Summer Theater

If you don't like sex stories, don't read it.

If you are below the arbitrary age set for your area, don't read it.

If for any reason it is illegal for you to read this story, don't read it.

Find my stories here-

http://www.asstr-mirror.org/ftp/pub/Authors/normdeploom/

This story may not be reproduced in any form for profit without the written permission of the author. This story may be freely distributed with this notice attached. The author may be contacted at normdeploom@hotmail.com

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All the characters and events in this story are fictional; any resemblance to real people or events is entirely coincidental.

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This story was inspired, to a large extent, by actual events in the author's life. Except for Simon T. Duck the names of the characters have been changed for the usual reasons. The author saw no justification for hiding Simon's identity. For a decade after the events that inspired this story Simon T. Duck remained a fixture around the San Joaquin Delta College Drama Department. During that time he was enrolled in more Drama classes than any other student and, true to form for a drama major, he dropped every one of them.

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Summer Theater

Norm DePloom

-Romance through the eyes of a much younger man. Featuring a journey from boy friend to boyfriend with many stops along the way to view hysterical points of interest and exciting excursions into the warped psyches of the principle characters.-

(Monday July 7, 1969 8:00 AM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater lobby,

Stockton California )

ather John." Recognizing Shirley's voice, John turned and waved to her before turning back to stare at the firm round posterior of the young woman in front of him in the line.

"Father John?" Asked the young lady turning to face him, "are you a priest?"

"No," John explained, briefly letting his eyes wander down from her brown eyes and elfin mouth to make sure the rest of her petite five foot two inch frame matched the exquisite beauty of her rear, "but I'll be glad to absolve you of your sins if you make a full and detailed confession." John's eyes returned to hers. "I played 'Father of the Bride' in Garcia Lorka's 'Blood Wedding', my senior year at Lodi High," he continued.

"There was a scene," Shirley picked up the story as she joined them in line, "where the Father of the Bride comes dashing down the stairs, pauses then says 'Not my daughter, she wouldn't do that'," Shirley gave John a friendly nudge, "when John delivered that line during rehearsal Sally said 'Oh my god he sounds just like my father' from then on we have called him 'Father John'."

"Hi," the girl said looking from John to Shirley, "I'm Nancy."

"I'm Shirley, and you've already learned Father John's name." Shirley turned to her friend and touched his face. "You've trimmed it down to a Van Dyke and side burns," she commented turning his head from one side to the other while she examined his recently trimmed beard, "I like it."

"I've got a mom at home." John replied, slapping at her hand then turning back to Nancy.

"And over there," John said pointing across the lobby, "is Father Frank the Thespian Cleric who is a bona fide Catholic Priest, a Jesuit in fact. Just in case," John turned back to look at Nancy, "you have any carnal thoughts you need to confess."

"You'll have to get used to Father John's sense of humor," Shirley said, stepping between John and the blushing girl, "your turn to sign in."

"There's Sally, " John said drawing Nancy and Shirley's attention to the brown-haired girl coming through the door, "she's the only person I've met who wares innocents like a suit of amour."

"You leave her alone, she's a sweetheart," Shirley turned back to Nancy, "you'll love her." Shirley got Sally's attention and waved for here to join them. While the two women were watching Sally cross the crowded theater lobby John was busy trying to memorize Nancy.

"Hey Shirley, hey John," Sally said a, little breathless after hurrying in from the parking lot, "I didn't know you had signed up for summer theater."

"It was either that or find a job." John answered.

"Hi," Sally, being far too polite to leave a person out of the conversation, turned to Nancy "I'm Sally."

"Nancy." Nancy said, smiling back.

"You going to be attending here next year?" Sally asked John always thought that Sally was a bit on the nosey side, but it was all so obviously innocent in nature that no one was ever offended.

"No," Nancy explained, "I'll be a senior at Stagg High," Nancy glanced around the small circle, apparently fearing that they would find her status as a high school student unacceptable, "Mr. Nardou was my drama teacher last year, he suggested I should sign up."

"Well," Sally lowered her voice and spoke in a conspiratorial tone, "I'm sure you're going to have lots of fun." John's relationship with Sally and Shirley was typical of all of his relationships with members of their sex. He was one of their best friends, and felt destined to never be anything more than a friend. He couldn't remember how many girls had told him how wonderful it was to know a boy they could really be friends with.

Having filled out the sign-in sheets the group moved through the center set of double doors to find seats in the theater for the introductory session. John watched as Greg, going through the door ahead of them, introduced himself to one of the female high school graduates who were there to get a head start on their college credits. John watched, with a touch of envy, as the schools most notorious cocks man 'put the moves on' another young woman.

"Does anybody know whose play was selected for the Student Production?" Shirley asked.

"I do," John replied snapping out of his depressing line of thought.

"Who?" All three girls asked in unison.

"Can't tell you," he answered with a grin, "I was sworn to secrecy."

"You don't know shit," Shirley shot back, "how would you know whose play has been selected?"

"I'm psychotic," John answered, "I mean psychic," he corrected with a deadpan expression.

