast."

"Good," Brad mumbled as he squeezed forward against the tile wall with his back to Chris. Chris was likewise facing away from him, but since the maneuvering space was still very limited, their butts rubbed one another as they passed. Brad thought he heard Chris make a strange noise, but he wasn't sure. He did know that Chris suddenly jumped out of the tub.

"I'm done," Chris called out. "I'll meet you back in my room."

The door to the bathroom opened and shut quickly, leaving Brad alone in the shower wondering what had just happened. He leaned over and peaked out around the curtain. He had no idea why he did it, but when he did, he saw the bag with their clothes in it was gone. Now how was he supposed to get back to the room?

Brad finished his shower quickly and not knowing what else to do he wrapped the towel around himself and opened the bathroom door. Standing right outside it was a strange woman wearing a dark green dress with ivory collar and sleeves. She stared at Brad for a moment before he could think to turn back into the bathroom.

"Oh don't be ridiculous boy," the woman said. "Run along to Chris' room. I have no interest in looking at your little body, and besides the whole reason I am standing here is because I need in the bathroom."

Brad shot across the room without looking back. When he walked in, he saw Chris holding his underwear. Chris turned very red and started stuttering about bringing the clothes back to him. Brad just snatched the underwear out of his hand and started putting them on.

"Well, you could have brought them back a little sooner," he snapped at Chris. "I opened the bathroom door and there was some woman standing there staring at me wearing nothing but this towel."

"You're shi..kidding me, right?" Chris laughed.

"I am not," Brad told him shortly. "It was so embarrassing."

"What did she look like?"

"Kind of like your dad wearing a dress," Brad answered honestly, for that was what he thought when he saw her. Chris erupted into laughter.

"That must have been Aunt Bambi," he finally said, still giggling softly. "Get dressed and I'll introduce you to her."

"I'd rather not," Brad answered.

"Well, if you really want to meet her in your underwear you can, I guess, I just thought clothes would make a better impression," Chris teased. "Of course, it isn't like she hasn't seen you in less."

"Shut up," Brad pouted as he threw a sock at Chris. "I meant I don't want to meet her right now. I'm already embarrassed enough."

"Look at it this way," Chris offered. "How many guys our age can truthfully say they've been naked in an apartment with a single woman not related to them? When word of this gets out around the school…."

"Don't you even dare thinking it," Brad interrupted him. "I would never speak to you again. I was really embarrassed."

"I'm sorry," Chris apologized. "I was just kidding."

"Let's just get started on our homework," Brad suggested. He looked around the room for a moment before speaking again. "It's kind of hot in here, don't you think?"

"My room is always hot," Chris explained. "I usually just stay in my underwear when I'm in here." He suddenly blushed again and started looking intently at the floor. "I don't mean we have to do that now."

"Well, it's too hot in here not to, if you ask me," Brad told him. "Besides, I don't want to get all sweaty again before church." He wasn't comfortable with this plan at all, but he knew he would face his father's wrath for sure if he came to services smelly and dirty. "What page did she say we should study for tomorrow?"

"We're supposed to do the party tomorrow," Chris replied. "I forgot what page it is. Hey, if it's a party we're practicing, there should be some music playing." He turned on his stereo and turned to look at Brad. "I know Elton John is old school, but I like his music."

"Your dad lets you listen to Elton John?" Brad gasped.

"Sure, why not?" Chris asked innocently.

"Well, for one thing it's not church music," Brad explained. "For another, he's gay. I mean he's really gay. He married a man and everything."

"That doesn't mean he doesn't write good music," Chris countered. "As for the church music, well, that's your dad's problem, not mine." He immediately started apologizing. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that to sound bad or anything. I just meant that your dad is the preacher, not mine."

"Relax, Romeo," Brad laughed. "I knew what you meant. Let's get to our lines."

"You called me Romeo," Chris observed aloud.

"Well that is the character you're playing," Brad pointed out.

"Does this mean I can call you Juliet?" Chris asked with a grin.

"Not if you want to live to see tomorrow," Brad threatened.

"Geeze, untwist your underwear, I was just kidding," Chris pouted playfully. He laughed out loud when Brad looked down to see if his underwear was twisted. "I thought I was the dumb one."

"You're a lot smarter than I am," Brad said quietly.

"I'll bet that's not true," Chris told him. "You probably know way more church stuff than I do."

"That doesn't count," Brad muttered. "I only know that because my dad's a preacher."

"That means it counts to him," Chris pointed out. "That makes it important. It's just like me knowing how to run the projection system and fix the popcorn machine and all the other stuff to run this place. I don't want to run a theater when I grow up, but I will be able to if I have to because I helped my dad."

"That's not exactly how it works in church," Brad told him.

"Didn't you tell me that you are going to be stuck mowing the yard at the church because your dad wants you to?" Chris asked. When Brad nodded he continued. "That is an example of you helping your dad be a preacher."

"If you say so," Brad surrendered more to change the subject than because he agreed. "Shakespeare beckons, Romeo."

The boys finally got around to studying and were surprised when Chris' dad knocked on the bedroom door to tell them that the coach was there to pick them up for church. The boys dressed quickly and ran downstairs. They jumped into Coach Spencer's car and then realized that Brad had left his gym clothes in Chris' bedroom. Chris told him not to worry about them. He would wash them with his and bring them back to school on Monday. They pulled up in front of the church and got out to a lot of not very polite stares.