"You were right the first time." Shirley chuckled, finishing one of the little 'comedy' routines that John and Shirley, much to the annoyance of their friends, never seemed to tire of. In spite of John's subtle efforts to sit next to Nancy, he ended up sitting between Shirley and Sally with Nancy on the other side of Sally.

Mr. Al Miller, the head of the drama department, spoke first. After a long-winded welcome, during which he outlined the schedule for the next six weeks, Mr. Miller announced that he would be directing 'Carnival' for the summer season.

"I think I'll volunteer to do a fire eating act." John said loud enough for his companions to hear.

"Yea, right." Shirley answered.

"Really, I'm serious." John assured her.

"Where'd you learn to eat fire?" Shirley challenged.

"A book written by Daniel Mannix." The subject was dropped after a stern look in their direction from Mr. Miller.

Ignoring the obvious air of disappointment, both with the play selected and the person doing the directing, Mr. Miller introduced Mr. Nardou. John, having no interest in a Readers Theater production of 'Don Juan in Hell', tried, without being obvious about it, to keep track of what Wayne, who had taken the seat on the other side of Nancy, was saying to her.

"…and now," Mr. Nardou said, ending his part of the opening remarks, after an equaly long winded exposition on the history and traditions of readers theater, "to introduce a new feature of our Summer Theater session this year is Mr. Franklin Wilson." Franklin Wilson was the 'old man' of the drama department. His credits reached back to the days of live radio drama. It was also somewhat of a local scandal that, as he grew older, his wives grew younger.

"This year," Mr. Wilson announced in a deep theatrical voice that was instantly recognizable by anyone who had heard one of the 'History of the Mother Load' spots that he had recorded for the local elevator music FM radio station, "as well as directing the production of 'The Visit', I will supervise the production of a one act play written by one of our students. The play will be directed by a student and all production decisions will be made by students." Mr. Wilson paused and looked around the auditorium. "The play I have selected is 'All Those Things That Are True but Never Happened' written by John Adams."

"Sworn to secrecy my ass." Shirley said giving John a shot in the ribs with her elbow.

"I was, honest." John said defensively.

"You can't put on that play." Sally said with a shocked tone to her voice.

"Why not?" John turned toward Sally, ready to defend his work.

"It's practically pornographic." Sally replied, in a tone that indicated embarrassment even discussing it. John looked past Sally, trying to catch Nancy's eye as she watched the interaction.

"You remember what Franklin said about it when we read it in class?" John asked.

"Yes," Shirley leaned forward so she could see the two women seated on the other side of John, "he said it was, and I quote, 'Delightfully obscene'."

"And?" John prompted.

"Oh." Another stern look from Mr. Miller quieted the discussion as Shirley sat back in the chair with a sober expression on her face. Sally leaned over closer to Nancy so John could barely hear her whispered explanation.

"Mr. Wilson," Sally said softly, "said he wanted to put on that play as the last thing he did before he retired." Nancy nodded her head indicating that she understood and Sally sat back in her chair.

"Can I play the prostitute?" Shirley whispered, a few seconds later. John shushed her with mock severity. Mr. Wilson finished his presentation and a break was announced.

"Can I play the prostitute?" Shirley repeated the question rather emphatically as the students began to work their way towards the auditorium doors.

"I'm sure you can be a prostitute," John teased his friend, "ah...I mean, I'm sure you can play a prostitute, but the question is 'My you play the prostitute'." John grinned at his friend's growing frustration. "I think casting is going to be up to the director." John finished.

"And just who is that going to be, Mr. Wilson didn't announce it."

"Well..." John's voice trailed off.

"Yea, I know," Shirley continued with a friendly mocking tone, "you've been sworn to secrecy"

"Miss Moorhead," Shirley jumped when she heard Mr. Wilson's deep, measured voice behind her then turned to face him, "could I have a few minutes of your precious break time?"

"Yes, of course." Shirley gave John a questioning look as she moved to follow Mr. Wilson back down the isle toward the stage. John maintained a look of practiced innocence until Shirley looked away.

"Let' go get some coffee." John addressed his suggestion to Nancy and Sally.

"Great idea." Wayne replied, joining the group on the other side of Nancy. John noticed that Sally was staring at the stage instead of walking up the isle with the others. Following her line-of-sight he discovered the focus of her attention.

"You want some coffee," John asked, "or you just going to stand here with your mouth hanging open?"

"Oh shut up." Sally blushed as she pushed past John and walked up the isle to join the group headed for the student lounge. John turned to look once more at the object of Sally's interest. The set construction manager, a tall, thin, cowboy hat wearing redneck named Paul had apparently attracted the attention of John's shy innocent friend.

"No accounting for taste." John muttered as he hurried after the current object of his attention. As they worked their way out of the theater and across the patio to the 'scrounge lounge' they were joined by Greg, Greg's soon-to-be next conquest, Cynthia, and George, the theatrical lighting guru. As was common in such a situation John, after getting coffee for himself and the two girls he had originally invited, spent the time observing the interactions of the other students and occasionally contributing a witty comment to the conversation. The students sharing the table with John, especially the males, made calculated efforts to demonstrate how unimpressed they were that his play had been selected.

"You sneaky little shit." While the big grin on Shirley's face transformed the words into a friendly greeting, the volume of her voice drew the attention of every student in the lounge. Shirley crossed the room and, pulling up a chair from another table, squeezed in between John and Nancy.

"You knew he was going to ask me to be the director, didn't you," Shirley's voice managed to be joking and accusatorial at the same time, "and you didn't say a word to me."

"I was..." John's voice trailed off as Shirley interrupted him.

"Yes, I know, you were sworn to secrecy." John and Shirley's attention turned to Sally as their friend stood up.

"I'll, ah, I'll meet you guys back in the auditorium." Sally stammered before rushing from the lounge.

"Where's she going?" Shirley asked as they watched Sally disappear through the door.

"Probably to sign up for set construction." John answered with a smile. When Shirley gave him a questioning look John almost imperceptibly raised his eyebrows, and returned her look, patiently waiting for her to figure it out. Finally the light came on.

"Oh," Shirley said with a smile, "well, no accounting for taste." John downed the last of his coffee.

"We'd better be getting back." John observed as he stood up. This was followed by a flurry of watch checking then a scrapping of chair legs on the floor as everybody prepared to walk back to the theater for the beginning of auditions. John's desire to position himself between Nancy and Wayne was thwarted when Shirley pulled him to the side.

"Franklin wants us to sit with him during auditions." John watched Nancy and Wayne leaving the lounge together as he listened to his friend. "So we can work on casting your play," Shirley explained as she and John walked toward the door together.

"What are you doing for your audition?" Shirley asked as they walked side by side across the patio area.

"I'm doing a scene from 'Mark Twain Tonight'," John answered, looking at his friend with a smile. "What are you doing?"

"The Queen of the Mountain Troll's speech from 'Peer Gynt'."

"That sounds awfully familiar," John teased with a grin, "didn't I see somebody playing that role last semester?" John stopped walking and posed like he was deep in thought. "Let's see now, who was that?" Shirley gave her friend a shove and continued walking.

For the next two weeks virtually all of John's time was involved, with Shirley, and under the supervision of Franklin, in production work on his play. Despite his best efforts John could only spare a few minutes each day to seek out the object of his obsession. Most of the time he found Nancy and Janet, her younger sister, who, although not a student, had begun to hang out around the Green Room, in the company of Wayne, Greg, and the rest of the 'technical' theater group. On those few occasions when John managed to find Nancy alone, or just in the company of Janet, John would do his best to impress them with his wit and wisdom.

In a deliberate effort to protect the two young ladies from some of the less savory activities of this group, John spent several evenings getting involved in; a watermelon fight (carried out with stolen watermelons); a contest to see who could steal the largest number of phone books from phone booths along Pacific Avenue; several parties where he declined to ingest alcohol or any other drugs in order to maintain an element of control over the activities; and other 'hijinks' he normally would have avoided.

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(Sunday July 20, 1969 7:25 PM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater Green Room,

Stockton California )

he room was filled with actors, stage crew, lighting technicians and all the flotsam and jetsam of the summer theater department. Three televisions sat side by side on the table against the wall. Each television was tuned to a different network. Each network, while showing the same picture, carried slightly varying commentary. Everyone in the room watched with undivided attention as the three not quite in sync televisions displayed the same grainy, slightly blurred black and white picture. The voices of the commentators were replaced by one of considerably lower quality.

"That's one small step for man," the voice said, "one giant leap for mankind." Despite his love of science, science fiction, technology and the space program, John found his attention being drawn elsewhere during these historical moments. As could be expected John's main distraction was Nancy. Nancy was in the women's dressing room getting ready for the performance of 'Carnival' scheduled for that evening. As was often the case the doors to both the men's and women's dressing rooms had been propped open in an effort to keep the rooms from becoming too warm. The dressing rooms were arranged so that ninety nine percent of each room was still hidden from view when the door was open. John, Shirley and Sally were sitting separate from the rest of the Green Room denizens, putting them in position to see that small portion of the women's dressing room that was revealed by the open door. For whatever reason Nancy was finding it necessary to repeatedly walk into that one percent of the women's dressing room that fell into John's field of view. This would have been distracting enough; that she chose to do it wearing nothing but a bra and half-slip made it impossible for john to concentrate on either the historical news broadcast, or on the conversation between Shirley and Sally.

"Really," Sally said, speaking softly so only Shirley and John could hear, "Greg and I were setting on the stairs talking. He was telling me how empty and meaningless his relationships felt, and then he pushed me down on the stairs and started kissing me, I couldn't believe it."

"The pig, what did you do?" Shirley asked sympathetically.

"I laughed and told him I didn't appreciate that kind of teasing. I mean he couldn't have been serious," Sally got an unbelieving look on her face, "sex on the stairs?" Shirley gave John an amused look as Sally stood up. "I, ah, promised Paul I'd help him with some last minute stage work." Sally gave her friends a smile that acknowledged the lameness of her excuse as she headed through the door leading to the back stage area of the theater.

"Like a suite of armor." John said softly as they watched her leave.

"I'd be careful if I were Greg," John's eyes moved past Shirley and back to the women's dressing room door as he talked, "Paul strikes me as the kind who would express his unhappiness in a very physical way if he found somebody making a pass at his new girlfriend."

"He'd probably want to make an adjustment to the offenders anatomy with his 'universal tool'." John chuckled at his friend's reference to the name Paul had given to the hammer, which habitualy hung from his belt. As he watched John was rewarded with another glimpse of Nancy as she moved in and out of his view.

"She is very pretty," Shirley commented as Nancy moved back out of their view, "isn't everybody saying that she's Wayne's girlfriend?"

"Pretty much everyone said that," John grinned at his friend, "except for one very important person."

"Who was that?" Shirley asked, watching her friend watching for his new friend's next appearance

"Nancy."

"She dos seem to have a bit too much between her ears to have stayed with that group for long." Shirley leaned closer to her friend, "you take her out yet?"

"We went for coffee after dress rehearsal yesterday." John answered with an un-expected blush.

"And..."

"And nothing," John's voice momentarily verged on mild annoyance, "I took her home, I'm not Greg you know."

"Thank god," Shirley dissipated her friend's momentary anger with a broad grin that lit up her face, "you taking her out after the performance tonight?"

"Yes, out for coffee, then I'll be taking her home again." John found nothing objectionable or unusual about his friend's interest in his newfound social life. The two friends sat quietly for a few minutes watching the news coverage and the occasional momentary appearance of Nancy in the dressing room.

"You nervous?" Shirley asked.

"No," John replied with a grin, purposefully mis-understanding what his friend was referring to, "it's just coffee, maybe a piece of pie..."

"No, you idiot, I mean your play," Shirley pushed her friend playfully, "and you know it."

"We've done all we can do, now it's up to them." John said waving vaguely at the other people in the room.

"Good thing we're going on before 'Carnival'," Shirley glanced at the clock on the wall which indicated the time to be 7:40, "they're going to have to pull themselves away from the televisions and start getting ready." As if on cue Mr. Miller walked into the Green Room.

"You've seen the moon walk, now turn off the TV's and get ready." He seemed to think that NASA had scheduled the moon walk with the malicious intent to ruin his production of "Carnival". The six actors, five men and one woman, who were to be performing in John's play wondered over to join the author and director, while the rest of them moved into the dressing rooms or out into the theater to take care of their assigned tasks.

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(Sunday July 20, 1969 10:00 PM

Lyons Restaurant,

Stockton California )

es, Shirley and I have known each other since tenth grade," John found himself talking far more than usual, "we've been through every drama class and play together all through high school." He still had trouble believing that this beautiful girl wanted to be with him.

"I thought your play was great," Nancy took a sip of coffee then smiled at her new friend, "although I'll make sure it's not being performed the night my parents come."

"Which part would they object to," John asked, setting his coffee mug down, "the 'delightfully obscene' part? Or the 'totally blasphemous' part."

"I can safely say," Nancy said after a moments thought, "that they would object to the entire first act." They both laughed at the joke. "You majoring in drama?" Nancy asked.

"No," John answered, "I'm majoring in staying alive."

"What's your goal?" Nancy asked after John had managed to convey to the waitress, using universally accepted coffee shop sign language, that he wanted a refill.

"My goal is to not get shot." John said with a not very sincere laugh, "my plan is to keep my student deferment until the 'powers that be' sober up and stop sending us to Southeast Asia to be shot at by decidedly unfriendly Southeast Asians."

"You probably should not bring that up when you meet my dad," Nancy laughed. The conversation stopped as the waitress refilled John's cup.

"I can't belive you didn't offer me a ride home Tuesday night," Nancy said as soon as the coffee pot toting waitress had moved on to the next booth, "I was looking right at you when I asked if anyone could take me home."

"Mike rode over with me," John explained, "and I was trying to find out if he was ready to go, or could get a ride with someone else. Then Greg jumped in and offered."

"I'd better be getting home." Nancy announced after glancing down at her watch. John took a last drink from his cup then, after sliding out of the booth, extended his hand to help Nancy slid from the other side. After dropping fifty cents on the table, and a quick stop at the cash register to pay the bill, John escorted Nancy out to the parking lot and, opening the passenger side door, helped her into the car before walking around to the driver's side and climbing in himself.

"This is a nice little car." Nancy commented as he started the engine.

"It's an Austin American," John said as he navigated through the parking lot, "Actually it's my sister's car but I'd rather drive it than my parent's Dodge Dart."

"It's nice. You remember how to get to my parent's house?"

"Yes," John gave her a quick smile, "just follow the signs pointing the way to Los Angeles." He laughed.

"People think I'm kidding when I tell them to do that." Nancy smiled back. A few minutes later they arrived at an intersection that had a sign indicating the route through town to Highway 99. 'LOS ANGELES' and 'SACRAMENTO' it announced with an arrow pointing to the left.

Although neither one of them would be able to remember what they talked about, John and Nancy continued their conversation as he drove across town to her parent's house. They continued to talk parked in front of the house until Nancy announced, for the Nth time, that she absolutely had to go inside, and that she 'really, really meant it' this time.

John opened the door for Nancy, then offered his hand to help her get out of the car. They continued to hold hands while they walked up the well-lit driveway, then across the lawn to the front door. At the door John said good night, then leaned forward tentatively and, since Nancy made no move to pull away pressed his lips to hers in a chaste, closed mouthed kiss.

After Nancy whispered 'good night' and disappeared into her parent's house, John walked back to the car and, after driving the short distance to Highway 99, merged onto the freeway heading north. Twenty minutes later, with no distinct memory of the trip, he pulled into the parking lot of the apartment complex where he, his parents and two of his three sisters occupied two apartments.

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(Friday Aug 1, 1969 7:45 PM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater Green Room,

Stockton California )

et's watch the play," at the sound of the familiar voice John turned and looked up at Shirley who was standing beside him.

"You really want to sit through a reading of 'Don Juan in Hell'?" John asked with an unpleasant expression on his face.

"Nancy had to go home," Shirley sat down beside her friend, "you might as well watch the play with me." Shirley gave the reluctant John a friendly push. "This way we can make snide comments about it tomorrow during the critique session"

"Or," John said stirring from his funk, "we can make snide comments about their performances while we watch."

"That goes without saying." Shirley replied, standing up and extending her hand to help her friend from his chair. After accepting his friends extended hand, John turned and, after picking up the plastic duck named 'Simon T. Duck' which was a fixture of the drama department, followed her through the door leading backstage. As they walked through the darkened backstage area toward the auditorium Shirley suddenly stopped, then held finger to her mouth indicating a need for silence. John looked across the stage in the direction Shirley was staring. It took a few seconds for John to make out the couple making out in the shadows. It took him a moment or two more to realize that the woman who was leaning against the backstage wall, enthusiastically kissing the man whose hands were exploring her body was Sally. The man with the exploring hands was none other than Paul the cowboy hat wearing redneck. In order to insure that they would remain undetected John leaned close to Shirley and spoke with his lips almost touching her ear.

"You think he will be able to pick the lock on her chastity belt?" John whispered. John found Shirley's warmth against his body exciting. Their lips almost touched as they turned their heads so Shirley could reply.

"Oh shut up," she whispered in his ear, her hot breath sending a chill down his spine, "I think it's sweet." Not wanting his friend to think he was breaking their unspoken friendship rules, John pulled back slightly. Shirley waited for a moment then led the way through the door beside the stage into the auditorium proper. John had to admit that, in spite of his prejudice against cowboy hat wearing rednecks, he found Paul to be an intelligent, likeable guy.

"Lets sit front row center," John suggested, "so we can make faces at them when we get board."

"Good idea." Shirley agreed grinning back at him. John realized, not for the first time, how often he and Shirley had the same ideas. Taking the lead John moved through the almost empty theater to the indicated seats. The hydraulic orchestra pit had been raised to stage level giving the actors plenty of room to sit at their reading stands in front of the closed curtain. This configuration placed the front of the stage within reach of people setting in the front row.

"How are things going with tu amor?" Shirley asked as John placed 'Simon' on the floor between his feet after they were seated.

"We've just gone out for coffee on the way to her house a couple of times." John answered defensively.

"Just coffee?" Shirley asked with a teasing grin.

"Well," John answered with a combination of pride and embarrassment, "I kissed her goodnight."

"Lucky her." Shirley said as the actors walked onto the stage. John was glad the dimming house lights hid his blushing face. Both Shirley and John slid down in their seats and leaned towards each other until their heads were almost touching. In this position they could continue their whispered exchange as the production got underway. It was a game they both enjoyed, and had played under many different circumstances. The unstated goal being to embarrass and humiliate the other one by making them laugh out loud at an inappropriate moment. John was the undisputed champion of this little game having, on previous occasions, regularly causing Shirley to laugh loud enough to attract the interest of not only the rest of the audience, but also the actors on the stage.

Shirley proved to be more in control of her self than usual. While she chuckled softly at many of John's comments he failed to get the outburst of uncontrolled laughter that was always his goal. John's failure was due, at least in part, to his being more aware than he ever had been before of Shirley's warmth and her totally captivating odor.

About halfway through the play John leaned forward, picked up Simon and placed him on the edge of the stage facing the actors. This act was rewarded with a quickly choked off burst of laughter from his companion; looks of both amusement and anger from the actors; a reprimand from Mr. Miller the next morning; and a permanent place in the lore of the San Joaquin Delta College Drama Department.

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(Wednesday August 20, 1969 7:40 PM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater Lobby

Stockton California )

ohn walked the length of the theater lobby stopping as he approached the western end to look out the open double doors and scan the parking area for newly arrived cars. Shirley watched with an amused smile as her friend turned and, for the dozenth time walked back to lean against the counter and keep her company as she passed out programs. As curtain time approached John's trips to the side doors to look for the object of his obsession, and her family, came at closer and closer intervals.

"Calm down," Shirley advised, "you know they're going to get here." John smiled weakly at his friend then made another trip to the doors to check out the parking lot. As is usual in such a situation, despite John's vigilance Nancy, her parents, and her younger sister appeared at the door when he wasn't watching.

"John, this is my father, Paul." The introduction was followed by a handshake. "This is my mother Doris." John nodded his head, almost a gentlemanly European bow towards Nancy's mother. "And you've already met my sister, Janet." John smiled at the younger girl.

"John wrote the play for the student production." Janet said with a mischievous grin, obviously bringing up a subject she knew her older sister did not want discussed.

"My play's not being performed tonight," John explained talking to the parents, "but this is Shirley Moorhead, she directed my play." John smiled at his friend as she handed programs to Nancy's family. John thought Nancy's smile seemed to lack a bit in the area of sincerity as she watched Shirley being introduced.

"What is your play about?" Janet asked with exaggerated innocents, ignoring the malevolent look she received from Nancy.

"It's a social satire commenting on modern life." John explained, with intentional vagueness, as he led the group toward the door into the theater proper.

"Maybe we should come back when we can see John's play." That suggestion got her a whispered 'shut up' from Nancy as the two girls followed John, and their parents, down the isle. The house lights began to dim before John and Nancy's family had finished settling into their seats. John sat between the two sisters and found that while Janet laughed quietly at most of his softly spoken side comments, Nancy seemed to be annoyed by his attempts at humor. As the evening wore on John couldn't help but think about how much more fun it was to watch a play with Shirley.

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(Friday August 22, 1969 10:00AM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater Green Room

Stockton California )

ohn looked up from his book as Shirley set the unexpected but very welcome cup of coffee on the table in front of him. Shirley set her own cup of coffee on the table then pulled the chair next to John's away from the table and sat down next to him.

"What are you reading?" Shirley asked lifting the book up so she could read the title. "Don't you have those books memorized?" She teased with a grin.

"Just about," John took a sip of his coffee, "this is the last day of the summer session and I wanted to read all three of them again before the fall semester started."

"I did notice that you are still signing your name with Elfin script." Shirley observed, after taking a sip from her cup. The two friends sat quietly for a few minutes drinking their coffee.

"What are you planning for tonight?" Shirley asked, a little too casually.

"Nancy and I are going to watch 'The Visit' together, then I was going to give her a ride to the closing party." John wasn't sure why, but he avoided calling his arrangement with Nancy a 'date' while he talked to Shirley.

"Sounds like fun." The tone of Shirley's voice contradicted the contents of her speech.

"Would you like to sit with us?" John asked, responding to what he perceived as depression in his friends demeanor.

"No," Shirley responded with a weak smile, "I'll be sitting with Sally and Paul." They sat and sipped their coffee in silence for a few minutes.

"You know," Shirley broke the silence, staring into her cup of coffee as she talked, "I really enjoyed working on 'All Those Things' with you."

"I had a good time too," John smiled at his friend, noticing that she seemed to be acting uncharacteristically shy, "especially the rewrite work we did." John noticed that his mention of the time they had spent together re-working his play brought a smile to Shirley's face. "You really had some good ideas."

"You planning on doing more writing?" Shirley asked after another period of silent coffee sipping.

"Of course," John replied, "I've got a couple of ideas kicking around in my head"

"Oh?" Shirley encouraged her friend.

"Another one act play titled 'The Acid Head and the Jehovah's Witness'..."

"Sounds promising."

"...and a story tentatively titled 'The Adventures of Erogenous Jones'."

"You going to make that one 'delightfully obscene'?" Shirley asked with obvious interest.

"I was thinking more along the lines of 'delightfully pornographic', something that will really make Sally blush." John smiled at the thought.

"Making Sally blush isn't much of a goal to shoot for," Shirley chuckled, "you do that virtually every time you talk to her." There was another silent pause before she continued again. "Have you ever thought about writing with a partner?" She finally asked.

"Well," John answered thoughtfully, "I wrote 'The Importance of Being Varro' for a class project with Mike and, yes, I enjoyed working with a collaborator." They sat in silence for a few minutes then Shirley sighed loudly.

"I'd love to partner up with you," Shirley spoke softly, "think about it and let me know." John watched as Shirley, her hands trembling, set her coffee on the table then, without saying any more, pushed her chair back, stood up and hurried from the Green Room. John watched his friend rush from the room then sat, deep in thought. It was obvious, even to John, that Shirley had been talking about more than just being a writing partner. Leaving his dog-eared copy of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' on the table beside the empty Styrofoam cups John left the Green Room. The perils faced by Frodo and his band of Hobits did not seem nearly as important right now, and John needed to think.

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(Friday August 22, 1969 8:00 PM

San Joaquin Delta College Theater,

Stockton California )

s John sat beside Nancy waiting for the house lights to dim, and the curtain to rise for the last performance of 'The Visit' he kept looking across the auditorium where Shirley sat with Sally and Paul. Whenever Shirley noticed him looking at her she would smile back. A few minutes after the production started John watched as Shirley walked up the far isle and left the auditorium.

"Ah, Nancy," John whispered a couple of minutes later, "can you make other arrangements to get to the party? And home?" He new he was being incredibly rude to Nancy, but at the moment nothing seemed more important to him than being with Shirley. Without waiting for an answer John excused himself past the other people in the row and, walking through the lobby, stepped out into the warm summer night. Seeing Shirley setting by her self on the end of one of the redwood picnic tables in the patio area beside the closed student lounge, John walked over and stood in front of her. John took Shirley's hand in his and she leaned her head against his chest

"How's Nancy going to get to the party?" Shirley asked.

"She's a big girl," John replied, releasing Shirley's hand and moving his arms around her waist, "I don't want to talk about Nancy." Shirley moved closer until their bodies touched. Shirley tilted her head up and their mouths came together. Their lips parted as their tongues gently explored each other's mouth. John felt like an electric current was running through his body from his lips down through his groin all the way to his feet and into the ground. John pulled their bodies closer together as Shirley stroked his hair. Their lips opened further and their tongues moved deeper into the other's mouth.

"Jesus." Shirley said quietly as their mouths separated. John looked at Shirley in the fading twilight and wondered how he could have ever thought she was plane looking. He moved a stray hair from her face then let the tip of his finger trace a line down her cheek to her chin.

"I think," John said looking into Shirley's eyes, "that if we are going to be writing partners we need to thoroughly research topics before we write."

"Does that mean I'm going to have to drop acid and join the Jehovah's Witnesses?" Shirley teased, not breaking their gaze.

"Well, actually, I was thinking about working on the other story."

"Have you given any consideration to a scene with Erogenous Jones and his lady friend on a blanket behind the local college theater?" Shirley asked with a sly grin. Wanting to feel the electric thrill of passion cursing through his body again, John leaned forward and kissed Shirley once more as their bodies clung tightly to each other. John had never wanted anything more than to continue kissing the most exciting woman he had ever met.

"And just where is Erogenous going to come up with a blanket all of the sudden?" John asked, letting their lips part slightly.

"I do believe that Erogenous has the good since to get involved with a woman whose car always contains an emergency kit. Which always," Shirley let her hands run down Johns upper arms, "contains an emergency blanket." Shirley smiled expectantly as she waited for John's reply.

"How clever he is." John took a step backward, allowing Shirley to slip from the table and stand with their bodies touching and their arms around each other.

"Is that a roll of Certs in your pocket," Shirley teased, "or are you just thrilled to be this close to me?"

"If it can be mistaken for a roll of Certs," John replied, "then it can't be anything more, ah, interesting." With their arms around each other's waists John and Shirley walked to the parking lot where Shirley produced the promised blanket from the trunk of her car before they continued around the building to a relatively isolated patch of grass located behind the theater. Shirley spread the blanket on the ground, then they both seemed to be suddenly struck with a wave of shyness when it came time for them to lay down on the blanket together. Shirley overcame the momentary affliction first and, after kicking off her shoes, sat on the blanket then patted the area beside her to indicate that John should sit there.

As John turned toward Shirley and she reclined on the blanket, John cradled her head with his left arm while his right hand rested on her left hip. Leaning down over his friend, John brought his lips to hers and, as his tongue explored her mouth once again, his hand moved up from her hip onto the warm bare skin of her stomach under her blouse. As his hand moved over Shirley's smooth skin, and his lips moved off her mouth to trace a damp trail down her cheek toward her neck, John decided that for this night, with this woman, he would abandon the policy of reticents that usually controlled his interactions with members of the other sex and institute a policy of audacity instead. For tonight, John decided, anything less than a clear-cut, verbal request to stop would be considered to be permission to continue. Shirley shifted her position, making herself more available to John's exploring hands, and in the process brought her thigh against his crotch.

"You're right," she whispered, as their breathing became heavier, "that's definitely not a roll of Certs." Shirley moved her leg against John to encourage him as he pulled his hand from under her blouse and began undoing the buttons; starting at the top and following the progress with his lips moving along her skin.

"Hang on a second." Shirley whispered as she gently lifted John's head moving his lips away from her warm skin. John rested on his left elbow, his right hand resting on Shirley's uncovered stomach and watched as she rose up on her elbows just far enough to reach behind her back and unhook her bra. It seemed that Shirley was also tired of easily misunderstood signals. Her bra, unhooked Shirley laid back down with her now loose bra still covering her breasts and looked up at John's face. John, still propped up on his elbow, looked down at Shirley as he slowly moved his right hand up her now trembling stomach and slipped the tips of his fingers under the material covering her breasts. Without lifting her bra John slowly moved his hand up the side of Shirley's firm breast until his fingertips brushed her hard crinkled nipple. Shirley's body shivered at his touch and she moved her leg against his crotch to encourage him further. After circling his fingertips around her right nipple several times, John slowly moved his hand back down the inside of her left breast then, still without lifting her bra, moved his hand up under the cup covering her right breast and circled her right nipple with his fingers just as he had done with her left nipple. Not breaking eye contact until the last second John slowly lowered his head; bringing his lips back to Shirley's, as he gently pinched her nipple between his thumb and finger. As soon as their lips touched Shirley wrapped her arms around John's head and neck, holding his mouth tightly against hers and sucked enthusiastically on his tongue.

While they remained locked in their kiss Shirley rolled towards John and they intertwined their legs; allowing each of them to move against the other's thigh. They continued to rock against each other while John gently caressed Shirley's nipples, and they anointed each other's faces and necks with sloppy wet kisses, until John's body jerked against Shirley's. As his own spasm died down John became aware of Shirley's hips jerking, grinding her crotch against his leg in a slow sensual motion before she too relaxed and they laid in each other's arms. Lying on their backs, their arms around each other, John and Shirley watched the stars overhead while they waited for their breathing to return to normal.

When he was sufficiently recovered John propped himself up on his left elbow then slowly pulled first the left side, then the right side of Shirley's blouse from her stomach. Once her blouse was out of the way John slowly lifted Shirley's bra, exposing her breasts for his visual enjoyment. Shirley watched John as he examined her breasts, observing them intently as he tweaked her nipples back to an erect state. Holding her left breast in his hand John leaned forward and ran his tongue in circles around Shirley's hard nipple. Then, after gently blowing on the nipple and watching it harden even further, John slowly pulled it into his mouth and sucked on it.

"Oh, yes," Shirley moaned. As John shifted his attention to Shirley's other nipple he ran his hand down across her stomach, over her bunched up skirt and slip, then began to caress her nylon-covered thighs. Despite her skirt being hiked up almost to her waist, Shirley's crotch remained effectively covered with her white cotton panties and pantyhose. As his hand moved up her thigh John could feel the heat and moisture through both layers of fabric.

"Hang on just a minute." Shirley said gently pushing John away once again. Using her shoulders and feet for support Shirley lifted the rest of her body off the blanket and, hooking her thumbs under the waistbands of her panties and pantyhose pulled them off her hips. As she continued to pull them down her thighs Shirley lowered her body back onto the blanket then lifted her legs. Tossing her underwear aside Shirley turned back to John.

"Your turn." John lay back on the blanket and, after unbuckling his belt and unzipping his fly, used much the same maneuver to remove his trousers and jockey shorts. Shirley and John lay on their sides facing each other. Each of their legs which were lying on the blanket were stretched out straight, almost touching the other's. Their other legs were bent at the knee, resting against each other's.

As they leaned forward to kiss they crossed arms and both cupped the other at the same time; combining the thrill of exploring, and being explored, and sharing the experience of discovering how much better it is to be touched by, and to touch, someone else than it is to touch oneself. After exploring her external folds, John's finger sliped easily inside. As he continued to explore Shirley's depths, John moaned with the pleasure of her hand stroking up and down his length. After feeling Shirley's body tremble and shudder through another orgasm John pulled away from her to reach behind his back and, retrieving his trousers and pulling his wallet from the back pocket, produce a foil wrapped condom, which he had purchased in a moment of unbridled optimism after taking Nancy home the first time.

"Let me." Shirley said taking it from his fingers. John watched as Shirley tore open the foil package with her teeth and, after removing the condom, sat up so she could use both hands applying the latex sheath. Once she was done Shirley laid back down on the blanket and, spreading her bent legs looked at John expectantly. 'Now,' John thought as he got onto his hands and knees, and moved into position between her thighs, 'is not the time to bring up the fact that I've never done this before.'

"Take it nice and slow," Shirley said reaching up and touching John's cheek as he lowered himself toward her, "I've never done this before."

"Neither have I." John replied. Shirley smiled at John as she reached down between them to help him with the entry. John thought his eyes were going to roll completely inside his head, and that his brain might melt and run out his ears as he slowly slipped into Shirley.

"God, you feel so good." He said as their bodies settled against each other.

"So do you." Shirley replied as she removed her hand from between their bodies and wrapped her arms, and legs around John. Both John and Shirley lay completely still as they absorbed the wonderful feelings being generated by their union. After a few minutes they began to move, slowly rocking their bodies in unison. John brushed some errant strands of hair from Shirley's face then lowered his mouth onto hers. They kissed, and slowly moved their bodies against each other until their muscles tightened, and spasmed at almost the same instant. Supporting his weight with his elbows and knees John gently stroked and kissed Shirley's face as he remained inside her.

"Don't you think," Shirley asked, as her hands continued to explore John's body, "that Erogenous and his lady friend ought to be getting back into the theater before the end of the play?"

"Yes," John answered before rolling off, "I think you are right." After removing the condom and tossing it towards the theater wall, John pulled a handkerchief from his pants pocket and handed it to Shirley.

"Thanks." Shirley took the proffered hanky then, in a wave of post coital shyness, turned slightly away from John while she did a little clean up work before handing the handkerchief back to John who was already pulling on his trousers.

"We need to come up with a name for Erogenous' lady friend." Shirley said as she began to untangle her panties from her pantyhose.

"Do me a favor," John asked touching Shirley's arm, "leave those off." Shirley gave John a thoughtful look in the dim light.

"OK" She said with mischievous smile.

"I think," John announced, with a tone of seriousness, as he helped Shirley bundle her underwear up with the blanket, "that Shirley Moorhead would be a perfect name for Erogenous' lady friend."

"Why is that?" Shirley asked with a caution born of years dealing with her friend.

"Because," John paused for dramatic effect, "Erogenous will surely want more head."

Shirley moaned even louder than she had while they were making love.

John slowly flexed his arm, then decided that the punch Shirley had given him hadn't crippled him after all.

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